“Practice, Practice, Practice” Acts 16:19-34 by Bethany Prayer and Study • A podcast on Anchor
The latest episode of the Bethany Prayer and Study Podcast is now available where ever you listen to podcasts! Or, you can listen directly from your web browser by clicking the image above.
Prayer Prompt for 3/30/20 “Jesus Christ, Son of God, I am hurting because…”
Our theme for Lent at #BethanyDenver this year is “Conversations with God”. Each day of Lent we will post a different #PrayerPrompt here. Use these prompts to start a conversation with God today. Feel free to also use these prompts as ways to start a conversation with friends and family.
#ConversationsWithGod
#ConversationStarters
#BethanyDenver
#Lent
#PrayerPrompts
This devotional was written by Janet Mortinsen. She serves Bethany Lutheran Church as the Director of Pastoral Care.
“Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love
covers a multitude of sins.” –1 Peter 4:8
My daughter, Abby, shared this verse with me as it spoke to
her. It certainly resonates with me as well. When I first heard the verse, I
had a flashback to a memory of my oldest son, Matt. I was getting ready for an
event and my husband was unable to get home to help watch the boys (Matt was
three; Peter was 6 months old). I was in a hurry and a little frazzled…you get
the picture. Matt walked into the bathroom as I dried my hair with his play
tool belt on, plastic hammer in hand and said, “I’m helping Mommy.” I just
nodded my head and continued getting ready. Suddenly it dawned on me…helping
how? He had taken a hard, plastic comb and hammered on our banisters up and
down our stairway. It’s amazing what damage a plastic comb and hammer can do.
My first instinct was to yell. I took the “tools” away and called my father who
calmed me and reminded me of Matt’s intention – to help.
We often fall short despite our intentions. We are not
perfect, no matter how hard we try. We can show love for each other with
forgiveness and by encouraging each other in the face of failure. By
surrounding others with love, we can demonstrate the type of love we receive
from our Father. Yes, love is the best choice.
“Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins.” – 1 Peter 4:8
It would be great if the second part of the verse meant that
we can do whatever we want as long as we are loving. I don’t think that’s what
the intention was as we all know it does matter what we do. We don’t “earn”
God’s love, but we have been commanded to love each other. If we embrace God’s
love and commit to be loving, we can demonstrate our love as a Christian.
During times of great stress and anxiety, tension can cause difficult behavior.
It’s at times like this that people need more love, not less.
By the way, we still have the banisters in our house with
the plastic comb marks. We embraced the “distressed look” Matt helped us
achieve.
Prayer Prompt for 3/28/20
“Relational God, my friends are in need, I especially pray for…”
Our theme for Lent at #BethanyDenver this year is
“Conversations with God”. Each day of
Lent we will post a different #PrayerPrompt here. Use these prompts to start a conversation
with God today. Feel free to also use
these prompts as ways to start a conversation with friends and family.
#ConversationsWithGod
#ConversationStarters
#BethanyDenver
#Lent
#PrayerPrompts
Intern Rachel Patterson and her husband Ethan share a reflection on excerpts from “Life Together” by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
Prayer Prompt for 3/27/20
“Generous God, open my eyes to see…”
Our theme for Lent at #BethanyDenver this year is
“Conversations with God”. Each day of
Lent we will post a different #PrayerPrompt here. Use these prompts to start a conversation
with God today. Feel free to also use
these prompts as ways to start a conversation with friends and family.
#ConversationsWithGod
#ConversationStarters
#BethanyDenver
#Lent
#PrayerPrompts
A Children’s Message from Pastor Nate based on 2nd Kings 5:1-19.
Readings from The Jesus Storybook Bible (read by Evelyn!)
Practice of the week:
Make an “I’m sorry” or “I forgive you” card for a family member or friend.
This devotional was written by Vicky Daub. Vicky leads Bethany’s Operation One Nation team.
