Cedar Ridge Community Church: Lenten Devotions

Give us Your Review of the CRCC Lenten Blog

2009-04-28T10:07:00.004-04:00

After reading the questions below, simply leave your comments on our blogsite. Number your answers according to the questions below.

Thank you for your feedback!

1. Did you visit the Lenten Blog during the 40 days of Lent? Why/why not?
2. How often did you visit the blog?
3. How did you find out about the Lenten Blog?
4. If you did not know about the blog, what would have been a good way for us to direct you to it?
5. What are your overall thoughts/impressions on the Lenten Blog?

40th Day of Lent

2009-04-11T16:25:00.000-04:00

There was deep rest around the grave of Jesus. On the seventh day, when the work of creation was completed, God rested. “God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on that day he rested after all his work of creating” (Genesis 2:3). On the seventh day of the week of our redemption, when Jesus had fulfilled all he was sent by his Father to do, he rested in the tomb, and the women whose hearts were broken with grief rested with him. Of all the days in history, Holy Saturday – the Saturday during which the body of Jesus lay in the tomb in silence and darkness behind the large stone that was rolled against its entrance ---is the day of God’s solitude. The Paschal Sabbath is the day on which the whole creation waits in deep rest. It is the day on which no words are spoken, no proclamations made. The Word of God through whom all had been made lies buried in the darkness of the earth. This Holy Saturday is the most quiet of all days. Its quiet connects the first covenant with the second, the people of Israel with the not-yet-knowing world, the Temple with the new worship in the Spirit, the sacrifices of blood with the sacrifice of bread and wine, the Law with the Gospel. This divine silence is the most fruitful silence the world has ever known. From this silence, the Word will be spoken again and make all things new.
Henri Nouwen from Walk with Jesus 1990 Orbis Books

Today is the last day of Lent. During this season we have been reflecting and examining what kind of inward transformation we need in our lives. As we wait expectantly on the verge of Easter celebrations, what kind of new life do you long for? What difference, what change do you want to be resurrected in your life?

Prayer:
Oh God, breathe your new life into me! As I have looked deep inside myself, I know that so much needs to change; but I look to you for help and the power to live differently. I wait for you. Come Lord Jesus!

Good Friday

2009-04-10T09:21:00.001-04:00

Mark 15:22-39
22The soldiers took Jesus to Golgotha, which means "Place of a Skull." 23There they gave him some wine mixed with a drug to ease the pain, but he refused to drink it.
24They nailed Jesus to a cross and gambled to see who would get his clothes. 25It was about nine o'clock in the morning when they nailed him to the cross. 26On it was a sign that told why he was nailed there. It read, "This is the King of the Jews." 27-28The soldiers also nailed two criminals on crosses, one to the right of Jesus and the other to his left.
29People who passed by said terrible things about Jesus. They shook their heads and shouted, "Ha! So you're the one who claimed you could tear down the temple and build it again in three days. 30Save yourself and come down from the cross!"
31The chief priests and the teachers of the Law of Moses also made fun of Jesus. They said to each other, "He saved others, but he can't save himself. 32If he is the Messiah, the king of Israel, let him come down from the cross! Then we will see and believe." The two criminals also said cruel things to Jesus.
33About noon the sky turned dark and stayed that way until around three o'clock. 34Then about that time Jesus shouted, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you deserted me?"
35Some of the people standing there heard Jesus and said, "He is calling for Elijah." 36One of them ran and grabbed a sponge. After he had soaked it in wine, he put it on a stick and held it up to Jesus. He said, "Let's wait and see if Elijah will come and take him down!" 37Jesus shouted and then died.
38At once the curtain in the temple tore in two from top to bottom.
39A Roman army officer was standing in front of Jesus. When the officer saw how Jesus died, he said, "This man really was the Son of God!"

Good Friday is traditionally a day for focusing on sin and its impact on the world, as we consider Jesus’ passion and death. As followers of Jesus, we are called not just to look outside of ourselves and condemn the evil that is “out there,” but to begin by looking inside and acknowledging that we, too, have played a part in the horrible consequences of sin on God’s beautiful creation.
As we reflect on Jesus’ suffering and sacrifice - his willingness to become weak, his willingness to become helpless, his willingness to become as one of us -- we imitate him and share in his passion by accepting our own weakness and helplessness.
It’s in this weakness that we can enter more deeply into His work of love and redemption as we ask God to transform us—to purge us of our errors and to break the chains of our self-inflicted oppression, recognizing that resurrection and Life follow the cross.
Take some time today to sit and reflect on where you have been in error or where you have been weak. Ask God to show you something about yourself that is in need of changing. Let yourself feel the wrong of it without giving in to guilt or self-condemnation. Allow yourself to acknowledge fault and God’s unconditional for you, together. Feel that you are sinful AND dearly precious to God. Know that Jesus’ resurrection power is at work in you even now. Spend time in prayer, talking and listening to God.

38th Day of Lent

2009-04-09T11:29:00.003-04:00

37th Day of Lent

2009-04-07T07:18:00.004-04:00

Exposure

I wanted to share with you a painting that I finally completed a couple weeks ago. I've attached a photo of the painting, which probably needs a bit of explanation to go with it--but feel free to take whatever meaning it has for you personally as well, if you choose to view it differently.

I haven't decided what to call it, but for now I'm calling it "Exposure". The central figure is seen in four stages of turning towards the light, getting up, dropping his/her cloak to the ground and standing fully in the light that is revealing his/her true "design". For me, although most see the central, colorful figure as the main event, personally it is The Light, whom I understand to be God, who is the driving force of the painting. It is in turning to the light in authentic vulnerability (as symbolized in the dropping of the hooded jacket) that I have discovered who I truly am...an exquisite, unique creature designed like no other, and called to be true to my unique design. If I were to express how it feels to stand in The Light this way, I feel awestruck by the wonder of my own design and an overwhelming gratefulness to my Creator. I feel the warmth of Light as He reveals myself to me, and a smile from Him that feels like an endearing caress, like when a little girl twirls in her brand new dress for her Daddy. It is warm and wonderful and safe and alive in the light.

In the distant darkness you hopefully you can see the shrouded figures of others who so far have not realized they can turn and discover the warmth of the light and the uniqueness of their own intricate design. I don't know why The Light has not touched their lives yet and reassured them that it is ok, that it is safe, to get up and discover, so that they can start living as their truest selves.

As far as the skill it took as a painter to do this painting, I'm not that thrilled with it...but it is does express the image that I had in mind when I started out, so I am grateful for that. I hope to do more paintings that have this type of character and design in different situations, although there will never be any two of the characters with the exact same design---obviously!

I hope you find it interesting and at least a little provocative!

By Vickie Thurston

36th Day of Lent

2009-04-06T00:01:00.000-04:00

Matthew 21:1-11 (New Living Translation)
As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. “Go into the village over there,” he said. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will immediately let you take them.”
This took place to fulfill the prophecy that said,

“Tell the people of Israel,
‘Look, your King is coming to you.
He is humble, riding on a donkey—riding on a donkey’s colt.’”

