My lenten journey has been very thought provoking...and thought provoking doesn't really do it justice but I can't think of the exact words to use. I'm hoping over the next few weeks I can come up with a better way to explain each of my new thoughts, revelations, decisions, etc.
First, one of my lenten promises was to be more diligent in reading scripture. I can't say that I'm followed through with reading Proverbs every night.....and I'm a little disappointed with that....however, between Sunday school, my women's small group and our lenten small group, I've been reading a variety of scripture - re-reading some of my favorite verses and getting a chance to "ponder" them a little longer. So, I have been more faithful with completing a daily bible study....its just been a little different then I first expected.
We have participated in our lenten small group in 2 ways - both in Sunday school and in a small group setting with several of our close friends. It has been interesting - eye opening, thought provoking and challenging. The basis of our lenten study is our "marks of faith." I have found some areas that I really need to work on....and, I think I've realized that some people look up to me in some of the other areas...something I had never even thought of before.
We discussed people that we consider "mature" in their faith - my grandmother is always the first, most perfect, Christian example I can think of - and I did a lot of comparing between what she always meant to me and what our study considered a mark of faith. I have talked about my grandparents a lot on my blog and this is just another time that I wish each of you could have personally known my grandmother - she was perfect, in my eyes anyway, and I've fairly certain she had some sort of golden crown (or at least a "Well Done!" sticker) waiting on her at the gates of heaven. She was caring and kind - I can't remember ever hearing a negative word come out of her mouth (maybe once or twice with my Aunt Libby....but, hey, mother-daughter spats seem pretty normal!). She cared for her family in the greatest way possible - provided round the clock care for my uncle who was disabled - and, by round the clock, I mean 24 hours a day for 50 + years. She gave to others though she had very little. She was deaf....but I never heard her complain or ask why. She could barely walk....but she gave her very best....every single day. I can't do her justice in writing, but if I could, you would all be amazed.
All of this to say that my lenten journey continues to inspire me to be more like her - never complaining and caring for others at all cost; personal sacrifices to benefit others.
Tonight we closed with these bible verses....and, to me, it sums it all up...where do I encounter Christ daily and how do I respond? I am a sheep or a goat? I hope I've done a good job....but, starting tomorrow, I'm going to do an even better job. Once again, reminded to be more like my grandmother....who was definitely the most Christ-like person I have ever known.
Matthew 25:31-46
New International Version (NIV)
The Sheep and the Goats
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
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