Sunday, February 23, 2020

FEBRUARY FRUIT 2020 23-29

We began the month of February with inner joy, anticipating the day one heart would share the love of God  with another, the Love that transcends the gray cold of winter.
          We end this month with solemn introspection as we begin forty days of soul-searching during this time called ‘Lent.’  Just before we begin these forty days, however, we share in revelry that indulges the wild side of our heart. 
We gorge on rich treats that we will forsake for the next six weeks as we cleanse both body and soul.  It’s like the storm before the calm as we let go of our inhibitions for a moment in time and then reign them in as we focus on the Lord’s ever-growing presence in our lives.
Before we begin, here are a couple of quotes to tame our soul.

"Be patient, because the weaknesses of the body are given to us in this world by God for the salvation of the soul. So they are of great merit when they are borne patiently.”    St. Francis of Assisi

“The soul that is united with God is feared by the devil as though it were God himself.” St. John of the Cross


PAUSE: We begin to transition from the season of Epiphany, the season of experiencing the ‘aha’ moments regarding the ‘light’ of Christ, to a desert time with Christ.   We celebrated the JOY of birth and walked as wise men and women, through each ‘aha’ moment, each miraculous story of Jesus’ ministry.     We now celebrate the grandest of all ‘aha’ moments, the Transfiguration or our Lord, seen by three of Jesus’ apostles.  It reminds us of the glorious forty days when Moses was with God and received what we know as the ‘Ten Commandments.’  This glory of the Transifguration guides us into another phase of our journey with Jesus, the season of Lent.


February 23, 2020  Transfiguration Sunday
The last Sunday after the Epiphany    
          Exodus 24:12-18; Psalm 99; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Matthew 17:1-9
Exodus 24:12 The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain, and wait there; and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.” :16 The glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; on the seventh day He called to Moses out of the cloud. :17-:18 Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel.  :Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain.  Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.”

Psalm 99:6-7  “Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called on his name.  They cried to the Lord, and he answered them; He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud; they kept his decrees, and the statutes that he gave them.”  :9 “Extol the Lord our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the Lord our God is holy.”

2 Peter 1:17  Testimony of Peter, James and John having been with Jesus on the Mt. of Transfiguration. They heard the words, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Matthew 17:5-8 Peter was still speaking when behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”.   When the disciples heard this they fell on their faces, and were filled with awe. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.”  And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

Each of these scripture ties into the next like a neatly woven tapestry.  Jesus’ disciples experience past, present and future at the same time.  They see two others with Jesus as if they were still alive.  Moses, the bearer of the Law, and Elijah, the prophet that foretold much prophecy pointing to  Jesus, were present in God’s cloud of The Presence.  Peter, James and John, as if they were in a trance, saw and heard and wanted to capture this moment forever, which did not happen.  Their transfiguration experience became a millisecond memory that would be with them forever.
      Again, Jesus tells them, “Do not tell a soul but keep this experience alive in your hearts.”   Jesus knew his most trusted three disciples would soon become leaders who would continue the mission Jesus began.  They needed to understand a realm that was currently foreign to them but which would become a reality after Jesus’ death on the Cross.  Jesus needed to show them this sixth dimension, this new reality, as part of being ‘one with God.’  

Think about it:  They saw the divine side of Jesus they
could not yet understand.  It’s like putting dozens of ‘aha’ moments, together at once.  
It’s like grasping our entire ‘Epiphany season’ all at once.
We can only imagine how the fire works would go off in our own soul if we were there.  
In fact, we are there with Jesus every time we choose to dive deeply into His presence through prayer or through breathing in Jesus’ stories in scripture or through celebrating the Great Thanksgiving in worship.  
We have the opportunity to experience the power of Jesus’ divinity each time we choose to ‘live’ with and ‘know’ His power working in and through us.  

As we mature in our faith and fully understand the power of the Holy Spirit, given to us through baptism, we begin to experience our own ‘transfiguration’ moments through Jesus, the anointed one, God’s only begotten son.  
We, too, can be in a cloud with God and experience all that Moses, Elijah, Peter, James and John experienced.

After this transition point, we begin a new season of introspection, seeking, growing closer to the Lord.
We can use this 40 days in the desert to let go of those impediments that hinder our intimate relationship with Jesus.
In just a few days, we will descend from our mountain top experience and season of ‘epiphanies’ into a plateau of quiet, calm, reflection.
We may learn to be comfortable with long moments of solitude.
We may learn to simply BE . . . in he moment with Jesus.

