March 6, 2011

 John 14: 10 

 A Brief on Ash Wednesday  

John 14

"Don't you believe I am in the Father and the Father is in me?"

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Thoughts.....

Good morning!  The plan (the plan...the plan) was to speak to you today and next week about the Four Spiritual Laws, but I felt it pertinent to briefly share a bit about Ash Wednesday, so will start the other study next week.  After the last 4 weeks, I am fairly certain you will be grateful for the break from extensive study. 

Many people will walk around with ashes on their foreheads this Wednesday and many more will wonder why.  I will mention a few things and give you some websites to explore to ponder it further.

Todays scripture reference may seem odd in reference to Ash Wednesday, but hear me out.  Many believe that the ashes are merely a portrayal that one belongs to Christ Jesus.  That being said, it is true in part.  Jesus said, "Don't you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?"  John 14:10   Because of who I believe in, that being God, like Jesus, I expect that my works show who is in me, and whose I am.  Jesus was so one with God it was evident!  Although I tend to wear my heart on my sleeve when it comes to my Lord, I am an imperfect human and so do not always portray the greatness and love of my Maker and Savior, nor do I (sadly) always point the glory to them.

Here are some questions for you to consider this Ash Wednesday:  Do others know I am a child of God, a King's kid, a Savior's lost but found, a sheep, a sister, friend, etc.?   Would others know whose you are by how you carry yourself, speak, work?   Would your actions allow them to believe that you are in the Father and he is in you?  Oops?  Now is the time to make a change....go to him who first loved you and talk with him, so to walk with him.  Give him your heart....your soul.   

But the ashes imply more....they represent a turning from sin and a turning to the Lord with repentance and in sorrow.  They exhibit an outward sign of being willing to reunite, or a desire to 'come in to union'...communion....with God.   To imply commitment to a renewal of action from a remorseful and contrite hearted servant.  Ask him to forgive you of your sins.  Tell him you are ready to restart your life in a new way....with him.

They also should show by implication a new found joy from having been forgiven, offered salvation, the opportunity to become one with the Savior.  Exhilaration for having been offered a newly found or renewed life with the Trinity.  For being counted as one of his.  Will you be counted?   Will you be grateful and give thanks? 

Ash Wednesday is the start to a new Lenten season whereby we walk with Jesus through his trials, lessons, truths, torments, and grief.  We relearn of his vast love for us.  Of his willingness to die on a cross for us as we progress to the resurrection message of Easter.  He died for you whether or not you wanted him to.  He awaits your decision as to whether it was in vain or not.  Will you keep him nailed to the cross?   Or will you free him with your repentant heart, your sorrow, your thanksgiving, your love, your committed dedication, the devotion of your heart and mind and body and spirit and soul, with your walk, your journey, your future....your life? 

Ashes have some biblical basis and scripture references about such are given on some of the following websites.  Here are some websites that will give you brief to extensive information about Ash Wednesday:

www.christianity.about.come/od/holitaytips/qt/whatisashwednes.htm    Note:  Wednesday is not spelled out here.

http://en.widipedia.org/wiki/Ash_Wednesday

www.americancatholic.org/newsletters/cu/ac0204.asp

www.answers.com/topic/ash-wednesday

It's important for you to know that you can 'google' or query anything you want to know about on a computer.  That having been said, some sites are worthy of study, some are not, and, though some are mere briefs, some are extremely informative.  The best source of information about God, Jesus and Holy Spirit or anything else biblical or Christian, is the source itself, the Bible.  I give you these sites as a stepping stone to researching the scriptures, since many do not possess other materials to provide the path to further learning.    

I do not find that Jesus required outward apparent 'marks' to show who he was and who he represented.  Nor do I find that he subscribed to the 'Old Testament way' of showing remorse.  I do not personally subscribe to needing ashes placed on my forehead, although I was raised to receive them.  I leave it open as a personal choice for others. However, I do subscribe to needing to take the time to bow down before my Savior and my God and clearly beg forgiveness for any known and unknown sin, thank them wholeheartedly for all they've done and been in my life, and with reverent heartfelt worship renew my vows to them to love and obey them, as I strengthen my bonds of being one with them. 

Salvation is not something to be taken lightly.  Neither is asking forgiveness.  Jesus told the woman at the well to go and sin no more.  And yet, in our humanness, we ask forgiveness and then go on and do the same things again and again.  The smoker who says they'll quit and does not, or doesn't say so, but tries, so they won't be convicted...so they think,  the drinker who quits between drinks only, the homemaker who promises to clean more and can't quite get the job done, the Dad who promises to be there for the child and never shows up, the worker that 'innocently' took that paper clip home from the office, etc.  God forgives, but he tells us to 'go and sin no more'.  We can do better.  We must do better.  

Why can't you love this man, Jesus?  Do you know anyone else who would die on a cross for you?  He is definitely in the Father and the Father is definitely in him?  Can others say the same of you?  If not, this Wednesday might be the opportune time to make a better decision for yourself.  But wait.....you don't have to linger til Wednesday...you can decide right now!! 

