Evangelical Community Church - Cincinnati, Ohio

Lenten Devotions 2012



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Lent is a forty day period of preparation and prayer, often including regular fasting, beginning with Ash Wednesday. The forty days of Lent exclude Sundays, as the Lord’s Day is considered a feast day in the Scriptures. In one way of speaking, Lent is a form of retreat for preparing us to appreciate the death and resurrection of the Lamb of God on Easter Day. In another way of speaking, it is a time for us to seek a change of heart toward one another and to develop a deeper walk with Jesus Christ.

As you read through these pages, you will learn of the daily trials and victories of our church members, missionaries, and friends. They have captured the real meaning of Lent in their devotions. I especially encourage families to make use of this devotional around a meal or some other appropriate time of the day together. Use it as a family to promote greater appreciation of the Gospel message and of what it means to live in a manner worthy of our calling.

Special thanks must be given to some very special people. Thanks to Teala and John McQuilkin for their encouraging everyone to finish their devotions on time, coordinating, editing, and developing the layout for the booklet. Thanks also to Judy and Dick Rosene who assisted in the editing. Particular thanks to Bob Cload for his original artwork on the front cover and some past works used inside the booklet. This year’s cover portrays one of the miraculous events associated with the death of Jesus on the cross.

At the moment of Christ’s death, Scripture tells us that the curtain in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. Most commentators understand this to refer to the curtain that partitioned off the Most Holy Place from the Holy Place. In terms of symbolism, it points to the open access that all have to the holy presence of God through the shed blood of Christ. It means that we, who place our faith in Christ, can “with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16 (ESV)

Rich Lanning, Pastor,
Evangelical Community Church

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February 22 - March 17
March 18- April 8

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INDEX
Title, Author
3 O’Clock, Toni Benford
All We Like Sheep, John Gould
Answer to Prayer, An, Dr. Harley Grim
Best Insurance Policy and It’s Free!, The, Paul Quarry
Christ’s Riches Versus Our Debt(s), Kip Mueller
Cleaning Out the Basement, Angi Landholm
Comeback, The, Mike Houston
Fallen Bodies, Colleen Grogan
Got Love?, Joe Bushelman
Guarding Our Hearts, Pastor Rich Lanning
He Is Risen, Michael Lyons
Healing Is One of God’s Benefits, Noreen Mocsny
Heartfelt Prayer, Gayle Frazer
How Visible Is Your Faith?, Tim M.
How Will God’s Promise Be Fulfilled?, Diane Mugrage
It Still Hurts . . . , Becky Powell
Jonathan Edwards and “The Things of the Gospel,” Paul Gould
Laboring in Love, Christy Gould
Leading Me to the Cross, Don Troescher
Lent Challenges, Francis Lieuwen
Lesson From Calvary,The, Maurie Loomans
Life Isn’t Fair, Joanne Samad
Life of Faith, Dennis Dickard
Lord Laid on Him the Iniquity of Us All, The, Dan McCabe
Lord, Help My Unbelief!, Diana Wood
Love Your Neighbor as Yourself, Kate Lanning
Making the Main Thing The Main Thing, Bev Bushelman
Never Give Up, Steve Merrell
Open My Eyes, Pam Dollard
Passover, Old and New, Sue Crosset
Peace, Jen
Phoropter, Joanie Rielage
Realizations of a “Steady” Christian, Lizzie Rainous
Reflections on God’s Providence, Ryan Kindell
Repent and Believe, Isaac Gould
Servants of the Lord, Nancy Stauffer
Snakebit, Mark Verhagen
Sola Gratia, Kerry Marsh
Spiritual Famine, Ann Salzbrun
Sweet Irony, The, Dave Matre
That Will Be the Day, Vaughn Engle
Transfiguration, The, Ruth Cload
Trust in the Lord, Jack Young
Understanding Architecture and Anatomy . . ., Dr. William Gerhardt
What Is God’s Will for Me?, Marcia Lamkin
What Is That “Future” God Promises?, Judy Jarrell
Why Did the Soldiers Fall to the Ground?, Anne Alexander


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