Lenten Reflection - February 29, 2008

“They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.” - Mark 6:47-56

Reflection by Charles McClunin

What does it take to know that 'You Know God'? In Jesus’ time the people could talk and listen to him, observe his actions and question his intentions, be spellbound by his miracles. It was a 'hands-on' experience that left those fortunate enough to witness these events so much more ready to 'Jump on the Band-wagon' and follow him—no questions asked! Today, I envy those witnesses from long ago; you see, I'm like Thomas; I want to put my hand in his wounds but I can't, so I go thru life with the knowledge that his life is my GPS which directs my route and corrects my wrong turns. As long as I do not turn him off and BELIEVE in his guidance, I know I will reach my intended destination.

Lenten Reflection - February 28, 2008

“They all ate and were satisfied.” - Mark 6:30-46

Reflection by Earl Buffalo

We have all heard the story—5 loaves and 2 fish to feed 5000 people. How is this possible? Do you believe it?

When confronted by these miraculous events, our own sensibilities are put to the test. When we look at the ministry of Jesus, we are continually asked to suspend judgment and to trust what we are told. The blind regain sight, the lame walk, water is turned to wine, and the greatest miracle of all - the dead are raised. How does one resolve the questions about miraculous events? How can they be explained? In a word—faith.

Faith is the power to believe without having seen, to trust in, and to simply accept the Word of God. Given our own rational thought processes and philosophical nature, skepticism and disbelief abound. After all, who wants to debate a miracle? How can you win that argument? How many of us carry doubts within us that keep us from proclaiming Christ as our Savior to our co-workers, friends and acquaintances? One of my favorite song lyrics’ reads “Faith is a burden. It’s brave and bittersweet. Hope is hard to hold to. Lord, I believe, only help my unbelief.”
Explaining or being able to debate miracles is not required. We don’t need to defend our faith. We simply need to nurture it and humbly ask that it be strengthened—“like a mustard seed waiting for some proof.”

Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.

Lenten Reflection - February 27, 2008

“Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light for my path. I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws.” - Psalm 119:97-120

Reflection by Calvert Steuart

Psalm 119 is bound together through 176 verses, as the most extensive poem of the Psalter, utilizing one central theme—praise of the law.

Verses 97 through 110 have a central theme of praise for God's law which sustains the reader. The law is praised, not as a restrictive set of requirements, burdensome upon the believer, but as a joy, as an inspiration, as law to be praised and joyfully followed, sustaining faith, protecting against persecution and trouble. The law is praised as a shelter and shield and as a delight to be joyfully followed.

Verse 105, "your word is a lamp to guide me and a light for my path," has been embodied in the 1984 Christian praise hymn by Amy Grant in its opening verse, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." This psalm praises God's law as God's will which sustains the believer through the dark hours and better times, always providing a guide to the Psalmist and by extension to each of us today.

Lenten Reflection - February 26, 2008

“Again and again they put God to the test; they vexed the Holy One of Israel. They did not remember his power—the day he redeemed them from the oppressor.” - Psalm 78:41-42

Reflection by Cathy Stasny

Psalm 78 is the story of the Israelite history from God bringing the Israelites out of Egypt to the time of Israel’s return to captivity. This Psalm reads like a good story, instructing the reader regarding what God expects from His people and what His people can expect of Him. The Psalm is the story of how God is good to His people but they were not always good to God in return. The overall theme is that God did wonderful deeds for His people but they did not obey Him. In addition, the Psalm stresses the importance of passing on from one generation to the next generation the story of God’s unconditional love for His people. The Psalm instructs that the family is responsible to teach its children about God’s love. Failing to teach our children is not an option according to God.

The theme of Psalm 78 is still fundamental today – we know that trusting in God and following His commandments is the right thing to do but…we do what we want, not what God would want us to do! As in the Psalm, today God wants us to keep His covenant; however, we fight against this. Why? Is it not easier to just obey the commandments? Yes, it can seem easier but we are strong willed and our minds tell us what is best for us. We seem to go along living our lives doing as we please; but the commandments are always in the back of our mind; yet we feel we know best. It may take a situation in our family or community that ‘wakes us up’ and reminds us that God is always good to us and we are called to obey Him.

Psalm 78 is as significant today as it was when written 700BC years before Christ was born. The Psalm was meant to be an instruction on how to act in our relationship with God and what our responsibilities as people of God are to this relationship. How we should act in our relationship with God and our responsibilities to God have not changed over these many centuries.

