Journey to the Cross

Pause

Take time in prayer. Take time with God.

Take time to walk through the scriptures and figure out what this Lent thing is, anyway (even if all you know until now is that you usually give up soda for a few weeks).

Take time to repent, to turn your heart toward Jesus.

And consider that at the end of the day, what God really wants is your sincere self — no more, no less.

You can learn a lot in this season, if you take time.

Listen

The Lord is good and does the right thing; he teaches sinners which way they should go. God guides the weak to justice, teaching them his way. All the Lord’s paths are loving and faithful for those who keep his covenant and laws.

Psalm 25:8-10

Think

When we moved to the place we now live, it had been a long time since I needed to find a church to attend, but we started searching. During this time, I learned some important lessons, especially about the importance of faith communities.

One of my long-time mentors has also always reminded me of this. She would see me coming, hug me, and greet me by saying, “Emily, child of the covenant!” She continually reminds me about something that I don’t always remember myself: not only that I am a child of God’s covenant but also that being a part of God’s community means that others walk the path of faith with me. When I forget that being faithful means loving and serving my neighbors, when I forget that worship is integral, someone — no doubt with the guidance of the Holy Spirit — helps turn me back.

Who makes up your faith community? In what ways do you contribute to that community? When was the last time you invited someone to experience your community?

Emily Miller

Pray

God of community, when I forget how to walk in your ways and on your path, send others to help me remember what that means, and help me do the same for others. Amen.

Go

"O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here's my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above."

from “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” by Robert Robinson