Ministries

Chain of Lakes Videos

Select a link below to view recent past videos of worship services. For all past worship services go to https://vimeo.com/chainoflakes/videos Don’t forget to also check out Pastor Paul’s blog

May 11, 2025
Mother’s Day

May 4, 2025
“Twisted Scriptures” – Everything Happens for a Reason

April 27, 2025
“Twisted Scriptures” – Only Christians Go to Heaven

April 20, 2025
Easter Sunday

April 13, 2025
Palm Sunday

April 6, 2025
“Meet Your Bible” The Gospels

March 30, 2025
“Meet Your Bible” – The Letters

March 23, 2025
“Meet Your Bible” – The Writings

March 16, 2025
Camp Sunday

Daily Devotions

Comments about the devotion can be emailed to pastor@colpres.org

Daily Devotions May 12 - May 17, 2025

Monday, May 12
Ruth 1:1-5
In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to live in the country of Moab, he and his wife and two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion; they were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. When they had lived there about ten years, both Mahlon and Chilion also died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.
Yesterday Pastor Paul shared a sermon about the story of Ruth and Naomi. This week we have the opportunity to read this story in the book of Ruth. Ruth is one of the shorter books of the Bible—only four chapters long.
In these five verses we learn about the tragedy that happened to Naomi. Because of a famine Naomi and her family walked to Moab. The people of Moab had traditionally been an enemy to the Israelites. After arriving in Moab Naomi’s husband died. Her sons married two women who were from Moab.
After living in Moab for ten years Naomi’s sons, Mahlon and Chilion, each died.
Naomi was left to live with Orpah and Ruth, her two daughters-in-law. This was undoubtedly a terrible hardship for Naomi as women were dependent on their husbands for their financial well being.
Do you have a story of hardship that your mother experienced? Perhaps it was not as terrible as Naomi. But it is a story that you carry with you. Please share.

Tuesday, May 13
Ruth 1:6-22
Then she started to return with her daughters-in-law from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the Lord had considered his people and given them food. So she set out from the place where she had been living, she and her two daughters-in-law, and they went on their way to go back to the land of Judah. But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back each of you to your mother’s house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. The Lord grant that you may find security, each of you in the house of your husband.” Then she kissed them, and they wept aloud. They said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.” But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters. Why will you go with me? Do I still have sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? Turn back, my daughters, go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. Even if I thought there was hope for me, even if I should have a husband tonight and bear sons, would you then wait until they were grown? Would you then refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, it has been far more bitter for me than for you, because the hand of the Lord has turned against me.” Then they wept aloud again. Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her.
So she said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.”But Ruth said,
“Do not press me to leave you,
    to turn back from following you!
Where you go, I will go;
    where you lodge, I will lodge;
your people shall be my people
    and your God my God.
Where you die, I will die,
    and there will I be buried.
May the Lord do thus to me,
    and more as well,
if even death parts me from you!”
When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.
So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them, and the women said, “Is this Naomi?” She said to them,
“Call me no longer Naomi;
    call me Mara,
    for the Almighty has dealt bitterly with me.
I went away full,
    but the Lord has brought me back empty;
why call me Naomi
    when the Lord has dealt harshly with me
    and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?”
So Naomi returned together with Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, who came back with her from the country of Moab. They came to Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.
Naomi had heard that the famine had ended in Bethlehem. So she decided to return to her hometown. Both Orpah and Ruth wanted to return with her. But Naomi encouraged them to stay in Moab. Naomi explained to them that she had nothing to offer them. There really was no reason for them to go with Naomi.
Orpah consented to stay in Moab, but Ruth persisted in her desire to travel with Naomi. Naomi once again pleaded with Ruth that it was in Ruth’s self-interest to stay in Moab. But Ruth persisted.
Ruth’s words of insistence in verses 16-17 are some of the most significant words in the Bible. They are worth reading again.
“Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you!
Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God.
Where you die, I will die—there will I be buried.
May the Lord do thus and so to me, and more as well, if even death parts me from you!” (Ruth 1:16-17)
Do you have a story of loyalty that your mother exhibited? Maybe it wasn’t to this level, but it’s a story that illustrates her loyalty. Please share.

