Throughout the Lenten Season, a member from our church will be writing a weekly meditation. This is included in the bulletin as an insert. So that we can share these writings with the larger internet community, they will be posted here every Sunday afternoon. Please share these guest blog posts with your friends and family members and join us in our journey toward the Cross. This week's meditation was written by Dr. Wilbur New for a 2006 Lenten Devotional Guide before prior to his death in 2011.
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34
Do you think that Jesus meant these words only to those crucifying Him? I don’t think so. I feel it is so much more than that. I believe He was saying it to everyone, even to us today. He wants to forgive our sins, but it is up to us. We must repent and ask for forgiveness. He doesn’t forgive us against our will. How about us? Are we quick to forgive others, or do we hold onto the hurt and never let go? What pain, bitterness, anger, and depression we suffer when we don’t forgive as He forgives us.
There were two thieves on crosses beside Jesus. One went with Him that day to Paradise. The other did not because he didn’t ask. In today’s world, we are so concerned about “things” that we push God aside and go on our indifferent way with Satan. That is until a calamity strikes, sickness, financial reverses, emotional upheaval, or an accident. Then, and only then, we turn to God asking why. We ask for forgiveness, direction for our lives, and release from our problems. And even though we haven’t been faithful, God still hears and forgives. He is an awesome God, isn’t He?
Dr. Wilbur New
Throughout the Lenten Season, a member from our church will be writing a weekly meditation. This is included in the bulletin as an insert. So that we can share these writings with the larger internet community, they will be posted here every Sunday afternoon. Please share these guest blog posts with your friends and family members and join us in our journey toward the Cross. This week's meditation is written by Guest Blogger, Jennifer Davis:
"Stop that! Quit! What are you doing? Were you raised in a barn? How many times have I told you NOT to do that?" Those of you who know me and my children, know that these are things I say repeatedly on a daily basis. I often find myself wondering how these children, who certainly know better, can constantly find things to do and say that are completely against what they have been taught. Then I have to think of myself, "Surely the Lord Himself thinks these VERY same things about me!" How often does He shake His head in bewilderment at me and the the things I say and do? As our Heavenly Father, I can see Him looking down on all of His children wondering where He went wrong.
On the other hand, I also know that no matter how angry or disappointed I become with some of the choices my children make, my love for them never changes, and my hope that they learn from their mistakes is always there. That has to be the feeling God has for all of us, His children, as we continue to make mistakes and fall short of His teachings. In this time of Lent, let us all be mindful and thankful for the mercy and forgiveness He shows us daily.
"To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against Him and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God by walking in His laws, which He set before us by His servants and prophets." Daniel 9: 9-10.
- Jennifer Davis
Throughout the Lenten Season, a member from our church will be writing a weekly meditation. This is included in the bulletin as an insert. So that we can share these writings with the larger internet community, they will be posted here every Sunday afternoon. Please share these guest blog posts with your friends and family members and join us in our journey toward the Cross. This week's meditation is written by Guest Blogger, Celeste M. Robison :
As many of you know, our home is close to the city cemetery. I walk there on a daily basis. Some of my friends find it unusual that the cemetery is where I choose to exercise. I, on the other hand, enjoy the solitude, the calm and quiet, and it’s the perfect place to think. A couple of weeks ago on a very chilly morning, I noticed a single yellow daffodil randomly growing right next to a grave marker. It caught my eye because among all the cold white stone markers was this tiny, yet beautiful, sign of life. I stopped to take a picture with my cell phone. I wanted to capture this perfect illustration of the circle of life.
In that moment, I fully understood the meaning of Easter. I thought about my life and realized more profoundly than before that we’ll all experience death, but it’s what we do while we’re living that truly matters. Easter allows us all a fresh start. It is God’s reminder that the-way-things-are doesn’t have to be the-way-things-will-always-be. For me, that is a very comforting reality.
Celeste M. Robison
Throughout the Lenten Season, a member from our church will be writing a weekly meditation. This is included in the bulletin as an insert. So that we can share these writings with the larger internet community, they will be posted here every Sunday afternoon. Please share these guest blog posts with your friends and family members and join us in our journey toward the Cross. This week's meditation is written by Guest Blogger, Wanda Delk:
"Jesus went through one town and village after another, teaching as He made His way to Jerusalem." Luke 13:22
Three years ago as we entered into the Lenten season, I receive the tragic news about the loss of my father. I was suddenly enveloped in darkness and fearful of the unknown path I had to travel. Seeking comfort and longing for peace, I found myself studying scripture more than I had in a very long time. I began to think about the path Jesus took to the cross, and I was drawn to a familiar chorus:
"Jesus walked this lonesome valley, He had to walk it by himself; O, nobody else could walk it for Him, He had to walk it by himself."
