Lent and Super Bowl Sunday vs. Easter
Lenten Journey 2024 | Resurrection Sunday | Jesus Christ | Christianity
The series:
Lent 2024 Week 1 | Lent 2024 Week 2 | Lent 2024 Week 3 | Lent 2024 Week 4 | Lent 2024 Week 5 | Lent 2024 Week 6 | Palm Sunday 2024 | Maundy Thursday 2024 | Good Friday 2024 | Resurrection Sunday 2024
Lent Is Coming and I Panicked for a Moment
The email in my Inbox from a Christian publishing house almost sent me into panic mode a few weeks ago.
“Ash Wednesday is two weeks away.”
We had just put away our Nativity and Epiphany decorations only a few days before, and my heart is still in the mode of Emmanuel, God with us. I would like to linger in this place for a few more weeks, but the western Church Calendar tells me otherwise: Lent is almost here.
As I write this article, Ash Wednesday is now only four (4) days away. It’s time for me to get ready for this season of remembrance regarding the most amazing and powerful event to have ever happened in the heavens and on Earth.
But, is it, really?
If I were to rely only on what I see in my community and on social media, I would think not.
Super Bowl vs. Easter
In the United States, the past three weeks have been building up to February 11, 2024, Super Bowl LVIII. And… “everything” Taylor Swift. During the championship playoffs, weekends have been deathly quiet as our neighbors hunkered down inside to watch the games on their big-screen TVs.
What I would love to see this Lenten season is for everyone to join in on a journey during which we get way more excited about Easter than people do about the Super Bowl (and Taylor Swift).
I dream of entire sports stadiums across the world filled with thousands of people worshiping the risen Christ on Resurrection Sunday with hearts filled with humble adoration.
Similar to a YouTube video that’s going viral.
If you have access to the internet and to YouTube, my dream would look something like what happened at the Passion 2024 conference in Atlanta, Georgia.
Note: This video is 19 minutes and 51 seconds, so watch what you can, now, and return later to watch the entire experience during your quiet time. For me, it was worth it. As of now, the video has over 2.4 million views. And, as somone who Jesus rescued when I was a teen during the Jesus People movement (we were called “Jesus Freaks”), I’m excited to see thousands of 21st-century young people worshiping Jesus together!
Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty! Worthy is the lamb who was slain!
Who Do We Worship?
The world’s cultures throw sports figures and entertainers at us as celebrities we ought to admire. People spend incredible amounts of time and money in adoration of these celebrities.
But, what are people celebrating?
Nothing timeless and everlasting.
Jesus is timeless, and a relationship with Him, through His righteousness alone, is everlasting. That’s what we’ll celebrate in March 2024.
Revelation 1:12-19 (HSBC)
12 I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me. When I turned I saw seven gold lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was One like the Son of Man, dressed in a long robe and with a gold sash wrapped around His chest. 14 His head and hair were white like wool—white as snow—and His eyes like a fiery flame. 15 His feet were like fine bronze as it is fired in a furnace, and His voice like the sound of cascading waters. 16 He had seven stars in His right hand; a sharp double-edged sword came from His mouth, and His face was shining like the sun at midday.17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. He laid His right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last, 18 and the Living One. I was dead, but look—I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades.
On Resurrection morning, Jesus won an incredible victory, one we may never fully fathom while we’re here on Earth. But, we can try.
Journey with Me this Season
I’ve been feeling a bit Church militant lately, and only in terms of spiritual warfare. I’m sick and tired of what the enemy and his minions are doing to humanity around the world: The depression, the dark thoughts, the anxiety, the addictions, the broken marriages and families, the suicides, and more. His lies are destroying so many of God’s image bearers, our fellow sons and daughters of Adam and Eve.
Jesus is the light of the world. He walked this Earth to share God’s hope, and then destroyed what our enemy had done to us. Jesus then gave us a job to do: Go tell our fellow image bearers what He has done to set them free.
I believe that Jesus started Night Owl Christian as my tiny ministry. If you feel so led, please feel free to let others know about this publication by using the Share button below.
This Lenten season, I’m going to be digging deep and studying God’s word surrounding Jesus’ life-giving rescue mission in ways I haven’t in the past.
Welcome to my Lenten Journey 2024.
Maranatha, come Lord Jesus.
Soli Deo Gloria!
And, if you’re a not-yet follower of Jesus Christ, please come along on this journey with us. You are welcome here.
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GOD bless you, Jenise, and your family!
Lent: "the kingdom of God is at hand."
"Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." Mark 1:14-15 ESV
The Gospel: a revelation of good news, a message about the life, death, and resurrection of JESUS, Salvation from sin, a proclamation of redemption, Justification, a call for repentance, hope of restoration and reconciliation, a way back to GOD, a finished work of atonement, the hope of eternal life in the LORD'S Kingdom.
Repentance: sincere regret or remorse, the act of changing one's mind, turning away from sin, a turnaround, surrender, walking with GOD.
Reconciliation: restoration of fellowship between GOD and Humanity, restoration of a rightful relationship with GOD, making Peace, friends with our Creator, no longer separated from GOD but reunited forever.
Acts 16:25-34 ESV "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26. and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. 27. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28. But Paul cried with a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here." 29. And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30. Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31. And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." 32. And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. 34. Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God." Acts 16:25-34 ESV
The Gospel
"a great earthquake"
"Everyone's bonds were unfastened."
"What must I do to be saved?"
"Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved."
"And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God."
"And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the LORD has said, Among the remnant whom the LORD calls." Joel 2:32 NKJV
"Thus says the LORD who made the earth, the LORD who formed it to establish it—the LORD is his name: Call to me and I will answer you and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known." Jeremiah 33:2-3 ESV
Worship Guitar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7TPRAvPOpE
GOD bless you all!
Joel 2-28 my friend it has begun. Fires are popping up all over FINAL HARVEST IS HERE