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Genesis 3: 1: “Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God say, “You shall not eat from any tree in the garden?”’”

So much temptation in our lives begins with questioning God: Did he really say…? Is he really good? Is he truly for me? There is an enemy of our souls. That enemy would love to convince us that God’s Word is not trustworthy and true. He plants doubts. We have the choice of how to interact with those doubts. We can take them to God’s Word to see if they line up with his truth, or we can entertain them and choose our way, the enemy’s way, over God’s way.

One way leads to life and the other to death. While Adam and Eve’s sin led to physical death, our sin leads to spiritual death. Sin separates us from the presence of God and keeps us from experiencing God’s best for us.

The good news is that God made a way for Adam and Eve. He provided covering for their sin even though their relationship with him completely changed. He provides the covering for our sin through the blood of Jesus Christ. Because of Jesus, we will never be cast out of his presence; however, we can still miss his best plan for us when we choose to doubt and not obey.

If you experience this questioning of God, you are human. The important thing to consider is what you will do in that time of questioning. Will you honor God, check his Word, and choose to submit to him, or will you allow the enemy to take you off track, out of his good plan and purpose for you?

This Lent, let’s ask God to help us recognize the lies and choose his truth.

Psalm 103:11-14: “For as the heavens are high above the earth, so is his mercy great upon those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our sins from us.”

Why are we called to see our sin, lament our sin and to repent of it? Because sin keeps us from God’s very best for us. His desire is to see us set free from the sin. With repentance comes restoration. With restoration comes freedom. We are no longer bound to the sin that held us. In God’s mercy, when you confess your sin to him and ask for his forgiveness, he removes that sin from you, as far as the east is from the west.

That is the love of God, the mercy of God, the grace of God. Do you choose to embrace this forgiveness of the Lord? Do you choose to live free from your sin or do you continue to remind yourself of what you have done or of who you think you are?

Read the next words of this Psalm: “As a father cares for his children, so does the Lord care for those who fear him. For he himself knows how we are made; he remembers that we are dust” (103:13-14). The Lord knows why you do what you do. He has incredible compassion for you. He sent his Son so that you can be forgiven and free.

Father, thank you for the amazing gifts you have given us in your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Forgive us when we deny those gifts and help us, through your Holy Spirit, to fully receive the forgiveness, healing, and freedom that come through him. Amen.

Isaiah 58:6-9: “Is not this the fast that I choose; to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house: when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’”

During these 40 days of Lent, we can start focusing on the outward demonstrations of our faith. In this passage from the book of Isaiah, the Lord emphasizes that he is not focused on just fasting for fasting’s sake. He wants the fasting, the praying, the meditating to result in a change of heart. This change of heart will be manifested in how we care for his people. Lent is supposed to be a time of introspection; however, we cannot stay in that place. The introspection is to lead to transformation of our characters and our behaviors. With that transformation, we are to serve those in need; to work for justice; to see people healed and set free, to do the work that Jesus did when he dwelt among us.

When we move into the Lord’s work, we will know his presence and help. How do you see your spiritual disciplines resulting in work for the Kingdom?

Joel 2:12-13: “Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.”

As we enter into the 40 days of Lent, we are called to remember Christ’s journey to the cross as well as the 40 days he spent fasting in the wilderness. Just as Joel spoke to the Israelites, so the Lord speaks to us today. He calls us to a time of fasting and repentance. While this process is never the most comfortable or enjoyable, it is a process that leads to forgiveness, to healing, and to restoration to the Lord.

In the wilderness, in his ministry, and especially in his death, Jesus denied the desires of the flesh in order to submit to the desires of his Father. That is our calling as well.

Are fasting and repenting part of your Lenten experience? How can you implement these practices even more so that you can move even deeper into the love, forgiveness and healing of the Lord?

Ash Wednesday

The Collect: “Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”

After committing his grievous sin with Bathsheba, David prays to the Lord to create a new and contrite heart within him. Like David, we all fall short of the glory of God, we all sin, and we all need the Lord to soften our hearts, to make them new and holy before him. How will you use the 40 days of Lent to allow the Lord to do this work in your heart?

