Whidbey Presbyterian Church

Fun on Fridays: Lenten Devotional

Journey to the Cross is a special Lenten online devotional at d365.  This features music, daily scripture readings and reflections. 

Come check it out!

 

Lent Day 10: Serve God, Save the Planet

As Pastor Dave was preaching on Sunday, he challenged us to focus outward.  He wanted to look at our enviroment and see how we can improve what we are doing in our daily lives.

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."  Genesis 1:26

Dominion sounds like the word dominate.  WE are in control.  WE are in charge of the earth and everything that inhabits it.  However, Pastor Dave told us that dominion actually means caretaker.  We are to care for God's creations on the Earth.

I recently read, "Serve God, Save the Planet" by J. Matthew Sleeth. 

   

This book is an eye-opener.  It shows what we are doing to God's creation.  How we are destroying it.  And how we are hurting people.  As a person who recycles occasionally, it really made me think about what I could be doing different to honor God's creation...the Earth!

So, in this season of Lent, look at how you are impacting God's Earth.  What could you be doing differently?  What are doing already that is helping?

And be sure to check out the book, "Serve God, Save the Planet."  It was such an interesting read and gave me great ideas on how I could be doing things differently.  Click here to check out his website.

Need some more inspiration?  Check out this post about 10 things we could be doing differently.

I hope all this inspires you as much as it inspired me!

Nicole

Lent Day 6: Scripture Memorization

Have you ever wanted to memorize scripture but felt it to be overwhelming?  I know I have.  I had convinced myself that I couldn't memorize it.  I don't know why that is.  I had a light bulb moment one day in my car, I was singing along to a song that I didn't even know I knew!  I couldn't tell you the name of the song or even the artist, but here I was singing along to every word.

I was surprised at first.  I figured I must have heard it many times and somehow it had stuck with me.  But as I started thinking about it more I realized that I memorized this subconsciously.  I didn't intend to remember it, it just happened.  So if I could memorize this song, I could remember a bible verse.

My advice to you is to start small.  Really small.  As in the shortest verse of the Bible.  You will remember this in about 5 seconds.

"Jesus wept."  John 11:35

I'm really not joking.  Jesus's friend Lazarus has died and Jesus comes back to Mary and Martha.  As he is taken to the tomb, he weeps for his friend.  I've always wondered why, because in the next couple of verses he raises him from the dead!  But here Jesus takes a second and weeps for his friend.

Then I challenge you to a very familiar verse, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."  John 3:16

Most of us have heard that verse many times, so it shouldn't be too much of a challenge to memorize.

There are many places around the world, that persecuted Christians don't have this opportunity.  Reading your Bible could get you arrested or even killed.  We don't have the threat that our Bibles could be confiscated.  Many times these persecuted Christians have to memorize parts of the Bible just to know God's word. 

In this season of Lent, remember that you don't have to read your Bible.  You get to read your Bible!  And you don't have to memorize scripture, you get to memorize scripture!  I challenge you to memorize scripture that is important to you.  Head to the dollar store and pick up some 3X5 notecards and when you read your Bible, write down any verses that speak to you.  Carry these cards with you and memorize them.  You'll find that it isn't so hard afterall.

Lent Day 5: The Color Purple

Did you notice the Praise Team and Choir yesterday? 

They all were dressed in shades of purple!

If you haven't guessed by now, purple is the color for Lent.  Why?  Well, purple is the color of royalty.  It also symbolizes repentance and self-discipline.  We use this color to remind us of the Resurection Sunday to come. 

Lent Day 3: Lenten Resources

  

Photo by ChristianPhotos.net 

There are two devotionals available for you to choose from in Heritage Hall or the Sanctuary.

"Christ Our Hope" by Henri Nouwen or "Coming Home to the Lord" by Patricia Fosarelli. 

There are also a ton of resources online.  Here are just a few:

Prayers for the Hungry People Guide by Bread for the World

Lenten Prayer Guide by Bob Hyatt

A Call to Live by World Vision

What are you doing for Lent?  Leave a comment below to share!

Lent Day 2

What is Lent?

Lent is a 40 days before Easter (not counting the 6 Sundays).  This starts on Ash Wednesday and goes up all the way to the day before Easter.  Lent is a time of prayer and preparation before Easter.

Why 40 days?

Numbers are significant in the Bible and the number 40 is no exception.  (Goodness, that could be another post alone!)  It is connected with many biblical events.  Most notably, when Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness being tempted by the devil.  (Matthew 4:1-17)

Why do people "give up" things for Lent?

Lent is not about self-sacrifice or deprivation.  Lent is a season for self examination and repentance.  People tend to think that you are suppose to give up some non-essential food item (candy, coffee) or giving up watching tv.  Doing this makes little difference in our life.  Instead, of focusing on Christ and His journey to the cross, we focus on our wants since something in our life is missing.  I definately don't recommend giving something up.

How can you be a part of Lent?

• Give up your daily stop at the coffee shop.  Donate that money you would have spent to the ministries of our church.  (The Deacon's Fund is always a good one!) 
• When you go grocery shopping, buy some extra food to donate to the Help House.
• Read your Bible.  Dig into the word of God and study Scripture.
• Memorize a Bible verse a day.  (I know, sounds daunting, but if you can sing along to a song, you can memorize Bible verses.)

What other ways are you observing Lent?  Leave your comments below!

Stay tuned as we journey into Lent together.