"They nailed Him to the cross for me....One day when I was lost...He died upon a cross...and I know it was the blood for me..."
On this first day of Lent, I cannot stop thinking of how much He loves me. How much He sacrificed for me. How "unselfish" He was. Jesus gave His life that I might have life. And He never promised me a life free of hurt or anguish or disappointments. Sometimes I can focus more on what I have experienced instead of focusing on who He is.
Here is the remainder of the lesson from last night's service (taught by Pastor Darryl Drumwright of the Temple Church, Nashville, TN). He said that these would be 40 days of consecration and self-reflection. These 40 days are patterned after the experience of our Lord Jesus Christ. The ashes (of Ash Wednesday) tell a story.
*The ashy cross declares that we are marked (II Cor 7:10)
*We are "marked for grief." The grief over sin.
*We are "marked for mortality." Genesis 3:19
*We are "marked for His glory." I Cor 6:19-20 (Our whole lives testify to His goodness.
*We are "marked for attack." I Peter 5:8 (We become subject to all matters of attack.)
I have made a conscience decision of the things that I will sacrifice during this period of Lent. But these things don't even compare to what I have already received. I have received a life in Christ that surpasses anything that I can think or feel. Sure, I have endured many disappointments in this life. But God is not a man that He would lie. He is the one who keeps all promises. He is the one who carried the very cross that He would die on. He and He alone gave ALL that He had for us. As I ready myself for sleep tonight, I sign off with this thought. "What shall I render, unto God, for all His blessings? What shall I render, unto God, what shall I give?"
Be blessed everyone,
Lemon
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
It's More Than Just the Ashes
After 44 years of life, I attended my first Ash Wednesday service tonight. I have to tell you it was a true blessing to me. I cannot stop thinking about how I felt, and how humbled I was to know that Jesus actually gave His life for me.
The main reason I went was to finally find out what this Ash Wednesday and 40 days of Lent were all about. I had always thought it was only for Catholics, but to my surprise, I found out differently. I thought about something while in service. If Jesus gave His all for all of us (including Christians), then why would only a particular group honor Him in this way? This past Sunday I actually went online so I could read the history of Ash Wednesday. I encourage everyone to do this.
One of the main things that my Pastor said tonight that will always stick with me is this: "It is unreasonable for us (Christians)to look forward to Easter Sunday without ever giving thought to the period that leads up to it." (I actually paraphrased his words...I will have to get my notepad out of the car tomorrow night so that I can quote him correctly...I do not want to misquote him.) But what I took that to mean was we (Christians) focus so much on Easter Sunday (and packing our churches full of people so we can put our talents on display) that we forget how we actually got to Easter. He (my pastor) said that "Jesus did not just "get up" on Easter Sunday, but He went through a lot of suffering to get there." (again paraphrased)
Therefore, here is what this 40 day period of Lent will mean to me this year. It is a time of sacrifice. Sacrificing not only some food items, but also some worldly pleasures. Giving up some of the things that are not even worthy of holding on to anyway. I could never come close to the sacrifice that Jesus made for me.
During this Lent season, I do not have time to check others, because I am going to focus on "checking myself!" I must watch what I am doing, saying, going, behaving, treating others, etc., etc.
Tonight for me begins 40 days of consecrating my mind, body, and soul unto the Lord in a way that I have never done before.
"What shall I render, unto God, for all His blessings? Tell me what, shall I render, unto God, what shall I give?"
Lovingly, Lemon
The main reason I went was to finally find out what this Ash Wednesday and 40 days of Lent were all about. I had always thought it was only for Catholics, but to my surprise, I found out differently. I thought about something while in service. If Jesus gave His all for all of us (including Christians), then why would only a particular group honor Him in this way? This past Sunday I actually went online so I could read the history of Ash Wednesday. I encourage everyone to do this.
One of the main things that my Pastor said tonight that will always stick with me is this: "It is unreasonable for us (Christians)to look forward to Easter Sunday without ever giving thought to the period that leads up to it." (I actually paraphrased his words...I will have to get my notepad out of the car tomorrow night so that I can quote him correctly...I do not want to misquote him.) But what I took that to mean was we (Christians) focus so much on Easter Sunday (and packing our churches full of people so we can put our talents on display) that we forget how we actually got to Easter. He (my pastor) said that "Jesus did not just "get up" on Easter Sunday, but He went through a lot of suffering to get there." (again paraphrased)
Therefore, here is what this 40 day period of Lent will mean to me this year. It is a time of sacrifice. Sacrificing not only some food items, but also some worldly pleasures. Giving up some of the things that are not even worthy of holding on to anyway. I could never come close to the sacrifice that Jesus made for me.
During this Lent season, I do not have time to check others, because I am going to focus on "checking myself!" I must watch what I am doing, saying, going, behaving, treating others, etc., etc.
Tonight for me begins 40 days of consecrating my mind, body, and soul unto the Lord in a way that I have never done before.
"What shall I render, unto God, for all His blessings? Tell me what, shall I render, unto God, what shall I give?"
Lovingly, Lemon
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