We will wander from the glory of transfiguration to the glory of simplicity.
We have the opportunity to deepen our intimacy with the Lord, if we choose.
Take a deep breath - - - exhale - - - continue this for about six weeks.
Journal your journey as we sit with Christ Jesus and meditate on His Presence.

2-24  Monday after the last Sunday of the season of Epiphany.  Matthias the Apostle honored today.  
 Acts 1:15-26; Psalm 15; Philippians 3:13b-21; John 15:1, 6-16
Acts 1:22-23  Peter spoke to about 120 who were present and said,  :22 “Beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection.  So they proposed two, Joseph who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. :26 they prayed first and then drew lots.  Matthias was added to the eleven apostles.

Not until the Acts of the Apostles do we find out ‘the
rest of the story.’  The last few days of Jesus’ life are a blur.  We so concentrate on Jesus’ traumatic journey to the Cross that we seem to gloss over what happened to Judas after he ‘fled in the night’ during the Passover and then was seen leading those who came to arrest Jesus.  The gory details of Judas’ death are written in this passage.

As was tradition, Jesus chose the twelve to lead a new Covenant life as a replication of the twelve tribes of Israel in the old Covenant life.  This was an important step in retaining the integrity of the ‘Twelve Tribes of Israel.’  Jesus was given to the Jews to enhance their life as a sacrifice for sin.  Jesus, the last sacrifice, once, for all, is the solution for God to invite the wandering Jew into His presence.  Keeping tradition in tact was paramount to guiding God’s Chosen People into a New Covenant life with God through His only begotten Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Judas’ betrayal broke the tradition of retaining the old Covenant, twelve tribe, tradition.  Jesus chose Judas knowing full well that his betrayal was part of the Father’s plan.  Judas was chosen to be an Apostle to fulfill prophecy, to be the key player who would ultimately kick off a chain of events that would lead Jesus to the Cross.
      By definition, an apostle is one who was with Jesus from the very beginning of his ministry, having experienced the miracle of the Trinity being present at Jesus’ baptism.   These same apostles would journey with Jesus for three years and endure the gut-wrenching demise of their leader, or so they thought.  These same
apostles would be astonished by Jesus’ resurrection and experience His presence until they saw Jesus ascend into the arms of His Father.  

There were as many as 75 apostles, perhaps more, but at the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry, right after His baptism, He chose The Twelve Apostles [with an “A”] to replicate the twelve tribes of Israel, to remind the Jews that Is-ra-el, the land of ‘striving with God’ would not change.  
The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob would not change.  
Worship and honor and prayer and dedication to the Lord would not change.  
Yet, focus on the Law and rules and deportment and endless sacrifice for one thing or another would change with Jesus, the Christ, the anointed one, the New Covenant, the last sacrifice offered for the sin of all who follow Him by faith.

After Jesus has ascended into heaven, the real work begins.  Although the Apostles were trained to carry the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all the world, so were the rest of the ‘apostles.’  Any of a great number would be a wise choice to carry on God’s mission while retaining the integrity of ‘one tribe under God, the twelve.’  And so, Matthias was chosen, by lot from a very few finalists, to join the others, to keep the integrity of Israel and its twelve tribes.  Matthias replaced Judas but we have no story about him, not even knowledge of how he died for the sake of the Gospel of Christ Jesus.  Matthias is mentioned, by name, only in this passage.  

Think about it:  Picking Matthias reminds me of a ‘quorum,’ a necessary number to maintain the integrity of decisions made by a board.  In Jewish worship, there must always be a ‘quorum’ when they meet and pray and honor God.  We may not live by that standard in our Christian worship but we still require quorums at official
meetings. 

In the same way, we who say ‘yes’, by faith, and join others who journey with Christ Jesus, become a necessary part of that group.  We may feel quite insignificant as we go to church, worship and go home.  We’ve done nothing as a group . . .  we think.  Yet, simply by attending church we become a significant part of the community of Christ.  We have no idea the number of people we pass or sit next to or greet at the passing of the peace who remember us, our presence in the space we occupy as part of the larger crowd.  

