JOIN US FOR A LIFECHANGING LENTEN STUDY — EVEN IF YOU HAVE NEVER “DONE” LENT!
When I was a girl and some of my friends came to school with ashes on their foreheads, I was mystified. Even after Christ became the heart of who I am, became my very life, I didn’t observe the season of Lent – that mysterious time between Ash Wednesday and Resurrection Sunday. I wondered if it was empty rituals…
I’m sure it is for some. But I also know that there are Christians throughout Christendom who cherish this time for the way it brings growth and intimacy with Christ. Such are some of you, for I was richly blessed by you last year during Lent. It makes me face this Lent with anticipation.
If you are joining us for the first time, go to my homepage at www.deebrestin.com and click on the How To Get Started. Your first comment will need to be approved, and after that your comments will appear automatically. Go at your own pace, or follow the days as I’ve divided them during the week. For example, after you read this opening, you’ll see icebreaker questions for Sunday and Monday…and then it continues through the week. Read what others write as you feel led, and comment if you like. They will welcome you warmly because this is a wonderful group.
Let me tell you why I believe you will be blessed if you commit to this seven week journey, closing with a celebratory Easter week!
We’ve said repeatedly that idols cannot be removed, only replaced. Even though our heart idols cause us and others pain, we are hesitant to let them go. We love them, we cling to them, fearful of letting go. So we cling to our idols in the same way that a few stubborn leaves cling tenaciously to the branches through the winter winds and snows.
What will finally expel those leaves? As the weather warms, the sap will rise, pushing them off. In the same way, as we contemplate the greatness of our God, His holy life will rise in us, expelling those tenacious idols.
When men and women get a glimpse of the holiness of God — from Moses to Martha — it changes them. This week, for example, we’ll consider what began to change Moses from a man who had taken his life into his own hands and made a royal mess of it to a man who led God’s people out of bondage.
He met the God who is A CONSUMING FIRE.
I believe you may see this story in a fresh way that will impact your life, and begin this mysterious and transforming journey — this first week of the holy season of Lent.
In the message we are going to listen to this week, Tim Keller says that “Every inordinate emotion — of anxiety, fear, anger, pride — is all because we are forgetting who God is.”
Our study this Lenten season will be therefore intensely practical, with the power to lessen the grip of idols and grief and usher you into times of sweet intimacy with Jesus.
I’ve watched with wonder has I have seen this truth of seeing God for who He really is transform us. Just last week we saw it in Rebecca’s life.
She met with the leadership at her church to articulate her dream. In the past she would have anxious before and after — but that was gone. She left the meeting with that steady stream of joy from the Lord, instead of being tossed and turned with anxiety.
Ed Welch has written a book that expresses exactly what Rebecca used to experience:
When People are BIG and God is small.
Welch specializes in helping people overcome their fears, and his approach is the approach we are taking during Lent toward fear, grief, sin, and every problem — seeing how big, how good, and how trustworthy our God is.
Watch this three minute clip from Ed Welch:
Sunday/Monday Icebreaker
1. Have you ever observed the season of Lent? If so, share how it has been helpful — or not — to you.
2. What comments do you have on the above?
Tuesday: Preparing for Lent. Lent officially begins tomorrow, Ash Wednesday.
3. Christians around the world will get ashes on their foreheads, with the same words, though in many different languages. What are they and what truth do they speak to our souls? (You may need to research to find out!) Whether or not your church observes this outward sign, you can take it in your heart.
4. Traditionally Christians have “given something up” for Lent — often a fast from food. The purpose is not just “putting off” but “putting on.” If you fast a meal, your are to feed on the Bread of Life. You might opt to spend an extra half hour a day with the Lord. You might opt to exchange light reading or Facebook time for something more edifying. Try a book by Henry Nouwen, C. S. Lewis, Philip Yancy, or A. W. Tozer.
You may want to spend less time on something you know you spend too much time on, and put something more valuable in its place. Pray about what you might do — it doesn’t have to be the same for all seven weeks. (Lent is 40 days plus Sundays, or about seven weeks.) You may want to take a week at a time. What will you do?
Ash Wednesday: We begin Lent! (Wednesday through Friday)
We know outward idolatry is wrong, but it is important, whenever you read God’s commands to His children about outward idolatry, to think of inward idolatry as well. We don’t make graven images anymore, but we do worship things other than God: our children, our comfort, our control… and God wants to be first.
1. In this light read Deuteronomy 4:23-24.
A. What did God command His people not to do and why?
B. How might this relate to you and your “idols of the heart?”
(Anything or anyone that at anytime might be more important to you than God.)
2. Read the following background verses for Moses and see if you can find evidence for God’s hand on him or for evidence that Moses had messed up his life.
A. Exodus 1:8-17
B. Exodus 2:1-10
C. Exodus 2:11-15
3. For those of you who have journeyed with us through our study of idolatry, what heart idol do you think might have motivated Moses to take things into his own hands and commit a murder?
Eugene Pluchart (1848 -- French) God Appears to Moses in Burning Bush. Painting from Saint Isaac's Cathedral, Saint Petersburg
Moses Encounters The Great I AM
4. Read Exodus 3:1-15
A. Why was this bush unusual and what did God tell Moses? (verses 1-6)
B. CHALLENGE QUESTION: Since our God is a consuming fire, and since Moses had, indeed, an idol of the heart, why was neither the bush nor Moses consumed? (There’s a clue in verse 2! If you can’t figure it out, then Keller’s sermon will tell you.)
5. What similarity do you see between the above and Daniel 3:24-25?
6. We will look at this name of I AM more deeply next week, but for now, what significance do you see in the name that God said He is to be remembered by throughout all generations and forever? (Exodus 3:13-15)
LISTEN TO KELLER’S SERMON (THIS IS NOT A FREE SERMON — AND YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY 2.50. SOME SERMONS THIS LENT WILL BE FREE, BUT SOME WILL NOT. YOU MIGHT WANT TO BUY A TEN DOLLAR CERTIFICATE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO FILL THINGS OUT EACH TIME. BUT RECORD THE NUMBER IN A SAFE PLACE!)
Link to Sermon: Click Here
7. According to the above message, what did you learn about God’s:
A. Brilliant Delays
B. Fiery Reality
C. Sovereignty
D. Nearness
8. How could any of the above help you with whatever you are facing right now?
9. Do you agree or disagree with the above painting that depicts this story by Eugene Pluchart? Explain.
Saturday:
10. What is your take-a-way?
I want to start by thanking everyone for welcoming me back into the fold so warmly and with such care. If I neglected to answer any comment directed to me please accept my apology, you have all been so gracious to me.
1. Have you ever observed the season of Lent? If so, share how it has been helpful — or not — to you.
I have not observed Lent in any structured meaningful way previously. I look forward to this combined with Our church’s upcoming sermon series on Counterfeit Gods as a chance for real growth.
2. What comments do you have on the above?
I liked the image of the sap rising in the tree, bringing growth and cleansing.
The image of the fire I immediately recognized as being a part of Disney Worlds Illuminations at Epcot Center, I thought (as I have often) about how so many of the themes at Disney World evoke powerful emotion by pointing to the struggle between good and evil, and the truth of it moves people, just not far enough in most cases.
From the video it stood out to me that he said trusting in God is a skill to be learned & that growth is a slow steady process. I thought of the rings of a tree, sometimes close together showing a year of almost no growth and other larger rings showing years of rapid growth.
Chris S, when i saw this picture I also thought of Illuminatons at Epcot!
Hi Dee! Hi all! I am always drawn back here to your studies, they are always rich and deep. I have never really observed lent, though when I was small, alot of my friends would! I remember because they always ate cheese pizza, and I thought, wow, I wish we celebrated lent!
Listening to Ed Welch’s clip, the thing that I could relate to was that, I too, thought God would work some sort of “magic” on me, making me less sinful and less fearful. What I believe now is that God did initially work some sort of “magic” in me, changing me from within, putting His good spirit within me. I no longer believe in “magic”, but then again, I somewhat believe in “magic”. “Magic”, being the Holy Spirit who lives within me, who works in me, transforming me, as I submit to Him.
I also believe the biggest thing to conquer fear is trust. That too, I believe, comes in ever increasing ways as we learn and see that He can be trusted. Who and what we put our faith in is important.
Glad you’re back, Fellowsojourner!
Thanks Renee!
Yes, glad to have you!
Fellowsojourner, I am glad you are back too. That is funny about the cheese pizza. We will have treats too as He visits us. Better than cheese pizza.
Welcome Fellowsojourner, looking forward to getting to know you on this blog.
So very glad to have you back Fellowsojourner!!!! You are such a blessing and this is a sweet gift to see you here.
Glad you are back Fellowsojourner! :-)
looking forward to this!
welcome annie!
Welcome Annie! Glad to have you.
Welcome aboard Annie glad to have you.
Annie in Anaheim — that’s easy to remember. So glad to have you join us!
About 5 years ago I was in a meeting led by a man from a very different denomination than I have ever been in (not sure what it was). While he was praying he came over to me and prayed that I would be delivered from fear. I don’t know if his prayer was spirit led or if I just appeared fearful. I was excited and hopeful, but nothing really happened so I just forgot about it. In the fall of 2010, as I continued in Dee’s study here and began another study also God promised me deliverance from fear. Over the course of that winter and spring, He did deliver me but it was not by instant magic. It was by systematic study of the Word and He used both studies weaving together truths from each.
What a wonderful testimony, Anne. Your persistence and the secrets He shows you bless us all.
1. Have you ever observed the season of Lent? If so, share how it has been helpful — or not — to you.
Yes, I love Lent even though my church doesn’t talk about it. I first heard of Lent years ago from Dee and have embraced it. I remember the first time I saw people in a grocery store with ash on their foreheads. My response was silly and immature I thought they were a cult and I hurried to get out of the grocery store whispering a prayer for safety. I was very young!
I see it as an opportunity to draw close to Jesus. This year I am anticipating Lent more than ever. Maybe because I have grown so and feel so completely utterly set free in Christ. I look forward to listening for His quiet voice as He always impresses ideas on my heart as to how I can please Him during the season.
2. What comments do you have on the above?
I read this and it resonated with me, “What will finally expel those leaves? As the weather warms, the sap will rise, pushing them off. In the same way, as we contemplate the greatness of our God, His holy life will rise in us, expelling those tenacious idols.”
I love the picture of the leaf so much that I saved it on my desktop as a reminder of my journey to loosen my grip on the idol of comfort. I certainly held on stubbornly all winter like that leaf. I love how you put it, “His holy life will rise within us, expelling those tenacious idols…” And I must add “and when it does we will find it impossible to contain our joy!”
Love the thought of the leaf on your desktop.
A few weeks ago I downloaded a book for my Kindle by John Michael Talbot about Christian meditation and contemplation. As a result I have been trying to practice this. Until today I was not sure how it fit for me. Now I know that I will be putting this on for lent this year.
I have observed Lent before. It gave me a sense of closeness to the Lord but never did the kind of ‘business’ that I experienced in the deliverance from fear. I am also excited about this past fall’s promise of joy. My understanding is that it is rooted directly to the preaching of the gospel. I can’t remember when I have actually led anyone to the Lord so this will be a miracle of faith. So this morning as I was meditating scenarios and words came to my mind that seemed ‘natural’ to me. I pray for God given opportunities and words. One thing I know for sure is that meditation is the right thing for me right now.
We have been studying the book of John in church and are now in the 15th chapter. As I read this I had a picture in mind of you Anne fearlessly abiding in Christ, and joyfully bearing much fruit for His glory!
Oh Chris I pray so!
1. Have you ever observed the season of Lent? If so, share how it has been helpful — or not — to you. Yes for the first time last year.. I grew up Cathoic and we practiced Lent but i never followed through wiht anything then just this last year Nancy Leigh Demoss was going through a book called the imccomprable Christ during the lent season. I followed along with that and i also gave up facebook for 40 days. It was helpful in the fact that i leanred more about the Lord and who he is.
I listen to her podcasts too Meg! I went through that study also :)
Laura dancer- isn’t she great! I love nancy Leigh Demoss and her study that she did for lent last year was fabulous!
2. What comments do you have on the above? I like what he said in the video that sometimes we want scripture to work magic But God has a better plan than that. I feel that way alot! But i need to remember that Often God has a better plan.. like if i am asking for peace he might not give it to me right away he might be trying to teach me something etc…
1. Have you ever observed the season of Lent? If so, share how it has been helpful — or not — to you.
Although the Sunday morning sermons and worship styles have been similar in the churches I have attended long term, I’ve been a relatively long-term member of 3 different denominations (dependent on where I lived). I’ve been Lutheran the longest. Most Lutherans acknowledge at least Advent and Lent in the church calendar. So, yes, I’ve observed Lent, but typically not in the sense of giving something up. I’ve attended Lenten Services at church. The benefit of this is preparation for and focus on Easter and events leading up to it. During the past few years, I haven’t attended Lenten services (at least not more than once/year), and Easter just seems to come and go as one more day in the midst of a busy time of the school year.
I think one year a long time ago, I may have given up something food-related — but it was more of a self-destructive, restrictive thing than anything encouraged by the church. One of my most vivid memories of Lent was in college when a friend of mine told her roommate that she had dirt on her forehead. And the roommate got very angry. Although I had heard of people giving up something for Lent (often chocolate), the college dorm was my first exposure to ashes on Ash Wednesday.
2. What comments do you have on the above?
Dee, I’m so glad you’re even mentioning the Lenten season! One of the things that struck me from the discussion above was the book title “When people are BIG and GOD is small.” As I thought about that title and the Lenten season, I think of churches in which it is or was taboo to observe either Advent or Lent — because they are “too Catholic” or “too Lutheran.” (Yet some of those same churches have embraced 40-day adventures right before Easter!). This makes me realize that congregations and denominations (and we as people within them) make GOD small, and other people BIG when we are quick to judge other traditions without knowing much about them. When I was in college, I had a summer job in an unsafe area and had no way of getting to work. One Sunday morning, I started out a few hours early and caught a bus (only me and a few people who were hung-over or stoned on there), and then a subway to go to a large, well-known cathedral. While I didn’t hear much of the Gospel in the sermon, the liturgy was full of it and the building pointed to the majesty of God. And I was refreshed. God doesn’t fit in any denominational box, but how often I try to box Him into my own understanding.
Renee — I so appreciate your thoughts about fitting God into a denominational box. Though I love Reformed theology, I have learned much from other denominations, and seen that God has a remnant in every one. I’ve wondered if the prayer of Christ in John 17 for us to be one has to do with loving one another and appreciating that spark, no matter the “box.”