Lenten Reflection - February 25, 2008

“Daughter, your faith has healed you...Don’t be afraid, just believe.” - Mark 5:21-43

Reflection by Nancy Horkan

Two very different stories about two very different people—one a ruler in the synagogue, Jairus, and the other a poor woman whose name we don’t even know. One seeking healing for his dying 12- year old daughter and one sought help for her own 12-year infliction. One was bold enough to ask Jesus directly; the other indirectly by touching his garment. Two different stories; one message—ask and believe.

We may not be able to physically reach out and touch Jesus with our hands, but we can reach out and touch Him with our prayers. When we do so in faith, He always takes the time to listen and respond. This parable reminds us that sometimes Jesus strengthens our faith in Him by meeting someone else's needs first and letting us witness, learn and grow—just as Jesus stopped along the way to heal the woman while Jairus and the crowds witnessed. He shows us that we can take our personal needs or those of others to Him in whatever way works for us. Jesus is approachable in every circumstance.

What troubling things are going on in your life right now? What’s your fear? What’s your need? What’s your crisis? Take it to Jesus and don’t be afraid; just believe.

Lenten Reflection - February 24, 2008 - The Third Sunday of Lent

“So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.” - Romans 7:13-25

Reflection by Reverend Bob McCoy

“I try to be good, but sometimes I just can’t help myself.” I don’t remember which of our daughters said it or what the circumstances were. Most parents hear similar words from their offspring, but when we examine the statement in the light of our quotation from Paul’s letter to the Romans, we hear a different message. Each of us earnestly tries to obey God’s law, and each of us is frequently frustrated at our inability to ignore the temptations assaulting us from every side. Indeed, we “delight in God’s law,” but we also find many ways of delighting in the empty pleasures of the secular world.

Are we too hard on ourselves? Maybe, maybe not. God gave us pleasurable earthly pastimes for our enjoyment, so they can’t be all bad. Where we go astray is in what balance we achieve between the worldly and the holy. We know we shouldn’t devote every hour of our lives to fun and games, but we also should realize that we don’t have to spend all of our time with our noses to the spiritual grindstone. Even the most strictly cloistered monks find time to have fun.

What’s the right balance for you and me? That’s a good question for reflection during this Lenten season. If we are honest with ourselves, we will probably find that we need to change by God’s grace in some way. We might need to pray more. Maybe we will actually find that we have to play more.

Lenten Reflection - February 23, 2008

"One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life." - Psalm 27

Reflection by Michael Ryan

When I was younger and before I had done much Bible study, I thought this verse simply meant that we should all want to go to heaven, to live in the House of the Lord. It was only many years later that I began to take to heart the passage in Luke (17:21) that tells us that “the Kingdom of God is within you” and to recognize that these two ideas are connected in a very wonderful way. If with God’s Grace we can grasp the Kingdom of God within us, we can live in the House of the Lord right now! When I was in the hospital undergoing a serious operation, one of my nurses told me that every breath we take is a gift from God, and I was powerfully reminded once again to dwell “in the house of the Lord” not at some vague and later time, but now, today.

Lenten Reflection - February 22, 2008

“With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more.” - Mark 4:24-41

Reflection by Cindy Carrier

The pressures and temptations of today’s modern living make it difficult to take the time to appreciate the world around us as Jesus would want us to with generosity, tolerance, acceptance and love. I imagine that in the midst of people’s hectic daily schedules, it is easy to become caught up with cares and worries that deprive us of our spiritual growth and an intimate relationship with God. We find deepening our faith commitment very challenging. We need to remember that great things begin with tiny actions. The Kingdom will only grow with care and nourishment. We are not to retain God’s message within ourselves but to give it away and that same Message that has transformed our life will in turn influence someone else who will in turn influence another. If you doubt that such a glorious Kingdom could grow from such tiny beginnings, remember the mustard seed.

The disciples’ skepticism of faith is as evident today as it was in that little boat. Those kinds of miracles aren’t so apparent today. We have to look deeper and use our faith to know that they exist. This becomes difficult when the troubles of our life take us on, testing our faith. Jesus did not promise us calm waters in our journey of faith. He did promise to be with us. You do not need to see Him to know that He is there. A reminder of this is the song “Have You Seen Jesus My Lord?” Have you ever looked at the sunset? Have you ever stood at the ocean? Then you’ve seen Jesus, my friend. Ultimately, it is your own heart that determines your response to Christ and not His spectacular miracles.

