LOVE AND MERCY
"Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin anymore." Jn. 8:1-11
Lent is a time when we can sit in awe of God’s love and mercy.
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2017
BRAVING YES
“I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” – Jn. 11:25-26
Sometimes what looks like the end might just be the beginning.
AN APRIL FOOL
“Yet I, like a trusting lamb led to slaughter, had not realized that they were hatching plots against me.” - Jer. 11:19
Regardless of the foolish choices I make, God is always with me.
THE BROKENHEARTED
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.” – Ps. 34:19
Even in the deepest darkness, God is still present.
MAKING IT REAL
“[John the Baptist] was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light. But I have testimony greater than John’s.” Jn. 5:35-36
Sharing our love and joy makes our faith real.
OUR SECURITY IS ROOTED IN GOD’S LOVE
"But Zion said, ‘The Lord has forsaken me, my Lord has forgotten me.’ Can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you." – Is. 49:14-15
Lent is an invitation for a more whole-hearted “yes”.
DO YOU WANT TO BE HEALED?
“When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been ill for a long time, he said to him, ‘Do you want to be well?’” – Jn. 5:6
Yes, I want to be healed; we all do. But how much do I want it? How attached am I to my illness?
CREATED TO BE A JOY
“For I created Jerusalem to be a joy and its people to be a delight; I will rejoice in Jerusalem and exult in my people.” – Is. 65:18-19
How might you practice Joy this Lenten season?
DO YOU BELIEVE?
“Do you believe in the Son of Man?” – Jn 9:35
For much of my life, I’ve struggled with being not _______ enough ...
TRUSTING THE UNEXPECTED PRESENT
"Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; in holocausts and sin offerings you took no delight. Then I said, 'As is written of me in the scroll, behold, I come to do your will, O God.'" – Heb. 10:5-7
God does something in my heart that opens me up.
UNFOLD MY HEART
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” – Mk. 12:30-31
As Lent unfolds, unfold my very heart so that it may grow.
GOING DEEP
"Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house.” – Lk. 11:17
We don’t tread at the superficial level. We go deep.
UNIMPRESSIVE THEATRICS
"Take care… not to forget the things which your own eyes have seen, nor let them slip from your memory as long as you live, but teach them to your children and to your children's children." – Deut. 4:9
All You ask is that I be myself with You.
LESSONS OF FORGIVENESS
“His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity of your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’” –Mt. 18:32-33
It is only through forgiveness that I can love truly and fully.
THE MUST OF ME
“Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” –Lk. 2:49b
"Must" is the defining aspect of who I am created to be. What business of God is my "must"?
SATISFYING OUR LIVING WATER
"Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." – Jn. 4: 13-14
We thirst for meaning in our lives, knowing we are loved, a supportive and encouraging community, and companionship to satisfy our living water.
BEING GOOD STEWARDS
“…everything I have is yours.” – Lk. 15:31
If we are given the kingdom, how then can we be good stewards to this gift?
GOD’S ANNOYING SERVANTS
“They said to one another: ‘Here comes that master dreamer! Come on, let us kill him and throw him into one of the cisterns here.’” Gen 19-20
The annoying God will try to evade our defenses and reach our hearts in the ways that we might never expect.
LISTENING TO GOD’S SPIRIT WITHIN
"Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is the Lord." – Jer. 17:7
I don't always listen so well but God never stops reaching out to me.
A SERVICE THAT IS SURE
“Whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.” – Mt. 20:26
God does not ask us to have a faith that is certain, but a service that is sure.