I agree totally, Dee! When my oldest was 6 we were looking for a boy scout troop for him to join. The public schools usually have at least one, but they aren’t very well run (at least where we lived). I was at a play date with several other mothers/kids and one lady said we should try her bs troop. I asked where and she told me her church. I agreed to try it out and went to her church. It was a church of Jesus Christ – latterday saints; a Mormon church. Well, I have never been treated so well and been so blessed by the church and troop! The boy scouts are a mission of the church so they do a great job they never once pressured us into joining, they were just beautiful people. It makes me a bit upset when groups are discriminated against because some people in the past weren’t all that “normal.” the latter day sect believes in the Trinity; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They believe in the Bible. They believe in helping people. I believe God would want me to learn about caring for others through the Mormans we were in th troop with. We ended up staying 5 years. It was a great experience for us.
Thank you, Dee, for your invitation to draw nearer to Christ during this most holy Lenten season.
Re: your question about whether or not I’ve set apart Lent in previous years; yes, but not with consistency. The years that I did, Easter meant so much and God used it as a time to refine me for His Glory. I’m especially excited to be focusing on new awareness of idols and turning them over to Him.
Bless you for your faithfulness and teaching.
Welcome Jane!
Welcome Jane, hope you enjoy the blogs.
Jane — so very very glad to have you! Thanks for joining us!
Dee, WoW! Great weeks ahead!
1. Have you ever observed the season of Lent? If so, share how it has been helpful — or not — to you.
I did here on this blog for the first time when we went through this a year or maybe it was two years ago. I can’t recall if we did lent first or after we did our study on Idolatry, but either way God met me in a big way! During Lent I saw for the first time the depth of God’s love for me. You all know my testimony so I don’t want to repeat it, but I let go and he met me, right here on this blog, and over time as I fell in love with Him, He showed me He indeed was bigger. He set me free and the intimacy is growing.
As Elizabeth said in the last post, it is a process of refinement, and I fail, but I am finding more and more I can turn to Him and say, “I trust in you, O LORD;..You are my God”. PRAISE BE TO HIM, THE STONECUTTER GOD WHO LOVES ME SO MUCH HE DIED TO SET ME FREE. MY REDEEMER, NOT JUST IN SALVATION BUT ALSO RESCUING ME FROM THE POWER OF SIN-Amazing love, how can it be? And go figure-I went from being curled up in a ball on my bed around my pain two years ago, to coming here on this blog, God meeting me here, setting me free-and while He is continuing to refine me, He has set this dream in my heart-my passion is to see this happen in other’s lives-and HE IS PROVIDING OPPORTUNITY AFTER OPPORTUNITY-especially in the Bible studies I have been in. ;-) As Ed Welch said above, it is a pleasure to see others being set free-to see the process of the Lord moving in their life.
Sunday/Monday Icebreaker
1. Have you ever observed the season of Lent? If so, share how it has been helpful — or not — to you.
I did grow up observing Lent, but at the time, the focus seemed on the taking off, usually a favorite type of candy, etc…with anticipation of indulgence on Easter, and the reality of much tempting from siblings. But as I got older, and was in a different denomination, I did think of Lent and missed some of the significance—the real waiting, the true anticipation of what Easter had come to mean. Finally, in the last 7 years, since joining the Presbyterian (PCA) church, I have been able to see some of the traditions that only seemed like rituals as a child, be redeemed. I have come to appreciate liturgy, the confessions, the catechisms, and Lent—in a whole new, deeper way.
2. What comments do you have on the above?
I liked the Ed Welch clip—that fear is an anxiety created by predicting the future, convinced “it will get worse”. I have been there. He said we want Scripture to do magic; we want to be able to read a verse 12 times and be healed. But God’s work in us is a slow, steady growth—and the only antidote for fear, is trust.
I think I posted this last year, but it’s a link to Piper’s Lenten Lights Devotionals for Lent. I thought some of you might be interested:
http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/articles/lenten-lights#First
Thanks for that link, Elizabeth!
We have done Advent candles in our church for many years, but I had never heard of Lenten candles. Thanks for this link, Elizabeth. Good readings.
Something else just jumped out at me: “…we’ll consider what began to change Moses from a man who had taken his life into his own hands and made a royal mess of it ….” pun intended ?? Anyway, I got a chuckle out of how true the “royal mess” was!
:-)
I have observed Lent in lots of ways, one year I fasted until 5 and prayed for a friend who had cancer every day, I have given up pop, tv, complaining:) its diffent every year. my mom gives up chocolate every year and it always bothered me and now I see why after reading a post above….its seems more self destructive then growth producing. sacrifice for the sake of sacrifice is worthless, there needs to be a reason for the sacrifice. thats why I LOVE how you re-invent lent for me Dee! its about growing closer to God, not showing off how pious we are:)
I am going to spend from 6:30-7:30 every morning with Jesus for this 40 days. and read through the book 1000 gifts. we are going to be on vacation for 10 days of lent so this time may vary then:) but I am the type of person that needs definite boundries so these are mine for lent:)
Good specific plan, Cyndi! And good to know yourself.
Let us know your treasures from 1000 gifts.
oops skiped 2!
when we forget how big God is we forget how HIS Spirit is there to empower us! and we ARE really little without HIM! forgetting HIM makes us fearful.
What will finally expel those leaves? As the weather warms, the sap will rise, pushing them off. In the same way, as we contemplate the greatness of our God, His holy life will rise in us, expelling those tenacious idols.
this is what stood out the most.
Lent is one of my favorite seasons that always draws me closer to our Lord, as I meditate on His passion. When we really understand what Jesus did for us, it really reminds us just how much He loves us. There are so many messages He gives us as we journey with Him during this season that sets an example for us. I am looking forward to participating in this bible study with Dee, as I participated in some of her other studies and grown so much. Thank you for the opportunity to participate. Blessings, Maura
Love your initial comment, Maura. So glad to have you with us.
Welcome Maura, I was in your beautiful state last fall and enjoyed it immensely.
I am at my daughter’s helping with the three boys. Everyone in her house is sick with the flu. Hopefully I won’t get sick.
Praying Diane.
Praying for you Diane that God shields you from any germs as you give your love to your family.
Diane–I didn’t get to respond yesterday but have been praying–what a blessing you are to your daughter! Praying for a quick recovery and protection over your own health–keep us posted
Hi all:
I may spend more time reading and doing this study than in writing and responding. My life is in an extremely stressful season and I don’t have much time to write.
I have observed Lent from time to time. It has been more of a discipline than a time of “feelings” which is what I really wanted. The most special time was one year when I focused on the last week of Jesus life on earth and spent a week reading about each of those last days from Palm Sunday on to the ressurection. The Lord was truly magnified in my sight during that season.
In the short vidoe clip 2 things stood out for me. When Ed described how overcoming fear is learning the skill of trusting God in the good times and the bad. Learning a skill is a process- we start and are brand new, we practice and get better, we fall and fail, then almost imperceptibly the skill becomes second nature. The other thin he said is that once we hear what God is saying to us then we need to begin the process of moving that knowledge down deep into our hearts- I am in grad school and that process in education is called transformational learning. That is the kind of learning I want to have with God!
Lucy, welcome. I love your goal and also the way you verbalized it. Transformational learning. You will experience it as you study the word of God.
Welcome Lucy!
Welcome, Lucy. I like the way you described transformational learning. I’ve been frustrated when some refer to a 5 minute activity in class as transformational — I’ll remember how you defined it. I’m in education, too, but my “student in a university class” days are behind me (for now).
Welcome Lucy!
Welcome Lucy, I really liked where you said “learning is a process….”. That really made it clearer to see the time it takes to welcome God into our lives. Thanks!
Welcome, Lucy. So glad to have you, whether as a reader or a participant. May we all be transformed this Lent.
Speaking of treats, I had one today. Our offeratory was a solo cello of Be Thou My Vision. It was the most beautiful piece of music I have ever heard live.
2. Rebecca’s victory stands out to me. After understanding the oppression of fear that she has been under, her deliverance is a glorious testimony to the power of God to transform us. It happens when His name is glorified and we see who He really is. My prayer is for just that. Lord, be glorified before each and every woman on this blog. Help us to see how big You are. Transform us into women of true vision.
I use to observe Lent as a Catholic, however when I became a Baptist, I stopped observing it, and have not really given it the attention I did as a Catholic.
“Every inordinate emotion — of anxiety, fear, anger, pride — is all because we are forgetting who God is.” This quote struck a cord with me because it happens to me often. I get caught up in the “world” and shamefully admit that in my fit of anger, I focus on the sitution, not God. I think it is definitely “when people are big and God is small”. We take our eyes off God and “glance” or “stare” at our problem or people causing the problem instead of focusing on God’s promise.
Welcome, Lorraine! Glad to have you.
Sorry I am jumping a little ahead here.. I dont have answer for tuesdaus questions still praying about it…
A. What did God command His people not to do and why? Do not make for yourselves an idol in any form. Becasue he is a jealous God.
B. How might this relate to you and your “idols of the heart?” Its a good reminder for me that God is jealous so when i am worshipping anything other than him he is Jealous. Oh Lord please help me with this i have so many idols of the heart and they are so easy for me to give into becasue they are “right there” and I cant see you so its so hard for me to do this but nothing is impossible for you. Lord help me to not even want to crave these things anymore and when i do help me to remember that you are a Jealous God.
My husband grew up Catholic where Lent was practiced. I grew up Methodist, and we also participated in Lent. when we married, we combined our traditions and began to grow in our faith. Today as Christ followers Lent is a very significant part of our church year, almost always participating in some study or practice that is more contemplative in nature. I am looking forward to participating in this study .
Welcome, welcome, Carol!
We are glad you have joined us, Carol!
3. Christians around the world will get ashes on their foreheads, with the same words, though in many different languages. What are they and what truth do they speak to our souls?
“For dust you are and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19)
I had no idea — had to look it up: http://www.orlutheran.com/html/ash.html
“This is of course what God spoke to Adam and Eve after they eaten of the forbidden fruit and fallen into sin. These words indicated to our first parents the bitterest fruit of their sin, namely death. In the context of the Ash Wednesday imposition of ashes, they remind each penitent of their sinfulness and mortality, and, thus, their need to repent and get right with God before it is too late. The cross reminds each penitent of the good news that through Jesus Christ crucified there is forgiveness for all sins, all guilt, and all punishment.”
The ashes remind us of our sinfulness and the wages of sin, death. The ashes are applied in the shape of a cross — reminding us that because Jesus died for us, we receive forgiveness.
Knew I could count on you to research this, Renee!
I grew up Roman Catholic and giving something up (usually a food) during Lent was part of our family. I have continued either fasting from a food during Lent, or adding something like a bible study, more prayer time, etc. during the Lenten season. I have been a member of three different churches in the last 26 years, the longest has been 22 years in a Presbyterian Church. Our church is progressive and celebrates the Lenten season every year, starting with a church service where one can have a ash cross placed on their forehead! Lent has typically been a meaningful time in our family, with many of us giving up a favorite food, or adding a prayer time to our day. Our couple’s bible study frequently studies a Lenten book to encourage us to focus on Jesus and His sacrifice for us.
I had a serious panic attack as mentioned in the video~~it was during a time of my life of intense prayer and study; nonetheless, I spent 6 hours in the emergency room trying to figure out if I was having a heart attack. What I learned from that intense, expensive day of testing was, God is always there for me, and I needed a strong wake-up to free me from my “idol” of trying to control my children and their decisions.
I need to refocus my thoughts on Jesus, thus, my desire to do this study. Plus, I just heard Dee talk at our Women’s Retreat last weekend and was totally refreshed and encouraged from her wise words to us.
Tina — so glad to have you with us. You bring a rich heritage and a refreshing honesty. Welcome!
Welcome Tina, glad you enjoyed Dee’s retreat. I am hoping to get to hear her in person this year.
Kim, A friend and I are going to Dee’s retreat in Cozad Sept 29th…do you want to ride along with us?
Joyce, I just now saw this. Yes, I would love that!
Sunday/Monday Icebreaker
1. Have you ever observed the season of Lent? If so, share how it has been helpful — or not — to you. – I grew up Catholic so we did go and get ashes on ash Wednesday but as a kid I had no real idea of why I was doing it other than because my parents told me I had too. I am no longer a Catholic and have grown more in my understanding of what ash Wednesday is about and it just saddens me to know what Jesus went thru for me, a sinner.
2. What comments do you have on the above? – I think for me when he said that fear and anxiety are predictions of the future, that opened up my eyes to see that I can’t tell what is going to happen to me in the future, no one can, only God knows the plans he has for me. So why am I wasting my time in worrying about something that God already has control of. I need to replace that worry and anxiety with repentance and praying to Jesus. To ask Him to calm my fears and to help me with my struggles. We always think that we can fix it, we don’t need any help, we know how to handle it, but that is so wrong thinking when God is not in the center of it we can’t fix anything. We need to trust Him and let him handle the issues as they come up. He knows what’s best for us, even though it may not be what we want at that time.
I pray for your son as he comes to mind, Julie. Would you please thank him for me for his service if it is appropriate?
Thanks Kim, I will let him know. We appreciate the prayers.
Sunday/Monday Icebreaker
1. Have you ever observed the season of Lent? If so, share how it has been helpful — or not — to you.
I have observed the Lenten season. My mom is Catholic and my dad was Methodist. I grew up in the Methodist church mostly and both churches had the ashes. We went to church on ash wednesday and received them. I didn’t really understand as a child why we did it. I also remember people swearing off eating chocolate, or not watching tv, or some other “luxury” so they could (supposedly) reflect on the season and Christ. Most people I knew actually completed the 40 days (a German friend of mine always gave up beer!) unlike the new years resolutions we always make and break. I have not ever really participated in the event myself. I’m not sure why.
2. What comments do you have on the above?
I think it’s interesting that Ed Welch is discussing being fearful (or maybe ironic). A friend of mine was lamenting on how busy she is and can’t seem to fit the time in to listen to a devotional I suggested. I was trying to explain how i am also very busy and need to fit the study in because it keeps me same in my crazy life! She sounded very stressed and even fearful. I suggested she take care of herself by sleeping :), exercising, and studying the Bible first, and have faith that God will be there to help her. I hope I didn’t upset her with my suggestions. I just thought it was funny that I quoted Matthew 6:25 to her and Ed Welch quoted a similar phrase from Isaiah!
Interesting testimony about your friend.
Whatever our negative emotion, He really is the One to whom we must go. If we don’t take the time, the negative emotion will rule us.
Good Morning Sisters!
It’s a joy to see some old friends back and new friends joining us.
I’m in Texas in the prisons so a bit behind, and need to read the end of last week, but wanted to stop in and welcome you.
