Be Still: Daily Devotional

Today is April 2nd.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you.  
 
Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.”    
   
Today’s reading is from the book of Genesis, chapter 21.  
 

Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah what he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him. When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him, as God commanded him. Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.

Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” And she added, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.” 
 

I love the way this passage opens. Now the Lord was gracious to Sarah. As you come to prayer today, can you reflect on the character of God as gracious. The character of God is kindness. The character of God is merciful. The root word of gracious is, of course, grace. This is our God. He is grace. And he is not just grace in general. He is grace in particular. To you. He is gracious to you. Take a moment now as you bring yourself to God and allow him to speak a word of grace over you.  
   
And he is gracious in particular ways. “He was gracious to Sarah as he had said. He did for Sarah what he had promised.” Think for a moment about a promise that God has spoken to your heart, something that you are still waiting for. This is nature of a promise, it is filled with waiting. And it is also filled with hope. As you listen to the passage again, ask God to fill you with his hope as you await his promise.  
   
I think about the words of Mary after the Angel spoke to her about God’s promise. Mary treasured up all these things in her heart. She hadn’t received the promise but she still treasured the promise. As we close our time of prayer, and as you walk through your day, treasure his promises for you, even as you wait for them to be fulfilled. 

Lord God, Almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought me in safety to this new day: Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all I do, direct me to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  

Music - Nothing Is Too Hard For You - Vineyard Worship - (YouTube)



Be Still: Daily Devotional with Eric and Julia Pickerill.
Originally produced at Vineyard Columbus and republished by permission.

Subscribe: Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/be-still-daily-devotional/id1662156224 | Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1vRcmmVmxUU579ZsOFcT1X | Amazon https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c57a529f-db23-427f-87fb-e01cb8ca6b78

More at pickerill.casa

Today is April 1st.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.   
 
Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.”    
   
Today’s reading is from the book of Ephesians, chapter 2.  
 

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God  not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 
 

This is a theologically rich passage, so let’s consider just one aspect of Paul’s words: he’s drawing a juxtaposition between our human sin nature and wrath... and God’s mercy, love, and forgiveness.... given to us through Christ. Paul reminds us that we are God’s ‘handiwork’ - that is what we were CREATED to be. Instead because of sin, we became corrupted. But that’s not the end of the story.  the end of our story is that, by the gift of God, we can live as God’s handiwork. Think about how starkly Paul saw this difference: who we are in sin, and who we are in salvation. Is it difficult for you to think in these terms? 
   
Listen to this reading again, and consider your faith less as sentimental, and more as ontological – as a truth claim. Paul is telling us a truth: that without the grace offered to us through Jesus Christ, we are lost. But that the good news is that with grace, we become the people we are truly indended to be...
 
Have you thought recently about God’s calling your life? About what he created you to be? To do? God loves you and has plans and purpose for you. As we end our time of prayer today, take time to ask God to speak to you about what it means that YOU are His handiwork...  

Lord God, Almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought me in safety to this new day: Preserve me with your mighty power, that I may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all I do, direct me to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  

Music - Adore Him - Vineyard Worship - (YouTube)

Be Still: Daily Devotional with Eric and Julia Pickerill.
Originally produced at Vineyard Columbus and republished by permission.

Subscribe: Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/be-still-daily-devotional/id1662156224 | Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1vRcmmVmxUU579ZsOFcT1X | Amazon https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c57a529f-db23-427f-87fb-e01cb8ca6b78

More at pickerill.casa

Today is Saturday of Holy Week.

Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.”  

Assist me mercifully with your help, O Lord God of our salvation, that I may enter with joy upon the contemplation of those mighty acts, whereby you have given us life and immortality; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
Today’s reading is from Psalm 22.


My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? 
    Why are you so far from saving me, 
    so far from my cries of anguish? 
My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, 
    by night, but I find no rest. 
Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; 
    you are the one Israel praises. 
In you our ancestors put their trust; 
    they trusted and you delivered them. 
To you they cried out and were saved; 
    in you they trusted and were not put to shame. 
But I am a worm and not a man, 
    scorned by everyone, despised by the people. 
All who see me mock me; 
    they hurl insults, shaking their heads. 
“He trusts in the Lord,” they say, 
    “let the Lord rescue him. 
Let him deliver him, 
    since he delights in him.” 
Yet you brought me out of the womb; 
    you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast. 
From birth I was cast on you; 
    from my mother’s womb you have been my God. 
Do not be far from me, 
    for trouble is near 
    and there is no one to help. 
Many bulls surround me; 
    strong bulls of Bashan encircle me. 
Roaring lions that tear their prey 
    open their mouths wide against me. 
I am poured out like water, 
    and all my bones are out of joint. 
My heart has turned to wax; 
    it has melted within me. 
My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, 
    and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; 
    you lay me in the dust of death. 
Dogs surround me, 
    a pack of villains encircles me; 
    they pierce my hands and my feet. 
All my bones are on display; 
    people stare and gloat over me. 
They divide my clothes among them 
    and cast lots for my garment. 
But you, Lord, do not be far from me. 
    You are my strength; come quickly to help me.


