Lenten-Meditations-2015-w

Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley, Pastor
A
LENTEN
MEDITATIONS
FOR 2015
Closer
Walk
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
Rev. Dr. Judy Fentress-Williams, director

Christian Life Institute Board Members
BARBRANDA WALLS, DIRECTOR
MINISTER ROSALIND BROOKS
DORIS HUTCHINSON COLLINS
DEACON WINSTON GASKIN
DEACON CHARLES J. MONTERIO SR.
DEACON NANCY MYRICK
LOUISE L. NICKENS
REV. SAMUEL NIXON JR.
RITA WOMACK

Key to Bible Translations
ESV - English Standard Version
KJV – King James Version
NAS – New American Standard
NCV – New Century Version
NIV – New International Version
NKJV – New King James Version
NLT – New Living Translation
NRS – New Revised Standard

Table of Contents
Message From Pastor Wesley.................................................................................................7
What is the Season of Lent? ...................................................................................................9
Daily Meditations
February 18 – The Wonder of the Wilderness............................................................... 10
February 19 – Following Jesus.............................................................................................11
February 20 – Conquering the Crazy............................................................................... 12
February 21 – Peace in Uncertainty.................................................................................. 13
February 23 – God’s Gift of Grace..................................................................................... 14
February 24 – Show Me the Way....................................................................................... 15
February 25 – Converted in a Crisis.................................................................................. 16
February 26 – Unlocking the Door to Freedom............................................................17
February 27 –Change for the Good.................................................................................. 18
February 28 – The Power and Promise of Praise.......................................................... 19
March 2 – Right Place, Right Time..................................................................................... 20
March 3 – Thanks in Action................................................................................................. 21
March 4 – Greater Love Has No Man................................................................................ 22
March 5 – Eternity Belongs to God................................................................................... 23
March 6 – Fellowship of Kindred Minds.......................................................................... 24
March 7 – No Time for Idols................................................................................................. 25
March 9 – An Act of Faith...................................................................................................... 26
March 10 – Mercy in Our Lives............................................................................................ 27
March 11 – When God Says “No,” I Say “Thank You”................................................... 28
March 12 – Joy for Today...................................................................................................... 29
March 13 – Living in Holiness.............................................................................................. 30
March 14 – The Blessing of Obedience........................................................................... 31
March 16 – My True Self........................................................................................................ 32
March 17 – The Peace of God.............................................................................................. 33
March 18 – Saved By and Through God’s Grace.......................................................... 34
March 19 – Going Beyond Membership........................................................................ 35
March 20 – Help Me!............................................................................................................... 36
March 21 – Land of the Free................................................................................................ 37
March 23 – A Necessity for Pleasing God....................................................................... 38
March 24 – God, My First Love!........................................................................................... 39
March 25 – Fellowship in Love...........................................................................................40
March 26 – Instructions on Forgiveness......................................................................... 41
March 27 – If You Don’t Know Me By Now..................................................................... 42
March 28 – The Miracle of Mercy....................................................................................... 43
March 30 – A Smelly Situation............................................................................................44
March 31 – The Key to Abundant Living......................................................................... 45
April 1 – Paid in Full................................................................................................................46
April 2 – Hold On to Your Hope.......................................................................................... 47
April 3 – The Prayer of Your Servant.................................................................................48
April 4 – True Sacrifice........................................................................................................... 49
Glossary of Terms.................................................................................................................... 50

Message From Pastor Wesley
Grace and peace to you from our Father who calls us, His Son in Whose name we
minister, and His Spirit who empowers us for His glory.
This year we pause to say thank you to the Rev. Dr. Faye S. Gunn, who served as the
Director of Christian Education. Her service to the Alfred Street Baptist Church and
the Board of Christian Education was no less than excellent. Dr. Gunn’s leadership in
Christian Education led the congregation in spiritual growth and a closer walk with
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We pray God’s continuous blessings upon her and
the Gunn family.
Here we stand, as we do every year, at the beginning of one of the most sacred and
special seasons of the Christian year—Lent. Just as the season of Advent takes us on
a journey to reflect upon the beauty of the incarnate God born in a manger, so now
does Lent takes us on a journey of reflection and repentance as we view the horror
and the glory of the cross and our crucified Savior.
This Lenten journey is one that calls and causes us to appreciate the eternal and
priceless value of our salvation and the forgiveness of our sins. It is a 40-day journey
that helps us find the balance between sacrifice and celebration, repentance and
rejoicing, so that we may learn to yield our lives as a living sacrifice that is holy and
acceptable to God.
During these 40 days, I invite and encourage you to center your daily thoughts and
devotions on the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ and how His death draws us into
the very loving presence of a forgiving God. My prayer is that these daily devotions,
penned from the heart of Christian Education board members and Alfred Street
ministers, will help you draw nearer to the Lord. As the songwriter said, “Draw me
nearer, nearer precious Lord, to the cross where thou hast died.” Collectively as a
church family, through these devotions, we will meditate and pray together so that
when Resurrection Sunday comes, like Christ, we will come out of this season with
a new glory, a deeper commitment, and a hunger to daily dwell in the presence of
God.
When the women came to the tomb to anoint what they thought would be the
dead body of Jesus, their lives were forever changed by the invitation of the angel
to “come see the place where the Lord lay” (Matthew 28:6). My prayer is that these
devotions will also fill you with an awe and appreciation for Christ’s death, and give
you the same excitement and energy of those women to go and share with the
world the good news of our Savior’s death and resurrection as together we draw
nearer to the Lord. Amen.
7

What Is The Season Of Lent?
Lent was first celebrated during the 4th century and began with only a few
days before Easter. The early church would baptize converts to Christianity—
all those who believed on the name of the Lord—on Easter Sunday only.
With time, Lent was extended to several weeks. The 40 days were symbolic
of Jesus’ preparation and temptation by Satan in the wilderness after His
baptism and before the beginning of His ministry. It was a time of purification
and separation.
Lent became known as the 40-day period before Easter and begins on
Ash Wednesday. Sundays are not counted in the 40 days because the day
commemorates the resurrection of our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ. Since
early biblical times ashes have been symbolic of repentance (turning away
from sin and turning to God) or of grief in mourning. The ashes were used
to make a sign of the cross on the forehead of believers from the charred
remains of the palm branches used on Palm Sunday the year before. This
extended period of 40 days became a time of prayer and fasting as well as a
time of self-examination and inner reflection for the purpose of repentance.
As we celebrate Lent we should remember that what we give up for a short
period of time cannot prepare us for how God expects us to live our lives
daily in relationship with Him. Perhaps that is why after the Reformation, the
discipline of fasting became unpopular. Yet, there were those church fathers
and leaders who still wanted to preserve Lent as a time of self-sacrifice; thus,
people were encouraged to give up something they enjoyed during Lent.
We suggest during this season of Lent to forget about giving up trivial things.
Instead, take on a newfound attitude to live in accordance with God’s Word.
No amount of fasting, abstaining from physical pleasures or any other form
of self-denial can purify us. Our cleansing can only come from the atoning
blood of Jesus who sacrificed His life for our many sins.
Get to know Jesus intimately for yourself during this sacred time. Use these
meditations, written by the board members of the Christian Life Institute at
Alfred Street Baptist Church, to help guide you as you reflect on Christ’s great
sacrifice and how it impacts your life today. Let the Holy Spirit convert your
mind daily and lead you to do and think the things that are pleasing in His
sight. Pray, repent and let God work in you and to do His good pleasure.
9