The hunger in the women in prison is immeasurable. Every eye is on me as I speak, like hungry children. The message of idolatry is penetrating. In the prisons where we’ve had time to also do small groups, I am overwhelmed at how God is moving through this message, breaking through. Such a privilege to be here.
I realize though too how big my comfort idol is. I think I would be in anguish to be in prison — it would certainly be a refining fire for me. Life is so hard. Crowded. Cold, (winter, no heat)Hard cots. Terrible food.
And yet — there is joy in Him.
Eager to travel with you in Lent. We’re off to a good start.
Dee, my view of prison life is skewed. Thanks for sharing this. I have had a heart to work in prison ministry for some time so I will begin by praying for these dear women. It makes me very thankful for everything I have esp. a warm bed. Oh Jesus, I pray for these dear women for I know if it weren’t for your grace I could be in their shoes. I thank you for how you are using Dee to speak love into their lives. Help us to pray faithfully for them. I thank you for a warm clean bed and food. If there is something more we can do for these women please show us. I pray for heat and good food but mostly I pray for a revelation of Jesus for each one. Amen.
So encouraging to hear how God is moving-breaking through and to hear of their joy in Him in the middle of such horrible living conditions. I think I too would be in anguish.
Because I’ve been in the prisons I was a bit slow to approve some of your comments, but I think I’ve done them all so you may need to look for yourself above if you are new.
2. What comments do you have on the above?
First of all, I love the word picture of the leaf, and the actual picture is wonderful!
I liked Ed Welch a lot! I really thought these statements from Ed were key:
“One of the ways the body of Christ is essential is to continue to orient us to a God who really does hear. I know you are struggling but I know he does hear you.” … “It is an honor to be able to walk with people recognizing that the Lord does speak to us-how can we find together what he says, and once we hear what he says how can we apply that in ways that truly go deeply into our hearts.” …”Sometimes we want Scripture to do magic on us. But God has a better plan than that. It is the slow steady growth and development.”
God told his people to make no idols, He is a jealous God and demands our hearts. This relates to me in that God is jealous of MY heart and anything I put in front of HIM HE will be jealous of…I cause HIM to burn with jealousy and HE wants to burn up all that comes between us so that HE can have our heart. At first I didnt get the consuming fire thing but then after reading if a few times I think it means that HE wants to get rid of all that stands between us, not burn ME up:) which is what it seemed like at first read:)
Moses is used by God in spite of his failures and weaknesses. I think he was feeling very guilty about living such a great life and watching all his people be slaves. guilt makes us do really weird things some times. I wonder if it made his control idol rear its ugly head, he had had enough and he was going to do something about it. I also wonder if its that passion that made him just the man for the job God had for him….even though after 40 years of tending sheep and raising a family Moses had kinda forgotten it and had to be prodded to act:)
makes me wonder, our biggest strengths are often our biggest weaknesses, how often have i totally abandoned something because I really messed it up…..but the truth is that God could have used it if I would only have given it to HIM and not tried to do it on my own. I just LOVE HOW GOD USES MESSED UP PEOPLE! IN OUR WEAKNESS HE IS STRONG! in fact im pretty sure God likes to use our weaknesses best because then HE gets all the credit:)
parenting can be the best idol burner:) The ONLY way I can be a good parent is ON MY KNEES I have messed up so many times, in so many ways and yet as I beg God to fill in my gaps HE IS so faithful to do that. Nothing has burned away my idols of control and approval like being a mom! I am daily challenged to give up my idol of comfort and to turn to GOD for my strength. My teenagers challenge me every day to see people and not their sins, my little girls challenge me to give more of myself then I have and once more I am drawn to me sweet Saviour who gives strength to the week and comfort to the weary….
When I am tempted to make my children idols I make them into monuments instead….monuments that attest to Gods mercy and grace at using a cracked vessel like me to teach them of HIS love. the 2 littlest monuments our up, I must go give showers:)
Only way I can be a good parent is on my knees.
Yes.
Or good anything.
Thanks, cyndi.
3. Christians around the world will get ashes on their foreheads, with the same words, though in many different languages. What are they and what truth do they speak to our souls? (You may need to research to find out!)
“for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” (Genesis 3:19). I’ve also heard “repent and believe in the Gospel” (Mark 1:15).
These Scriptures remind us who we are, and Who He Is. The truth for my soul is that I am mortal—I will die. And my hope of New Life is found only through repentance and faith.
4….What will you do?
On the Desiring God blog, Noel Piper said this of Lent “it is a time for turning away from anything that has kept us from God and for turning or returning to him. It is a time to pray that God renew our love for Him and our dependence on Him.”
I have been praying and thought I knew but this morning have come up with 7 things! (impatience, fear, criticism, defending myself…and a few more) So I want to release one thing each week. This week, I want to lay down my impatience, especially in the mornings. I had just accepted this as part of motherhood, but I have been convicted lately that “love is patient”. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit—I have been given it, I can claim it.
That’s so good Elizabeth..
Father, I lift up Elizabeth and ask that when she feels impatient that you will help her pause and think about what is more important than You at that moment. May You come to her. May she see a difference.
May we each take her model to heart. Show us each, O Lord, what discipline you would have for us each week. Thank you for Noel’s words.
In Jesus Name
Welcome to all the new names and those who have returned–I am excited for the journey we’re on together!
Dee, I have been praying for your time and will continue. I am humbled by these women in the prisons–they have been stripped of EVERY physical, emotional comfort–and are feasting on HIM! WOW.
3. Christians around the world will get ashes on their foreheads, with the same words, though in many different languages. What are they and what truth do they speak to our souls? (You may need to research to find out!) Whether or not your church observes this outward sign, you can take it in your heart.
“for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” (Genesis 3:19).
3. For those of you who have journeyed with us through our study of idolatry, what heart idol do you think might have motivated Moses to take things into his own hands and commit a murder? Control/power?
I also grew up Catholic. I was taught to give up food or a bad habit. I’m no longer a practicing Catholic. The Lord brought me to my knees back in April of 1981!! And I’m so thankful. I’ve never participated in a Blog but I have followed some of yours, Dee. I’ve also heard you on the Moody Station here in Chicago. How God has blessed & strengthened you!
In regards to my comments for #2: I get the meaning of ‘panic attacks’. I also get ‘clinging to idols’!! I am human!!! Ha!Ha! And I would truly love to give up an emotion or two for lent!! Is that possible??? Probably not, but I am learning to RELACE that idol with God. My idol of fear to truly trusting in God. My idol of self-centeredness to serving my Lord instead. My idol of worry to asking for God’s wisdom. Believe me He’s always nugging me back to Him; I’m ashamed to say I forget who God is….
Which leads to another idol, unforgiveness!! A hugh one for me ladies. I can forgive others, but I struggle with forgiving myself.
So I am sooooo looking forward to ‘lessening my grip on my idols & tightening my grip on the sweet intimacy with Jesus’!! I’m so glad to have you all as my accountability ladies & my encouragers in Christ. Looking forward to the next 7 weeks.
Welcome Donna, you’re in the right place among others with the same desire. Glad to have you.
Thank you for the warm welcome Kim!!
Dear Donna –
So good to have you with us — love your comments.
Learned something great in prison this week about the struggle to forgive ourselves from an amazing speaker (His first name is Grove — and he is doing an amazing work in prison. He fought for the man who accidently killed his four-year-old daughter so he wouldn’t go to prison.)
He said, “Stop struggling to forgive yourself because you cannot. It is not possible. Only God can forgive sins. And He has.”
Good to remember— that we can’t forgive ourselves, only God can forgive sins. AND HE HAS!
Welcome Donna and all the new ladies I may have missed welcoming. Donna we are almost neighbors, I live in Valparaiso. Good to have you all!
How about that!! Looking forward to this journey together!
anyone know how joyce and kendra are doing???
I am new to the blog (though participated a bit in God of all Comfort), but had to join as I saw the topic of Lent.
I did not grow up observing Lent, except in a ritualized way that did not convey meaning to me.
But I’ve personally observed Lent for the past 3 years. I was led into it tenderly and compassionately by an older woman who saw my desire to know God in a deeper way, and so she began to casually share with me from her own heart. She introduced me to the Ignation exercises and she led me gently into walking the 40 days of Lent in a personal way, using a variety of ‘helps’ but mostly just by spending slow, sustained, quiet time throughout the day and night in the Presence. In a way, that was the harder thing for me… slowing myself down and stepping out of my compulsed busy life. Last year, I tried abstaining from a variety of things, and I hope I might talk of that experience as the days unfold here.
I look forward to walking through this bittersweet time with those on this blog. Thank you for offering this, Dee.
Alexandra
Good to have you again, Alexandra!
Alexandra — I can see you will bring a richness to our journey this Lent. So glad to have you!
Dee
Hi, I’m new here, too. Thanks for offering these online Bible Studies!
Icebreaker question #1: I did not grow up celebrating Lent. Though I do not come from a Hebraic or Jewish faith, I have found it very meaningful to celebrate a Messianic Passover.
Icebreaker question #2: I have found other books authored by Ed Welch to be helpful. I appreciate what he says in the little video clip here that ‘if our fears were eradicated by the 12th time we quoted a verse then we would not develop a daily, abiding trust in God (paraphrased).’
Cherie
Welcome, Cherie! Is there an image inside the teardrop? I can’t quite make it out.
Thank you, Kim! I’m excited to be here! Yes, there is an image of a mother and child inside the teardrop. This post (http://knittedintheheart.wordpress.com/about/) gives a bit of background for the graphic.
Very nice. So glad you are here.
Though we do not celebrate Lent either, we have celebrated the Passover Seder meal as a family for several years now, first with our kids and now as grandchildren are added. It has been a meaningful and fun tradition for our family.
Welcome to you Cherie! So glad you are here.
Welcome Cherie!!
Sunday/Monday Icebreaker
1. Have you ever observed the season of Lent? If so, share how it has been helpful — or not — to you.
I have never observed Lent. My prayer is that God will use this observance to draw me closer to Him.
I have been considering giving up Facebook, but it is the #1 method of communication for my church. That is why I joined Facebook, and now it’s what keeps me from getting off of it. I don’t play the games or spend a lot of time there, but I think I’ve lost more friends there than I’ve gained. I am going to give up Facebook for Lent.
2. What comments do you have on the above?
This video was very insightful. I definitely have some fears I need to let go of.
Lori, love the picture. Welcome!
Hi Lori — welcome. Tell us about the picture? You? Your daughter?
Sorry, I’m still trying to figure this all out.
The picture is of me when I was about 2. It’s one of my favorite pictures.
Lori, welcome what a cute little girlie you were! Don’t worry too much about figuring it out, just begin day by day answering the study questions.
Sometimes that might be all time allows, sometimes you may have time to read everyones posts and even to resond to them.
There is no perfect way to do it, just dive in!
Have you ever observed the season of Lent? If so, share how it has been helpful — or not — to you.
Yes. As a young girl in grade school I was Catholic and that is where I first learned of Lent. Easter and Spring have always been my favorite time of year.
I like to starting off the year reminded of the importance of Christ and the Cross, through this act of Lent. I remember having the Ash on my forhead and giving up candy.
I am looking foward to this Lent this year because now I am sharing it with a group of like minded Christians who want to draw closer to the Lord as much as I.
The video was insightful, it hit home with me. I have been having these “episodes” where i can not seem to make definate decisions on anything simple to where I am going to spend the few days I have off to write.
First I am going to Mississippi, then Lousisana,then Cape Girardeau. I have hotel cancellations in each state and I think one hotel in Natchez is convinced I’m nuts! Because I called to confirm a cancellation…:(
At church yesterday I prayed for deliverance from my double-mindedness, a life long behavior defect.
Once again these lessons are spot on in my life!
BTW: I made my mind up to stay in a nice Lodge on the Mississippi in Southern Illinois ( got a great rate!)
The lessons are spot on for me as well. I sometimes wonder if Dee is reading my journal. :)
3. Christians around the world will get ashes on their foreheads, with the same words, though in many different languages. What are they and what truth do they speak to our souls? (You may need to research to find out!) Whether or not your church observes this outward sign, you can take it in your heart.
“You have come from dust, and to dust you will return.”
I thought some of you might also find some of what I found interesting,
Excerpts from a Christian History Article I found through Christianity Today’s site
“origins of our modern Lenten practices go back to the earliest days of the church, when potential converts first underwent a fast of 40 hours before their baptisms at the Easter Vigil—soon extended to a period of prayer, fasting, and contemplation lasting 40 days. (Biblical models for this included Noah’s time on the Ark and Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness, as well as Israel’s wandering in the wilderness for 40 years.)
(The first mention of Ash Wednesday by name is in a seventh-century service book, the Gelasian Sacramentary.) Those who had fallen into what the early church considered serious sin—everything from committing adultery to serving in the military to performing magic and occult practices—after confessing that sin were enrolled in an “order of penitents” until they had made restitution. In many ways, they were treated similarly to converts preparing for baptism, as they sat separately from the rest of the congregation, sometimes dressed in special clothing, and did not participate in the celebration of the Eucharist. Also, they wore ashes on their heads
During the Protestant Reformation, the practice of Ash Wednesday soon died out in Reformed churches, which suppressed the church year in general due to a desire not to see one day as holier than another and a concern that people commonly marked feast days with too much feasting and associated frivolities. (Even Easter and Christmas were seen as problematic for these reasons.)”
From a Lutheran Churches website;
Ash Wednesday, like the season of Lent, is never mentioned in Scripture and is not commanded by God. Christians are free to either observe or not observe it. It also should be obvious that the imposition of ashes, like similar external practices, are meaningless, even hypocritical, unless there is a corresponding inner repentance and change of behavior. This is made clear in Isaiah 58:5-7 when God says,
Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself? Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes ? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD? 6 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter– when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
I liked this article best of all, there is more to it if you care to read the whole thing here is the site;
http://blog.beliefnet.com/markdroberts/pages/series/ash-wednesday-practice-and-meaning.html/
“What I value most about Ash Wednesday worship services is the chance for us
all to openly acknowledge our frailty and sinfulness. In a world that
often expects us to be perfect, on Ash Wednesday we freely confess our
imperfections. We can let down our pretenses and be truly honest with
each other about who we are. We all bear the mark of sin, from the
youngest babies to the oldest seniors. We all stand guilty before a holy
God. We all are mortal and will someday experience bodily death. Thus
we all need a Savior.”
“Ash Wednesday is a day when we stare death in the face.
Christians who observe this holiday get ashes “imposed” on their
foreheads, while a minister or lay church worker says, “You have come
from dust, and to dust you will return.” In other words, “You are going
to die. And here are some ashes to remind you, just in case you’ve
forgotten.”
