Ash Wednesday: the start of less and more

Images and more info: Conservapedia

Those who saved their braided palm cross from last year's Palm Sunday may burn it today, pulling the ashes across their foreheads in the shape of a cross. Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy.

It's the beginning of Lent today. I'm still wresting with my disciplines. Two of them will be deprivations - one of a certain kind of media that I enjoy and the other a food that I crave. One will be a discipline of prayer.

I'm a long-term calendar entry/ incremental task-maker/ don't look ahead until you have to/ survivalist. I've never looked ahead 40 days at the beginning of Lent for Easter on the calendar. Today it hit me, in light of our going to Indonesia in June: "Easter is April 20. That's a long way off! I may never have the chance to watch the programs or eat the foods I'm giving up. It will take time to pray this way. Do I really want to do this?"

Well, the answer is...

no. I don't want to.

Why should I? Why not indulge and carry on with the things that provide pleasure and put off a spiritual chore?

This is why: Lent isn't about us or what we give up. It's about remembering what Christ gave up for us. The disciplines are only a picture and an identification with Jesus. We put aside a little in gratitude for the enormity of His sacrifices on our behalf.

Regardless of my lackluster enthusiasm this morning, I set my face toward the life and death of Jesus.

Why Lenten disciplines? Why this season of remembrance in our spiritual journey?

Because of gratitude. Thankful hearts. And the remembrance that God who gave everything for us is worthy of worship and all our devotion. "Serve God with all your heart, soul, body," Jesus said.

That's a challenge worth taking on in this small way. There may be no smudge on my forehead, but there's a cross engraved on my heart.

Read more:
Ash Wednesday — Joel 2:1-2,12-17; Psalm 51:1-17; 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10; Matthew 6:1-6,16-21

*And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 ESV

*They will fight against you; but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, says the Lord, to deliver you. Jeremiah 1:19 ESV

*The chief priests and the scribes kept looking for a way to kill him; for they were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was spellbound by his teaching. Mark 11:18 ESV

Moravian Prayer: We depart from our daily routines to journey into the wilderness of Lent. Travel with us, Jesus. Lend us your courage, strength, and perseverance, that we might share your Easter victory. Amen.

Taking time to be thankful

Gratitude makes us healthier and happier, according to recent studies. Are you feeling good, after setting yesterday aside to give thanks for all our blessings?

This year, I'm grateful for:

• you the reader. How you encourage me with your comments and interactions all year long!
• our little grandson, born healthy 2 days ago
• family who loves us
• friends who nurture us
• safe shelter, plenty of food, and warm clothing
• God, who generously pours out blessing upon blessing, entrusts us with free will (the ability to make choices that help or hurt others), and heals our hearts when our choices - and those of others - do harm.

We don't take any of these gifts for granted.

What made you especially thankful this year?

Anonymous quote

Read more:

*Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV

*Therefore I am surely going to teach them, this time I am going to teach them my power and my might, and they shall know that my name is the Lord. Jeremiah 16:21

*Through Jesus Christ we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of his name. Romans 1:5 ESV

Do not claim to be wiser than you are. Romans 12:16 ESV

Moravian Prayer: Heaven's Teacher, guide us as we constantly seek your truth. Open our minds to the glory, majesty, power, and peace of your everlasting love and give us the strength to bring your good news to the world.

Knowing Father, help us to feel the glory of your truth and make it a part of the road we travel. Grant each of us wisdom and hope as we move through our days, sharing your words and deeds along the way. Amen.

Lent Day 14: Life on pause, temporarily

The same questions: "So what are you doing? You looking for work?" I've heard it dozens of times this sabbatical year. I'm always at a loss for an answer.

The last waiting season, I was in England while W finished his PhD. I took art lessons, toured Cambridge weekly with a fabulous (and free) blue guide, wrote, and rested. I'm similarly engaged this time around, compounded by work with/for other people. Last week I edited 4 articles for others. This week I helped 2 speakers pull together public talks. I've met with 6 people (but it's only Thursday morning.) This pause is productive: I'm helping others though it feels like my career and interests are paused. I bought an art notebook. I've written blogs, my Lenten discipline.

Real Simple Daily Thought here.

Friends remind me, "Don't worry. Remember the great fit that found you after the last sabbatical?" I do remember! Work that was pure pleasure, morning by morning. I couldn't wait to get there every day.

I'm not worried. I've begun to feel energy rising for the next thing. I'm not quite ready to apply for the jobs I've seen posted. The right thing hasn't come along.

Meanwhile, I'm happy. Very busy. Occasionally I feel a bit impatient, anticipating the new things ahead. (So I'm almost open, should you hear of work that's a good fit for a writer, speaker, editor, and connector. Smiles.)

