"A Journey of Forty Days"

Christian churches throughout the world have begun the journey of Lent. This is a time of reflection and spiritual discipline as we journey toward the day of celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  What a joy to look forward  to the day when we hear the words again, “Why look for the living among the dead?  He is not here;  He is risen”. 

I want to encourage each of us to take inventory of our lives.  This is a very
special time for us to ask, “what am I doing to grow in my relationship with 
Jesus Christ”?  The Christian life is not a one time experience where we
confess Jesus as Lord as we follow Him in baptism.  It is a journey of walking in HIs steps determining to become more like Him in word and deed. 
 
We must be intentional about following Him.  Recently, I read (I forgot to record the statement in my quotation book) something that went like this, “It is much easier to worship Jesus and have knowledge about Him than it is to follow Him”.  His call to each of us is to follow in His steps. 

We communicate our faith to a troubled world as we take seriously the words of our Lord, to “Love God with all our heart, mind and soul and our neighbor as our self”.  How can this happen?   For us to follow in steps on this journey toward Resurrection Day we must be intentional in our actions.  Let me make some suggestions that I believe will help us in the journey. 

First of all, spend time in quiet reflection upon who Jesus is to you. Focus on
reading one of the Gospels and discover how Jesus spent His time. He was
always touching persons others refused to touch.  He communicated, “what
happens to you makes a difference to me”.  He was always giving hope to the
hopeless, comfort to those in pain and encouragement to those in despair.  

We are called in Christ to follow in His steps. As we follow in His steps, we become an extension of His ministry on this earth. As we reach out in His name, we experience His presence and the words “Follow Me” become more than just words. They become a way of life. 
  
Maybe it’s time for us to renew our relationship with Him. When we fail to spend time with our friends, we forget how much they mean to us.  When we fail to spend time with our Lord, we miss the blessings He desires to share with
us.  So here is my challenge to those who read these words.  Sometime very soon, maybe this very day, seek out that lonely place (Jesus had His lonely
place) and spend time in the presence of the Lord.  Share with Him the needs of your life.  Share with Him those parts of life that need His transforming touch.  Share with Him those broken places in life that need mending through His healing touch.  

As the journey continues to Resurrection Day, we will have the blessing of knowing we journey not alone, but He is with us. Our Father,  “As we are on a journey to Easter Sunday morning we ask you to journey with us.  As you walk with us continue to teach us the lessons you taught when you were on  this earth in physical form.” 

Teach us that we find our life by giving it away. 
Teach us the meaning of serving others in your name. 
Teach us  that if we are to experience forgiveness we must forgive. 
Teach us that we are to care for the least of these. 
Teach us the importance of loving God and our neighbor with all our heart, mind and soul. 
Teach us to heed your words, “Follow me and I will make you”.

 Amen.