Wednesday, May 14
Ruth 2:1-16
Now Naomi had a kinsman on her husband’s side, a prominent rich man of the family of Elimelech whose name was Boaz. And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain behind someone in whose sight I may find favor.” She said to her, “Go, my daughter.” So she went. She came and gleaned in the field behind the reapers. As it happened, she came to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech. Just then Boaz came from Bethlehem. He said to the reapers, “The Lord be with you.” They answered, “The Lord bless you.” Then Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the reapers, “To whom does this young woman belong?” The young man who was in charge of the reapers answered, “She is the young Moabite woman who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. She said, ‘Please, let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the reapers.’ So she came, and she has been on her feet from early this morning until now without resting even for a moment.”
Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Now listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. Keep your eyes on the field that is being reaped and follow behind them. I have ordered the young men not to bother you. If you get thirsty, go to the vessels and drink from what the young men have drawn.” Then she fell prostrate, with her face to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your sight, that you should take notice of me, when I am a foreigner?”But Boaz answered her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told me, how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. May the Lord reward you for your deeds, and may you have a full reward from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge!” Then she said, “May I continue to find favor in your sight, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, even though I am not one of your servants.”
At mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come here and eat some of this bread and dip your morsel in the sour wine.” So she sat beside the reapers, and he heaped up for her some parched grain. She ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over. When she got up to glean, Boaz instructed his young men, “Let her glean even among the standing sheaves, and do not reproach her. You must also pull out some handfuls for her from the bundles and leave them for her to glean, and do not rebuke her.”
To glean was to pick up the leftovers from the harvest. People who harvested would intentionally leave leftover grain, so people could use it.
Boaz was particularly kind to Ruth when he recognized that she was gleaning. He ordered the people who were harvesting to help Ruth.
Ruth was touched by the protection of Boaz. She got on her knees and thanked him.
Boaz shared that it was the loyalty of Ruth to Naomi that prompted him to help Ruth. His words are worth reading.
“All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. May the Lord reward you for your deeds, and may you have a full reward from the Lord, the god of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.” Ruth 2:11-12.
Did you have a story about your mother receiving a gift that was significant to her? It might not be as significant as Ruth, but it was a gift that was significant in your mom’s life. Please share.

Thursday, May 15
Ruth 2:17-23
So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley. She picked it up and came into the town, and her mother-in-law saw how much she had gleaned. Then she took out and gave her what was left over after she herself had been satisfied. Her mother-in-law said to her, “Where did you glean today? And where have you worked? Blessed be the man who took notice of you.” So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked, saying, “The name of the man with whom I worked today is Boaz.” Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, “Blessed be he by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead!” Naomi also said to her, “The man is a relative of ours, one of our nearest kin.” Then Ruth the Moabite said, “He even said to me, ‘Stay close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest.’” Naomi said to Ruth, her daughter-in-law, “It is better, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, otherwise someone might bother you in another field.” So she stayed close to the young women of Boaz, gleaning until the end of the barley and wheat harvests, and she lived with her mother-in-law.
Ruth was able to collect a large amount of grain for her and Naomi. An ephah was approximately two-thirds of a bushel—a bushel is about sixty pounds.
Naomi knew that Ruth could not have collected this amount of food without the help of a man. She asked Ruth who had helped her. Ruth told Naomi that it was Boaz.
Naomi shared, “Blessed be he by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead.”
The word kindness comes from the Hebrew word, “chesed.” It means steadfast loyalty and love. It’s the consistency of staying with people during the ups and downs of life. It’s not running away when life gets hard or messy.
In the Old Testament God is often described as hesed. In Exodus we read that the Lord is a God, merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in [hesed] steadfast love and faithfulness.
Do you have a story of when your mom shared hesed? Please share.

