#lent
My Facebook newsfeed looks like a last minute Christmas stocking shopping spree; with Christians all over social media looking for something to "give up" or "something to take on" as their Lenten discipline. Faithful people gathering whatever they can find and tossing in their baskets before the deadline today. Perhaps you are still searching for what "to do" or "not to do" this lent.
After my wellness doctor's visit in January, there are plenty of things I have already given up for the sake of health, wholeness and vitality. Chocolate, breads, and carbs of all kinds are gone from my life for a while. Processed and boxed foods are gone. Noodles are no more. I write "missing you" letters to chocolate. At night I dream of soft, warm yeast rolls. sigh.
Lent 2017 will be different. Time to shake-up my devotional reading. Re-do my prayer life. Re-fresh my soul as my body adjusts to healthier foods. Back to the basics. As Coach K would say, now is the time to work on fundamentals.
Our Ridge sermon series during Lent will focus on one of the basics; forgiveness. Reverend Marjorie Thompson writes, "There is no Christianity without forgiveness." That sounds as basic and fundamental as it can be.
To aid me in our Lenten journey with forgiveness, my prayer life will take on a different discipline. I have felt led by the Spirit to pray through my Ridge church directory during Lent. Praying for each Ridge parent, grandparent, partner/spouse, teen or child by name each day during a week of Lent. On Wednesday mornings our church staff will join me.
My prayer will be, "Blessed Jesus, have mercy on us sinners. Thank you for forgiving, healing and restoring this family to you first. And then, give courage to each person as they offer authentic, "I am sorry" or "I forgive you" to themselves, one another, and others in our world. Heal us, Lord Jesus! Heal our church, Lord Jesus! Heal our world, Lord Jesus! Amen."
See you at the forgiving place,
Pastor Michelle
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