Reflections on Lent: Waiting for Saturday

There is so much "hype" for Good Friday and so much for Easter morning -- and for good reason. This is the season that means to the most who confess Jesus as their Lord and Savior for it is on Easter that Christ is risen from the dead so that we may not just be saved BUT HAVE LIFE through him.

However, what do you do on this Saturday then...wait for Sunday morning? 

What does this say about how we spend the other  "in-between" days - in between jobs, 

in between relationships, in between spiritual highs...???

Most of our lives are spent in Holy Saturday. In other words, most of our days are not filled with the unbearable pain of a Good Friday. Nor are they suffused with the unbelievable joy of an Easter. Some days are indeed times of great pain and some are of great joy, but most are…in between. Most are, in fact, times of waiting, as the disciples waited during Holy Saturday. We’re waiting. Waiting to get into a good school. Waiting to meet the right person. Waiting to get pregnant. Waiting to get a job. Waiting for things at work to improve Waiting for diagnosis from the doctor. Waiting for life just to get better.

To read the rest go to, http://www.americamagazine.org/blog/entry.cfm?blog_id=2&entry_id=5043

This season of Lent has been a large part reflection and small parts doing. It's been examining our lives and habits to check them against our said priorities and God's. It's a check of how we spend of money, our time, and our emotions. But it's also been that - a check. It does no good to reflect these last 40 days if we don't take the next steps now - the steps from "to Judea to Samaria and to the ends of the earth."

Happy Lent  (and an even more HAPPY EASTER just a little early!)

Reflections on Lent: Examples of Sharing

We started this week with the idea of sharing our sacrifice, the story of our passion with others. But to do that, it's a journey of discovering that passion. Maybe that's what this journey of Lent was for you - discovering who you are in Christ and the different ways he uniquely designed you. Maybe it was drilling down into some of the fundamental ways you best connect with God and with others. Maybe it's finding the precise way you tick or way you're wound to for "such a time as this."

Whatever it is, don't let it die on Good Friday but give it over to God as Christ did through the cross - surrender your passions, your skills, and your time and watch what God will bring to life on Easter morning.

As my sufferings mounted I soon realized that there were two ways in which I could respond to my situation -- either to react with bitterness or seek to transform the suffering into a creative force. I decided to follow the latter course.”

http://mlk-kpp01.stanford.edu/index.php/encyclopedia/documentsentry/suffering_and_faith

I believe that Scripture includes such graphic material to show how far we, as a race, have fallen and how far God was willing to come to rescue us from ourselves. - Steven James


http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/25/my-take-stop-sugarcoating-the-bible/?hpt=hp_c4

Reflections on Lent: Stories of Moving

Stories: Moving from Ignorance to Knowledge to Action

The following is an excerpt from a blog linked to at the bottom of the page. It it the author describes how she came to find out about the sex trade and how that knowledge has changed her life

Where the song ended, determined which woman was selected for the night. The scholar then began to sing it in his heavy accent:

“Eenie Meenie Mini Moe …”

Hearing these words, even in a crowd of 4,000 people, hit me like a machete in my stomach.

How have I missed this? How have I perpetuated this?

While Elmina castle is infamous for the buying and selling of slave souls, somehow I’ve missed this other story happening on the sidelines of the slave horror: The story of prostituted women lined up to serve the slave traders’ sexual whims.

Now I hear these words, thick as rope, woven around the women, tying them to a destiny of diminishment.

But what if I didn’t know before?
I’ve been wondering whether we can we perpetuate the evil, even in our unknowing? Does not knowing and saying the words, carry on the diminishing?

I don’t know, but it makes me sick that I didn’t know. That this story could be so veiled to my seeing and my hearing.
It makes me sick that too many of us still don’t know.

This one thing I do know: Now that I know how these words were formed in the mouths of abusers, these words will not be spoken in my home or in my presence. I will do my utmost to educate and stop the lineage of injustice through these words wherever I can.

http://shelovesmagazine.com/2012/no-eenie-meenie-in-my-mouth/

Reflections on Lent: Seeking

What is a true characteristic of the Cristian life in the Bible? - seeking the Lord

Just look at the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11:

Enoch - didn't experience death because he was credited with true faith and having sought the Lord

Moses - sought the Lord constantly in how to lead the Israelites

Samuel - sought the Lord the middle of the night

David - man after God's own heart

Over and over again, our heroes of faith are described to have sought the Lord, cry out to the Lord showing the seeking, and command others toe seek the Lord.

But as with much I the Christian faith, they leave out a very critical point...

...How in the WORLD do you seek His face?

