Why Lent is not about trying harder

The scene we witnessed as a student team was both beautiful and haunting, watching a devoted follower crawl through the streets of a large Central American city on hands and knees, a bleeding, thorn-crowned, impersonation of Christ. This happens all over the world this time of year, and we might find this both shocking and moving. Recently, we also saw 21 martyrs answer the call of Christ to face death rather than turn from him. These dramatic events cause us to tremble, and look at our own lives. What sacrifice am I being called to? Is daily faithfulness just as important and sacrificial? Perhaps God is not calling you to something that appears to be as difficult as these examples, but the daily surrender to grace can be difficult as well.

The idea of 'giving something up' for Lent is relatively new to me, coming from a church background that was not especially liturgical. But the idea fits my personality quite well, being the over achiever that I was for years.

This year, I arrive at the Lenten season tired. Can you relate? The year has just started, but do you look at your goals for the year and sigh, knowing you'll never quite meet them? This is the perfect storm for many of us to approach the Easter season with a works-righteousness mindset, myself included. Coming to Christ needy, rather than with something to offer, is just plain uncomfortable.  Does this mean that God might still be calling you to sacrifice greatly this year? Yes, of course, but our response should be obedience more than sacrifice. I often find myself signing up for more than God is ever asking of me. Like my goal to read through the Bible this year - not a bad thing, at all, but why? Motivation in all our actions is key. I'm not going to say my motivation in that goal was bad, but why then have I resisted the Spirit's prompting to let go of that goal, and rather just focus on one passage? One. Not exactly what this goodie goodie wants to hear. I'm finding comfort in that one passage, in this book, and in the resources listed below.

What is God calling you to this Lenten season? Is he calling you to give up worry (like me), to find rest for your soul? Is he calling you to give up consumerism, for the joy of simplicity and contentment? Is he calling you to really just give in to his love, rather than giving up in general, like you might be tempted to do? Can we see the joy of what he is offering, rather than the contrived self-sufficiency that only serves to make us weary?

May we all find relief in his sacrifice this Easter season, rather than striving for righteousness in a way that leads to death rather than life, guilt rather than glory, unnecessary pain rather than purpose, misery rather than marveling at his grace. Because it really is all about him, isn't it? Let go of your need to feel good about yourself with self-imposed deeds of righteousness, and instead, find your worth in having been chosen as the focus of his sacrificial love, before all time and eternity.  By HIS stripes we are healed, not our own.  That's where I'm camping out right now, and the view is amazing.


Additional resources to fill your soul, cover you with love, and release you from guilt...

Resources from Ann Voskamp for Lent (and why failing at Lent could be better)

Ann's weekly Multivitamins post - don't miss this!! Sure to delight and inspire.

She Reads Truth Lent series

The Fringe Hours - Finding Time for You (what if God is calling you to give up busyness, to better care for yourself?) and online book club to go along

Emily Freeman's blog - a space for your soul to breathe

Emily's podcast and Art of Simple podcast (both are fun and refreshing)

Beautiful Enya video - Perhaps the grace of our Savior will keep you singing?

(Photos from some lovely friends at our church in Florida - really missing the sunny people and weather up here in the frigid north...)

His character, our comfort

Lisa-Jo and friends are posting over here today on the word COMFORT.  Grab a pen, keyboard, iPad, wherever you write....for five minutes....and link up with the rest of us!

It's been rolling around in my head, this desire to choose 'character over comfort'.  But knowing is never the same as doing, and I've gotten a lot of practice at one over the other (hmmm...which do you think?) Just yesterday, I sat with a lovely woman, sharing stories and tears and the Word of God.  We both confessed we weren't crazy about the idea of suffering.  But really, who is?  Good question.  God is.  And as I sit here, it all comes into focus, the answer, this beautiful reason to say yes to God at every turn.  God- He was crazy enough for you that He chose to suffer. To choose character over comfort.  To look into your soul before you were you, and know that you would need Him to be crazy in love with you.  I feel the pulse of that love flowing through me as I write.  This desire to know the sufferings of Christ and be united with Him in that choosing....that wanting....that living through dying.

I find that there are a million-and-one reasons to choose comfort over character.  It's so natural isn't it?  Too natural.  Human-nature natural.  Therein lies the essence of the battle we face.  It's not so much that we need to try harder or work smarter or pray longer.  The real battle is looking to Christ, really fixing our eyes on Him and His perfection.  What a comfort, true comfort.  It's not the type of immediate-gratification comfort that comes, sadly, when we choose our own desires over His, over others'.  Over what's really even best for our own souls.  We're deceived.  I'm deceived if I believe that thing I want so badly, whatever it might be in the moment, is worth more than the eternal joy of obedience, of choosing to walk right into the fire of trial and pain and every hard decision you've ever tried to avoid.

I'm cheering for you, sister or brother!  Keep fighting the good fight.  And may His perfect, sacrificing, crazy-for-you character bring you the comfort you need to choose holiness every time.

Ruth

A very Good Friday

Hello friends!