For sixteen years of Ash Wednesday services at Irvine
Presyyterian Church, I put ashes on the heads of older adults, some of
whom had serious cancer and didn’t live much longer. I also put tiny
black crosses made of ash on the foreheads of babies far too young to
realize what was happening to them. I imposed ashes on teenagers and
senior citizens, on men and women, on boys and girls. All of these I
reminded of their mortality, and they freely received the reminder. “You
are dust,” I said, implying, “You are going to die.”
What gives us such freedom to think about death? Are we Christians morose?
Do we have some peculiar fascination with dying? I don’t think so.
Rather, what allows us to stare death in the face is the assurance of
life, real life, eternal life. When we know our lives are safe in the
hands of God, and that this physical life is just the beginning of
eternity, then we’re free to be honest about what lies ahead for us. We
can face death without fear or pretending, because we know the One who
defeated death.”
Thanks for this information, Chris S. This is helpful for those of us with no church background concerning Lent.
Thanks so much, Chris. So much richness.
Like the line about “What I like about Ash Wednesday services is a chance to freely acknowledge our brokenness and frailty.”
Hi Dee & everyone I’d like to join this blog if I may..I hope I can keep up:)
Have you ever observed the season of Lent?
No I haven’t, always thought it a Catholic Tradition. I think it would be good to focus on the Lord in these next 40 days to allow the Easter time to have more impact upon my heart instead of Easter arriving without really being thoughtful as I’d like, especially when it is obviously such an important time in the Christian calender as well as for the Christian heart.
What comments do you have on the above?
Holiness of God comes to mind..I read the passage on Moses & the burning bush a couple of weeks ago & it made me realise how little I have meditated upon God’s holiness seen through His word. Also Idols of my heart..always seem to be hiding behind them(idols) hoping God won’t find me yet hoping He will because I do need to see Him. The ways of this human heart.
ps Fellowsojourner I remember you :) blessings. Thank you Dee
Elizabeth in Oz — love you already. “Hoping God won’t find me yet hoping He will”
Elizabeth in Oz- ;-) Loved what you said here-”hoping God won’t find me, yet hoping He will because I do need to see Him.”- I have always loved the name Elizabeth, but with you and our other Elizabeth, I am growing more fond of it! :-)
I just want to begin this week by saying a big welcome to all the new ladies who have joined the blog for the Lenten season. I can tell we are in for a great time. I have already enjoyed reading all the experiences of everyone about Lent.
I have never celebrated Lent but Easter (and Good Friday) have long been my favorite Christian celebration. I come from a Canadian Baptist tradition where Lent has traditionally never been even mentioned, but I have had enough exposure to other traditions that I am really curious and eager to learn. I am looking forward to a new period of closeness to our Lord through our time in this Lenten study together.
Hi everyone! I missed you all and I see I have alot of catching up to do reading all the posts. Welcome to all the new gals! Missed you Fellowsojourner!
Kendra is home from the hospital tonight and resting up. It will be a week, wed that she broke her ankle so bad. Thank you for all the prayer’s! We can still use your prayer’s as it will be a very long 2 months taking care of her, with not putting pressure on the cast:( Love to all
Welcome back. Thanks so much for the update on Kendra. You all will continue to be in my prayers. Hope you get rested up too. Take care of yourself.
Hi Joyce, I’m so sad for Kendra….she was just trying to have fun (or so it seems)! I will continue to pray. Take care :)
Father, we lift up Joyce and Maury as they care for Kendra — protect them all physically, o Lord, and be with Kendra too.
3. Christians around the world will get ashes on their foreheads, with the same words, though in many different languages. What are they and what truth do they speak to our souls? (You may need to research to find out!) Whether or not your church observes this outward sign, you can take it in your heart.
The pastor will say something like ” remember you are dust and to dust you will return.”
I’m not sure how they speak truth to our souls; maybe to remind us we are small in the scope of things? We came from earth when God breathed life into us, and we will return to the earth when we expire. In the research I did, they spoke of humility and sacrifice for those who wear them. It is a time for atonement.
Welcome, welcome to all the new and welcome back to our dear familiar sisters.
Tomorrow is the official beginning — so think about how you will indeed observe “putting off and putting on” this week.
Those of you who know me know God has revealed to me my habit of manipulating people with side-ways comments — since His light has shone into the darkness of my soul, I am not saying those comments (usually) but they still come to mind. When they do, I want to put them off and say something true, loving, and kind. That’s my goal for this week. I also plan to not eat after supper and read a classic.
I am done with prison and headed back to Kansas City today. Amazing time. The incarcerated women who are believers amaze me. They are like rich black soil when I drop God’s Word in. The small group times are as rich as any I’ve seen because of their hunger.
I was also richly blessed by the other speakers and dancers. I told our new friend Donna a highlight for me, that I’d like to share with you:
Learned something great in prison this week about the struggle to forgive ourselves from an amazing speaker (His first name is Grove — and he is doing an amazing work bringing change to prisons. His prayer partner, a black man, accidentally ran over and killed Grove’s four year old daughter. Grove forgave him and fought to keep that man out of prison.
He said, “Stop struggling to forgive yourself because you cannot. It is not possible. Only God can forgive sins. And He has.” Isn’t that so true?
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Dee, I think your goal for this week is helping me to start to see some things that I need to put off and replace by putting on.
Wow, glad to hear how rich that time was in the prison for the women, and you! Also loved what you heard from Grove-how true that is! Reminds me of applying the Gospel to guilt- how God desires for us to rest in His forgiveness.
I hope we can be such soil too Dee.
Were you afraid when you began prison ministry?
Welcome home Dee and so glad we are doing this study and that the prison ministry went well last week. So good to know the women are hungry for Jesus and you are obedient to teach them.
Wow Dee I got goose bumps when I read your last sentence. “Stop struggling to forgive yourself because you cannot…..” My friend was over today (I help her with knitting & she’s helping me with crocheting!) & I brought up how I struggle with forgiving myself & she said these exact words!!! Wow, what a confirmation from the dear Lord!!!
We had a wonderful prayer time before she left & now I come on-line & read these words. I cannot WAIT to see how God works in all our lives!!
I have a question.. I always thought lent was a catholic thing as well and I am baptist and we never even talk about lent. So why do we celebrate it?
Hi Meg –
Catholics observe it, but so do many other denominations. Both Renee and Chris above gave some wonderful information about it. Like Christmas, it can be abused and misused, or a holy wonderful time to draw us closer to our crucified and risen Lord. It is a time for looking within to our sin and then to Him for rescue, a time of cleansing and transformation.
3.
After reading up more about Ash Wednesday, I want to go somewhere and observe it. Part of the symbolic nature of having ashes put on the forehead is that it represents ‘ownership’ He owns me. LOVE THAT. Also that it symbolizes repentance and turning -putting off and putting on-so while abstaining from something you are putting on.
Genesis 3:19 is the only verse I found: “…for dust you are and to dust you will return.”
(I couldn’t find anything else, but there could be another verse.)
The fact that he owns me screams of how big he is and how small I am. When my soul gazes on Him the reality of who I am and who He is humbles me and brings me to repentance-how I need to be reminded of this-how I need the Holy Spirit to remind me! I think the verse in Genesis speaks loudly of this.
4. I am reminded of Dee in the prison and her testimony of what they give up-the basic comfort necessities. Could I? I am not sure if I would crumble too! I decided to give up Coffee for a week. That just seems so petty though in comparison to some deeper things I might not see that I should give up. I need to think some more on this and and come back to it.
So now God has identified an area of much needed repentance and transformation. God has been searing my darkness in this area with His light-but He has been ever so slow and gentle with me. My sin issue is impatience and a critical spirit toward some of my husband’s habits and behaviors-ouch. Although I don’t say to him what I think unless it is helpful because I don’t want to crush his spirit-I do think things though and when I do, the Holy Spirit says-Love him, just love him like Christ loves you. SO, my plan is to put off these thoughts and replace them with scripture and or a good edifying book. I will start with this week, and perhaps read Keller’s book on marriage? I was also thinking of Leslie Vernick. I love her f.b. blog posts.
Rebecca–thank you for sharing so honestly. I struggle with this one too! Although unfortunately I DO sometimes say them out loud and can be a nag at times–so I am humbled by your example ;) I will pray for you to continue to guard your words and to build him up with Christ like love
elizabeth, thanks so much for praying for me. I do have a hard time seeing you as a nag though! ;-) Maybe you and I can kind of spur one another on in this area of impatience with our kids and spouse-to earnestly pray for one another and to see what is more important than Jesus at that time-and to set our soul’s gaze upon Him. Love you sister!
I have struggled with dwelling on my husband’s flaws or the ways he irritates me way too much in my head.
Matthew 6 22 & 23 had puzzled me until I read them in the Message
Here they are from the ESV
Matthew 6:22 & 23 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light,
but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
And here from The Message
“Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light.
If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar. If you pull the blinds on your windows, what a dark life you will have!
These verses hit me after reading them in the Message like a ton of bricks.
Bill is a volunteer firefighter, I resented the pager and radio going off sometimes in the middle of the night sometimes during dinner or a conversation. I resented being awaked again as he came to bed after being out on a call .
I realized my resentments and the irritations’ I fed and watered and grew in my mind and heart were examples of the Matthew 6:23 squinty eyed greed! I decided to replace those thoughts with gratitude that I had a good (albeit flawed) husband, something so many women desire to have, and be grateful he had come safely home.
This really helped me to love and appreciate my husband.
Wow! That’s an amazing verse. It really convicts me. May our eyes be healthy with wonder and trust in God so that our whole bodies will be full of light.
Chris S–I am at work and have to be quick, but had to respond when I saw this! WOW. I am thinking how if my eye is healthy–if I am seeing my husband and those around me through the eyes of Christ, as His loved creation–then my “whole body will be full of light”, I can offer my children, husband, others… patience and grace. But if my eye is bad–if my vision is skewed because I am looking at my idols, my wants, instead of looking at Him–then my whole body is “full of darkness”–and everything that comes out of it is dark, critical, icky. So it all begins with my eyes–am I looking at HIM, or my Self…thank you for sharing this, it is transforming.
Oh my, did I need to see that, thanks Chris. I find my self grumbling because he leaves things left out in the spot that I think they should not be in. When what I should be doing is thanking God for him, for how hard he works in the heat and cold at the steel mill while I’m at a desk inside, how he supports are family and truly loves me and the Lord is what I need to putting in my heart.
Chris S. this verse is ‘Fantastic’. It will definitely be one I memorize during this Lent season. Thank you for sharing this with us. It was a definite WOW moment for me too!!
Thanks ladies, I am glad to know this verse convicted & blessed you too.
I like to think of my husband as a good gift God gave to me. He is not perfect, but he is perfect for me.
I don’t suppose I would really like it if he were perfect, my flaws would be so glaring if he were!
4.
You may want to take a week at a time. What will you do?
We went to a grief counseling appointment yesterday. I felt a lot of anger during the appointment and afterward, sort of nebulous anger not directed at someone, I just knew I felt anger.
Bill and I drove separately as I had picked him up at work. As I drove home alone I had a dark time, I wanted to escape thinking and feeling and could only think of drinking alcoholic beverages till I passed out I told myself No about that, then my mind fled to okay then chocolate chip cookies. I asked God to take it all, the pain and the guilt and all of it and do what He will with it. I cried a lot yesterday evening, but didn’t drink anything and ate a small dinner. Doing the research on Lent helped me though the evening, perhaps especially the thoughts about mortality.
The tidbit you brought for us Dee about forgiving ourselves reminded me of something from Brother Lawrence’s ‘Practicing the Presence of God’ when he said something like when he sinned he was not surprised by it, as he was a fallen fallible human and didn’t endlessly berate himself. His practice was to confess it quickly and get back in to fellowship and the presence of God as quickly as possible. I have given the book away and I wished I had it still so that I could properly quote it. It is a rich little book.
I will this week spend less time on facebook, less, not none at all, as this is how I communicate with my away from home children, especially now Mike in Afghanistan, and instead I intend to read Ravi Zacharias book ‘Cries of the Heart”. I also will forego bringing any wine into the house.
Welcome to all the new ladies!
Your sharing is raw and honest — so real.
Yes — I think the recognition of our mortality is so helpful — like the verse from Ecclesiastes about being better to go into the house of mourning than the house of feasting for death is the destiny of every man and the living should take it to heart…
Yes Chris, I appreciate your honesty here. You have so much on you. I understand your desire for escape. I pray that you will find refuge in the Lord.
Thank you Dee and Anne, very much.
I did wonder if I should be so honest.
The song Rescue has been mine lately, the line that says I can’t be left behind speaks to me in that He won’t leave me, but also that I don’t want to be left behind.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaALSnYVNPE
This is a beautiful song, Chris S. Thanks so much for sharing it. It really touches my heart. And thanks so much for your honesty in sharing your struggles. Jesus loves you so much.
thank you Diane!
Beautiful – thanks for sharing the song!
Your honesty touched my heart Chris.
I will be praying special prayers just for you this week.
God loves you.
Thank you Donna
1. Have you ever observed the season of Lent? If so, share how it has been helpful — or not — to you.
Being raised in a somewhat Catholic home (we didn’t go to church, but I made my 1st Communion) we always had to give something up for Lent. It was pretty much an endurance contest and there wasn’t really anything holy about it. The only good that came from it is that I gave up cream and sugar in my coffee one year and since then I don’t like sugar in my coffee anymore.
I’m really not sure what is going to happen these next few weeks. My response to the question of Lent has always been “I’m not Catholic.”
You made me laugh twice in your short paragraph!
Boy do I hear you girlfriend!!! Been there; done that.
So glad I’m learning the real meaning of Lent. Not only to ‘give up’ but to draw closer to God.
Just thought I’d join you for your Lenten Study, and will invite a friend from Dubai.
Wonderful International Ann!
Welcome to the study, International Ann!
So glad to meet you International Ann!!
Welcom aboard!!
Hello Dee and study group,
I’m new to your studies Dee but have been so blessed hearing you on Midday.
I was “sort of” raised Catholic. After marriage, I asked Jesus into my heart and for the past three or so years I’ve observed Lent in my heart. I still have alot of questions, and reading the comments here has answered many. I’m looking forward to the next few weeks with you all and I’m thankful to be here. Today is Tuesday and I’m still prayerfully asking what to put off and put on. –
While thinking of Lent I’ve never really thought about my idols and fear before; but… many times I’ve been that snow covered leaf.
You are so welcome here — such a pretty face. Like your “observed Lent in my heart.”
Glad to have you, Lea.
Hi Lea, welcome to the study!
Hello Lea!! Welcome!
