May We Take Seriously the Preparation of Our Hearts?
Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, the march of celebration, 40 days (not counting the Sundays)—from today, Wednesday, March 2 until Easter Sunday, April 17. Forty days that represent the time Jesus Christ spent fasting in the wilderness. These 40 days came to Jesus as He was tempted by the devil (Luke 4: 1-13). During these 40 days, Jesus spent His time reflecting upon God, fasting, and praying to God, and preparing for the resurrection of Himself from the dead.
Wednesday, March 2, 2022—Will you join Christians across the world who will today begin this period of Lent?
40 days—beginning today on Ash Wednesday.
40 days—1 day, followed by a 2nd day, followed by a 3rd day, followed by a 4th day, followed by 5th day, followed by a 6th day, followed by a 7th day—then we will have reached the first week of days, walking together through this TIME of LENT.
Will you join me?
We will share 40 days, one day at a time, (as Jesus did) reflecting upon God.
We will share 40 days, one day at a time, (as Jesus did) fasting (abstaining from something, giving up something so our time may be total focused) upon God.
We will share 40 days, one day at a time, (as Jesus did) praying, listening, talking, communicating with God.
We will share 40 days, one day at a time, (as Jesus did) preparing our hearts to fully see the resurrection of Jesus from the grave.
Today—Wednesday, March 2, 2022.
Then tomorrow—Thursday, March 3, 2022.
Then Friday—March 4, 2022.
Followed by Saturday—March 5, 2022.
And after that day, we will enjoy Sunday together—worshipping as the body of Christ.
On Monday, we will once again begin our count—Monday, March 7, 2022.
40 days of Lent, walking together with Jesus as we go.
40 Total days to prepare ourselves.
Will you join?
Will we begin today, reflecting, fasting from something, praying, and preparing ourselves to celebrate the most important day for all Christians—Easter Sunday!
REFLECTING UPON THE GOODNESS, MERCY, & GRACE of GOD!
FASTING FROM WHAT GOD PLACES UPON OUR HEART TO GIVE UP SO WE MAY FOCUS UPON HIM!
PRAYING TO GOD, AN ON-GOING COMMUNICATION WITH OUR SAVIOR & LORD!
PREPARING OUR HEARTS TO RECEIVE THE FULLNESS of JOY GOD PROVIDES, A CELEBRATION of the RESURRECTION of OUR SAVIOR!
Will you participate?
Will you join with other believers, sharing 40 days, marching together in preparation & celebration of our LORD?
Wednesday, March 2, 2022 until Thursday, April 14—the period of Lent, 2022.
On Thursday, April 14, Maundy Thursday, a time of remembering the Passover meal Jesus prepared for His disciples prior to Jesus’ crucifixion.
May We Take Seriously the Preparation of Our Hearts for Sunday, April 17—RESURRECTION SUNDAY!
Will you join me?
More importantly than joining me, will you join God?
Will we take seriously the preparation of our hearts as we march toward Resurrection Sunday?
Jesus said—“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
John 3: 16
Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world said these words!
“For God so loved the world,”—the whole, entire world of people!
“that He gave His only begotten Son,”—God gave Jesus’ life so we could be saved.
“that whoever believes”—the ‘whoever’ is YOU & ME & the whole world of humanity.
“in Him”—Believe. We are called to believe in God, in His deep love for us.
“shall not perish,”—every single person born—will die—but we can live again!
“but have eternal life”—Ours to Receive—If we ACCEPT God’s TRUTH & If we BELIEVE God’s WORD, & If we CONFESS JESUS AS SAVIOR and LORD.
THEN—God will bring us into His presence at our death—for eternity!!!!!
Jesus said— “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.
For everyone who does evil hates the Light and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”
(John 3: 17-21)
Who loves us?
God loves—YOU—All of YOU.
God loves—ME—All of ME.
God loves Us—All of Humanity.
The prophet Isaiah gave us a visual of “how much” God loves us.
GOD said—“Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; . . .”
(Isaiah 49: 16)
God Loves Us!
God does!
God loves US—YOU—ME so much that He sent Jesus, His Only Son, to redeem us forevermore!
WHO loves us—MORE than ANYTHING—GOD—does!
The love of God—God’s action of love!
See how much God loves us!
God sent Jesus to die for you and for me!
God sent Jesus to take upon Himself mankind’s sins, so that we may be saved!
God sent Jesus to die, to be buried, and to rise again to new life!
There is a wonderful melody “Ready or Not” by Britt Nicole. Maybe we will find space to listen today.
How much does God love us?
God’s love is an action!
Will We Take Seriously the Preparation of our Hearts for Easter Sunday?