PROMISES OF LIFE
“The house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.” – Jn. 12:3
How can I taste, smell, and feel the presence of Christ today?
A DRAMATIC INVITATION
I struggle to celebrate Palm Sunday and enter Holy Week. My head want to declare ... my heart resists ...
SWAN SONG
“I will make with them a covenant of peace; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them.” –Ez. 37:26
“What do you think? That he will not come to the feast?” – Jn. 11:56
Jesus receives me as I am...
REMINDERS OF LOVE
“I hear the whisperings of many: ‘Terror on every side! Denounce! Let us denounce him!’” – Jer. 20:10
I am invited to listen to a gentler voice that says I am loved.
GOD’S UNWAVERING PRESENCE
"I will maintain my covenant with you and your descendants after you throughout the ages as an everlasting pact, to be your God and the God of your descendant after you." – Gn. 17:7
God's words are his vows, made lovingly while he beholds his beloved creations.
SLAVERY AND FREEDOM
“I give you my assurance, everyone who lives in sin is the slave of sin.” – Jn. 8:34
If you live according to my teaching, you are truly my disciples; there you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.
WAITING IN TRUST
"The people complained against God and Moses, ‘Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert, where there is no food or water?’" – Nm. 21:5
We are invited to let go and wait in trust in God's promise to a greater life.
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.
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.