1. Have you ever observed the season of Lent? If so, share how it has been helpful — or not — to you. Yes last year with you all. I did most years because of our church growing up but now it holds a more significant meaning to me now. Pondering Christ and the cross. My sin yet His love.
2. What comments do you have on the above? Liked the clip. How we grow slowly. Good reminder especially when I get to see lots of my depravity. Also good reminder that idols cannot be removed only replaced.
3. Liked the research I read already posted in comments. It reminds me of Job, blessed Naked I come in and Naked I go. Also the Psalm teach me to number my days. What a joyous time remembering we are dust and soon we will be with Him.
4. I think I am going to cut Facebook time, and really would like to finish Yancey’s book on prayer and the transforming power of the gospel by Bridges.
I haven’t read that one by Bridges. Let me know how you like it.
4. What will I give up for Lent? I have been convicted lately of how much I see negatively and respond critically. I think it is my control idol. For Lent (and actually for ever) I am going to pray that I will stop speaking anything to correct others unless I pray about it and feel it is absolutely necessary . I will also be praying that God will change my heart from being so critical and negative that I will be more accepting of other’s flaws because I too am a deeply flawed person.
Praying with you for that. Good.
Bravo for you Diane, I am pretty sure Satan is not happy that you have seen this in yourself! Ii have had simalar struggles wit cynicism.
Praying with you for new eyes to see His best in others – to speak it out and call it forth in the lives of others.
Thanks Dee, Chris S, and Cherie for your prayers and perceptive words. My critical words are the top edge of an iceberg of issues that God is beginning to show me I need to change. Satan is definitely throwing all kinds of obstacles in my way and I need to submit time and again that God would change my heart “to see His best in others – to … call it forth in the lives of others”.
A. What did God command His people not to do and why?
He commanded us to not make anything an idol. He said it is because he is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
I never really understood this…God is perfect. Why would He be jealous? Jealousy is a horrible quality to have, I don’t understand.
B. How might this relate to you and your “idols of the heart?”
We should only have God as a “habit,” nothing else. He is all we need in life. If we remember God first then the rest of our life falls into place.
(Anything or anyone that at anytime might be more important to you than God.)
Only God has a right to jealousy because He is perfect and He knows that if we run to other lovers it destroys us. His jealousy is pure — for our good. Does that make sense?
What do others have to say?
I too have wondered about a jealous God. I found this to help us.
The root idea in the Old Testament word jealous is to become intensely red. It seems to refer to the changing color of the face or the rising heat of the emotions which are associated with intense zeal or fervor over something dear to us. In fact, both the Old and New Testament words for jealousy are also translated “zeal.” Being jealous and being zealous are essentially the same thing in the Bible. God is zealous—eager about protecting what is precious to Him.
http://bible.org/seriespage/jealous-god
Mr. Strauss explores a side of jealousy we may not have considered.
Kim, Like what you wrote about God being eager to protect what is precious to Him. That makes jealousy seem good!
Ohhhhhhh, now I get it :)
Laura, that is a great observation. I think it is a matter of context. We think of jealousy as a bad thing. If I were jealous of your talents or your beauty it could ruin our friendship but if your husband is jealous of attention from another man, that is righteous and to be expected. He would probably act on that and preserve your marriage. He has an exclusive relationship with you and that is just what our relationship is with the Lord. Any outside affections are destructive.
Laura I struggled years ago with God wanting us to praise and worship Him. When I grasped that God is WORTHY of praise and worship, that He IS perfect, I was able to release the comparison to a human desiring to elevate themselves in selfish undeserved ways.
It was at that time I really saw/understood my sin and the incredible gift it was for Christ to impart his righteousness to me.
Not only is He worthy but unbelievers are saved when He is glorified. I have questioned that also.
I have been observing Lent for years. My parents were Episcopalian and so we grew up “giving something up” for Lent. When I became a Christian, I realized that I was free in Christ and that I did not NEED to give something up. However, in college, my friends and I realized that, in our freedom and frantic busyness, we weren’t really ready to celebrate Easter because we hadn’t prepared our hearts in any way. We encouraged each other to do some Lenten readings, or to give something up, not because it was required but because it was a way to watch and wait with the Lord and a way to prepare to really celebrate Easter. Our idea was that when you desire that “thing”, you remember that you are voluntarily doing without it to keep vigil with the Lord. It is amazing the mind games that one can play to justify that piece of chocolate or ….whatever. But if we rest in our freedom in Christ it helps keep the need to be perfect at bay.
I loved the Welch video. I am not in general a fearful person but mostly because, instead of relying on the Lord, I am relying on myself. I did not realize what fears I had until I cam to a place where I could rely ONLY on the Lord and I wondered if he was REALLY trustworthy. That’s when I discovered I was living as a functional athiest!
C.Marie — I am so glad to see you here my wonderful friend! Your passion and vibrancy make you one of my favorite people — so this is joy to have you join us on this Lenten study!
Like your balance of freedom in Christ and yet preparing our hearts. What is that Tertullion quote?
The Gospel is crucified between two thieves: antinominism and legalism. Does that fit here? :-)
Welcome to our study, C.Marie!
C. Marie, I had to read 3 times to understand the depth of your comment. I love the idea of giving up a thing so that we may watch and wait with the Lord, a way to prepare our hearts. I also like the idea of keeping at bay the need to be perfect. Good thoughts for us. Thanks.
Beautifully said. Thank you!
4. Traditionally Christians have “given something up” for Lent — often a fast from food. The purpose is not just “putting off” but “putting on.” If you fast a meal, your are to feed on the Bread of Life. You might opt to spend an extra half hour a day with the Lord. You might opt to exchange light reading or Facebook time for something more edifying. Try a book by Henry Nouwen, C. S. Lewis, Philip Yancy, or A. W. Tozer.
You may want to spend less time on something you know you spend too much time on, and put something more valuable in its place. Pray about what you might do — it doesn’t have to be the same for all seven weeks. (Lent is 40 days plus Sundays, or about seven weeks.) You may want to take a week at a time. What will you do? I am going to spend alot more time in prayer throughout these 40 days for a very long time i have struggled with praying I would pray throught out the day for people but never did a set time for prayer. I am also going to give up ice coffee for 40 days.,. My hope is that I will have no desire to drink it after this.. Ice coffee is expensive and i could save so much money if i didnt buy it and use the money that i have saved for something more useful. ;)
A. Why was this bush unusual and what did God tell Moses? (verses 1-6) The bush did not burn up; and God said to Moses: Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then he said, “I am the God of your father,[a] the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.
5. What similarity do you see between the above and Daniel 3:24-25? “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”… and the above an angle of the Lord appeared from a burning bush but was not consumed neither were the men in the fiery furnace
Good, Meg!
Welcome to all the new, wonderful, sisters! Can’t wait to learn from you as we walk through this seven week Journey together with the Lord!
3. Christians around the world will get ashes on their foreheads, with the same words, though in many different languages. What are they and what truth do they speak to our souls?
I have enjoyed researching “dust” in scripture. The verse that came to mind is Psalm 103:13
As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.
The truth I will speak to my soul is who I am (dust) and therefore how I need Him! Also, who He is and how much He wants me! Out of my fear of Him (awe) I will set aside some of my desires and as an act of worship for Lent to prepare my heart for Resurrection Sunday.
4. What will I give up for Lent? I want to take it week by week. This first week I will give up time on the computer (Facebook and Pinterest) and put on scripture memory. My goal is to memorize a verse a day. One thing I want to do the entire seven weeks is to do something for someone else all of the 49 days (not including things I do regularly. Making supper doesn’t count! ;)). I am going to journal this for the idea was from Him and so I know it will be special. I am so excited about this!!!
I have always loved that verse Psalm 103:14 “For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.”
It comforts me to know that God know I am weak and that life is hard, and as it says earlier in Psalm 103 “He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.”
I love your plan to bless others Kim!
Kim, Yeah! :-) So excited for you-keep us updated at how God is moving!
A. What did God command His people not to do and why?
To not forget the covenant of the Lord by worshiping or looking to something other than Him to save. I like the thought that God is jealous for me—I equate it not with man-like jealousy where we want what is not ours, but a righteous jealousy—it is not towards me, but FOR me. He has ownership over me and a right to my affection. He is active and zealous, passionate for my devotion towards Him. He isn’t just passively not caring when something else takes my attention. To me, His jealousy for me magnifies to me the intensity of His pursuing love for me.
B. How might this relate to you and your “idols of the heart?”
This is kind of a silly example, but this week, as I am praying to “put off” impatience—I got the stomach bug, and I NEVER get the stomach bug! My schedule was thrown out and I had to depend on help with kids, which I hate to do—and I was feeling just a bit impatient waiting for the pain to pass! But I can look now and see everything turned out OK, I am gradually feeling better, every one got fed and to school…and I survived a day with no agenda. I can see where God used my tiny struggle to wake me up, to show me what I was clinging too tightly to…because He IS jealous for me and He will not just passive let one of His own continue to hold something up as a “must have”.
GLAD YOU ARE DOING BETTER
I’M SURE YOUR FRIENDS FELT PRIVILEGED TO HELP
Love this: He has ownership over me and a right to my affection. Simple, yet deep.
3. Christians around the world will get ashes on their foreheads, with the same words, though in many different languages. What are they and what truth do they speak to our souls? (You may need to research to find out!) Whether or not your church observes this outward sign, you can take it in your heart. – Here is what I found, (During Mass, the ashes which give Ash Wednesday its name are distributed. The ashes are made by burning the blessed palms that were distributed the previous year on Palm Sunday; many churches ask their parishioners to return any palms that they took home so that they can be burned. After the priest blesses the ashes and sprinkles them with holy water, the faithful come forward to receive them. The priest dips his right thumb in the ashes and, making the Sign of the Cross on each person’s forehead, says, “Remember, man, that thou art dust, and to dust thou shalt return” (or a variation on those words). – I think for me this tells me that I really am nothing without God. If it wasn’t for Him we would not be here doing this bible study or doing anything else. We came into this world from dust and with nothing and will leave this earth with nothing so why are we so consumed with getting stuff that will just be left behind.
4. Traditionally Christians have “given something up” for Lent — often a fast from food. The purpose is not just “putting off” but “putting on.” If you fast a meal, your are to feed on the Bread of Life. You might opt to spend an extra half hour a day with the Lord. You might opt to exchange light reading or Facebook time for something more edifying. Try a book by Henry Nouwen, C. S. Lewis, Philip Yancy, or A. W. Tozer. You may want to spend less time on something you know you spend too much time on, and put something more valuable in its place. Pray about what you might do it doesn’t have to be the same for all seven weeks. (Lent is 40 days plus Sundays, or about seven weeks.) You may want to take a week at a time. What will you do? –
I would really love to get up when the alarm goes off for my husband at 4:45 and start doing more studying with this study or any study, just to have my nose in a book that will help me grow and be orient to what the Lord has planned for me
We know outward idolatry is wrong, but it is important, whenever you read God’s commands to His children about outward idolatry, to think of inward idolatry as well. We don’t make graven images anymore, but we do worship things other than God: our children, our comfort, our control… and God wants to be first.
Deuteronomy 4:23=24 Take care, lest you forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make a carved image, the form of anything that the LORD your God has forbidden you.
For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
A. What did God command His people not to do and why?
To stay alert & not to forget the covenant he made with them. Because he had forbidden it, and He was not to be trifled with, He is a consuming fire and a jealous God.
Definition of COVENANT
1
: a usually formal, solemn, and binding agreement : COMPACT
2
a : a written agreement or promise usually under seal between two or more parties especially for the performance of some action
Definition of JEALOUS
1
a : intolerant of rivalry or unfaithfulness
Definition of CONSUMING
: deeply felt : ARDENT ; also : ENGROSSING
B. How might this relate to you and your “idols of the heart?”
(Anything or anyone that at anytime might be more important to you than God.)
More than just avoiding idols to because they are bad for us or because we kinda sorta want to feel closer to God, this is strong language, suggesting we would do right to be afraid of inciting the jealousy of the One with whom we have a covenant relationship, One who is intolerant of rivalry and unfaithfulness.
That brought these verses to mind;
Philipians 2:9-12 “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling”
I had a dream once that my husband saw me kiss an old boyfriend. In the dream in my heart the kiss meant nothing, but I felt an awful overwhelming dread and fear that my husband would not forgive me. It was an awful dream. I didn’t want to lose his love.
Oops, Sorry for all the underlining!
I thought of the tension we need to hold between truth and grace and that the fear or the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
As I reflected on my answers to 1 a & b, it lead me to investigate covenants.
This is a free sermon from Keller about covenant relationship. It is shorter than most, about ½ an hour long.
http://sermons2.redeemer.com/sermons/covenant-relationship
Either I fear God too much, I must obey or God will get me, so I stay away from Him not really loving Him, or I take him and my relationship with him too lightly, believing He loves me no matter what, and obedience doesn’t really matter.
When I really grasp the gospel, I look at the law as something I need to take really seriously, because Christ DIED to fulfill it, my obedience is a way to say thank you & helps me be like Christ, but when I fail, I know there is no condemnation, and my sin doesn’t lead to despair, instead to greater trust and gratitude.
This is my first time blogging. I have never observed Lent before and I am very excited to see what God wants to teach me.
WELCOME MARTHA — SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU!
Hi Martha, glad to have you!
Glad you’re here Martha!!
I enjoyed reading everyone’s comments tonight. I never observed Lent before, because I never grew up in a christian home or church. But I have always been curious about Lent. I’ve attended several different churches since my salvation in my 20′s, but never where they practiced this! I’m very interested in how you all go through this. I don’t feel I know enough about it to commit to it now, tho. God’s Blessing’s to all of you that do! I will be praying for you!
PS Kendra is doing great:)
So happy about Kendra. Give her a hug from me. Praying for you, Joyce as you have been through so much lately!
Thank you, Kim
So glad to read that “Kendra is doing great” comment!
All of the new ladies should know that when Joyce says she will be praying for you, she really means it!
We love you Joyce!
thank you, Chris
So glad to hear that. Will continue to pray for Kendra.
Thank you, Julie:)
2. Read the following background verses for Moses and see if you can find evidence for God’s hand on him or for evidence that Moses had messed up his life.
A. Exodus 1:8-17
In these verses it is explained how the Israelites became slaves to the king when they lived in Egypt. The Egyptian midwives were told to kill any boys because the Israelites were becoming too populated. Thd king was feeling like he was losing control of them. At first he thought it would be a good thing to have them working for him, but then he felt overwhelmed by them. However, the midwives were God fearing women and didn’t kill the boys at birth. In this way Moses was spared; God had a hand in this situation.