The two disciples did as Jesus commanded. They brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it.

Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting,

“Praise God for the Son of David!
Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Praise God in highest heaven!”

The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. “Who is this?” they asked.

And the crowds replied, “It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Palm Sunday Poem by Joseph Bayley

King Jesus
why did you choose
a lowly ass
to carry you
to ride in your parade?
Had you no friend
who owned a horse
--royal mount with spirit
fit for a king to ride?
Why choose an ass
small unassuming
beast of burden
trained to plow
not carry kings.
King Jesus
why did you choose
me
a lowly unimportant person
to bear you
in my world today?
I'm poor and unimportant
trained to work
not carry kings
---let alone the King of kings
and yet you've chosen me
to carry you in triumph
in this world's parade.
King Jesus
keep me small
so all may see
how great you are
keep me humble
so all may say
Blessed is he who cometh in the name of the Lord
not what a great ass he rides.

Palm Sunday

2009-04-05T15:27:00.002-04:00

Listen to the message here.

35th Day of Lent

2009-04-04T00:00:00.000-04:00

Entering Jerusalem on a Colt

Mark 11: 1-7 The Message
When they were nearing Jerusalem, at Bethpage and Bethany on Mount Olives, he sent off two of the disciples with instructions: "Go to the village across from you. As soon as you enter, you'll find a colt tethered, one that has never yet been ridden. Untie it and bring it. If anyone asks, 'What are you doing?' say, 'The Master needs him, and will return him right away.'"

They went and found a colt tied to a door at the street corner and untied it. Some of those standing there said, "What are you doing untying that colt?" The disciples replied exactly as Jesus had instructed them, and the people let them alone. They brought the colt to Jesus, spread their coats on it, and he mounted.

Imagine the whirlwind that the disciples were feeling as they neared Jerusalem with Jesus. It seems likely that they must have experienced a mix of awe and wonder to downright nervousness, knowing all that was to come. And then, Jesus asks them to go fetch him a donkey.

The two disciples who were asked to go find the colt for Jesus were probably relieved to have something to do as the excitement surrounding Jesus mounted. They may, however, have wondered about the donkey, “He’s going to ride into the city on a donkey?” If they didn’t know it already, this certainly was a reminder that Jesus was royalty of another world order all together. In fact, Jesus had just settled a discussion about getting ahead in the kingdom of God:

Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:20-28)

While the significance of that donkey may well have been missed by the disciples and the crowd amid the excitement on that day as they approached Jerusalem, it echoes truth from the depth of God’s heart to us today, “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

34th Day of Lent

2009-04-03T00:00:00.001-04:00

Reality Check

32They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. 33"We are going up to Jerusalem," he said, "and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, 34who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise." Mark 10: 32-34 The Message

Rarely, if ever, does God reveal a game plan for our lives. Suffering and hardship usually catch us by surprise, or at least startle us. Before entering Jerusalem, where Jesus would face the ultimate in suffering, he stops to recount to his disciples what lay ahead. It’s as if he’s giving them a reality-check moment, spelling out the pain that is before him and his followers as they make their way to Jerusalem. He concludes with a reminder that he will rise again, offering hope beyond what anyone could imagine. His was a reality-check which tipped the scales from misery to extraordinary joy.

What would a reality check on your life look like right now? Where do you find hope and joy?

33rd Day of Lent

2009-04-01T23:39:00.000-04:00

Stop and Listen

On his website, composer Gavin Bryars, shares the story behind the song “Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet, ” in which he set the words sung by a homeless man to music. Bryars writes:

In 1971, when I lived in London, I was working with a friend, Alan Power, on a film about people living rough in the area around Elephant and Castle and Waterloo Station. In the course of being filmed, some people broke into drunken song - sometimes bits of opera, sometimes sentimental ballads - and one, who in fact did not drink, sang a religious song "Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet". This was not ultimately used in the film and I was given all the unused sections of tape, including this one.

When I played it at home, I found that his singing was in tune with my piano, and I improvised a simple accompaniment. I noticed, too, that the first section of the song - 13 bars in length - formed an effective loop which repeated in a slightly unpredictable way. I took the tape loop to Leicester, where I was working in the Fine Art Department, and copied the loop onto a continuous reel of tape, thinking about perhaps adding an orchestrated accompaniment to this. The door of the recording room opened on to one of the large painting studios and I left the tape copying, with the door open, while I went to have a cup of coffee. When I came back I found the normally lively room unnaturally subdued. People were moving about much more slowly than usual and a few were sitting alone, quietly weeping.

I was puzzled until I realized that the tape was still playing and that they had been overcome by the old man's singing. This convinced me of the emotional power of the music and of the possibilities offered by adding a simple, though gradually evolving, orchestral accompaniment that respected the tramp's nobility and simple faith. Although he died before he could hear what I had done with his singing, the piece remains as an eloquent, but understated testimony to his spirit and optimism.

What might the sound of the man’s voice singing alone have been like? Although it adds depth and emotion, perhaps it’s not the music alone which touched the listener’s who were drawn into Bryar’s recording room. Perhaps it’s also the words he sang, the simple truth of this haunting melody and testament to Jesus’ love.

Listen to the song. Close your eyes and let the melody and the words sink in.

32nd Day of Lent

2009-04-01T00:00:00.003-04:00

The Little Boy and the Old Man

Said the little boy, “Sometimes I drop my spoon.”
Said the little old man, “I do that too.”
The little boy whispered, “I wet my pants.”
“I do that too,” laughed the little old man.
Said the little boy, “I often cry.”
The old man nodded, “So do I.”
“But worst of all,” said the boy, “it seems
Grown-ups don’t pay attention to me.”
And he felt the warmth of a wrinkled old hand,
“I know what you mean,” said the little old man.
by Shel Silverstein

For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, "I'm telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you're not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God's kingdom. What's more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it's the same as receiving me.
Matthew 18:2-5, (he Message)

Our Lord set a little child before his followers, solemnly assuring them, that unless they were converted and made like little children, they could not enter his kingdom. Children, when very young, do not desire authority, do not regard outward distinctions, are free from malice, are teachable, and willingly dependent on their parents. Surely we need to be daily renewed in the spirit of our minds, that we may become simple and humble, as little children, and willing to be the least of all. Let us examine our own spirits.
(excerpt from “Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible”, public domain)

Have you shared your journey with someone younger than you? Older than you? As you navigate this life, do you seek out others to walk alongside? To partner with you in the good and bad?

Smile at an old man today.