Will you take this man, Jesus, to be your Savior?   Will you love and honor him in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, good times and bad, believing in him though times get tough, forsaking all things not of him as long as you shall live?  If yes, say, "I do".  Do you promise to try not to sin, now and in the future, and, if you do, ask forgiveness for such, believing it is given right then and there?  If yes, say, "I do'.  Do you promise to do all things for the glory of the Lord, not yourself?  If yes, say, "I do."  Are you desiring for Holy Spirit to come into your life to baptize you in his fullness so that you may overflow with all the fruits and gifts you will need to walk your new life?  If yes, say, "I do."  I now pronounce you saved by the shed blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ your Lord.  The Kingdom of God is near you now.  Go forth in the Holy Names of God, Jesus and Holy Spirit who will perfectly love you as you magnify their Holy Names.  And the people said,  "Amen!". 

This Ash Wednesday you will need to decide for yourself if you need to receive ashes...to show the world whose you are...to whom you belong...while you bow down to him asking forgiveness and renewing your vows....yes already.  Because we are human, by then, you will have sinned...in his eyes.  Like when the cock crowed 3 times....you, too, may have moments when you 'forget', and know him not.  Will remorse be felt?  Only if the vows you took, or the decision you made was real in your heart and not just words from the surface of your head. 

Come back into union with Christ today, if you have not already.  You will be glad you did, and, based on the sincerity of your heart, so will God, Jesus and Holy Spirit.  May you have a blessed new life with them.                  

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Let Us Pray

Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word, and I shall be healed.  Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love.  Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.  Wash me clean from my guilt.  Purify me from my sin.  Against you have I sinned.  Restore to me again the joy of your salvation, and make me wiling to obey you.  Oh, give me back my joy again.  But more importantly, let me bring you glory, Lord.  Help me along lifes way that I may no longer have to consider sackcloth and ashes for my remorse, but will choose to not act in such a way as to need to know remorse.  You desire honesty from the heart, so you can teach me to be wise in my inmost being.  Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.  Help me to teach your ways to sinners, so they will return to you.  Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves; then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness.  Unseal my lips, O Lord, that I may praise you.  I will praise your name, O Lord, for it is good.  Oh joy of my salvation, thank you so much for loving me and giving me this new life with you.  Mind, body, spirit, and soul I offer you.  Cleanse me fully that I may be an open vessel to be filled only with you.  Allow your joy and your love to fill me to overflowing, and help me to share who you are, that you are, and how wonderful you are with others.  May this Ash Wednesday and everyone thereafter be a renewal of joy of oneness as we journey together.  Let me walk the path to Easter with joy, not sorrow, for I am thankful Lord for your eternal life, because you have bought me eternal life, as well.  And let everyday be one of sincere gratitude for all you've done for me and every moment be one of receiving your love fully.  Let me not incur the wrath of your love for my failures, but walk and live my life in such a way as to not be reprimanded, that you might know the depth of my love by my willingness to show you how much I love you in positive ways.  And when I fall, lift me up, please, for I am not perfect, but will try to not purposely do things contrary to what I am called to do and led to walk.  I bow down to you, Jesus, with the fullness of my heart and with thanksgiving.  I will thank you IN everything.  For such is the will of the Father who gave me life, while you have offered me an abundant life.  I love you, Lord Jesus, God and Holy Spirit.  Thank you.   Amen.   

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More love.... 

  Benediction...Blessing

Let us hear from Paul as he prays:  

When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit.  And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him.  May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it.  Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now glory be to God!  By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.  May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages.  Amen.  Ephesians 3:14-21 NLT         

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Scroll down to read Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving...'The Unforced Rythms of Grace'.

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Definition of a Christian:  Anyone who believes in God, Jesus and Holy Spirit, and accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Regardless of church name or religious affiliation. 

It is not how we worship, but that we worship....the Trinity!   

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If you feel that the Church of the Holy Spirit has inspired or helped you, we'd like you to prayerfully consider tithing regularly to us or gifting us, so that we can further the work and carry out the will of the Father as proclaimed in Matthew 28:19-20 NLT

 to

 "Go and make disciples out of all the nations

baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.  And be sure of this:

I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

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  Our Current Cause

It is time to reach into the community and the world around you to see wherein lies the greatest need.  As you choose to focus on these areas, do so with a servant's heart.  Whether the need is for children, adults, or animals, or any cause in between that will help those in need, ask God how you can best serve his needs, what path you must take, and how long you should persevere.  Sometimes we are to be in the lives of others merely as stepping stones.  Sometimes we are to touch those lives forever.  Whatever journey you are called to take, whatever team you will be a member, know this:  God is with you always...even til the end of time.  He loves you, is grateful for you, and will help you along life's way, especially if you are helping others along theirs, persevering with a servant's heart. 

Please accept my sincerest thanks....and God's....and may God richly bless you!   

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As we grow, you will have options for allocating your gifts.

In the meantime, we hope you will trust us to direct them to where the need is the greatest.

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    One last thing....

 Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving

'The Unforced Rhythms of Grace'

"Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer:  "Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth.  You've concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people.  Yes, Father, that's the way you like to work."

Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly.  "The Father has given me all these things to do and say.  This is a unique Father - Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge.  No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does.  But I'm not keeping it to myself; I'm ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen."

"Are you tired?  Worn out?  Burned out on religion?  Come to me.  Get away with me and you'll recover your life.  I'll show you how to take a real rest.  Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn how to live freely and lightly.

   Matthew 11:  25-30

  The Message

And the people said,

"Amen."

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I now write most prayers in the position of ' I ' (first person) because most people are sitting at their computer alone, not in groups, and it allows those reading and praying to personalize the prayer as coming from them going to God.  Variations may appear on holidays when families may wish to use the prayer provided.

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  Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189.  All rights reserved.

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