Reflections: Lent 2013

"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace that He lavished on us."

Ephesians 1:7-8

 

 

And here we are on the eve of Easter.

Forty Days.

A rugged cross. Suffering.

And now waiting.

 

I was reflecting on what these past forty days have revealed to me and I am always astonished by what God has to teach us.

 

The biggest lessons I've learned these forty days wandering is balance. And patience. Stewardship of time.

 

I was frustrated and felt stuck - just going through the motions - feeling nothing but exhausted and bored by the end of the day. Time was slipping through and I was missing it. I was focused on other things. Like watching Netflix and playing games and justifying that I was "resting" because it had been a long day and another one tomorrow.

 

But these forty days have shown me the joy and beauty in creating. In relationships. Focusing on Him. We are made in the image of God.

God the Creator.

God the three-in-one, relationship.

God the Giver and Savior.

 

"Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

Ephesians 5:1-2

 

Redefining how I live and give and spend my time.

It's not always perfect.

It doesn't always mean sacrifice, for your joy is God's joy too.

Balance. But always everything in Him.

 

God has met me here in this desert. He has begun to transform me. I can't go back to the way things were. Only forward listening, creating, and living. Before it was inevitable that I went back to eating the chocolate I had refrained from, or soda, or Facebook for those were good seasons of silence. But this? This has changed me and given me joy. Joy instead of the stress I thought. Energy instead of the exhaustion I thought. Excitement instead of the dread I thought.

 

Always room to improve. Always needing to come back to the cross. Always prayings and seeking and listening. That is where I want to be. Thank You, Lord for these past forty days. Thank You for Good Friday and going it alone where we could not go. Thank You for the hope and promise of Tomorrow.

 

"Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is."

Ephesians 5: 15-17