Lenten Reflection - February 21, 2008

"But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter, 'Get behind me, Satan!' he said. ‘You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.’" - Mark 8:33

Reflection by Charlie Wolf

Peter often didn’t seem to get it! Perhaps the other disciples were similarly confused. Jesus had been letting all of them know—prophesizing—the fate that been assigned to Him.

Jesus was Peter’s friend, as He is to all of us who choose to acknowledge Him, but in this instance Peter failed to accept the divinity of Christ as well as the mission to mankind that had been assigned to Him. In his desire to appeal to the fully secular Jesus, he, in effect, was asking Christ to reject His divine mission.

Peter reacted in a purely human way. We, too, sometimes fail in this way.

God has let us know through His Word and His Son that He loves us. He’s always aware of our problems and He cares about them. But, how often do we implore Christ to show his love by concentrating on our earthly dilemmas. In our pleas we sometimes fail to remember that His last command to us, just before His ascension, was to go forth and make disciples of all men: to evangelize, to do God’s work. Our day-to-day tasks and problems are certainly important, but shouldn’t our first prayers have to do with showing our love for Him by having the strength and courage to work on the commission He’s given to us?

Jesus rebuked Peter, just as He rebuked Satan when Satan tempted Jesus after Jesus’ baptism. How often are we deserving of our own rebuke?

Lenten Reflection - February 20, 2008

“Then Jesus said, ‘He who has ears to hear, let him hear.’” - Mark 4:1-20

Reflection by Linda Dennis

Jesus preached using parables so that His followers might understand the meaning of His words and teachings. In Mark 4:1-20, He explained that His words are like seeds and asked the listeners, what do you do with these seeds of mine? Do they fall by the path only to be swept away by the devil? Do they fall into cracks in the rocks where there is no opportunity for them to take root? Or do you sow them in fertile soil so that they will bear fruit, and fruit again?

Listening with understanding is crucial if we are to grow in His word. Some times we hear what WE want to hear. Jesus said that some of us are like thorn bushes. We may hear the message, but there are obstacles like worries about wealth, life, and personal desires that prevent the words from flourishing in our lives. Those who bear fruit are those who listen and accept His words as the truth and the light.

May you listen with an open heart, accept with an open mind, and bear fruit…for Him.

Lenten Reflection - February 19, 2008

“I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.” - Mark 3:20-35

Reflection by Renee Wilson

The Pharisees, once again, are reacting to Jesus’ words and actions with false accusations. They attribute His power to heal and cast out demons to Satan. Their words could not have been more blasphemous! They are not just throwing doubt on Jesus, they are rejecting the work of the Holy Spirit.

We are taught that all we need to do is bring our sins to the foot of the cross, confess, repent, and we are forgiven them. Does that include every sin? Jesus tells us in Matthew 26:28, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” And in 1 Peter 2:24, “He himself bore our sins in His body on the tree.”

Our words against God, His Son, others, even our thoughts, and actions are forgiven when we come to God through His Son, Jesus (John 6:37). So what does Jesus mean when He says blasphemy against the Holy Spirit can never be forgiven? The work of the Holy Spirit is to convict us of our sin, enable us to understand His Word, and to reveal Christ and His righteousness (John 16:8-13). To reject the Holy Spirit is to deny Him the opportunity to change our hearts forever, separating us from the One through whom mercy and forgiveness comes. It is true that God does not want anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9). However, to be indifferent to sin, to God and to the work of the Holy Spirit—and continue to do so to the end of life is to risk final condemnation.

Lenten Reflection - February 18, 2008

“But, because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace that you have been saved.” - Ephesians 2:4-10

Reflection by Tyler Webb

I sometimes do not attribute value to things that are free, or given undeservedly. That may be why I struggle with God’s grace. Why would God forgive such a scoundrel as me, one who is dead in sin? God is always there for me, lifting me to new life through Jesus Christ . . . often many times in a single day. Why? Maybe the answer is my faith . . . that I love God with all my heart and all my soul, and I have faith that God is with me every day, at every moment, in all that I do. And for that I receive God’s gift of forgiveness, through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Lenten Reflection - February 17, 2008 - The Second Sunday of Lent

“Jesus also said, ‘This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, wherever he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know why. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.’” - Mark 4:26-28

Reflection by Reverend Michelle Doran

In Biblical times, the preferred method of planting seeds was to walk through a field scattering seed by hand and letting them fall where they may. Some landed on rich, fertile soil and some on rocky, dry ground. Some grew, and some didn’t. The farmer tended to his fields as best he could, but he really didn’t understand the science of plant growth, nor did he have much control over what happened. So he prayed and waited for the grain to ripen, and when it did, he reaped the harvest and gave thanks for all that God had given him.

