Lent 2014
March 14, 2014 

I lift up my eyes to the hills—from where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.
He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.  

The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and for evermore. –Psalm 121 

Life is a journey taken one step at a time. Sometimes we may run, sometimes we may stumble, and sometimes we may plod but we progress as long as we live. This Psalm is classified as one of the pilgrim Psalms. Most likely it was recited as the people made their way to Jerusalem, perhaps many times, perhaps only once in a lifetime, perhaps only in their dreams. 

Jerusalem sits on a hill and that hill is the ultimate goal of the seeker who moves ever forward toward God. The plural “hills” indicates that we may have to climb a few other inclines on our way to the City of God. Hills are more challenging to climb than clear flat pathways. They require an investment of energy and determination. But the Psalmist assures us that we never, ever take the journey alone. God is always awake and watchful. The Psalmist describes God as our keeper. 

As we contemplate expanding our service to improve our educational system we need to be very mindful of this Psalm and the comfort it provides even in the first week of Lent.  

Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the full staircase.—Martin Luther King, Jr 

Prayer: Thank you Lord for never leaving our side as we travel through the journey of life. Thank you for pointing out the opportunities for service along the way just as you help us to see the flowers and the stickers. Amen.

The identities of students, families, or staff in stories that are shared in the devotions have been altered to protect their privacy. Any similarities between these stories and the experience of others are coincidental. No stories about students, families of students, or staff from Putnam Heights Elementary School are included in any of these devotions.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.