Simply by being present, we are being used by God in ways we will never know.  Next time you attend church, look around you.  Do you see the same people sitting in your section?  Do you know even one?  If not, it does not matter.  They notice you . . . the space you are using . . . as part of their community.  They notice when you are NOT filling that space.

In small churches we know every person around us and find comfort sitting among certain friends.  We may take the exact seat each time we attend worship.  If a visitor has ‘taken our place’ and we must sit even one seat over, we feel uncomfortable.  Yet we are called to make the visitor comfortable and as purposeful as being ‘one more’ in this tight community. 

In large churches we think we can melt into the crowd but others notice and may want to make us feel comfortable or may invite us to become part of a smaller group in the church.  No matter how invisible we choose to be, the Lord desires for us to be visible to one another, to take up ‘space’, to add to the fullness of God’s purpose . . .  in that moment . . .  in that place.  We may never know our purpose but God does.  Our Lord has a very definite purpose for all of us who may feel like a Matthias.


Next time you attend worship, make note of those who sit around you.
Each week make a mental note of any changes.
For the most part, you are part of a microcosm of community within community.
Make a point of getting to know these people who sit closest to you, especially that one in the wheelchair on the aisle.

After all, we are all apostles in Christ, called to share our love of the Lord with others.  
Begin with those who surround your ‘space.’


PAUSEShrove Tuesday is a moveable feast day determined by Easter.  The expression “Shrove" comes from the word “shrive,” meaning “absolve.” Shrove Tuesday is observed by many Christians who choose to make special preparation before Lent.  The first step is to clean the cupboards of rich foods like eggs and oils and tasty treats.  Another term for this time of using up all our ‘goodies’ is Fat Tuesday, when we use up the ‘fats’ in the kitchen.  Some churches remember this day by offering a pancake supper.  By Wednesday, we will have used up all our rich foods and we will be ready to receive ashes to remind us that “We are but dust and to dust we shall return.”
     And so Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, begins a period of  self-examination, of considering what wrongs we need to repent, and what areas of spiritual growth we need to enhance.  We may let go of certain foods but it is more important to create more space for God’s presence to fill us to overflowing.  Shrove Tuesday begins a season of 'letting go,' the season of Lent.

2-25 Shrove Tuesday
Proverbs 30:1-4,24-33; Psalm 26,28,36,39; Philippians 3:1-11; John 18:28-38
Philippians 3:5-11  Paul continues, “Circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the
tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 
       Yet, whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ.  More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.  For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness of God based on faith.  I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.”

This is typical Paul.  
His testimony is powerful.  
He does not mince words.  
Paul does not make excuses for his past but states the facts.  It’s like he is saying, “This is who I was and this is who I am today.  Tomorrow is up to God.”  
Paul tells the world for generations to come that, no matter our past, God forgives us when we turn to Him through His Son, by faith, and willingly let go of our sins for the sake of being one with Christ Jesus.  

Paul’s past is exemplary as a Pharisee but he was pointed in the wrong direction .  God knew Paul’s potential and knew he would be a powerhouse for spreading the Good News of the New Covenant, Jesus Christ.  God showed Paul that becoming a Christian, a Christ follower, is the natural ‘next step’ for this Hebrew of Hebrews.  In turn, Paul would share with every Jew he met, and then with every gentile who was open, that Jesus, the Christ, is the ‘next step’ in their journey of faith in God.

Think about it:  Paul’s story is our story.  
We may have lived an exemplary life according to how we knew life to be at one time.  
Then something happened, perhaps not quite as dramatic as what happened to Paul.  
Yet, something or someone turned our focus toward  God, through His Son.  Somehow, our lives changed in such a way that we are willing to loose everything to gain Christ Jesus as Lord.

Today is the last day to revel in the abundance that surrounds us.  
It’s the last day we are distracted by indulgences we take for granted.  
Tomorrow is a special day of repentance and the beginning of our desert walk.  
Like Paul, we are called to ‘assess the condition’ of our spiritual life:
      How far have we come in our walk with God?  
      How and when did we turn our face to see Jesus as Lord more clearly than ever before?  
What have we lost . . .  or gained . . .  by doing so?  
Where do we need to cut back in order to make room for the Presence of God to seep more deeply into our soul?  
What do we add to the newly emptied space in our soul that will draw us into the righteousness of Christ Jesus.  
In Pennsylvania, Fashnachts are made especially for  Shrove Tuesday.
How do we live a resurrected life on this earth, being not of this world but remaining in this world?  
What steps do we need to take to come closer to being ‘all in’ for Christ?
How far have we come and how far must we go to be content in all things, to have that peace that surpasses all understanding?  
What will we want to learn during these days of fasting from all the ‘extras’ we have indulged in over this past year?  
Show us, Lord, how to be more like you.
Direct our path as we journey more closely with you.