Squeeze the hand of a little boy today

31st Day of Lent

2009-03-31T00:00:00.001-04:00

God and Elijah speak at Mount Horeb

1 Kings 19:1-14 (The Message)
Ahab reported to Jezebel everything that Elijah had done, including the massacre of the prophets. Jezebel immediately sent a messenger to Elijah with her threat: "The gods will get you for this and I'll get even with you! By this time tomorrow you'll be as dead as any one of those prophets."
When Elijah saw how things were, he ran for dear life to Beersheba, far in the south of Judah. He left his young servant there and then went on into the desert another day's journey. He came to a lone broom bush and collapsed in its shade, wanting in the worst way to be done with it all—to just die: "Enough of this, GOD! Take my life—I'm ready to join my ancestors in the grave!" Exhausted, he fell asleep under the lone broom bush.
Suddenly an angel shook him awake and said, "Get up and eat!"
He looked around and, to his surprise, right by his head were a loaf of bread baked on some coals and a jug of water. He ate the meal and went back to sleep.
The angel of GOD came back, shook him awake again, and said, "Get up and eat some more—you've got a long journey ahead of you."
He got up, ate and drank his fill, and set out. Nourished by that meal, he walked forty days and nights, all the way to the mountain of God, to Horeb. When he got there, he crawled into a cave and went to sleep.
Then the word of GOD came to him: "So Elijah, what are you doing here?"
"I've been working my heart out for the GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies," said Elijah. "The people of Israel have abandoned your covenant, destroyed the places of worship, and murdered your prophets. I'm the only one left, and now they're trying to kill me."
Then he was told, "Go, stand on the mountain at attention before GOD. GOD will pass by."
A hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks before GOD, but GOD wasn't to be found in the wind; after the wind an earthquake, but GOD wasn't in the earthquake; and after the earthquake fire, but GOD wasn't in the fire; and after the fire a gentle and quiet whisper.
When Elijah heard the quiet voice, he muffled his face with his great cloak, went to the mouth of the cave, and stood there. A quiet voice asked, "So Elijah, now tell me, what are you doing here?" Elijah said it again, "I've been working my heart out for GOD, the GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies, because the people of Israel have abandoned your covenant, destroyed your places of worship, and murdered your prophets. I'm the only one left, and now they're trying to kill me."

Elijah is led to his 40 day desert experience full of fear, fleeing for safety, ready to give up his life. Through it all, he is fully submitted - following God's direction, nourishing himself on God's provision. Elijah's amazing encounter with God, is not in a moment of power and force, but in the stillness and quiet of a whisper. During this Lent experience, where are we encountering God?

2009-03-30T00:03:00.002-04:00

Peering through a Mist

We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.
We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!
But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.
1 Corinthians 13, selected (The Message)

5th Sunday of Lent

2009-03-29T00:00:00.000-04:00

Glorify the Lord, you angels and all powers of the Lord,
O heavens and all waters above the heavens.
Sun and moon and stars of the sky, glorify the Lord,
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Glorify the Lord, every shower of rain and fall of dew,
all winds and fire and heat.
Winter and Summer, glorify the Lord,
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Glorify the Lord, O chill and cold,
drops of dew and flakes of snow
Frost and cold, ice and sleet, glorify the Lord,
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Glorify the Lord, O nights and days,
O shining light and enfolding dark.
Storm clouds and thunderbolts, glorify the Lord,
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Glorify the Lord, O mountains and hills,
and all that grows upon the earth,
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Glorify the Lord, O springs of water, seas, and streams,
O whales and all that move in the waters.
All birds of the air, glorify the Lord,
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Glorify the Lord, O beasts of the wild,
and all you flocks and herds.
O men and women everywhere, glorify the Lord,
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Glorify the Lord, o children,
all brothers and sisters and even tiny babies, glorify the Lord,
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
Let the people of God glorify the Lord,
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
You that are holy and humble of heart, glorify the Lord,
praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
We ask your blessing as we walk into the future
as we care for the land you made, and the people you made,
Make us into good soil fertile soil,
producing abundant growth
rich in the fruits of the Spirit.
In the Name of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen.

29th Day of Lent

2009-03-28T00:00:00.000-04:00

A prayer written by St Francis of Assisi in the 13th Century:

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.

28th Day of Lent

2009-03-27T08:03:00.002-04:00

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
John 3:17

The word for “save” in the above passage also means “heal” or to “make whole”. It’s the same word used when Jesus healed the sick. As followers of Jesus, can we be people who bring healing to this world through Christ?

Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new. God has done it all! He sent Christ to make peace between himself and us, and he has given us the work of making peace between himself and others. What we mean is that God was in Christ, offering peace and forgiveness to the people of this world. And he has given us the work of sharing his message about peace.
2 Corinthians 5:17-19 (Contemporary English Version)

How would you live differently today if you considered yourself an ambassador of peace and healing? How different would your perspective be on the various situations you are about to encounter?

Prayer:
Spirit of Christ, please fill me wit your love and light. May my life be a source of healing wherever I am in this world today. Amen

27th Day of Lent

2009-03-26T00:00:00.001-04:00

"Giving Back"
(Painting by Rachel Hatton. The painting is made up of six sections. Total size: 6x9ft.)

Have you ever had that moment
where you are totally undone
by the awesomeness of God?

In that moment
you feel Him in everything,
every part of your being.

And yet you cannot contain Him
and He pours forth from you.

…Standing on the top of a grassy hill
you are all alone and surrounded by everyone all at the same time
because you are filled with the One who is connected
with everyone and everything.

The wind picks up
and in that moment of complete surrender
you find Him
and you give back everything that He has given you.
You give it all to Him.
In thanks,
in submission,
in love.

The wind swirls around you and you feel God.
Standing there at the top of the hill
raising your arms and
spinning with the wind,
you dance with God.
And give it all
to Him.

Single use only, in 2009 Cedar Ridge Community Church Lenten Blog.
Unlawful to copy or duplicate. All Rights Reserved
Contact:© Hatton Creations, LLC mail@hattoncreations.com

26th Day of Lent

2009-03-25T07:04:00.005-04:00

Take a few moments to study this photograph of a rose. What is its posture in relation to the rest of the bush? How does this particular rose differ from most other roses that are on the verge of blooming?

During this season of Lent, followers of Jesus spend time contemplating Jesus’ life, his sufferings, and his death on the cross. We reflect upon the truth that the King of the Universe, the Almighty and Ever-living God came to earth and lived in a posture of gentleness, meekness, and humility; he gave up His life for the forgiveness of the sins of all mankind.

The words of the following hymn are attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux, who is thought to have written them in 1153. These lyrics have stood the test of time and can be found in most hymnals still today.

Perhaps you’ll want to take a few moments to read these beautiful lyrics as a prayer as you continue to ponder upon the mystery and awe of this sacred season.

O sacred Head, now wounded,
With grief and shame weighed down,
Now scornfully surrounded
With thorns thine only crown:
How pale thou art with anguish,
With sore abuse and scorn,
How does that visage languish,
Which once was bright as morn!

What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered
Was all for sinners’ gain;
Mine, mine was the transgression,
But Thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Saviour;
‘Tis I deserve They place;
Look on my with Thy favor,
Assist me with Thy grace.

