St. Mark's Lutheran Church

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Wandering Heart Daily Devotional

Join each day to get centered, ponder a question and pray a prayer!

Wandering Heart April 8 Final Day

April 8, 2024 • John 21:1–21

We hope you had a Blessed Easter and are enjoying Easter Week. Today is the last devotional. Take a few minutes each day to spend time with God in reflection and prayer for Easter as part of our Wandering Heart: Figuring out Faith with Peter series. Theme: Final Reflections Centering practice - As your wandering journey comes to a close, look back through your devotional and see what strikes you the most. Question - Which questions and prayers resonate with you the most? Which ones do you want to hold close as you continue your faith journey? Prayer - Loving God, I have reached the end of this deck. I have prayed every day for 55 days. I have wandered with Peter and with you. As my journey continues to unfold, help me remember all of the lessons of this season. Help me cherish the gifts of this daily practice. Help me continue to draw closer to you—no matter where my wandering leads me next. With gratitude, I pray. Amen. #sanctifiedart #wanderingheart #stmarkslutheran #stmarkshh #easter2024

Wandering Heart April 7 Easter Week - He is Risen!

April 7, 2024 • John 21:1–19

We hope you had a Blessed Easter and are enjoying Easter Week. Here is today's devotional. Take a few minutes each day to spend time with God in reflection and prayer for Lent as part of our Wandering Heart: Figuring out Faith with Peter series. Theme: Here's My Heart Centering practice - Center yourself in gratitude. Create a list of 10 things that you are grateful for Question - What have you learned from Peter’s journey of faith? Prayer - Jesus of Nazareth, thank you for calling ordinary people to be your disciples. Peter was a mix of belief and unbelief, always trying to follow in your footsteps without tripping on his own two feet. So often I feel the same. Peter’s story is my story. Peter’s journey is my journey. So thank you again for showing us that kingdom work can happen with ordinary human hands. I believe. Help my unbelief. In your name I pray, amen. #sanctifiedart #wanderingheart #stmarkslutheran #stmarkshh #easter2024

Wandering Heart April 6 Easter Week - He is Risen!

April 6, 2024 • Luke 24:1–12, 1 Corinthians 15:1–11

We hope you had a Blessed Easter and are enjoying Easter Week. Here is today's devotional. Take a few minutes each day to spend time with God in reflection and prayer for Lent as part of our Wandering Heart: Figuring out Faith with Peter series. Theme: And I Hope Centering practice - Center yourself in darkness and light. Light a candle. Honor the darkness and see how the light shines. Question - Where are you experiencing new life? Where are you beginning again? Prayer - God of new beginnings, new life finds me like warm weather finds the spring. Once again I am reminded that death does not have the last word. Once again I am reminded that love is stronger than hate. So give me the wisdom to begin again. Show me the places of new growth in my heart. Show me where you have already planted seeds for change, for centering, for conviction. And may I be wise enough to begin again, and again, and again. Amen. #sanctifiedart #wanderingheart #stmarkslutheran #stmarkshh #easter2024

Wandering Heart April 5 Easter Week - He is Risen!

April 5, 2024 • 1 Corinthians 15:1–11, Luke 24:1–12

We hope you had a Blessed Easter and are enjoying Easter Week. Here is today's devotional. Take a few minutes each day to spend time with God in reflection and prayer for Lent as part of our Wandering Heart: Figuring out Faith with Peter series. Theme: And I Hope Centering practice - Center yourself in darkness and light. Light a candle. Honor the darkness and see how the light shines. Question - | How did you grow or learn during this Lenten season? Prayer - God of every season, my hope for each Lent is to grow in some way. Every year I pray that these six weeks will see a more dedicated, more hopeful version of myself. As I look back over this Lenten season, leave your fingerprints on my memories. Show me the places where we danced. Show me the moments where your Spirit hovered near. Remind me of the road we’ve walked together. May I continue to walk and sing songs of alleluia. Amen. #sanctifiedart #wanderingheart #stmarkslutheran #stmarkshh #easter2024

Wandering Heart April 4 Easter Week - He is Risen!

April 4, 2024 • 1 Corinthians 15:1–11, Luke 24:1–12

We hope you had a Blessed Easter and are enjoying Easter Week. Here is today's devotional. Take a few minutes each day to spend time with God in reflection and prayer for Lent as part of our Wandering Heart: Figuring out Faith with Peter series. Theme: And I Hope Centering practice - Center yourself in darkness and light. Light a candle. Honor the darkness and see how the light shines. Question - What emotions are you experiencing this first week of Easter? Prayer - Gracious God, every year I forget how much I need Easter. Every year I forget how much I need the flowers and the music and the promise of a new day. Once again, Easter has come. And once again, my heart is overflowing. Sift through the emotions I hold and remind me that you are with me in all of them. Garden or tomb, you are there. Amen #sanctifiedart #wanderingheart #stmarkslutheran #stmarkshh #easter2024

Wandering Heart April 3 Easter Week - He is Risen!

