March 1, 2013

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life.” John 3:16 (from NRSV)

How is your Lenten journey to the cross going? This 40 day Spiritual walk with Jesus. Lent is a season of soul- searching and repentance. It is a season for reflection and taking Spiritual stock.

Many believers “give up” something during Lent as a Spiritual discipline. Rather than “give up” I have always chosen to “give in” – to give in to Jesus’ love and grace in ways I might not throughout the rest of the Church year. 

John 3:16 (above) is a good place to begin to “give in.” Martin Luther called John 3:16 “the heart of the Bible – the Gospel in miniature.” 

Are you familiar with Lectio Divina? It means “divine reading” or “Spiritual reading” or “holy reading,” a prac- tice of prayer and scriptural reading intended to promote communion/fellowship with God as you read God’s Word. It’s a way of praying the scripture, calling one to study, ponder, listen and pray as you read. Try it with John 3:16 as well as with other verses during your Len- ten pilgrimage. Answer the following questions in your heart or journal them or invite another person or two to do this as a group ...

1. Begin with a few moments of silent prayer.
2. Read the scripture out loud, slowly. Pause and ponder. 
3. What word or phrase caught your attention?
4. Meditate on that word or phrase.
5. Read the passage again out loud, slowly.
6. Where does this passage touch my life today?
7. What does it say to me personally?
8. Read the passage a 3rd time out loud, slowly.
9. What does God want me to do or be this week because of this verse? How does God invite a changein me through His Holy Spirit?
10. End by praying the Lord’s Prayer. 

Friends, may God’s Spirit invite you into many moments of holy reading during these 40 days of Lent. Know that you are loved eternally by the One we call Jesus!

Lenten blessings



Pastor John