Tag: Lent

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Devotionals

I’m a Fan.

Fresco painted by Giotto. Jesus arrives in Jerusalem riding a donkey.

   “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”
Psalm 51:10

I’m a fan of Ash Wednesday. I love the music, the stillness, and the warmth of the church. I love the touch of the minister’s thumb as he draws the cross on my forehead. My heart sings with the Holy Spirit within me. Kneeling at the altar, I feel clean as Lent begins. Then, as I settle into my spot, pew number 10, left side, close to the aisle, “shazam,” a thought enters my muddled mind. Lent equals forty days. Forty days to get ready for Easter. A season of prayer, fasting, and a time to reflect on His suffering, death, and resurrection. It begins on Ash Wednesday and leads us all the way to Easter.

And suddenly the question sneaks up on me up on me, “How am I going to stay clean?” That’s when the pondering begins.  Give up coffee? Nope. I’d rather walk in the desert and eat locusts with John the Baptist.  Chocolate? Not a chance. That makes Jonah’s time in the belly of the whale sound like a vacation.

And then it comes to me, “I’m going to have coffee time with Jesus.”

I’m getting busy again, and it’s time for a reset, time for our visits. A chance to sit with Him, take a sip, and prayerfully listen for Him to call my name. In my mind, I can almost feel Jesus beside me, whispering, “Good choice.”

On Ash Wednesday, as I gazed at the cross, I kept my eyes on the prize, and I’ve managed to hold onto for nineteen whole days, so 21 is a snap.

I’ve noticed some churches now offer drive-through ashes. I guess it’s helpful if you can’t get out of your car. But for me, it would be like the time I ordered at Starbucks, pulled up to the window, paid and then drove away without my coffee. I paid, but I didn’t receive what I wanted most on that cold morning, my grande vanilla latte because I took my eyes off the prize.

Jesus paid for me. And the closer we get to Easter morning, the more that realization settles into my soul. Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent; Easter is the prize.

This year, when I got home from church, I didn’t want to wash the cross off my forehead. I slept in it because I didn’t want to be without it, not even as I snuggled into my pillow, dreaming of chocolate Easter bunnies and Peeps. That morning will come. But until then, I’m having a steaming cup of coffee with my Jesus.

And if you didn’t get ashes on your forehead this year, it’s not too late. Just touch your finger to the dirt and trace a cross on your forehead. Jesus won’t mind. He loves you just as you are.

As we reflect on these questions, let us take a moment to sit in stillness and listen for His gentle voice. Sometimes the answers may not come right away, but in the quiet, we often find the comfort and guidance we seek. Lent offers us a special invitation to draw closer, to open our hearts a little wider, and to rest in His presence. 

Thoughts to Ponder:

1. Is Ash Wednesday important to you?

2. Did you get to have ashes placed on your forehead on Ash Wednesday? Did it change you?

3. What is your prize?

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Devotionals

Undercover with Jesus

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
– Matthew 11:28

I suppose it’s pretty obvious I haven’t “hopped, skipped, or jumped” anywhere in a while. You’re not wrong, it’s been a year since I last posted. The truth is, I went “undercover.”

I know, if you know me at all, you’re probably laughing, because I’m definitely not a spy (even if all my spy movies might suggest otherwise). My life is pretty open, but I really did go undercover, just not with 007, with Jesus.

I don’t know about you, but I talk with Jesus throughout the day about all kinds of things. Things like: “Jesus, I can’t believe that car just pulled out in front of me.” “Jesus, what is going on with my Venmo account?” “Jesus, whose idea was it to change banks anyway?” I talked to Him so much I even changed my password to HelpmeJesus.

And then, I felt a tap on my shoulder, it was my best friend, Jesus. Speaking His loving but very direct words: “We need to talk, and I mean now”! It felt like it was coming in stereo to me.

So I did what He asked and went to Him, in my room, where my lonely chair sat waiting, my prayer bench still neatly folded against the wall behind it, and my Bible nearby. He gave me the gift He promises all of us: rest and time with Him.

