My Life!

Today begins the season of Lent 2022. It is part of this tradition to ‘give up’ something for the 40/47 days leading up to Easter. This has become for us an invitation to draw closer to God through Christ. It reflects multiple origin possibilities merged with varied traditions over time. It certainly invites us to reflect on Christ’s 40 days in the desert and his fledgling ministry. But know that in this time, you are invited and encouraged to focus a small part of your life journey, your day, this season on your relationship with God who loves you and desires to be closer to you. Give up something? Maybe. Gain something? Hopefully. Learn something? Absolutely. We have learned a lot about ‘giving up’ or ‘doing without’ these past couple years, haven’t we? The people of Ukraine certainly know what it is to have giving up forced on you. This text from Matthew 6 might help get you started: Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don't make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won't be applauding. "When you do something for someone else, don't call attention to yourself. You've seen them in action, I'm sure—'playactors' I call them—treating prayer meeting and street corner alike as a stage, acting compassionate as long as someone is watching, playing to the crowds. They get applause, true, but that's all they get. When you help someone out, don't think about how it looks. Just do it—quietly and unobtrusively. That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out. PRAY WITH SIMPLICITY "And when you come before God, don't turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat? "Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace. https://www.instagram.com/p/CammentryPeSeQzQosqIb0IuvFVjKc4uiqUejM0/?utm_medium=tumblr

There’s really nowhere to go from these commands to love one another. We must do it! https://www.instagram.com/p/CUubKpsFbayDi26V5KUOLxun62YAETaIH-VPnM0/?utm_medium=tumblr

Cultivate thankfulness https://www.instagram.com/p/CUte8DmLu1Jw224z9l3dy0vJBzQvcicH9zV2U40/?utm_medium=tumblr

Straight up! You don’t have to listen to sin to tell you what to do. Easier said than done? https://www.instagram.com/p/CUcX38ZFd__wkz3XWOBR2o4bUZiEmVnq2rvTHs0/?utm_medium=tumblr

It’s the way you live that matters… https://www.instagram.com/p/CUZtWp3r1Y17PltRkZej7qIxgQ4ZYRs6nMnhxk0/?utm_medium=tumblr

Be energetic! Live in responsive obedience! https://www.instagram.com/p/CUXGlE2L1WjIyYGBMKrPtAtdPit1Gl18BaGSUs0/?utm_medium=tumblr

It's the word of faith that welcomes God to go to work and set things right for us. This is the core of our preaching. Say the welcoming word to God—"Jesus is my Master"—embracing, body and soul, God's work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead. That's it. You're not "doing" anything; you're simply calling out to God, trusting him to do it for you. That's salvation. With your whole being you embrace God setting things right, and then you say it, right out loud: "God has set everything right between him and me!" https://www.instagram.com/p/CUR34pRrzAi6QwNcpLDcJQeFyT03igoh2wAWCg0/?utm_medium=tumblr

Stop talking. Listen. https://www.instagram.com/p/CUPcg9ullwHtYT3PIdNOZTGeihlu_69o_VVsEU0/?utm_medium=tumblr

Don’t be so preoccupied with getting… https://www.instagram.com/p/CUNAJ71lnhX8QJn58iJfL-6_GlpgkgE_ZiAzyc0/?utm_medium=tumblr

Latest project Halloween ready https://www.instagram.com/p/CUFd-OlluwH395FYBipZLOyYTuwApqw2-7s6kk0/?utm_medium=tumblr

Don’t burn out! https://www.instagram.com/p/CUFd0ldlYd536tZ_qzrndUDKChTqGp9Ix_2j2Y0/?utm_medium=tumblr

Be content with who you are. https://www.instagram.com/p/CUCsVsKFYhXq16NWu5ga5-sMW-pFWwlZqI20rs0/?utm_medium=tumblr

Be merciful. Be compassionate. Be kind. https://www.instagram.com/p/CT64-5MFxGQ2HYFFtHT_PbyX7GSfQottCWv7F00/?utm_medium=tumblr

Focus on the good. For real! https://www.instagram.com/p/CT4Xya1F1deOf3WXdXFyxkloFgf9U-OmeLXZSQ0/?utm_medium=tumblr

Well-formed love banishes fear. We are invited in to that kind of love. https://www.instagram.com/p/CTzHIZZlnQlcD1IGgEA-Zb_QcLgqrYhI0EUT4k0/?utm_medium=tumblr

It all boils down to this; treat folks like you want to be treated. https://www.instagram.com/p/CTuJyjBlIqHx1glUK1F6sOTxolN_S04beTfAHc0/?utm_medium=tumblr

Comfort…when you need it most. https://www.instagram.com/p/CTrJLYELXbvXAkGBF5pyf83txwp9QyMbLu8bwY0/?utm_medium=tumblr