There Is None Like You

Lent always brings me a heightened awareness and reminder of God's sovereignty, power, and authority. Shane & Shane's version of "There Is None Like You" affirms the Lenten lesson of our dependence upon an all sufficient God!

While I'm Waiting - John Waller

Lent is a season of waiting. However, our waiting is not passive. It is active. As we continue to journey toward Christ's Passion and the heightened awareness of it that comes as a result of observing Lent, enjoy these powerful words from John Waller. Happy Waiting!

Beach Longings

Do you remember at the end of John's gospel when Jesus appeared to seven of the disciples on the beach after his resurrection? The seven had been fishing all night on the Sea of Tiberias and caught nothing. Just as daylight breaks they see a stranger (Jesus) calling out to them from the shoreline. He asks if they have any fish and when they say no, he tells them to throw their nets to the other side of the boat. When they do their nets are overwhelmed with fish! Standing in the boat, John turns to Simon Peter and says, "It is the Lord!" They come to shore and have breakfast with the risen Lord!

We all have empty nets. These are the things we are unable to do by ourselves. They are the things in which we are totally dependent upon God's provision. Empty nets from different places in several forms like:

• Health challenges/issues
• Job/vocational concerns
• Broken relationships
  
• Addictions
• Depression/emotional problems
• Codependence
• Apathy
• Rejection
• Anger, bitterness, unforgiveness
• Childhood wounds

And more. However, like the disciples who had fished all night, it's only when we seek God's direction and instruction that we find our nets are filled with hope, peace, rest, and other provisions of grace. Unlike the disciples, we don't have to wait until after Easter morning to experience it. Those who choose to do so walk this beach of the Lenten season with Jesus. And as we do we hear His voice calling out to the empty nets of our lives: "Cast your nets to the other side," as He provides direction through our soul search of Lent through fasting, prayer, confession and repentance. The sea at Lent can be lonely and desolate, but look to the shoreline and listen for the Master's voice. Then go and do likewise.

Go Dawgs!

Congrats to my alma mater the small, but mighty Butler Bulldogs for knocking off No. 1 seeded Pittsburgh and advancing to the NCAA Sweet 16 again! Once again the "talking heads" and experts gave the Dawgs no love after a mediocre season in the Horizon League, but somehow they mustered the strength to advance. Free throw shooting, assists and basic fundamentals is a staple of Butler Basketball. Congrats Coach Stephens and the Dawgs!

Lenten Reflection

Be still and know that I am God.

Unplug, get away, take time to reflect and renew. If you don't carve out this time and guard it, it will never happen.

The hard work of Lent is in the time alone with God. Soul care takes time and with our busy lives you have to make it a priority.

Be still.....and in the stillness listen for God!

Rended Hearts

A Lenten Meditation from Joel 2 (ESV)

12 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord,
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
13 and rend your hearts and not your garments.”
Return to the Lord your God,
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;
and he relents over disaster.
14 Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,
and leave a blessing behind him,
a grain offering and a drink offering
for the Lord your God?

15 Blow the trumpet in Zion;
consecrate a fast;
call a solemn assembly;
16 gather the people.
Consecrate the congregation;
assemble the elders;
gather the children,
even nursing infants.
Let the bridegroom leave his room,
and the bride her chamber.

17 Between the vestibule and the altar
let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep
and say, “Spare your people, O Lord,
and make not your heritage a reproach,
a byword among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?’”

A Prayer for the Lenten Season

Lord Jesus,

For 40 long days you fasted in the wilderness, resisting Satan's cunning temptations. Satan is still in the business of tempting and trapping. But we confess we often don't stand up too well. Our will gets weak and wobbly, and the next thing we know, the tempter has won. If only we had turned to you instantly, we might have much less to confess to you.

As it is, you know how we have slipped and fallen. You know the areas in which we are especially vulnerable, and so does the enemy. Forgive us, again. Thank you, Jesus.

We turn to you for strength, knowing you will not scorn our request, for you have been tempted in every way as we are. First, make us aware when we are in danger of falling into temptation. Sometimes, one apparently innocent thing suddenly turns into something we had no intention of permitting. Help us detect the snare before we step into it.

Throughout these days of Lenten discipline, school us in the arts of spiritual growth. Increase our desire to know you intimately and to be known by you. Work on us to develop the habits of obedience and prayer so that we become more firmly rooted in your Word and will, and better able to resist every trick of the Evil One, for Jesus' sake. Amen. (Prayer from Homiletics Magazine)

This Buds For You!

Spring has exploded in the Carolina's! Pear and cherry trees along with yellow jonquils/daffodils are exploding with blooms.

Yeah it's way too early for this pre-emergence of Spring because it's just a matter of time before another hard freeze sweeps over us, but who cares? Enjoy it! Consider it God's early gift for a hard/cold winter. It's as if God is saying to us, "This bud's for you (tree and flower buds that is)!"

I've got strands of green shoots peaking through dormant, brown Bermuda grass and my purple hyacinth is sticking up through the mulch as if it's checking out the weather and waiting for a report before its blooms push through. I'm just hoping the azaleas hold off. For once I'd love for all of them to fully bloom without a late frost wipeout.

Heading into Lent it would be a good thing to become reaqainted with God's response to Job in Job 38 when God speaks to Job and reminds him of His awesome creative power. Last time I checked there's nothing we can do to control the weather and changing seasons. Consider it gift and enjoy God's beautiful canvas of creation!