Lent, A Time To Repent Reflect & Make Reparation!
A time to reflect on our sins and weaknesses. A time to repent for the many ways we rebel against God on a daily basis!
It's a time of self-denial and sacrifice in reparation for the many ways that we fall short and offend God. A time to fast and abstain from some of the creature comforts and luxuries of our time, while focusing on the scourging, passion and ultimate sacrifice of Jesus on a crude, cruel and inhumane cross!
We focus mostly on our sins of commission, but Fr. Leo Clifford says that for every good deed that is done, there are 100 deeds left undone! The Bible reminds us that we will have to account for every idle deed and word-[Mt. 12:35-37]. Imagine that, we will have to account not just for every idle word, but for every idle deed, done or left undone! In St. James 4:17, it could not be stated more clearly, "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins." St. James also tells us that "faith without works is dead" [St. James 2:26].
Not to be fear mongering, but straight out of the Bible, this is why we share this with you as we journey through, the Holy Lenten season. If you are not producing much fruit, this is a good time to reflect on whether you are doing what God has created you to do, especially in this time and place.
Proverbs 24:16 "Though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again ". Therein lies the crux of how diligent we must be in making the most of EVERY circumstance. How many times have we overlooked someone in dire need because we were too busy, or not listening to someone who's hurting, saying a kind word to someone who is down, gossiping behind someone's back, short changing someone, taking advantage of resources at work, failing to be "salt and light", and countless other ways that we sin by our acts of omission!
God is good in allowing us to change our lives and be the servants He created us to be. This life is a journey, a "flash in the pan". This is NOT our home. While we are here, we have to be busy about the Lord's work, we are to occupy, not just coexist. The pagans are busy winning many souls to Hell, souls that God has put in our paths, souls that unless we reach out to save them, they may perish for all eternity!
The Lord waits for us much more than we wait for Him. In fact, when we do have to wait for Him, it's because He's waiting for someone else. So to keep from holding God back any longer, we should cooperate with God in those hundreds of things He intends to do now. Our disobedience is holding up everybody else. Repent of keeping God and humanity waiting.
As we journey through these forty days of Lent, we submit the following articles, not to be critical of our church, shepherds or fellow Christians. God knows the enemy is busy and rests not, but for us to reflect on the countless ways, we the majority, fail on a daily basis in positively affecting our culture for the better. Whether through laziness, fear or ignorance, none of these excuses will be allowed before God! So let's get busy, for the times are evil and countless souls are perishing!
Feed My Sheep, Feed My Lambs
The best way to purify the church and keep it pure-is to get rid of all the goats! And the best way to run the goats out of the church—is to feed them 'sheep food'. God's sheep will grow in grace under the preaching of grace—but goats will go hungry because they choke on 'sheep food'. They will soon leave and go somewhere else.
"Feed My sheep." John 2117
"Feed the flock of God entrusted to you. " 1 Peter 5:2
Getting Ready for Lent
If you can start the day without caffeine or pills,
If you can understand when loved ones are too busy to give you time,
If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,
If you can face the world without lies and deceit,
If you can relax without liquor,
If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,
If you can do all these things,
Then you are probably the family dog.
Marquee Sayings for Lent:
Don't wait for the hearse to take you to church.
It's hard to stumble when you're
down on your knees.
What part of "Thou Shalt Not"
don't you understand?
A clear conscience makes a soft pillow.
The wages of sin is death.
Repent before payday.
Never give the devil a ride.
He will always want to drive.
Forbidden fruit creates many jams.
Christians, keep the faith...but not from others!
Satan subtracts and divides.
God adds and multiplies.
To belittle is to be little.
Don't let the littleness in others
bring out the littleness in you.
God answers knee-mail.
Try Jesus. If you don't like Him,
the devil will always take you back.