I've enjoyed my Spring Break from school...hanging out with friends and family, getting things done at home, a surprise anniversary gift for my hubby (2 years next week!!), and schoolwork. :)

My Mom and I at Blue Springs park in January

I'm looking forward to having guests over for Easter and enjoying this meaningful day together.  Shout out to my mom who helped us develop a love for this special day with all sorts of fun memories like egg hunts, thoughtful readings and music for church, and of course, the extravagant meal.  I'm just happy that I figured out how to make a roasted chicken and veggies that seems to turn out well :)  Don't get me wrong, I love cooking and experimenting in the kitchen, but holidays can overwhelm me.  I put all these expectations on myself for Martha Stewart perfection, all the while hoping for a perfectly godly attitude.  Hard to do...impossible, actually!  :)  I've been resting in the perfection of Christ on my account, and it is so freeing.  I'm also learning that my joy is not wrapped up in my happiness....more on that to come.

Here is a link to a recent post on the Letters to my Sisters blog that I also write for.  Loving speech is a topic I really struggle with, and holidays and busy times can make that even more difficult.  I hope that it encourages you to know that the perfection of Christ expressed for us on the Cross covers over our sins completely and fully.  I tear up thinking about it.  To know that the fullness of my sin and yours crushed him, and He did that simply to have relationship with us?  Hard to comprehend and accept, but if you have not claimed this gift for yourself, please run to Jesus and have that conversation with Him.  Why did You do it?  Why did You choose me?  How can I live my life for You in return?  It will be the best decision you EVER make.

We adore you, Jesus, and bow at your feet with humble gratitude, on this very, very Good Friday.

Ruth

Togetherness and Redemption

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Togetherness.  It is a central tenet of the Christian faith, seen in Genesis, Revelation, and everything in between.  It is seen in the Trinity, at the birth of Christ, and at the Cross.  In the Old Testament wanderings through the wilderness, the start of the apostolic church in Acts, and the journeys of Paul through the New Testament.  Do you see it in your life?  Do I see it in mine?

Most of all, I see it as God has brought me through challenging times.  Without those dark valleys, I probably would have continued to rely on myself.  Growing up I was blessed with the togetherness of a lively farm family, and then blessed with togetherness in college, post-college during traumatic events, on mission trips, and now in marriage.  Each season has had its successes and failures, but it has largely taken place in close community.  I believe this is the crux of redemption in our lives....the working out of our faith and our struggles, as we live in togetherness.

And that's a focus I'd like to have here on this blog, a little more than I have.  I've posted my life verse, Isaiah 58:12 up on my header, to remind me that God has called me to togetherness, redemption, and helping others see redemption in their lives too.  I want to hear your stories, and I'll be getting that process geared up soon.  How has God redeemed 'the messes and mundane' of your life through togetherness?  There's really no other way to be redeemed.  For whether you have walked alone (with God) or walked hand in hand with dear friends, you were never alone.  What a beautiful reality we all have as followers of Christ.

Together with you,

Ruth

PS--head over to Gypsy Mama to see today's Five Minute Friday Link-up!

The Glimpse of Light, on the Darkest Day

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You've heard it said that the dawn shines most brightly after the darkest night.  And today it couldn't be any truer.  We remember the sacrifice of our Lord on the cross so many years ago. It was with a deafening gasp that He gave up His spirit, but with that gasp, we gained access to the Holy Spirit.  So often we think that our darkest moments are just that:  dark.  But I believe that each dark moment is pregnant with hope, the hope of what can be through Christ, not the darkness of what seems to be.

The Grief, the Hope:  Mary and the others gathered below the cross, and must have felt the terrible weight of grief, the incredible pain of losing their Savior, their only hope.  Have you ever watched your only hope slip away from you?  I have felt that pain.  But is this possible?  The truth is, if we are children of God, we cannot 'lose' our hope.  But we are easily deceived into thinking that our earthly hopes are equal to our Eternal Hope.  Not so!  We may 'lost sight' of our hope, but it is never truly lost because it is dependent on God, and not us.

Fellowship with the Light:  Because of Christ's triumphant death and resurrection, we have an unshakeable hope, certain and sure....an inheritance waiting for us in heaven.  And lest we be confused, that inheritance, our greatest reward, is Christ himself.  It is not the relief from sorrow and pain, as wonderful as that may be, it is not our new bodies, it is not the reunion with fellow saints....all great blessings, for sure.  But the Light that we see breaking into the darkest night, our darkest moments, is the Light of Christ and the fellowship we can have with him.  When I meditate on what Christ did for us and think back to my darkest times, I find myself drawing closer and closer to Him.  For the fellowship of suffering, though challenging, brings the brightest Light into our soul.  We die with him, and live with him.

Is it 'Good' Friday?  I wonder sometimes if the hard times I have suffered, and that others suffer are really good?  We look at the crucifixion and because we know 'the rest of the story', we know that it was good, very, very good.  In our dark times, we must trust that Christ will shine Light on every part of our stories.  He is able to make all things beautiful in His time.  

Ruth

{Join me every Friday as I link up with The Gypsy Mama's Five Minute Friday link-up!}