CREATED TO BE A JOY
“For I created Jerusalem to be a joy and its people to be a delight; I will rejoice in Jerusalem and exult in my people.” – Is. 65:18-19
How might you practice Joy this Lenten season?
DO YOU BELIEVE?
“Do you believe in the Son of Man?” – Jn 9:35
For much of my life, I’ve struggled with being not _______ enough ...
TRUSTING THE UNEXPECTED PRESENT
"Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; in holocausts and sin offerings you took no delight. Then I said, 'As is written of me in the scroll, behold, I come to do your will, O God.'" – Heb. 10:5-7
God does something in my heart that opens me up.
UNFOLD MY HEART
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” – Mk. 12:30-31
As Lent unfolds, unfold my very heart so that it may grow.
GOING DEEP
"Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house.” – Lk. 11:17
We don’t tread at the superficial level. We go deep.
UNIMPRESSIVE THEATRICS
"Take care… not to forget the things which your own eyes have seen, nor let them slip from your memory as long as you live, but teach them to your children and to your children's children." – Deut. 4:9
All You ask is that I be myself with You.
LESSONS OF FORGIVENESS
“His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity of your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’” –Mt. 18:32-33
It is only through forgiveness that I can love truly and fully.
THE MUST OF ME
“Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” –Lk. 2:49b
"Must" is the defining aspect of who I am created to be. What business of God is my "must"?
SATISFYING OUR LIVING WATER
"Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." – Jn. 4: 13-14
We thirst for meaning in our lives, knowing we are loved, a supportive and encouraging community, and companionship to satisfy our living water.
BEING GOOD STEWARDS
“…everything I have is yours.” – Lk. 15:31
If we are given the kingdom, how then can we be good stewards to this gift?
GOD’S ANNOYING SERVANTS
“They said to one another: ‘Here comes that master dreamer! Come on, let us kill him and throw him into one of the cisterns here.’” Gen 19-20
The annoying God will try to evade our defenses and reach our hearts in the ways that we might never expect.
LISTENING TO GOD’S SPIRIT WITHIN
"Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is the Lord." – Jer. 17:7
I don't always listen so well but God never stops reaching out to me.
A SERVICE THAT IS SURE
“Whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.” – Mt. 20:26
God does not ask us to have a faith that is certain, but a service that is sure.
SHARING OUR MEAL
“The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” – Mt. 23:11-12
The poor and marginalized give me an opportunity to share a meal with Christ.
BEYOND JUDGEMENT
“Stop judging and you will not be judged.” – Lk. 6:36
My experience of life is that judgement is everywhere...
Listening to the Gentle Voice
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” – Mt 17:5
Two kinds of voices vie for our attention. One is against us; the other is for us.
GOD LOVES WHAT IS IRRITATING
“You have heard that it was said, you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you ...” – Mt. 5:43-45
Love is a choice to reach beyond ourselves to nurture the spiritual growth of ourselves or another.
STEP BY STEP
“Do I not rejoice when they turn from their evil way and live?” – Ez 18:23b
God rejoices when I take steps towards Him...
RECEIVING BY PRAYER
“Ask, and you will receive. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened to you…” – Mt. 7, 11
Our praying is already God answering within us and through us.
GOD WANTS TO FORGIVE AND HEAL
Jesus preached to the people, asking them to repent, just as the Ninevites had done, saying, "They turned from their sins when they heard Jonah preach." – Lk. 11:32
God wants to forgive, heal, restore, show us endless mercy, and see us come home.