Friday, May 16
Ruth 3:1-18
Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, I need to seek some security for you, so that it may be well with you. Now here is our kinsman Boaz, with whose young women you have been working. See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. Now wash and anoint yourself, and put on your best clothes and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. When he lies down, observe the place where he lies; then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do.” She said to her, “All that you say I will do.”
So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had instructed her. When Boaz had eaten and drunk and was in a contented mood, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came stealthily and uncovered his feet and lay down. At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and there, lying at his feet, was a woman! He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant; spread your cloak over your servant, for you are next-of-kin.”He said, “May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter; this last instance of your loyalty is better than the first; you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich. And now, my daughter, do not be afraid, I will do for you all that you ask, for all the assembly of my people know that you are a worthy woman. But now, though it is true that I am a near kinsman, there is another kinsman more closely related than I. Remain this night, and in the morning, if he will act as next-of-kin for you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to act as next-of-kin for you, then, as the Lord lives, I will act as next-of-kin for you. Lie down until the morning.”
So she lay at his feet until morning but got up before one person could recognize another, for he said, “It must not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.” Then he said, “Bring the cloak you are wearing and hold it out.” So she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley and put it on her back; then he went into the town. She came to her mother-in-law, who said, “How did things go with you, my daughter?” Then she told her all that the man had done for her,saying, “He gave me these six measures of barley, for he said, ‘Do not go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’” She replied, “Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest but will settle the matter today.”
When Naomi heard what happened she sent Ruth to find Boaz. Naomi did this to help Ruth experience security.
Ruth lay down next to Boaz when she was sleeping. When Boaz woke up he saw that he was sleeping next to Ruth. Some people believe that when Ruth asked Boaz to spread your cloak over your servant, she was asking Boaz to marry her.
This was quite an audacious request by Ruth. Boaz was surprised himself. He got up and did everything he could to protect Ruth.
Do you have you have a story of your mother doing something that surprised you? Please share.

Saturday, May 17
Ruth 4:1-22
No sooner had Boaz gone up to the gate and sat down there than the next-of-kin of whom Boaz had spoken came passing by. So Boaz said, “Come over; sit down here.” And he went over and sat down. Then Boaz took ten men of the elders of the town and said, “Sit down here,” so they sat down. He then said to the next-of-kin, “Naomi, who has come back from the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land that belonged to our kinsman Elimelech. So I thought I would tell you of it and say: Buy it in the presence of those sitting here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if you will not, tell me, so that I may know; for there is no one prior to you to redeem it, and I come after you.” So he said, “I will redeem it.” Then Boaz said, “The day you acquire the field from the hand of Naomi, you are also acquiring Ruth the Moabite, the widow of the dead man, to maintain the dead man’s name on his inheritance.” At this, the next-of-kin said, “I cannot redeem it for myself without damaging my own inheritance. Take my right of redemption yourself, for I cannot redeem it.”
Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging to confirm a transaction: the one took off a sandal and gave it to the other; this was the manner of attesting in Israel. So when the next-of-kin said to Boaz, “Acquire it for yourself,” he took off his sandal. Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I have acquired from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon. I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, the wife of Mahlon, to be my wife, to maintain the dead man’s name on his inheritance, in order that the name of the dead may not be cut off from his kindred and from the gate of his native place; today you are witnesses.” Then all the people who were at the gate, along with the elders, said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your house like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you produce children in Ephrathah and bestow a name in Bethlehem; and, through the children that the Lord will give you by this young woman, may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah.”
So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. When they came together, the Lord made her conceive, and she bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without next-of-kin, and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has borne him.” Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her bosom and became his nurse. The women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed; he became the father of Jesse, the father of David.
Now these are the descendants of Perez: Perez became the father of Hezron, Hezron of Ram, Ram of Amminadab, Amminadab of Nahshon, Nahshon of Salmon, Salmon of Boaz, Boaz of Obed,Obed of Jesse, and Jesse of David.
Boaz worked out an arrangement, so he could marry Ruth. He gathered the ten men of the elders of the city and told them what had happened. The elders of the city agreed that Boaz could acquire Naomi’s property and also marry Ruth.
It’s interesting that even the elders of the city knew about the loyalty that Ruth had shared with Naomi.
Ruth and Boaz eventually had a child—Obed. Obed was the grandfather of David.
Ruth’s story was well known. Her name was included in the genealogy of Jesus—Matthew 1:5. Ruth was one of four women who were included in the genealogy of Jesus.
What are your thoughts about the story of Ruth? Please share.