What language shall I borrow
To thank Thee, dearest Friend,
For this, thy dying sorrow,
Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine forever,
And should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never
Outlive my love for Thee.

Amen.

25th Day of Lent

2009-03-24T07:39:00.004-04:00

Jesus replied, "I tell you for certain that you must be born from above before you can see God's kingdom!"
Nicodemus asked, "How can a grown man ever be born a second time?"
Jesus answered:
I tell you for certain that before you can get into God's kingdom, you must be born not only by water, but by the Spirit. Humans give life to their children. Yet only God's Spirit can change you into a child of God. Don't be surprised when I say that you must be born from above. Only God's Spirit gives new life. The Spirit is like the wind that blows wherever it wants to. You can hear the wind, but you don't know where it comes from or where it is going.
John 3:3-8 (Contemporary English Version)

Have you ever wished you could start over? Is there any part of your life that, given the chance, you would love to live over again… but differently? We can’t change the past, but we can be reborn. Jesus is acknowledging the human condition: how do we deal with our brokenness? What can we do with all the fall-out from the wrong decisions and harmful actions of the past? What hope can we have that we won’t go on repeating the same mistakes as our fractured humanity repeats the cycle again and again? Be reborn! Be born from above, by God’s Spirit! God can give us new life; not by us just trying harder, but by God’s Spirit empowering us from within.

We are careful not to judge people by what they seem to be, though we once judged Christ in that way. Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new.
2 Corinthians 5:16-17 (Contemporary English Version)

Take a moment to consider something in your life where you would like a second chance. Look it square in the face. Don’t flinch. Ask God to forgive you and receive God’s Spirit, making you new. Three times today (some time this morning, this afternoon and this evening) pause for just 60 seconds and breathe deeply. Consciously breathe in God’s Spirit, God’s love, forgiveness and rebirth. Breathe out guilt, fear and shame.

24th Day of Lent

2009-03-23T11:22:00.001-04:00

This week’s reading is from John’s gospel. John frequently uses the metaphor of light and darkness throughout his writing and refers to Jesus as the Light.

Read these verses from the beginning of the first chapter of John:
The light shines in the darkness and the darkness can never extinguish it…
The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world…
... to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.
John 1: 5- 12 (New Living Translation)

Jesus had come as light into the world so that we can be children of God, people who are not lost but belong to God.

At 7:44AM (EST) last Friday, March 20th our planet’s axis lay parallel to the sun, tilted neither towards nor away from it. This was the spring equinox. Ever since that moment the northern hemisphere of the Earth has been slowly beginning to tilt towards the sun. This will bring light and warmth to our region for the next six months and we will see an astonishing transformation in the world around us as seeds sprout, trees blossom and flowers spring into bloom.

Today (and for the rest of this week) make a conscious effort to tilt your life to the light of God. Spend a few moments each morning before you walk out of your home, intentionally welcoming the light and love of God into you whole being. Spread your arms wide like the limbs of a tree or the petals of a flower and soak up the Light. You could even stand outside in the sunshine to do this. Imagine God’s great love for you, accept the love of the Father for his children, allow the Light of Christ to permeate you whole being.

Prayer:
Lord, I receive your Light. Illuminate all my darkness. Amen

4th Sunday of Lent

2009-03-22T19:35:00.001-04:00

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23rd Day of Lent

2009-03-21T00:00:00.000-04:00

This photograph is of the Cape Jourimain Lighthouse located in the Canadian province of New Brunswick. For over 120 years, the Cape Jourimain Lighthouse guided ships through the narrows of the Northumberland Strait, around rocky shoals, and into safe harbor at Cape Tormentine.

Imagine that you are the captain of a boat, coming to shore under the darkness of night, through dense blankets of fog, or the turbulence of a mighty storm. Think about how the beams of light illuminate and differentiate between the precipitous crags and the passable waters that will lead to safe harbor.

In John’s gospel (Chapter 3:19-21; NIV) Jesus says these words about himself:

“Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

Now put yourself back on the boat sailing into the waters near the lighthouse. Imagine seeing the way to safety being lit by the beams. Imagine the silhouettes of the rocks and boulders that will run your ship aground and destroy it (and perhaps your life and the lives of your crew) if you turn away from the true path that has been shown to lead you to shore.
As you think and reflect upon the photo and these verses about Jesus, are there any situations in your life that the Holy Spirit might be bringing to mind? Are there instances where you are being tempted to ignore the Light pointing the way to right and true path and venture out into dangerous and murky waters? May God’s grace and mercy lead you into the safe harbor of God’s love and wholeness.

Perhaps there are situations in your life where you are trying to discern what the Light is showing you. Perhaps your path hasn’t yet been made clear. If so, may God grant you the grace and wisdom to know the right and true path when you see it. May God grant you the patience and strength to wait in the churning waters until this truth has been revealed.

22nd Day of Lent

2009-03-20T07:36:00.002-04:00

In Mark chapter 11 we read another version of Jesus “cleansing’ the temple:
Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
The next day …on reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written:
" 'My house will be called
a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it 'a den of robbers.'"
The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.

Here we see that Jesus’ anger was not out of control. He took the time to look at the situation in the temple in the evening, went away and then came back to respond the next day. This was mindful, centered, creative passion at work. Jesus did not just lash out, but nor did he hold back, even though he was aware that his actions would cause not only trouble but sufficient reaction to galvanize the plot to kill him.

When we think of what makes us angry, what stirs our deepest passions, we can often resort to our default of either lashing out in a destructive way or holding back because we fear the consequences. These consequences could be the negative response of someone else or even the pain of having to work through the messiness that ensues.

Spend a moment thinking about any way in which you hold back your passions and emotions, especially anger. Now imagine what it might look like to express that emotion (most probably to another person or people) in a mindful, centered, creative way. What creative opportunities might this open up for you? What creative opportunities might this open up for the person? What would be the consequence of expressing nothing? Which course of action seems most like Jesus?

Spend a moment in silence to discern what action (if any) Jesus would encourage you to take.

Oh God, help me in all my own brokenness and frailty, to be a source of healing in this world. Set me free so that my passion, like yours, might be a source of beautiful creation and love.
Amen

21st Day of Lent

2009-03-19T08:26:00.000-04:00

Consider for a moment…
The passion of God poured into the natural beauty all around us
The passion of God “cleansing” the temple to make way for the “unclean”
The passion of God unreservedly embracing me…

What passion stirs within me?
What unspoken anger dwells within me?
What unexpressed hurt or injustice holds me?

Spend a few minutes reflecting on what emotions you feel you have to hold back?
What caused those emotions?
What causes you to hold those back?

Prayer:
God of the universe. Passionate creator of all, set me free!

20th Day of Lent

2009-03-18T06:39:00.001-04:00

Matthew 21: 12-14 (New International Version)
Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. "It is written," he said to them " 'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it a 'den of robbers.'"
The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them.

