Mid-week Devotional:

Week of March 1, 2026

Scripture for this Mid-week Devotional returns to the scripture chosen for last week during this season of Lent.

Scripture chosen comes from the first book of the Old Testament, the book of Genesis.

Hear the Word of God as written in Genesis 1:9-13.

“And God said, ‘Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.’ And it was so. 10 God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. 11 Then God said, ‘Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it.’ And it was so. 12 The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind, and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.”

This is God’s word for God’s people. Thanks be to God. AMEN.

This week my husband and I mowed lawn for the first time this spring. The lawn was ablaze with color. We have 5 red bud trees in our lawn and each one of them was covered with bright pink flowers. Surrounding the trees were bright green blades of new grass and bright pink flowers were everywhere I looked. The bright pink flowers were the flowers produced by a plant identified as henbit. Many identify henbit as a weed, but it is not a weed in the eyes of God. Henbit is one of the plants God created at the beginning of time with a purpose.

When I researched henbit, I discovered that it comes from the mint family of plants. It has many uses and benefits. Henbit helps prevent soil erosion through its thick growth and it provides food to bees and insects through the nectar it produces from its bright pink flowers. At the end of a life span of 6 to 9 months during late spring to early summer each henbit plant produces seeds and dries up. Flocks of birds arrive and eat the seeds of the henbit as their source of food. The leaves of henbit are edible for humans and also serve several medicinal uses.

I am reminded as I look around me that there is beauty in all life that God has created. I am reminded that God calls me to look upon the living world all around me as a gift of life; from microscopic to multicellular. Scripture from Genesis 1 reminds me that each organism is created with a purpose.

“12… And God saw it was good. 13 And there was evening and there was morning, the third day” (Genesis 1:12b-13).

In the days ahead it is my prayer that each of us look upon the world around us with new eyes:

-May we see that all that surrounds us has a purpose.

-May we take time to learn more about the living world that surrounds us and supports our needs.

-May we take time to look around you and marvel at the diversity of life that surrounds you.

-May you find time to give thanks to God for your life and the world God created and continues to create.

Peace be with you.

AMEN.