B. Exodus 2:1-10
Moses was proteced by God in these verses because the women found him and were willing to take care of him even thought they knew he was a Hebrew baby. They went to find a nursing Hebrew woman (how they didn’t figure out the woman they found was Moses’ mom I’ll never know (how many nursing moms would have been around?). Moses was nursed by his mom, and was protected from harm by God.
C. Exodus 2:11-15
In the case where Moses kills an Egyptian, and flees, God is protecting him again. The Egyptian pharoh is unable to find Moses. Moses had potentially messed up his life by killing someone, but God was merciful. I don’t understand why God would help to save Moses in this case, because one of the (future) commandments is thou shall not kill. Perhaps God was merciful because He needed Moses’ help in forming the believing group of Israelites that would be His followers.
As far as the heart idol goes, would it be the idol of control? Moses felt like he should take matters in his own hands when he saw a fellow Hebrew being harmed.
Laura-Dancer, I don’t want to get too off topic, but hiring a nurse to feed your baby has been common practice up until the 20th century. That’s where the word nurse comes from. Rich women would not demean themselves by nursing their children. Once a woman has a baby she can produce milk as long as someone is drinking it. For some women this was their profession, they nursed other people’s kids and did it for years. Slaves in the U.S. also were used as nannies and for nursing babies. It wouldn’t have raised any suspicions at that time. Nursing royalty would have been the “dream job” for most women slave or free.
I guess I did know that; thanks for reminding me Dawn :)
Please pray for an “old” student group at my school trying to be rejuvenated and become a “new” student group with me as the advisor. The group is one for Christians and I was the advisor up until a couple of years ago when they fell apart. The students are kind and are trying to provide a safe place for other students to come and be loved and feel a part of something. Pray that they will be blessed with many students, that they will accept everyone who comes, and they will provide a good environment for students who need friends.
Laura-dancer-Wow, what a great opportunity to show His love. That is so needed in all schools but especially so in public. Christian kiddo’s are really challenged there, but it can be good training ground for them, and to have the opportunity to show others His love-awesome! Praise God you are there to help in that too-I am so thankful for the teachers who know Jesus at our school! I recall you teach in public, is that right? I will pray.
Yes Rebecca, I am a public high school teacher. I feel like I am in the trenches everyday…..thanks for your prayers :)
They will be blessed with you as an adviser. I am praying – Rebecca is right – such a need for this.
Oh how that makes me happy. My sons grade school had something lime that before school where they got together for a small bible study type group. Now our schools have Youth For Christ and what a great thing this group is too. Blessings to you Laura-dancer for leading this group.
Hi to everyone & thank you for your welcome..you’re an amazing group of sisters in Christ. Appericate the openheartness & honesty here.
I looked up about the ashes too & amp; read they a symbol of penance& contrition which is why believers are told to remember “man is dust & unto dust he shall return” The ashes are applied in the sign of the cross.
Um preparing for lent myself I’m going to give up TV,to blog with my sisters in Christ & do the questions hopefully thoughtfully & also continue to read The scared Echo by Margret Feinberg. I’d also like to fast a lunch meal & be quiet before the Lord once aweek. I’m so easily distracted by anything but sitting quietly with Lord.
1.Read Duet4:23-24
a) what did God command His people not to do and why?God did not want His people to have carved images of anything. He want them to remember the covenant between them. Why Because The Lord God is a jealous God.
2.How might this relate to you and your “idols of the heart?”
Not sure if I’m answering this question in context but here goes..comfort is a big one for so the glass of wine & food thing is can be big thing for me, I use them to make me feel better. The Lord stop me in my tracks this afternoon when writing down some “good teaching” a quote from someone… The Lord challenged me with Him having been placed in the shadows of my heart, that I’ve replaced my relationship with Him with other’s journeys & He was asking me the question “who does my heart say He is?” The Lord was in the shadows of my heart covered over by my borrowing from others.. that I haven’t been actively asked Him myself who He is as my Lord.I keep gulping as I say this. What idol is that called? I am sobered by this & can’t move away from this question. I am confronted & I think I’ve been found out..thankfully but I can’t move…blessings to you all.
So good to have you Elizabeth and you have high goals. I know you will be richer for this. I love Margaret Feinberg. Good choice of reading.
Thank you Dee for your encouragement much appericated.
Welcome, Elizabeth, I thought your answer to #2. was very thought-provoking for us all. You said, “I am confronted and I think I’ve been found out…thankfully but I can’t move”. God is surely doing something in your heart, and that will be a wonderful journey for you to take this Lenten season. I find it much food for thought how you phrased this, “I’ve replaced my relationship with Him with other’s journeys”. Yes, it can be so easy to “borrow” from the faith of others, or to rely on the teaching and the wisdom of pastors that they have gleaned from their walk with the Lord, but it is a hard and difficult fight to make our faith truly our own from our own experiences with Him. Blessings to you!
HiSusan thanks so much for your response to my comments I was touch by the fact you did really :) and encouraged, Blessings to you Susan.The question thankfully keeps pounding in my heart of ‘who do I think Jesus is as my Lord’He is so very patient & I pray the question will remain a stirring one to my heart until the next question arises.:)
1. In this light read Deuteronomy 4:23-24.
A. What did God command His people not to do and why?
Not to forget the covenant they made with Him, and not to make for themselves idols in the form of anything because God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
B. How might this relate to you and your “idols of the heart?”
I think what was said in the beginning of verse 23 is important as well. The reason I make idols out of things is because I have forgotten Him- I have forgotten the Gospel-I don’t fear God. As a result I forget the honor of who I am in Christ and I hold up things as more ultimate than Him. I think what C.Marie said is applicable to this as well-When I do this, I am living as a functioning Atheist.
2. Read the following background verses for Moses and see if you can find evidence for God’s hand on him or for evidence that Moses had messed up his life.
A. Exodus 1:8-17
God gave the Hebrews midwives who feared Him and held Him up as ultimate-this ended up saving the boys lives and opened the door for Moses to be born later.
B. Exodus 2:1-10
The Israelites were under a new edict by the time Moses was born, that if any Hebrew has a son the people should throw them into the Nile. This whole passage screams of God’s protection but also His sovereign plan to have Moses ultimately free the Israelites from Egypt. God had everything timed perfectly-He knows hearts too. He even had Moses’ sister there to suggest a Hebrew to nurse him.
C. Exodus 2:11-15
Moses killed the Egyptian. It was bad, but it wasn’t out of God’s plan or His hands because Moses had to flee. It got him out of Egypt and into Midian, where after a while He would meet God, and God would prepare Him to lead His people out of Egypt.
I may be wrong here, I don’t know, but you could also say Moses messed up his life, but it was already messed up as He was not close to God yet-He may have had a control idol issue and took matters into his own hands by killing the Egyptian and it ended up causing him to have to flee.
3. For those of you who have journeyed with us through our study of idolatry, what heart idol do you think might have motivated Moses to take things into his own hands and commit a murder?
I think it was a control idol, and his near sin was attempting to control every detail of the Hebrew’s lives which led ultimately to murder.
Elizabeth,
Update on putting off and putting on impatience, critical spirit-the other day I think my control idol reared his ugly head. I was struggling with no one helping me clean the house. Instead of asking nicely and setting boundaries like I have done recently, I just let it all out. :( I didn’t get angry and explode, I just whined and came in sideways with a lot with comments I was making to the boys and my husband. Oh my. My husband even remarked, Rebecca this is so not like you-you have changed so much. What is going on? I ignored him and said, “I feel like a slave.” I said this to a man who works the equivalent of two jobs to provide. ;-/ I was acting like such a baby. My husband vacuumed the whole house and had the kids working hard.
The great part is by the evening God showed me my heart, and inwardly I began repenting seeing I was holding up as more ultimate my home being clean, and being in control and that I was manipulating my family. I remember saying something like this inside-”Oh Lord how could I do this to you-deny you.” I took my gaze off of Him. Pictures came to mind of the Gospel-particularly the one we had here a few weeks ago where God is over Job-forgot the name of that one. He is my control. I am re-reading A.W. Tozer’s book again, “The Pursuit of God” and some great truths from that book came to mind in regard to my soul setting her gaze on Him. SO I turned my gaze back to Him. I also repented to my husband and my boys.
God also brought to mind His great love for me in how He has brought me close since I started coming to Dee’s studies here. In the past I would have retreated inward. It is by His grace and His mercy I turned, although I have learned I too have the responsibility to let go and turn, and trust.
Let’s see what today brings! Another opportunity to turn and trust perhaps as God is working this issue out in my heart, so pray for me that my soul’s gaze would be on Him today.
This is beautiful Rebecca (no, not your whining! – ha-ha) but how this all worked out as the day progressed. I think the painting you referred to was by William Blake?
Susan, Thanks! I remember the paintings but forget who painted them.
Being Transformed into His likeness Rebecca wow what wonderful work/ we squirm but His grace draws us into Him. Thanks for putting it out there coz it all sounds very familar. Blessings.
oh Rebecca, I really am saving this one! I was reading along the first paragraph thinking “yes..that’s me..done that a million times, fully relate..” and then your transformation so convicted me! I need this reminder–thank you, thank you for your humble model.
My test will be today–I’ve noticed how being sick the last few days kept me in a state of lowered expectations and just receiving help…forced to go slower, I was actually more patient because I didn’t have the energy not to be-? Like I was too tired to push my Self in the way of the Spirit–the outcome is much better that way!
I pray this with you “that my soul’s gaze would be on Him today” not on productivity or what all I have to do, what all I do for others…but on HIM–to keep Him ever before me…that our purpose is only to bring Him glory, not my self.
Elizabeth, Oh my, ;-) looks like your sickness may have been a mercy from God perhaps? Reminds me of that picture of God holding Job down. How wonderful to hear-His Grace in your life!
You just made me think-perhaps my red flags are when I start feeling pressure and overwhelmed that perhaps the peripheral has become more important than Him-and I am trying to control things around me that I can’t-specifically with my boys. I need to watch for that today. :-)
Wednesdays are usually full days for me, and they might be for you if your two do anything at church so we will pray for one another today!
Thanks for your transparency dear Rebecca.
I loved the gentle way your husband confronted you. “This is so not like you, Rebecca.”
Treasure you.
Yes, you are treasured here. I too remember trying to guilt my boys into helping me with the house instead of giving assignments to take the pressure off. I can’t turn back time and make it right but I can give grace when others make mistakes. I love how we identify idol so quickly now.
Kim, That is exactly what it was. I was trying to guilt them into helping me. I don’t want to make much more of this but what is funny is-and I KNOW you can relate-in the midst of my baby fit I went to a box of chocolates my husband got me for valentines day. I ate four in a row and didn’t even enjoy them. ;-) My husband walks in the bedroom, sees the box with wrappers on top, and he smiled real big and before I could say anything, he told me not to feel guilty, I just stumbled, I am human and that Jesus died for this too. God used him to remind me of the Gospel. This was really a small thing that happened, but God met me in a big way.
Oh dear Rebecca, you make me smile. “in the midst of my baby fit I went to a box of chocolates my husband got me for valentines day. I ate four in a row and didn’t even enjoy them.” For heaven’s sake girl, if you’re going to indulge at least enjoy it! Hehehe, I can almost picture your sweet hubby smiling real big at catching you in the act.
Has anyone ever read mere Christianity by c.s Lewis? Is it an easy read? I was thinking about reading that for lent?
And Elizabeth glad you are feeling better! Sorry to hear that you were sick!
Meg, I read that book a long time ago-GREAT BOOK. I don’t recall if it was an easy read though. You can start and go through it, and if you find it to be too difficult you could always switch it out. I would recommend it though. :-)
Meg I don’t think anything C.S. Lewis wrote is an easy read, but dive in anyways. Praying beforehand for God to bless you with understanding.
Take it a little bit at a time and chew on it. It isn’t a very long book.
Here is an often quoted excerpt for Mere Christianity;
I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: ‘I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.’ That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.
1. Have you ever observed the season of Lent? If so, share how it has been helpful – or not – to you.
I converted to Catholicism right after I was married. As a Catechuman, the first Lenten season was very meaningful to me. The church where I attended stressed that the rituals and traditions of Lent were a way to enter into the experience of the life of Jesus, and I remember the ashes, the foot washing on Holy Thursday, the solemn Good Friday service. Now that I am no longer a Catholic, in a way, I do miss the observance of this season. I told my daughter this morning that today is Ash Wednesday. She asked, “What’s that?” It kind of makes me feel sad that most evangelical churches do not mark the season with special services. I have tried to do things privately to mark the season – last year I followed along with Nancy DeMoss’ series on The Incomparable Christ, but I miss marking the season with the church body.
2. What comments do you have on the above?
Watching the video of Ed Welch – he reminds me alot of David Powlison! What wonderful counselors they must be. I liked how he said that Scripture is no magic formula to get rid of fear, as in just repeat a verse over and over to yourself. It takes more than that.
I also see myself like that tenacious, cold and snow-covered leaf, stubbornly clinging onto that branch, refusing to let go. My daughter saw it yesterday, too. My husband was affectionately teasing me, and my body language is I stiffen and draw inward. My daughter remarked to the effect of why do you turn away when dad is trying to give you affection? The answer is because you (my husband) don’t listen to me or spend time with me or make me feel loved most of the time. I am seeing underneath an idol of power/control, which I think I am saying I will be in control of myself and keep myself tightly closed to you, because you have not really paid for all the times you’ve hurt me.
3. Christians around the world will get ashes on their foreheads, with the same words, though in many different languages. What are they and what truth do they speak to our souls?
Something like “for you are dust and to dust you will return”. The truth this speaks to my soul is that I was created by God, a Creator. God created the first man Adam from the dust of the ground. It reminds me that I have an appointment with death. It also tells me that even though I may think or act like I am self-sufficient, the truth is that I depend on God for everything.
4. Traditionally Christians have “given something up for Lent” – often a fast from food. The purpose is not just “putting off” but “putting on”. If you fast a meal, you are to feed on the Bread of Life. You might opt to spend an extra half hour a day with the Lord.
Pray about what you might do……What will you do?
I have decided to really dig into the book by Henri Nouwen, “The Return of the Prodigal Son”. I’m just in the early part of it, but gleaning so much, and even by studying the picture of the painting on the book cover. I noticed yesterday, for example, that the father and the elder brother are both wearing a red cloak, but the father’s appears like sheltering wings, while the elder brother’s cloak hangs down, close to his body. The father’s hands are a focal point of the painting, while his elder son’s hands are gripping each other. I want to, like Nouwen, make my way to the platform, to the Father’s embrace. But first, I must see how I play the part of the observers.
I’m excited to read in our local paper that a Rembrandt exhibit is here at a museum in a nearby city, although it does not include this painting. I would like to go see it. I am loving the insights Nouwen gives into the life of Rembrandt, and how at the end of his life he was able to paint “the glory that is hidden in the human soul”.
