Lent Day 7, Tuesday, February 28, 2023

“Surprise Someone Today!”

Surprise someone!  What a fun challenge during the Lenten Season.  In my original notes for this year’s Prayer Devotion and Challenges, I had scheduled today as “Surprise a Leap-Year Baby”, mostly because our peeps born on February 29 would never expect a flood of Birthday wishes on the day before their appointed day.

But after thinking through this Challenge, I realized that few of us actually know a Leap-year Baby, so I expanded the surprise to include anyone.  Why?  Because none of us expects a surprise today.  Most of us are thankful that Monday is gone and Tuesday carries little expectations, unless, of course, it’s an election.  Most people will move through their day with little or no expectation of anything special.

We can change that.  We can make a difference for a friend, neighbor, family member, or colleague.  Oh, we don’t need to spend money to surprise anyone.  The surprise could be something as simple as a phone call or a personal visit.  But we could also invite someone to lunch or dinner, schedule a date or activity with someone, or complete a task for a friend or neighbor.

The doors are wide open on today’s challenge.  Let’s give someone a special surprise today!

“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”  (1 Thessalonians 5:11, ESV)

 Lent Day 6, Monday, February 27, 2023

“Pray for a Longtime Friend”

On the first Monday of Lent, our challenge is to pray for someone we’ve known for a long time.  How long?  That’s up to you, but my guess is that your first instinct is the person that needs your prayers. 

Oh, just because they’ve come into mind doesn’t mean that your person is struggling with something big.  In fact, our call to pray for someone could benefit us more than it benefits them.  Sometimes, we need a specific reminder (like today’s challenge) to become better accustomed to praying for someone.

What should you say in your prayer?  Again, that’s up to you, but let me offer two suggestions.  First, thank God for putting them in your life.  The joys, celebrations, sorrows and/or trials that you experienced together have been significant to both of you.  Even if years have passed since your last communication with them, they are still a vital link to your story.

Second, pray for them.  You might consider praying for their health needs, their employment (or lack thereof), or the struggles they may be experiencing with family members or personal matters.  Even if you don’t know something specific they may need, you can still pray for them because God already knows what they need!

It’s a great start to a Monday, and it’s a great start to the Lenten Season!  Pray for a longtime friend and give God great thanks for providing special people in our lives!

“A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.”  (Proverbs 17:17, NLT)

 Lent Day 5, Sunday, February 26, 2023

“Commit to Something for Lent!”

Why not?  What else do we have to do for the next six weeks?  It’s not like any of us are so busy that we can’t add a little something to our schedules.  In fact, lots of commitments don’t take any time at all.  Not only should we be able to commit to something, but we should also be able to reach our goal (or get really, really, close) without shedding too much blood.

Lent, the season of preparation for Easter, is designed to encourage us to make a sacrifice in honor of God’s love for us. We can’t replicate God’s greatest blessing (Salvation), but we can find a little something to give to God these six weeks. 

What will it be?  That’s up to each of us.  We might choose to accomplish one really difficult task, or, we might choose a whole bunch of small things, like participating in the Longboat Island Chapel’s Daily Devotions and Challenges.  Whatever we choose, God will honor our sacrificial gift.. 

Choosing to commit to something for Lent is a bit like those gifts we used to make for our loved ones when we were really young.  Our loved ones were so happy to receive our construction paper art and smiley faces written in magic marker.  Our misspelled words and undiscernible graphics were priceless to the ones who received them because they knew that we did our best with what we had.

Yes, we can do this.  We can do something for God during these next six weeks.  I’m gonna choose a couple of things because it’ll increase my likelihood of success in at least one thing.  What will you do for God between now and Easter?  Commit today and give it to God!

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”  (2 Timothy 4:7, NIV)

 Lent Day 4, Saturday, February 25, 2023

“Spend 15 Minutes Outside”

Everyone needs some fresh air.  Whether your air is cold, hot, or somewhere in between, taking a few deep breaths of the outside air just makes us feel better.

Why is that?  Does spending time outside expose us to some kind of magic healing qualities?  Or, is God’s air just better than the air that blows inside our homes and vehicles?  I dunno…I suppose I could sit down and write a great exposition on the healing qualities of fresh air, but I don’t think it’s necessary.  Everyone knows that breathing some fresh air does the body good.

This Lenten Season, our focus will be on prayer.  It makes sense that all of us could use a better connection with God.  Spending some time outside today can serve as a great awareness of what God has provided.  Instead of focusing on the things we don’t have, maybe today can help us to realize the beauty and wonder that God has provided to all of us.

Today, while we take our walk, jump in the pool, or shovel some snow, let’s give thanks to the LORD.  If nothing else, we can thank the LORD for the shoes on our feet, the pool at our condo, and even the shovel that helps us clear our driveway. 

Spend some time outside today!  While you’re at it, give God a thank you for a well-provided life!