In the midst of all the chaos around Jesus as he journeyed to Jerusalem, he never stopped teaching; He never stopped serving; He never stopped forgiving; He never stopped loving...US!!! I found my answers! I had to claim the promises of God's love for me. I drew strength from His Word and I began to understand the greatness of His love, mercy and grace. Now I ask you the question I dealt with: What if we knew we only had 40 days left to walk on this earth? Where would our path lead? Mountain topi experiences are great, but a walk in the valley can be transforming. let us walk together during Lent, from the manger to the cross.
"You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore." Psalm 16:11
Throughout the Lenten Season, a member from our church will be writing a weekly meditation. This is included in the bulletin as an insert. So that we can share these writings with the larger internet community, they will be posted here every Sunday afternoon. Please share these guest blog posts with your friends and family members and join us in our journey toward the Cross. This week's meditation is written by Guest Blogger, Brian Colson:
Journey to the Cross...A Father's Love
I still vividly remember the births of my sons, Brayden and Landen. It seems like yesterday that they were swaddled and placed in my arms for the first time. From that moment forward, I was introduced to a love like none I had ever felt before. The love I have for my boys is greater than I could have ever imagined.
Since becoming a father, the words spoken by Jesus in John 3:16 have a much more profound meaning to me than they did before I became a parent. "For God so love the world that gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life." God gave his son's life so we could have eternal life. I can honestly say that there is nothing on earth I love more than my boys and would never put their lives in danger for any reason, but God's love for us is infinite and far greater than any love we can imagine.
Long before the birth of Jesus, God knew the events to come. God knew that Jesus would be beaten and mocked before being placed on the cross. The death and Resurrection of Jesus is the ultimate expression of our Heavenly Father's love for us. As we journey to the cross during these days of Lent, consider the love God has for you, and consider how you can demonstrate that love for others.
--Brian Colson
Hello Friends,
The Bible says, "If anyone should come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel, will save it." Mark 8:34-35.
As we walk the winding road to the cross during these forty days of Lent, these verses stand as a fork in the road; go left or go right, but it is time to make a decision.
I do not know about you, but thinking about Jesus carrying the cross is difficult. In fact, that is not the Jesus I like to think about. Let me explain...it is easy to imagine Jesus teaching on the shoreline. It is easy to consider Jesus feeding the 5,000. And wouldn't we all like to see just once, Jesus doing something like raising Lazarus from the dead? You see, that is the Jesus we like, the easy going, help us out, take care of our needs while making us feel better about life, Jesus.
But yet, there is another side, one that is not hard, mind you, but simply unwavering in His commitment to His calling. There is a side of Jesus that stood toe to toe with Satan, and said, "Away from me Satan, for it is written, 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'" There is a side of Jesus that turned over the tables in the temple and said, "My Father's House should be a place of prayer, but you have made it into a den of robbers." And in the text for Sunday, Mark 8:27-38, we see that side of Jesus reappear when He rebukes Peter, " 'You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.'" This Jesus, the one who walked alone to the cross does not make me feel warm and fuzzy...this Jesus make me feel like a half-hearted disciple.
I am convinced that we in the church often follow Jesus when it is easy, like when the bills are paid, and when the children are behaving. But do we follow Jesus when it is hard, like when you fell your prayers bounce back at you off the ceiling, or when the employer calls you in to say, you are being let go? Ultimately, do we follow Jesus not just part of the time, but all of the time? If we are going to be called His disciples, then we must.
Dr. Bill Coates, the pastor of FBC Gainesville, GA preached a sermon some years ago that centered around one phrase that I find most appropriate for this week: "Jesus did not come to make your life easy, He came to make your life matter." Far too often we want the easy life...not the life that demands denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and following; if you want to be a true follower of Christ, then this is exactly what you must do. Please, this week, make your life matter as you serve Christ by serving your neighbor.
I look forward to seeing you Friday night for the pricing event (6-9 PM), Saturday morning for the Relay for Life Yard Sale (7 AM-11:45), and Sunday morning for Sunday School and worship.
In His love and grace,
Josh
Throughout the Lenten Season, a member from our church will be writing a weekly meditation. This is included in the bulletin as an insert. So that we can share these writings with the larger internet community, they will be posted here every Sunday afternoon. Please share these guest blog posts with your friends and family members and join us in our journey toward the Cross. This week's meditation is written by Guest Blogger, Rustin Howard:
Lent...Journey to the Cross
As a child, one of the most meaningful experiences of the Lenten season was attending the Easter performance at church. My parents played parts each year, so I saw many performances, and I watched practice after practice. I could quote many lines and sing all the songs. Even though I saw it multiple times each year, I remember watching in awe as the actor who portrayed the part of Jesus walked the long aisle of the church with a huge wooden cross draped across his back. Lacerations on his body were created by red lipstick but realistically symbolized the pain endured by Christ. I remember sitting in the pew and wondering if he would ever make it to the front of the church. As the actor slowly walked, weighted down by the cross, he stumbled and fell many times. Each time He fell, I knew his journey had been prolonged.