For Christians, this day is known as Silent Saturday. God is silent on Silent Saturday. Jesus, the one who called out "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" is forsaken and left for dead.  
The season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, when we remember that we are dust, and to dust we will return. And the day after Good Friday, we sit next to the tomb of Jesus, where his body lies, beaten and crucified.

Silent Saturday is the day we sit with injustice all around the world and recognize that for too many,  it feels as though God is dead. God cannot be found. God cannot be heard. God cannot be seen.

We Christians too quickly rush past Silent Saturday, rush past the forsakenness of the world, rush past those who cannot seem to find God. Kierkegaard called this quietness .... this is what he calls the Sickness unto Death. That is the world for so many. Sickness unto death. We Christians shouldn't rush through Silent Saturday too quickly. Remember that it is still night. The joy comes in the morning.

This week, we have entered into the experience of the disciples. You were with Mary when she washed Jesus’ feet with perfume. You were with John as you sat at the Last Supper. You were with Peter as Jesus washed your feet. You were with Jesus’ mother, Mary, and John, at the cross. I want you to choose one of those disciples and sit with them on this Silent Saturday, and consider what they were feeling and experiencing on this day after Jesus' death two thousand years ago.

Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that I, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Be Still: Daily Devotional with Eric and Julia Pickerill.
Originally produced at Vineyard Columbus and republished by permission.

Subscribe: Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/be-still-daily-devotional/id1662156224 | Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1vRcmmVmxUU579ZsOFcT1X | Amazon https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c57a529f-db23-427f-87fb-e01cb8ca6b78

More at pickerill.casa

Today is Good Friday of Holy Week.


Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.”  

Assist me mercifully with your help, O Lord God of our salvation, that I may enter with joy upon the contemplation of those mighty acts, whereby you have given us life and immortality; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John, chapter 16.


Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle. 
Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: jesus of nazareth, the king of the jews. Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.” 
Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.” 
When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. 
“Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.” 
This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said, 
“They divided my clothes among them 
    and cast lots for my garment.” 
So this is what the soldiers did. 
Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

I’ve been watching the whole time. I was there watching Pilate wring his hands over what to do with him. Watching the soldiers beat him, mock him, spit on him. And with every blow he took I felt was a gut punch to me too. I’m sick to my stomach. All day my heart’s been pounding and head spinning so fast, I hardly know up from down. I'm watching him lose his life and I’m afraid for my life? But somehow, for some reason, I’m still here. Looking up at him. He’s almost unrecognizable to me.
 
Jesus’s head is moving now, he’s looking to see who remains there at the cross, with him. The unrecognizable one is straining to recognize someone. I see him lock eyes with his mother, Mary. I knew she was here, just a few yards away but hadn’t really seen her, really looked at her. Lots of people have cleared out now. But Mary’s still here, and her sister, and Clopas’ wife. And Mary Magdalene, too. And they’re holding on to each other. I can tell they wish they could hold on to him. I don’t see the other disciples, though. Where are they?

And now Jesus sees me too. The one he loves. I see him look at me again with those eyes. I actually can’t believe that he still sees me, but he does. And he does the unthinkable, he speaks to me. And to his mother. First to her, “Woman this is your son.” He’s talking about me. Looks over to me. And then he says, “Here is your mother.” And in this unexpected moment, everything changes for me. In hearing this last wish, this last will, I know what his will is for me. I know to whom I belong, and I know what I am to do. And right now, that’s all I need. 

Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that I, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. 

Be Still: Daily Devotional with Eric and Julia Pickerill.
Originally produced at Vineyard Columbus and republished by permission.

Subscribe: Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/be-still-daily-devotional/id1662156224 | Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1vRcmmVmxUU579ZsOFcT1X | Amazon https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c57a529f-db23-427f-87fb-e01cb8ca6b78

More at pickerill.casa

Today is Maundy Thursday of Holy week.

Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.” 

Assist me mercifully with your help, O Lord God of our salvation, that I may enter with joy upon the contemplation of those mighty acts, whereby you have given us life and immortality; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John, chapter 13.
 

It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 
The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 
Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 
“No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” 
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” 
“Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” 
Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. 
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.


Today we are here at the Passover meal, the Last Supper. Imagine you are the disciple Peter in this moment, when, in the middle of the meal, Jesus stands up and does something completely unexpected. Without a word, he wraps a towel around his waist, fills a basin with water and kneels down at John's feet and starts washing them. I look at John and then to the others, and everyone has the same look on their faces? Eyes wide with shock. Hands open with a shrug that begs the question, What in the world is he doing? And as I sit quietly and watch him wash the feet of my brothers, over and over again, I feel the anger rising in me. Anger at them, anger at him.