Matthew’s account of Jesus “cleansing” the temple gives us some deeper insight. All the exchange of pagan foreign currency for temple currency and all the selling of sacrifices amounted to “robbery”. Prices were being deliberated marked up and exchange rates were taking advantage of foreign pilgrims coming to Jerusalem for the Passover, Jesus “cleanses” the temple in order to make way for the “unclean”. The blind and lame and all manner of human imperfections were not allowed into the temple according to the religious law. But Jesus is turning over more than just tables. He is turning over the whole way we see God and revolutionizing how we understand he way God sees us!

What are the “unclean” or broken areas of your life? Can you imagine Jesus being equally passionate (turning over tables) to make a way for you to connect to God? Consider for a moment that perhaps your brokenness is what makes Jesus so passionate. Not passion to condemn but passion to love, accept and heal.

19th Day of Lent

2009-03-17T00:00:00.000-04:00

The Psalm from the Lectionary for this week is Psalm 19

Psalm 19 (New International Version)
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
3 There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.
4 Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,
5 which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is hidden from its heat.
7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.
11 By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can discern his errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.
14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Think of your favorite natural scene; the one you have experienced to be most beautiful. This might be a favorite hiking location, an exotic place you have visited on vacation or the simplicity of your back yard. Read the bullet points below and after doing so put them into practice, while remaining silent for a total of 5 minutes:
• Sit in a comfortable position, with your back straight and body relaxed. Close your eyes and take a few slow deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth
• In your imagination put yourself in that beautiful location: linger there in your mind. Take a long look and soak up the sounds and smells.
• Thank God for this beauty and receive it as a gift to you personally. Take in the wonder of what you are seeing and receive it as expression of God’s passionate love for you. Allow this creative passion and power to penetrate your soul. Stay there for a few minutes and then open your eyes again.

Throughout this day, try to remain aware of God’s passionate love for you and even think of the place you went to in your imagination as a reminder. Whenever you remember, pray this simple prayer:

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

18th Day of Lent

2009-03-16T07:27:00.004-04:00

John 2:13-16 (New International Version)
When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!"

Here is Jesus, the Messiah, getting angry. This is only the second chapter of John’s Gospel. He hasn’t told many stories about Jesus yet, but this is one of his earliest. In the first chapter, John describes Jesus as “life”, “light shining in the darkness” and “full of grace and truth”. For John, the anger, passion and emotion of Jesus is not at odds with the life, light, grace and truth of Jesus.

How does this passage make you feel? How easy is it for you to imagine Jesus getting angry and emotional in this way? How comfortable do you feel with this emotion of Jesus? How comfortable to you feel with your own emotions? Would you say you get angry too easily or is it hard for you to feel emotion?

Throughout this day take an emotional inventory. As you go about your daily activities make a note of what stirs emotion within you. This could be joy, fear, anger etc. What caused it? Think about how you dealt with that emotion: did you express it? Did you suppress it? Would anyone else have been aware that you had that emotion? You could make mental notes or even jot things down on paper. At the end of the day, take a few minutes to reflect on your notes. If you are reading this at the end of the day, just think back through the day for a few minutes and make the same inventory.

When you have done this, spend a few moments in silence and invite the presence of Christ into your emotions. Don’t judge yourself or beat yourself up, but just allow the ”grace and truth” of the passionate Jesus to permeate your soul.

3rd Sunday ofLent

2009-03-15T17:52:00.002-04:00

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17th Day of Lent

2009-03-14T00:00:00.001-04:00

For Families & Children

There are many common customs that have their origins in ancient Lenten practices. Re-embracing some of these practices with purpose can help to inject new meaning and power into our spiritual devotion.

Symbols have the power to impact us in deep and lasting ways. Advertisers understand this and capitalize on the fact that symbol can penetrate more rational ways of knowing and deeply into the subconscious. One has only to think of the Nike “swoosh” to recognize how powerfully symbol can impact the human psyche. This is especially true for children, who often internalize complex concepts better through story and symbol than through discursive explanation. Without words being spoken, symbols can be powerful reminders that draw one’s attention to the presence of God.

One meaningful food symbol that can be eaten during Lent is the pretzel. Tradition says that a monk created the first pretzels for Lent for children and to distribute to the poor for sustenance and as symbols of prayer. The recipe for this small, personal bread was simple and did not require the rich fats restricted in Lent, but merely flour, salt and water. Our modern pretzels still show the original form, representing arms crossed over the chest, an ancient prayer posture. Our word “pretzel” evolved over time from a Latin word meaning “little arms” (bracellae). The earliest depiction of a pretzel is preserved in a Vatican Library manuscript dating from the fifth century, and in some small towns in Europe, pretzels are still eaten only as a Lenten food.

Some people and families “give up” something for Lent to express intent to seek more of God’s presence. Pretzels can be an *addition* to our Lenten practice, each one a little reminder of our intention to submit ourselves to our loving and gracious God.

During Lent this year, buy some pretzels to eat and share with friends and family, or make your own. You may want to share some with others who seem most in need of God’s love and provision. As you eat the pretzels, let them remind you of your desire to pray and submit to a gracious God who loves to fill us with good things!

Before you eat the pretzel, try crossing your arms over your chest in the ancient way, and say a simple prayer such as:

God, please wrap your arms around us with your loving embrace. We ask you to bless these pretzels and all of our food. We know that all good things come from you, and we want our eyes to be open to seeing your Kingdom among us more and more. Help us to embody your Kingdom with everything we do- in the way we eat, in how we spend our time, in the way we speak to others and in how we use what you have given us. Help us to care about the things you care about. Help us to be hungry for you and your love, the way Jesus teaches us, and to spread that love to others who are hungry, in the same way Jesus did. Amen.

Here is a simple recipe for soft pretzels you can make at home:

HOMEMADE SOFT PRETZELS

INGREDIENTS:
1 tbsp honey (or sugar)
1½ cups lukewarm water (100-110 degrees F)
1 envelope active dry yeast or equivalent
1 teaspoon salt
4 cups flour
1 egg, beaten (optional)
Coarse or kosher salt

DIRECTIONS:

1. Add honey to the water; sprinkle in the yeast and stir until dissolved.

2. Add salt, blend in the flour and knead the bread until smooth.

3. Lightly flour hands and cutting surface. Cut dough into pieces. Roll them into ropes and twist into pretzel shapes—bring the ends of the dough down and twist one over the other once. Lift the ends up and lay them on the curved top of the dough to form a pretzel shape.

4. You can make large or small pretzels, but to cook at the same rate, they need to be one size.

5. Place on lightly greased cookie sheets. Brush (very lightly) with beaten egg, or mist to dampen lightly with water. Sprinkle with course salt (optional).

6. Bake at 425 for 12-15 minutes until pretzels are golden brown.
(adapted from A Continual Feast, Evelyn Birge Vitz, copyright 1985)
Soft pretzels can also be made easily from frozen or fresh bread dough by allowing bread to rise and then following steps 3 through 6 above.

