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A Planting of Faith Seeds for the Glory of the LORD
And so Lent 2014 begins…
I don’t know if you are a faithful follower and participant of Lent or not I consider myself a faithful follower and a participant but not in the traditional way of fasting and eating certain foods. One of the questions that arise as the Easter Season begins is, “What are you giving up for Lent?” My reply usually went something like this, “I’m not sure I’ll need to think about it before making a decision.” And I would think about it for a couple of days then forget about it.
This year I’ve been asking myself the question, “Gary, what are you giving up for Lent this year?” And as I thought about my answer I decided I am not giving up anything for Lent instead I am giving up something to celebrate and deepen my relationship with Jesus throughout the Lenten/Easter Season. The next question I asked myself was what I would give Jesus for Lent/Easter. The answer is really quite simple there’s really only one thing Jesus wants and that is me.
Jesus wants me!
Jesus wants you!
Jesus doesn’t want bits and pieces of us he wants us lock-stock-barrel-and-sin!
James sums up the purpose of Lent as a time of personal reflection, a time of repentance, and a time of reconciliation. “For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.” (James 1:23–25, NLT)
Lent for me is a time to give myself lock-stock-barrel-and-sin to Jesus so he can accept me on the cross and then give me life as he steps from the tomb on resurrection morning. I wonder will 40 days be enough time to prepare myself in order for Jesus to reach back into our tomb and lead me into life.
“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.” (2 Thessalonians 2:16–17, NLT)
Believe it! Experience it!
Grace and PEACE!
Gary
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“The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others… And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word…” (Mark 4:14, 20, NLT
“The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others… And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word…” (Mark 4:14, 20, NLT
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“Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.”