Ecclesiastes 3
1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 5 a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
Like many of you, I started “social distancing” a couple of weeks ago. I am one who needs structure, routines, and “things to do”. Even though I have been retired since June 2011, my calendar is always full of meetings and activities. Until two weeks ago. Suddenly, unexpectedly, my calendar was empty.
In unknown times like these, both my depression and anxiety show their ugly heads. The other day, my husband Larry suggested that we get our bikes out and tune them up. You see, Larry and I are Mental Health First Aid instructors. Larry knew that getting outside and riding bikes would help both my depression and anxiety. Bless him for suggesting this!
Since then, I have been doing lots of other things that have helped me manage my Mental Health disorders. These have included reading, knitting, and teaching Larry to play Cribbage. Recently, I read an online suggestion about wearing “real” clothes, even when “social distancing”. I am now saving my leggings and sweatshirts for the evening!
What I am most grateful for, though, is the effort that our Bethany pastoral leaders have made to provide online worship and online meetings for all of us. It was amazing this past Sunday to interact with folks that I usually see in the Fellowship Hall via Zoom.
To close, I share these beautiful words from Philippians that have provided comfort and peace for me this past couple of weeks.
Philippians 4: 6 Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Dear Jesus, when I feel isolated and overwhelmed, wondering when things will “be normal” again, calm me. When I am lonely, help me to reach out and find You in the voice and face of a friend, even if it is only through Zoom. Give me patience, knowing that you have this and all things under control. Thanks for loving and always being beside me. Amen.
We will be continuing with our Whirl Sunday school curriculum digitally! Check this space every week, or go to bethanylive.org/sunday-school to watch the weekly Whirl video and download the class materials.
To Download the children’s bulletin activity sheet follow this link
To Download the children’s Sunday School class outline follow this link
To watch introductory Whirl video for PreK-Grade 2 follow this link
To watch introductory Whirl video for Grade 3-6 follow this link
Prayer Prompt for 3/26/20
“Compassionate God, I’m worried about…”
Our theme for Lent at #BethanyDenver this year is
“Conversations with God”. Each day of
Lent we will post a different #PrayerPrompt here. Use these prompts to start a conversation
with God today. Feel free to also use
these prompts as ways to start a conversation with friends and family.
#ConversationsWithGod
#ConversationStarters
#BethanyDenver
#Lent
#PrayerPrompts
Click this Link to watch our “Conversations with God” dramatic dialogue video and then consider the questions below
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE DRAMA
A WORD FOR THE ROAD
We encourage you to recite and memorize the theme verse throughout the week as a way of keeping the Conversation with God, that was begun tonight, going throughout the week.
“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from
their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
– 2 Chronicles 7:14
Prayer Prompt for 3/25/20
“God, I love…”
Our theme for Lent at #BethanyDenver this year is
“Conversations with God”. Each day of
Lent we will post a different #PrayerPrompt here. Use these prompts to start a conversation
with God today. Feel free to also use
these prompts as ways to start a conversation with friends and family.
#ConversationsWithGod
#ConversationStarters
#BethanyDenver
#Lent
#PrayerPrompts
Many years ago, I led a gathering for a group of young adults that focused specifically on the idea of humor as a Spiritual Practice. Our discussion mainly centered around how humor is so absent in the church. Sure, pastors occasionally throw in a joke at the beginning of their sermon, but generally speaking things, that happen at church are so… serious.
Why is that?
Certainly, there is a lot about our faith that needs to be taken seriously; a lot about our faith that is no joking matter. But I don’t think this means that all signs of humor need to be altogether extracted from the church. In the same vein, I don’t believe that all our other emotions should be removed from our life of faith. All emotions are holy gifts from God that speak to something real about us as individuals. Emotions are part of who we are and when we hide or repress these emotions we aren’t truly being ourselves. When our faith is not free to embrace all of our emotions, we are holding something back in our relationship with God.