Sanctification
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
THE WONDER OF THE WILDERNESS
READ: Deuteronomy 8:2-4
KEY VERSE: Remember the long way that the Lord your God has led
you these forty years in the wilderness, in order to humble you, testing
you to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his
commandments. –Deuteronomy 8:2 (NRSV)
Sanctification is a process that describes God’s work in us with the aid of the
Holy Spirit. We are set apart from some things to be prepared for something.
There are things God has for us that we cannot enter into so long as we stay in
our current space. This means that God will lead us through difficult places on
the path to sanctification.
The children of Israel could not leave Egypt and go directly to the Promised
Land. They had to go through a process of being set apart. For some, the
wilderness meant losing the “good things” in Egypt, forgetting that those
things were in the land where they were oppressed. In order to occupy the
Promised Land, they had to be separated from their slave mentality.
In the wilderness, without distractions, God prepares us for something new.
The season of Lent invites us to remember the wilderness experience as we
prepare to celebrate our Lord’s resurrection. –Rev. Judy Fentress-Williams
LOOKING WITHIN: In my Lenten/wilderness experience, am I focused today
on what I am giving up or what I have lost? What am I imagining God has in
store for me?
Thank you, Father that you will provide all that I need on this journey
through the wilderness. Thank you that you are with me on this path.
Amen.
10

Obedience
Thursday, February 19, 2015
FOLLOWING JESUS
READ: John 14:15-21
KEY VERSE: “If you love me, keep my commands.” -John 14:15 (NIV)
“Louise, you are going to mind me if it is the last thing you do!” How I often
heard my mother say that during my childhood days. I quickly learned the
meaning of obedience to my parents.
However, what about obedience to God? In the gospel of John, obedience
to God is underscored repeatedly. None of us will obey God’s law always, but
we can start by honoring and meditating on the words of Jesus as we learn
obedience to God.
When we are obedient to the Lord, it is not the same as sticking to the speed
limit to avoid getting a ticket. We obey God’s Word because we want to enjoy
being filled with the love of Jesus. Being obedient to Him is getting to know
and love Him. It’s having a personal and intimate relationship with Him. When
we trust God’s wisdom and experience His unconditional love, there’s no
reason to cling to self-will.
Why would we not want to obey someone who knows us better than we
know ourselves and longs to share the joy of salvation with us?
–Louise L. Nickens
LOOKING WITHIN: What is God asking me to do today? Will I obey?
Dear Lord, help me to listen to and obey your instructions. In Jesus’ name.
Amen.
11

Faith
Friday, February 20, 2015
Conquering the Crazy
READ: Isaiah 43:14-19
KEY VERSE: For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun!
Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create
rivers in the dry wasteland. – Isaiah 43:19 (NLT)
Many amusement park fans eagerly awaited the opening of The Verrückt
– the world’s largest water slide. This thriller at Schlitterbahn Waterpark in
Kansas City, Kan., is 168 feet and features a 50-foot drop that’s taller than
Niagara Falls.
When I heard about The Verrückt, whose name means “the crazy,” I thought
of slides I rode at a different park and how much faith it took to climb the
stairs to the top. It made me wonder if I might have what it takes to conquer
The Verrückt.
But the Lord reminds us to never fear whatever lies in our journey. We can
look back and see how far we’ve already come and spring forward in faith,
knowing the best is ahead. Even if the whole process seems crazy.
–Rev. Yvonne D. Hawkins
LOOKING WITHIN: What Verrückt am I facing in my life right now? What feats
have I previously conquered? How can I apply faith lessons learned to my
current challenge?
God of Grace, I worship you for your great vision. You know the path I
take. Grant me faith to see what you see – or be undeterred even if I can’t
see. Amen.
12

Peace
Saturday, February 21, 2015
Peace in Uncertainty
READ: Philippians 4:6-9
KEY VERSE: The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard
your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. –Philippians 4:7 (NKJV)
After an accident and surgery last year, I was limited in my movements. I got
discouraged during my recovery because I had to depend on my wife to do
a lot for me and it sometimes interrupted what she had to do. But she shared
with me that although there were uncertainties, we both knew that God
would take care of us.
We must remember that believers in Jesus can have peace in the midst of
uncertainties because we have the assurance that our heavenly Father loves
and cares for us. We should know that we can bring all our concerns to Him
with an attitude of thankfulness, trusting Him to meet our needs and give us
peace. –Charles J. Monterio Sr.
LOOKING WITHIN: How do I respond when I face uncertainty? What steps do
I need to take to experience the peace that God promises to believers?
Heavenly Father, you are all-wise, all-powerful and all-loving. In the midst
of uncertainties, help me to rest in the certainty of who you are. In Jesus’
name I pray. Amen.
13

Grace
Monday, February 23, 2015
God’s Gift of Grace
READ: Ephesians 2:4-10
KEY VERSE: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves: it is a gift of God. - Ephesians 2:8 (KJV)
Last fall, I attended a conference luncheon. Each person was invited to write
her name on a slip of paper and drop it in a hat. At the end of the program,
names were drawn for a series of prizes. I won the grand prize, a beautiful
designer purse. I did little to earn the prize. I can’t say I deserved it because
other ladies had contributed more to the goals of the organization. Yet I won.
Each day we win the greatest prize of all: God’s grace. If we know and accept
Jesus Christ as our Savior, God shows His love to us even though we have
done nothing to deserve it. Our works never merit the blessings that come
our way. Even when our days appear dark, God makes His presence known.
Grace is an extension of God’s arm in our lives. We can lean on its strength
in time of troubles, on its power to lift us above temptation and toward our
blessings. It is sufficient for every situation. –Doris Hutchinson Collins
LOOKING WITHIN: How can I strengthen my faith so that I will always know
that I cannot move outside of God’s grace?
Heavenly Father, thank you for giving the greatest gift of all and for being
there whenever I need your strength and grace. Amen.
14

