Week Four: Where is MY Faith?

Wednesday, March 26th:  Week Four

The Lenten season, much like the rest of our year, can be marked with unexpected demands that sometimes seem insurmountable.  Remember, that with faith in God, you can make it...not just through your Lenten journey, but through life's trials!

Week Four:  Where is MY faith?

Scripture Focus:  Matthew 17:20

Objective:  To perform a spiritual check-in with Jesus--do I believe God?

Of course you do!  We all believe God.  We would not be fasting from some of our favorite foods, activities, or behaviors if we didn't right?  Well, I don't know.  

Jesus said:

..."Because you have so little faith.  I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move.  Nothing will be impossible for you."  -Matthew 17:20NIV

When faced with an undefeated demon, the disciples questioned Jesus "Why couldn't we drive it out".  We all have been there or will get there in some area of our lives where we scream out, cry out, or simply think...Lord, why can't I drive this out?  Why am I still struggling with this?  Why can I help others but can't help myself/my family?  Uh oh...you guessed it, Jesus responds to you and me the way He did the disciples.  May I paraphrase:  You can but you don't because you won't believe me!  Where in the world is our faith these days?  

THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE:

Believe God!  We've got mountains that are waiting for us to command that they move, but we don't believe so they do not move.  We have storms that are waiting to be still, but we don't believe so they keep moving.  I'm not saying that every circumstance will end the way we want them to, but there are some things that God desires for us to be delivered from or rulers over, but we don't even have faith the size of a mustard seed.  The challenge this week is to believe.  Write down what God says and trust Him!

PRAYER:

Most Holy God, now this is certainly easier said than done!  Yet, that is our task this Lenten season...to move from saying to doing. So, help us to "DO" faith instead of simply talking faith.  We want what You have for us so help us to trust and lean on You more.  This we ask in Jesus' name, Amen.

Week Three: Where is MY family?

Wednesday, March 19th:  Week Three

We are getting deeper into this Lenten season, and I pray that you are still holding strong.  When you are weak, don't forget to pray or even pull out one of these weekly devotions to motivate you to stay the course.  Don't forget to stand together with other Lenten observers as we remember "Good Friday" each Friday by abstaining from meat.  Now, on to this week's Word!

Week Three:  Where is MY family?

Scripture Focus:  Matthew 5:43-48

Objective:  To perform a spiritual check-in with Jesus--am I doing enough?

I know you are thinking...Uhhhh, yes!  I do everything:  cook, clean, work, church, home, kids, spouse, friends...and repeat!  I salute you and many others who juggle a busy schedule, but that is not what this week's devotion is about.  Sometimes we get so busy "doing" that we don't do enough!

Jesus said:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.  -Matthew 5:43-48 NIV

Is Jesus challenging us to DO more?  I believe so!  It is during this third week of the Lenten season that we continue on our path of moving from saying to doing.  In order to fulfill this goal, we've got to do more!  It is so tempting to just decide each day-I'm going to take care of ME.  However, this is not aiding in the spreading of the Gospel message.  I am not challenging you to pull out your Bible more and start reciting scriptures...DO THE SCRIPTURES!  Jesus says in order to be seen as a "child of God" we must do what others do not already do!  He explains that those who take advantage of others (Biblically-referenced tax collectors) already love those who love them.  Also, those who don't even believe or follow God's Word (pagans) greet the people who are in their "clique" so this is not impressive.  We must learn to push ourselves to do "more than others".  In doing so, we are striving for perfection...striving to be more like our Father.  So, let's ask the question again:  am I doing enough?

THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE:

I challenge each of us to DO MORE!  It is certainly not easy to love on the people who seem to be in our lives to persecute us, but this is what God commands.  It is our "doing more" when we ask God to bless even the one who got on every nerve we had and then preceded to stomp on them.  It is our "doing more" when we love on those who don't love on us.  It is our "doing more" when we talk to the ones who don't look, smell, act, walk, talk, sing, pray, live (I could go on...) like us!  Do MORE this Lenten season!  Strive for perfection even though God is still working on you...let Him work on you!  DO MORE!

PRAYER:

Most Holy God, As we enter into week three we are not ashamed to say that we have fallen short before and during this Lenten season.  Perhaps we have not taken our fast as seriously as Christ took the journey to the cross.  Remind us that it is for You that we are taking this journey, and that there is a great reward for us to endure as Christ did for our sake.  This week we are going to do more.  Lord, you know the challenge to love the seemingly unlovable and to greet the seemingly disagreeable so if we are going to be successful in our pursuits, we certainly need Your help.  We are depending and trusting in You alone.  In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

Week Two: Where is MY Foundation?

Wednesday, March 12th:  Week Two

I pray that your first week of the Lenten Season was rewarding.  Even if you fell short on your fast, I challenge you to "press reset" and continue your journey to Calvary with Christ.  Don't forget to abstain from meat every Friday as a means of solidarity within the body of believers.  Let's get to it...

Week Two:  Where is MY foundation?

Scripture Focus:  Luke 6:46-49

Objective:  To perform a spiritual check-in with Jesus--am I deep enough?

