A WAKE UP CALL
Lent began on Ash Wednesday (Feb.17th this year). Lent is a time in the church year or calendar when we hear how much we need God. God comes to us and loves us in Jesus and God still is present with us in the Spirit. On Ash Wednesday a cross of ashes is rubbed on our forehead as these words are spoken, “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.”
Not exactly a warm and fussy is it? It’s not intended to be. Instead, it’s a wake up call for us, a reality check. We think we make our own way, our own life, but in fact, God creates us, makes us in God’s image. We tend to be self centered but we’re not the center of the universe. We seek and crave happiness but will never get or acquire or make enough of whatever it is we believe will make us happy. We all fear death, yet the mortality rate remains 100%.
Jesus, rather, His cross, stands before us, even when we don’t or won’t see it. Into our “I don’t need anyone” attitude and way of life; our selfishness; our hoping and joy seeking in stuff that cannot really satisfy; our plight to escape death; comes God’s love and life poured out on the cross of Jesus.
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2nd Corinthians 5:21)
A wake up call to faith in Jesus, to receive a cross of ashes and to follow Jesus to His cross, so that through His death, and rising from the grave (Easter), we discover God’s gift to us: abundant, everlasting, life. Hope given out of God’s amazing, incredible love.
As the beautiful song tells us: “Amazing love! How can it be, that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?”
Let’s wake up this Lent to God’s love and life, and turn to Him in faith!
Pastor Kevin T. Shively
Pastor Kevin T. Shively - 2.22.2010 09:22 AM
Past Weekly Reflections
GETTING AWAY FROM GOD? - Pastor Kevin Shively - 9.1.2010 09:55 AM
496…496…496……. - Pastor Kevin T. Shively - 6.22.2010 10:37 AM
DO WE LIVE THE STORY? - Pr. Kevin T. Shively - 5.15.2010 04:06 PM
PRESENT REALITY AND FUTURE HOPE - Pastor Kevin T. Shively - 4.14.2010 03:56 PM
A WAKE UP CALL - Pastor Kevin T. Shively - 2.22.2010 09:22 AM
WHAT CAN I GIVE __________? - Pastor Kevin Shively - 12.15.2009 07:07 PM
LIVING LOVE… - Pastor Shively - 10.9.2009 02:49 PM
“FEED MY SHEEP” - Pr. Kevin T. Shively - 8.27.2009 07:18 PM
JESUS, JUSTICE, JAZZ! - Pastor Kevin Shively - 7.27.2009 01:53 PM
A-B-C - Pr. Shively - 6.18.2009 06:54 PM
WHEN? - Pastor Kevin Shively - 4.30.2009 01:06 PM
FOOLS FOR GOD - Pr. Kevin T. Shively - 4.3.2009 08:30 AM
Why Put Off Until Tomorrow… - Pr. Kevin T. Shively - 3.25.2009 08:17 AM
WHEN YOU… - Rastor Shively - 2.28.2009 08:24 PM
WSIDAAFOJ? - Pastor Shively - 1.26.2009 03:48 PM