Do You Have Something to Give Up for Lent?
Posted On: March 02, 2018
The fact that my Catholic friends had to give up decent food in Lent always seemed to me to be one more good reason to be a Protestant. (Photo: I expect that the Lent Promo at the Luby’s in Kerrville is much better than my elementary school’s cafeteria rations.)
But, in the past fifteen years or so, I’ve sometimes decided to join my Catholic sisters and brothers in giving up something during Lent. This means, depending on how you count the days of Lent, fasting from something for about six weeks. (Officially in the Western world, Lent comprises the days from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday, the day before Easter. But many traditions do not count the Sundays during this period as belonging to Lent. Thus Lent covers 46 days, but only 40 days belong to the Lenten fast.)
People in my theological tradition (the Reformed tradition, pioneered by John Calvin) tend not to emphasize Lenten fasting. Partly this had to do with the conscious rejection of Roman Catholic practices that were not clearly based on Scripture. Lent is not prohibited in Scripture. But it isn’t taught there either. One can be a faithful, biblical Christian and never recognize Lent. So, in days gone by, many Reformed folk and other Protestants who wanted to make the season before Easter special in some way, chose instead to add a spiritual discipline to their lives as a way of preparing for Easter. It’s quite common today for churches that don’t have midweek Bible studies, for example, to offer a Lenten Wednesday Evening Study or something like this. Special Lenten spiritual retreats are also increasingly common in Protestant in addition to Roman Catholic circles.
But fasting still plays a prominent role in Lenten practices of many Christians across the denominational and theological spectrum. Throughout church history there have been different kinds of Lenten fasts. Nobody, to my knowledge, expected anyone to give up all food for the whole season. In the Middle Ages it was common for Christians to give up certain sorts of food, like meat and/or dairy products, for example. This explains why, in my youth, Catholics abstained from meat on the Fridays of Lent. Many Catholics still observe this discipline. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Lenten fast is taken even more seriously than in the Roman Catholic church, with many Orthodox folk eating vegetarian meals during the season.
In recent years I have sometimes given up something in Lent, perhaps chocolate or watching television. The latter was particularly hard because I enjoy college basketball, and March Madness (the NCAA bastketball tournament) always falls in the middle of Lent. This year I have decided to give up something I enjoy. I’ve also adopted an additional daily spiritual discipline. It don’t think it would be appropriate for me to speak in detail about what I’m doing at this time. But I would like to share some reflections on what I’ve been learning through my version of a Lenten fast.
What I’ve Learned by Fasting During Lent
First, giving up something allows me to make a tangible sacrifice to the Lord. Although certain sacrifices are already present in my life, they’re sort of “built in” at this point. I don’t often experience giving up something for God on a daily basis. The act of sacrifice reminds me of my commitment to God and my desire to make him first in my life.
Second, by giving up something I usually enjoy on a daily basis, I have sometimes found myself yearning for that thing. Frankly, I’ve been tempted to give up my Lenten fast at times. I could easily argue that it’s unnecessary (it is optional, after all) and certainly not taught in Scripture. But, though I don’t think my effort at fasting makes God love or bless me more, I do think it raises my awareness of how much I depend on other things in life rather than the Lord. I see how easy it is for me to set up all sorts of little idols in my life. Fasting, in some way, helps me surrender my idols to God.
Third, when I give up something I like and then feel an unquenched desire for it, I’m reminded of my neediness as a person. And neediness, I believe, is at the heart of true spirituality. Jesus said:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. . . .
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Matthew 5:3, 6
Of course feeling hungry for one of life’s pleasures isn’t quite the same as hungering and thirsting for righteousness. But when I feel my hunger, when I sense my neediness for some other thing, I can use this to get in touch with my hunger and need for God.
Fourth, as I continue with my Lenten fast, I find myself less eager for the thing I’ve given up. Ironically, this makes my fast easier. It’s almost something I can take for granted, thus dulling the spiritual impact of the fast. But I’m also gratified to know that one of my little “idols” is being set aside in my heart, as I learn to depend more upon God. I’m experiencing a bit of freedom that makes me gladly thankful for God’s grace at work in me.
Written by: by Rev. Dr. Mark D. Roberts
What is Lent?
Posted On: February 13, 2018
What is Lent?
For some Christians, Lent has always been a part of their spiritual life, but for others it is unfamiliar. Lent is a season leading up to Easter, a time when Christians have historically prepared their hearts for Easter with reflection, repentance, and prayer. Lent begins with Ash Wednesday and proceeds for forty days, excluding Sundays, and culminating with Good Friday and Holy Saturday. Since Sundays are weekly celebrations of the resurrection of Jesus, the six Sundays in Lent are not counted as part of the forty-day season, which focuses on introspection, self examination, and repentance. Many Christians choose to celebrate a fast throughout the season of Lent, but the focus is not on depriving themselves of something as much as it is on devoting themselves to God and his purposes in the world.