Your daughter is insightful! And you are insightful into your own soul.
Susan thank you for your honesty. This post has really made me think about how I act toward others and what others may be seeing coming out of me. I am really being touched by all the post from all the ladies here they are encouraging and eye openers. Thank you to you ALL.
Hi Susan I’ve heard the name of Henry Nouwen so would be interested to know more of him & his writings if you got time. Also you mentioning Rembrandt’s painting of the Return of the Prodigal Son it reminded me that I had a little book By Marilyn Chandler McEntyre called Drawn to the Light poems on Rembrandt’s Religious Paintings. I was chuffed I could go & have a look at the painting. It would be grand to go and see the exhibition of Rembrandts paintings I think. Hope you get there.
Thanks for sharing about your idol & your daugther’s insights of it,your heart is in the Lord’s kneading,moulding but forgiving and gracious hands.
1. In this light read Deuteronomy 4:23-24.
A. What did God command His people not to do and why?not to forget the covenant, not to make a carved image of anything forbidden by God because He is a jealous God.
B. How might this relate to you and your “idols of the heart?” Anything that takes allegiance over God is an idol and God wants our all.
http://www.thetransformingcenter.org/?p=2721
Here is some helpful information on the meaning of Ash Wednesday. I especially like the prayer at the end.
“O God of peace, who hast taught us that in returning and rest
we shall be saved, in quietness and in confidence shall be our strength:
by the might of thy Spirit lift us, we pray thee, to thy presence,
where we may be still and know that you are God,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.”
Book of Common Prayer, page 832
I love the prayers in the Book of Common Prayer–this is beautiful Diane, thank you for sharing
That’s really lovely Diane. thanks
Putting off: smoking. I’m not addicted to the nicotine since I only smoke 1/2 on the way to work and 1/2 on the way home. It’s the comfort of it and doing something that I WANT to do. I thought it was helping to calm my nerves, but I was getting nervous when I was smoking my last one on Monday just knowing it was my last one (I had to start Lent early since the pack was empty and I wasn’t about to buy another one).
Putting on: Turning to Christ for comfort. My friend wasn’t at work so I had to fully rely on Jesus to get me through the day which is a good thing. Can’t say that it was a stress free time, but it was definitely a Christ centered time.
A. What did God command His people not to do and why?
He told them to be careful not to forget the covenant of the LORD and not to make idols.
Because the LORD God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
I like the wording: Be careful – this seems kind to me, like a parent saying to a child to be careful. He begins gently and then gets bold and explains that He is in covenant with them and is jealous. I see a loving parent here wanting the best for their child because they love the child so and want to save them from hurt.
I see new meaning to God’s jealousy and appreciate Chris’ questioning of this. I remember something about Oprah getting so upset that God would dare to be jealous and made it seem so demeaning. It had quite the opposite effect on me, I thought – how wonderful, He loves me so!
B. How might this relate to you and your “idols of the heart?”
This scripture impacts me so to think the God of heaven and earth is jealous for me! It also strikes reverence and fear in light of my idols. I am in covenant with Him – wow! and that He is jealous for me speaks to my humanness – that deep need to be wanted and deeply loved, special to someone. This is moving and it stirs my heart to give Him every aspect of my life.
I had a friend who was a casual smoker about 2 cigarettes a day, she gave it up, though it was hard for her. She found it helpful to have someone who asked her once a week if she had smoked, she didn’t want to have to admit that she had, so she didn’t!
this was supposed to appear under Dawns post, not sure why it showed up here
I do have my friend at work, whom I have told in the past to hold me accountable, but when I fail she tells me that I’m too hard on myself and I shouldn’t try to give it up now because I need it. My husband is the only one who knows.
The only *other one who knows
sometimes I wish for a freind whos not afraid to put a little pressure on me. People usually try to reassure me that I am doing great.
Chris, I got such a chuckle when I read this. It’s my fault, I put mine under Dawn’s accidently.
Kim–I read this from you and had this thought “I wish I could be around her in ‘real life’”–I can tell you are one quick with a smile and a “chuckle”–yet full of depth–what a gift you are!
Thank you! I am usually the first to laugh at myself.
2. Read the following background verses for Moses and see if you can find evidence for God’s hand on him or for evidence that Moses had messed up his life.
Gods hand was on the people and thereby on Moses, in spite of persecution they multiplied in number, the midwives feared God more than king of Egypt, when male babies were to be killed God provided protection for Moses through Pharoah’s own Daughter who offered protection for his life, with his own mother to nurse him.
Moses messed up in his concern for his people, he took matters into his own hands instead of waiting upon God to provide a remedy for the injustices he observed. Then he ran away out of fear.
3. For those of you who have journeyed with us through our study of idolatry, what heart idol do you think might have motivated Moses to take things into his own hands and commit a murder?
Our pastor gave us this outline. It is from one of Tim Keller’s blog posts
Idol: COMFORT (Privacy, lack of stress, freedom)
Price We Will Pay: Reduced productivity
Greatest Nightmare: Stress, demands
Others Often Feel: Hurt
Problem Emotion: Boredom
Idol: APPROVAL (Affirmation, love, relationship)
Price We Will Pay: Less independence
Greatest Nightmare: Rejection
Others Often Feel: Smothered
Problem Emotion: Cowardice
Idol: CONTROL (Self-discipline, certainty, standards)
Price We Will Pay: Loneliness; spontaneity
Greatest Nightmare: Uncertainty
Others Often Feel: Condemned
Problem Emotion: Worry
Idol: POWER (Success, winning, influence)
Price We Will Pay: Burdened; responsibility
Greatest Nightmare: Humiliation
Others Often Feel: Used
Problem Emotion: Anger
I wondered if maybe Control was Moses idol, but after referring to this, I would have to say Power was his biggie. He wanted to be a sucess in the eyes of his people, but they didn’t trust him. I thought about his concerns about not being a good speaker, and that pointing to a fear of humiliation.
Exodus 4:10 But Moses said to the LORD, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.”
I thought about Moses seeming to feel used by God here in Number 11:11-15
Moses said to the LORD, “Why have you dealt ill with your servant? And why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me?
Did I conceive all this people? Did I give them birth, that you should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a nursing child,’ to the land that you swore to give their fathers?
Where am I to get meat to give to all this people? For they weep before me and say, ‘Give us meat, that we may eat.’
I am not able to carry all this people alone; the burden is too heavy for me.
If you will treat me like this, kill me at once, if I find favor in your sight, that I may not see my wretchedness.”
I thought about Moses anger in this passage;
Numbers 20:2-12 Now there was no water for the congregation. And they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.
And the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Would that we had perished when our brothers perished before the LORD!
Why have you brought the assembly of the LORD into this wilderness, that we should die here, both we and our cattle?
And why have you made us come up out of Egypt to bring us to this evil place? It is no place for grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, and there is no water to drink.”
Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces. And the glory of the LORD appeared to them,
and the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
“Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle.”
And Moses took the staff from before the LORD, as he commanded him.
Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?”
And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock.
And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.”
These thoughts on Moses’ idol being POWER as very insightful, Chris. You might be right, especially as Anger is the problem emotion. I hadn’t seen it explained this way by Keller. This is definitely food for thought.
Diane I kept this outline in my Bible for a long time. It really convicted me when I read the Comfort portion.
Had not seen that Keller list — great — thank you, Chris.
I’ve been meditating the last couple of days on the character of God because of these questions you’ve posed here, Dee – the character of God the Father, not God the Son. I realize that I’ve emphasized God the Son, Jesus, lately, and that’s skewed my view of things. It was your pointing to God’s words about Himself, about being a jealous, consuming fire, that reminded my heart and my head of who God is.
This picture of consuming fire is powerful to me; it evokes in me, in my gut, some recognition, in a primal way, of what my Creator is like… He is powerful, and forceful, and willful, and majestic and supreme and ‘hot’ in that all-potent kind of way. He speaks and it is done. He thinks and it is created. He desires and forces bend to His will. He plans and angels and earth submits. He is ‘fire’, and His love for me is jealous and consuming. He knows who He is and He declares Himself boldly to me, telling me outright that He has created me for Himself, and that I am His. His approach to me is not that of the Son’s compassion and gentleness, but more of the ilk of “ I am Holy, and you stand in my Presence. I am your Creator and your God. Take off your shoes as a sign of recognition, and right placement with me.” His very words strike that sense of fearful awe, that reverence that comes when I see God in that high and lifted up way that causes me to remember rightly who He is. And to remember who I am.
I wanted to write yesterday, but I couldn’t get these words out. I’m struggling even now to try to convey what I’m sensing inside and I’m afraid I’m not doing a good job of it. It is hard to put Mystery into words. The mystery is that this white-hot God, this God who created all, this God who supremely reigns over everything and everyone… wants me. He consumes everything in his path, in that fire-burning way, to get to me. And he demands (yes, demands) that I recognize that action, his intention, and allow myself to be broken inside by it. To see the extent of his love. To see that he has sacrificed everything, even Himself, for me. And to be shattered by that recognition.
Today, I will place ashes on the forehead of a few that I lead. And someone will place ashes on my forehead. And I will remember that God is fire, and that his fire consumes everything in its path to root out sin (the great distancer) and to get to me. To get to me not only in distance, but to get to me in that ‘get to me’ way of getting to my heart. To break down further the idol of pride inside me that forgets who God is.
Sometimes, in the falseness of my own feeling of potency, or just in the foolishness of everyday routine life, I forget God. God the Father. God of Fire. The God who declares himself boldly to me, and demands that I ‘take off my shoes’ in his Presence.
Today, when the ashes are applied, I will do my best to REMEMBER GOD. And throughout this Lenten season, these 40 days, I will search for ways to remember this aspect of God. I want my heart to hear, throughout this time, the loud ring of “I am the Lord your God” said in that fiery, powerful way that humbles me and causes me to say from my whole being, “Yes, you are my God.”
Somehow, it was this felt-sense that allowed Moses to be used by God in that way that he was for his people, Israel. The young, self-important, impulsive, Pharoah-household raised man couldn’t have taken this truth inside; but the older, desert-matured, humbled, broken, loved man could hear the voice of God and find inside of himself a place to say “Yes”. I want to say “Yes” as I feel the ashes on my head today.
This ‘remembering’ sense that has sparked inside of me these last couple days feels oddly familiar but very distant… like I can’t quite get my hands around it… but I have flashes of moments when I can taste it. I think that it has something to do with the mystery that I am created in God’s image, that He is in me and I am in Him, but that I’ve also lost my way in this earthly existence.
These are very good thoughts on the holiness of God and how we ought to approach and honor Him, Alexandra. Thanks for sharing so that we all can THINK about God with you.
Wow, good stuff Alexandra!
but to get to me in that ‘get to me’ way of getting to my heart. To break down further the idol of pride inside me that forgets who God is.
Wow, Alexandra, your second paragraph is exactly what I am feeling but couldn’t articulate. Thank you. This is a very powerful scripture passage and lesson. Hang on sister’s we are in for something wonderful here.
This is really, really good, Alexandra. I can tell you’ve been really thinking this through.
Excellent, Alexandria. Meditating on how great He is. Thanks so much.
Brian is at this moment having lunch and discussion with a youth pastor, your prayers would be appreciated!
Praying…
Chris S–I saw this yesterday and prayed but did not have a chance to respond–how did it go?
It went pretty well, however…Bill had read some comments Brian had tweeted about plans to get a tatoo. Bill told him that he isn’t really thinking clearly at this time and told him DO NOT get a tatoo.
This is on the heels of many discussions about Brian needing to follow our rules, he has already trangressed to the point where we would have had him move out if it were not for his mental health issues.
Brian divulged to the youth pastor that he really doesn’t think we will hold him accountable…ugh.
Bill found pictures of Brians back with a home done tatoo of some of his art work.
In parenting I tend toward grace and Bill toward truth, he is planning to tell him to go.
I am holding out hope that the pictures were just drawings and not tatoos.
I hate this whole situation.
Thanks for asking Elizabeth
Praying for Brian to make good choices,Chris. Also for both you and Bill.
Ladies,
I jumped on here to tell you that on Midday Connection today, they are talking about the meaning of Lent with Nancy Kane, a professor at Moody Bible Institute.
Susan, I listened too – great program!
I feel such a reverence for God in this moment. When I read this from Alexandria, “Today, I will place ashes on the forehead of a few that I lead. And someone will place ashes on my forehead. And I will remember that God is fire, and that his fire consumes everything in its path to root out sin (the great distancer) and to get to me.” I feel like bowing before Him in abandonment and worship.
Father, you are doing something here among us that only you could do and I am deeply thankful to be a part of it. I bow before you and ask forgiveness for ever having the audacity to put myself ahead of you. For ever thinking I could do anything better than you or having anything of value to offer you. Wash me and make me clean. Mark me as yours with an ashen cross on my head. I invite you into every aspect of my being. Consume me with your scandalous love. Save me from me. Amen.
Praying this prayer with you, Kim.
When I read this as an email, I couldn’t help but think ‘Kims sap is rising!’
Woohoo!
When my words spark a ‘reverence’, I know that they are not my words alone.
I too feel like bowing before Him in abandonment and worship. Today feels very holy to me. My heart feels tender and wide open to Him and to others. As I apply the ashes to those who are coming, and say the words, I am changed inside.
I appreciate your prayer, Kim, and I will join you in praying it for myself as well. Thank you for your words.
Alexandra
Love your prayer, Kim…I need it for myself….thank you. Praying for you.
1. A. What did God command His people not to do and why?
God commands: take care, do not forget the covenant of the Lord your God, do not make a carved image
B. How might this relate to you and your “idols of the heart?”
(Anything or anyone that at anytime might be more important to you than God.)
We need to take care and remember that we are in a binding covenant with God and anything that even temporarily becomes more important than is an idol of the heart. If I depend on anything to get me through the day except God, it is an idol.
2. Read the following background verses for Moses and see if you can find evidence for God’s hand on him or for evidence that Moses had messed up his life.
A. Exodus 1:8-17
God used the fear of God in the midwives who disobeyed the Pharaoh’s orders to kill the male Israelite babies, to save Moses life.
B. Exodus 2:1-10
God used the faith of his mother, the motherly instincts of Pharaoh’s daughter, and the shrewdness of Moses’ sister to rescue Moses’ young life.
C. Exodus 2:11-15
When Moses was grown up in Pharaoh’s house, he became angry at the mistreatment of the Israelites and in his anger killed an Egyptian and hid his body. But the Israelites resented and feared Moses and what Moses had done became known, even to Pharaoh who sought to kill him. Moses fled into the desert. Moses had taken matters into his own hands and killed a man and had to flee to escape with his own life.
