Tonight I had the privilege of meeting with 7 of my Esther’s Circle group of women from ACC for dinner at Charbonos. We enjoyed a wonderful meal with one another and engaged delightful conversation. Unfortunately, due to last-minute changes by the restaurant we were unable to share our “Star Words” and Lenten journeys with one another. I had prepared a short presentation and expressed to the ladies I would write my thoughts down and send them a copy. Our church is reading “Following the WAY” (Fellowship of Prayer 2018 Lent Devotional) from “The Bethany Fellows” ChalicePress.com. In addition I am writing and sharing another Lenten devotional called “The Sanctuary For Lent 2018” by Katie Z. Dawson.

Today’s text for “Fellowship of the WAY” is John 11:45-57 “Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. “What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.” Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. So from that day on they plotted to take his life. Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea. Instead he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples. When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple courts they asked one another, “What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the festival at all?” But the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was should report it so that they might arrest him.” https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%2011:45-57&version=NIV
Fear vs. Faith: The chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. They were filled with “FEAR” not faith, not a fulfillment of the scriptures. Fearful that their status would be affected they conspired to kill Jesus and convince the Jewish people it was the wish of the people to have him executed. Fear and power takes up so much space in our minds, it crippled us; however, there is hope! Faith in Jesus frees us to be open and available to do God’s work. Faith to walk where God leads, that’s life altering!

The Sanctuary For Lent text for today was Luke 4:1 “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.” https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Luke%204:1&version=NIV
What I love about this Lenten study is the “Wilderness” theme throughout the entire study. For me it is in direct correlation of Jesus’ forty days in the wilderness. I am in no way comparing myself to Jesus and the trials and temptations He encountered while in the wilderness. It’s the daily reconciling that we, the reader are seeing glimpses of Jesus. I would even go as far as to say, it’s almost liminal space. For some reason I have this idea in my mind of looking through plastic wrap/saran wrap; I can sort of see the other side but it’s somewhat blurry. I’m not quite there yet but daily the view is becoming clearer and thinner. It also makes me think of a favorite verse of mine, “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” ~1 Corinthians 13:12 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Corinthians%2013:12&version=NIV

~Blessings and Peace~

“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.” ~Luke 4:1 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Luke%204:1&version=NIV

The reading for today starts with Jesus’ baptism at the Jordan river, as Jesus rises from the water and the Holy Spirit descends upon Him. Luke tells us that once Jesus had been filled with the Spirit He is led by the Spirit into the wilderness. The wilderness is a liminal space for Jesus as He prepares for His ministry but before that happens, the devil shows up with a scheme to tempt and deceive Jesus. The scripture from Luke 4:2 tells us that for forty days Jesus was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.   Also during those forty days Jesus faced hardships of discomfort, waiting, fasting, wrestling and transformation. Jesus was in a liminal space, preparing for what comes next. Have you ever experienced liminal space? The thin line from starting something and completing something, that is liminal space. It is this in-between space that we learn the most about ourselves and our future. It is important not to get stuck in the preparation stage or even the middle stage, learning and being stuck can sometimes feel like the same thing but it is not! Being stuck is like doing something over and over expecting a different outcome (my definition). Albert Einstein called it “insanity.”

Learning is the application of changes after each trial and continuing the process towards success. The progression from developing a plan, starting a plan and completing a plan is that you are constantly moving forward. The forward motion can seem relentless especially if you’re like me and sometimes it takes several attempts to get things going and then to stay on track. Life is lived and experienced on a plethora of levels. Be brave and seek God! In many ways, this Lenten Study is a liminal space for me, I have a plan, I am working daily to achieve it and I have a vision of what the completion might look like. I would even go as far as to say, my spiritual and life journey is part of my liminal space, my in-between of earth and heaven.

Breath Prayer: Lead me Lord, transform me Lord for what comes next.
~Blessings and Peace~