We are nearing the end of our Lenten journey... the journey we began weeks ago... the journey with our Lord as we opened our hearts... searched our souls... asked forgiveness for our wrongs... and humbly walked with our Lord as he neared the time when he would pay the price that brings us forgiveness and life...
During this time we have known tragedy and triumph, joy and sorrow... we have grown closer to our Lord and stronger in our faith...
Perhaps we have thought that our journey was ours, alone... but we must remember that countless others, sisters and brothers in the faith, have also made this journey with us... so this has been a time of both intimacy and community...
Today is Maundy Thursday - Holy Thursday, as some call it. It is the day during which we commemorate the Passover feast that our Lord celebrated with his disciples... and it was at this feast that our Lord "...took bread, gave thanks, and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.'" (Luke 22:19-20)
At the time, the disciples did not truly understand what he meant...
And I wonder if today, we disciples truly understand... that Jesus' body had to be broken and Jesus' blood had to be poured out for us because there was no other way to reconcile sinners with a Holy and Just God.
We have journeyed with our Lord during this time of Lent... and perhaps we have drawn so much closer in our relationship with the Lord... but, like every other human being in our world, we are still sinners... and always will be... as such, we are all equal in the eyes of God... no one better or worse than any other person...
Today, as we gather to worship and celebrate Holy Communion on this Maundy Thursday, let us be reminded that it is ONLY through the breaking of GOD's body and the pouring out of GOD's blood, done because our Holy and Just God loved us so much, it is only because of this act of GRACE that we have forgiveness of sin and reconciliation with God...
The season of Lent is drawing to a close, and we will soon see our Lord and Savior pay the price for our sins...
Lent will soon be over... but our journey continues on...
Showing posts with label Lenten reflection. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lenten reflection. Show all posts
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Monday, March 12, 2012
Day 17... The Lenten Journey Continues...
One of them, an expert in the Law, tested him with this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
~Matthew 22:35-40
Do all the good you can,
By all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.
~John Wesley
As you reflect back on how today has gone, how have you done in the categories of loving God and loving others?
~Matthew 22:35-40
Do all the good you can,
By all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.
~John Wesley
As you reflect back on how today has gone, how have you done in the categories of loving God and loving others?
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Day 13... The Lenten Journey Continues... A Prayer of Self Denial...
"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."
~Psalm 51:10 (KJV)
A prayer for this day in Lent:
Dear God, my number one problem is me. I have embraced a false self that tries in every way to tell me that I am in control - and even more dangerously, tells me not to trust you but rather to trust my own alleged righteousness. I am ashamed at how many times I have listened to the voice of the false self instead of your voice.
Today, I deny that false self and ask that you would renew a right spirit within me, a self that attends to you and lives accordingly. Especially today, I ask that I might deny the false self in relation to ( ). I am tired of going where it leads me. Instead, lead me in paths of righteousness for your name's sake. I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen
(Prayer taken from: "A Pocket Guide to Prayer" by Steve Harper)
~Psalm 51:10 (KJV)
A prayer for this day in Lent:
Dear God, my number one problem is me. I have embraced a false self that tries in every way to tell me that I am in control - and even more dangerously, tells me not to trust you but rather to trust my own alleged righteousness. I am ashamed at how many times I have listened to the voice of the false self instead of your voice.
Today, I deny that false self and ask that you would renew a right spirit within me, a self that attends to you and lives accordingly. Especially today, I ask that I might deny the false self in relation to ( ). I am tired of going where it leads me. Instead, lead me in paths of righteousness for your name's sake. I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen
(Prayer taken from: "A Pocket Guide to Prayer" by Steve Harper)
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Day 12... The Lenten Journey... What is God Doing in Your Life?
"Come and see what God has done, how awesome his works in man's behalf!"
~Psalm 66:5 (NIV1984)
In this verse, the psalmist invites the hearers and readers of his message to notice what God has done for humanity... and in the next verse he gives just one example, out of many that he could have chosen, of what God had done for God's people.
As you go through the day today, look around you... notice what is happening... where are God's love, mercy and grace intersecting with your life? See if you can notice something that God is doing in your life today... and give God thanks!
~Psalm 66:5 (NIV1984)
In this verse, the psalmist invites the hearers and readers of his message to notice what God has done for humanity... and in the next verse he gives just one example, out of many that he could have chosen, of what God had done for God's people.