These are heavy questions to ponder, to mull over, to chew on.
We have plenty of time if we make space to wander with Jesus . . . to listen . . . to ponder . . .  and to journal what we hear from Him in our heart.
When we ‘shrive,’ the Lord will absolve us as we sweep our personal indulgences away.
But, on this Shrove Tuesday, have a blast and celebrate as you clean the ‘cupboards’ of your soul.
Lent does not start until tomorrow!


PAUSE: Traditionally, the three Lenten practices of prayer, fasting and alms-giving help us to focus on the great commandment that Jesus gave us.  As we clear away excess and take extra time to seek ways to  “Love the
Lord, thy God with all our heart, soul and mind,” we are better able to seek new ways to “love our neighbor as ourselves.”  May we gain new insights in our personal walk with our Lord, Jesus Christ, during this season of Lent.  [Taken from a longer explanation that will begin our March Meditations.]

2-26  Ash Wednesday
Joel 2:1-2,12-17 or Isaiah 58:1-12; Psalm 103; 2 Corinthians 5:20b—6:10; 
Matthew 6:1-6,16-21
Matthew 6:3  “When you give to the poor do not let your left hand from your right hand.  :6 When you pray, go into your inner room and pray to your Father who is in secret and who sees what is done in secret.  he will reward you.  Do not use endless repetition but pray . . .  :17 When you fast anoint your head and wash your face . . .  your Father knows.  :20-:21 Store up treasures in heaven for  where your treasure is there will your heart be also.”

“This is the day the Lord has made.  Let us rejoice and be glad!”  Rejoice? 
Wait a minute.  That’s not in today’s scripture.
That's right but it is what we should be doing daily.

We have experienced much revelry before this long ‘fast’ from fun.  After all, it is the day after all the Mardi Gras celebrations are over.  It’s the day after we ate too many Fashnachts if we live in Pennsylvania [yummy potato donuts without holes].  It’s the day after that pancake supper when we shared the last of the eggs and oil and fancy toppings with our church friends.

Today is a very special day to give thanks to the Lord even if we might feel a bit undone.
It’s Ash Wednesday, a time to step back, humble ourselves and begin our time in the desert with Jesus.  We hear the words, "You are dust, and to dust you shall return," as ashes are placed on the forehead for all to see.  The ashes remind us that we are mere mortals who are here on this earth for a short time, to fulfill God's purpose, not our own.  If we choose to say 'Yes' and follow God's only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, we will eternally reap God's reward.

It’s a time to ‘assess conditions’ of our heart and soul.  
It’s a time to experience some new way to connect with our Lord.
It’s a time to ‘fast’ from those indulgences we keep wanting to drop.
It’s a time to ‘feast’ on scripture reading, prayer and reflection.
It’s a time to stop, listen, wait and receive a new direction from God.
It’s a time to mend that which is spiritually broken within us.
It’s a time to give alms to the needy and give ourselves in service . . .  only after we have taken a long time-out to spend valuable time pondering our own life in Christ.

This passage in Matthew gives us direction.  
Give without calculation.  Just give.
Don’t be a pharisee and prance your piety before others.  Just hide in your special place each day, and listen, praise, give thinks, receive . . .  take time with Jesus.
Look your best and keep that positive attitude that draws people into the love of Christ.  
Receive . . . Give . . . Love.

Think about it:  You may not attend a church that puts ashes on your forehead for you to wear all day but it is a very humbling experience.  The passage in Matthew says, “Don’t ‘wear’ your prayer and fasting for all to see.”  

Sometimes I wonder if I am doing just that when I walk into the grocery store after the noon service with a smudge on my forehead.  Yet, it does humble me.  Only a small number of people even attend church on this day so the ‘smudge’ on the forehead might be thought of as a Hindu practice.  Oh well.  