Discipleship
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Show Me the Way
READ: Matthew 28:16-20
KEY VERSES: Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching
them to obey everything I have commanded you. -Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)
One of the great blessings and challenges I have is serving as a group leader
in Bible Study Fellowship, an interdenominational Bible study that holds
classes around the world. I get to know the members in my group on a
personal level and pray with and for them.
Jesus also developed a close, personal relationship with the group He led -
His 12 disciples. During His ministry He taught them many things and more
importantly was the ultimate example of holiness, love, patience and truth.
He wanted to equip them for the work they had to do - making other disciples
for Him after His return to heaven.
We, too, are called to make disciples. We do that by building a Christ-like
relationship with those around us, investing time in them, encouraging
and praying with them and showing them the way to Jesus by living by His
commands. Just like Jesus did with His disciples. –Barbranda Walls
LOOKING WITHIN: How does my life model the ways of Jesus? Who can I
reach out to and help become a true disciple of Christ?
Dear Lord, please help me show someone the way to you and encourage
another in his or her walk with you. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
15

Salvation
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Converted in a Crisis
READ: Acts 16:26-30
KEY VERSE: And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be
saved?” -Acts 16:30 (NKJV)
Life presents moments that define the decisions we make. In one split second,
we can be birthed into decisions that undoubtedly determine destiny.
That is what the Philippian jailer faced in Acts 16. Acts offers little about the
jailer except that he is seasoned in the standards of Roman justice. While
his actions demonstrate little of a spirit governed by grace, he undeniably
becomes a witness to the wonder of God as the bound prisoners broke free.
Through worship, Paul and Silas pointed a jailer to a Christ who liberated
those who erred, deserved justice, but were extended God’s hand of mercy.
I don’t know what the jailer saw that caused him to draw his sword to take his
own life. What I know for sure is in the moment of crisis the jailer heard the
words, “Do yourself no harm.” He connected to the love of Christ and asked,
“What must I do to be saved?” Hallelujah, a conversion in the midst of a crisis.
–Rev. Dustin B. Sullivan
LOOKING WITHIN: How does my witness help or hinder those who are
searching for the gift of salvation?
Lord, teach me how to see light in darkness so that your name can receive
glory and somebody in torment can be set free. In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen.
16

Redemption
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Unlocking the Door to Freedom
READ: Ephesians 1:1-14
KEY VERSES: In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness
of sins; according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward
us in all wisdom and prudence. –Ephesians 1:7-8 (NKJV)
I can’t imagine how some prisoners must feel being locked up in jail for life.
Prisoners are in jail because they have committed some crime that has put
them behind bars. Many are locked up and locked out from all the freedoms
they used to enjoy. This is no way to live an abundant life.
When I think about my own life, the Holy Spirit reminds me that I used to be in
that same predicament. While I was not in a jail cell, I was held in bondage by
sin in my mind, body and spirit. No key could unlock the door to my freedom
except the key of God’s amazing grace. My redemption – that is my freedom –
has come through Jesus shedding His blood on Calvary. Christ redeemed me
from all my sins and He redeems everyone who puts his or her trust in Him.
It is not necessary to be locked up or locked out. You, too, can live a life
redeemed by the cleansing and sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ.
–Rev. Faye S. Gunn
LOOKING WITHIN: How are my sins holding me captive? What do I need to
do to experience God’s redeeming love?
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for the sacrificial death that Jesus
Christ paid for our redemption. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
17

Restoration
Friday, February 27, 2015
Change for the Good
READ: Deuteronomy 30:1-10
KEY VERSES: Then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes and have
compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he
scattered you. -Deuteronomy 30:3 (NIV)
I have an old carved table that belonged to my grandmother, and I
occasionally ponder whether to have it refinished. The main reason that I
have not is because I like the way it looks. The scratches and portions where
the stain has worn off give the piece history. If the table is refinished, then
someone will use sandpaper, stain and brushes, and take away my history.
In the same manner, we, with our scratches and worn places, have history. We
often are suspicious of God’s restorative work because we fear losing those
parts that make us distinct. Unlike a refinished table, however, the restorative
work of God will leave the life-defining events intact. Our appearance may
change, but the real change will be in our countenance.
–Minister Rosalind Brooks
LOOKING WITHIN: Do I fear that the sanctifying work of God’s Holy Spirit
will make me unrecognizable to my family, friends or even me? How am I
embracing the changes that God is making in me for my good?
God, make me a willing vessel for your life-changing work. Strengthen me
so that I may take the soul-searching steps necessary for true restoration.
Amen.
18

Praise
Saturday, February 28, 2015
The Power and Promise of Praise
READ: Psalm 34
KEY VERSES: “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be
in my mouth.” -Psalm 34:1 (NKJV)
When trouble seems to be everywhere, praising God is sometimes the
last thing on our minds. The psalmist David invites us to praise the Lord
continually. However, the tension between struggle and celebration can make
that hard to do.
Still, I have found that God responds to praise. When God’s praise is
continually in my mouth, I am encouraged and empowered. My soul is
fortified.
Praise is the overflow of a heart filled with love for who God is and how God
shows up in our lives. That is why I can celebrate during my struggle. I can
rejoice in my infirmities. I can shout, dance and lift up holy hands because my
hope is in the Lord.
When we don’t know how things will work out, praise still should be our
posture. What we do know supersedes what we don’t. We know that the Lord
is good. We know that God is faithful. We know that blessed is the one who
trusts in our God! –Rev. Leslie Copeland-Tune
LOOKING WITHIN: How can I bless the Lord in good times and bad? What
stops me from giving God praise continually?
Dear Lord, thank you for being greater than my circumstances. Help me
to praise you no matter what is going on in my life. For you, O Lord, are
worthy of honor, praise and glory! Amen.
19

Atonement
Monday, March 2, 2015
Right Place, Right Time
READ: Romans 5:6-11
KEY VERSE: But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we
were still sinners, Christ died for us. -Romans 5:8 (NKJV)
It was Good Friday, 2013. I wanted a new blouse. I went to Marshall’s, found
one and got in line. As I waited, a woman at the front of the line beckoned
me. When I approached, she said, “I just want to be a blessing to you,” and
told the cashier to ring up my item. I began to protest, but I could hear the
Spirit say, “Allow yourself to be blessed.” My debt was paid that day because I
was in the right place at the right time.
The fall of Adam caused brokenness and estrangement between God and
mankind. The Old Testament foretells of the coming Messiah. However,
Christ shows up in the New Testament. By His death, atonement was made
for our sins – restoring humanity back to God. Christ did not arrive in the Old
Testament, but He arrived at Calvary and paid our debts. Right place, right
time. –Rev. Laura O. White
LOOKING WITHIN: How can I demonstrate God’s free gift of life-changing
love to others?
Lord, please fill me with love, compassion and discernment so I find myself
in the right place at the right time to be a blessing to others. In the name of
Jesus. Amen.
20

