We are coming to the wind down of the Lenten fast. Holy week begins in just two days! I am very excited for this set of holidays. I feel like we are launching into a great deep of Holy Spirit power. I sense the lessons of this fast have equipped me for what lies ahead.

Lent Day 29- This day’s questions were: What are three of your core values? Is there any part of your life that is conflict with these values? What can you do about that?

“Core values are traits or qualities that you consider not just worthwhile, they represent an individual’s or organization’s highest priorities, deeply held beliefs, and core, fundamental driving forces. Core values define what your organization believes and how you want your organization resonating with and appealing to employees and the external world.

Core values are also called guiding principles because they form a solid core of who you are, what you believe, and who you are and want to be going forward.”  Susan Heathfield

Lent Day 30-

John Maxwell writes, “No matter how hard you try you cannot consistently behave in a way that is inconsistent with how you see yourself.”

Who am I?  is the question of the day but maybe that is a little too broad to be answered easily. So let me narrow the parameters for you a bit:

What five words would you use to describe yourself (* you cannot use words that define what you do such as contractor, nurse, or parent)?

Lent Day 31-

Today’s question for meditation concerns integrity. John Maxwell writes, “When values, thoughts, feelings and actions are in alignment, a person becomes focused and his character is strengthened.

Integrity is defined by dictionary. com  as-

My biggest takeaway here is from day 30. Who am I? My five words are: Accepted, Able, Creative, Contented, Victorious. This is how the word defines me. It’s not always how I see myself. So I have some work to do to build faith in my identity in Christ.

What’s your biggest take away?

I am so glad that we are in the review stage of this journey. Today was a make-up day at the office since we lost a whole day to Winter Storm Ukko. It was back to back meetings followed by back to back phone calls and admin. A quick jaunt home to walk the little white dogs was followed by two music rehearsals. Supper was followed by finances and now I am at last sitting down to write at 10 P.M.  This review is a great way to end out the day!

Lent Day 21- This day’s questions were:  in your personal life, family life, corporate life, church life…

We continue today with our review of this season’s lessons. It’s been a season of great healing and growth. I hope as we approach Holy Week that you are finding new life and growth in Christ.

Lent Day 17- This days quotes:

“Endurance is not just the ability to bear a hard thing, but to turn it into glory.” WIlliam Barclay

“For  to be poised against fatality, to meet adverse conditions gracefully, is more  than simple endurance; it is an act of aggression, a positive  triumph.“ Thomas  Mann

We  really feel happier when things look bleak. Hope is endurance. Hope is holding  on and going on and trusting in the Lord. Michael  Novak

This days question: What attitude are you wanting God to help you with?

Lent Day 18- This day’s opening question: What way of thinking do you want God to change in you

We humans have a need to consistently re-present ourselves to God in a mind-set of sacrificial living. We must constantly ask ourselves, “What area of this life needs to be given for love of Jesus.”

Such sacrifices always seem costly at the moment but as Jesus said, ” everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life.” MA 19:29 NLT

The sacrifice will drive us into prayer and study of the Word, It will bring us out of the pathway that conforms with the world’s understanding.  Our way will  no longer follow the patterns of our upbringing, our families or our friends where those patterns come into conflict with the rightly divided Word of truth.

Through this season of Lent I feel my heart being prepared by God to walk in His miracles. I feel like He has given me a story larger than myself to live in, a story many others may struggle to believe. He is changing me so that I can live in the larger story.

How is God enlarging your story this year?

Lent Day 19- On this day I realize,  I am romanced by a God who is wild and orderly all at once and so far beyond my ken that I stand everyday amazed by this Lover who has come seeking me!

When was the first time you encountered the God who loved you?

Lent Day 20-

I have been writing about the calling and the romancing of God these last few days. The Bible sometimes reads like a fairytale (with the exception of  it being absolute fact). The call of a loving God beckons  each of us to a happily ever after; But just like in every good fairytale there are dragons and dark castles filled with nightmares between us and the Love of our lives.

It is in discovering and conquering our dragons and monsters that we gain access to the plans of God and the intimate relationship that God wants us to have. One thing I have learned during this season of Lent is that sometimes our dragons lie invisible. Just beneath the surface of our hearts they rest slumbering under deep spells of denial. Yet even slumbering dragons have the power to keep us back from our dreams unless they are committed into the hands of  the Savior who can defeat them all.

In light of this truth, What promises from God’s Word have the potential to propel you forward?

Which lesson from this review speaks most to you today?