For the few who know what the smudge stands for, perhaps my humble attempt at serving the Lord with
gladness will get them thinking.  Maybe they will quiet their strident voice for a few minutes, knowing they are in the midst of one who believes in Christ Jesus.  Perhaps others will feel the need to return to their own denomination and join a prayer group.  Perhaps others will at least ‘google’ what this day is all about if they are bewildered.

What are you doing to make this a memorable beginning of your desert walk?
Perhaps you will begin fasting from something that you know in your heart has become excessive.  It does not have to be food.  We are blessed with so many options of excess in this country that you have much from which to choose.

The point is to simply make a statement to yourself, deep in your soul, how you will make these next six weeks of cleansing and listening and giving extra special.
On a 3 X 5 card write three daily reminders of this special period of time. 
 1.) I will try my best to read scripture and listen to what the Lord tells me as I pray about what I read - 15 minutes
2.) I will ‘fast’ from  . . . . . . .. .  in order to open more space for Jesus’ love and direction.
3.) I will give of my time and even some funds to . . . . . .. . ..  outside of my regular service and giving.
You may be surprised by what happens each day.
Tuck your daily surprises into your journal.
Get excited.
God is working!

2-27  Habakkuk 3:1-18; Psalm 37; Philippians 3:12-21; John 17:1-8
Philippians 3:13-14  “Forgetting what lies behind and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. :20-21  For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we wait for our savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory.” 

Paul is ready for a new life.  He has been redeemed by the “blood of the Lamb.”  God invited him into His eternal presence and Paul is more than ready to journey into the arms of the Lord.  Paul considers his past life like ‘ash’ in the wind.  All has been consumed by Godly fire as the Holy Spirit scatters his old life into nothingness.  Just as the Lord, through confession of sin, no longer remembers Paul’s sin, so also, Paul is willing to ‘forget what lies behind’ as he looks ahead in his new journey with Christ.

Paul tried to bolt ahead of God’s plan for him and began preaching to others almost immediately after his conversion.  If it were not for the sake of a handful of devout Christ followers who whisked Paul away and sent him home to Tarsus, we would not have the guidance for our walk with Jesus that we have today.  

Paul did not really hide for nearly four years, he grew.  He took time to stop, listen, wait, listen some more, and apply all his knowledge as a Pharisee of pharisees, to his desire to know the Lord.  Only when Barnabas came to him and told him it was time to begin his ministry, did Paul return to Israel to preach and teach and journey to far-away places that most needed to hear the Gospel of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Paul was proud to be a Roman citizen since Tarsus, where he was from, was a haven for retired Roman soldiers.  He was also a proud Jew, well versed in Greek, the language of the day, Hebrew, the language of his ancestors, and Aramaic, the spoken language of Israel.   He was a well-healed citizen.  Yet, these credentials would become ‘ash’ as he was now a ‘citizen’ of heaven, on earth.

Think about it:  Our old life is but ash, dust, compared to our new life in Christ.
That’s what yesterday, Ash Wednesday, was all about.  We received a smudge of ash, in the shape of a Cross, on our foreheads which many of us wore throughout the day.  

We put our life into perspective.  All we are is a bunch of dust, glued together by God’s command with a shell of skin that protects us from the elements.  We are but dust and to dust we shall return, eventually.  In the mean time, having confessed our sin against God and embracing His very presence, we have the opportunity to press into the Goal for the grand prize.  The prize for our ‘holy’ life means gaining more understanding of our relationship with the Lord, as we are directed by Him according to the purpose for ministry to others He has given each of us

We have the option to ‘press in,’ to dig more deeply into our journey with Christ Jesus, or not.  It’s up to us. It’s up to us to dust ourselves off, spend some time away from our crowded schedule each day, and renew our soul.  As we walk into these next several weeks of Lent, let us be mindful of this great gift we have - new life that will never wither away.  Our life with Christ replaces the ‘ash’ of purposelessness, self-focus, ingratitude, pride, greed and so much more that comes from being mortal.

Take a moment to stop, breathe deep, ask the Lord what you are to ‘dust off’ from your life today.  
Focus on Him through prayer and song throughout the day.  

At the end of the day, ask yourself if that pesky, bothersome sin has become but dust through the work of Jesus Christ, not through your own effort.
When we focus on the love and grace and gifts God gives us through His Son, He will do the work.  

All we have to do is give our dusty selves to Him.


