It’s Holy Week… how’s everyone doing with their Lenten practices … having a good Lent? A good friend of mine often says that “God designs his Lent and it usually contains a number of surprises… unplanned interruptions.” Well my friend had unplanned Heart Surgery during this Lent, so it looks like his theory is gaining more credence. I’m sure he will have much to say about what God did during Lent this year…. much of it unexpected. If God designs your Lent, then good things are going to happen.
I can tend to be an “ a scoreboard watcher”… instead of playing the game with my head down, I can tend to be looking at the scoreboard. When that happens, I don’t do very well. Sure we need to periodically see how things are going, but generally we should be at work. And our work is to love God and our neighbor. It’s wonderful to have a nice prayer time and add some extra devotions, but am I loving God and my neighbor? Is their evidence of the Holy Spirit’s action in my life?
So Dave what about your Lent? It’s Holy Week and there’s not much time to make course corrections, so how are you doing ? Has this been a great Lent, a poor Lent, a mediocre Lent? Hmmmmmm. On one hand my fasting has been intermittent, my extra prayers have been up and down… I would have to go with a solid “C minus” for my 2023 Lent. But am I looking at the Lent I planned or the one the Lord planned? Hmmmmmm.
The Lord thru a few curve balls at me during Lent. On the normal side, I had a number of doctor appointments, got a molar extracted, but then my brother unexpectedly got sick and died. A lot of my Lent was spent trying to help him from 2,000 miles away…… and then the aftermath of planning a funeral mass, working with lawyers, going thru some of his personal items that were shipped to me, conversations with my other brother and sister. I’m a bit discombobulated. There’s evidence that the Lord has been at work in all of this, but I’m clearly out of my comfort zone.
So, here it is Holy Week and my head hasn’t stopped spinning….. the holiest week of the year and I’m not very focused. So, now what? Well, it shows that I’m not in control and I can’t manage everything. It shows that I need the Lord to once again save me. So, how’s my Lent going? Left to me, it’s a C or D, but “my hope is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth”. Let’s trust our savior to work thinks out for us. The Lord can do wonders in this holiest of weeks. We have a great God who loves us perfectly. And that is very good news.
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Dave, from the outside looking in I’d say this may have been a great lent for you. An A+. You helped your brother into the Kingdom from 2000 miles away ensuring he received the Sacraments, you arranged a funeral Mass for him. That would be enough but on top of that you have been a constant encouragement to me before, during and after my surgery. You also have kept up with this blog, no small thing. Knowing you all the doctors appointments and the tooth pull were moments of offering for your loved ones. I know this all due to God’s great grace and mercy and we can take little credit but we can cooperate with that grace and mercy and with great humility you do.
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Thanks Brian
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So sorry to hear about your brother. Love and prayers for you and your family 🙏🙏🙏
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From my point of view, you have had a very good Lent!!
Lent for me was focusing on God’s love and goodness♥️ He gave me abundant grace to change some things. Thank You Jesus for your ultimate sacrifice on the cross ✝️🙌🏻
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Gosh, I was just “grading” my Lent today and saying about a C+ with the things I planned out but thinking about all the curveballs that came – have I grown closer to Jesus and knowing my need for him? I think so…
I want to take each day and just try my best. Not focus on the results as much.
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I guess we’re cut from the same cloth ! Let isnt about me, but about Jesus – and I think God has drawn me closer and deeper to him overall 🙏 “and that is very good news”
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Thank you for sharing your personal experience with Lent and how it has been a mixture of unexpected challenges and reflective moments. Your reminder to focus on loving God and our neighbor during this season is a great takeaway. In light of unexpected curveballs, have you found any particular spiritual practices or verses that have brought comfort and renewed focus during Lent?
Eva Davis
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So many, but Hebrews 4:14-16 have always brought me great hope. God bless you.
14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
15 For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
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