Thanksgiving
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Thanks in Action
READ: 2 Corinthians 9:6-15
KEY VERSE: You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous
on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving
to God. -2 Corinthians 9:11 (NIV)
When I was a child, I often was perplexed by my parents’ actions as we lived
in our small, rural community. When it snowed, our father got out the tractor
and cleared the driveways of elderly residents. We carried in wood so they
had fires to keep them warm and delivered meals to keep them fed. We never
went to Richmond for shopping trips without taking two to three neighbors
with us. And people regularly showed up at our house on Sunday evenings to
watch Ed Sullivan and Perry Mason on television.
As a child, these acts of kindness seemed to be continuing impositions. As
an adult, I feel blessed to have been raised by such giving, sharing people. I
have tried to emulate their open hearts and give of myself when I see others
in need.
It is certainly easier to write a check, and we should do so for causes that need
money. But extending ourselves in personal ways lets the receiver understand
that we are Christians trying to live as Christ taught us.
–Doris Hutchinson Collins
LOOKING WITHIN: How can I daily practice sharing my good fortune with
others so that they may see Christ’s love for them through me?
Dear God, help me to give thanks each day for my many blessings and give
back from your bounty to those in need. Amen.
21

Sacrifice
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Greater Love Has No Man
READ: John 15:9-17
KEY VERSE: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his
life for his friends.” – John 15:13 (ESV)
“What is in it for me?” This was the question Joe asked his dad when told to
mow the lawn. Many of us approach life’s situations from the perspective
of Joe. Like the movie line “Show me the money,” we envision the benefits
before service is rendered.
The call to sacrifice challenges us to deny our own desires, wants, and in some
instances, needs so that others may experience life in more meaningful ways.
To sacrifice is to love, and to love is to sacrifice. It is to do as Jesus is asking – to
lay down our lives for our friends.
Sacrifice is difficult because it requires more than a contribution, showing up
or expressing sympathy. It requires life itself. Sacrifice makes demands that
will seem unreasonable. But Jesus is not asking us to do anything that He
didn’t do. Was dying on Calvary’s cross reasonable? But He did it for you and
me. –Rev. Emmett Dunn
LOOKING WITHIN: When was the last time I totally went out of my way
to help someone else? Do I mostly think about personal benefits before
extending a helping hand?
Lord, open my eyes to see others as you see me, hear others as you hear me
and feel the pains of others as you feel my pains so that I will uplift others
for the good of the kingdom. Amen.
22

Eternity
Thursday, March 5, 2015
Eternity Belongs to God
READ: Acts 15:6-18
KEY VERSE: Known to God from eternity are all His works from the beginning
of the world. –Acts 15:18 (NKJV)
God works across eternity more than we can even imagine. Paul points that
out in his writings about the early church. Members were divided over the
question of whether Gentiles could become Christians. The apostle reminds
us that almighty God’s eternal view is a major distinctive characteristic of His
nature.
Time is always a constraint in our limited nature and perspective. Indeed,
sometimes we can hardly see “beyond our nose” what is really going on.
However, it’s God who has the big picture of eternity in which He alone
operates. Where we leave off, He picks up. And only the true and living God
of all has this unique distinction. It’s reassuring to know that God truly knows
and sees all! –Rev. Samuel Nixon Jr.
LOOKING WITHIN: What does serving an eternal God mean in my journey
through life? In what ways does how I live impact where I will spend eternity?
God, it’s a privilege to be in service and relationship with you who make
the greatest difference in our lives for eternity! Thank you for loving me
and all of your creation in a way that operates across all of our clocks and
knows no limit. Amen.
23

Fellowship
Friday, March 6, 2015
Fellowship of Kindred Minds
READ: Philippians 2:1-11
KEY VERSES: If you have any encouragement from being united with
Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any common sharing in the Spirit,
if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being
like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. -
Philippians 2:1-2 (NIV)
Descendants of my grandfather and his five siblings gather from far and
near the first weekend in August to share our history, pray, laugh and eat.
We welcome new members, mourn those who have passed since the last
gathering, and celebrate accomplishments of all kinds. We are family – built
on a solid foundation of faith in Jesus Christ and love, caring and commitment
to each other. We promise to stay in close touch and keep each other in
prayer. Then we part in love and peace.
That’s how fellowship among Christians should be. We should share each
other’s burdens and joys, encourage and strengthen one another, and
do God’s work in the community and the church. Giving of yourself will
come back to you as acceptance, love and friendship you can depend on.
Fellowship is essential for a closer walk with the Savior. –Rita Womack
LOOKING WITHIN: Am I in fellowship with members of a church? How can I
improve that fellowship?
Lord, help me overcome whatever is holding me back from being an active
member of a church. This is my prayer in Jesus’ name. Amen.
24

Worship
Saturday, March 7, 2015
No Time for Idols
READ: Exodus 20:1-6
KEY VERSES: “You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make
for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth
beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship
them.” – Exodus 20:3-5 (NIV)
If anyone asked if you put anything or anyone above the Lord, you would
probably say no, right? But think about it. Do you choose working late instead
of going to Bible study? Catching up on chores instead of spending quiet time
with God? Sleeping in on Sunday mornings instead of going to church?
God lays down the law in the Ten Commandments with the first two dealing
with our duty to Him. Although we may not physically bow down and
worship our jobs, possessions, children, relationships or activities, truth be
told, we do sometimes let them take priority over the Lord. I know I do. And
that, to say the least, is not good.
Let’s kick those idols to the side and give our time and worship to the
Almighty God. –Barbranda Walls
LOOKING WITHIN: What have I made an idol in my life? What will I do this
week to make God the priority instead of something or someone else?
Father God, please open my eyes to the idols in my life. May my worship
focus only on you and be acceptable in your sight. In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen.
25

Forgiveness
Monday, March 9, 2015
An Act of Faith
READ: Micah 7:14-20
KEY VERSES: Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the
transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever
but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will
tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.
-Micah 7:18-19 (NIV)
One day a little boy name Marcus was having an argument with his best
friend Austin. During the argument Austin called Marcus a bad name. After
Austin calmed down he apologized. But Marcus was so hurt that he found
it challenging to continue the friendship. Later that day, Marcus’ father
asked him why he looked so discouraged. Marcus turned to his father and
said, “How do you forgive someone when you are hurt?” After pausing for a
moment he responded, “You forgive by faith.”
God shows us how true forgiveness requires faith and trust with no
guarantees. God forgives us, pardons us and dismisses our iniquities without
hesitation in order to restore our relationship with Him. Likewise, we must
have faith to forgive to restore our relationship with others.
–Rev. Sedric Roberts
LOOKING WITHIN: How easy is it for me to forgive? Is my act of forgiveness
unconditional? Or can it be revoked? How would Jesus have me to respond?
Everlasting God, in this Lenten season teach me how to emulate you and
forgive unconditionally. Amen.
26

