Honesty

By Barb Batt

I am trying to focus my prayers and spiritual practices during Lent to see what I might gain during this season. I am examining myself to let go of any negativity and fix my thoughts on God. I want to make choices to bring me an inner calm this Lenten season.

Christian songs often speak to me, and provide insight when I am struggling. One of the songs that I have been listening to lately is "Truth Be Told" by Matthew West.  Some of the lyrics are listed below.

Lie number one: You're supposed to have it all together
And when they ask how you're doin', just smile and tell them, "Never better"
Lie number two: Everybody's life is perfect except yours
So keep your messes and your wounds and your secrets safe with you behind closed doors

But truth be told
The truth is rarely told, no...

I say, "I'm fine, yeah, I'm fine, oh, I'm fine, hey, I'm fine"
But I'm not, I'm broken
And when it's out of control I say it's under control
But it's not and You know it
I don't know why it's so hard to admit it
When bein' honest is the only way to fix it
There's no failure, no fall
There's no sin You don't already know
So let the truth be told

Sometimes I feel broken and not fine. It is hard not to feel that everyone else has it all together. Some people seem to have such a good grasp on their lives, and what they believe. I am trying to honestly look at my life, and pray to God about struggles I am going through. God already knows my sin and he still loves me.

I also like the following lyrics from this same song regarding church. I believe we should be aware of how we welcome others into our church and church community.

There's a sign on the door, says, "Come as you are" but I doubt it
'Cause if we lived like that was true, every Sunday mornin' pew would be crowded
But didn't You say church should look more like a hospital?
A safe place for the sick, the sinner and the scarred, and the prodigals, like me

A quote that recently spoke to me is from Gloria Gaither, 1942 American writer, singer, and songwriter.

We may run, walk, stumble, drive, or fly, but let us never lose sight of the reason for the journey, or miss a chance to see a rainbow on the way.

Let us pray.

Heavenly Father,

Help us on our journey when we stumble and feel broken. Keep us from comparing ourselves to others, as we do not know what inner struggles they might be facing. Remind us of the sacrifice Jesus made for us, and the gifts his suffering brings us. During this Lenten season, help us to practice being honest with you regarding our failures and sin.

Amen

Repent and Believe in the Gospel

By Donna Winchell

“ For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23, NIV)

The Lenten journey reminds us that we are sinners; and our call to repentance must be shaped by acknowledging that through our repentance we can fulfill our destiny. That is, to be our Heavenly Father’s own adopted children, to be by God’s grace what Jesus is by nature.

This past week, thanks to the excellent handouts Pat shared in her series of Lenten services –"The Journey to the Cross with Jesus"; I spent time in meditation on sin and how it impacts my heart and my appreciation of God’s love and grace. Some questions in the handouts asked if I felt sorrow, confusion, or had even been motivated to tears. It was powerful, and I found myself drawn toward the Psalms, especially Psalm 130, Song of Ascent, a prayer of repentance.

Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;

Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive

    to my cry for mercy.

If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,

    Lord, who could stand?

But with you there is forgiveness,

    so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,

    and in his word I put my hope.

I wait for the Lord

    more than watchmen wait for the morning,

    more than watchmen wait for the morning.

Israel, put your hope in the Lord,

    for with the Lord is unfailing love

    and with him is full redemption.

He himself will redeem Israel

    from all their sins.

As sinners we ask for mercy from God. We know He could judge us and we know that we are in need; and just like the psalmist, we cry out from the depths of our pain. We cry out for mercy. Thankfully, God does not keep a record of our sins that are repented. God comes with mercy and forgiveness –  “Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” – (Proverbs 28:13)

When we cry out, our prayers need to be accompanied by a change in our lives and actions; an honest remorse over the offense to God; a turning away from the sinful things; and a turning towards a God-honoring way of life – a life with Christ. In the Old Testament, the prophets continually called the People Israel to repentance in order that the barriers of sin might be removed, allowing God's blessings to flow forth.

The Bible tells us how important it is to repent and not hide away our sins. It restores our hands-on communion with God. Knowing and acknowledging our wrongdoings will help us to be spiritually rejuvenated. Our hearts weren’t created to carry the burden of sin and all the things not of God. Go to Him and let it all out; repent, seek forgiveness, remember He loves you and let those times of refreshing come. “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” – (Acts 3:19, NIV)

When one truly repents with the right attitude, and not just going through the motions, there is an awareness that the sin committed, whatever its nature, was ultimately against God alone. In his famous psalm of repentance, Psalm 51 verse 4 (ESV), David declared, “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment,” and verse 17, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." 