Today as Winter storm Ukko ravages the East coast I am happily working from home continuing this review of our Lenten journey. God has blessed me so much and I see the steps to my dreams becoming clearer as I wait upon Him and his healing touch!

Lent Day 13- On this day God asked me to meditate on “Why do we do the things we do? Why do we go to church? Do daily devotions? Fast? Serve in the church?

Is it all for God’s glory or is much of what I do tied to the praise of men. I have to admit this has been a struggle for me all of my life but God is releasing me at last!

Lent Day 14- This day’s meditation was framed in the question: “What are you not letting God control?”

My answer was Sabbath rest. Apparently this lesson was quickly written and just as soon forgotten. I am still not taking a real Sabbath and if anything my schedule has become busier. Now see, this is why review is good.

What was your answer to this question? Is it still a work in progress?

Lent Day 15- Meditational question for this day: “What do you want God to help you learn in life?”

I said I wanted God to teach me to be proactive:

To be proactive is to anticipate what is coming and to be ready for it. I know we can’t see every detail of the road ahead but I feel like God is changing me to make me prepare for needs that have yet to be  stated. I think the church has to begin to plan for the needs of the future by faith and as a pastor in the universal body of Christ I have to begin modelling this behavior for the body. I believe this preparation needs to be realized in several areas:

1. In Spiritual health.

2.  In caring for the possessions God has given us

3. In setting aside a surplus so that we can give it away to others in need.

This is good stuff and God has been showing me how.

Lent Day 16- On this day I continued the discussion about what I need God to teach me.

I said, ”

I am beginning to see that my inability to celebrate will hold back the God vision for ministry and life. Reaching goals is about milestones and people need to celebrate milestones to stay motivated. I need to learn to celebrate the milestones so I can stay motivated. It is in celebration that we are affirmed. It is in celebration that we give thanks to the Lord for the miracles along the road.

This change must be intentional. God is showing me that I must schedule celebration just like I schedule work and rest and it must have a purpose.

Here’s a question for you: Do you think there is a difference  between celebration and entertainment? If so what is that difference?”

Which of these questions or lessons sparked something in you?

    I have discovered so much during this journey of faith. The last forty days have been transformational. I feel so much better prepared and ready to take on the vision God downloaded in January; I still think it’s humongous. I still know it is beyond me. Yet I know I can relax because it’s not a work I will do in my own power. It is God’s work which He will accomplish through me as I become a more yielded vessel.

    We have come to the part of this journey where reviewing the truths I have learned is in order. As the Psalmist says:

I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
    yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
¹² I will consider all your works
    and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”

We have come to the part of this spiritual journey where review is necessary. With me God has to rehearse His lessons over and over so they make it deep into my thick French/Anglo/ Finnish head. I have learned to relish the review. It’s exciting to remind myself of what God has said to see what His Spirit has done from the beginning to see how I have changed.

Come review with me our Lenten lessons:

Lent Day 5- The questions:

1. How has your connection with God and with others grown this year?

2. In what ways have you grown this year in Christ-like maturity?

3. Are you serving God according to your Spiritual giftings?  your heart?  your abilities?  Your personality? Your experiences?

4. How are you intentionally sharing your faith with unbelievers?

5. How has your public and private worship life grown in the last year?

Lent Day 6- Questions of the day: Have you ever been afraid of a road God told you to walk down? What did you do? 

Yes. In the past I have practiced avoiding the roads even if that took me a long way around. It took me many years in my walk with God to realize there was no getting away from the troubles. If I didn’t face them in one particular roadway the fearful thing would pop up on another road.

In light of that here was the real question of the day:

How am I at  developing authentic community within my church family?

How am I doing in the area of loving others? Giving grace to others? Forgiving others? (I guess that’s three in one but OK) Read I Corinthians 13 before answering this one.

Which of those questions scares you the most?

Lent Day- 7   Question of the day How can I grow this year to become more like Christ?

At the time of the writing I said this: Food has been an addiction to which I have turned all my life. During the 21 day spiritual journey in January God gave me a vision for losing forty pounds. But I am coming to see that the goal is a measuring stick for a much deeper spiritual work God wishes to do inside me. These journeys into the world of fasting are about gaining control of my appetites and addictions so that Christ may have the preeminence.

As of today I have lost twenty-six pounds. I have found that I am enjoying the vegetarian diet I am on. I am even enjoying living without caffeine!

Lent Day 8-  Questions of the day: How can I better serve God and others? 

What can you change with God’s help to make you a better servant to God’s people?

For myself it has been about living my schedule more faithfully and learning to say “No!” to things I know don’t match up with God’s revealed service plan for my life.

Which of these lessons spoke most to you?