3. For those of you who have journeyed with us through our study of idolatry, what heart idol do you think might have motivated Moses to take things into his own hands and commit a murder?
(from Keller)
Idol: POWER (Success, winning, influence)
Price We Will Pay: Burdened; responsibility
Greatest Nightmare: Humiliation
Others Often Feel: Used
Problem Emotion: Anger
I tend to agree with Chris S. that Moses’ heart idol was power. When frustrated, his reaction time and again is anger. He wants to fix things, but tends to do it in his own strength and in anger. What puzzles me is, if power is his idol, why does he so strongly resist God’s attempt to put him in charge of rescuing the Israelites later, after he has spent 40 years in the wilderness? Is it that he has gained humility or is it fear of humiliation again?
As one who is familiar with the temptations/idol of power…
I think humility and humiliation might be two sides of the same coin.
One might be the redeemed aspect of the other.
Alexandra
Good question.
Have you heard the quote (Keller uses it, but not his) that says humility is not thinking less of oneself but thinking less about oneself.
Perhaps Moses did fear humiliation.
Hey blog sisters, The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer is free on Kindle. It says online that it is .99 but when you shop and buy on your Kindle it is free. How cool is that!
thanks kim just purchased it so i could read it while on my cruise!
Great Meg, we will enjoy it at the same time!
Thanks Kim, just bought and it’s on my Kindle which is on my IPad. Got to love electronics.
2. Read the following background verses for Moses and see if you can find evidence for God’s hand on him or for evidence that Moses had messed up his life.
A. Exodus 1:8-17- Before Moses was born, God was working in the hearts of the Hebrew women. Their faith in Him was stronger than protecting their own lives from Pharoah.
B. Exodus 2:1-10-I love all of this—God’s creative hand weaved all through—the courage of Moses’ mother to create the basket, making it water proof and sturdy, trusting God to protect her baby. Then His work in Pharoah’s daughter’s heart to have compassion on this child—to want to save him, the courage of Miriam to step forth and offer her mother to nurse the child! It’s just amazing how these women had such steadfast faith in the face of fear. They relied on Him, and He protected. It’s interesting, maybe be way off but I see some correlation between Abraham offering up Isaac, and God providing a lamb—both obeyed the hard call of God—both were willing to give up what they loved most, trusting in Him alone—Who He is, and not what He would give…and both received God’s abundant blessing. I think it illustrates to me God is most concerned with our heart, our obedience, our willingness to follow no matter the cost—but because we DO know His character, we can trust in His goodness.
C. Exodus 2:11-15-Moses let his anger at the un-just beating rule his actions and committed murder. As far as we know, he felt no shame until he was found out. And then he ran and hid in Midian. It’s interesting to me that he sat down by a well…
Wow it’s hard to keep up with all the comments!! Will start earlier tomorrow!
I’d like to give up my self-centeredness!! If I focus on serving others these next 40 some days of Lent I won’t be as focused on myself. I’m starting a Lent Journal to keep myself committed. This will not be easy for me!! I’m also looking up Scripture to hold on to!! I will also give up potato chips. When I get that craving for a crispy, salty, delicious chip I’ll focus on memorizing my above verses!!! The Lord’s really convicted me of being focused on ‘me’. My husband wants to paint our room one color & I want ‘my’ color. If we go out to eat I want to go to ‘my’ restaurant not his. See what I mean. Just subtle things like that. I’m seeing it as God ‘perfecting me’. Come Easter morning hopefully I’ll be rejoicing & will be a better person!! I will also be searching my bible & getting closer to God. Amen to that!!!
Ann Voscamp says it beautifully: Taken from Holy Experience ~What Lent Really Means…
Lent gives me this gift: the deeper I know the pit of my sin, the deeper I’ll drink from the draughts of joy.
Grief is what cultivates the soil for the seeds of joy. (Dee, this reminds me what you said about the women in prison-they were like rich black soil.)
She who knows her sins much, loves much, and the road to heaven is paved with the realization that I deserve hell. His rising will be all my joy, because I know it in the marrow of the bones: He is all my hope.
3. I see a root idol of power, and even some approval– fueled by his insecurity that he was less-than as a Hebrew and he tried to raise himself up by killing an Egyptian.
4. Read Exodus 3:1-15
A. Why was this bush unusual and what did God tell Moses? (verses 1-6)
The bush was burning but was not consumed by the fire—and God spoke to Moses through it. He told Moses to remove his sandals for this was holy ground, and He told Moses it was God speaking to him.
B. CHALLENGE QUESTION: Since our God is a consuming fire, and since Moses had, indeed, an idol of the heart, why was neither the bush nor Moses consumed? (There’s a clue in verse 2! If you can’t figure it out, then Keller’s sermon will tell you.)
Haven’t listened to the sermon yet, but I’m going to say it was because the angel was a shield of protection.
5. What similarity do you see between the above and Daniel 3:24-25?
The angel protected Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from harm in the fiery furnace of King Nebuchadnezzar.
6. We will look at this name of I AM more deeply next week, but for now, what significance do you see in the name that God said He is to be remembered by throughout all generations and forever? (Exodus 3:13-15)
“I AM”-He is ALL, there is no further explanation necessary for Who He is. He made covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—He has been and will forever be, the unchanging God.
OK, just have to say–like many of you, I’ve listened to more Keller sermons than I can count, and this one–OH MY. I have 3 pages of written notes, it is absolutely top of my list. Just wanted to encourage anyone, it is beyond worth the $2.50. I’d even donate towards it for you! It’s incredible.
I would like to participate in the Lenten study. How do I get started?
Welcome, Lynn! You get started by just “jumping in” and answering the questions above. I’m behind right now. Do what works best for you. Sometimes my weekdays are crazy, so it is helpful for me to get a jump-start on Sunday afternoon. Be sure to do the Bible Study and post your answers (to some or all of the questions — whatever you feel most comfortable posting). Sometimes I am able to keep up with reading all the comments and responding when appropriate. Other times, I only am able to do the Bible Study — & I don’t always post answers to every question. I do usually read most responses, but I try to do the Bible Study before reading other people’s answers (but I’m curious enough that I sometimes read others’ responses first!)
So glad you are here. You will be blessed :)
OK, I really apologize for the length here, I just found my notes hard to condense…LOVED this sermon though!
7. Keller-The God With a Name
I. Brilliant Delays
Moses life was at a dead end. He had gone from being a Prince, to in a fit of rage coming murder, and then hiding as a nomad with nothing.
a) You are never of any use to God until you come to the end of yourself. Until you feel useless, you don’t have enough humility to depend on Him.
b) God’s sense of timing is never our timing, but always brilliant. His delays always make things better, not worse.
II. Fiery Reality
Moses believed in God but had never encountered Him. Fire smites all the senses, it is fully experienced. It is one thing to believe and another to have it revolutionize the way you live and have it affect everything.
III. Absolute Sufficiency
The fire was unusal because it did not burn the bush—it was not dependent on a fuel, it had it’s own infinite Source of being and power. This is the first time God is asked His name, He says “tell them I AM—meaning “to be”, or “Being Itself”. The fire that needs no fuel, the Source that has no beginning or end, always was, always will be—God is the cause and the Source of all being—this is the aseity, the self-existence, of God.
Jesus takes the aseity of God in John 15:5—“I am the Vine…without Me you can do nothing”. As God seeks to help His children become stronger, better…He is trying to get us to see that without Him we can do nothing. This is both humbling and liberating. As hard as we work with the talents, opportunities He’s given—it’s ALL Him! This humbles us because we realize we don’t have to worry or be anxious trying to hold everything together because we realize it was never really us—therefore we can RELAX.
How do we learn this? The first place we learn we were never really in control is in suffering. That’s when we realize we have to depend on Him. But it may be too late if you haven’t learned it before the great crisis—you may not be able to do it in the crisis, if you haven’t done it in the day to day. What happens to a ruined vacation? Does it push you down? Do you know how to be aware of the presence of God in that? Remember all He has done for you—apply it at the moment, in the daily things, so that you will be ready when the crisis hits. John Newton says: “The grace of God is as necessary to create a right temper in Christians on the breaking of a china plate, as on the death of an only son.”
Loved the story of the donkey, Palm Monday. I just found it online if anyone would like it—let me know (it’s not long). The gist—the donkey was looking for the praise and palm on Monday, and his mom says—it was all for Him—without Him, you’re just a lowly donkey.
IV. Nearness
Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look on God. The presence of God was lethal to flawed human beings. He’s fascinated, but scared. The mystery—why is Moses not consumed? Because of the Angel of the Lord—the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ. Jesus came near because He is the Angel of the Lord. He took the abandonment which Hagar, Abraham, Sarai…all of us deserve, and gave us the blessing only He deserved. That is why when He called out to God on the Cross, He was abandoned. He did it for us, so that we will never be.
I learned a new word: aseity. Thank you!
Ash Wednesday: We begin Lent! (Wednesday through Friday)
We know outward idolatry is wrong, but it is important, whenever you read God’s commands to His children about outward idolatry, to think of inward idolatry as well. We don’t make graven images anymore, but we do worship things other than God: our children, our comfort, our control… and God wants to be first.
1. In this light read Deuteronomy 4:23-24.
A. What did God command His people not to do and why? – to not forget the covenant we have between us. And to not have anything in the place where he should be
B. How might this relate to you and your “idols of the heart?” – for me it’s when I have any thought of anything at all that is not from God, or when I consume myself with things that are not from above, then I am pushing God to the side and telling him that he is not top on my list at that time. This saddens me to think that I would ignore someone who loves me so much, loves me enough to die for me and to always be there for me just waiting for me to come back and get him and put Him back on the “top shelf” of my heart.
(Anything or anyone that at anytime might be more important to you than God.)
2. Read the following background verses for Moses and see if you can find evidence for God’s hand on him or for evidence that Moses had messed up his life.
A. Exodus 1:8-17 – I see God giving the Israelites strength to work the vigorous jobs and fertility to continue with their offspring. I see also wisdom was given to the midwives to know that it’s better to few God then listen to the king.
B. Exodus 2:1-10 – God’s hand was on baby Moses as he went down the river, he protected him and kept him safe. There was love and compassion being shown by the pharaohs daughter toward him that she loved him and kept him for her own.
C. Exodus 2:11-15 – in these verses I see both Gods hand on Moses and Moses messing up his life. – God protected Moses long enough for him to get away after keep him alive when he killed the Egyptian when the tables could have turned and Moses could have died. But I also think that here Moses messed up his life because now he is living his life on the run like a criminal whi doesn’t think out his actions to know if they will hurt him in the long run.
3. For those of you who have journeyed with us through our study of idolatry, what heart idol do you think might have motivated Moses to take things into his own hands and commit a murder? – I think I see approval and acceptance here. Moses wanted people to think he “was something” that he was tough. So he stood up for one of his own to show his power and get approval from the others but he did not think it thru to see that it was not the right thing to do so God allowed the outcome of his run away life.
Please pray for my youngest, Wesley. He is celebrating his 15th birthday in a couple of weeks and it has just come to my attention that he is depressed (I think). He is my “good” child; always wants to please us, but often comes up short on grades, chores, etc. He is a kind, sensitive young man. My concern is that he says he doesn’t have any friends, which is kind of true, no one really comes over and he is involved in a few extracurricular things, but nothing where you have close buddies to share with. He is online a lot (like most teens), but these aren’t real friendships. I don’t really know how to help him other than talking. I do not trust psychologists or counselors because we have been to so many and have never had any “good” results; in fact, we actually provided information on one that eventually helped him get fired.
Wesley and I had a conversation last night about all of this and he said that he didn’t care if he lived or not. I’m not sure how we got on the subject of life and death, but I am very concerned that he said that. He hasn’t been going to youth group lately, we just forget because it is on Thursday nights and his school is intensive. He is on break this week and has had no real fun because we aren’t on break (he goes to school in one state and we live in another). I am making sure he goes tonight.
Anyway, any prayers are welcomed. Thanks so much :)
Oh Laura dancer I will definitely pray for your son. I know how hard it is to not know what to do to help. Does he connect with the youth Pastor at your church, I know that helped my oldest son when he would talk to him or even send him a “how you doing email”. I will also be praying for wisdom for you.
Thanks Julie, and everyone for the beautiful, uplifting prayers and thoughts. I got the idea to call the youth pastor tonight before youth group to fill him in. He acknowledged he didn’t think wesley was acting quite like himself at the last youth event and said he would keep an eye on him. He seemed in good spirits when he came home. I am thankful. I did spend some quality time with him this afternoon also; we went to the library together.
Thanks again everyone!
Oh Laura, I will pray!
Father we bring Wesley to you asking that you be the lifter of his head. May his heart be soft and open to truth, send the Spirit to him. Your word promises that anyone who asks You for wisdom will be given it generously as Laura asks for wisdom give also peace as she seeks to parent the son You have given her well and for Your glory.
Keep us posted Laura on how he is doing and how you would like us to pray.
Laura, I will pray for Wesley. I can definitely identify with you. We have a son that has no close friends either. Some times the ‘good’ ones have the hardest time making friends. Guys can be lonely too. I pray that he will find purpose and meaning in Christ. And the confidence to reach out.
praying now Laura!!
Dear Heavenly Father, I lift up Wesley to you Lord. You know him and love him so very much, more than we can even imagine. You know his heart and all his needs. We beg you to please help him in any way he needs it. Please help him to find a friend. Just one friend can make all the difference to a child at his age. Take his depression from him, for you are a powerful God and you are able to do more than we could ever think or ask. In Jesus name I pray, Amen (Praying this for Brian too, Chris
4. Read Exodus 3:1-15
A. Why was this bush unusual and what did God tell Moses? (verses 1-6)
Well, the bush was burning, but didn’t burn up. Also, it was talking! God told Moses that he knew of the Israelites suffering and would bring them out of Egypt. He told Moses to go to pharaoh and tell him to set the Israelites free. He said he would be with Moses and help him. He also said for Moses to tell the Israelites that he was the I AM, and would be called that forever.
5. What similarity do you see between the above and Daniel 3:24-25?
God was again, in the fire with the three men. He was there to protect them, just as he said he would be with Moses to help him.
Good Morning Ladies, this was my morning devotional and I hope it helps in some way, to see the what Hod does in our life is really for the best. I hope this was ok to post.
http://www.wisdomhuntersdevotional.com/View.aspx?date=02/23/2012%2000:00:00
Thanks, Julie. This verse caught my attention: “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.” Daniel 2:20-22.
We are having the strangest winter season here in Nebraska. Great reminder who’s in control.
Ok well the goofy spell check changed God to Hod above. Sorry.
Makes me laugh :) happens to me all the time!