Lent

A Step of Faith

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Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? Luke 1:34 KJV

Today, as we begin the second week of Lent, we need to remind ourselves that though the resurrection of Jesus was unexpected on our part it fit in perfectly with God’s plan. This morning, I want us to remember that the journey towards Easter, began in the humble village of Nazareth, with a young woman named Mary. She had just heard from an angel about God’s plans for her to have a child, though to her it just didn’t make any sense. How could that possibly be, since she was a virgin, and no virgin had ever given birth to a child? So, she asked a question that every believer in Jesus has asked ever since. “How shall this be?” “How will this be that an old broken-down man, a young homeless woman, a middle-aged inmate serving out His time for burglary, can be included in God’s grace. The surprising answer that Mary received 2,000 years ago, is the same good news that He has for each one of us today. God’s part is to work out His plans. Our part is only to believe. As we journey on towards Easter, God wants us to begin just as Mary did: not with a full understanding, but with a trusting step of faith.

And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. Luke 1:38 KJV

The Passion of Suffering and Grace

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We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Hebrews 12:2 NLT

As Christians we are on a journey, not at a final destination. Our road here on earth is sometimes perilous, confusing and difficult. Jesus told us it would be that way, but He also offered us the hope of His presence, His promises and His power to go with us all along the way. The final hours of the life of Jesus are called His passion, and He has called us to pick up our crosses, and His passion to follow Him and carry His love to those around us. In today’s video, I was struck by the fact that even after all these years of disability, suffering, and ministry, Joni still has that kind of passion for others. As we begin Lent on this Ash Wednesday, let’s pause for a moment and turn our eyes to the example of Jesus. He didn’t skip joyfully down the pathway of life, but for the joy that lay ahead, He endured the suffering of the cross with the passion of God’s love. He took time for His mother, for a young and frightened disciples, for a thief, and even to pray forgiveness for His enemies. He lived and He died with a passion that lights the way before us. So, this morning, however dark your journey may be, keep looking to Jesus, because He is the only one who can help, and He willingly did so with a passion that carried Him through death to Life and the sunrise of Easter morning!

What Exactly is Lent?

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They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount u with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 KJV

So, you might ask, “What exactly is Lent? Great question! Well, in general, Lent is the time from Ash Wednesday until either the Wednesday before Easter, Holy Saturday or Easter Sunday depending on what tradition you follow. You also might wonder why, since there is no record of anyone in the Bible observing this 40-day period, why should we? For starters, it is never a bad idea to set aside special times for seeking God’s will and purpose. We call it, “Waiting on the Lord” and waiting comes with God’s promise of strength and renewal. Some people may choose to fast certain foods or commit to special acts of service during these weeks. However, you choose to honor the season, the most important thing of all is to focus on Jesus. For me personally it brings me back to the excitement of my first months of faith in Jesus (Which just happened to be on Easter Sunday!)

During this Lenten season we should come each morning with an open-heart and ask Jesus for a brand-new insight into His word and for His will for our day. During these weeks it is okay to slow down and live more quietly so that we can hear what God is saying. Just as the song tells us that Jesus lay silently in the grave, until Easter, we can practice a bit of that silence as with faith we joyfully look forward to that coming day. My prayer is that during these weeks ahead we may see with fresh eyes the Lord Jesus and fall in love with Him again as we remember His Last Supper, His Cross, His empty grave, and most of all our Risen Lord!

“An ounce of love is worth a pound of knowledge.”
John Wesley