Lent - Day 26, March 22

The readings for today are: Psalms 66, 67, 19, 46; Jere 14:1-9, 17-22;
Gal 4:21-5:1; and Mark 8:11-21

The Psalms are full of the praise of God, and why not. Today is Sunday, just three weeks until Easter, two from Palm Sunday. Our children's pastor, Dave, is beginning a four Sunday series on the journey of Christ Jesus to the cross, ending with Easter Sunday and the Resurrection.

We have the advantage in all of this of the record of scripture. For the disciples and followers of Jesus it all seemed so surreal - this talk of going to Jerusalem where then he would be turned over to the authorities, eventually killed, and then rise again. If we would have been His followers then we most likely would have felt the same as the disciples: confused, questioning, even scheming to prevent it all from happening. When God says, "my ways are not your ways, my thoughts are not your thoughts", He really means that.

With that in mind, I have to ask if I'm prepared to trust God in life's difficulties? While I want to say "yes", I don't want to be foolish in presuming what can only be done in grace. We all experience wonderful opportunities for growth and change disguised in the midst of problems and difficulties.

A Prayer:

"O God, on this Sunday, I worship you -- in Spirit and truth -- because you are worthy of worship and praise. I confess before you that I am not worthy of your grace and blessings. As the Psalmist declared, 'Forgive my hidden faults, and keep me also from willful sins; may they not rule over me.' With the saints of now and old, guard me from the 'yeast of Phariseeism' and allow me to walk with you even towards the cross. Amen."