Lent begins with a call to repent and believe in the Gospel, and our prayers this season should be for forgiveness; not motivated by fear of God’s retribution for our sins, but for the grief our sin causes God. Allow this Lent to take you through a spiritual journey. Kneel before the cross, meditate on your sins, then embrace God with fervent repentance – have pity on me O LORD; give me tears of true repentance; pardon me for I am Thy child.

“Umm, I didn’t ask you to give up coffee or chocolate. I asked you to surrender your life.” – God

By Eugene Cho, Pastor, Author, Speaker, Humanitarian – Submitted by Brooke Momblow

 

 

 

I appreciate the Lenten season for many and various reasons. In fact, the Lenten season is important to me because it helps me create rhythm in my life – something especially helpful when busyness, chaos, randomness, clutter, and lots of noise inundate my life. I deeply appreciate Lent because it helps me prepare for Passion Week  – the final week of Christ. And while we know Easter brings upon us the celebration of the resurrection, I am grateful that the Lenten season more thoughtfully and deeply prepares me for Crucifixion Friday or known by most as Good Friday.

This year, I’m choosing – along with some other things – to give up “coffee” during the Lent season. Trust me, for someone that runs a cafe, has his offices in a cafe, and has access to Stumptown Coffee, this will certainly be a “test” of self-denial.

But even after acknowledging that I myself am “giving up” coffee during Lent, I’m ambivalent and reticent about how vogue or easy it is to give something up during Lent. Umm, especially when it’s something like chocolate, sodas, sugar, Facebook, Twitter, television, and – umm – coffee.

I don’t want to knock those who give stuff up. Not at all. Go for it. More power to you.

Religion gone bad.

In fact, I understand the significance of self-denial and feel it’s something we should actually pursue more of – especially beyond the Lent season. Like as a life commitment. But if we’re not careful, we can so easily just fall into religious practice for the sake of religious practice. If the goal is merely the giving up of something without the taking up of something more significant, the focus is just merely on the stuff which we give up or really, the focus is on the practice of giving up something rather than giving in to Jesus – or in other words, our solidarity with Jesus. In truth, it becomes about us. Again.

Anything that produces rituals, expressions, practices, and the like – without ultimately inviting us to a deeper understanding and worship of the Living God…lends itself to empty religion. Slowly but surely without us even knowing.

And what we need isn’t more empty religion.

We need Gospel.

And by Gospel, I’m not speaking of a self-help, pop spiritual psychology, but a Gospel that cuts into the heart of humanity with a grace that compels us not just merely to salvation but a life committed to justice, reconciliation, and redemption.

Isaiah 58 speaks of fasting but fasting that God is not pleased with. It’s a fasting that caters to our own eyes, flesh, and pleasure but not the kind of fasting that God invites us to:

a life broken and transformed
by the things of God

“I will tell you why!” I [God] respond.
“It’s because you are fasting to please yourselves.
Even while you fast,
you keep oppressing your workers.

4 What good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarreling?
This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with me.

5 You humble yourselves by going through the motions of penance,
bowing your heads like reeds bending in the wind.You dress in burlap and cover yourselves with ashes.Is this what you call fasting?
Do you really think this will please the Lord?

6 “No, this is the kind of fasting I want:
Free those who are wrongly imprisoned;lighten the burden of those who work for you.Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people.

7 Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless.
Give clothes to those who need them,and do not hide from relatives who need your help.

8 “Then your salvation will come like the dawn,and your wounds will quickly heal.
Your godliness will lead you forward,and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.

9 Then when you call, the Lord will answer.‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.“Remove the heavy yoke of oppression.Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors!

10 Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble.
Then your light will shine out from the darkness,
and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.

11 The Lord will guide you continually,
giving you water when you are dry
and restoring your strength.You will be like a well-watered garden,
like an ever-flowing spring.

12 Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities.
Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls
and a restorer of homes.

Or in other words, I wonder if God might have these words for me (and for you if I may be so audacious):

“Umm, I didn’t ask you to give up coffee. I asked you to surrender your life.”

So here’s the question:

In what way does the self-denial of whatever - make you more mindful of Christ and the Kingdom of God?

For me, I don’t want to think of it as only giving up but rather a season of more deeply ‘giving in’ or ‘giving to’…

 In what way am I more compelled to give in to the ways of God?