Young children can learn how pretzels originated from Eric Carle’s book Walter the Baker, copyright Aladdin 1998.

16th Day of Lent

2009-03-13T00:00:00.000-04:00

VESSEL
By Debra Rienstra

Fill me,
for I have nothing.
Dry as a desert widow,
I offer dust to travelers.

I pour and pour
till my edges ache.
Mirage of fragrant oil
recedes to thinner
nothing.

Empty,
I set myself aside.

How curious, though---
a pale surface
glossed with light;
spiraled pattern of your making
dashed with color;
I a concave stillness
Waiting, opened
in wonder.

Let me hold nothing too long
for empty
I am beautiful.

...And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Romans 5:2-5 (NIV)

15th Day of Lent

2009-03-12T00:00:00.001-04:00

Jesus asked them, “Who do people say I am?”

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”

“But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “You are the Christ.”

Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.

He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him…
Mark 8: 27-32

It’s not difficult to understand why Peter would respond with disbelief and shock to Jesus’ teaching on his impending suffering and death. It’s likely that Peter enjoyed Jesus’ public acclaim, the demonstrations of great power and healing, and his respect as a spiritual leader.

The concept of the crucifixion and its violence are not easy for us to accept, and at times – often -- we shrink back in denial too. Even as we seek to obey Jesus when he said “deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow me” there is so much within us that resists. If we take time to listen to our inner hunger and examine our motivations, we come to recognize that so much within us is attracted to self-indulgent passions and desires ---to admiration, comfort and prosperity -- and to these places in us the vulnerability and pain of the cross is a scandal and a horror…

Yet in times of fear, shame and loss, meditating on Jesus’ suffering and death can bring us peace and comfort, if we are willing to allow it. Christ’s wounds can be a soothing balm for the deepest wounds in us, as we come to know a loving and powerful God who willingly chose to share in our human experience, all for the sake of love.

When we feel unwanted….we can know that Jesus truly shared in the experience of rejection

When we feel alone….we can remember that Jesus was abandoned

When we feel powerless….we remember that Jesus knows what it is like to feel utterly forsaken

When we are in physical pain….we can take comfort in knowing that Jesus shared in this suffering

When we are in mental and emotional pain…we can remember that Jesus cried out in anguish and dread

When we are passed over, washed up, feeling like a “has been” or nobody…. Jesus knows

When we feel weak, or exposed, or ugly, or ashamed… we can take comfort that Jesus is familiar with the pain and agony of being beaten, disfigured, mocked, and stripped of everything.

What kind of God goes to such lengths to show love?

Maybe you have never considered the cross in this way. It can be a very vulnerable and painful thing to even imagine Jesus’ suffering, but it can change a life forever to choose to open to Jesus’ powerful healing love.

Meditate on this video of the song “To Be Alone With You” by Sufjan Stevens as a closing prayer.

I'd swim across Lake Michigan.
I'd sell my shoes.
I'd give my body to be back again
in the rest of room.

To be alone with you.
To be alone with you.
To be alone with you.
To be alone with you.
You gave your body to the lonely.
They took your clothes.
You gave up a wife and a family.
You gave your ghost.

To be alone with me.
To be alone with me.
To be alone with me,
you went up on a tree.
To be alone with me,
you went up on a tree.

I've never known a man who loved me

© NEW JERUSALEM MUSIC PUBLISHING

14th Day of Lent

2009-03-11T00:46:00.001-04:00

Much in the spiritual life depends on where we place our attention and what we allow to take up space in our minds. One ought never to underestimate our horrible external and internal resistance to the contemplative option. By contemplative option I mean the choice to respond contemplatively and prayerfully to ourselves and the world. The contemplative option awakens the power of Christ in us that allows us to be reconciled and to enter into right relationship with creation and one another – a relationship of gentleness, love and forgiveness.

Contemplation is a choice about what we have on our minds. Sometimes contemplation is a choice to step back, wait and to tolerate the withdrawal of not satisfying every appetite and desire. The contemplative option may be a choice to face our own insatiability and discern what truly satisfies from what leaves us numb, jittery and still hungry. There is no getting around it. The contemplative life is a sacrifice. Our yes to God will likely mean a no to something else.

From Making Haqqodesh by Loretta Ross
Source Inward/Outward http://www.inwardoutward.org/

Isaiah 40 (New International Version)
1 Comfort, comfort my people,
says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed,
that her sin has been paid for,
that she has received from the LORD's hand
double for all her sins.
3 A voice of one calling:
"In the desert prepare
the way for the LORD ;
make straight in the wilderness
a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
the rugged places a plain.
5 And the glory of the LORD will be revealed,
and all mankind together will see it.
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
6 A voice says, "Cry out."
And I said, "What shall I cry?"
"All men are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.
7 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
because the breath of the LORD blows on them.
Surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God stands forever."
9 You who bring good tidings to Zion,
go up on a high mountain.
You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem,
lift up your voice with a shout,
lift it up, do not be afraid;
say to the towns of Judah,
"Here is your God!"
10 See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power,
and his arm rules for him.
See, his reward is with him,
and his recompense accompanies him.
11 He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young.
12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand,
or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?
Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket,
or weighed the mountains on the scales
and the hills in a balance?
13 Who has understood the mind of the LORD,
or instructed him as his counselor?
14 Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him,
and who taught him the right way?
Who was it that taught him knowledge
or showed him the path of understanding?
15 Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket;
they are regarded as dust on the scales;
he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.
16 Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires,
nor its animals enough for burnt offerings.
17 Before him all the nations are as nothing;
they are regarded by him as worthless
and less than nothing.
18 To whom, then, will you compare God?
What image will you compare him to?
19 As for an idol, a craftsman casts it,
and a goldsmith overlays it with gold
and fashions silver chains for it.
20 A man too poor to present such an offering
selects wood that will not rot.
He looks for a skilled craftsman
to set up an idol that will not topple.
21 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
Have you not understood since the earth was founded?
22 He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth,
and its people are like grasshoppers.
He stretches out the heavens like a canopy,
and spreads them out like a tent to live in.
23 He brings princes to naught
and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.
24 No sooner are they planted,
no sooner are they sown,
no sooner do they take root in the ground,
than he blows on them and they wither,
and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.
25 "To whom will you compare me?
Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One.
26 Lift your eyes and look to the heavens:
Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one,
and calls them each by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,
not one of them is missing.
27 Why do you say, O Jacob,
and complain, O Israel,
"My way is hidden from the LORD;
my cause is disregarded by my God"?
28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

(Please add an entry to this blog to share any thoughts or reflections about today’s Lenten devotion.)

