If you have any thing that you've learned or been thinking about during this Lenten season, please be an encouragement and add them to the comments.
We are observing Lent this year at our church, and for most of us, we are doing this as a bunch of novices, who grew up in very non-liturgical settings (a few exceptions noted). We aren't following so much the traditional practices (ash on forehead, fasting on Fridays, etc.), but focusing on the the "inner" reflections that lead us to a deeper appreciation of the cross.
(Sidenote: I hate to make that inner-outer distinction, but it is a legitimate shortcut to denote certain things.)
At least 32 people from our little community have committed to doing this journey together through daily readings and prayers. If you have any thing that you've learned or been thinking about during this Lenten season, please be an encouragement to others and add them to the comments...
Blessings.
anyone else feel like as soon as they read a passage on something like 'compassion' they immediately struggle with it for the day? it's kind of frustrating. ;D -hannah yoon
ReplyDeleteLent reminds me that there are no shortcuts to resurrection life. It always goes through obedience, sacrifice, and death (cross). Why is it then that my heart and mind constantly tempt me to think I can get there (resurrection life) without it. Why does obedience, sacrifice, and death feel so "optional" to my faith?
ReplyDeleteone word: PAINFUL!
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking about Jesus' single-minded obedience to his father and how might that be like in my personal life. So far, the result is that it's incredibly painful. It hurts. I agree with P.Sam's comment. There are no shortcuts to resurrection life. I'm learning to get by, a day at a time..Praying for endurance...perseverance until I get there. - KM
For me I've been made painfully aware of what my priorities really are. My public convictions are one thing but when it comes down to it.. my private convictions are really something else.
ReplyDeleteBut I've been blessed on focusing on God's mercies being new every morning and that everyday is a day to start over no matter what was done the day before. And for that I am thankful.
In today's passage, in the Nouwen book, about remembering God in our lives he quotes Bonhoeffer who reflected that too often, "The God who is with us is the God who forsakes us (Mark 15:34)...Before God and with God we live without God."
ReplyDeleteIt seems like such a sad truth for us. It reminds me that our perception is not always truth. -hannah
Pastor Sam's message this week was inspiring to me. As I listen to his message, Ephesian 2:8-9 and James 2:26 came to my mind. I was reminded once again that as I live out my faith in Christ, I need to bear fruit (via action) whether it is showing hospitality, service, fellowship or God's love to others... I hope that Cross Community Church as a corporate body of Christ can practice bearing fruit and feel each other's pain, sorrow & joy (just like in I Corinthians 12). - Mike
ReplyDeletei think nouwen's prayer for this thursday's chapter sums up the whole season of lent. it was awesome. and was it awesome that i read it on friday? haha
ReplyDeleteOne of the biggest barriers to truly connecting with others in my life is a deep seated arrogance that I know what is best for me and my life. Without humility, I cannot and will not truly open myself up to others. It is only God's grace and mercy that gently breaks me and humbles me so that I can experience the true joy of community.
ReplyDeleteThis week's experiment in our small group is to meditate/ponder on Luke 9:23. "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." I've been thinking about my selfish desire and really struggling to let that go.
ReplyDeleteI also read this radical prayer in Proverbs 30:7-9.. and struggled some more... =/
Two things I ask of you, O Lord;
do not refuse me before I die:
Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but GIVE ME ONLY MY DAILY BREAD.
Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
and say, 'Who is the Lord?'
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God.
I really love this prayer.. I keep reading it over and over. I want to pray this prayer, but somewhere deep in my heart, I'm afraid to pray it. Can someone please tell me I'm not alone?
I pray that this lenten season will be different from other ones in the past. I pray that we, as a church, will be courageous enough to love Christ so radically that we'll be changed.
I too love that payer...
ReplyDeletei just want to remind everyone that the easter creative project is this sunday. so sit down with a pen and paper and write down some of these great thoughts and refelctions and bring them on sunday to share with everyone!
ReplyDeleteawesome blossom
Good Friday.
ReplyDeleteA day full of conflicting thoughts and feelings. A day of suffering, of death, of mourning. But yet also a day of fulfillment, of victory, of hope.
On the cross, Jesus said, “It is finished.” It is accomplished. It is completed. It is concluded.
But it is not over. In three days the Temple was rebuilt. In three days Christ conquered death and with His resurrection, we are born again into living hope.
“The cross of horror became the cross of hope, the tortured body became the body that gives new life; the gaping wounds became the source of forgiveness, healing, and reconciliation” (Show Me The Way – Henri J.M. Nouwen, page 171)
Today I will spend time in fasting and in prayer, in quiet reflection, in solemn confession, and in somber mourning because Christ died on the cross for me. But I will also gratefully rejoice because Christ lives for me and in me.