Isaiah 55:1-9 Psalm 63:1-8 Luke 13:1-9 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
These are the scriptures the United Methodist Church are asking their congregations to think and reflect on this Lenten season. Take the time to read, explore, digest and truly OWN these passages in an effort to help you explore your faith and deepen your walk.
If you would like to journey through these scriptures using the ancient practice of Lectio Divina, download the guide posted on this website.
What is Poverty? Watch - use reflection guide - think about it…
Bono has an answer. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have answers. Water for People, World Vision, Compassion International, etc. they all have answers to this questions and it usually starts off with a lack of something. A lack of food, of health care, clean water, sustainable resources, etc.
But is that the only way to define poverty? Who are the poor? What tells us that this person is “poor”? Is it only lack of food, of health care, clean water, sustainable resources, etc.? What about the working poor? The people who are finacially poor but still have people to help them out? And what exactly did Christ mean when He said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”?
Follow this link to a video that The Work of the People put together on this very question: What is Poverty? Watch the video and use this week’s reflection guide to help you further your experience during Lent. The Video is also post on this blog so watch it there if you want.
Having trouble with the video? Go to www.workofthepeople.com and search for the video title: “What is Poverty?”
Its that time again! Come join us this weekend! 11 AM at the Philbrook - Art Walk! This weekend the Philbrook is free so come on out!
Diana Butler-Bass is an author, historian and spiritual leader in the emerging church movement. In this video made by the wonderful group, The Work of the People (WOP), she talks about Lent and what it means to really die to ourselves and live for Him. This is what Lent is all about… Look at it. Buy it from WOP. Share with your friends.
What do you need to die to?
Mark 8:34-38
Lent begins with letting go of our self, our self righteousness, our everything we think we hold dear, in order to find ourselves - our true selves.
Who are you? Are you willing to let go of what you think defines you in order to discover Who and what truly defines you?
Are you willing to leave yourself in order to find yourself?
Read this article by a Rabbi on Abraham and his journey, our subject for this week. What do you think?
Good book to go with the post on “who are your widows and orphans?”
How are you living out your faith during Lent?
Are you focusing on trying to get more “blessings” for yourself or asking God to move through you and use you to be a blessing to others?
In James 1:27 it says, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
How are you keeping this “religion”? How are you caring for and considering the orphans and widows in your life?
Who are the orphans and widows in your life? They might not be literal orphans or widows, but I am sure there are people you know who feel lost, alone, without hope, without a home. People who have felt loss, perhaps as we have felt loss, are in need and are longing to feel love and wholeness. People who He would call, who we would call, the least of these (Matt 25:31-46).
Consider the “orphans” and “widows” in your world. How are you loving them? How are you sharing Christ with them? How are you BEING the church to them? Research in scripture what God means my orphans and widows and the least of these.
A good resource to use to search scripture: www.biblegateway.com.
Meditate on what you discover or read. Google “orphans and widows.” What comes up? Visit the World Vision website (www.worldvision.org) or the United Methodist Committe on Relief (www.umcor.org). How does that impact your understanding of what God means when He tells us to take care of the least of these? Read the article linked here, what do you want to be known for in your faith walk being a church that “had the wealth to build great sanctuaries but lacked the will to build schools, hospitals, and clinics.” (quote from article)
Consider this. Journal about this. What is God teaching you?
Ask God to help you be a reflection of His love in this world and love the least of these. Perhaps use these words as a prayer:
“My secret is that I need God—that I am sick and can no longer make it alone. I need God to help me give, because I no longer seem to be capable of giving; to help me be kind, as I no longer seem capable of kindness; to help me love, as I seem beyond being able to love.“ - Douglas Coupland, Life After God
Join us this week for great conversations on God, walking with Christ, justice issues and our lives.
See you there!
Study Guide for Feb. 24 Lenten Lesson.
Scripture: Luke 13:31-35
Topic: Considering Jesus’ words over Jerusalem. Are we being the Church God wants us to be?
A place to explore, experience, struggle with and engage God as we journey together through life towards wholeness and exploration of faith and following in the Way of Jesus Christ.