Mercy
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Mercy in Our Lives
READ: Genesis 39:1-22
KEY VERSE: But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He
gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. –Genesis 39:21 (NKJV)
Joseph was in one of the worst places of his life. He was imprisoned because
of the accusations and lies of another man’s wife. His situation seemed
hopeless. But God, who always knows the truth, showed him mercy and made
a way out.
God did the same for me one day. I was stuck on a road in Cameroon when
the truck I was riding in had a flat. The driver had to walk miles to get the tire
fixed. I was alone in a foreign country, unfamiliar with the language, standing
with the truck on a dusty road at sunset. I could hear wildlife in the bushes all
around me.
What a joy to see that driver return with the repaired tire. By God’s amazing
grace, we were soon on our way, away from the imminent dangers that had
surrounded me. God will show the same mercy to you if you trust Him and
remain faithful in your walk with Him. -Rev. Samuel Nixon Jr.
LOOKING WITHIN: How has God shown me His mercy in a seemingly
impossible situation?
Lord, thank you that your mercy endures forever and keeps me day by day!
Thank you for not letting me be caught up in my prisons of life forever, but
delivering me in very special ways. Amen.
27

Prayer
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
When God Says “No,” I Say “Thank You”
READ: 2 Samuel 7:1-29
KEY VERSE: Then went king David in, and sat before the Lord, and he said,
Who am I, O Lord God? -2 Samuel 7:18a (KJV)
Today we are initiated into the deep dynamic of prayer. We see that all prayer
begins with God and returns to God, in and through a willing heart.
Prayer is a two-way conversation with God. It’s hard to have a relationship
with the Lord without talking to Him and then listening to Him. As we read,
2 Samuel 7:1-29, David proposes to build a temple to go with his palace. He
shares his plans with Nathan, his pastor, and gets his blessings. Neither David
nor Nathan prayed about the plan. Through Nathan, however, God promptly
turns the offer down. Instead, God will build David’s lineage into a house.
What did David do? David responds enthusiastically in a long prayer,
acknowledging God’s gift to Israel and him. –Minister Sylvia Dayton-Jones
LOOKING WITHIN: How do I react when God answers my prayers differently
from what I want or expect? Is my response pleasing to Him? Does it honor
Him?
Dear Lord, thank you for answered prayers, even when you say, “No.”
Amen.
28

Joy
Thursday, March 12, 2015
Joy for Today
READ: Luke 10:21-24
KEY VERSE: At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I
praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these
things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes,
Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.” –Luke 10:21 (NIV)
What brings you joy? Are you so busy fulfilling your daily obligations that you
put off things that bring you pleasure? As God’s children we must realize that
joy occurs in the present moment and is not something that is delayed for the
future.
Jesus experienced joy on earth through the presence of the Holy Spirit. We
can have the same joy, too. We don’t have to wait till we get to heaven to feel
the joy that the Lord has promised us. It comes with opening our souls to God
and walking in the peace and harmony that is our birthright as children of the
Almighty.
Ask God right now to send you joy and let it pour into your being. No need to
delay the joy and abundance that our God offers us every day.
–Charles J. Monterio Sr.
LOOKING WITHIN: What does joy look like in my life? How can I be more
joyful in my everyday living?
Lord, please fill me with your joy and let me draw strength from it. Thank
you for being my strength and my song. Amen.
29

Holiness
Friday, March 13, 2015
Living in Holiness
READ: Psalm 96:7-10
KEY VERSE: Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before
Him, all the earth. -Psalm 96:9 (NKJV)
We have so many choices and options in reaching our goals in life that we
often rely on ourselves and forget where all our help comes from. We should
recognize that God our creator is the one who provides all our knowledge
and skills. By getting to know God personally, we will realize that there is none
like Him.
We demonstrate to God our desire to live for Him through worship and
trusting that He must cleanse us, separate us from the things that minimize
our relationship with Him, and transform us from our old ways. The Apostle
Paul tells us that we are to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable to God, which is reasonable and what He deserves.
Never forget what God did for us by the sacrifice of His son, Jesus Christ.
In return, we should lead lives that are set apart from all things that do not
honor Him. Only then can His glory and power be revealed to all nations.
–Rev. Greg Barrett
LOOKING WITHIN: How can living my life in holiness please God and give
back to Him that which is due?
Father in Heaven, forgive me when my life has not been one of holiness.
May your holy splendor cause me to no longer live outside of your desire
for me. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
30

Obedience
Saturday, March 14, 2015
The Blessing of Obedience
READ: Luke 11:27-28
KEY VERSE: “But He said, ‘More than that, blessed are those who hear the
word of God and keep it!’ ” -Luke 11:28 (NKJV)
Obedience is defined as compliance or submission to authority, rule or law.
However, obedience in a Christian’s life involves much more. It requires the
study of God’s Word and decision to follow its teachings. As verse 27 of the
scripture indicates, a woman declared that Jesus’ mother was blessed to have
had such a wonderful son. Jesus’ reply is that a greater blessing is to obey
God’s Word.
While we often feel blessed by many people, gifts, and talents in our lives,
they should not distract us from the most valuable gift: obedience to the
Word of God. Oftentimes, we come to worship, praise God in song and prayer,
listen to a sermon, and even tell others how wonderful that sermon is without
considering God’s expected response of obedience. As we journey through
this Lenten season, let us recognize not only what Jesus accomplished for us,
but that it was made available through Jesus’ obedience to His Father, even to
His death on the cross. –Rev. Marla Hawkins
LOOKING WITHIN: What instructions from God’s Word have I disobeyed? Am
I willing to receive the blessing of obedience?
Thank you, dear Lord, that obedience is a gift that never stops giving, for it
focuses my mind on you. Allow my hours spent this day reflect obedience
to your holy Word. Amen.
31

Faith
Monday, March 16, 2015
My True Self
READ: Luke 8:40-48
KEY VERSE: And He said to her, “… your faith has made you well. Go in
peace.” -Luke 8:48 (NKJV)
For Christians, our defining of faith has been that as unseen, yet hopeful of its
existence or manifestation. We’ve been taught you only need faith the size of
a mustard seed and with time it will grow into something strong, secure and
unmovable. But what is our faith in? God? Our abilities? Or in knowing our
true self?
Paul Tillich, one of my favorite theologians, dares us to give ourselves to
something larger than we are in the hope that we shall find our true selves.
He says this “giving ourselves to something larger” is the heart of religious
faith. The woman in Luke 8:48 gave something larger than what she believed
to possess. When we yield to that which is larger than us – the Almighty –we,
too, will experience faith and call ourselves well and at peace.
–Rev. Laura O. White
LOOKING WITHIN: What prevents me from giving my all to something larger
than my understanding? How can I experience the essence of my faith and
live an abundant life?
Dear Lord, I pray for the wisdom to know you are greater in ways I could
ever imagine. I pray that I experience my faith in you and your faith in me.
In the name of Jesus I ask it all. Amen.
32