13th Day of Lent

2009-03-10T00:00:00.002-04:00

Jesus then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this…

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?”
[Mark 8: 31-36, selected]

Jesus calls those who would come after him to deny the self. He is not demanding that we put to death our thoughts and desires and all the things about us that make us unique, or that we renounce the wonder and beauty of creation. He is calling us to deny our self-centeredness and need to be in control, and instead to center our selves in God, who is infinite power and energy and for whom we were created. We find that on our own we have very little power to truly change. We may change our actions at times with self-control and willpower, but consenting to God’s will for us, rather than demanding our own way, causes us to be changed from the inside out. As we empty ourselves of our own strategies for success and comfort, we feel our deep hunger for what is real and life-giving, and God has space to fill us with far greater power, goodness, and satisfaction—the kind that grows, and lasts.

"When I first took this picture many years ago, I saw the leaf (and myself) as needing to "hang on"...just keep trying, just keep working at the things that were bothering me, or circumstances that were struggles and painful--just keep trusting and trying and hanging on. Now I look at this same photo years later and wonder why that leaf doesn't just "let go"...let go of the struggles to keep things going, let go of the status quo, let go of the need to control or fix the things that make me uncomfortable and afraid. Letting go is such a relief--relief from trying to control my life, relief that there is Someone who loves me and who will care for me as I fall. Amazingly, there is peace in the free--fall into the dependable, trustworthy arms of Jesus. Now I look at the little leaf and whisper "just let go."
(photo and comments by VJ Thurston. Used with permission)

Read Jesus’ words above slowly and listen to them as if Jesus were speaking directly to you.

Ask now for greater awareness of the places in your life where you might need to “let go” as you continue on this journey through Lent.

12th Day of Lent

2009-03-09T08:28:00.003-04:00

Yesterday in our service celebrating the second Sunday in Lent, we focused on the theme of Choosing the Path of Most Resistance: Letting Go and the ways our spiritual practice might help us in surrendering control of our lives to a loving and gracious God.

Many Christians around the world observe Lent as a time for letting go---through fasting, or “giving something up.” For some this can be very serious and somber ---motivated by a sense of duty or obligation, or for the purpose of ‘doing the right thing” for oneself, like eating all your vegetables or going to the dentist. For others engaging in Lenten practice can be an attempt at doing penance---trying to make things right by expressing remorse and “paying the price for sin”.

For Western Christians Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the six weeks of Lent leading up to Easter Sunday. The Eastern Orthodox Church calendar is different: Easter falls on a separate Sunday altogether, and Lent, which lasts for seven weeks, begins on what is often referred to as “Clean Monday”.

In an essay called "Lent and the Consumer Society" from his book Living Orthodoxy in the Modern World Bishop Kallistos Ware writes about the Eastern Orthodox custom of flying kites on Clean Monday:

We are encouraged to associate Lent with fresh air, with the wind blowing on the hills, with the coming of spring. Lent is a time for flying kites--a time for adventure, exploration, fresh initiatives, new hope.... It also has to do with freedom.... Lent is a time when we learn to be free.... As a human person in God's image, I am not truly free unless I have learned how to use my freedom rightly, and this process of learning presupposes obedience, discipline and self-denial. Freedom is not only a gift; it is a task....Lent is concerned, first, with the offering of the world back to God in thanksgiving....

Spend some time now meditating on this image of a kite flying in the fresh air. Be still and close your eyes and imagine yourself as a kite—created and fashioned to fly—light of weight, flexible, yielding --not resisting the wind, not fighting to stay grounded, but embracing the breeze and being swept up into the strong current and lifted high.

What feelings arise for you as you imagine….

Do you feel exhilaration?

Freedom?

Fear?

What might this image of a kite suggest to you about who you are to God?

Jesus asked his friends in Sunday’s reading from Scripture in Mark 8, “What about you…who do you say I am?”

Close your eyes and imagine Jesus asking this of you. Listen to your inner stirrings honestly and without judgment. Respond with whatever emerges in you to Jesus without editing or resisting….and take time to listen….

End your time with a silent prayer, asking God to help you find your way more and more into the freedom that comes from surrendering your life to the One you were created for.

If you are able to spend time outside, take special note of the feel of the breeze on your skin, the air in your nostrils… if you can, go fly a kite!

High Flight
(The Aviator's Poem)
Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air...
Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew -
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.

by John Gillespie Magee, RCAF 1922-1941 ~ © This England Books 1996

2nd Sunday of Lent

2009-03-08T18:25:00.006-04:00

Today we spent time in our church service looking at the following
scripture:

Mark 8: 27-38 (New International Version)
Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?"
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets."
"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
Peter answered, "You are the Christ."
Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.
He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. "Get behind me, Satan!" he said. "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

Click here to listen to the message today.

11th Day of Lent

2009-03-07T12:39:00.000-05:00

As we conclude this week’s devotions, reflect on more time on this scripture.
Contemplate God’s great love for you and receive it.
Consider again the hard and dry places in your life and surrender them to God’s love.

Mark 1:9-15 (New International Version)
At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him. After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

10th Day of Lent

2009-03-06T00:00:00.001-05:00

Into the wild…

Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.
…My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.
As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.
Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

Scriptures taken from:
Psalm 25:4- 5, Isaiah 55:8-10, Isaiah 43:1-3 (New International Version)

9th Day of Lent

2009-03-04T23:39:00.003-05:00

bridge 1 a: a structure carrying a pathway or roadway over a depression or obstacle b: a time, place, or means of connection or transition (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary)

Brokenness, like a deep and desolate chasm, separated,
Reaching your arms out upon the cross, forging the way,
Infinite Love poured out for the one, the many, the every,
Death and distance have no say.
Grave, where is your victory?
Eternal Life…the journey begins…covered by Your Love.

Mark 15:37-39 (New International Version)
With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, "Surely this man was the Son of God!"

8th Day of Lent

2009-03-04T08:34:00.004-05:00

Captured by the sudden intensity of a passing storm,
cold and paralyzed,

If I struggle, I will break
Bent and bowed low, I surrender.

In stillness I wait…
for Light of sun,
for Breath of wind,

To melt away this icy burden,
To emerge free and lifted up once more.

7th Day of Lent

2009-03-03T00:00:00.006-05:00

During the Lenten season, followers of Jesus spend a great deal of time reflecting upon the sufferings of Jesus, beginning with His time of testing and temptation in the desert before His earthly ministry began. We have spent some time this week, also reflecting upon the role that suffering plays in the lives of those who follow Jesus and how God works to bring goodness and beauty out of the times of pain and hardship in our lives.

For today’s reflection, please take a few moments to look at the words in the box below. How do you think these words might be connected to each other? What inner responses are you experiencing as you read the words?

The words in the box are key words found in two New Testament passages (found below) that speak on the topic of suffering and tribulation and how those times in the lives of believers can be times of learning and growth…enabling and enlarging us to become more and more like Jesus.
At this time, you are invited to read and meditate on these scriptures and if you are willing and able…to pray the prayer of surrender below.

Hebrews 12:10-12 (New International Version)
Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.

Romans 5:3-5 (New American Standard Bible)
And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Prayer for this moment:
Lord, have your way in me.

Please add an entry to this blog to share any thoughts or reflections about today’s Lenten devotion.

