Lent - Feb 2008           Where do YOU see GOD in your life?                         .

Our Lenten season marches on toward the glory of the resurrection.  In our worship I have been emphasizing  the Lenten season’s  call to introspection and self examination. Jesus always made time to reflect; Luke 5:16  ¹⁶ “But he would withdraw to deserted places and pray.”  We can make this holy season even more powerful and life changing by committing to take a little time for ourselves just as Jesus taught us to do.  In our moment of reflection, we can enjoy the experiences of life where God has reached out His powerful hand and touched our lives.  Perhaps you felt God’s presence at the birth of a child or the death of a loved one.  Perhaps during a time of stress or temptation  you experienced God’s presence illuminated by your faith. Perhaps a particular time of prayer or worship delivered you into the hands of the Creator.  Did you recognize the import of the moment?  God is all around us yet we often completely miss it or attribute the moment to some other causation centered on “me,” or on blind luck, or being in the right place at the right time.  We can see God in our presence only when we step out of the way and observe the wonderful mystery that is God working all around us. How can we not worship our God who is always there and always active especially in our most difficult times? Only when we reflect on God’s work will we begin to understand the extent of God’s grace.

After our Easter celebration, I will be doing a sermon series on “Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations.” In these sermons, we will look at our mission of making and being disciples of Jesus Christ through the lens of the local church.  I pray that as we explore the principles of Radical Hospitality, Passionate Worship, Intentional Faith Development, Risk-Taking Mission and Service and Extravagant Generosity we will begin to see ourselves wading into deeper spiritual water, mysteriously changed by the Easter miracle.  Let our Lenten time of introspection, coupled with our celebration of the empty tomb, lead us into a time of learning, praying and growing in our worship and our service to God.  

What will you do after Easter?  Will you coast toward Advent or will you see every Sunday as a celebration of Easter.  Will you consider the power of the empty tomb as you think about the miracles that happen every day?  Will the times you have sensed God’s presence prepare your heart, mind and soul for God’s continual quest to be a bigger and more pronounced part of your life?  Will you recommit your life to Jesus Christ and the church given to you by God? What will you do after Easter?  Withdraw to a deserted place and have a conversation with the Creator. Ask God what you can do for the kingdom.  See you in church!

Blessings,

Pastor John