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Archive for the ‘Lent’ Category

Preparing for Lent

Posted in Lent, tagged , , on February 20, 2009| Leave a Comment »

In a few short days, it will once again be the time of Lent. It is my desire to once again do a series of devotions during this special time of the year. I believe the Lord is leading me to creating these posts from my personal devotions while slowly reading through the scriptures. In essence, all of the posts will be coming from the three gospels I have completed so far (well 2 1/2). For any of you who have been following this blog, I appreciate your prayers and support.

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Blazin’

Posted in Lent, Random Thoughts, tagged , on March 18, 2008| Leave a Comment »

While working with the Seeking Him bible study group on revival and essentials to personal revival, I became acutely aware of the scripture I John 1:7

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[a] sin.”

I had the group talk about what it means to “walk in the light” – what does it look like. I realized that what I want is to be “blazin'” … the light shining on me, but even moreso, shining out of me. I want extreme light. And we’re back, of course, to my favorite images: fire! Pure… refining fire that filled in the temple in II Chronicles 7:1 … when “fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.”

Lord, fill me … your earthly temple..

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Baptism of Humility

Posted in Lent on March 1, 2008| Leave a Comment »

This phrase was used by Nancy Leigh DeMoss in her Bible Study, Seeking Him. It has really stayed with me all week. I think this washing in water of humility has a strong message for all of us as we prepare for Easter… as we prepare our hearts to honor Christ for His sacrifice.

Lord, immerse me in your love this week. Immerse me in your grace. Immerse me in your truth. Give me courage to come up out of the water, not just clean, but real… honest with You and myself.

How can I walk out this baptism this week?

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Bitterness

Posted in Lent, Random Thoughts, tagged , on February 26, 2008| Leave a Comment »

Tonight I had an interesting experience as I participated in a Bible Study in a virtual environment called Second Life. The topic was bitterness and unfortunately, I couldn’t stay for the “discussion” time as I was reminded of my days working for Elijah House and running workshops on inner healing. These never really took off at our church and I’m not sure why… is it because these issues of bitterness and unforgiveness run so deep?

Another thing I wanted to say in the session is that bitterness is not particularly swift. I think it more often creeps upon us. First, there might be anger or disappointment, but then, the effects of a situation begin to repeat in our minds. Instead of casting these thoughts and feelings on the throne of our God, we nurture them and they grow. Before too long, we have created a bitter root. It is not easy to heal a bitter root. It is not easy to pull the root out. In fact, sometimes we become so accustomed to bitterness, that is feels normal. Not only that, but some bitterness has lived in our hearts and minds for long, long time–we don’t remember it. Only God can truly reveal these deep bitter root judgments. And once revealed, it is important to begin the process of confession and forgiveness. For truly, bitter root judgments are sin.

The last thing is that most people continue to lose sight of the role of forgiveness. It does not erase what a person has done. It merely cuts the cord that binds us to the situation or the person. Forgiveness is a choice not a feeling. We can consciously choose to forgive even if we don’t “feel it.” God will do the rest.

This type of forgiveness is quite difficult in the face of abuse or pain. It is not for us to treat these situations lightly. I believe God calls the heart when it is ready. Hebrews 12:15 says, “See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” It is God’s grace that allows us to forgive … and also God’s grace that protects us. But we must cover ourselves in His cloak of grace.

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Woman, behold your son

Posted in Lent, tagged , , , , , on February 25, 2008| Leave a Comment »

It’s John 19:26… and although I know the context here is of Jesus “presenting” his mother to John, his beloved disciple (this is made clear by the next line where he presents John to his mother)… this phrase brings some other thoughts to mind…

1) Where were Jesus’ “half” brothers and why wouldn’t they care for her? For me, it’s a reminder that sometimes, family by blood is not as close as family by Christ or experience … friends who have “been there” for you can often be more significant and reliable.

2) A part of me wonders if this phrase doesn’t have a double meaning – saying to his earthly mother, “Here, look at your son now on this cross. It has all happened as it was foretold. It is a reality. Look at me. Accept the truth of what must be.”

