"Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity" Joel 2:13
Listen to: Kirk Franklin, "Lean on Me"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXBKaOkmQhw
After a long day of meetings in the City, I was dashing from the subway to catch my Long Island train home. At the turnstile I spotted a woman speaking to someone, she was obviously having trouble with paying the subway fare. For a split second a voice inside of me said, “help her.” I had a metro-card that had some rides to spare on it. Then the next second I found myself moving with the crowd, justifying that she was already getting help.
However, sitting on my comfortable seat on the Long Island train, my conscience got the better of me. What would it have cost me to reach out? Doesn’t God ask us to step outside our comfort zone and extend ourselves? Rightly so, I felt badly. I prayed for forgiveness and another opportunity to be challenged to help – and to succeed at it.
Each of us has our spiritual growing edges. It could be patience in a trying situation. It could be trust in a challenging time. It could be something fundamental, like truly believing God loves you and has a plan for your life. Whatever it is, we are all called to the journey of spiritual wholeness. Every day offers us lessons to master. Every day offers us a chance to become more conscious of God’s loving presence seeking to guide our lives on the path of righteousness. Sometimes these lessons are split-second decisions. Sometimes they are present to us all day long. Will we brush them off or embrace them?
For many Christians, the season of Lent, which begins this Wednesday, February 10, marks a season of self-denial, introspection and heightened spiritual growth as we journey with Jesus to the cross. It is an opportunity to reflect on the love of God, manifested in the life of Jesus, who willingly chose a path of sacrifice out of love for humankind. We are invited to pray and act so we can spiritually grow. If we don’t know what to do, we pray for the desire to know what to do, where God is leading us, how to know God’s love and how to love well.
During Lent, I will be starting a “Take 5!” project, where I will send out a daily scripture with a very brief meditation and prayer to active members of elift. Five minutes, every day of Lent, to jump start your devotions and spiritual journey. If you are an active member of e-lift you will automatically receive this. If you wish to receive this daily spiritual exercise, just let me know! What is important is to use the time of Lent to deepen your walk with God in whatever way works for you.
Observe a holy Lent and may God bless you!!
Prayer: Loving God, You call us to serve as you served. Help us to respond when the opportunities arise, and to give generously as you have given to us. Draw us closer to you. Amen.
Listen to: Kirk Franklin, "Lean on Me"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXBKaOkmQhw
After a long day of meetings in the City, I was dashing from the subway to catch my Long Island train home. At the turnstile I spotted a woman speaking to someone, she was obviously having trouble with paying the subway fare. For a split second a voice inside of me said, “help her.” I had a metro-card that had some rides to spare on it. Then the next second I found myself moving with the crowd, justifying that she was already getting help.
However, sitting on my comfortable seat on the Long Island train, my conscience got the better of me. What would it have cost me to reach out? Doesn’t God ask us to step outside our comfort zone and extend ourselves? Rightly so, I felt badly. I prayed for forgiveness and another opportunity to be challenged to help – and to succeed at it.
Each of us has our spiritual growing edges. It could be patience in a trying situation. It could be trust in a challenging time. It could be something fundamental, like truly believing God loves you and has a plan for your life. Whatever it is, we are all called to the journey of spiritual wholeness. Every day offers us lessons to master. Every day offers us a chance to become more conscious of God’s loving presence seeking to guide our lives on the path of righteousness. Sometimes these lessons are split-second decisions. Sometimes they are present to us all day long. Will we brush them off or embrace them?
For many Christians, the season of Lent, which begins this Wednesday, February 10, marks a season of self-denial, introspection and heightened spiritual growth as we journey with Jesus to the cross. It is an opportunity to reflect on the love of God, manifested in the life of Jesus, who willingly chose a path of sacrifice out of love for humankind. We are invited to pray and act so we can spiritually grow. If we don’t know what to do, we pray for the desire to know what to do, where God is leading us, how to know God’s love and how to love well.
During Lent, I will be starting a “Take 5!” project, where I will send out a daily scripture with a very brief meditation and prayer to active members of elift. Five minutes, every day of Lent, to jump start your devotions and spiritual journey. If you are an active member of e-lift you will automatically receive this. If you wish to receive this daily spiritual exercise, just let me know! What is important is to use the time of Lent to deepen your walk with God in whatever way works for you.
Observe a holy Lent and may God bless you!!
Prayer: Loving God, You call us to serve as you served. Help us to respond when the opportunities arise, and to give generously as you have given to us. Draw us closer to you. Amen.
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