RANDOM REFLECTIONS FROM MY LENTEN JOURNAL

FOLLOWING JESUS IS AN ADVENTURE IT IS NOT JUST CARRYING MY CROSS BUT LIGHTENING THE CROSSES OF OTHERS LIKE SIMON OF CYRENE DID.

TO LOVE MY NEIGHBOR IS TO LOVE GOD I CANNOT LOVE GOD AND HATE MY NEIGHBOR

IF I DON’T FORGIVE ANOTHER WILL I BE FORGIVEN BY GOD?  WHY TAKE THE CHANCE? HELP ME TO SHOW MERCY OVER JUDGMENT.

A RECONCILED SOUL IS A PEACEFUL SOUL, NO ADVERSARIES TO SHADOW BOX WITH, NO CLINCHING AND GRITTING OUR TEETH, LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE.  SHARE THE PEACE OF CHRIST THAT IS BEYOND ALL UNDERSTANDING, FORGIVE AND BE SAVED

AS I MEASURE SO WILL IT BE MEASURED TO ME.  GOD BE MERCIFUL TO ME A SINNER

GOD IS GOD AND WE ARE NOT.  WHAT DO I HAVE TO BOAST OF?  MY SINS???  WE MAY GIVE UP ON JESUS BUT HE NEVER GIVES UP ON US.

IN THE PRODIGAL SON STORY THERE IS THE PRODIGAL WHO REPENTS AND RETURNS TO HIS FATHER’S HOUSE AND THE FATHER THAT RUNS TO GREET HIM.  THEN THERE IS THE OLDER BROTHER WHO RESENTS BOTH THE SON SEEKING FORGIVENESS AND THE FATHER OFFERING FORGIVENESS.  PLEASE GOD, LET ME NOT BE LIKE THE OLDER SON STANDING IN JUDGMENT BUT RATHER OFFER MERCY TO ALL I MEET.

IS MY PRAYER SELF CENTERED LIKE THE PHARISEE IN THE TEMPLE OR GOD CENTERED LIKE THE TAX COLLECTOR, O GOD BE MERCIFUL TO ME A SINNER?  IS GOD THE PRINCIPLE ACTOR IN MY PRAYER?

LORD THAT I MIGHT SEE!  YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.  LIFT THE DARKNESS OF SELF-SERVING. SHED LIGHT ON MY SINFULNESS AND REMOVE WHAT YOUR LIGHT HAS REVEALED.

JESUS THE HEALER,. HEAL ME FROM MY PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL INFIRMITIES  JESUS MAKE ME WHOLE AGAIN AS THE FATHER INTENDED!

HIS HOUR HAD NOT YET COME.  WHAT IS MY HOUR?  HAS IT ALREADY PASSED OR STILL TO COME?   DON’T LET ME MISS IT….THY WILL BE DONE!

CHRISTIANITY IS A SALVATION RELIGION.  IF YOU ARE NOT A SINNER YOU JUST DON’T GET IT.  IT’S NOT FOR YOU.  CHRISTIANITY IS MADE UP OF SINNERS IN NEED OF A SAVIOR.  JESUS HAVE MERCY ON ME!

“I AM THE RESURRECTION AND LIFE.”  NO MATTER HOW DEAD YOU ARE IN SIN, JESUS CAN CALL YOU BACK TO LIFE!  LISTEN FOR HIS CALL!

JESUS CHRIST CRUCIFIED.  GOD LOVES US FULLY, COMPLETELY, UNCONDITIONALLY EVEN TO DEATH.  DO NOT FEAR THE CROSS, EMBRACE IT BECAUSE IT IS AN ICON OF GOD’S LOVE.