I believe that at some point or another on this Christian journey we have said it ourselves OR heard someone else say it:  "They are just too deep!"  This phrase is typically thrown out there when "they" are not relatable or seem to be taking something to the extreme.  Well, throughout this second week of the Lenten season I challenge us to look within and get DEEP!

Jesus told the crowd among Him:

"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?  As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them to practice, I will show you what they are like.  They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock.  When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.  But the one who hears my words and does not put them into peace is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation.  The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete." -Luke 6:46-49 (NIV)

During the second week of the Lenten season, it is important for us to dig deep.  If we truly desire to move from "saying" to "doing" in this season then we must find the benefit in doing so.  Jesus affirms that if we are only "saying" and not "doing," then He really isn't Lord in our lives.  How can we proclaim that Jesus is Lord if we only say what Jesus says but we never do what Jesus does or expects us to do.  It is easy to do a whole lot of talking, but are we ready to get our limbs moving and "put into practice" what Jesus has taught us?  In other words, it's time to dig deep!  The benefit in doing is that the storms of life will not be able to shake us.  So, are you deep enough?

THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE:

I challenge each of us during this second week of the Lenten season to be DEEP!  It is easier to give into how others treat you, what others say to you, and what they do to you.  But does that really show off your foundation?  A well built house shows off its foundation without speaking-it simply stands and is not shaken by outside forces.  Let's become well-built houses for the Holy Spirit to dwell!  Jesus declares that the only way to do so is to close our mouths and simply do what He says.  Come on...you can DO it!  Be deep!

PRAYER:

Most Holy God, You know all about our individual quirks and temptations.  We come to you at the start of this second week of the Lenten season asking for your help.  We want to dig deep and put our foundation on you.  We know that if our foundation stands on you we will not be moved by anything that we may face in our lives.  Help us to trust you and to keep digging deeper.  We want you to be Lord of our lives...guide us and direct us into doing instead of just saying.  In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

Lent 2014: Ash Wednesday

It's that time again...today is Wednesday, March 5th:  Ash Wednesday.

Ash Wednesday kicks off our 40-day Lenten observance.  This year we are revisiting the importance of having a contemplative prayer life and putting that prayer life into action.  During these 40 days, join with us as we strive to become more faithful in what we do for God instead of what say about God.  Remember that today, we stand together as a body of believers and abstain from meat.  We also continue this practice every Friday throughout the Lenten season as a means of solidarity during this season.  Now, for this week's devotion...

Week One: Where is MY flavor?

Scripture Focus:  Matthew 5:13

Objective:  To perform a spiritual check-in with Jesus--am I salty enough?

In today's society, "salty" has so many meanings.  When dining, we don't want our food to be "too salty"...OR when dealing with disappointing friends, we may call them "salty".  BUT I believe Christ gives us a new revelation on the term "salty" that we should all strive to attain.

Jesus explains to us His understanding of "saltiness":

You are the salt of the earth.  But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?  It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.    

-Matthew 5:13 (NIV)

This first week of Lent, we must understand the importance of our flavor.  If we are not willing to be "salty" for Christ, then it is impossible for us to shift our walks from "saying" to "doing".  There are enough Christians "talking the talk," and I believe God is looking for more of us to "walk the walk".  This is how we make sure that our "flavor" is present in this world.  Jesus explains that we are the "salt of the earth" and we are not good for anything "except to be thrown out and trampled" on when we lose our "saltiness".  Remember, salt was used as a preserving agent well before the time of refrigeration.  As long as the meat had enough salt, it would remain good for digestion.  It is our time to sprinkle our walks in our homes, neighborhoods, city, and state to ensure that the generations behind us have something to digest.  If not, we will continue to be "trampled".  If you are looking for your victory over personal and corporate circumstances, check your flavor.

THIS WEEK'S LENTEN CHALLENGE:

Start this Lenten Season off right!  Remember, this is an opportunity to press reset within our spiritual lives and more importantly within our hearts.  The Bible testifies that our mouth only speaks what is overflowing out of our heart.  Therefore, when I pray/speak to God I am revealing my heart to Him.  I challenge us to cleanse our heart this week.  Start each day of this first week out asking God to "create in me a clean heart".  The more we say it...the more we will actually desire it!  As God gives us a clean heart, we will be more "salty"!  When we decide that we will be more "salty," our relationship will move beyond simple "lip service" to ACTION!  It's time for us to put some work with our faith.  So, join with us this week as we ask for a clean heart to get Jesus' blood pumping through our veins and take on our responsibility to give this world some flavor.

PRAYER:

God as we start off this Lenten season together, we ask that You strengthen us for the journey.  Please give us a mind to stay focused and faithful to our individual fasts while holding each other up corporately in our aspiration to move from saying to doing.  We believe that You will see us through this 40-day journey and allow us to be better prepared for what lies ahead.  As we do so, please give us clean hearts that we may be worthy examples of your children.  We thank You for the victory that is already ours and Your will which is truly the best for us!  In Jesus' name we pray together, AMEN.