Daily Devotions May 5 - May 10, 2025

Monday, May 5
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die;
a time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill and a time to heal;
a time to break down and a time to build up;
a time to weep and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn and a time to dance;
a time to throw away stones and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek and a time to lose;
a time to keep and a time to throw away;
a time to tear and a time to sew;
a time to keep silent and a time to speak;
a time to love and a time to hate;
a time for war and a time for peace.
This past Sunday Pastor Paul continued a sermon series called, “Twisted Scriptures.” He has been looking at ideas that some have
twisted, meaning some think the idea is in the Bible when it really is not. On Sunday, he looked at the idea, “Everything happens for a
reason.”
It seems natural to think that this idea is in the Bible. For the idea implies that God is in control and is in charge. And God is in control
and is in charge. But this control is not through ordering and controlling events in the world. This control is through God’s divine love.
God is always sharing love through the events of the world. So God does not control events, but responds to them with love.
The Scripture we read today is one that is often read at funerals. In fact, the Scripture might be painful because you heard it at a
funeral and associate funerals with it.
However the Scripture is more than a funeral saying. It describes the different seasons of life. Sometimes the seasons of our life are
beautiful—when we laugh and are healed and are dancing. Sometimes the seasons of life are painful, when we are mourning or
experiencing war or see breakdowns all around us. These seasons describe our reality.
These seasons don’t happen because God caused them to happen or decided before the beginning of the world when they would
happen. However, in every season God is sharing love and care and beauty with us.
When have you been in a hard season when you experienced God’s love and care and beauty? Please share.

Tuesday, May 6
Romans 8:28-30
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to
his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his
Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. And those whom he predestined he
also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also
glorified.

