A WORD FROM OUR PASTOR…
March is marching right along folks, and this Sunday don’t forget to spring those clocks forward. Just remember that everyone will be losing that hour of sleep, so we are all in the same boat on this. Drink an extra cup of coffee or whatever is your caffeine fix of choice and join us for worship Sunday.
Here are three things for your weekend…
1. Worship keeps us spiritually centered and energized. I have been listening to a great live album by Brandon Lake. It is called “House of Miracles (Live).” I encourage you to add this to your playlist. Here are three tunes you will want on repeat: “Gratitude,” “Show Me Your Glory,” and “”When the Glory’s In the Room.” Click here to listen on Apple Music.
2. We have officially entered the Lenten season as of last night with our Ash Wednesday service. (I am writing on Thursday morning.) Lent is the 40-day period of reflection, repentance, and spiritual preparation leading up to Easter. There are actually 46 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter. The six Sunday’s are excluded since they are “Little Easter” celebrations and a reminder that Christ rose from the dead on the first day of the week – Sunday.
The 40 days of Lent remind Christ-followers of the 40 days and nights that Jesus was in the wilderness of Jericho (Matthew 4:2), the 40 days and nights of the flood with Noah (Genesis 7:12), the 40 days and nights that Moses met with the Lord to receive the 10 Commandments (Exodus 24:18), the 40 days and nights that Moses interceded on Israel’s behalf after they made the golden calf (Deuteronomy 9:18), the 40 days and nights that Elijah fled from Jezebel after defeating the false prophets on Mt Carmel (1 Kings 19:8), and Jonah’s prophecy from the Lord that caused Nineveh to put on sackcloth and ashes for 40 days (Jonah 3:4-6).
I invite you to use the season of Lent to give up at least one thing. Here are some good examples: caffeine, meats, sweets, alcohol, smoking, carbs, social media, TV, news, complaining, and gossip. I also invite you to take up at least one thing. Here are some good examples: reading God’s word every day, praying the Lord’s prayer or following the ACTS model – adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication (Our men use this model on Wednesday mornings at 7:00 a.m.), being a better tipper, writing a letter of encouragement and appreciation every day, doing a random act of kindness every day or starting and ending every day with prayer. Whether you use the season of Lent to repent like Nineveh, travel like Elijah, intercede like Moses, meet with God like Moses, trust in God like Noah, I pray that it prepares you to be more like Jesus and live as lived – serving others with your life.
3. Reliving the Passion sermon series begins this Sunday. This series will help us to journey with Christ from Bethany to Jerusalem following the narrative in Mark 14-15. It will be a deep dive into these chapters to better appreciate Christ’s passion and death so we can experience once again the joy of resurrection life on Easter Sunday!
I hope to see you Sunday as we start the journey to Jerusalem!
Jimmy