The reading today is talking about the day after Jesus was crucified and how empty and afraid it left the disciples, not to mention their grief. He says we go through the same emptiness and grief at some point in life whether we know Jesus or not. I don’t like to say following Jesus is a way of pain, sorrow and grief because even those who don’t follow experience these things because that’s just how it is in a fallen world. The difference in following Jesus is there is hope at the end of the suffering. If you aren’t a follower, you don’t have hope. There is nowhere to turn. Eventually we find out we aren’t in control of this world. We will be put in a position to see we need Jesus. If you still deny Him, you really have no hope. But the good news to followers is we have hope that there are new mercies every morning and He will make beauty out of our ashes.
Isaiah 61:3, To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified.”
Lamentations 3:22-23, The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;[a]
his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
Lent to Repent
Day 36
Scripture for today is 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 and it’s talking about giving. What we sow is what we will get back. We have to give willingly and with a cheerful heart. It has to be what we feel good about giving and God will honor what we give.
Ann says: Today I will crush greed because I’ve been shattered by amazing grace and that abundance is meant to be given.
We should be cheerful givers or don’t give at all. When our giving is done with a grudge it isn’t really giving. To give is not to expect anything in return. We shouldn’t give so we get more from God. We give because we sincerely want to help someone otherwise it’s not giving at all and it’s done in vain. When I give I want it to be real and sincere because when I do God is glorified!
Day 21- Go about doing good as Jesus did.
Day 22- It’s the sin God hates!
Day 23- True beauty comes from a clean heart that sees God
Day 24- Have faith Jesus is the Truth
Day 25- Fast from your sinful nature
Day 26- Believe Jesus, deny self, walk in the Kingdom
Day 27- Follow the Holy Spirit, return to God
Day 28- True worship connects you to God’s grace
Day 29- You have to follow the Holy Spirit continually to keep fear out
Day 30- Fear is flesh, Faith is spirit
Day 31- Thirst for God and put your hope in Him alone
Day 32- Find God’s light then live in it
Day 33- Live the shape of the cross
Day 34- Stay humble and pray
Day- 35 Don’t be afraid, watch what I say
Day 36- We have a new beginning every morning, give from the heart
breaths of my soul 