So it is with the seeds of the Gospel. We scatter the seeds far and wide and wait for them to grow. Like the farmer, we don’t understand how this happens—why some respond to the Gospel message and others do not. It isn’t for us to know. God is sovereign, and we accept that his plan for us is in place. So we pray, and we wait. And when it is time, we rejoice for the harvest, those people whose lives are transformed by the love of Jesus Christ, and give thanks and praise to Almighty God. And then, just as the farmer feeds his family, we go forth into the world to feed others through our words and actions.

Lenten Reflection - February 16, 2008

“One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, ‘Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?’….Then he said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." - Mark 2:23-27

Reflection by Raphael Steuart

As I reflect on this Bible passage, my impression of what Jesus was asking the men in the synagogue was not that an action one takes is good or evil, socially acceptable or not or even disturbs the status quo. Jesus is asking “What is the right thing to do?”

Always do the right thing!

In life’s journey that God has graciously given us, our path is often not as straight and smooth as we would like it. On occasion we find ourselves looking straight up the side of a mountain and wondering what in the world should we do next? This mountain is in our way, disturbing our straight path, making us take action which may be stressful, disagreeable or clearly require a lot more work!

It is easy for us as “good Christian” people to every once in a while take the uncomplicated path around the mountain towards our destination… simply NOT “Do the right thing.” As challenging as “Do the right thing” is for us at times – we must trust in God and give Him our very best at ALL times! This is not easy… quite often strenuous, exhausting, complicated, baffling – the list goes on and on! However, life is not a “cake walk!”

To “Do the right thing” as a daily application will be rewarding and soul replenishing! God has promised His children the perfect reward but rewards are not freely given out… they are earned! A question becoming increasingly more popular every day… “What would Jesus do?” is the perfect question to ask ourselves any and every time we are face to face with a mountain and its obstacles… Climb, Climb, Climb over that mountaintop and “Always do the right thing!”

Lenten Reflection - February 15, 2008

“When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the ‘sinners’ and tax collectors, they asked his disciples, ‘Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners?’ On hearing this, Jesus said to them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but the sinners.’” - Mark 2:13-22

Reflection by Laura Miller

This passage is such a relief to me because it reassures me that I don't have to be "free of sin" or spiritually healthy for Jesus to want to be in my life. I don't have to "have it all together" first. I must, in fact, acknowledge that I am a sinner in need of the "Great Physician" to come and minister to me. God loves us all regardless and is willing to show us the way to salvation. An important part of the passage is to see that Jesus mentions the sick being in need of a doctor which implies that the sinner should not stay as they are but seek help and healing to improve their condition. Often in order to be restored to health we may need to go through unpleasant "treatments.” Are we willing to say to the Lord, "Search me, show me my sins and renew me"? Feeling God's love for me should make me strive to become more Christ-like, but it is great to know He accepts me where I am—failures and all.

Another aspect of the passage is that Christ does not withdraw even though the Pharisees are offended by His associating with the sinners. Are we willing to do what Christ has called us to do even if it offends someone, or will we retreat from someone that needs us when the going gets tough? Jesus was willing to stay with the sinners that needed Him, even though He was ridiculed for doing so. Also, a study note I read mentioned that since Matthew was a tax collector, he probably had invited some of his colleagues to meet Jesus. These may have been some of the individuals referred to in this passage. Matthew appears not to have abandoned his fellow tax collectors but rather hoped for Jesus' power to heal their lives, if they are willing to seek the "Great Physician."

During this time of reflection, let us seek the Lord's renewal in our lives and also do what we can to bring others to the love and healing of God.

Lenten Reflection - February 14, 2008

“When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’” - Mark 2:1-12

Reflection by Dean Lewis

Faith believes that something will occur when, so far, it has not. Personal faith is when you actually do something about that belief. You take action…you commit to that belief.

In this passage we see Jesus teaching in Capernaum to a packed audience. Thick crowds gathered on the news that Jesus had cast a demon out of a man in Capernaum and repeated that all through Galilee, just as Isaiah had prophesized. The town was buzzing.

Now a paraplegic carried by four men could not get in to see Jesus because of the crowd, so they lowered him on his stretcher through the roof. Jesus was impressed by their bold belief and healed him.