“Your declarations of love last no longer
than morning mist and predawn dew.
That’s why I use prophets to shake you to attention,
why my words cut you to the quick:
To wake you up to my judgment
blazing like light.
I’m after love that lasts, not more religion.
I want you to know God, not go to more prayer meetings.” – Hosea 6:5-6 (MSG)
I love this passage from Hosea because it calls out the problem we so often face as people of faith. We quickly forget that our faith is about building a relationship with God, not about getting everything exactly right. Growing up I thought church was all about following the rules perfectly: no talking in church, memorize all the prayers, stand at the right time, sing the hymns with gusto… etc.
But over the years I’ve learned that what God wants most of all is to be in relationship with us. A real, authentic relationship where we share all of ourselves with God. Sometimes this means talking with God about our joy, and sometimes it means sharing our humor, and sometimes it means sharing our sorrow, or our despair, or our even our anger.
All of our emotions are holy and precious to God, because our emotions are part of what makes us uniquely us, and that’s what God desire more than anything else.
May we continue to build a relationship with God that encompasses all of us; emotions and all. Amen.
“Radical Love” Luke 12:49-56 by Bethany Prayer and Study • A podcast on Anchor
Guided study and reflection on Luke 12:49-56. Music from Rev Matthew Nickoloff of The South Wedge Mission in Rochester,Ny. Song title “Into Your Hands Lord”
Prayer Prompt for 3/24/20
“Dear God, why…”
Our theme for Lent at #BethanyDenver this year is
“Conversations with God”. Each day of
Lent we will post a different #PrayerPrompt here. Use these prompts to start a conversation
with God today. Feel free to also use
these prompts as ways to start a conversation with friends and family.
#ConversationsWithGod
#ConversationStarters
#BethanyDenver
#Lent
#PrayerPrompts
Our guest author today is Justin March. Justin leads the Bethany Lutheran Church Men’s Ministry and sends a weekly email message to the Men’s group every week. Justin has generously permitted us to post his weekly reflections here.
I hope this message finds you safe and in good health. Here at the March household, we have hunkered down, re-discovered one another, and made the best of the current times we live in. It is our faith that keeps us close, upbeat, and connected, and this faith gives us hope for how God plans to use us in this new world.
For those of you that read my message every week, you know most of my writings revolve around finding God in simple places. He can often seem aloof, especially in times like these, and I know it can become difficult to see how he is working in our lives. But as I reminisce about the week that passed, I am amazed at how many times he revealed himself.
First, I see God in the faces of my family. I see us becoming closer as we put puzzles together, watch movies, take walks, sit down for meals, and communicate. Without the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it has given us a chance to slowdown, understand one another, and be thankful for the gift of being together.
Second, I see God in the joy of our two dogs. They love this quarantine thing and are thankful to have us home. They are playful, devoted, and understanding, and God has put them in our lives so we can understand how to be compassionate and to practice love without boundaries. With the extra time we have on our hands, it has been a blessing to spend time with two of God’s most precious creatures.
Third, I see God in the conversations I am having with friends and family. With the gift of extra hours, every day, God has allowed me to keep in touch with those I love. Whether it be by text, skype, or phone call, those conversations have healing power and keep me connected to the world outside these walls. This disease may keep me from face to face interaction, but God is making sure I stay connected through all other resources.
My friends, it has been written that God will never forsake us. I know times are trying, and it may be difficult to see how he is working in your life. But let me tell you this. He is here! He knows we are hurting. He knows we are scared. So, we must reach out to him. We must pray, we must read our Bibles, and we must stay connected. If we do this, we can remain upbeat and filled with hope. We can remain faithful and be a beacon for others. And, in these dark times, we can help pull each other from the trenches and spread God’s word!
As I see the positives, over the next few weeks, I may drop a few short notes. I want to stay connected, and hopefully a few extra messages, each week, will help you keep your faith and build hope in your life. Until then, stay safe, wash your hands, and enjoy the extra time in God’s everlasting arms!