2-28 Ezekiel 18:1-4,25-32; Psalm 31,35,95; Philippians 4:1-9; John 17:9-19
Philippians 4:4  Rejoice in the Lord, always; again I say, rejoice! 
:6 Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God.  :8 . . .  whatsoever is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good repute . . .  if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, dwell in these things . . .  practice these things and the God of peace will be with you.

During this season of Lent, a time of austerity, do not
present yourself to others as ‘suffering’ because you chose to ‘fast’ from one food or habit.  
Living with ‘one less’ should become a lifetime habit.  
As we grow in Christ, we should naturally drop habits along the way.  
Lent is just a wonder-full excuse to drop one more item on God’s list that gives us one less minute with the Lord.
So, REJOICE in the fact that you are willing to live with ‘one less’.
REJOICE that you chose to live a life focused on Jesus.
REJOICE that you have so many choices left on your plate.
REJOICE that you have a forever companion to walk with you through your very daily challenges.
REJOICE that our Lord and Savior will never leave us not foresake us.
REJOICE!

The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to Christians who had good reason to deal with anxiety.  They did not have the luxuries we have today in America.  Most were oppressed by rulers who worshipped idols.  Just taking care of daily chores, feeding the family, paying the exceptionally high taxes and staying well kept most people overly busy in those days.  Yet, aqueducts brought running water.  Sanitation was well thought out.  Roman rule through this region was strict but the roads were paved for easier transportation.  Commerce was good as tradesmen used those roads to travel from city to city.  The rugged, hilly land was perfect for sheep herding.  Small fields could be etched out of the rocky soil to grow olives and plant vineyards, two mainstays of any household of the day.

Today, millions of people around the world live one day at a time.  They may face the same challenges that were present in Jesus’ day.  Their very lives may be in peril as enemies surround them, ready to kidnap or kill them at any moment. Yet, they must find ways to survive and thrive every single day.  Anxiety comes with the package of being human.  Yet, Paul gave some very good advice to follow daily.

“Don’t worry, be happy,” say the words to an old song.  Easier said than done.
Only when we bring our anxious thoughts to the Lord and pour out our worries to the One who gives us life, can we begin to release our burdens, that baggage that weighs us down and dis-ables us from retaining the JOY of our salvation.
It’s a daily practice.
Life piles on us.  Health issues weigh us down.  Not feeling well hinders a happy heart.  Finances, family issues, the daily drudge can be overwhelming.
Yet, casting all our anxiety at the foot of the Cross can help us to overcome our messy life with a new perspective.

Think about it:  This is the time to make a new habit of Gratitude in all things.
In order to dwell in a cloud of gratitude, we must lay our
worries at the foot of the Cross. 
Throughout each day, talk to God who can help calm those fears at any moment.
Ask the Lord to turn anxious thoughts into positive words of gratitude even when your situation seems dire.
The only way we can retain that ‘attitude of gratitude’ is to:
Dwell on that which is worthy of praise!
Practice what is honorable, 
Seek excellence in all things.
In doing so, we learn to focused on the ‘good’ parts of a bad situation.  
We eventually see a ‘good’ outcome that may loom far ahead.  

Jesus can lead us, one step at a time, out of this anxious time into His loving arms.
Invite Jesus to walk with you throughout each day.
Ask our Lord to journey with you through your cavernous labyrinth of concerns.

Journal THREE reasons to be grateful each day.  
Date each entry.  
Every month review your list.  
Evaluate how you feel . . . a little less anxious?  . . .  a little more grateful?
It takes practice.
BTW, during these raw, gray days wear a colorful clothing item that makes you happy . . . and brings a smile to others.  A colorful belt, tie or scarf may be all you need.  
Start today!


2-29  Ezekiel 39:21-29; Psalm 30,32,42,43; Philippians 4:10-20; John 17:20-16
Ezekiel 39:22  “The house of Israel will know I am the Lord, thy God  :24  I dealt with them according to their uncleanness and their transgressions and hid My face from them. :25 Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and the whole house of Israel. . ." :27-28
"When I have brought them back . . .  then they shall know that I am the Lord, thy God, because I made them go into exile and then gathered them into their own land.  :29 I will never hide my face from them, when I pour out my Spirit on the House of Israel,” says the Lord God.