Peace
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
The Peace of God
READ: Philippians 4:4-9
KEY VERSE: “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will
guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” -Philippians 4:7 (NIV)
When we hear the word “peace,” we often think of world peace. We pray
for nations torn by war. We express gratitude for all who have served in the
military, and that includes my spouse. However, there also is a time when we
need to pray for personal peace – the peace of God.
Peace waits patiently for us through our hardships and anxieties. We feel its
presence surrounding us. And if we stay put long enough, it even sinks into
our being.
Other times, we do our best to offer our requests to God without worrying,
but His peace feels distant. Why? To experience God’s peace, our awareness
needs to be activated through faith. Faith allows us to know the peace of God
in our lives.
The songwriter of “Peace in the Valley” says it all. “The bear will be gentle, and
the wolf will be tame. And the lion shall lay down by the lamb. That’s what he
said. And the beasts from the wild shall be led by a little child, and I shall be
changed from this creature that I am.” –Louise L. Nickens
LOOKING WITHIN: How can I allow faith to make me more aware of God’s
peace?
Dear God, make me an instrument of your peace. Let your peace guard my
heart and mind. In Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.
33

Grace
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Saved By and Through God’s Grace
READ: Romans 4: 23-25
KEY VERSE: Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that
is in Jesus Christ. –Romans 4:24 (NKJV)
Grace is the most powerful word in our English language that expresses God’s
affection, commitment and dedication to us. It captures the depth and height
of God’s love.
God taught me a lot about His grace through my children. They depend on
me for everything – food, clothing, health care, education and knowledge of
God. They bring me joy and cause me worry. They sometimes embrace my
teachings and counsel and often reject my guidance. They are blood of my
blood and flesh of my flesh.
Perhaps the greatest thing that God revealed to me through fatherhood is
the fact that even though sometimes my children rebel against me, I still love
them. They can do nothing to change that. God feels the same way about us.
Through God’s redeeming love, we can be saved and secure in this earthly life
and life eternal. –Rev. Delton Nichols
LOOKING WITHIN: How can I recognize and thank God for His grace?
God, thank you for the height and depth of your grace that is all sufficient.
Amen.
34

Discipleship
Thursday, March 19, 2015
Going Beyond Membership
READ: John 13:31-35
KEY VERSE: By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for
one another. -John 13:35 (NKJV)
It is important for those who join the church to understand the difference
between membership and discipleship – and better yet move from
membership to discipleship.
Membership entitles you to have your name on the roll of the Alfred Street
Baptist Church with all rights and voting privileges of the church once you
complete new member orientation. But that’s it. You are just a member.
Conversely, discipleship means you have been baptized in the faith and are
a committed follower of Jesus Christ by the way you live. Discipleship means
that you put Christ first in all things. You follow Christ’s teachings, study His
Word, pray daily, love other disciples – and you make disciples by spreading
the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ.
What better way to show love than to live for Christ daily and to share His love
with another. Which are you – a member or a disciple? –Rev. Faye S. Gunn
LOOKING WITHIN: Am I a member or a disciple? What can I do to help others
move from membership to discipleship?
Dear Heavenly Father, help all who join our church to understand that
there is more to this life than having one’s name on an earthly roll. May my
work speak for me as your disciple. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
35

Salvation
Friday, March 20, 2015
Help Me!
READ: Luke 19:1-10
KEY VERSE: So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the
road, for Jesus was going to pass that way. –Luke 19:4 (NLT)
“Help me, help me, help me!” is one of the best prayers there is, author Anne
Lamott says. She’s right.
Zacchaeus gets this, too. He does whatever it takes to meet Jesus. He doesn’t
repent at first. But he makes sure to encounter Jesus, even if others see. In
doing so, he gets clear about his sin and surrenders.
I learned the hard way. A personal crisis that kept deteriorating forced me to
say, “Help me, help me, help me!” And to do it without caring who saw.
I learned firsthand more about salvation. As Christians, we truly are saved and
being saved at the same time. And each time we surrender, we get clearer
that the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.
–Rev. Yvonne D. Hawkins
LOOKING WITHIN: What am I trying to handle on my own? What’s that doing
to my life? What scripture and promise from God can help me to surrender,
confess and repent?
Holy Spirit, I worship you for being my counselor. You guide me into all
truth. Thank you for revealing the truth of my sins, but also the truth of
salvation through Jesus. Help me to let you help me – again. Amen.
36

Redemption
Saturday, March 21, 2015
Land of the Free
READ: Luke 4:14-21
KEY VERSES: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for
the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to
proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” -Luke 4:18-19 (NIV)
“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe
free.” This well-known quote by poet Emma Lazarus, memorialized on the
Statue of Liberty, has welcomed people who are homeless, disadvantaged
or immigrant to America, the land of the free, for more than a century. Even
today, these words offer great comfort to those who are disenfranchised. Yet,
God through Christ Jesus has already made provision for our freedom.
Christ died and, in so doing, redeemed the whole world. We only must
confess with our mouth and believe in our heart, and we shall be saved. God’s
promise is an even greater comfort to all humanity than anything humans can
offer. –Nancy Myrick
LOOKING WITHIN: How can I show that I truly appreciate and give thanks for
the freedom God has given me through my redeemer?
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of your Son, who died that the
whole world might be saved. Amen.
37

Righteousness
Monday, March 23, 2015
A Necessity for Pleasing God
READ: 1 Peter 2:23-25
KEY VERSE: Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we,
having died to sins, might live for righteousness – by whose stripes you were
healed. -1 Peter 2:24 (NKJV)
Righteousness is what we strive for because God is righteous and He calls us
to be righteous. To embrace righteousness is to oppose wickedness and be
open to God’s grace. Righteousness involves obeying God’s will and call on
our lives, and doing what God has determined to be right and just.
Only God can justify and empower us to righteous living. God deemed
Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross a necessity to righteousness living. Romans 3:22
says, “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who
believe.” God sealed and assured our ability to righteousness by giving us the
omnipresent Holy Spirit.
In doing so, God took away all our excuses and in their places provided every
opportunity for us to be counted among the righteous and justified.
–Rev. Delton Nichols
LOOKING WITHIN: Where do I stand in righteous living for God? What can I
do to be in line with God’s will and call for my life?
God, strengthen my desire to live in accordance to your righteousness.
Amen.
38

Love
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
God, My First Love!
READ: I John 5:1-2
KEY VERSES: Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest
commandment. -Matthew 22:37-38 (NIV)
We know that God loves us. One of the first songs we learn as children is
“Jesus Loves Me.” But how much do we show God and others our love for
Him?
Jesus said the greatest command is to love the Lord your God. We should
strive to show the world our love for God, and God our love for Him. We can
do this by loving others as God has loved us, developing a strong prayer life,
and reading His Word. Let God be your first love.
As the saying goes: “God has no phone, but I talk to him; God has no
Facebook, but He is still my friend; God has no Twitter, but I still follow Him.”
–Winston Gaskin
LOOKING WITHIN: Am I able to say to others that I love the Lord? In what
ways do I show Him that love?
Lord, you surround me with your love. Teach me to better show my love for
you. Amen.
39

