You may wonder about the meaning of Ash Wednesday.
Ash Wednesday occurs 46 days before Easter. Subtracting Sundays, 40 is the number of days between Ash Wednesday and Easter. Forty, a commonly found number in Scripture, here represents the forty days of fasting that Jesus practiced in the wilderness. He prepared Himself for His purpose.
On Easter, followers of Christ celebrate a great victory, the great victory of Christ - His victory over sin. Jesus gave His life for the sins of the world. He rose from the grave. We celebrate.
Ash Wednesday serves as a reminder.
Mark, in his gospel, records Jesus' great invitation - "Repent, and believe the good news!"
Ash Wednesday reminds us to repent. God calls us to confess our sins which He is faithful to forgive. We confess and acknowledge the grace of God in forgiving us.
#ordinarylives
Follow this link to pre-order your copy of The Ordinary Way: A Unique Way To Live scheduled for release April 7.
While Spring, at least for Alaskans, will not soon arrive, perhaps February is a good month during which you can finally do that deep cleaning of your kitchen, reduce the amount of clutter in your cabinets, or part with those clothes about which you have said, "I'll wear that someday" for at least the past five years.
The name for this month comes from the Latin Februaris. During Februaris, the ancient Romans would engage in a time of purification. On that day (the 15th), Roman priests would sacrifice animals and use their blood in ceremonial rituals that were believed to purify people and fields thus increasing fertility and crop production.
Christians do not practice those ancient traditions. We do, however, recognize the value of purification. "Cleanliness is next to godliness" while not a quotation from Scripture, points toward truth.
King David prayed for it . . .
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10 (NIV)
Jesus upheld its importance . . .
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Matthew 5:8 (NIV)
The Apostle Paul called Christians to it . . .
Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
2 Corinthians 7:1 (NIV)
Devote some time this month to cleansing. Focus on your life. What needs to go? A read through some of Paul's words will help.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them.
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said:
“Wake up, sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
Ephesians 4:29-5:14 (NIV)
If you get to the clutter and clothes, that's great. But those stacks and clothes can wait until you've done some self-cleaning.
let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
Hebrews 10:22 (NIV)
#ordinarylives
Follow this link to pre-order your copy of The Ordinary Way: A Unique Way To Live scheduled for release April 7.
February 14th is not a good day for wait-until-the-last-minute (perhaps second) husbands. Restaurants are full, boxes of candy are gone from store shelves, and wives know a gift bought in haste when they see one.
To help husbands (and wives) enjoy Valentine's Day, Rabbit Creek Church (where I am pastor) is holding our bi-annual "Behind Closed Doors" Marriage Conference this Friday and Saturday. We will enjoy laughter, stories, games, food, and time together on Friday evening. On Saturday we will enjoy much of the same and, added to that, couples will interact with each other and other couples as we learn helpful information and skills that will serve as great tools to strengthen our marriages.
Four of our pastors and their spouses will be teaching breakout sessions on subjects such as dating your spouse, sex, and juggling life with small children. (Read that last sentence carefully. Rabbit Creek endorses juggling life, not small children.)
Our pastoral team and our spouses designed "Behind Closed Doors" to help all couples enjoy marriage. God created marriage and we believe in taking care of what He creates.
If you will be in our area, we invite you to join us for "Behind Closed Doors." Follow this link for registration information: Behind Closed Doors Registration. If Alaska is not your home, I encourage you to find a marriage conference near you. And please feel free to contact me for resource suggestions.
#ordinarylives
Follow this link to pre-order your copy of The Ordinary Way: A Unique Way To Live scheduled for release April 7.
Thirty-four days ago we welcomed the arrival of 2020. As one who sang along with Prince's "1999" in 1982 and wondered what the arrival of Y2K would bring, writing "2020" seems a bit odd. Nevertheless, we have begun our journey into this next decade What will you do, Lord-willing, with this year? Next year? Five years? Ten?
Times such as the start of a new decade offer prime opportunities to set goals for the future. As you set goals, it helps to rely on intentional methods. Rolls of dice and hurls of darts prove faulty in determining one's strategic planning. The Holy Spirit, after all, indwells Christians; so we need not rely on the casting of lots. So how should Christians make plans for the future?
Christians TRUST.
1) Turn to God in prayer.
2) Refuse to worry.
3) Understand that many events will be out of your control.
4) Stay the course of faithfulness.
5) Talk with trustworthy brothers and sisters in faith.
I encourage you to read the following passages of Scripture as you set goals guided by the components of TRUST.
Turn - Matthew 5:5-15; 6:33
Refuse - Matthew 6:25-34
Understand - John 16:33; James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 4:12
Stay - Philippians 4:4-13; James 1:12
Talk - Psalm 1; Proverbs 12:5, 15; 15:31-33; 19:20
#ordinarylives
Follow this link to pre-order your copy of The Ordinary Way: A Unique Way To Live scheduled for release April 7.