This week acts:s calls us to share our stories, our hearts, and our passions so here's a glimpse into mine. Right now i really need the ABC steps to know that's am seeking the Lord so I can get that blessing that's promised? This is constantly my thought. Over the last several. On the, this is the only message I seem to be getting is

God: Seek me. Be faithful in the small. Seek me.

My Response: Great. Awesome I'll do that but how?

God: Seek me. Seek me.

Me: Okay I'll just try I guess

God: Seek me. Be faithful in the small. Seek me.

Me: I thought I was?

God: Seek me. Be faithful in the small. Seek me.

Me: oh good ghandi! How can I be failing just this bad?!

God: Seek me. Be faithful in the small. Seek me.

(...think I can be a little Type A?!)

Over the last two weeks, I've hit that wall of I hunger for God and I feel like I have so much to say but am blocked. I feel cut off from him and don't know why or how to get back. Rad my billed and what spoke to me now lays silent in my lap. I try to pray but my thoughts wonder and I don't know how to address the big gap my should feels.

And still the still quiet voice whispers: Seek me. Be faithful in the small. Seek me. Just seek me.

Morning devotions was a psalm shared last night in small group: Psalm 27. Here's a portion

 

 ¹ The LORD is my light and my salvation—
   whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
   of whom shall I be afraid?

 ⁴ One thing I ask from the LORD,
   this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
   all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the LORD
   and to seek him in his temple.
⁵ For in the day of trouble
   he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
   and set me high upon a rock.

 ⁷ Hear my voice when I call, LORD;
   be merciful to me and answer me.
⁸ My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
   Your face, LORD, I will seek.
⁹ Do not hide your face from me,
   do not turn your servant away in anger;
   you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
   God my Savior.

 Did you catch that???

 ⁷ Hear my voice when I call, LORD;
   be merciful to me and answer me.
⁸ My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
   Your face, LORD, I will seek.
⁹ Do not hide your face from me,
   do not turn your servant away in anger;
   you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
   God my Savior. 

Me: So David felt like me? So I'm not alone? So I'm not failing?! So here's my prayer:

God: No my child.  

¹⁴ Wait for the LORD;
   be strong and take heart
   and wait for the LORD.

So here's my prayer for today and each moment

Father, we are truly thankful for the life of Jesus, our brother and King. In every way He came to show us how to live--how to celebrate, how to obey, how to lean into You, how to raise the spirits of others, and how to lay our life down to glorify You.  His heart was deeply rooted in You, and the rewards of His faithful obedience have covered all past and future generations. Take us to the root too. Bring us to the source of what is so hard to face. Help us accept our own humanity, our own faults and fears. Help us face what we want to avoid. Help us be honest with ourselves and others. Help us not to hide from the truth and help us keep moving forward even though it may hurt. Show us what we are to take on, be with us as we move through obstacles, pitfalls, and triumphant finishes. May our lives celebrate and honor You in our greatest ability. Amen.

-Chris Seay, A Place at the Table

Reflections on Lent: Witness and Praise

When thinking about the challenge the act:s team has put before the community this week, I was struck by the significance of sharing - not just information but your story, not just your cause but your path. Then I read this blog "When Rocks Look Like Shoes" and realized, yet again it goes beyond sharing our story to praising our Lord. 

To share our story with God - to celebrate it with Him - is the best celebration there is. 

When we humbly come before our Creator - the Author of Life - and praise Him for the stories He was written and worked in our lives, we are the one who are blessed. We are the ones who receive courage and strength and joy. 

So share today what the Lord has done with ours but most importantly with your Father.

Reflections on Lent: Sacrifice yourself

You've got to share your toys. 

You're going to bed right now if you don't let your sister play with that. 

Santa won't like it if you don't share your toys.

These were the messages about sharing we got taught as children. Today it comes in much subtler nudges such as:

Can I try your cheeseburger?

Can I borrow that sweater?

Do you have a cheese grate I could borrow?

All things you may have asked yourself but some much harder when they're asked of us. Well this week - our last week - of Lent, act:s is calling us to share - share you sacrifices. share you passions. share your struggles. and share Christ.

act:s Week 6

"If you are truly passionate about something, there is a story that lead you to be passionate about it. And it is in that story that someone can relate to your passion and get involved...and that's where the power lay."

Reflections on Lent: The Art of Rest

Emily Freeman

Sometime between April of 1977 and April of now, I forgot how to rest. Oh, I can fall on my pillow at night and sleep. I can sit and watch Downton Abbey for hours. I know how to read a book on the beach. But sleep is often different from rest. And lots of times I’m watching Downton because I’m avoiding real work. And when I’m at the beach, I’m on vacation so rest is kind of a requirement.