As I opened His Word again, our conversations became real and deep in a way I hadn’t experienced for a while. I didn’t realize how much I was missing my Savior through the busy days of  Thanksgiving and Christmas, and the ringing in of the New Year. The effort of wrapping up 2025 and filing life away into neat red folders in my trusty file cabinet kept me worldly centered, not Jesus centered.  But He knew, and He met me there, and took my yoke.

So if you haven’t heard from me, didn’t get a Valentine, or haven’t received a text in a while you know who to “blame”: Jesus. And really, thank Him because He loves me and you so much that He’ll call us undercover with Him… to read His Word, to pray, and to be loved.

I’ve emerged with a full heart, singing His name just in time for Lent. So be ready. I’ll be sharing some of my “Jesus time” with you.

Thoughts to Ponder

As we reflect on these questions, let us take a moment to sit in stillness and listen for His gentle voice. Sometimes the answers may not come right away, but in the quiet, we often find the comfort and guidance we seek. Lent offers us a special invitation to draw closer, to open our hearts a little wider, and to rest in His presence. 

1. How is your time with Jesus?

2. Do you ever fill distant from Him?

3. Where is your favorite place to be with Jesus?

Categories
Devotionals

It Snuck Up On Me

Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).”
– John 20:17

I couldn’t believe it was Ash Wednesday. It snuck up on me. I had seen the leprechauns and bunnies displayed all over the stores and even hopping around on the television commercials, but I didn’t have the right frame of mind. Don’t get me wrong; I love Lent. The quiet, the prayers, the services, and even sharing more of me with Jesus make my heart sing. Yet somehow, it was in the back of my brain. You know, like when you’re digging in the pantry for the last chocolate chip cookie and someone walks by and says, “Whatcha looking for?” During Lent, step by step, Jesus helps me find what I am looking for each day. It isn’t a complete surprise when it happens; it was more like an awakening.

This year, my Ash Wednesday was a little disorganized. I finally got it all planned, or better yet, listened to what I thought Jesus had planned for me. It was written in ink in my paper calendar (yes, I still use one): “Ash Wednesday, 6:00 University Park United Methodist Church.”  I was even going to be blessed by reading the liturgy. I had practiced all week. I was so excited, but just before I left, lightning struck my forehead in the form of a headache, and I found myself in bed wondering why it had to happen now. Then the age-old question came floating through the pounding: why not now? After all, Lent is not all about regret, misdeed, or guilt. It is a time of introspection, valid, but its ultimate purpose lies beyond repentance. In essence, Lent serves as our annual invitation to come closer to God. It provides a time in our lives and ourselves to look at the things that might be keeping us from God, obstructions that keep us from God. Lent allows us to look at such obstructions and move them gently away to come closer to the Love that gives us life, the Love whose triumph we will celebrate Easter morning.

Because of this, Lent offers a gift of time and a promise of closeness. It gives us time to honestly see our current state of affairs and compare this present snapshot with an image of where we would like to be, where we feel God wants us to find Christ’s message of new life and forgiveness.

Each of us comes before the Lord in our own way and in our own time. I hope that during this Lenten season, you can find a place for the Holy Spirit’s still small voice to seek you out. Some of us have never sat in the quiet and are starving for the quiet, but for some, the thought of being in the silence for 5 minutes is more than we can imagine, yet we still hear the Lord calling, “Come be still with me.” Some of us crave silence, and the noise of our lives is more than we can bear. It’s not too late. Let the Holy sneak up on you through this Lenten time as you walk by your dwelling place. One that is yours alone, that when you pass it during your day, you will breathe in the Holy Spirit of our Savior.

Mary was truly surprised when she went to check on Jesus that first Easter morning. He was nowhere to be seen until she heard His voice and felt His presence. All she wanted to do was touch Jesus, and that’s how I feel during Lent. Join me and feel His touch, Love, and presence.

Points to Ponder

1. What keeps us from feeling the presence of the Divine every day?

2. How do we hide from God, and why?

3. Where is your dwelling place with Jesus?

4. What does it truly mean to experience the touch of Jesus in our everyday existence?

Pray With Me..

Dearest Jesus, we are blessed that you died and arose for us. Lead us to grow closer to You during this Lenten season so we can walk our day with you.

Help us grow closer to You during this Lenten season so we can walk our day with you.

Walking for you.