Melissa Kerr writes...

Many times in our lives, we face hardship. We’re forced to deal with death, broken hearts, letting go, and so much more. Sometimes it’s hard to believe that God is really there through all the tough times.
One of my favorite Bible stories is found in 1Kgs 18, when Elijah faces the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to cut up an ox and lay it on wood and he agreed to do the same. Elijah told them to call on their god and he would call on his God, and whoever puts fire under the wood is the true God.
When the prophets of Baal called on their god, nothing happened. However, when Elijah called on his God, the Lord not only lit fire to the burnt offering, but he also made the fire so large that it “licked up the water” (v.38) in the trench that Elijah had built around it.
Elijah had extreme faith to believe that God would not let him down. Like Elijah, we should also have extreme faith. Elijah believed that God was powerful enough to start a fire, so there’s no doubt that God is powerful enough to bring us through every situation. No matter what hardships we might face, we should always remember to have extreme faith that God will bring us through it.

Mary Hopkins writes...

As my thoughts went to Jesus this Lent, I thought I mightwrite a poem, but could not. I can only offer what I have in mind. My thoughts went to the beginning of Matthew 8:27,"What sort of man is this? What would happen if I inserted after the word this what appears in scripture --or other phrases, thoughts -- that even the winds and the sea obey him? that heals the physically and mentally ill? that challenges hypocrites? that prays without ceasing? that talks about forgiving seventy times seven? What manner of man is this?

None of us can see him face to face, and even in my imagination his face remains hidden. But all day long I feel a current as of flowing water repeating the words,"This is my beloved son, my beloved, beloved, beloved. Listen to him, listen, listen."

And so we listen to him and we observe what he does. And as disciples we follow, we try to imitate. We look to see if we can have his mind in us, a mind that was free, yet obedient. Paul in the letter to the Philippians writes, "..though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, . . being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross."(Philippines 2:6-8) The letter continues with the manner in which God has exalted this Jesus. We know that Easter follows, a gift of grace to us.

Jonathan Ozanne writes...

The theme for Centennial UMC’s Lenten Blog this year is “Enter the Story”. The Centennial Lenten Blog is made up of a collection of reflections about how friends and members of Centennial UMC have participated in the story and watched and listened for signs in which their lives are reflected the lives of the early disciples.

It has been inspirational to read these Lenten reflections and now it is my turn to share…

“He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” Mark 8:34.

Reading this passage broadly, it says that following Christ is not easy, and must involve the follower denying himself or herself. (See also Matthew 10:34-39, Luke 14:25-35). Whether you take a literal or figurative interpretation of these gospel lessons, the message is that followers of Christ are called to let nothing stand in the way of following Christ. This denial could come at great personal cost in terms of family or worldly goods or both.

At the Ash Wednesday Service, a worksheet was handed out with a checklist of Personal and Social Disciplines to help prepare for Easter. As another Inward and Personal Discipline I am giving up “ice cream”. I am giving up “ice cream” to focus on the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. A sacrifice that is infinitely greater than the trivial sacrifice of giving up “ice cream” for Lent. However my trivial sacrifice, denying myself “ice cream”, has not been easy. My sacrifice has also helped me focus on how much I like eating ice cream and on legalistic ways around my “denial”. (Is an ice-cream cake, considered cake or ice cream? Are sherbet and frozen yogurt considered to be ice cream?)

Denying ourselves that which gets in the way of worshipping God and following Jesus Christ is not easy, but it is something that we are called to do as disciples of Jesus Christ.

If you went to the Ash Wednesday service, take another look at the “My Preparation for Easter” checklist and see how you are doing and if there is another “denial” you could make. If you didn’t go to the Ash Wednesday service, think about what you could do to “deny” yourself.

This denial could take many forms. Maybe it is going to church instead of sleeping in on Sunday morning. Maybe it is giving up eating out once per week and donating the money saved to a mission project or to help the needy. Maybe it is denying the fear of rejection and inviting a friend to worship on Sunday. These are just a few ideas. There are lots of good ideas on the “My Preparation for Easter” checklist.

As disciples, we are called to deny ourselves and follow Christ.

Christi Wirth-Davis writes...

In the preface to his little book How to Find Your Mission in Life, Richard Bolles refers to "one of the indignant Biblical questions": "Has God forgotten to be gracious?" (Bolles says the answer is a clear No.) This is a helpful question for me--akin to someone looking me straight in the eye and saying "Snap out of it!" Life has serious ups and downs and sometimes I allow the particular bumpy road I'm traveling to take over my consciousness. Bolles suggests the beginning of each of our missions on earth is to seek to stand hour by hour in the conscious presence of God, the One from whom our missions are derived. Before we go to work in the world, we need to establish contact with the One from whom we came and the One to whom we shall return.

Our scriptures and tradition tell the story of God who is always with us, who loved us first, forgives us when we need it, and loves us forever. This grace--the graciousness of God--means I don't have to justify my existence or prove my value with cultural status symbols. In the Connectivity class at Centennial we just completed a study of The Centered Life, an initiative based at Luther Seminary. The Centered Life suggests that in the "whosoever love" (John 3:16) of God we can find a dependable center for our lives. In Soul Cravings futurist and postmodern pastor Erwin McManus reminds us that Jesus Christ called to those with exhausted souls, encouraging them with the good news "that God will be for us our place called home." We can depend on God's faithful love and then live out of that center into our callings. Being awake to God's presence and graciousness is essential for living a faithful life moment by moment. Grace--let's stay awake for it!