This Scripture has been twisted so that people think it supports the idea that everything happens for a reason. It has big words in it
like “predestined” and “foreknew.” John Calvin, the ancestor of the Presbyterian church, used this Scripture as a justification that God
predestined people to heaven or hell and that God foreknew everything that happens.
However this is not how the Apostle Paul meant this Scripture. He meant it that through everything that happens God is working with
love and working for good. Even in the hard events in life God is working with love and working for good. This doesn’t mean that the
final outcome is preordained or that our own free will has been taken away. As humans we have free will. God does not know
everything that is going to happen.
As followers of Jesus we are always asked to see how the events of our current life are leading to good and to see how God is working
with love.
Can you remember a time when something bad happened to you, but you discovered that God was working for good through that
event? Please share.
Wednesday, May 7
Jeremiah 29:10-14
For thus says the Lord: Only when Babylon’s seventy years are completed will I visit you, and I will
fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For surely I know the plans I have for you,
says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when
you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find
me; if you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me, says the Lord, and I will restore your
fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, says
the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.
This section of Jeremiah took place after the people of Judah had been in exile. It was a painful time of war and death and loss. People
were distraught about what happened.
God offered these words to reassure the people. The pain and violence around them was not going to have the final word. God had
plans for the people. These plans weren’t foreordained and did not take away the free will of the people. But God was not going to let
pain have the final word for the people.
“Because of these plans people could look to the future with hope.” Jeremiah 29:11b
Often when bad things happen to us, we wonder if God might be punishing us. Or we wonder if we deserved the bad event because of
something we did or failed to do.
Have you ever had a time when you thought that God might be punishing you? Even though the time had to be painful, would you
consider sharing what happened?
Thursday, May 8
Luke 13:1-5
At that very time there were some present who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate
had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans
suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you, but unless you
repent you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam
fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the other people living in
Jerusalem? No, I tell you, but unless you repent you will all perish just as they did.”
In this story Jesus shared two examples when it might appear that God was punishing people for what they had done. But in reality
this was not the case.
In the first, Pontius Pilate had done a terrible thing. He had mixed the flood of people who had died with a sacrifice. The alarming
nature of this act would have been hard for the people to fathom. Why was Pilate so cruel? Had the Galileans sinned more so God
chose to respond to the event.
Jesus had a simple answer to this question—No!
In the second, Jesus asked the question of who had sinned when the tower of Siloam fell. This event caused trauma among the people
of Judah. This event could be compared to the trauma that people in America experienced on September 11.
Jesus was asking the question of whether the people’s sins had caused God to respond.
Jesus didn’t punish people because of their sins. Jesus wanted people to turn to him and to turn to his Abba (Father). He didn’t say
there was a formula that predicted life events like “everything happens for a reason.” Instead he was asking people to turn to God no
matter what the circumstance was.
Friday, May 9
Philippians 2:12-13
Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence but much more
now in my absence, work on your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work
in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
The Apostle Paul wrote this letter, that we know of, as Philippians from a jail. So he understood the level of suffering that he often
talked about in the letter.
Paul saw the events of what led him to jail as God working through him. In fact God was working for good through these terrible
events.
Often times when something bad happens to us we think that God is punishing us. God is in such control that there has to be a reason
for anything.
But this is not the case. God isn’t controlling the events of the world—instead he is working for good through them.
Think about all that has happened to you in the last week. Is it significant that God is working for good? Please share.
Saturday, May 10
Read Isaiah 55:6-7
Seek the Lord while he may be found;
    call upon him while he is near;
let the wicked forsake their way
    and the unrighteous their thoughts;
let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them,
    and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
This section of Isaiah is known as Third Isaiah. The people had been exiled, and how they were thinking about returning to Jerusalem.
The prophet Isaiah was giving advice to the people on how to respond to God in this new reality. Isaiah wanted people to seek God.
“Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near;” Isaiah 55:6a
These same words can apply to our life. If Isaiah was living with us he would probably give us the same message!
This does not mean that everything happens for a reason. Instead if means that God wants us to call upon God and seek guidance.
What are your thoughts about this passage? Please share.

Daily Devotions April 28 - May 3, 2025

Monday, April 28
Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
These five verses from Paul share the message of the death and resurrection—a significant part of the message of grace. Because of the death and resurrection of Jesus everyone has access to grace.
The English word, “grace” comes from the Greek word, “charis.” In addition to grace, another way to think of charis is kindness. Because of what happened to Jesus everyone has access to the kindness of God.
Grace is more than a transaction between God and humans; it is a force or spiritual energy that was unleashed and exhibited through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Grace has entered into the world. We can’t see it, but we have access to it.
Part of the beauty of faith is to see grace and illustrate grace. We don’t have to invent grace, but we share grace. Just as if we were playing a musical piece we don’t put the notes onto paper, we play the notes so others can enjoy the sound.
Today think of your day as an opportunity to communicate the music of grace. Pray that the music of grace will be illustrated through your thoughts and actions.