Do you think the four men and the paraplegic had good reason to commit themselves to the belief that Jesus would heal? I do. Look, they had all three ways we know something: objective evidence (they saw what others saw), subjective experience (they saw it themselves) and a consistent link with past records, in this case Isaiah’s prophecy.

It is no different today. We come to believe something is true when we have all three elements. In 1967, at university in New Zealand, I came to belief because of the historical, eye-witness record of Jesus actions, particularly His resurrection; the “ring of truth” that I felt when I read the Gospel accounts; and the weight of logic that linked the two through Jewish history. This is why I have faith in God through Jesus Christ.

Lenten Reflection - February 13, 2008

“That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.” - Mark 1:32-34

Reflection by Jean Davis

In this passage, Mark is trying to present Jesus as the Christ, the chosen one through the miracles He performs. The miracles are meant to authenticate who Jesus is. Jesus tells the leper not to say anything to anyone but the leper ignores this and goes out and spreads the word. Many people come to seek out Jesus for selfish and impure reasons, forcing Him to leave the town and stay out in the country. To seek Jesus for His ability to heal is simply not adequate. Jesus commands the people not to tell anyone who He is; perhaps He didn’t want to be viewed merely as a miracle-worker.

Why are you following Jesus? Are you in it to get something from Him, or are you in it for Him alone? How often do we fervently turn to God and beg Him to heal a sick loved one or offer up promises to be good or do better if only He will help us? Do we treat Jesus like a sample table? Only seeking Him out when we need Him and simply discarding Him when we don’t?

I believe this passage is designed to authenticate the true identity of Jesus and thus persuade you to embrace Him. Jesus desires for us to do more than merely seek Him out for our own selfish purpose. He wants us to consume, to purchase, to entirely buy in. Do you treat Jesus like a sample table?

Lenten Reflection - February 12, 2008

“‘Come follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’ At once they left their nets and followed him.” - Mark 1:14-28

Reflection by Linda M. Stewart

What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus, what is the cost of discipleship? How do we “fish” for people?

This passage is Jesus’ call to the first disciples. The “Kingdom of God” is such a big concept that it requires additional workers, and Jesus begins his ministry by calling two brothers. Jesus’ command is not only issued to his first disciples, but to us all. It is issued with all the freedom and sovereignty of grace and given freely to us all, even though none of us are worthy to receive it. Jesus calls us to simple obedience, to accompany him wholeheartedly and constantly, sharing his life and destiny at the expense of all other engagements and commitments, letting go of earthly possessions, and following him is faith alone.

Carl Barth, one of the most influential theologians of the twentieth century, emphasizes in his book, The Call to Discipleship, that discipleship involves a detachment from the authority of possessions, foregoing the pursuit of personal glory……which goes beyond actions to intentions.

We are all called to be Disciples, to go forth in the world, wherever we happen to be, and spread the “good news” about the “Kingdom of God,” that salvation is for everyone. In fact, when we are baptized, we promise to do just this.

Lenten Reflection - February 11, 2008

“I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.” - 1 Corinthians 1:1-19

Reflection by Brenda White

The first nine verses of 1 Corinthians 1 are Paul’s introduction to the entire letter. In these verses, we have been told that Paul is the author and that he is accompanied by Sosthenes (chief ruler of the synagogue at Corinth). Paul moves on to reiterate the call to Christian unity and then points out the ways in which this unity has broken down in the Corinthian church

Is it possible that as members of St. James’ Parish we all speak the same thing and that we can be “perfectly united” in our opinions and judgments? Surely it would be un-American for us all to have the same opinions. But this is precisely what Paul is pleading for.

Paul calls for no “divisions.” The Greek word for divisions is schismata, from which we get schism. The figurative meaning is “to tear or rip.” As it would be applied in this passage, it means to have a difference of opinion, or a division of judgment. This was the kind of thing that Paul was arguing against.

Our lack of unity will also severely hinder us in our mission to the world. People will not be drawn to any church where there is disunity reflected in many agendas. If there are people all going in different directions with no common mission which they share together, people will be put off. Conversely, people are attracted to a place where there is a common vision, where people sacrifice for the shared goals.

This kind of unity must be worked for, chosen, purposefully undertaken. I do not believe that this kind of unity simply happens. This kind of unity must be a decision of the will. This is precisely why it is a command.

