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Scriptures:
Ephesians 1:4
(NLT) – “Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in
Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.”
John 15:16 (NLT) – “You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed
you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give
you whatever you ask for, using my name.”
Message:
I stood awkwardly, trying to look invisible as the basketball
captains chose teams. I knew I would be picked last. I stared at
my shoes and dug my toes into the floor. As the group of girls
dwindled, my face flushed as red as last summer’s sunburn. All the
chosen ones were staring at the remaining group and making comments
about our abilities. Nothing flattering.
Maybe we aren’t athletic, or we’re smaller or younger, or just not
included. Some groups might select us, but we feel rejected by
someone we love. Not being chosen causes us to feel devalued and
unwanted.
Even though it may feel like no one wants us, the God of the
universe lovingly created us and wants a relationship with us. From
the deepest place of love, He chose us. God’s amazing love for us
is from everlasting to everlasting. God’s love is so huge, it’s as
high as the heavens are above the earth.
God’s love for us is so immense that He sent His Son to earth as the
Christ child. He died for our sins, was raised again, and imparts
to us new life. With great love, He chose to adopt us into His own
family. Jesus loves us more profoundly and more perfectly than we
can imagine. We were chosen with great love before the creation of
the world. That amazing love is what we cherish during Lent. We
are chosen, adopted, and called by His marvelous grace.
More important than any other relationship, the God of the universe
loves us. He values us and wants us in His family. Even if others
reject us, God chose us and loves us unswervingly.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You that no matter how rejected we might
feel, You chose us before the foundation of the world. Thank You
for Your amazing, everlasting love. Enable us to receive Your love,
as demonstrated by Jesus Christ, who made the ultimate sacrifice to
bring us forgiveness for our sins. Amen.
Grace Bible Church, Sebring,
Florida
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Scriptures:
John 12:3 (NIV) – “Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an
expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet
with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the
perfume.”
Philippians 3:8
(NIV) – “What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the
surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I
have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain
Christ.”
Message:
Mary poured a pound of expensive oil worth one year’s wages on
Jesus’ feet. This astounding sacrifice may have been her total life
savings. In ancient Palestine,
feet
were filthy after walking down dirt roads in sandals. Mary wiped
the dirt off with her hair.
In those days, a woman’s glory was her hair. Our glory is what
gives us success, or makes us proud. Mary believed that even the
dirt off Jesus’ feet was more precious than her glory. Our glory
can be many things. Maybe we value our looks, intelligence,
experiences, money, or power. Do any of those things actually give
us glory? No. But they may hold us back from worshipping Jesus
with everything we have and all that we are.
Mary worshiped completely with all her treasure and left nothing on
the table for her own glory.
She
gave all she owned and all she was. We need to do the same. We
need to repent of loving anything else above God. We need to fast
from those things which we hold too close. Give ourselves
completely to God and release our grip on our valued treasures.
Worship by extravagantly pouring out to Jesus, giving Him whatever
is most valuable to us.
This will prepare our
hearts as we look forward to Lent and for the Easter joy of
receiving Jesus’ sacrifice and miraculous resurrection.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, forgive me for times I valued other people and
things above You. Strengthen me to give everything to You for Your
glory alone. Embolden me to consider everything a loss compared to
the joy and treasure of knowing You. Prepare my heart to rejoice
fully in the resurrection of my Lord Jesus Christ. In His name, I
pray. Amen.
Mary Schilling
Grace Bible Church
Sebring, Florida
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Scriptures:
Lamentations 3:24-26 (NIV) – “I say to myself,
‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”
The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who
seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of
the Lord.”
Micah 7:7
(NIV) – “But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God
my Savior; my God will hear me.”
Message:
My only son is in prison. Part of my heart is locked behind barbed
wire, nibbling on miserable rations, feasting on sorrow. Fear is
real. Safety not so much. Some people are released without much
time, while others serve long sentences that feel unjust. Hope is a
scarce commodity.
I lie awake
nights praying for his safety. We are looking at too many years to
wrap my mind around. My heart feels shattered. It’s easy to
catastrophize, believing all the worst scenarios.
Then I
remember my God, who loved me so much that He came to earth as a
tiny, helpless baby to bring hope to the hopeless. My King, who
rules the universe, surely can make everything beautiful in its
time. My Prince of Peace, who calmed the waves and storm, can
absolutely still my anxious heart. My powerful creator nurtures and
sustains His greatly loved creation.
God always
provides for me in times of need. He gifts me the skills and
resources to see me through. God faithfully stands by my side when
I need Him most. He will be there for my son. He is a God who
loves, provides, and comforts. He is my God of hope.
Micah said,
“But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my
Savior; my God will hear me.”
I hope in
God’s goodness. I rest in His love. I linger in God’s presence.
Prayer:
Heavenly
Father, sometimes I feel so small and broken. Please calm my
anxious heart. Because You are good, I confidently rest in You.
Because You never fail me, I wait patiently for You with a heart
full of hope. You are the God of all hope. Fill me with Your joy
and peace as I trust in You. Please be with those I love,
comforting and protecting them. You are the loving, all-powerful
God. Grant me the strength to remain confident that I will see Your
goodness. Amen.
Mary
Schilling
Grace Bible Church
Sebring, Florida
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Scripture:
John 15:4-5
(VOICE) – Abide in Me, and I will abide in you. A branch cannot bear
fruit if it is disconnected from the vine, and neither will you if
you are not connected to Me. I am the vine, and you are the
branches. If you abide in Me and I in you, you will bear great
fruit. Without Me, you will accomplish nothing.
Message:
The night Jesus was arrested, He gave one more talk to His
disciples. He gave the command to His disciples to abide in Him.
This means we remain in Him, stay with Him, and dwell in His
presence. Being held and kept in the very presence of Christ is
enriching, inspiring, and enlivening.
How
do we abide? First, we repent from any sin. When we repent, we
make an about-face away from sin. Repentance allows us to be
forgiven and removes the chasm between us and our perfect and Holy
God. Then abiding in Jesus Christ comes through prayer, Bible
reading, and relinquishing everything to God. Leaving behind
anything that breaks fellowship with a Holy God, we are free to
remain in His presence.
Fasting allows us to draw near to Him. When we fast from food, we
exchange our time devoted to that food for time dwelling in God’s
presence. In this Lenten season, as I skip desserts, I am choosing
the sweet presence of the Lord. As I fast from television, I am
exchanging entertainment for faith-based reading, leading to
enlightenment.
When
we have repented of sin, fasted, and prayed, we are prepared to
rejoice in the sacrifice Jesus made. We grow closer to Christ,
renewing and refreshing our souls.
God
doesn’t want more sacrifices, more work, or more rules. God wants
more of us. He created us for fellowship with Him. We are most
fruitful, most joyful, and most at peace when we abide in His
presence.
Prayer:
Most High God, thank You for loving me so much that You want me to
abide in You. I repent of my sins and give You those things I
valued too much. Grant me faithfulness in reading Scripture,
praying, and listening for Your voice. You are my hope and my joy.
Enable me to cherish my moments with You and carry them throughout
every day. Prepare my heart to worship You this season and to abide
in Christ with joy. Amen.
Mary
Schilling
Grace
Bible Church, Sebring,
Florida
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