Most of us will experience "seasons between." Jesus never seemed hurried or anxious about the future. He didn't rush toward the culmination of his life, that ugly cross and beautiful resurrection. He spent each day as it came, intentional about pleasing his Heavenly Father from morning to night. Why do we feel harried, rather than living one day at a time?

How can we value these pauses, when the next thing is not yet apparent?

1. Be grateful. How many people have time to reflect and choose their hours in Western society? Are most of your friends running on fumes? Thank God for the respite. He hasn't forgotten you. Maybe He's healing something inside you. Is He building something new, something not yet apparent?
2. Be prayerful. Seek God's face on these quiet days. On days when you're hunting for work. On days when you catch up on chores. On days when you have no to-do list.
3. Be intentional. Examine yourself to plan your trajectory, going forward. WHAT ARE: Your strengths. Your loves. What fills you with joy. How you best work (with others? alone?) The things in the past that made you laugh out loud. The skills you have developed over years of work and play.
4. Be mindful. How can you help those who are exhausted? My husband has the opposite schedule: every minute full, teaching, speaking, researching. I try not to load him with my ideas. How can you lighten the load for those around you? (Husbands, hint hint - how about picking up some cooking and cleaning stints for that exhausted wife? Dads, how about getting up at night to soothe the baby? Mom's actually WORKING during the day, too! Employers, relieve the burden of underlings. Coworkers, pick up a task for peers when you have a slow day?)
5. Be willing. Do what you need to do to bring in survival income. Volunteer. Help out in church and the community. Maybe the person volunteering beside you will be the link to your next opportunity.
6. Be alert. Look for opportunities coming your way. We are designed to work and enjoy it. What is on the horizon that will use your gifts, education, and experience?

Read more:

*The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him. Exodus 15:2 NIV

*And David became more and more powerful, because the LORD of Heaven's Armies was with him. 1 Chronicles 11:9 NLT

*The light of the moon will be like the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold on the day when the Lord binds up the injuries of his people, and heals the wounds. Isaiah 30:26 NLT

*We want each one of you to show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope to the very end. Hebrews 6:11 NLT

Moravian Prayer: Giver of light and hope, keep your children safe as we wait for the promised day of healing. May we faithfully do your will, eagerly anticipating that day when all earth will rejoice in your presence. Amen.

Scary stats on a lethal profession

• Stress and conflicts cause the most physical and psychological harm to the health of pastors.
• 35% of pastors will be fired or voted out of their churches.
• 50% of those will leave pastoral ministry.
• 85% of AG churches are under 100 people.

Those were a few of the stats presented at the ministers' area meeting today. I looked around the room. Many of the men and women have endured hard seasons and stuck it out. Other faces were missing, casualties who have slipped out of ministry in the past ten years.

"I was unprepared for the hostility of the church people," said the speaker, about his topic, Ministry: the Lethal Profession. "I thought if I liked them, they would like me."

Not only do we expect our pastors to tell us about Jesus; we also expect her/him to BE Jesus, perfect in every way. We dishonor them (and Christ) with unrealistic expectations and harsh criticism. If our bosses or employees treated us with the disrespect we show our spiritual leaders, there would be fireworks! (I'm not referring to ministers who steal or have moral failures; I'm talking about those who don't do things the way we'd like, aren't brilliant speakers or administrators, or who have lapses in judgment or congregational culture that irritates us.)

Our family is friends with missionaries and pastors around the world. My mom's often lamented the heartache of pastors who do their best and have to leave a church, pushed away by an ungracious congregation. Off they go, wounded but willing, into the next pulpit.

It's not "love your pastor" week or any specific occasion. But post-Valentines Day, it might be nice to give a warm handshake, slip a thank you note with a $20 bill to "take your husband/wife for coffee," or to show appreciation in a way that's comfortable for you. We're individuals, so we won't agree with everything that is said and done, but we can support honest efforts with kindness and prayers for our pastors (and church board members).

Most ministers, trying their best to serve God, hear more grumbling than gratitude. You and I could reverse the trend this month. What do you think?

Read more:

*Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation; Noah walked with God. Genesis 6:9

*By faith Noah, warned by God about events as yet unseen, respected the warning and built an ark to save his household. Hebrews 11:7 

*The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; he leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;  and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23 NKJV

*Just as the prophet Isaiah had written: 'Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way. …'

This messenger was John the Baptist. He was in the wilderness and preached that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven. …  John announced: 'Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I'm not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!' Mark 1:2, 4, 7-8 NLT

*Jesus came and told his disciples, 'I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.' Matthew 28:18–20 NLT

Moravian Prayer: Lord God, help us to be as faithful as our ancestors of old who loved you and trusted your guidance within their lives and households. Amen.