Today, You Will Be With Me in Paradise
Today, we read
Luke 23:32-49 and Pastor Amy talked about when Jesus told one of the criminals next to Him on the cross, "I tell you the truth, today, you will be with me in paradise." This might make us think of the parable in
Matthew 20 in which a landowner paid the same amount (a denarius) to the man who only worked for the last hour as the man who worked for him all day. Jesus has a different view of getting what we deserve. God wants us all to live with Him in paradise, but none of us deserve it. We can't earn it or buy it. It is only by believing in Jesus' life and death that we can deserve this paradise.
What do you imagine paradise to be like? Why do you want to be there?
Labels: Lent
Father, Forgive Them...
Today, Pastor Jason talked about one of Jesus' last words on the cross... "Father, Forgive them for they do not know what they are doing." We read the context of these words in
Luke 23:32-41 and saw that Jesus said these words in the midst of being sneered, mocked and spit upon. Jesus forgives these awful, hateful things and it might make us wonder what we did that was so bad that needs to be forgiven. But we have a tendency to want to make our own rules for our lives which drives a wedge between us and God, and for this we need to be forgiven. And the good news is that God forgives everyone who accepts this prayer of Jesus on the cross.
What things in your life are driving a wedge between you and God?
Labels: Lent
Why?
Today at MCC, we started a series for Lent focusing on the last words of Jesus on the cross. Pastor Henry read the story of the crucifixion from
Mark15:1-41 and talked especially about verse 34, "And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? '--which means, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'"
Pastor Henry talked about how the answer to this question could be found in Psalm 22. In the Jewish tradition, when someone would refer to one line of Old Testament scripture, others would know that he was referring to the whole text from which it came. Thus, when Jesus said, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?", He was referring to
Psalm 22. In this Psalm, we see that this question was also asked by Israel's greatest king who in the end was delivered. And at the cross, we would see that though horrific, this is not the end.
Question of the week: What do you hear when Jesus cries out, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" When we hear this cry of desperation, I think we can also hear how great Jesus' love for us is since it was our sins that put him there so we wouldn't have to suffer what He did.
Labels: Lent
Seeking God
"To a nation that did not call on my name, I said, 'Here am I, here am I.'
All day long I have held out my hands to an obstinate people, who walk in ways not good, pursuing their own imaginations-- ..."Isaiah 65:1-2
Today, Pastor Henry read from Isaiah 64-65 where God is talking about how He revealed Himself but many did not see Him. We read how all of us are so filthy and unrighteous that we can't approach God, and our only hope is through faith in Jesus who restores us to Him. If we look through the eyes of this faith, we see God's grace all around us.
Where do you see God at work around you, holding out His hands? I think His grace has been very evident to me in our church family. It has been so good to hear the stories of those who have had opportunities to share the gospel, of those who have seen miracles, and of those who have felt His support through the church. I too have felt this support as we continue to strive to walk in His way.
Labels: Lent
Greener Pastures
Today in church, Pastor Amy talked about shepherds. At the end, we read Psalm 23 and were given the opportunity to pray silently about the phrases in that chapter. I was thinking about how God lets us rest in the green pastures and how His goodness follows us always. When we got home, Maria showed me the painting below which she just finished - a good reminder of very green pastures. Durning Bible times, the pastures weren't nearly so lush which makes the verse even more meaningful. If we follow Him, He leads us to what we need even if we are going through more arid times. I especially love the last verse - how His goodness follows us or pursues us always.
Labels: Lent
Psalm 1
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. Ps. 1:1.Today at MCC, we had a guest speaker, Sam DeYoung, talk about Psalm 1. She highlighted verse one which says you are blessed if you do
not do these things. The people who are blessed are those who love God's law. We need to continually fill ourselves with God's ways and His word so that we aren't led astray. This is the map we need to live. People who are lost have been trying to use another map. We need to remember this and not listen to the voices that try to lead us the wrong way.
...
for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous. vs. 6.
Labels: Lent
Finding Rest
Today at MCC, we talked about things that lead us astray from our identity in God. Pastor Henry read from
Jeremiah 50:1-10 which describes the people who have wandered astray as lost sheep who have forgotten their resting place. St. Augustine best describes the cure for our plight when he said, "Our hearts are restless, O Lord, until they rest in you."
Going with the Lost theme, we saw what happened to the person who had won the lottery - we saw how money failed to build character, but instead revealed character and this person remained lost with all his money. We talked about many things which can lead us astray: advertising, cars, money, neighbors,internet, Hollywood, actors, community expectations, clothes, shoes, pleasure, politicians, TV & radio talk, food, health, medicine, education. In short, anything that we seek to fill us besides God leads us astray. If we seek God first, He changes us and these things can become tools we can use for God's kingdom rather than cures for our empty souls.
"This is what the Lord says: 'Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.'" Jeremiah 6:16
Labels: Lent
Finding the Lost
During the season of Lent, we'll be talking about the spiritually lost. Pastors Henry & Amy shared with us their feelings during a time when they each felt physically lost and we talked about how that compares to being spiritually lost. Amy was lost on an island without a map and Henry was rolled around dizzily in a great wave without air to breathe. Both were overcome by fear, irrationality and regret over bad decisions and mistakes made.
In Psalm 119, we hear the psalmist talk about how thankful he is for all the rules that God has given him. As Christians, we are reminded that we have God's word as a map for our lives. We are given actual directions to find our way out spiritually, and Jesus is our leader. He is the only way to real life.
We were encouraged to think of 3 people who are lost and to pray for them throughout lent. I thought of 3 people who I wasn't sure about and I'll be reminded to pray that Jesus will lead them home when I see the cord with 3 beads.
"I have strayed like a lost sheep. Seek your servant, for I have not forgotten your commands." Psalm 119:176
Labels: Lent