Throughout this season, we journey to the cross with Jesus. As we walk along side of Him, we must remember the word "preparation" defined as the act of getting ready. As humans, we oftentimes find ourselves preparing for events and milestones in our lives. We prepare for new school years, graduations, moves, new jobs, vacations, weddings, and births of new babies and even small tasks such as meals. We must ask ourselves the question, "Do we take time to prepare ourselves for worship?" The Lenten season is about sacrifice, prayer, repentance, and the preparation to remember the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
During the Lenten season last year, as a close friend and I discussed the sacrifices we had made in preparation and observance, a small child who was listening more attentively than we thought said, "I was going to give something up, but Lent already started, so I will wait until next year." There had been no preparation. From the mouth of a child, this comment is cute and even a bit comical; however, how many adults have the same mindset? How many of us fail to prepare our hearts and minds causing us to miss out on the importance of the Easter season?
Each person's preparation will be different. Maybe you have decided to prepare yourself for this journey by giving up something that you love or by spending more time reading your Bible and in prayer. Jesus knew of His fate, and He spent the night before His death in prayer and preparation for what was to come. For Him, the journey to the cross wasn't just that walk to Golgotha, but it started at the manger where His life as a human and a child of God began. Because of His journey that ended at the cross with ultimate sacrifice, we have the encouragement and comfort that the final destination of our journey is eternal life with Him.
--Rustin Howard
Hello Friends,
Glad to have you reading today. It is official, we have begun our Lenten journey. Thank you for participating in our Ash Wednesday Service last night. We had great attendance. You should also remember that we were just a small group who joined with millions of other Christians to participate in that service as we prepare our hearts towards Easter.
As I told you in some of my comments last night, we have "set our faces towards Jerusalem" as Jesus does in Luke 9:51. There is only one place a journey like this will lead us and that is to the cross.
Many of you have asked me about giving things up for Lent. You should know that the act of giving up is patterned after Jesus' time in the desert where He fasted and communed with God. We give up certain things to deny ourselves, and to let us experience just a small sacrifice as we draw near the cross.
Just so you know, I have given up sweet tea, and sweets this year...for many that does not seem like much, but for me, it is quite difficult. What did you give up this year? Please put your answers in the comments below...it would be good for you to make them public so that you would be even more accountable.
With that said, it is day two of the Lenten journey and I have already been tempted. After officiating Mrs. Oreta Bishop's funeral this morning, I was invited to eat with Derrell and Judy Lynn at their home. There was more food there than at our Wednesday night suppers. I was okay until I saw the sweets (pecan pie, key lime cake, and of course, Mrs. Judy's famous caramel cake.) I resisted, but the devil rode home with me because Mrs. Judy insisted that I take a piece of that cake home for Ginger. If that is not temptation, then I do not know what is.
Our text Sunday, Mark 1:9-16, tells us of the first steps Jesus takes on this road...it covers His baptism, His temptation, and then His first message. In these verses, Mark outlines for us our own journey to the cross. You should know that the road is never easy, nor is the path straight...but the calling for you and me, especially in these forty days is to keep our eyes upon Jesus, and to keep the cross central in our lives.
May you turn your attention to Christ, especially when you are tempted to look away.
In His love and grace,
Josh
Hello Friends,
Thanks for reading as always. I have been out of town for the last week and I want you to know how much I appreciate having Rev. Randy Callahan preach last Sunday, and Rev. Al Rahn to teach last Wednesday night. It is a gift to our church to have these gifted leaders in our midst. With that said, we are closing in on Sunday once again. One of my seminary professors was known for saying, "Sunday is always coming." Until I began to preach each week, I never knew how true her observation was.
The text this Sunday is one of Sunday School lore...it is Jesus healing the paralytic man (Mark 2:1-12.) I imagine all of us have drawn pictures of those four friends digging through the roof to bring their friend to Jesus. As I was studying the text this week, that image continued to run through my head when the realization struck me...those four men let nothing stand in the way of bringing their friend to Jesus.
This Sunday, I will be focusing on that truth and will be exploring the barriers that hinder us from bringing our friends to Jesus. Some fall within the church at large, and some obstacles are of our own making. Sometimes, self-righteous judgments keep people from meeting Jesus. Sometimes, cliques within churches hinder people from meeting Jesus. Sometimes, perhaps we ourselves hinder others from meeting Jesus. As a way to help me prepare for Sunday, I need you to answer these questions in the comments below: what hinders you from bringing people to Christ and what in the church at large hinders people from meeting Jesus? Only by answering these questions honestly and openly do we have the opportunity to change the way we live and worship.
As a brief reminder, we are having our second annual Fat Tuesday Pancake Supper next Tuesday, February 21 at 6 pm. We will be raising money for Relay for Life that Night. Then, on Wednesday February 22nd, we will have our annual Ash Wednesday Service as we repent, and begin the journey to the Cross through Lent. Join us for these events.
Have a great day, and may God bless you as you serve Him faithfully.
Josh
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