Blisters on Our Jesus Journey

Lenten Journey 2024 | Resurrection Sunday | Jesus Christ | Christianity

Mar 03, 2024

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The series:

Stumbling Along the Way this Lenten Season

“That didn’t sound very Christ-like, dear.”

Ah.

Husbands who follow Jesus can be a….

…blessing.

I was thinking things about a mutual acquaintance that husband and I were discussing, a not-yet-saved individual whose behavior … well … causes many people much consternation. And then, I said my thoughts out loud. They weren’t very nice. Husband’s good-natured chiding made me pause. He wants me to be better, and so does Father God.

“Oops. You’re right. Thank you. I repent.”

Dear readers, I know you and I practice repentance as pilgrims on our Jesus journey. But I appreciate this season on the Church Calendar because it encourages me to focus on, be more aware of, my spiritual growth (or the lack thereof).

Repentance is agreeing with God about our sin, and then changing direction away from the sin to walk in His righteousness. That’s what my husband encouraged me to do in my moment of frustration.

I’m grateful for his gentle reminder, and I’m grateful that Jesus asked His Father to give us the Holy Spirit to live in us.

He’s the only reason this pilgrim can walk in His righteousness. I so need His help on my pilgrim’s journey.

How about you?

Third Sunday in Lent

Readings

This Sunday’s readings, according to one liturgical Church Calendar, are the following verses for the First Reading, a Psalm, an Epistle, and the Gospel. Here are the links for you to read as you have time this week:
[URLs to go Biblegateway.com - version is the HCSB]

For this post, we’ll briefly examine Psalm 19:12-14 and 1 Corinthians 1:30-31.

Search Me and Know Me

The LORD God knows my heart, my every thought, and what comes out of my mouth whether someone else is in the room with me or I’m alone.

Psalm 19:12-14 (NLT)
¹²How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?
    Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
¹³Keep your servant from deliberate sins!
    Don’t let them control me.
Then I will be free of guilt
    and innocent of great sin.
¹⁴May the words of my mouth
    and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you,
    O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

He cherishes me and reminds me that He’s my firm foundation on which my faith rests. He’s also my kinsman redeemer, assuring me that my repentance leads to His rescuing me from sin and death.

1 Corinthians 1:30-31 (NLT)
³⁰God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. ³¹Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”

For our benefit…. For our benefit!

And through Christ, look at all He has done for us…and to us! Let His words sink into the very depths of your being. Yes, this makes us jump up and shout “Hallelujah”.

And yet, we pilgrims take time during the Lenten Season to reflect on our lives as God’s image bearers and where we fall short.

Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to do His good work in us, transforming us as we repent and change direction. If we do, then our pilgrim’s Lenten journey will make our Resurrection Sunday celebration all the more joyous and meaningful. Can I get an amen?

Maranatha, come Lord Jesus.

Soli Deo Gloria!

If you’re a not-yet follower of Jesus Christ, please come along on this journey with us. You are welcome here.

And, I invite you to read my series on the book “What Does God Want?”.

Conversation & Community

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Email NOC

James Mangano

Mar 3Edited

GOD bless you, Jenise, and your family.

The Journey

Called a pilgrim's journey, an adventure, a Holy summons that leads onward and upward. It's an invitation to walk with the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, an act of repentant humility of selfless desire, a still small voice that brings comfort to the ears, a mountain too treacherous to climb alone, a narrow path to navigate, many steps to ponder and a heart longing to draw closer to GOD.

John 14:4-6 NLT "And you know the way to where I am going.”

“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me."

"Repentance is agreeing with God about our sin and then changing direction away from the sin to walk in His righteousness. That’s what my husband encouraged me to do in my moment of frustration." Jenise

Repentance draws us near.

“The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!” Mark 1:15 NLT

Believe the Good News!

"And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago." Ephesians 1:13 NLT

Night Owl Christian