“Let heaven celebrate! Let the earth rejoice!  Let the sea and everything in it roar!  Let the countryside and everything in it celebrate!  Then all the trees of the forest too will shout out joyfully!”  (Psalm 96:11-12, CEB)

 Lent Day 3, Friday, February 24, 2023

“No Meat Today”

This is the first of our diet-related challenges for this Lenten Season.  The traditional “No-Meat Friday” should be familiar to many people, since many of our brothers and sisters in Faith have practiced this discipline for many years.  Lots of us grew up eating fish on Fridays because so many schools, restaurants, and other establishments recognized this long-standing tradition of the Christian Church.  But Why do we do it?

The reason we practice this discipline is actually very simple:  Abstaining from our most basic source of protein requires lots of thought and focus.  Some of us will struggle to abstain from meat for 24 hours (any 24-hour period will do!).  Others may find this challenge to be easy.  But even seasoned pros can mess this one up if it’s been almost a year since they last thought about their diets.

Yes, I said the “D” word, as in “Diet”.  As much as I’d like to admit that I don’t need to practice dieting, a little extra help during the next six weeks can’t hurt.  I’ve learned from many years of experience that even a minimal sacrifice can often shave a few, unwanted ounces.  Refraining from meat for 24 hours ain’t exactly the same as Jenny Craig, but, boy howdy!  Being careful one day a week can make a bigger difference than I might otherwise think.

So, that’s it!  It’s the first Friday of Lent and it’s time to refrain from red meat, pork, and poultry for 24 hours!  Can we do it?  Yes!  We can do almost anything for 24 hours!

“So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”  (1 Corinthians 10:31, NLT)

 Lent Day 2, Thursday, February 23, 2023

“Pray for 5 Minutes”

Straight-up and simple-dimple, today’s Lenten Challenge is to pray for 5 minutes.  No rules on this one except for not falling asleep during your prayer(s).  Ask God for whatever.  Thank God for everything that comes to mind.  The best prayer is the prayer that comes from you.

Not sure about this?  It’s true.  Prayer, simply put, is conversation with God.  I kinda’ think that God likes all the fluffy prayers I offer from the pulpit.  However, I’m absolutely certain that God loves the unprofessional, spur-of-the-moment prayer that the everyday, average Jane and Joe (and Brock) offer in their moments of need.

Some pastors might be frowning at my statements.  Well, tough… Do I think God would prefer everyone to be completely humble and respectful?  Of course!  However, when someone sincerely talks to God, does God grade them on their language and punctuation?  Nope. 

My professional advice is this:  Take it to God, no matter what it is.  Whatever hurts, give it to God.  Whatever you want, ask God for it.  When something good happens, thank God for it.  Don’t be afraid to talk to God.  There’s nothing the LORD can’t handle.   

“Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God.”  (Philippians 4:6, NET).

 Lent Day 1, Ash Wednesday, February 22, 2023

“Get Ashed, Inked, or Sharpie’d!”

Yaaay!  It’s everyone’s favorite season of the year…Lent is here!  

Yuck! ...  Actually, it’s not so bad.  As long as you don’t have any bad habits, Lent could be just like every other time during the year.  As long as you’re getting everything accomplished on time, sharing joy with others, giving back to the community, and loving God with all your heart, mind, and soul, Lent will be no problem!

It’s my guess that none of us is doing life exactly right.  All of us probably need a fine-tuning, if not a complete engine overhaul.  What do I need to do?  There you go.  That’s the real question.  I know other people have problems because they tell me.  But what about my own issues?  My purpose in life is not just to help other people.  I’m also supposed to be helping myself by strengthening my relationship with God.

That’s what Lent is about:  Doing something specifically for God during these next six weeks.  When we make a commitment to God, it shows God that we care.  Then, when we are successful and we are able to follow through with our promise, it demonstrates a true desire to do life better.  This is not between you and another person, nor is it about doing something for yourself, like a New Year’s Resolution.  Instead, making a commitment to God during Lent is doing something for God.  Sure, we may reap the benefits of an improved physical and emotional lifestyle, but we will also improve our spiritual health as we grow closer to God.

Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten Season.  In the Church, we symbolize the beginning of the Season by offering the imposition of Ashes.  Using the burned palms from Palm Sundays of years past, we make the symbol of a cross on an individual’s forehead or the back of their hand.  This mark symbolizes our awareness of God’s blessings of life (“From dust, we were created and to dust, we shall return”, Genesis 3:19) and our recognition that God deserves our best effort.

Find a church and get Ashed today.  If you can’t get to church, use an ink pen and draw a cross on the bank of your hand.  Or, if you’ve got one, consider using a Sharpie.  In a few days, it’ll wash off.  But until then, every time you look at your hand you’ll remember that God is with you.

Get Ashed, Inked, or Sharpie’d today!  It’s Lent and the party is about to begin!

“You too heard the word of truth in Christ, which is the good news of your salvation. You were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit because you believed in Christ.  The Holy Spirit is the down payment on our inheritance, which is applied toward our redemption as God’s own people, resulting in the honor of God’s glory.” (Ephesians 1:13-14, CEB)