Fellowship
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Fellowship In Love
READ: John 13:33-35
KEY VERSE: “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love
for one another.” –John 13:35 (NKJV)
In the early Church, being a Christian came complete with a lifetime
membership in the powerful fellowship of believers. Christians did not
worship in isolation. Rather, they chose fellowship because Jesus mandated
that they be bound together by their love for one another.
Instead of separating because of theological, cultural or linguistic differences,
they chose to love one another, to eat with one another, to serve one another,
and to live alongside one another so the world could come to understand
more fully who Jesus is.
In the modern Church, we have the same opportunity for fellowship as we
strive to show the world who Jesus is. Disputes over everything from the
size of the church building, to the ordination of women, to how to properly
interpret Scripture should not be strong enough to break our bond of love for
one another. –Minister Jaimie Crumley
LOOKING WITHIN: Am I living up to the call placed on my life to be in
fellowship with believers? What can I do today to show others that, in spite of
our differences, my bond of love with them remains unbroken?
Lord, I seek to be in fellowship with you and fellow Christians. Help my
love to be greater than my will to be right. Mold me into an instrument of
your love. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
40

Forgiveness
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Instructions on Forgiveness
READ: Matthew 6:1-18
KEY VERSE: “But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your
Father forgive your trespasses” -Matthew 6:15 (KJV)
A woman I met one Saturday at a Washington battered women’s shelter
asked me how to forgive people who hurt you. She shared that she provides
free legal services for survivors of domestic violence and couldn’t understand
how you can forgive those who have harmed you. Her inability to forgive had
created problems at work and church, with family and friends. In fact, she
began to question the survivors who said they had forgiven their batterer.
I told her that God provides instructions on forgiveness in the Bible. While I
spoke, tears began rolling down her cheeks.
Jesus gave His disciples a model for praying that included the notion of
forgiveness. In prayer there is a connection between what God does and
what we do. We can’t receive forgiveness from God, for instance, without also
forgiving others. If we refuse to do our part, we are cut off from God’s part.
–Minister Sylvia Dayton-Jones
LOOKING WITHIN: Who do I need to forgive? What steps do I need to take to
start the process?
O Lord, please forgive me of my sins, as I forgive those who have sinned
against me. Give me, O Lord, a loving, reconciling heart today. In this,
help me to follow the supreme example of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ. Amen.
41

Worship
Friday, March 27, 2015
If You Don’t Know Me By Now
READ: John 4:1-26
KEY VERSE: “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers
will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to
worship Him.” -John 4:23 (NKJV)
In John 4, Jesus’ journey takes Him through Samaria. He meets a Samaritan
woman by a well whom He asks for a drink of water. The two talk about God
and the living water, and the conversation ends with a discussion on worship.
Jesus tells the woman that to truly worship we must understand the object of
worship. We must know the Father.
Too many times, we either play at church, or do not fully study and
comprehend God’s Word. Often, we are merely going through the motions
of worship. To worship God is to come into His presence with thanksgiving in
our hearts. We come to know God and not simply know of God. Because we
come to Him in spirit and truth, the door is open 24 hours a day no matter our
location physically or spiritually. –Minister Keith A. Perkins
LOOKING WITHIN: When will I take a quiet moment today to pray about
and meditate on the words of the Lord? Have I taken the time to know my
heavenly Father?
Father, I open my heart to you, and I give my life to you. I ask that I come
to know you and your will that I might witness and serve better and more
faithfully.
42

Mercy
Saturday, March 28, 2015
The Miracle of Mercy
READ: Psalm 23
KEY VERSE: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. –Psalm 23:6 (NKJV)
All my life, I have recited this Psalm and missed the magnitude of its meaning.
Poetical and poignant, the Psalm is a reminder of God’s care and compassion.
Verse 6, however, reveals that God has labored with me mercifully, and His
love is inescapable no matter who I am, what I’ve done or where I go. What a
miracle!
The character of love is defined through God’s gift of mercy. Mercy signifies
that God unexpectedly has gripped me, unbelievably has graced me, and yet
undeniably has granted covering as He forms me for eternity. It was God’s
mercy that gave us Christ Jesus. Indeed, the gift of mercy is a miracle in
that God withstands the weight of our messy moments to be present as we
mature into our destiny. –Rev. Dustin B. Sullivan
LOOKING WITHIN: How can I share the mercy of God with those who have
offended me? What steps can I take to go beyond being kind to showing
compassion?
I pause, Lord, to remember the miraculous ways in which you have loved
and labored with me through your mercy. Convict me now to be reminded
of that miracle that I may plant it deeply into the lives of others. In Jesus’
name, this is my prayer. Amen.
43

Restoration
Monday, March 30, 2015
A Smelly Situation
READ: Zechariah 3
KEY VERSE: The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take
off his filthy clothes.” Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin,
and I will put rich garments on you.” –Zechariah 3:4 (NIV)
More than 25 years ago, former televangelist Jim Bakker was convicted of
fraud and sentenced to 45 years in prison. He ultimately served four and half
years and was paroled. In an interview, Bakker told how one day after he
had cleaned toilets in jail, he had a visitor – the Rev. Billy Graham. Forsaken
by friends and dressed in “smelly toilet-cleaning clothing,” Bakker couldn’t
believe that Graham was there to embrace and pray with him. Upon his
release from prison, Bakker was regularly accompanied to church by the
Graham family.
Just as Jim Bakker was covered with filthy stench, the Book of Zechariah
reveals the vision of the high priest Joshua covered in filthy clothing standing
before the angel of the Lord as Satan accused him. But the Lord rebuked
Satan and restored Joshua to his appointed position clothed in dignity.
Like Bakker, many of us have found ourselves in a smelly situation. But don’t
despair. We serve a God who specializes in restoring the lost, the least and the
left out. –Nancy Myrick
LOOKING WITHIN: How have I allowed my relationship with the Lord to be
severed? What do I need to do to restore it?
Heavenly Father, please forgive my sins that have caused a breach in our
relationship. Renew in me a right spirit and restore my life. Amen.
44

Eternity
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
The Key to Abundant Living
READ: John 10:9-11
KEY VERSE: I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it
more abundantly. –John 9:10 (NKJV)
It is no secret that American culture is youth obsessed. There are daily
barrages of advertisements for “antiaging” products and diets. While there
is no harm in looking and feeling healthier, all this attention to youth may
conceal the fear of human frailty. In truth there is no such thing as antiaging.
Shirley Guthrie’s book Christian Doctrine speaks to the reality of human
finitude: “Creaturely life at best is fragile, vulnerable and temporary.”
Eternal connotes immortality or an infinite amount of time, and humanity has
neither. We have the promise of eternal life through the resurrected Christ.
However, we can live ageless while here on earth by embracing our finitude.
Carpe diem! Seize the day and, as John 9:4 says, “work while it is day.”
– Minister Rosalind Brooks
LOOKING WITHIN: How could rethinking God’s promises help change my
outlook on aging and dying?
Eternal God, I thank and praise you for my life here on earth. May I work
while it is still day and rejoice when I see you face to face. Amen.
45