As you go through the day today, look around you... notice what is happening... where are God's love, mercy and grace intersecting with your life? See if you can notice something that God is doing in your life today... and give God thanks!
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Through the Late Watches of the Night... Our Lenten Journey Continues...
Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us.
~Psalm 62:8 (NRSV)
As I was driving home from work this evening, I saw a message on a church sign. It is a very simple message, but one that perhaps should be remembered at night and also during this time of the year, as we make our Lenten journey with the Lord.
The message is simply this: "God forgives you - yes, even for that"
Maybe now you are wondering why I said this is a good message to remember at night and during this Lenten journey...
It is usually at night, as the sun sets and the shadows deepen around us that fears and doubts and worries begin to creep up on us and steal into our hearts. Sometimes our fears and doubts and worries can even wear down our strength of spirit that might have seemed so strong to us just a few hours before, when the sun might have been shining brightly.
The strong assurance we felt during the day, the assurance of having God's grace and mercy and forgiveness for our sins, may have slowly weakened, even as the shadows of night lengthened, bringing with them the worry and doubt and fear that maybe, just maybe, there was sin in our lives for which we would not, could not be forgiven...
And now perhaps in the late watches of the night, because of our fears, we begin to lose hope... we begin to wonder how God could possibly love us enough to give us grace and mercy and forgiveness...
No... not us... not for that...
Anybody been there? Anybody still there?
The message on the sign is there for you... and me... It is there to remind all of us that we will be forgiven... and our scripture reminds us that we can pour out our hearts to God, who is our refuge, our protection...
As we travel this Lenten journey, remember this is a time to open our hearts and examine its deep recesses, and in humble trust, repent and ask forgiveness...
And yes... you will be forgiven... even for that...
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us.
~Psalm 62:8 (NRSV)
As I was driving home from work this evening, I saw a message on a church sign. It is a very simple message, but one that perhaps should be remembered at night and also during this time of the year, as we make our Lenten journey with the Lord.
The message is simply this: "God forgives you - yes, even for that"
Maybe now you are wondering why I said this is a good message to remember at night and during this Lenten journey...
It is usually at night, as the sun sets and the shadows deepen around us that fears and doubts and worries begin to creep up on us and steal into our hearts. Sometimes our fears and doubts and worries can even wear down our strength of spirit that might have seemed so strong to us just a few hours before, when the sun might have been shining brightly.
The strong assurance we felt during the day, the assurance of having God's grace and mercy and forgiveness for our sins, may have slowly weakened, even as the shadows of night lengthened, bringing with them the worry and doubt and fear that maybe, just maybe, there was sin in our lives for which we would not, could not be forgiven...
And now perhaps in the late watches of the night, because of our fears, we begin to lose hope... we begin to wonder how God could possibly love us enough to give us grace and mercy and forgiveness...
No... not us... not for that...
Anybody been there? Anybody still there?
The message on the sign is there for you... and me... It is there to remind all of us that we will be forgiven... and our scripture reminds us that we can pour out our hearts to God, who is our refuge, our protection...
As we travel this Lenten journey, remember this is a time to open our hearts and examine its deep recesses, and in humble trust, repent and ask forgiveness...
And yes... you will be forgiven... even for that...
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Day Seven... The Lenten Journey Continues...
"Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun."
~Psalm 37:3-6 (NIV1984)
We have traveled a week, seven days along our Lenten Journey. How is your journey going? Did you promise to give something up for Lent... or add something to your daily routine? Have you kept up with your Lenten promise (whatever it was), or have you been side tracked? Are you beginning to wonder about your promise... whether it really makes any difference whether or not you keep it?
If you are beginning to wonder about your promise, about whether it really makes a difference if you keep it, let me encourage you to examine your heart and your motives. Ask yourself why you made the promise to begin with. Did you make your promise so that you might look good in the eyes of other people, so that they might think you to be especially holy or religious or righteous? Did you make a Lenten promise out of pure habit, because you felt you were "supposed to" or that you "had to"? Or did you make your promise to bring glory to the LORD and to deepen your faith and relationship with the LORD?
The last reason is by far the best one for your having made a Lenten promise... But no matter which of the them was your reason, keeping your Lenten promise makes a difference to the LORD.