“We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’ We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain.” 2 Peter 1:16-21

Peter writes about his experience with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. He longs for his readers to understand what he saw with his own eyes and heard with his own ears. Jesus was glorified in the presence of Peter, James, and John. Not only did they see his glory, but the Father affirmed that Jesus was truly the Son of God, the promised deliverer of his people.

Jesus, as the Son of God, changes everything! After Pentecost, Peter’s mission was to spread the good news about Jesus. His life and work radically changed. Just as Jesus had spoken to Peter, his life became about fishing for men instead of fish.

Do you understand the good news of Jesus Christ? Has it radically changed you like it did Peter? How do you spread this good news? How has it changed your work, your relationships, your life?

Matthew 17:1-9

“Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!’”

Jesus knows his time with the disciples is short. He has tried to prepare them for his betrayal, death and resurrection. They struggle to understand the things that are about to happen.

Jesus gives them this gift of revelation. Up on the mountain, Peter, James, and John behold Jesus in his glory. It is a life-changing experience for all of them. To confirm their vision of Jesus in his glory, the Lord speaks to affirm his Beloved Son.

All four of the Gospel writers confirm Jesus’ transfiguration. This experience was not just for them but for us. They beheld his glory; now, we are called to do the same.

How do you behold the glory of the Lord?

27 years ago today, my life changed forever.  The day began with an abundance of joy and expectation.  It ended with me in ICU fighting for my life and a precious friend having lost that fight.  June 25, 1992 feels like yesterday and it feels like ages ago.  They say that time heals.  That is a great saying but it simply is not true.  Time goes by; memories fade; but pain remains until it is healed.  

Over the past 27 years, I have learned a lot about grief — there is healthy grief and there is unhealthy grief.  In healthy grief, a person works through the processes of the grief cycle; there is no certainty of what it will look like or how long it will last.  We simply don’t get to be in control of grief.  Nevertheless, at the end of the grief cycle there is still the loss and the scars of that loss but there is also an acceptance and a healing, the ability to move on with life.

In unhealthy grief, a person gets stuck in the cycle.  It can be in denial, guilt, anger, sadness, etc.  For many years, I was stuck in grief.  I held onto shame, guilt, and a lingering sadness that I would not entrust to anyone, even to the Lord.  In retrospect, I see that I was trying to punish myself for an accident.  If I had just looked one more time; if I were just a bit more careful; if only, if only, if only………There is no guilt, no punishment that can ever bring Kerrie back or that can change that fateful day.  Until I stand face to face with Jesus, I will never know why He took Kerrie home that day or why I was the one chosen to drive that car and to spend those last hours with Kerrie.  

Here is the good news — time does not heal but God does. What I do know is that the Lord doesn’t want me stuck in unhealthy grief.  Kerrie would not want me stuck there either.  I know without a doubt that Kerrie is healed, whole, beautiful and even more joy filled than she was here on earth.  

So, I have decided to lay that guilt and shame down; I have decided to move on with the grieving cycle.  In doing so, I have not let go of Kerrie.  I have just used to words she loved to say:  “Christians don’t say good bye, just see you later.”  

How I look forward to the day that I see Kerrie again.  That time, I know there will be no good byes, no see you laters as we will have eternity together with the Lord.  Until then, I treasure the memories; I treasure the last conversations; and I choose to trust that while God’s plans and purposes can be quite painful, He is good.

Time doesn’t heal wounds but God heals wounds if we allow Him to do so.  The healing journey is the hardest journey I have ever taken and the very best journey I have ever taken.  God’s heart is to heal:  “The Lord heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3).

May God empower you and may He continue to empower me to walk this journey of faith with our eyes set on our Savior and healer.  Final healing comes on that last day, but there is healing for us as we walk these days on earth.  There is abundant life in the midst of grief.  

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation.  But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

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Holy Yoga has changed my life! The combination of exercise, breath, meditation and worship has allowed me to connect with God in a new and powerful way. It is my joy and honor to share Holy Yoga through group classes, workshops and private trainings. If you would like more information on Holy Yoga, please contact me: [email protected].