My Lenten Journey

We're halfway through the Lenten season so I thought it would be a good time for me to reflect on what God has been teaching me. For Lent this year I felt God calling me to consider giving up stuff. I try not to get too caught up in materialism but it's so easy to put our enjoyments, pleasure and trust in THINGS instead of GOD.

Inspired by Jen Hatmaker's idea in one of the chapters of the book 7, I decided to give 5 items away every day during Lent. (If there was ever something of mine you really wanted, now would be a great time to ask for it!) In addition, I would not do any shopping (other than groceries). It can be really easy for most Americans to give our old things away because we just go out and buy something new to replace it. But giving away 200 items during the course of Lent meant I had to move past giving away old clothes that don't fit and household items I no longer use to some nicer items that "I might need some day" or "Could fetch a nice price on eBay."  And not being able to replace what I had given away meant trusting God to provide for my needs. And learning to distinguish between wants and true needs. Not only is it biblical to help the widow and orphan but it also just feels good to be generous with your friends and neighbors. In addition it has helped me stay in tune with the Spirit and God's promptings to give to people I encounter on a daily basis.

Then at church yesterday - the entire service revolved around this Lenten theme. What a deep, refreshing time of worshiping our Lord and Savior. Here are some of the highlights:

Keep Me Abiding by Jeremy Riddle
May Your voice be louder
May Your voice be clearer
Than all the others, than all the others

May Your face be dearer
May Your words be sweeter
Than all the others
Than all the others in my life

Please keep my eyes fixed on You
Please root my heart so deep in You
Keep me abiding, keep me abiding
Keep me abiding that I
Oh, that I might bear fruit

May Your presence be truer
May Your presence be nearer
Than all the others, than all the others

May Your light shine brighter
May Your love move deeper
Than all the others
Than all the others in my life


Isaiah 55: 1-9
“Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and you will delight in the richest of fare.
Give ear and come to me;
listen, that you may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
my faithful love promised to David.
See, I have made him a witness to the peoples,
a ruler and commander of the peoples.
Surely you will summon nations you know not,
and nations you do not know will come running to you,
because of the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel,
for he has endowed you with splendor.”

Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call on him while he is near.
Let the wicked forsake their ways
and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.

An excerpt from The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis (this is when Jill first meets Aslan):
“I daren't come and drink," said Jill.
Then you will die of thirst," said the Lion.
Oh dear!" said Jill, coming another step nearer."I suppose I must go and look for another stream then."
There is no other stream," said the Lion.”

My Sermon Notes 
  1. We look to THINGS other than Jesus to make us whole. But there is no other healing, living stream.
  2. Seek God above all else.
  3. What muddy water are we settling for in our lives?
  4. Are we willing to turn from these things and seek instead from the one who said, "Come to me and drink."
May your Lenten journey be one of constantly seeking the face of God, drawing close to Him, and sharing His love with all your meet. God's blessings, Alicia

Comments

  1. Love your willingness to follow where the Lord leads you!
    You are faithful and obedient (even when you get B&BW coupons in the mail)!
    What a blessing this Lent season will be for you - a time of trust and growth!
    God bless you, my friend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Shannon. You and your family have been such a blessing in my life. Can't imagine Snow Ave without you all!

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  2. Beautiful, Alicia! There is nothing more powerful than to see the Holy Spirit moving in one another's lives. Thank you for bearing witness to all of us who are in your life.

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  3. Thanks, Silence. Been so good to "do life together". Looking forward to seeing you when you are back in town.

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