Over the past year, there have been times when I have felt breathless, never able to catch up, not even sure what I was chasing. I forgot how to plan for rest during hours where I am fully awake, able bodied and not on vacation.

            Read the rest at (in)courage.

Reflections on Lent: IF

My church has been focusing on I Chronicles 7:14 this Easter season with a sermon series called "IF"

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

It's a time to reflect on NCC's ministry mission and how God is working it out:

Ordinary people, empowered by God’s Spirit, doing what Jesus did, together, wherever they are.
 

NCC and Community

Reflections on Lent: Listen to Him

Yes, this week we can think about what we listen to and what informs us, 

but also, find that rest in the voice of the Lord and truth that comes in there. 

I don't know about you, but sometimes when I spend a lot of time in reflection and a season of conviction, I get weary - weary of being wrecked, humbled, stomped down, and sent down roads I don't understand. 

So take a moment with me to rest and trust in the words of our Fathers and replace them with the hurry scurry of life...
 

The viability of our prayers is not contingent on scrabbling the twenty-six letters of the English alphabet into the right combinations like abracadabra. God already knows the last punctuation make before we pronounce the first syllable. The viability of our prayers has more to do with intensity than vocabulary. This is modeled by the Holy Spirit Himself, who has been intensely and unceasingly interceding for you your entire life.

 

  Psalm 32:7 is a must-circle promise. I like the King James Version: "Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance." [For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory - NLT]

  Long before you woke up this morning and long after you go to sleep tonight, the Spirit of God was circling you with songs of deliverance. He has been circling you since the day you were conceived, and He'll circle you until the day you die. He is praying hard for you with ultrasonic groans that cannot be formulated into words, and those unutterable intercessions should fill you with a unspeakable confidence. God isn't just for you in some passive sense: God is for you in the most active sense imaginable. The Holy Spirit is praying hard for you. And the supernatural sychronicities begin to happen with we tag-team with God and do the same.

 The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson
Dream Big. Pray Hard. Think Long.

"Even now we believe even then" - we are more than conquers.

Reflections on Lent: Listening

This week World Vision act:s has challenged Christians to rethink what they consume in what they watch, what they spend their time on, what vioces they listen to, and what they buy. It's been really challenging to for personally to think about this and way to "sacrifice my consuming" beyond the tradition of fasting food.

It think there's a new day in the faith when we realize that we are so much more than "what we eat" but that the words of Christ ring true today than ever:

"Man does not live by bread alone"

I'll leave you with this poem written by a fellow blogger on her blog Inscription: God-wrestling in the light of day

Reflections on Lent: All Consuming Fire

ReLENTless act:s of Sacrifice: Sacrifice What CONSUMES You

act:s Video - Week 5

In the Bible our God is describe as a "all consuming fire"-- what are you consuming that is getting in the way of your relationship with God, your relationship with others, and your relationship with the world around you? 

What is getting in the way of your calling to be in the world but not of it? 

What is stopping you from your unique calling that you have been given through your specific talents, passions, and opportunities to effect the world for Christ.

Reflections on Lent: God-Sized Dreams

“The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.” Proverbs 16:9

 

How Tightly Should We Hold On to Our Dreams?

“God-sized dreams” might be small, and tucked in, and quiet. Sometimes it’s easier to think that “God-sized dreams” mean big dreams, our dreams, the things that are exciting and appealing and out “there.”

 

I’ve often wrestled with the phrase, “God-sized dreams” because I don’t understand what it means. God-sized? Dreams? What does that even mean?

And what of our dreams? What if they are just that, our dreams? Haven’t many people followed their dreams as an excuse to go their own way? To leave their families? To neglect the small, mundane, precious things that teach us patience, humility, and compassion?

I think about these things because I am on the verge, the edge of possibilities that could drastically change my life, my small, somewhat quiet life. I’m desperate not to lose the small. I want to hold on to my home and my little ones and my husband and stay within reach.

To read the rest of this blog, go to (in)courage....

Reflections on Lent: Ananymous Extraordinaries

Remember - You've been "called" to every moment of your day... 

"All I was doing was trying to get home from work" -Rosa Parks

 

Natalie Warne: TEDTalk

Reflections on Lent: If Leaders

So when people talk about calling, most times I think of getting the task of leading a movement. But it doesn't have to be that way. Calling maybe a simply call to be obedient as a mother, a wife, a boyfriend, a best friend, a secretary, or a co-worker. It may be to sell all you have and set off for a far away place or it may be as scary as going to your fence and having a conversation with your neighbor.