Lent is an important season of the church year. The church year is an excellent way to help focus our attention on God with the way we organize our time. Rather than following the solar calendar's more familiar structure, organized by the rhythms of nature, the church calendar is organized around God and his activity in the world. The church calendar follows six seasons of varying length: Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost. Each of these seasons have different focuses: Advent focuses on the anticipation of God's coming into the world, both in the incarnation and in Christ's return. Christmas focuses on the birth of Christ. Epiphany focuses on the light of God's presence shining in the world. Lent focuses on human sin and God's gracious solution. Easter focuses on resurrection life. Pentecost focuses on the ongoing activity of the Holy Spirit in the world. The annual rhythm of these seasons can have a powerful effect on personal and communal spiritual growth.**
Begin the Lent season today by reflecting on God’s grace in your life and the areas you need His grace to manifest. We would love to hear from you today @ [email protected]
**Devotion taken from www.youversion.com
Unless the Lord Builds the House
Posted On: January 25, 2018
Imagine that a contractor comes to you and tells you that they want to build for you a house with unimaginable splendor and glory. Not only will he build the house for you He has promised to pay all of the costs. God has done this for YOU! The house came at no easy cost, but He sacrificed His own Son so that you may have every blessing. Although the builder will build the house, He has asked for your help, for you to come alongside Him and do His will. He will strengthen you to do His will and give you all that you need.
All the builder requires of you is obedience. Although obedience sounds like an easy task, your flesh will resist it. You will want to do good to satisfy the builder, but the good you will want to do, you won’t and the evil you desire to resist you will give into. Some of the complaints about the builder are His time schedule and how it is natural to wait on Him even though He is good and His plan is perfect. Another popular complaint about Him is that He is all glorious and humbles those that are lifted up, whereas in our natural state we love control and to be able to call the shots.
Despite our failure to wait on Him or submit humbly to His will, He is still faithful to build the house, not on any merit of our own, but because of what His Son has accomplished on our behalf. The Lord knows our weakness and insufficiency. He is a patient and loving Father whose mercy endures forever. Even though you don't deserve it, He always delights in blessing you. How much more that should motivate you to obedience and let HIM build your house.
Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; (Psalm 127:1)
5 Steps to Finding Your Testimony!
Posted On: January 12, 2018
"Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee."Mark 5:19
"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death" Revelation 12:11.
There is power in our testimony! The more you share it, the more the Lord can use your story to help others.
But, sometimes it is hard to express your testimony into words. Here are 5 steps to discovering your testimony.
- Thank the Lord for all He is done in your life so far. Creating a thankful heart is the first step to seeing all the goodness God has lavished on you.
- Reflect on all the incidents the Lord has come through for you. Dwell on His perfect timing, and how He always knows what is best for you.
- If you are having a difficult time thinking about the good things the Lord has done for you, ask Him to open your eyes to see His faithfulness in your life. The examples are there, but sometimes our attitudes need adjustment before we can see God’s work in our lives!
- Now, look at all the examples of God’s goodness in your life. See how He has changed the bad situations into good things of Him. Try to locate a theme amongst all of the examples. (His faithfulness, His unending blessings, His peace, His comfort, etc)
- Once you have found your story, begin sharing it to others! The more you share it, the more the Lord will allow you to see how He has used your life for the glory of God!
How has discovering your testimony been beneficial in your life? If you have not taken the time to discover it, what do you think is keeping you from finding it?
Embrace The Donkey In Your Life
Posted On: December 20, 2017
Mary and Joseph left Nazareth and began their journey to Bethlehem riding on a donkey. It would take a week or so to reach the launching place of Jesus Christ life and ministry.
I have pondered all day, “what was Mary thinking?” as she rode mile after mile on the hard and rocky terrain… on the smelly, sweaty donkey.
As the donkeys foot would slip or hit a rock Mary would have to reach down and clinch the neck of the donkey….when she was tired she would put her cheek on the head of the smelly, sweaty donkey.
MARY HAD TO EMBRACE THE DONKEY IN HER LIFE TO REACH THE LAUNCHING PLACE OF JESUS LIFE AND MINISTRY!!
So what or who are the donkeys in your life that God is using to walk you into your destiny? An unsaved husband, an unfair boss, unemployment, a child with a life-long disability? Whatever or whoever are the donkey’s in your life, EMBRACE THE DONKEY!!
I am not suggesting you “live with” the situation, not at all! You embrace Your Donkey by faith. You keep walking but you do it by faith and here are some suggestions:
1. Embrace Your Donkey
2. Rid Yourself of Unforgiveness and Doubt
3. Confess God’s Word and Trust in God as Mary did, “According to thy Word” Luke 1:38
4. Keep Walking Towards Your Destiny Until You Reach It!!
THE DONKEY IN YOUR LIFE IS WALKING YOU INTO YOUR DESTINY!! EMBRACE IT!!
The Power of Thanksgiving
Posted On: November 19, 2017
The Power in Thanksgiving
The giving of thanks implies one has received something. When it comes to giving thanks to God it is often a pre-thanks before we have possessed the thing for which we are grateful. At such times our thanksgiving demonstrates we have possessed the unpossessed. Through communion with God and His word, we see things not yet seen. God’s faith gift enables us to suddenly know what we have not previously known, and thus, thanksgiving is our uncalculated response; becoming our highest expression of faith. What power this wields over all the methods and devices of Satan. The giving of thanks also carries us through the often difficult season between receiving, and physically seeing. It keeps us in the place of initial enlightenment from God’s heart to ours.
Some of God’s benefits, for which we are thankful, are promised; some are accomplished. There is a difference. For example, God has already accomplished our salvation in Christ Jesus. We receive His accomplished work.
Promised
Romans 8:32 NLT
Since he [God] did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?
Accomplished
Colossians 1:13 NLT
...he [God] has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son,
Thanksgiving is far more than a mere uttering of an obligatory “Thank you.”, but rather, an actual offering from the heart of the recipient. By the giving of thanks our faith collides with every circumstance, every doubt, every point of resistance, every fear. Our greatest expression of faith is our giving of thanks to our Father.
I close with these reminders.
Philippians 4:6 AMP
6 Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 AMP
Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will].
Author: John Gann