Prayer Prompt for 3/23/2020
“Life-giving Spirit, how might we…”
Our theme for Lent at #BethanyDenver this year is “Conversations with God”. Each day of Lent we will post a different #PrayerPrompt here. Use these prompts to start a conversation with God today. Feel free to also use these prompts as ways to start a conversation with friends and family.
#ConversationsWithGod
#ConversationStarters
#BethanyDenver
#Lent
#PrayerPrompts
One of my favorite movies as a kid was Space Jam. And for good reason, it had aliens, Looney tunes, Wayne Night, Bill Murray, and of course, Michael Jordan. If you’re unfamiliar with Space Jam- go rent it! (waiting for you to find a movie rental place that’s still open…) okay, now watch it! (waiting for you to watch the movie)
All finished? Good.
My guess is, you didn’t actually take the time to rent and watch Space Jam, or maybe you did and you’ve already forgotten what it was about. I’m not going to give a full review, but here’s what you need to know for the sake of this devotional:
The Monstars are playing the Looney Tunes in a very important basketball game. Michael Jordan is playing on the Looney Tune team, but at halftime the Looney Tunes are losing badly to the Monstars.
The Looney Tunes are feeling defeated and hopeless, they can’t possibly beat the Monstars. That’s when this happens…
Michael Jordan (with the help of Bugs Bunny) convinces the Looney Tunes that his “Secret Stuff” will give them a needed boost.
What the Looney Tunes don’t realize is that they are just drinking water, they really think it is “Secret Stuff” with magical powers that will help them win the important basketball game.
Have you ever wished that you had some form of “Secret stuff”? Some type of magical potion that can give you the needed energy, strength, talent, or wisdom to work through a seemingly impossible situation? I know I have. But the thing is, the world doesn’t really work like that. Rarely, if ever, is there a magic bullet for difficult situations.
In Space Jam, even though the “Secret Stuff” is just water, it actually works. The Looney Tunes battle back and win the basketball game against the Monstars.
The reason the Secret Stuff works isn’t because it’s actually magical, but because it caused the Looney Tunes to change their perspective. Until that moment everything seemed hopeless for The Tune Squad. But the Secret Stuff gave them a different perspective, it allowed them to adjust their mindset and approach the game with new confidence.
Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world.” John 18:36
Throughout Jesus’ ministry he talks about the Kingdom of God. Through his actions and words and miracles, Jesus reveals to the world a different type of Kingdom– a different perspective for understanding and looking at life. The shift of perspective that Jesus is constantly inviting us to make. We don’t have to sit around waiting for a magic bullet to save us. Maybe all we need is to shift our perspective and approach life with a different mindset–in a ways that Jesus would:
Instead of repaying violence with violence, Jesus invites us to choose peace. Instead of repaying hate with hate, Jesus invites us to choose love. Instead of repaying greed with greed, Jesus invites us to choose generosity.
Jesus invites us to change our perspective and to discover new life by following him.
We will be continuing with our Whirl Sunday school curriculum digitally! Check this space every week, or go to bethanylive.org/sunday-school to watch the weekly Whirl video and download the class materials.
To Download the children’s bulletin activity sheet follow this link
To Download the children’s Sunday School class outline follow this link
To watch introductory Whirl video for PreK-Grade 2 follow this link
To watch introductory Whirl video for Grade 3-6 follow this link
Prayer Prompt for 3/21/20
“Healing God, I pray for those who are sick, especially…”
Our theme for Lent at #BethanyDenver this year is “Conversations with God”. Each day of Lent we will post a different #PrayerPrompt here. Use these prompts to start a conversation with God today. Feel free to also use these prompts as ways to start a conversation with friends and family.
#ConversationsWithGod
#ConversationStarters
#BethanyDenver
#Lent
#PrayerPrompts