Ezekiel is called a ‘major’ prophet because this book that comes after Isaiah and Jeremiah is almost as long as these fellow prophets.  The only difference between ‘major’ and ‘minor’ prophet is the length of the book.  This is a reasonable assumption because each prophet, no matter how little or how much God used them, is a messenger of God.  God gave each prophet a mighty work to accomplish.  
        Whether their life was long or short, tangled in a web of intrigue or just plain hard, each was faithful to send forth the words given to them by God.  In fact, Ezekiel was given words on a scroll in which God told him to eat them.  He ‘digested’ the devastating words that he would be destined to ‘call out’ to his people, those who made choices that would separate God’s people from their covenant relationship with Him . . .  for a time.

Ezekiel, a priest, was commissioned by God in 593 BC, a few years after being sent to Babylon in 597 BC with all the other exiles from Israel.  God told Ezekiel to speak only the words God would give him, and he did so until about 571 BC.   Ezekiel spewed forth words of God’s anger toward a people who repeatedly turned against God in horrific ways.  
       It’s as if God's chosen people saw pagan life to be far easier than following the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  They would learn in their captivity that their God is a jealous God, One who expects total attention in return for grace-filled, merciful, covenant relationship with Him.

And so, mixed in with the ungodly were many Godly
priests, prophets, and faithful who yearned for restored relationship with God.  They followed all the practices they could in captivity but they could not worship properly.  There was no temple. Offering sacrifice was a bloody mess to the Babylonians but a sweet incense onto God.  The Hebrew people, although treated well and allowed to prosper, were denied proper space outside this pristine city to effectively offer sacrifice.  God’s people yearned for the One whom they had ignored and even blasphemed by their actions . . .  and non-actions.

So, God’s chosen people returned from Babylon with a new focus on God, and affirmed by the Lord, thy God, that because of their actions of repentance and changed hearts, this will never happen again.  Their hard hearts changed dramatically over these years of exile.  Once they understood the mercy and grace of God during the years they were not allowed to worship, they craved the time they would be able to worship God in the manner of their ancestors.  
    God knew their hearts and chose to pour out His spirit as an affirmation that His chosen people had come home to Him.  God promised never to hide His face from His people again.  There were other ways God would get the attention of His beloved people.

Think about it:  We take our Christian faith for granted at times, don’t we.
We might attend church but then we break our Lord’s heart by seeking perspective through horoscopes, palm
readers or other sorcerers who draw us away from our trust in the One who died for us, Jesus Christ.  
We think our innocent minute or two scanning pagan sources does us no harm.  
Think again.  
Why not seek the Lord’s perspective by reading some scripture for a few minutes or by asking the Lord to direct your path when you may not choose which direction is best for you?

We have every opportunity to enjoy life, be fulfilled at every turn, set goals that fill us with pleasure and beauty.  We are blessed.  
Give God the glory and keep moving forward.  
Read that fun book, go to that enticing movie, take that trip you’ve been saving for the past year.  
EnJOY life!  
Just give all the glory to God.

During this time of exile, God’s people learned to say, “Thank you,” for simple blessings.  Each acknowledgment of God’s small blessings became their act of worship.  They lived without making sacrifice of burnt offering yet they sacrificed simple pleasures every day.

Are you in ‘Exile’ from the presence of the Lord?  
Have you let go of daily habits that draw you into His presence?
Do you worship the Lord in Christian community on a regular basis or do you sometimes say you are too tired?
Do you fellowship weekly with other Christians whom you are able to affirm and who affirm your purpose and journey with Jesus or do you choose to ignore this need?
Perhaps you are a leader.
Have you used words of encouragement to draw one more into the arms of the Lord, to attend a weekly worship service and then a growth group?

Lent is a time to evaluate how much attention we give and receive from the Lord.
Lent is also a time to draw others into God’s Holy Circle by paying close attention to at least one person, 
by praying for and with at least one person, 
by showing acts of kindness with just one person.
        Make a list of those in your circle of influence.
Ask the Lord who on this list you should focus on first and encourage into the Lord’s presence more deeply.
        Daily, ask the Lord how to Pray for those on your list.  Wait, listen, step out in faith with an acts of kindness for each person as the Lord directs.
      Take notes regarding what happens with you and with those on your list.
You may be the ‘prophet’ God called to draw those people out of exile into the loving arms of Christ.

That’s exciting!