April 3, 2024 • 1 Corinthians 15:1–11, Luke 24:1–12

We hope you had a Blessed Easter and are enjoying Easter Week. Here is today's devotional. Take a few minutes each day to spend time with God in reflection and prayer for Lent as part of our Wandering Heart: Figuring out Faith with Peter series. Theme: And I Hope Centering practice - Center yourself in darkness and light. Light a candle. Honor the darkness and see how the light shines. Question - How would you describe where you are in your faith journey? Prayer - God, I am somewhere between the upper room and the garden. I am somewhere between the garden and the mountain top. I am somewhere between the cross and the foot washing. I am somewhere in between. Continue to guide my faith into deeper waters. Do not let this faith grow still or stagnant, for I am not done looking for you. With hope I pray, amen. #sanctifiedart #wanderingheart #stmarkslutheran #stmarkshh #easter2024

Wandering Heart April 2 Easter Week - He is Risen!

April 2, 2024 • 1 Corinthians 15:1–11, Luke 24:1–12

We hope you had a Blessed Easter and are enjoying Easter Week. Here is today's devotional. Take a few minutes each day to spend time with God in reflection and prayer for Lent as part of our Wandering Heart: Figuring out Faith with Peter series. Theme: And I Hope Centering practice - Center yourself in darkness and light. Light a candle. Honor the darkness and see how the light shines. Question - What things, people, and events fill you with awe? Prayer - Resurrecting God, Easter leaves me breathless. Easter leaves me speechless and hopeful, eager and awestruck. Easter tethers my wandering heart to you, as only awe can. So may every other moment of awe bring me back to you as well. May every starry night, first step, flower in spring, and sunrise bring me back to you—like muscle memory. I am speechless and hopeful, eager and awestruck. What a gift it is to be alive. Amen. #sanctifiedart #wanderingheart #stmarkslutheran #stmarkshh #easter2024

Wandering Heart April 1 Easter Monday - He is Risen!

April 1, 2024 • 1 Corinthians 15:1–11, Luke 24:1–12

We hope you had a Blessed Easter and are enjoying Easter Monday. Here is today's devotional. Take a few minutes each day to spend time with God in reflection and prayer for Lent as part of our Wandering Heart: Figuring out Faith with Peter series. Theme: And I Hope Centering practice - Center yourself in darkness and light. Light a candle. Honor the darkness and see how the light shines. Question - What gives you hope? Prayer - Gracious God, I am buoyed by the sunrise and the smell of freshly baked bread. I am carried by the conversations that sound like, “Tell me your name,” “I love you,” and, “You don’t walk alone.” I am renewed by churches with open doors, and tables with open invites. Yes, hope finds me all over the place. Hope reminds me one hundred times a day that you are close, so keep tuning my heart to sing that song. Amen. #sanctifiedart #wanderingheart #stmarkslutheran #stmarkshh #easter2024

Wandering Heart Mar 31 Easter - He is Risen!

March 31, 2024 • Luke 24:1–12, 1 Corinthians 15:1–11

Take a few minutes each day to spend time with God in reflection and prayer for Lent as part of our Wandering Heart: Figuring out Faith with Peter series. Theme: And I Hope Centering practice - Center yourself in darkness and light. Light a candle. Honor the darkness and see how the light shines Question - Peter runs to the empty tomb (Lk. 24:1-12). What are you running toward? Prayer - God of the garden, just as Peter ran toward you on that Easter morning, I too am running. I am running toward a stronger sense of self. I am running toward my call. I am running toward deeper relationships and deeper faith. I am running into the arms of love. Like Peter, I run toward you. Wait for me. I am on my way. Amen.

Wandering Heart Mar 30 Holy Week Saturday

March 30, 2024 • John 12:12–16

Take a few minutes each day to spend time with God in reflection and prayer for Lent as part of our Wandering Heart: Figuring out Faith with Peter series. Theme: Prone to leave the God I love Centering practice - Centering practice | Center yourself in breath. Place one hand on your belly and one on your heart. Inhale for 4 counts, hold for 4, and exhale for 4. Question - Have you ever run away from something because you were scared or because it was hard? What did you learn? Prayer - Gracious God, my wandering heart loves to flee. How many times have I run when the conversation got hard? How many times have I shied away from the truth because it was painful? Like a parent with a child, scoop me back up and bring me close to your heart again. Give me the courage to stay, to talk, to listen, and to change when needed. Humbly I pray, amen.

