1st Sunday of Lent

Our readings for the 1st Sunday of Lent are:

1. Deuteronomy 26: 4-10
2. Psalms 91: 1-2, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15
3. Romans 10: 8-13
4. Luke 4: 1-13

• Who are we?
• God's children the Jews identify themselves as His chosen, not just because of their father Abraham, but because of their shared history that bonds them together as a community through the centuries.
• The Mormons have a ceremony where they re-enact their migration into Utah to escape persecution and oppression.
• What history do you have with your faith community?
• How/when do you share that history?
• What has that history taught you?

• Earning our trust
• I have a friend who used to tell complete strangers something, and if they didn't believe him, he would ask "have I ever done you wrong?"  Of course, they had to say "no" and he would try to use that to gain their trust.
• Who are some of the people that you really trust in your life?
• Why do you trust them?
• How well do you trust God?
• What gives you that level of trust?
• What would God have to do to gain deeper trust from you?

• To judge or not to judge
• Is there anyone that you can not see ever calling upon God's name for help?
• Why do you think that way about them?
• Does God love them any less because of that?
• How could God reach out to such folks?
• What if that reaching out involved you?

• Moving on
• In our lives we have everything scheduled out, plans documented, so that when we start anything, we know when we should be done.
• Have you ever tried silent meditation as a prayer form?
• How do you tell when you are done meditating?
• What do you think "happens" during meditation?
• How do you think that preparation would help you at the beginning of a ministry? 

• Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. How can I better celebrate what God has done for me in/through others?
2. Where is my trust for God weak?
3. How can I be more welcoming?
4. Where in my life do I give God the chance to speak to me?

Finding the Time, Making the Time

"I didn't have the time for that" usually means "I couldn't be bothered."

You don't find the time, like it is some forgotten book on a dusty shelf

You make the time for what's important.  At least that's what they say.

I admit, active listening for that still small voice is hard to do.

Trusting that God will somehow attend to all that I am not doing is hard to do.

Believing that merely offering myself to Him with no expectations is even harder.

But prayer that seeks only the Presence of God is the most important act

Of anyone who wants to be most truly and passionately alive here and now.

The school of silence doesn't teach with words and symbols.

Instead, the harvest of that silence is a deepened relationship,

A sensitivity to the Spirit that never comes quickly

The ability to be in the moment more and more moments.

Until our entire lives become prayer-soaked, dripping with Presence

Courageous in generosity

Reckless in love

Because we have learned to trust the one who made us

Will stand by our side no matter how deep the hurt

As long as we listen with our hearts and follow with our feet.

The wilderness is anywhere that we are alone

In the quiet

Without agenda.

Be still, and know that I am God.

Be still

Be

Shalom!