An inside job...

"Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord, your God."

Joel 2:13

 

When I heard this reading (Joel 2:12-18) today, as proclaimed on Pray-As-You-Go, this one phrase jumped out at me.  It occurs to me that the real change that takes place in us throughout Lent is an inside job.  We can go through all the motions, show up at all the Lent events, do all the prescribed stuff, and if our hearts are not turning back to God and changing, all is for not.  The bottom line is that our hearts need to return to God and thus become more loving, loving others more like God loves. It also reminds me of the verse about mercy versus sacrifice.  God prefers the former, not the latter.  So, as we embark on this forty days of Lent, let's realize that it isn't what we do for Lent or don't do for Lent.  Lent is about rendering our hearts and turning back to God. Giving our hearts to God who, alone, can help us to become more loving toward others.  The real work of Lent is an inside job. Love, heidi

Shrove Tuesday

"After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, 'Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.'”

Luke 5:4

 

Here is a question for us to ponder on this Shrove Tuesday. Are we doing the same things for Lent we did 10-15-20 years ago? Are we still in the same place spiritually we were years ago or have we grown? Can we move out of the shallow end and go deeper into our relationship with Jesus? Jesus invites us, as well as the apostles, to go further out, away from the shore and try something hard...go deeper...take a risk...maybe even climb out of the boat! Maybe we could try something new this Lent that is life-changing, not just 40 days-changing.  Something like making a commitment to recycle if we aren't already. Maybe we can take a class that can help us help others.  Maybe we can sponsor a refugee child in a third world country--that's takes longer than 40 days. (I began sponsoring a kid years ago in the Philippines--he's probably 30 by now!) What can we do differently this Lent? Can we do something that really changes us and/or others for the long haul?  Let's prayerfully discern how God invites us to celebrate this Lenten season.  It's unique for each of us, but the ultimate goal is the same: to grow deeper and deeper in love with Jesus. Love, heidi

In the dark cloud...

"Then Solomon said, 'The Lord intends to dwell in the dark cloud'"...

1 Kings 8:12

 

Who would think to look for God there, in the dark cloud?  But I totally believe Solomon called it correctly right here.  The end of last week, I was pondering my "closest moments to Christ," for 4th Day.  It was another week of waiting and wondering re: the flood. I was trying to be patient and give everyone involved time to do their jobs, but here I was (still am) living in the rubble, sort of.  I realized that God felt closest to me in the quandary, not just in the resolution.  God felt so close during the sleepless nights, the angst, the uncertainty.  God was there in the rubble.  It is (slowly!) getting resolved and that is wonderful, but when I look back, God felt ever closer in the dark cloud.  Today, as we go forth on a winter Monday (the very definition of dark cloud!), let's realize that God rejoices with us during the good times, but God is also, maybe even closer, in the dark clouds we may go through.  Love, heidi

Two by two...

"Jesus summoned the Twelve and began  to send them out two by two..."
Mark 6:7

 

Jesus gave them their marching orders, as it were.  He gave specific instructions, like just what to take, what to do, where to stay, and so on. He told them to stay where they're welcome, shake it off when they're not. He told them to accept the kindness of strangers and trust they will get whatever they need. Jesus may as well be giving us the same marching orders today as we embark on a winter Thursday.  We may have a day full of appointments, a classroom full of wiggly kids, a bus full of noisy students, an office full of ill patients, or even a long day with nothing specific to do.  But, whatever our day looks like, we are to accept strangers, shake off rejection, not over-pack and burden ourselves with stuff, and, mostly, share the Good News with others.  Tall order for the day, but we can do it! With God's help!  Love, heidi

Open our eyes and minds!

"Now, Master, you can dismiss your servant in peace; you have fulfilled your word. For my eyes have witnessed your saving deed displayed for all peoples to see..."

Luke 2:29-31

 

Simeon had been waiting for the promised Messiah his whole life and now he was an old man, still waiting. When Joseph and Mary bring the baby Jesus to the temple Simeon takes little Jesus in his arms and says, "OK, this is the promised Messiah...that's all I need to see."  God gifted him with the ability to recognize who it was he had longed for his whole life.  Like Simeon, we long for Jesus, too.  Unlike Simeon, we do not have to wait long for Jesus, but we can see Jesus every single day.  Last week I had the privilege of seeing Jesus in a gentleman in a small town about an hour from here. The gift to me was in the recognition and the fact that I had some things that could help the man.  I drove away knowing I had encountered Jesus and wasn't THAT awesome? That was just one guy, one day.  Jesus will be in my day today, too.  I just pray I can recognize him!  Everyday God fulfills the Word in our lives, just like with Simeon.  Our eyes will witness God's saving power today--let's keep them open to see and our minds open to recognize!  Love, heidi

Right here, right now...

  "Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord in his pity has done for you."

Mark 5:19

 

The man, who had been possessed by Legion and healed by Jesus, had asked if he could come along with Jesus and his disciples.  All of us, who experience a powerful encounter with Jesus immediately want to join in, don't we?  We feel so different on the inside, we want to make noticeable changes on the outside too.  We want to leave the boats and fishing nets on the shore and just walk away with Jesus.  But, Jesus teaches here that the way we are to serve God may be by going home and just doing what we do.  We may be called to minister to our own little circle of influence, meet the needs of our own peeps.  That may either be hard for us to hear, or a huge relief!  We don't have to travel far away to serve God as we desire to serve God.  We may be called to serve God, right here, right now, right where God has placed us.  Today, this winter Monday, let's keep in mind that we can celebrate and serve God best right where we are, in the daily grind of today.  It's a brand new month and we are inching closer to spring, so let's give God the glory for that!  Love, heidi