Atonement
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Paid in Full
READ: Romans 3:21-26
KEY VERSE: God sent Him to die in our place to take away our sins. We
receive forgiveness through faith in the blood of Jesus’ death. – Romans 3:25
(NCV)
I imagine that biblical times were not for the squeamish. In the Old
Testament, God required the Israelites to offer everything from birds to
bulls as atonement or payment for their sins. Priests drained and sprinkled
the animals’ blood on an altar, then burned all or part of the carcasses as
sacrifices according to the Lord’s requirements. These sacrifices were offered
continually, reminding God’s chosen people of their sinful nature. Death and
blood was necessary for forgiveness.
But when Jesus came on the scene, those constant sacrifices were no longer
necessary. God sent His only son to take the place of slaughtered animals
as payment for the people’s sins. Jesus’ blood that was shed at Calvary was
atonement for our sins, making all those who believe in Him right with God
once again.
So no more burnt or sin offerings. As the hymn says, Jesus paid it all. Aren’t
you glad? -Barbranda Walls
LOOKING WITHIN: What does Jesus’ atoning blood mean to me? How can I
say thanks to Him right now?
Father God, I am grateful that your Son’s atoning blood was enough to pay
the price for my sins. Thank you for your mercy. Amen.
46

Hope
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Hold On to Your Hope
READ: Hebrews 11:1-3
KEY VERSE: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of
things not seen. –Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV)
What do you do when your hope is gone? It is a question we all ask ourselves,
and it is a question that arises frequently in Scripture. In the Old Testament,
Israel hoped earnestly for the Messiah. After Jesus’ resurrection and promised
return in the New Testament, the Church was left again to hope. Hebrews
was written to the Church at a time when it had lost hope. The Church faced
persecution and its membership fell. As in the Old Testament, the heart of
Israel longed for the Messiah.
Like the children of Israel, we sometimes lose hope. But hopelessness is
what the enemy desires for us, not what God has for us. God desires that we
continue to hope. During this season of fasting and prayer as we hold on to
the hope in our risen Messiah, we must strive to be people of faith, people
who choose to hope even in a world that can make us feel hopeless.
-Minister Jaimie Crumley
LOOKING WITHIN: In what or in whom do I place my hope? How can hope in
God sustain me as I face seemingly insurmountable obstacles?
Lord, I pray that today my faith will be strengthened and my hope will be
restored. May I walk boldly into the places that you are calling me to go. In
Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
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Prayer
Friday, April 3, 2015
The Prayer of Your Servant
READ: 1 Kings 8:54-58
KEY VERSES: And so it was, when Solomon had finished praying all this
prayer and supplication to the Lord, that he arose from before the altar of the
Lord, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven. Then he
stood and blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice.
-1 Kings 8:54-55 (NKJV)
King Solomon was serious in his prayer life with God. In his prayer, he
summarized the significance of God separating the children of Israel from
all the people of the earth to be his inheritance and dedicated the finished
temple unto God.
The seriousness and intimacy of a servant’s prayer-filled relationship with
God is on full display in I Kings 8. We see it in Solomon’s rising from his
knees at God’s altar with his hands raised to heaven, and we hear it with his
loud voice offering the blessings he declared over all of Israel, giving full
acknowledgement to the great God who had kept His promise.
We, too, should aside time to enter into the intimate, deepest moments of
prayer with the Master and, like Solomon, rise up to declare His blessings.
–Rev. Samuel Nixon Jr.
LOOKING WITHIN: How’s my prayer life? What can I do to become more
serious about spending intimate time with God?
Dear Lord, hear your servant’s prayer, that you would incline your ear
from heaven and find in me a willing habitation for thee! Amen.
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Sacrifice
Saturday, April 4, 2015
True Sacrifice
READ: Hebrews 9:11-28, John 3:1-20, 1 John 1:5-10, Micah 6:6-8
KEY VERSE: For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only son,
that whoever believes shall not perish but have eternal life. -John 3:16 (NIV)
True sacrifice comes out of love and giving up something for the benefit of
others. Parents often give up many pleasures and material goods for their
children’s educations and futures. Caregivers surrender privacy and personal
attention for the care and comfort of loved ones, and many give up myriad
opportunities in order to help those whose needs supersede theirs. Other
people even give their lives for a cause and become martyrs.
Although these sacrifices are noble and help humankind, they pale in
comparison to the ultimate sacrifice made by our Lord and Savior, Jesus
Christ. Jesus made the greatest sacrifice of all time when He died on the
cross and took away sin (Hebrews 9:26). Out of love, He gave His life for our
salvation through His shed blood that purifies us of our sins (John 3:16, 1 John
1:9).
In response, God requires us to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly, and to
love, honor and praise Him all the days of our lives (Micah 6:8). –Rita Womack
LOOKING WITHIN: How can I have a closer walk with Jesus in gratitude for
His sacrifice for my sins?
Dear Lord, thank you for your sacrifice on the cross, and help me to share
the Good News with others. Amen.
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Glossary of Terms
LENT is the period of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday to Easter in
the Christian tradition. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of
the believer—through prayer, repentance, almsgiving and self-denial—for
the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the death and resurrection
of Jesus, which recalls the events linked to the Passion of Christ. There are
traditionally 40 days in Lent. The six Sundays in this period are not counted
because each one represents a “mini-Easter,” a celebration of Jesus’ victory
over sin and death.
ASH WEDNESDAY is the first day of Lent and occurs 46 days before Easter.
Ash Wednesday dates may differ each year because it is dependent on the date
of Easter. Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of placing ashes
on the foreheads of adherents as a sign of mourning and repentance to God.
PALM SUNDAY is the Sunday before Easter. It commemorates Jesus’
triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and in many Christian churches Palm Sunday is
marked by the distribution of Palm leaves.
MAUNDY THURSDAY is the Thursday before Easter that commemorates the
Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the apostles. The significance is derived from
the Latin mandatum (A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one
another as I have loved you), the statement Jesus made in John 13:34 by which
He explained to the apostles the significance of His action of washing their feet.
GOOD FRIDAY (“good” meaning pious or holy) is the Friday of Holy Week,
observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ
and His death at Calvary.
HOLY SATURDAY is the day before Easter and the last day of Holy Week
in which Christians prepare for Easter. It commemorates the day that Jesus
Christ’s body lay in the tomb.
TRIDUUM (TRID-uh-wum) is the period of three days that begins the evening
of Maundy Thursday and ends the evening of Easter Sunday. It recalls the
passion, burial and resurrection of Jesus.
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Acknowledgements and Thanks
Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley
Editors: Rev. Yvonne D. Hawkins and Geri Coleman Tucker
Cover design: The Design Foundry

Alfred Street Baptist Church
REV. DR. HOWARD-JOHN WESLEY, PASTOR
301 South Alfred Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
Church Office 703-683-2222 | Fax 703-683-1718
www.AlfredStreet.org