Tuesday, April 29
Romans 5:6-11
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Much more surely, therefore, since we have now been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God.For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Grace is a gift. This is what the apostle Paul was communicating in these verses. While everyone was weak, and at the right time, Jesus died for the ungodly. While everyone was a sinner, Jesus died.
Pastor Paul has shared often that it’s natural to want to earn grace. We do good things in our faith and expect that God will bestow favor or grace on us. We might go to worship or pray a lot or do some good deeds or give away our money. Because of our actions we believe we deserve God’s grace.
But the relationship with God doesn’t work like this. Even if we didn’t worship or pray a lot or do good deeds or give away our money, God gives grace. Grace is a gift with no strings attached.
Philip Yancy has shared a powerful definition of grace. He wrote that, “Grace means that there is nothing we can do to make God love us more; grace means that there is nothing we can do to make God love us less.”
Pray that you can strip away any thoughts of merit when it comes to God and grace. Instead see that grace is a complete gift. Your spiritual life will go much better if you can grab hold of this message.

Wednesday, April 30
Philippians 1:1-2
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Apostle Paul started out this letter to the people who lived in the village of Philippi with a greeting of grace. Many of the letters of the New Testament shared a greeting of grace in the first three verses. In fact, sixteen of the twenty-two letters have a greeting of grace in the first three verses. If you have some extra time, find out the six letters of the New Testament that do not have the word “grace” in the first three verses.
It’s remarkable that Paul could extend grace in this letter. At the time of the letter Paul was in jail sentenced to death. It would have been understandable to think that Paul would be focused on himself. His life was in danger! Instead, Paul was willing to extend grace or favor to the people to whom he wrote this letter.
His example is one for us. No matter what is happening in our life, we can always extend grace. Our own challenges and struggles need not prevent us from sharing grace.
Pray today that you can extend grace. Pray that your own emotional situation doesn’t need to stop you from sharing grace.

Thursday, May 1
Luke 2:39-40
When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon him.
Luke wrote that as Jesus grew, he was willed with wisdom and the favor of God. Another way to translate the favor of God is “grace.” In fact, the Greek word that is translated as favor of God is translated in other places as grace.
Grace is to experience the favor of God.
The favor of God is a free gift. We don’t earn it; we don’t deserve it; we don’t merit it. And the favor of God or grace is given to us.
You have received this favor of God.
Spend some time today thanking God for this free gift of favor. Praise God for extending grace to you. Perhaps you can pray today the following prayer of praise.
“God, I praise you for extending your favor to me.”

Friday, May 2
Psalm 103:6-14
The Lord works vindication
    and justice for all who are oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses,
    his acts to the people of Israel.
The Lord is merciful and gracious,
    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He will not always accuse,
    nor will he keep his anger forever.
He does not deal with us according to our sins
    nor repay us according to our iniquities.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
    so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
    so far he removes our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion for his children,
    so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.
For he knows how we were made;
    he remembers that we are dust.
These verses from the 103^rd Psalm are worth reading over and over. They describe the inner character of God and how God views humans.
The highlight of these verses is in verse eight.
“the Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”
These words come from the story of Moses. Moses wanted to know the identity of God. God told Moses to climb up a mountain. When Moses did God passed by Moses and the same words that are in verse 8 were shared with Moses.
Who is God? God is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
This character of God makes grace possible for each of us. When we extend grace we are extending these beautiful characteristics of God.
Pray today that you can extend grace. But before you do extend grace, pray that you can connect to God’s character. You can be a representation of God to the world. The way to do this is to extend grace.

Saturday, May 3
Numbers 6:22-27
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying: Thus you shall bless the Israelites: You shall say to them:
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
“So they shall put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”
These words in Numbers are known as the “Aaronic benediction.” Like the verses we read yesterday, they exhibit the character of God.
Perhaps you could memorize the verses today. These verses are worth carrying in our own spirit.
“The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.”
(Numbers 6:24-25)

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Church Calendar

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Community Gardens

Chain of Lakes Church is excited to offer a Community Garden Ministry next to the new church building at 2650 125th Ave NE, Blaine, MN 55449. It’s just east of Malmborg’s Garden Center on 125th Ave NE in Blaine or .8 miles east of Radisson Rd on 125th Ave NE, Blaine.