Journey....

Saturday 3.12.11

Friends,

Sometimes, even after we commit certain teachings, scriptures, and words to our hearts and our minds, it can still be confusing or simply said hard in our hearts and minds the "why" part. It can also be difficult to discern the "how" part.

I implore you, my friends, brothers, and sisters in Christ, to join me in sharing personal thoughts that I'm tracking in my blog this season. I've always loved writing, and I'm discovering in my "adult life" that this is a gift from God.

I feel inspired and encouraged by the Spirit to want to write the wisdom and heart that I'm seeking out from Jesus and our Heavenly Father privately in my own journal. I am also feeling pushed as well as in some practical and still raw ways aloud in this other form to regularly share with you.

You can follow my blog at:
http://shetalkswithherhands.blogspot.com/

I hope you'll want to read it, but there's no pressure. This is just a way I hope as a friend and sister I can help provide any kind of encouragement to you where ever you may find yourself or even believe God and Christ to be. If you have thoughts you want to share, please do, but I just ask that ANYBODY who may read this will be respectful and considerate, as that as my goal with you always.

That being said, if you feel like there's someone else who can grow, or gain new life through reading this, then feel welcome to inviting them to following my blog too. I'm not writing in this blog for attention or for ridicule :P I'm not pushed to cry out to you for any reason that gains me fame. I want this to be fame seeking for Jesus Christ. To Him I offer all the Glory!

I honestly want to be bold for Him and I feel like trying to share this with you may really excite us all in wanting to grow with God!

The 46 days til Easter 2011 began this past Wednesday on Ash Wednesday (March 9, 2011), and the 40 days of Lent last from Ash Wednesday through Holy Saturday (the night before Easter). It is said not to Fast on Sundays because Sunday is always a "Day of Rest" and "The Lord's Day" and "The Sabbath". And even sweeter in the season of Lent, they are "mini-Easter" celebrations as we look foward to Easter Sunday.

I've actually read in different sources that the actual "stop" time of Lent can be Maundy Thursday, which is the Holy Thursday before Good Friday, and the day before the 3 most Holy days of the year (Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday). I am thinking now since I have not read in the Bible specifically that "Lent runs this long. Period.", that like a relationship with Jesus Christ, it's personal. You may feel called or led to experience Lent or participate in Lent in different ways.

It is personal and Matthew 6 is a great source in The Gospel that can cast vision to all of us. "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do break and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."- Matthew 6:19-21

Encouragement for Lent training and inspiration of what fasting can do: Jesus fasted for 40 days and nights before His ministry began. He was tempted by Satan and taken to the desert. You can read about this in Matthew 4: 1-11.


This can be a time you're in greater reflection of your HEART. Why is the HEART so important? "The Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7

We all mess up and we all are capable of sin, but there is grace stronger than any wrong we do. We are forgiven because of the life of Jesus Christ. It is hard for us a people to always understand this and even believe this. It hurts my heart and aches in my mind to feel the bondage of sin myself sometimes, and especially painful to watch and hear from others about their own bondage. Do you feel chained to anything? Do you want to break free? Do you HOPE for PEACE?

"My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."- II Corinthians 12:9

So, Why walk by the Spirit?
Galatians 5:22-25 says, "..the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Les us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another."

Three traditional practices of Lent are said to be, "Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving (acts of charity)." I encourage you to not think of anything in these deeds as personal attention seekers because they are meant to be personally done for the Glory of God. If we want to be recognized for them, then we sacrafice humility and humbleness, and that is necessary for being closer to the Spirit.

Why Almsgiving? "The love of money is root to all kinds of evil." 1 Timothy 6:10

Believe, "You are the salt of the earth.."- Matthew 6:14
Follow, "You are light of the world..."-Matthew 6:14
Obey, "Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in the due season we shall reap (what we sow) if we do not lose heart."- Galatians 6:9

Friends, lets be brave. Lets take heart in the good of God.
"The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him."- Nahum 1:7

♥ Melanie Ruth