3) How ironic it is to me that all the new translations and online translations are quick to say that the word “woman” used in this phrase is a term of “endearment and respect.” That may be true, all the same, He did not call her mother. There are many who would disagree with me, but some part of me believes that Jesus had long since stopped seeing her as His “mother” – but only as a dear disciple. (Also supported by Mark 3:31-35) Pastor Craig might disagree as well since he based his sermon on this phrase saying it shows Jesus’ concern for family even to the end of his life. That may well be true. But there is still a mystery in his choice of words.

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Mystery

Posted in Lent, tagged , , , , , , on February 23, 2008| Leave a Comment »

The story of Daniel has many mysteries, but one of the most well known is the revelations that God gave him about the dreams of Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2). I have not had any mysterious dreams, but I do wonder today why things work the way they do. The juxtaposition of events is always a bit peculiar. This past weekend, my children all went on a Chrysalis weekend, a mountain top if not life-changing one for all of them. And then, they all got sick (virus heaven on the weekend I suppose) and then, I too, became ill, but with a more mysterious ailment than just a cold.

I am currently in a lot of discomfort along with some pain below my sternum and so far, in a week of tests and doctor appointments, no one knows the source or cause of my problem. It’s a mystery. In my heart I believe that God is in this, but I don’t know yet, in what way. In verse 2:18, Daniel says to his friends, plead for mercy from God concerning this mystery… he was asking for revelation, a supernatural understanding of what Nebuchadnezzar’s dream was and what it meant. Note… they needed to discover what it was before it’s meaning could be discerned.

There are actually many mysteries in our lives like this… and I think we don’t spend enough time asking God for the mercy of revelation. We are too busy using our own knowledge or the knowledge of others to reveal truth, when we should be asking God for it.

We don’t spend enough time identifying what is actually happening. We don’t look deeply enough into the nature of the events. We assume too much. We interpret before we know. We interpret the symptoms… the outward expressions of what is.

Today, I ask… I plead oh God, for an understanding of what is…

I remember my salvation story a true expression of this idea… when I came to the Lord, it was because a classmate challenged me to read the New Testament the same way we were being instructed in acting school to read scripts. For the first read-through, we were told to put the phrase, “If this were true…” and only after taking all the words at face value … to get the full intent of what they words actually say … could we begin to interpret. It was this reading of the Word that brought me to my knees before God, alone, on Christmas Eve, 1979.

There is a core truth to every event.

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Set Apart Christ as Lord

Posted in Lent, tagged , , , , , on February 8, 2008| Leave a Comment »

I Peter 3:15
“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…”

Gentleness and respect for the other! But also, be gentle with yourself. This scripture used to send me into fear and trembling. Oh my… I’m going to have to lay out the facts of my faith. I’ll need to have scriptures memorized. I’ll have to know the 4 Spiritual Laws. I’ll have to answer tough questions about the complexities and apparent discrepancies in scripture. Oh no!

But now, I read this verse with thanksgiving. I thank God for the Christ of my heart. I thank God for the works He has done in my heart so far… and what He will continue to do … for you see, it’s all part of that “sanctification” process. And so, all I can share is what I know. God is not asking me to be more than I am. He’s not asking me to be a preacher or an apostle or a polished speaker. All I need to tell is my story. My story is God’s story. I am just one sliver of God’s grace. And for that I am grateful because without it, I would be dead, literally.

When Christ found me in New York City in 1979, I was spiraling down a very slippery slope while living a decadent life. Everything about me was self-centered and self-destructive from drugs to alcohol to sexual improprieties. And yet, when He touched me… it was with gentleness and respect. Oh yes, and I know, if He could do this for me, when I was living the darkest of lives… then He can do it for anyone else. And shouldn’t I do the same? Shouldn’t I, then, be able to offer gentleness and respect to all persons … for who is say, who might see the truth of Christ through me? Just the way I am… so far.

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