6th Day of Lent

2009-03-02T00:00:00.003-05:00

In our services yesterday, we took some time to reflect together upon the mighty and unrelenting geologic forces that contribute to the formation of this stunning lake, Lake Moraine, in the Canadian Rockies.

Often it is the wild, uncertain, and often cataclysmic seasons in our lives that lead to the creation of new and beautiful, spacious places. However, the process of creation can be ugly, grueling and difficult to withstand.

Are there places in your life that are undergoing this kind of upheaval and grinding change?

If so, may the Lord bless you, keep you, and sustain you as you wait for new life and beauty to emerge.

It is in these times of upheaval that we can draw strength and encouragement from Jesus and the way that he surrendered through times of suffering and pain because he saw ahead to the beauty that would be revealed in the creation of his kingdom – a kingdom made up of His dearly loved children, redeemed by his suffering and death. The following passage, from the book of Isaiah, provides a window into the process of suffering turning to glory, beauty coming from ashes, and gladness from mourning as lived out in the life of Jesus.

Isaiah 53:1-12 (New International Version)
1 Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he took up our infirmities  and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
11 After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, [because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Please add an entry to this blog to share any thoughts or reflections about today’s Lenten devotion.

1st Sunday of Lent

2009-03-01T18:53:00.002-05:00

Today we spent time in our church service looking at the following
scripture:

Mark 1:9-12 (New International Version)
At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John
in the Jordan. As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven
being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice
came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, and he was in the
desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and
angels attended him.

Click here to listen to the message today.

4th Day of Lent

2009-02-28T01:00:00.000-05:00

Psalm 103 (New International Version)
19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Praise the LORD, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.
21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.
22 Praise the LORD, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the LORD, O my soul.

We have reflected upon this Psalm over the first few days of Lent. We began by being honest about how we felt in our “inmost being” and perhaps this meant acknowledging that we don’t always feel like praising God. And yet we have also experienced the beauty and power of God’s great love and compassion towards us. As we set out on this Lenten journey we are deeply loved and accepted. We can have great hope no matter where we are right now. Today is Saturday. You might have the day off. Even if you don’t, try to get outside to walk for just a few minutes. Look at the sky, the clouds, the birds and trees. Feel the wind (and perhaps the cold), breathe the air. Consider the enormity of the universe and God’s great love for us. Spend one minute thanking God for this love. Praise God as the King of the universe and the Giver of Life. Allow you soul, your “inmost being” to awaken to this love and power. Express what is truly in your heart.

Take a moment to pray this prayer:

Oh Lord! You are the giver of life. Renew me and fill me with your love. May your love melt the hard areas of my heart and cast out my fear. I surrender to you and wherever you may lead me on this journey. Amen.

Please add an entry to this blog to share any thoughts or reflections about today’s Lenten devotion.

3rd Day of Lent

2009-02-27T00:00:00.000-05:00

Psalm 103 (New International Version)
13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass,
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD's love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children's children-
18 with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.

Two days ago we celebrated Ash Wednesday when we reflected on our humanity. The ashes are a symbol of the fact that “we are dust”. In this life, as human beings we experience weakness and frailty (“we are dust”). However, there will come a time when we are no longer here. Psalm 103 encourages us that our human frailty is not a problem to God. Reflect on these questions for a few moments:
• What are some ways in which you feel weak?
• How does that weakness make you feel about yourself and why?
• How do you think God feels about your weakness?
During this season of Lent, we want to address areas of our lives that we would like to change. These might be areas where we consider ourselves weak. True change begins with love. It’s God’s compassion for us and acceptance of us that sets us free on the pathway of transformation. We don’t change out of a sense of fear but rather because God wants the very best for God’s children. Lent is not about placating an angry God but about submitting to the love and discipline of a compassionate Father. In this kind of change there is deep joy.

Please add an entry to this blog to share any thoughts or reflections about today’s Lenten devotion.

2nd Day of Lent

2009-02-26T03:00:00.000-05:00

Psalm 103 (New International Version)
8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Today we continue to read Psalm 103. These five short verses overflow with an amazing concept: the God of the Universe loves us. Yesterday we made ourselves vulnerable and tried to be absolutely honest about our real thoughts and feelings towards God. Perhaps we got in touch with some of our inner-most sentiments that made us feel somewhat uncomfortable. And these verses tell us that we have nothing to fear. God loves us: truly, deeply, madly!

Take a few moments to read these verses slowly 12 times. That might seem excessive but this is an excessive concept and excessive language. All that we have done to disappoint God, others and ourselves has been forgiven. We are not a disappointment to God. As you read this over and over, imagine the passage as an ocean and allow yourself to fall into it. Let is wash over you. Submerge yourself in it. Acknowledge any cynical or negative thoughts and then simply dismiss them. Instead, submit to the inexorable love of God.

You could write these verses on a piece of paper and keep them with you all day. Read the verses to yourself every hour and say this simple prayer:

Lord, I receive your love. Amen.

Please add an entry to this blog to share any thoughts or reflections about today’s Lenten devotion.

1st day of Lent

2009-02-25T03:00:00.002-05:00

As we begin Lent we will be reflecting on the words and images of Psalm 103. This is ancient poetry from around 3000 years ago and written by David who became King of Israel. Read slowly the first seven verses below:

Psalm 103 (New International Version)
1 Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits-
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good thing
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:

Lent is a time of soul searching and honesty. A season where we allow ourselves to be stripped down to what is real; to what we really think and what we really feel. As you set out at the beginning of this Lenten journey, what is your honest reaction to the beginning of this Psalm? How does it make you feel? The Psalm is full of positive thoughts about God and encourages our souls to praise God. Take a few moments to be calm and quiet and try to honestly express (both to yourself and to God) how you feel. If you were to express all your “inmost being” would it be praise for God (v1) or do you feel something else welling up? Don’t try to evaluate or judge your thoughts or feelings, just be honest. Are you very aware of God’s benefits (v2) or do you feel you have been given a raw deal? Do you feel forgiven and healed (v3) or do you feel distant from God? Do you feel redeemed from the pit (v4) or do you feel trapped in your circumstances? Take a minute or two to acknowledge (without judging yourself) the posture of your “inmost being” towards God. Stay there for a moment and don’t try to defend your position or pretend this is not how you really feel right now. This might feel uncomfortable.

Now read v5 again. These are words of hope. No matter how distant from God we may feel, no matter how trapped, no matter how hungry or thirsty we are, God wants to truly satisfy us and breathe new life into us. For the rest of this day, try to stay in the tension of your honesty (where you are) and your hope (where you want to be). You could pray this prayer:

Lord, you know me completely, my true self. You know where I am today. Oh God, only you can truly satisfy the longings of my heart and renew my life. I reach out to you, My Hope. Amen

You could try saying this simple prayer every hour today as a way of focusing yourself and submitting to God at the beginning of Lent.

Please add an entry to this blog to share any thoughts or reflections about today’s Lenten devotion.