Reflections on Lent: Let Us Love

- Let Us Love -

by NeedtoBreath

We were born to embrace not accept it

We were given nothing more so we kept it

As the color of our boots keep fading

We live a life that we hate without saying

Who would listen to the cries of a poor man

We never done nothing

How can we be something

 

Every heart has an hour of existence

Every breath brings a chance for redemption

If somehow we could Wake Up!

Let us love (like we were children)

Make us feel (like we're still living)

in a world I know is burning to the ground

Give us time (to beat the system)

Make us find (what we've been missing)

In a world I know is burning to the ground

In the crowd of the dead and disappointed

We're ashamed given up on what we wanted

Take a chance at long shot this time

Aren't we all just at least worth another try

 

I'm a king in the land of abuses

Undermined by the promise of excuses

Whose to win if we know that it's not fair

Who would fight when it seems that no one cares

If somehow we could Wake Up!

Let us love (like we were children)

Make us feel (like we're still living)

in a world I know is burning to the ground

Give us time (to beat the system)

Make us find (what we've been missing)

In a world I know is burning to the ground

Let us love (like we were children)

Make us feel (like we were living)

in a world I know is burning to the ground

Leave your hurting on the road behind you. 

Let the wind go with you till the morning comes

Yeah your sorrow, no it can't save you. 

It won't answer for what you've done

 Let us love (like we were children)

Make us feel (like we were living)

in a world I know is burning to the ground

Reflections on Lent: Good Future

"I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will find me when you seek me with your whole heart. I will be found by you..."

- Jeremiah 29:11-14

Reflections on Lent: Calling in Small

Hannah is eight years old and recently attended a freedom event hosted by her aunt, Janelle. After viewing a documentary about human trafficking, Hannah asked, “Aunt Janelle, can I give money too?”

She didn’t have the money she diligently saved with her, but the following day, she brought an envelope with all the money she had saved to donate it to The A21 Campaign. When asked if she wanted to donate all of her savings, she willingly agreed and said she could always make more money. Her small gift was such a large contribution in the fight against slavery!

Read the rest of Hannah's story at A21Campaign's blog (http://blog.thea21campaign.org/?p=20).

Reflections on Lent: The Sacrifice of Calling

The Sacrifice of Calling

Are you working or are you pursing purpose? 

Is what you do daily making you more alive or is it killing you one joy at a time? 

What is it that your heart beats for?

What skills do you uniquely possess? 

What are you doing to make a difference in the world around you?

These are all questions that float through my mind - no lets be real - these are all questions that wreak havoc on my mind and have cost me my fingernails, sleep, and smiles.
Coming off a weekend of contemplation, another phone call with the sister to talk about life, yet again questioning how I spent my time and money, still struggling with the feelings of failure yet not even knowing what I'm failing at...?
And then I listened to this video this morning and feeling the release of resting once again. Of Exodus 14:14 where God commands us "I will delivery you, you need only be still."  Today, I heard about a release from that. I heard about a journey that started with God and being still and ended with the same. Yes, there's growth in the middle but as this speaker says

"Life is not going to make sense while you're living it. 

It really only kind of makes sense in retrospect..But in the moment you really don't know."

When will I learn to fully trust? When will I learn to leave my cares in the Lord's hand? Probably the same day He says

"Well done my good and faithful servant."

So here's to life

with all the crazy moments of fear, 

of exhilarating moments of release, 

and many many more regular days that fill the in between moments.

Reflects on Lent: Words

What is the power of words?

This is the question I started the week with and continue to mull it over in my mind.

What if I gave the Lord all my words?

What if I gave him my twitter, my Facebook, my gchat status?

What would change if I filled my mind with His words and praise and not 

rap or the Hunger Games?

What changes could this have in my life, on my relationships, and on the world?

Needless to say, these are not questions or tasks that can be answered or done in a week, a month, or a year. These are the questions that drive our growth continually and lead us to the cross. They lead us to seek Christ more fully, seek life more truly,  white knuckle my control just a little bit less, take faith steps a little more often, and and press in just a little bit farther.

So I'm leaving you with others' inspiring words because normal, they say it a lot better than me!

Reflections on Lent: Labeling Myself

What's a label you've found is true about yourself during the Lent Season aka what do you miss?

potato chip-a-holic

shop-a-lic

non-water-a-holic

Whatever you've found yourself missing this Lenten season, maybe you're like me and have recently realized an addiction like how I turn to a cup of coffee as a source of calm in the storm. No seriously, just holding that cup of steaming joe has an alluring quality of calm and control that makes me feel confident approaching any situation.