Lenten Reflection - February 10, 2008 - The First Sunday of Lent

“And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’ And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.” - Mark 1:11-13

Reflection by Reverend Patrick Arey

Unlike Matthew, Luke or John, Mark gives us a minimal description of Jesus’ baptism and temptation in the wilderness. There is no elaboration here; we have only the barest details. How was Jesus tempted? How did he respond? Were the beasts friendly or menacing? What did Jesus think of his baptism or God’s words? Mark allows our imaginations to fill in the details.

As we make our journey through life, we know there are many twists, turns, detours and surprises. We may find ourselves in an unfamiliar wilderness without a road map, where we cannot rely on our past experiences as a guide to the present. And if we ask ourselves “what would Jesus do?” Mark seems to give us little comfort.

But our God is a God of possibilities, not predictabilities. When we enter unfamiliar, even scary space, God allows us to fill in the details ourselves. Jesus did not enter the wilderness unprepared and abandoned by God. Nor will God desert us when we are in the wilderness.

At our baptism, God spoke to us also, to tell us that we are God’s children and how much God loves us. God delights in who we are and who we will become. God knows we will be scared, confused and tempted as we venture into new and unfamiliar places. But God will always be with us, whispering in our ear “you are my beloved child and you always make me happy!” With God’s love, we have nothing to fear.

Lenten Reflection - February 9, 2008

“Then they will know that I am the Lord their God, for though I sent them into exile among the nations, I will gather them to their own land not leaving any behind.” - Ezekiel 39:21-29

Reflection by Nancy Wooddell

In this prophecy from Ezekiel, the Lord has promised that Israel will be the avenue by which He manifests Himself to the world. Through the Jews He promises to show His face and pour out the Holy Spirit.

What an awesome God that keeps His promises! Israel was reunited. We saw His face in the face of Jesus. On the day of Pentecost, God passed His Holy Spirit to live in those Jews who believed, and continues to live in those who believe today.

There is such peace in knowing that God will keep His promises to me, too. Praise God!

Lenten Reflections - February 8, 2008

“But if a wicked man turns away from all the sins he has committed, and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die.” - Ezekiel 18:21-32

Reflection by Jeanie Zseltvay

God is unfair!

Who are we to even think these thoughts? It is written throughout the Bible that God is indeed fair. We are reminded perpetually, if we ask forgiveness and repent, we will be forgiven, and our sins will be washed clean; the operative phrase here is that we have to ask and be willing to repent.

We have to remember we are never alone, but that God knows what is in our hearts and minds, but we are still loved by Him. We have to make the effort to ask, seek and turn to God at all times, not just when troubles arise.

God deals with us in a very fair manner, but it is not our measure of fairness that He deals in but His own.

I have always said that, if we as humans were perfect, we would be sitting on the left side while Jesus is on the right.

No one human is free from sin, but we are free to chose not to sin; that is a great gift we have been given.

Lenten Reflections - February 7, 2008

“But, one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 3:12-21

Reflection by Brooke E. Steuart

How can we define perfection with any accuracy? How can we possibly ever comprehend or understand its complete meaning? That which is perfect today… will certainly be imperfect tomorrow!
Yet, God has given His word that we will receive perfection!

It is understood… yet oh, so hard to practice – the thought and action of doing God’s work every day! Our Lord has asked His children to live up to what He is going to give us! He will give us life everlasting, a promised home in Heaven! Continuing His work with blind faith is one of the most precious gifts we can give ourselves and should be made easier - knowing the prize that has already been assured us! With this promise, we must try to make every effort to make the world a better place for other people through our thoughts, words and deeds… no matter how strenuous the struggle!!

Ever-lasting life is certainly worth striving for, our reward is indescribable! It is up to each one of us to use the gifts and talents God gave us… In doing this we are assured our reward! Forget about what you did for God yesterday—focus on what you’ll do for God today!

“Make Every Day Count!”

Lenten Reflections - February 6, 2008 - Ash Wednesday

“But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so that your giving may be in secret.” - Matthew 6:1-6

Reflection by Betsy Hillery

When Jesus says not to let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, he is teaching us that our motives for giving to God and to others must be pure. It is not for show or to do something for someone, if it will benefit us in return. We should do good deeds quietly or in secret with no thought of reward. Jesus says we should check our motives in three areas: generosity, prayer, and fasting.

This passage takes me back to a time as a small child when there was no money for Christmas. At that time our father was ill and was unable to work. My mother got a phone call from the local department store telling her to come to the store and do her Christmas shopping for her three children. We awoke Christmas morning with packages under the tree, never ever knowing who called the department store.