Maundy Thursday

Thursday, April 17th:  Week Seven

Maundy Thursday

As Holy Week comes to a close and our Lenten season nears the end, we must take hold of the fullness of "Maundy Thursday"!  Today, Christ left a new mandate (command) to His disciples, and I believe He leaves the same command to us.

Week Seven:  Where are my feet?

Scripture Focus:  John 13: 34-35

Objective:  To perform a spiritual check-in with Jesus--am I following Christ's command?

On Maundy Thursday, Christ gave the perfect example of moving from saying to doing when He got up from the table, wrapped a towel around His waist, pulled out a basin, and began to wash His disciples feet.  When He finished, He told the disciples "this is what you have to do".  After explaining other upcoming events, Jesus tells the disciples:

A new command I give you:  Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.  -John 13:34-35 NIV

During these last few days of the Lenten Season, I challenge us to really DO the word and the life of Christ!  Where are your feet?  Jesus utilized His washing the feet of the disciples as a tangible example of what we should do.  It's time to get out of the chair with our feet reclined, and it is time for us to wash other people's feet.  It is time for us to show the love of Christ instead of talk about the love of Christ.  Come on everyone...let us be transformed!

THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE:

Demonstrate the change that our fasting, our praying, and this Lenten season has made in our lives.  Let us not end the Lenten season as the same people that we were when we started.  It is time for transformation.  Review all seven of the lessons, and make an intentional effort to be transformed.  Where are your feet?

PRAYER:

God give us the strength!  We know that it will not be easy to walk in the new command that You expect of us.  Sometimes it is easier to hate than love, but we want to be known as your disciples.  Help us and strengthen us for the journey!  We are ready to love like you and live like you.  We know that you are able to give us the power to be transformed.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

I pray that this Lenten season has been a blessing to you and your family!  I look forward to sharing with you again next year.

Blessings, Pastor C

Week Six: Where is MY future?

Thursday, April 10th:  Week Six

Lent is an opportunity for us to examine our normal "Christ-like" behaviors to ensure that they are truly "Christ-like."  If they are, we thank God and look more deeply at other areas.  If they are not, we ask God to fix us up so that our future is secure and God is indeed pleased with us.

Week Six:  Where is MY future?

Scripture Focus:  Matthew 6:1-2

Objective:  To perform a spiritual check-in with Jesus--am I pleasing God?

As we continue in our effort to move from saying to doing as Christians, we must be willing to examine even our best behaviors and ask God: "am I pleasing You?"

Jesus said:

Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them.  If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.  So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.  -Matthew 6:1-2 NIV

Last week we asked ourselves "do we represent God well".  This question is plagued with the responsibility of us looking at how we treat one another and the type of fruit we bear.  Based on those main two objectives, we can determine the answer to last week's question, and I pray that the challenge was met to improve our fruit.  However, as we approach Palm Sunday,  I believe it is important to examine our future.  Am I securing my future with God through my righteousness (right behavior) or am I simply striving to impress people?  Jesus urges us that right behavior does not secure our future but our motives must be pure as well.  Giving to the needy is the example that Christ gives; however, we can apply this to all of the right behaviors that God impresses upon us.  In short:  when we do what we are expected  to do we should not expect people to pat us on the back.  Instead, do it in a way that seems like you're trying to keep the juiciest secret.  It is not because you don't want others to know.  It is because our Father is the one who has the true reward.  Jesus says if we get the trumpets blown here, there will be no need of a reward in heaven.

THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE:

Examine our righteousness (right behavior) and make sure that we are not boasting for the world to see.  Our motivation is that it is pleasing to God, and since God sees it first-He will provide the reward!

PRAYER:

Most Holy God, we thank You for keeping us during this Lenten season.  As we enter week six, help us to be ever mindful that You have the best reward for us and it is locked within our future.  Help us to please you instead of impressing each other through our righteousness.  Show us where we seek earthly compliments and incline our hearts to seek heavenly reward!  We thank You for loving us enough to show us where our right can go wrong so that we might seek You for correction and strength.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

Week Five: Where is MY fruit?

Wednesday, April 2nd:  Week Five

When individuals fast, sometimes we experience natural responses to our spiritual journey.  This does not make us less of a Christian...it reminds us that we are human.  However, we must be careful that our Spiritual witness is not tarnished during the process.  

Week Five:  Where is MY fruit?

Scripture Focus:  Matthew 7:16

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

This Lenten journey, as we move from saying to doing, is a perfect time to do a spiritual check-in and be real honest with ourselves when we answer the following question:  Do I represent God well?

Jesus said:

By their fruit you will recognize them.  Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

-Matthew 7:16NIV 

As a Christian, we represent God!  Every decision that we make and every behavior that we demonstrate is a direct reflection of our Father.  The question is asked once more:  Do I represent God well?  We must remember that we may be the only "BIBLE" someone sees during the day.  Our temper being short because we are fasting is not a good excuse for misrepresenting God!  Our attitude being sour because we are "going through" is not a good excuse either!  Jesus says that it is as simple as plant life-we will be known or recognized by our fruit.  Thornbushes and thistles both contain spikes that make it nearly impossible to get close.  Is this the kind of representation we are giving on behalf of God?  

THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE:

Make an intentional effort to represent God well!  I challenge us to be mindful of the things that make us "spike" whether we are at home, at our job, at our church, or simply going to the grocery store.  If we know what causes those spikes to come out, we can better control them and produce grapes and figs.  Remember grapes and figs were a heavy part of their diet in Biblical times.  Our fruit should be healthy for others to consume, view, and talk about!  Let's check ourselves daily to ensure that our fruit are telling the right story.

PRAYER:

Most Holy God, all people do not make it easy for us to produce grapes and figs.  Sometimes we may feel like someone is pushing us to be thornbushes and thistles; however, we want to represent you well.  Help us to be strong enough to fight through those tempting times and produce the fruit that are pleasing to You.  In Jesus' name, Amen.