I don't think you understand how wrong this is. Jesus is the Master, the Teacher, the Rabbi. My whole life I've heard the Mishnah, the teaching of the Rabbis, commanding me to be covered in the 'dust of the feet of my master.' I've followed behind him everywhere, covered in his dust. And now he is washing the dust off of me? I am supposed to sit at his feet, and here he sits at mine? By the time he gets to me, I erupt! You're going to wash my feet? Not a chance!

He calmly and knowingly looks at me. He's seen this kind of thing from me before. With a smile Jesus says quietly to me: Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.

Well, wash all of me then, master! And right there, as he knees, I break. He touches my feet and I can't hold back my tears. Through bleary vision I finally see so clearly. On this Maundy Thursday, this mandate Thursday, I finally understand the mandate he’s given me... to serve others like he serves me. This is what it means to love one another.

Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that I, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Music: You Give Us Peace - Heaven and Earth - (YouTube)

Be Still: Daily Devotional with Eric and Julia Pickerill.
Originally produced at Vineyard Columbus and republished by permission.

Subscribe: Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/be-still-daily-devotional/id1662156224 | Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1vRcmmVmxUU579ZsOFcT1X | Amazon https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c57a529f-db23-427f-87fb-e01cb8ca6b78

More at pickerill.casa

Today is Wednesday of Holy week.

Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.” 

Assist me mercifully with your help, O Lord God of our salvation, that I may enter with joy upon the contemplation of those mighty acts, whereby you have given us life and immortality; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
  
Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John, chapter 13.
  

After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.” 
His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.” 
Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” 
Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. 
So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night. 
When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.


Here you are with Jesus on the night before his crucifixion and death. But nothing of that is in your mind at the moment. You’ve just finished the Passover meal. Imagine that you are the disciple, John. This is the Gospel he wrote and when he writes about “the disciple whom Jesus loved”, he is speaking in third person about himself. I am the one reclining next to Jesus. I am the one Jesus loves. I am the one who is completely known by him, yet completely secure in his love for me.

But once again there is tension in the room. Not just commotion, there’s always commotion. But tension. This time it’s Jesus. It’s Jesus who is troubled in spirit. We can all feel it. But I’m not sure how I feel about that. Jesus is the steady one. The rock. The voice of reason and truth. And now he speaks of betrayal. And now he speaks again in riddle. And as I watch him dip the bread in the bowl and hand it to Judas, I feel a mixture of concern, and conviction, and care for this one who cares so much for me.
 
But when Judas leaves there is once again peace. And words of glory, glory, glory, glory, glory. Five times he speaks of glory. And once again, I am brought back to the magnificence, the honor, the majesty, the worth, the loveliness, the grandeur of this man Jesus. Yes, he is one like me but he is so much more than one like me. He is so other than me. And the only way to describe him is glory.   

Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that I, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Music: Have Mercy - Heaven and Earth - (YouTube)

Be Still: Daily Devotional with Eric and Julia Pickerill.
Originally produced at Vineyard Columbus and republished by permission.

Subscribe: Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/be-still-daily-devotional/id1662156224 | Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1vRcmmVmxUU579ZsOFcT1X | Amazon https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c57a529f-db23-427f-87fb-e01cb8ca6b78

More at pickerill.casa

Today is Tuesday of Holy week.

Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.”  

Assist me mercifully with your help, O Lord God of our salvation, that I may enter with joy upon the contemplation of those mighty acts, whereby you have given us life and immortality; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John, chapter 12.


Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me. 
“Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.  Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.


Today we find ourselves in the Temple courts during the Passover festival. A day, maybe two, before the Passover. And it's buzzing with activity. Pilgrims from all over Israel, indeed from even further, have gathered here in the outer courts, the court of Gentiles. I imagine for a moment that I am Philip. In the midst of all of this noise and movement, I watch Jesus in the distance teaching, and my mind wanders for a few moments thinking about these three short years since I met him in my hometown of Bethsaida. It feels like a lifetime ago.
 
When he came into town teaching, I remember thinking immediately, this is the one Moses wrote about. The fulfillment of the Law. And I went to find Nathaniel and then we found Peter and I remember saying to them, Just come and see. You've got to see. We were just ordinary, hardly even ordinary, and now here we are. The whole world is abuzz because of this man.  

My mind snaps back to the here and now when a group of Greeks come and ask to see Jesus. They think because I'm also Greek that I can get them an introduction. Jesus is like a rock star these days, and everyone thinks I'm the ticket back stage. But Jesus is having none of it. He's in an entirely different mode. There is this urgency... like he sees something we don't see. It's like we are all watching a sunset and he looks at it and sees the sky opening up and swallowing the sun and the moon and everything. Swallowing him. And like so many other times, I stand here stunned, speechless.

Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that I, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Music: Are You Who You Say You Are? - Heaven and Earth - (YouTube)

Be Still: Daily Devotional with Eric and Julia Pickerill.
Originally produced at Vineyard Columbus and republished by permission.

Subscribe: Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/be-still-daily-devotional/id1662156224 | Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1vRcmmVmxUU579ZsOFcT1X | Amazon https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c57a529f-db23-427f-87fb-e01cb8ca6b78

More at pickerill.casa

Today is Monday of Holy week.

Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.”    
 
Assist me mercifully with your help, O Lord God of our salvation, that I may enter with joy upon the contemplation of those mighty acts, whereby you have given us life and immortality; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
  
Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John, chapter 12.  


Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”
 
Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.


Here we are in this scene with Jesus, six days before Passover, when he becomes our Passover Lamb. And it is a scene filled with resurrection life. Why? Because we are in Lazarus’ home. The one Jesus already raised. And it is a special meal, one to honor Jesus. Imagine the sense of joy, of goodness, of life, that was around the table this evening. Who do you see with you around the table? What stories do you hear being told about Lazarus, about all that you’ve seen Jesus do?
 
In the midst of hearing those stories and remembering all that Jesus has done—all that you’ve experienced because of the power of this man’s life and words, the power of what you experience when he looks at you—in the midst of that, imagine this is the moment that you’ve prepared for. You stand and walk over to Jesus with your jar of expensive oil and kneel down and pouring it over Jesus dirty feet, and saying to him, “You are worth everything to me, Lord.”
  
Hold on, now you’ve caused a scene. And a controversy. Because you’re now being accused of being selfish, of not caring for the poor. For a moment, your anxiety peaks and your blood pressure rises. You think, maybe you have done something wrong. But then Jesus reminds you and everyone in the room that when you give your all for him, you don’t separate yourself from the poor, hold back from the poor. But you become poor yourself. So that you, like Christ, will be the poor who always has the poor among you.  

Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that I, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Music: "House of Prayer" - Heaven and Earth - (YouTube)

Be Still: Daily Devotional with Eric and Julia Pickerill.
Originally produced at Vineyard Columbus and republished by permission.

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This is a version of the five-step Daily Examen that St. Ignatius practiced.

1. Become aware of God’s presence.
2. Review the day with gratitude.
3. Pay attention to your emotions.
4. Choose one feature of the day and pray from it.
5. Look toward tomorrow.

Be Still: Daily Devotional with Eric and Julia Pickerill.
Originally produced at Vineyard Columbus and republished by permission.

Subscribe: Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/be-still-daily-devotional/id1662156224 | Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1vRcmmVmxUU579ZsOFcT1X | Amazon https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c57a529f-db23-427f-87fb-e01cb8ca6b78

More at pickerill.casa

Today is the 33rd day of Lent.
 
May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.   
 
Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.”    
   
Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Mark, chapter 10:32-34.
 

They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.” 
 

The disciples were astonished, and those who followed Jesus were afraid. The disciples seem confused in this part of the gospels. Jesus keeps telling them what’s going to happen, and that he’s got to go away. Can you imagine what that must have been like? Can you imagine what it would feel like to hear your best friend, your leader, your hope… say these words to you?  
   
As you listen to the scripture again, put yourself in their sandals and try to hear with their ears: They don’t know what you know. They don’t know the Easter story. All they know is that Jesus of Nazareth, who has demonstrated to them a new kind of Kingdom, is telling them he is going to be condemned, mocked, tortured, and killed. Can you imagine their experience of crisis and confusion? 
   
As we head toward Holy Week, it can be easy to skip straight to Easter and the historic Christian celebration of the miraculous resurrection of the Christ. But can you slow down a bit? Can you enter into Holy Week one day at a time? Can you allow yourself to feel the anticipation, the confusion, the crisis, the fear, the despair… that comes between now and Easter Sunday? As we end our time of prayer today, and as we look toward Holy Week, choose several individuals to pray for by name… pray for their faith to be stirred up or maybe enlivened for a first time, pray for their passion for God to grow, and pray for the Spirit of God to draw near to them as Easter approaches.    
 
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your holy Spirit from me. Give me the joy of your saving help again and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.   
 
Music - Abounding Grace - Vineyard Soul - (YouTube)

Be Still: Daily Devotional with Eric and Julia Pickerill.
Originally produced at Vineyard Columbus and republished by permission.

Subscribe: Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/be-still-daily-devotional/id1662156224 | Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1vRcmmVmxUU579ZsOFcT1X | Amazon https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c57a529f-db23-427f-87fb-e01cb8ca6b78

More at pickerill.casa