Wandering Heart Mar 29 Holy Week Good Friday

March 29, 2024 • John 12:12–16

Take a few minutes each day to spend time with God in reflection and prayer for Lent as part of our Wandering Heart: Figuring out Faith with Peter series. Theme: Prone to leave the God I love. Centering practice - Centering practice | Center yourself in breath. Place one hand on your belly and one on your heart. Inhale for 4 counts, hold for 4, and exhale for 4. Question - What are you lamenting? Prayer - Jesus of the garden, you know what lament feels like. You know what grief looks like. You know what praying through the night sounds like. So today I bring you my prayers of lament. See the cracks in my heart that weigh heavily on me. See the places where I carry grief. Hear my cries in the garden in the middle of the night and meet me here. Be my comfort. Be my sun after the night. Amen

Wandering Heart Mar 28 Holy Week Maundy Thursday

March 28, 2024 • John 12:12–16

Take a few minutes each day to spend time with God in reflection and prayer for Lent as part of our Wandering Heart: Figuring out Faith with Peter series. Theme: Streams of Mercy Centering practice - Centering practice | Center yourself in breath. Place one hand on your belly and one on your heart. Inhale for 4 counts, hold for 4, and exhale for 4. Question - What does the lyric, “Prone to leave the God I love” bring to the surface for you? How does it make you feel? Prayer - Gracious God, the words, “prone to leave the God I love” crack my heart in two. For try as I might, the truth of my life is clear. I will leave. I will deny. I will fall asleep. I will run and hide. Forgive me for leaving when love is so close. Forgive me for allowing fear to win. Forgive this wandering heart of mine for wandering away. Bring me back. Amen.

Wandering Heart Mar 27 Holy Week Wednesday

March 27, 2024 • John 12:12–16

Take a few minutes each day to spend time with God in reflection and prayer for Lent as part of our Wandering Heart: Figuring out Faith with Peter series. Theme: Streams of Mercy Centering practice - Centering practice | Center yourself in breath. Place one hand on your belly and one on your heart. Inhale for 4 counts, hold for 4, and exhale for 4. Question - When Jesus washes Peter’s feet, Peter cries, “Not just my feet, but my hands and my head as well!” (Jn. 13:1-20) Have you ever longed for a faith like that Prayer - Holy God, not a day passes when I do not wish to know you better. Not a day passes when I do not wish to catch a glimpse of you in my midst. Like the desert longs for water, so I long for you. So today I pray: rain down on me. Rain down on me with streams of mercy. Wash not only my feet, but my head and my hands as well. Amen.

Wandering Heart Mar 26 Holy Week Tuesday

March 26, 2024 • John 12:12–16

Take a few minutes each day to spend time with God in reflection and prayer for Lent as part of our Wandering Heart: Figuring out Faith with Peter series. Theme: Songs of Loudest Praise Centering practice - Centering practice | Center yourself in breath. Place one hand on your belly and one on your heart. Inhale for 4 counts, hold for 4, and exhale for 4. Question - Does it feel easy or hard to talk about your faith in public? Why? Prayer - Jesus of Nazareth, we live in a world that has declared “no religion at the dinner table.” In that same spirit of compartmentalization, I am guilty of keeping my faith tucked away, a private devotion for quiet moments. That is not the way I want to live. This love was never meant to be quiet. This love was meant to be told, celebrated, shared, and spread. So when the cock crows in my own life, let me speak with conviction. Amen.

Wandering Heart Mar 25 Holy Week Monday

March 25, 2024 • John 12:12–16

Take a few minutes each day to spend time with God in reflection and prayer for Lent as part of our Wandering Heart: Figuring out Faith with Peter series. Theme: Songs of Loudest Praise Centering practice - Centering practice | Center yourself in breath. Place one hand on your belly and one on your heart. Inhale for 4 counts, hold for 4, and exhale for 4. Question - Palm Sunday is a holy parade, a peaceful protest. What cause would you march for? Prayer - God of the holy parade, many faithful folks have followed in your footsteps over the years—marching for justice and peace. When your holy parade comes my way, give me the courage to join the fold. Do not let me stand along the wall, a quiet bystander. Instead, spark courage in my heart to pick up a palm branch and to join the song. With an eager heart I pray, amen.