As our scripture encourages you to do, and as you think of your promise, "trust in the LORD"... "Delight yourself in the LORD" (in other words, do what pleases the LORD, not you)... and finally, "commit your way to the LORD"...
Your Lenten promise is not about you showing off to others how holy or religious you are, but about you showing your heart to the LORD... and about preparing your heart for the LORD... and about allowing the LORD of LORD's to change your heart so that it reflects his love to all others...
Your promise is important... look into your heart and reflect on what you find... begin again if you need to... ask the LORD to help you with this... that is of course what Lent is all about... journeying with the LORD...
~Psalm 37:3-6 (NIV1984)
We have traveled a week, seven days along our Lenten Journey. How is your journey going? Did you promise to give something up for Lent... or add something to your daily routine? Have you kept up with your Lenten promise (whatever it was), or have you been side tracked? Are you beginning to wonder about your promise... whether it really makes any difference whether or not you keep it?
If you are beginning to wonder about your promise, about whether it really makes a difference if you keep it, let me encourage you to examine your heart and your motives. Ask yourself why you made the promise to begin with. Did you make your promise so that you might look good in the eyes of other people, so that they might think you to be especially holy or religious or righteous? Did you make a Lenten promise out of pure habit, because you felt you were "supposed to" or that you "had to"? Or did you make your promise to bring glory to the LORD and to deepen your faith and relationship with the LORD?
The last reason is by far the best one for your having made a Lenten promise... But no matter which of the them was your reason, keeping your Lenten promise makes a difference to the LORD.
As our scripture encourages you to do, and as you think of your promise, "trust in the LORD"... "Delight yourself in the LORD" (in other words, do what pleases the LORD, not you)... and finally, "commit your way to the LORD"...
Your Lenten promise is not about you showing off to others how holy or religious you are, but about you showing your heart to the LORD... and about preparing your heart for the LORD... and about allowing the LORD of LORD's to change your heart so that it reflects his love to all others...
Your promise is important... look into your heart and reflect on what you find... begin again if you need to... ask the LORD to help you with this... that is of course what Lent is all about... journeying with the LORD...
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Day 2... The Lenten Journey Continues...
From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
~Matthew 16:21-24 (NIV1984)
No, Lord, never!! You, the Son of the Living God, the Messiah, suffer?? Be killed?? No... that is not the way it should be... We should die for you... in glorious battle!!
And we disciples, who like Peter, might so willingly follow you into battle against an enemy, find instead that we must follow you on a much harder journey... for instead of calling us to arms, you call us to suffering... to self-denial... you call us to the cross... and to death...
But you also mention something about being raised to life?
Is it just possibly true that following your path... journeying with you through self-denial and suffering, following you to the cross and death... that all of this leads to... new life?
Yesterday's ashes are gone... but the journey continues...
No, Lord, never!! You, the Son of the Living God, the Messiah, suffer?? Be killed?? No... that is not the way it should be... We should die for you... in glorious battle!!
And we disciples, who like Peter, might so willingly follow you into battle against an enemy, find instead that we must follow you on a much harder journey... for instead of calling us to arms, you call us to suffering... to self-denial... you call us to the cross... and to death...
But you also mention something about being raised to life?
Is it just possibly true that following your path... journeying with you through self-denial and suffering, following you to the cross and death... that all of this leads to... new life?
Yesterday's ashes are gone... but the journey continues...
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Ash Wednesday...
“Even now,” declares the LORD,
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and mourning.”
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and mourning.”
Rend your heart
and not your garments.
Return to the LORD your God,
for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
and he relents from sending calamity.
and not your garments.
Return to the LORD your God,
for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
and he relents from sending calamity.
~Joel 2:12-13 (NIV1984)
Today is Ash Wednesday. It marks the beginning of Lent, a 40 day period of time set aside for introspection and reflection as we journey with the Lord to the cross. It is a time to remember why the Lord had to die for us... to remember our sins and to repent. Ashes are a symbol of our mortality as well as a symbol of repentance. As the prophet Joel encourages, rend or tear open your hearts... pray and deeply mourn and grieve over the things that you have done that have grieved the heart of God... and repent. For our God is indeed "gracious and compassionate... abounding in love..." God will have mercy and forgive.
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