• How am I more deeply giving in and giving to – my neighbors, wife, children, church, strangers, refugees, etc?
• How am I more deeply giving or growing in stewardship, generosity, my convictions, etc?
• How am I more giving in to the Ways of Christ?  How am I more giving in to Mercy, Justice, and Humility?

When you give up something, replace it with something more beautiful, more just, more compassionate, more honoring to Christ. Removing weeds without planting something…only produces more weeds later.

When you give up _______ for Lent, do it with purpose and love for God. Doing it for the sake of doing it…makes us only like a clanging cymbal and a resounding gong. 

“Look at me! Look at me! Look at me!”

Here’s an alternative invitation for Lent – whether you give up something or not:

Give yourself more fully to Jesus and the Kingdom of God.

Remember, you are dust
and to dust you shall return.
Repent, believe, and be saved by the gospel of Christ.
Rejoice in the good news that God has conquered death and sin.
Thanks be to God.

 

Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God

By Cathy Ramsey

 

 

Do we run to God first in time of trouble? Do we turn to prayer instead of worry when something goes wrong? Isn’t this what it means to “Seek ye first the kingdom of God”?

 

From www.angelusnews.com – Archbishop Gomez:

Lent is a good time to remember what we are here for, and to once again center our lives on our purpose.

“Be holy as your Father in heaven is holy,” Jesus commanded. And St. Paul said, “This is the will of God — your sanctification.”

God wants us to be holy, to be saints. This is God’s will for you and for me; this is his plan for every person. And he orders his creation according to his purposes, which is our sanctification and salvation in Christ. 

It is simple. It is beautiful. It is the whole truth about our lives. It is the whole truth about the world and about history.

Our challenge is to trust in Jesus, to believe in his love for us, to believe that he has a plan for our lives, and to entrust ourselves totally to him, seeking his will in all things.

We enter into Lent for a second year now under the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic. Since last Lent, we have seen our lives disrupted and disordered by this deadly disease. Our faith has been tried and tested in many ways.

My prayer this year is that we will make this Lent a time to renew our trust in the Lord, to strengthen our confidence in God’s personal love for each one of us.

Through our prayer, our sacrifices, and almsgiving, I hope that we can come to a new awareness of God’s presence in this pandemic, to understand that even through the suffering and pain, God is carrying out his plan of love. He is still working to make us saints.

In the Scriptures, trust in the Lord is the constant call and command to believers. Trust in his holy name. Trust in his word. Trust in his steadfast love, his mercy, his saving power. We cannot rely on ourselves. God alone must be our rock and our refuge, our help and our shield. 

God’s providence, his plan for creation and his tender care for us, is at the heart of Our Lord’s teaching. In the Sermon on the Mount, he speaks of our heavenly Father feeding the birds in the sky and causing the wildflowers to grow.

Jesus teaches us not to worry about our lives — not about what we will eat, what we will drink, or what will happen tomorrow.

Our Father knows what we need, Jesus tells us. And if we seek his kingdom first — “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” — we can be confident that God will give us every good gift.

Jesus teaches us to see that everything comes from the loving hand of God and there is nothing that happens in our lives — including the tragedies, disappointments, and sufferings — that is not either willed by our Father or permitted by him for our sanctification.

These are hard truths, and many of our brothers and sisters are haunted by this question of how God can permit suffering and somehow bring some unseen good out of it.

But Jesus says that in our Father’s loving plan for creation, not even a little bird falls from the sky that he does not know about and care about. And as he reminds us, each of us is worth far more to God than the little birds!

God is in charge, in the world and in our lives. What we cannot understand today, we will understand tomorrow. The scandal of evil, the innocent who suffer, the hardships that we and our loved ones must endure — in everything God is working according to his mysterious and loving purposes.

We need to grow in our trust in the Lord. We need to entrust ourselves more and more to his tender care and seek more and more to do his will in everything.  

The best way to grow in trust is through prayer. Learn to pray with the psalms, especially. These are the prayers of people who trust in God and seek his will even in great trials and sufferings.

You should make little acts of faith often during the course of every day. Pray: “Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in you!”

Know that Jesus is with you, by your side at all times. Know that he is arranging everything out of love for you. Trust in the Lord who will never abandon you in your time of trial.

Pray for me this week and I will pray for you.

And as we begin this second Lent in a time of pandemic, let us entrust ourselves again to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, our Blessed Mother. May she help us to receive everything from the hand of God and to do his will with joy.

How Great Thou Art by Reba McIntyre  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkAHoDCfIUg