Lenten Reader2013

A compilation of reflections onScripture for the season of Lent.

With contributions from members of theEvangelical Covenant Church of Canada

A Brief Introduction to Lent

There is a scene in the movie “Doubt” in which Sister Aloysius (playedby Maryl Streep) is speaking with Father Flynn (played by Philip Sey-mour Hoffman). Sister Aloysius offers Father Flynn a cup of coffee andwhen he asks for sugar she has to hunt through her drawers to find it.When she hands it to him, she apologizes and says she put it away be-cause she gave it up for Lent. Father Flynn remarks that it must nothave been much of a challenge to give sugar up for Lent because it isnow winter and she still had not found a need to bring the sugar backout.

For most Lent is a season bookmarked by Mardis Gras and Easter Egghunts. For the Christian Church it is a season that begins with ashesand ends in glorious resurrection. Those intervening 40 days aremarked by fasting and repentance. It is a journey from sadness over ourown sin and our mortal inability to overcome it to a celebration thatGod has made us clean and frees us from the punishment we so de-serve.

Lent is known for being 40 days long. It parallels the 40 days Jesusspent in the wilderness and the 40 years the Israelites wandered in thedesert. This reader will journey with the Israelites in the books ofIsaiah, Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. We will end with readingsfrom Hebrews.

While Lent itself is 40 days, the Sundays within the season are notcounted as part of that 40. Traditions that fast from something duringLent often do not fast on Sunday. It is in this vein that we do not have adevotional written for each Sunday. Instead there is a passage of Scrip-ture and a work of art depicting an event from Holy Week.

Contributions for this project came from people all over the EvangelicalCovenant Church of Canada. There are also additional prayers and re-flections by brothers and sisters from centuries gone by—our honourary

mission friends. Thank you to all who contributed their time and re-flections to this Lenten Reader.

You may find it beneficial to fast from something during Lent. The de-votionals in this Lenten Reader make reference to themes that fastingwill make more tangible. Fasting is not necessary to participate in thisjourney however. If you do decide to pick something to give up, choosesomething of significance—not like Sister Aloysius’ sugar.

May God bless you as you journey through Lent, to the cross, and ex-perience the joy of His glorious death and resurrection gift.

~Julia SandstromEditor

This Lenten Reader is a gift to the Church andtherefore may be used free of charge. All artwork

and prayers (with dates) are in the public domain.Please give credit where due when

reproducing or quoting from the Lenten Reader.

© 2013Evangelical Covenant Church of Canada

Winnipeg, Manitoba

First Day of Lent February 13, 2013Ash Wednesday

Isaiah 58:1-12

Julia SandstromHoly Community Covenant Church

“Why have we fasted?” the people ask God. Why do we bother withthis tradition of restraint? Does God even see our efforts?

God’s response should stop us in our tracks as we set out on thisseason of Lent. He confronts the questioning with questions of Hisown. “Is this what you call fasting?” He questions the motives of thepeople. Are you fasting to be seen? To show off? To do as you pleaseand cause others pain and suffering?

The people were not fasting in a way that was pleasing to God. Hisheart was that they would be spurned on to acts of obedience andloving their neighbour. He wants them/us to set the oppressed free,feed the hungry and clothe the naked. God does not desire fastingthat produces nothing but empty bellies. God desires that our fast-ing transform us from people who seek to fulfill our own needs tothose who seek to fulfill the needs of others.

We do ourselves a disservice to enter into Lent without weighingthe cost of our discipleship. To follow Christ is to spend yourself onbehalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed. On thisday when we apply ashes to our foreheads (a sign of our deep sor-row for sin and our inability to be holy) we must remember that allthe fasting in the world does us no good unless it produces obedi-ence.

This passage follows a complaining people through God’s reproachinto a promise that we will be people who are Repairers of BrokenWalls and Restorers of Street with Dwellings. In other words, God isfaithful to take our ashes and breathe new life.

The timing of today's Scripture, comes many years after the time ofJacob's caravan of 70 persons, travelling to Egypt, during that his-toric famine, to obtain food to live. The story is familiar, because weknow the history of Joseph from Sunday school days. In Genesis weare reminded that Joseph's relatives in the end, were given the areaof Goshen to settle in “because they were “shepherds” (Gen.47:3).Now a new Pharaoh is on the throne, someone who hasn't studiedhis history lessons. And because he doesn't know the reason thatthese people are prospering so, Satan (that old deceiver) is able toinstil fear into his mind. He is imagining that “these people” willrise up and help an enemy, conquering the land and leave the coun-try (vs.10).

We need to realize there is an underlying story here though. Thebattle that Satan was really raging, is one to defeat God's plan forredemption. God stated His plan of salvation would come throughthe “seed of a woman” (Gen. 3:15) and “would be from the line ofAbraham (listed in Matt.1:1-16).

This Lenten week may we look carefully at our lives, and how Satancan work to destroy God's message. Does the busyness of life andthe culture of the day, keep us from truly reflecting upon that giftGod has provided? Are we living and sharing God's message of loveto our generation? Do we remember why Jesus died; and at whatcost? We need to remind ourselves God is in control; He has a planfor us; and He knows all the pitfalls but is able to bring His peoplethrough. May we have eyes to see God's purpose for us today.

Elnice DoellMalmo Mission Covenant Church

Second Day of Lent February 14, 2013

Exodus 1:1-22

Generations earlier, God said to Abram, “…Know for certain that your descendents willbe strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated fourhundred years.” (Genesis 15:13, NIV) Our text begins in a time when male infanticidehad been ordered as an attempt at population control. It was a dark and desperatetime. At a time like this one might ask, “Where is God?” or “How could a God of loveallow this?” or even “Why would God knowingly allow this future for His chosen peo-ple.” History suggests some answers that illustrate the providence of God.

God used Egypt as a “safe” place for the Hebrew people to become a nation. Egypt be-gan as a source of food during a famine. Later, the land that they had left would be-come a hotspot for military conflict and foreign armies would march through wreakinghavoc as they went. When the Hebrew people do eventually leave Egypt both thenorthern and southern world powers were weak and there was opportunity for the He-brews to become an established nation.

God used their common experience of slavery and injustice to bond the different tribestogether as a nation. They also lived together in Egypt unlike the land that they had leftwith its mountains and hills that lent itself to isolation and division such as is seenlater in history when the Greeks settle the area and develop independent and warringcity-states.

God also placed the Hebrews in Egypt out of mercy for the Amorites. Genesis 15:16tells us that they leave for Egypt because the sin of the Amorites had not yet reached itsfull measure.

In today’s text we see God providentially preparing Moses for his future role as deliv-erer. God provides physical protection for Moses at the highest human level, paid pa-rental upbringing, the formative childhood years spent among his own people andthen later the best of education that Egypt could offer.

In all of these events we see God’s providence. Yet at the end of today’s text we findthat neither the people nor Moses ready to leave Egypt. Humanly speaking, their storyis still being written. We leave Moses feeling dejected and displaced; seemingly farfrom his destiny (v.22). You may be in such a place wondering about the plans andprovidence of God but just as God does successfully raise Moses up to be a deliverer forhis people from slavery in Egypt and just as God sent Jesus as the deliverer from ourbondage to sin, you can be sure that “…he who began a good work in you will carry iton to completion …” (Phil. 1:6).

Ken JohnsonFort Frances Evangelical Covenant Church

Third Day of Lent February 15, 2013

Exodus 2:2-22

The setting that God chooses for this divine calling is certainly outof the ordinary. Moses is away from any religious community; he isin his everyday, natural setting and unlike his Father-in-law, he isnot a priest nor a prophet, just an ordinary man. The reader is obvi-ously aware that this encounter is taking place on “the mountain ofGod,” Moses however, is not. As Moses stumbles upon the bush thatis not being consumed by the flame, he is not afraid of this extraor-dinary sight, but rather is drawn to it out of curiosity and God useshis curiosity to call Moses. It is amazing that Moses did not ques-tion God’s voice when he was called but rather simply respondedwith “Here I Am.” The fear to look at God is present once Moses un-derstands who it is that is addressing him. Moses certainly ques-tions the call that God has laid on his life, but God makes it clearthat He is the God of his father; He is the God of Israel.

It is interesting that after Moses questions himself as the right manto approach Pharaoh, God’s first words are “I will be with you.”Moses is not called to this bold and extraordinary task by his ownstrength but by a God who sees, hears, and who acts. Moses is sim-ply an obedient and submissive servant and messenger who Godhas chosen to use for His glory and to work for the good of His peo-ple.

Erin AndersonBlackstrap Covenant Church

Fourth Day of Lent February 16, 2013

Exodus 3:1-20

Fra AngelicoNailing of Christ to the Cross, 1442

First Sunday of Lent February 17, 2013

Exodus 5:1-6:1

As I journey through the season of Lent, I remember. I remembermy deep need for Jesus’ grace. I remember and understand the cru-cifixion as the moment of God’s marvelous love which brings free-dom and salvation. I prepare for and remember the promise of res-urrection- giving thanks for God’s victory and mine. I also remem-ber that I forget.

God’s message to Moses and Israel in Exodus 6 is a powerful two-fold reminder. It is a reminder of the Promise and the promises ofGod. God says, “I will be your God… you will be my people”. “This ismy Covenant with you”... It’s an old promise that looks back to fa-thers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It’s a present promise that seesoppression, captivity and bondage, and speaks of freedom, deliver-ance and redemption. It’s a future promise that envisions the gift ofpromised land and all the potential it may hold. It speaks of the de-pendability, faithfulness, trustworthy-ness, and certainty of theword of the One who simply calls himself “I am”.

I’m also reminded of my forgetfulness. “I don’t believe it.” “I can’thear it.” “I can’t see it.” The discouragement and circumstance of Is-rael don’t allow them to receive the promise. “I can’t do that.” “I’mafraid.” “You’re joking right?” The discouragement and circum-stances of Moses’ experience don’t allow him to receive God’s prom-ise either.

Does the promise of God rise above the amnesia inducing disap-pointment and circumstance of my life?

In this journey of Lent, keep speaking your promise God. Help meto remember, listen and respond.

Glenn PetersonLighthouse Community Church

Fifth Day of Lent February 18, 2013

Exodus 6:2-13

As usual when I study God’s word with a goal to share what I haveread, I come away with a humble sense of how little I know and adesire to learn more. In attempting to keep the “big picture” I real-ized that God’s promise to Moses in Exodus was the same covenantHe made with Abraham in Genesis – He promises to take us as Hisand be our One and only God. God delights in taking a broken peo-ple and teaches the ignorant, the weak and the lost about His loveso that we can love each other. He reached out to the Israeliteswhen they were the most hurt, broken, and had reached utter de-spair and saved them from Pharaoh. He did this at their weakestmoment so that they would remember what He did for them and sothat in the future, they would remember and turn to Him. Thus, weknow that without our God, we can do nothing.

Audra ReinhardtHope Community Covenant Church

Sixth Day of Lent February 19, 2013

Exodus 6:29-7:25

Lord, I bring the poverty of my soul to be transformed by yourbeauty; the wildness of my passions to be tamed by your love;

the stubbornness of my will to be conformed by your com-mandments and the yearnings of my heart to be renewed by

your grace; both now and for ever. Amen.Catherine of Genoa, 1447-1510

The major saving event of the Old Testament - of Israel’s story - wasthe Exodus. Israel’s rescue from Egypt’s cruel slavery and oppres-sion was orchestrated and executed by a God full of power, a God ofrelentless follow-through and love. But the lead up to salvation wasnot pretty. Plagues and warnings for Pharaoh to take heed of theLORD of All led to the saving moment. The plagues were horrible,none worse than the final two: darkness and death. The path tofreedom had to get much worse before it could get better.

Many generations later, the key moments of God’s cosmic rescueplan took place in a similar way. Things got really bad before thegood could come - bad as in darkness and death. “At noon, dark-ness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And atthree in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi,lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have youforsaken me?”).” (Mark 15:33-34)

Can you see this pattern in your own story? When has the night got-ten a whole lot darker before the morning finally comes?

Prayer for this day:God of relentless follow-through and love, hold our hearts duringexperiences of darkness and death so that we can know your pre-sent love and see your morning dawn in freedom and saving joy.

Kirsten WaldschmidtCollege Park Covenant Church

Seventh Day of Lent February 20, 2013

Exodus 10:21-11:10

It’s really easy for me to read all the “do not” sections of the Bible and feel really re-stricted. It’s tough to hear rules like these and feel as though it’s anything morethan a list of arbitrary nitpicks and stuffy regulations.

I guess somewhere inside of me, there’s still a 16-year-old kid that wants to stay uppast his bedtime. But as any good Christian knows…

“Nothing good happens after midnight.”

It’s a piece of folk wisdom that Christian parents have been feeding their teenagesons and daughters for years, in hopes that it will encourage good choices and keepthem out of mischief.

But if you really think about, there’s nothing special about midnight. It’s just anumber. Realistically, any number of good things could happen after midnight, andmishap isn’t reserved to the time up to and including 11:59 pm.

So why say it?

As many parents will likely attest, it sometimes seems pointless to try and explainwhy the post-midnight hours are so precarious. It’s not about an arbitrary numberin setting a curfew—it’s because explaining all the things that factor into bad late-night decision-making is complicated.

We likely know that a checklist of rules should never replace an intimate relation-ship with Jesus. But there are times when our feelings, our emotions, our disposi-tions get the best of us, and we simply don’t feel like doing the things we know areright. Sometimes we just don’t feel like doing what Jesus would do.

It’s in moments like these when hard rules are actually somewhat useful, ratherthan trusting ourselves to make the right decision on our own.

That’s why it’s sometimes important that we subject ourselves to the things that wewouldn’t do of our own volition, the things we don’t understand—the things that wevery well might resist. That’s why the practice of Lent, a period where we subjectourselves to the often uncomfortable disciplines of giving up something to focus ourhearts on God, is an important one.

Sometimes choosing to “do not” can actually shape us in a positive way and point usin a direction where we’re more inclined to do good for the world around us.

Rob HorsleyFaith Covenant Church (Winnipeg)

Eighth Day of Lent February 21, 2013

Exodus 12:1-20

As I read this passage great thoughts and excitement passedthrough me as it brings to mind the central theme behind God’s re-deeming purposes in our life. As I read through the verses I thoughtI could share with you the gruesome requirements that the simpleJewish families were to go through in order to be saved from theAngel of Death. Walking through what it must have been like todrain an animal’s blood into a basin and then take a bundle ofbranches and brush it on the doorframes of their home. Or I couldeasily go into sharing all the parallels between the animals sacrific-ing their lives so that the Jewish people could live and how Jesus isultimately the Greatest Sacrifice of all time so that WE could live.But as I read through this portion of Scripture – it was somethingentirely different that God brought to my attention. Be it that I am aDirector of Youth and Children’s ministries in my church – you maynot be surprised what caught my attention. Verse 26 “Then yourchildren will ask, ‘what does this ceremony mean?’”. I am remindedagain in this moment of the highest calling that parents have. Welive in a day and age where parents are more concerned about beingfriends with their kids than being a parent. We live in a day and agewhere truth has become relative – a “Mosaic Generation” they arecalled - for their truth comes from every area of life. When did westray from what God meant? God reminds us multiple times to tellThe Story to our children so that they will not walk away from itwhen they are older. When did we as parents decide that this Storyis not worth retelling and not worth living out? We wonder why ouryoung people are leaving the churches. Maybe it is because when“our children asked – what does this ceremony mean?” – we didn’thave an answer. I encourage you to take this time to rekindle yourlove for The Story and do as God commands – pass it on to yourchildren.

Laura DyckMelfort Evangelical Covenant Church

Ninth Day of Lent February 22, 2013

Exodus 12:21-36

When I first read this passage from Exodus, my question was “Whatdoes this have to do with Lent?” But in my search to get some meaningout of this great event in history, I came across a quote from one of mySeminary teachers, Dr. Karl Olsson in Find Yourself in the Bible. Dr.Olsson developed a theory and practice of relational Bible study. He pro-posed that “The first principle of relational Bible study is to make thestory my story. This means being willing to enter the magnetic field ofthe character and incident as if they concerned me.” (Read his Come tothe Party to see this put into practice).

So, how do we “enter into” the story of the Exodus of the children of Is-rael?

Moses told the people “In the days to come when your son asks you,‘what does this mean?’ say to him, ‘With a mighty hand the Lordbrought us out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” Deuteronomy 6:4gives us the tenet that God’s people have repeated for centuries, “Hear,O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God withall your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Then inverse 20, the author says tell your sons (and daughters) when they askwhat redemption is all about, “It was with the mighty hand of God.”

“With a mighty hand…” is a theme that is repeated over and over in theaccount of the Exodus. Moses wanted the people to live into the “mightyhand” of God that provided for their redemption from slavery in Egypt.What is it that enslaves us today where we need the “mighty hand ofGod” to set us free? An addiction? There are many more addictions thanalcohol & drugs. Lent is not just a time to give up chocolate, but to thinkof those things that enslave us. Paul says, “It is for freedom that Christhas set us free.” (Galatians 5:1) How can you live into that freedom inChrist during this season of Lent?

Robert HuseHope Community Covenant Church

Tenth Day of Lent February 23, 2013

Exodus 12:37-49 & 13:11-16

GiottoThe Entry into Jerusalem, c.1305

Second Sunday of Lent February 26, 2013

Exodus 13:17-14:9

“Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will seethe deliverance the Lord will bring you today…”

The text for today is the epic experience made famous for many in the movie“The Ten Commandments”. Charlton Heston (Moses) and the people are upagainst it with the Red Sea on one side and the army of Pharoah on the other.The Bible records Moses making a dramatic statement in the midst of a peo-ple in panic: Don’t fear...Stand firm…See the deliverance of the Lord.

I recently had the opportunity to hear the Director of World Vision Peru.Here is a man that has been working to alleviate poverty in a country that hassome regions with greater poverty than parts of Haiti. He said that there justisn’t enough financial resource to go around so they search the community for“positive deviants”. These are people that in the midst of poverty have health-ier practices than their neighbours in spite of not having better conditions.

The text for today is all about positive deviants. First, Yahweh, the God of Is-rael is a positive deviant in a region filled with many gods. While the gods ofEgypt are capable of some things (Pharaohs magicians could duplicate thesigns shown by Moses) but they are not capable of being a God that hears thecries of His people and acts in dramatic ways. Second, Moses was a positivedeviant in terms of leaders. He was a shepherd leader that stood in the gapfor his people. Even when criticized, he would act in a way that was for thegood of the people Yahweh commanded him to lead. Finally, while not clearin this text, the Israelite people were called to be positive deviants. They wereto be a different people in the context of that day. When other countries hadmany gods, they were to have one God and to love that one God with all theirheart, soul, mind and strength.

Lent is a time to embrace being a positive deviant!

Jeff AndersonFaith Covenant Church (Winnipeg)

Eleventh Day of Lent February 25, 2013

Exodus 14:10-31

Sometimes I find myself grumbling to God, just like the Israelites.“Show me your plan.” “Give me a sign.” “Help me.” These are all greatprayers and they need to be voiced, but in reality God reveals His plan tome bit by bit every day and it’s not until I reflect back on my day (or mylife) by journaling, that I see what He has been doing, and how His planhas unfolded.

Now I know I’m not starving in the desert but sometimes I have beenstarved for community, answers, or even to be heard. God was there,waiting for me to open my heart and say “I am ready”.

I read a great quote yesterday that I want to share…“That thundering question of “Where is God?” Is best answered whenthe people of God offer a hand and whisper: “Here I am.” Ann Vos-kamp

God is all around me but I need to remember He is also in me and Hewants me to offer my hand to people so that they can also know His love.

Kerry RempelLighthouse Community Church

Twelfth Day of Lent February 26, 2013

Exodus 16:1-18, 35

My Lord and my God, take me from all that keeps me from you.

My Lord and my God, grant me all that leads me to you.

My Lord and my God, take me from myself and give me com-pletely to you.

Nicholas of Flue, 1417-87

We serve a God of relationship and love. A God in whom we trust, and aGod who is the creator of the universe and author of all creation. Attimes this can feel like it is well within our rights as believers and follow-ers to demand everything of The Lord. When we are tired we ought to beable to demand a bed and to find a bed, when we are hungry to be fed,and when we are thirsty to have water to drink.

The Israelites certainly were of that mind in the first part of this text.They live in a world where people worshipped gods who produced"results". They would look for a need or desire to be met, and if it was,than that god was the go-to god for the time being. Once that god failedto live up to the expectations of the people the people moved on to thenext new and exciting god.

This feels a little too familiar to our society. Most of us wouldn't charac-terize what we're doing as switching gods necessarily. At the very leastwe dive into new things and put our trust in them almost daily. For me itcan be a pizza place, a clothing company, a TV show, an author, or evena mentor. Unfortunately, when something about these places, people, orthings fails to live up to my expectations, I begin that hunt for some-thing new to put my trust in.

Even in my foolishness of putting trust in these other things that ulti-mately will let me down, God is there. God is faithful and desires that wecontinue to seek after a relationship with Him. We read in this passagethat God does have our needs in mind. God will be with us in the jour-ney. Will it always look the way we think it should? Of course not. TheIsraelites certainly were in for a surprise when they saw the water thatGod provided them. God is faithful to provide, and this God desires a re-lationship with us.

Eric HedbergEmmanuel Covenant Church

Thirteenth Day of Lent February 27, 2013

Exodus 17: 1-16

A few years ago we decided to downsize from the home where we’d raisedour family and we moved into a new town house. We enjoyed the updatedand uncluttered space. It wasn’t long however, before there were scratchesin the floor, spots on the carpet and nicks in the cupboard doors. It was in-evitable that even with products called “Magic Cleaner” our new homeeased into that “lived in” look.

Like everything around us we also wear out. In my practice as a spiritualdirector I have seen many folks who are burned out, especially those in-volved in Christian ministry. We may try to hold ourselves together by ap-pearing capable and efficient but our lives have become rushed and har-ried. We may be doing many good things for God but we no longer havetime to be still and to listen.

In our passage today, Jethro has come for a visit and observe while Mosestakes on all the burdens of his people. Moses seems to have forgotten hisexperience at the burning bush where God led him to a solitary place in or-der to speak to him. At that point Moses felt incompetent to lead the peo-ple but now he believes God can’t manage without him. What a reversal!

Jethro, having heard how God miraculously led His people out of Egyptknows that this God is greater than all others. He offers wise and compas-sionate direction, which Moses is willing to hear.

Lent is a good time to examine our own lives and to take stock of the extraburdens we may be carrying. Have we come to believe that we are indis-pensable? Are we caught in the trap of attempting to fix the lives of thosearound us? Do we like Moses need to go back to a time when we recog-nized and accepted our human frailties and dependence on God? Are weable to receive wisdom and support from others? Jethro assures Mosesthat as the loads are shared God will give the needed strength and the com-munity will flourish.

Marcia FretheimGreen Timbers Covenant Church

Fourteenth Day of Lent February 28, 2013

Exodus 18:13-27

Every Tuesday night at Green Timbers Covenant Church we have achildren’s program. One night I was teaching my regular pre-teengroup. The lesson of the week came from the book of Exodus, the partwhere we find the newly freed slaves between an army and the sea. Ithink Exodus is probably the book of the Bible with the most dramaticchanges to a group of people, back to back. We find Abraham &Sarah’s descendants suffering due to slavery, a basket with a babyfloating in the river; a talking burning bush calling a reluctant leader,ten traumatic plagues, the parting of a sea, and the beginning of a longhike to freedom. The Israelites were about to have an acceleratedgrowth into nationhood, all at once!

Three months later this newly freed people arrived at Mount Sinai.Their Deliverer wanted to be with the people He has chosen and notwas wasting any time to teach them what was required for the newlyestablished regular interactions. Ten rules of engagement were givenaccompanied by another dramatic manifestation of power. Under-standably so, they were afraid and this is not the first time, rememberwhen they were between the army and the sea, they were afraid of dy-ing. Here they are afraid of God’s power. There are constantly put indistressing situations and fear is a persistent feeling for them.

I think fear of change is prevalent in us, more specifically: fear to bechanged and fear to grow spiritually. It is safer to keep a distance, justknowing some things about God, letting the leaders do the prayingand the entering into ‘the smoke’ where God is. We like to be specta-tors because is safe, for the most part.

For today try to answer these questions: Is fear a persistent feeling foryou? Is there a difference between being afraid and being fearful?When are fears helpful? Are you willing to take a leap of faith intoGod? Remember, He will change you.

Ileana Garcia-SotoGreen Timbers Covenant Church

Fifteenth Day of Lent March 1, 2013

Exodus 19:1-19 & 20:18-21

One of the most prolific moments in Old Testament Scripture is whenGod descended from the heavens onto the summit of Mt. Sinai to de-liver the Ten Commandments. He arrived in a cloak of fire and smoke,with thunder roaring and lightning flashing across the sky. Super-natural blasts from a trumpet were deafening while the mountain it-self trembled violently. The Lord Almighty had arrived in person, Godwas in town, and the Israelites were scarcely able to bear it.

It is hardly comprehensible what it would have been like to have beenthere, to have experienced such an overwhelming and majestic mani-festation of the Creator of the Universe. God, present to the degreethat the only reaction was the uncontrolled response to fall down infear and tremble in the restrained presence of Holiness, deeply realiz-ing the vulnerability of one’s humanity. The people pleaded withMoses, “…do not have God speak to us or we will die.”

And the purpose of this exceptional divine appointment? To deliverthe Law; the means to compel and judge Israel in accordance withGod’s holy expectations. A call to a standard of behaviour required inorder to model the character and nature of God through their dailylife. Implicit in the provision of the Law is the concept of obedience.For what is the point of issuing a decree if there is no expectation ofcompliance?

Centuries later, Jesus stands upon the mountainside (Matthew 5) andcontinues the expectation of obedience by not only proclaiming therelevance of the Law to who he is but the relevance of the Law to whowe are as Christ followers. In our journey through this year’s Lentenseason there is gain in contemplating upon the Law, the extraordinarymanner in which God appeared in delivering the Law and how Jesushas revealed it to us as new covenant believers. Therein, we will finddeeper understanding in Christ’s words … “Yet not as I will, but as youwill.”

Rich DrinovzEmmanuel Evangelical Covenant

Sixteenth Day of Lent March 2, 2013

Exodus 20:1-17

James TissotJesus Before Pilate, c. 1894

Third Sunday of Lent March 3, 2013

Exodus 22:20-23:9

Twelve rough stones surrounding an altar of pitch on a windswept foot-hill. Heavy blood beginning to crust on clothes, still damp against theskin. Spilled blood drying in the sand. Splashed blood drying on thestones. Fresh kill burning on the altar. Meat. Eat. Stink. Drink. Flies andvultures descend on the entrails and skin and hooves piled nearby.Sweaty men--a bunch of them--saw God, and under His feet was a pave-ment of sapphire stone as clear as the sky. And so these bloodied menstanding in their bloody sandals, beheld God and they ate and theydrank.

It’s not a very clean picture. Barbaric, really. Uncouth. Lacking sophisti-cation and the grandeur of fine things and fine forms. The beast waskilled as a fellowship offering; the splattered blood bound together Godand His people, both besmeared and sullied: the fat turned to smoke fill-ing God’s nostrils; the flesh turned to food filling the people’s bellies.And O the blood, the blood. It’s impossible to clean this up--to scrubdown the story into something more familiar, more...holy. Isn’t it?

Nietzsche wrote that the church had killed God, and that our worshipgatherings had taken on ornate and polite posturing because we werereally honouring the dead in ongoing ceremony. Perhaps if we remem-ber that we, creatures of flesh and blood and bone, are approaching aliving Creator-God, we might bring ourselves to Him more honestly, inall the mess of our fleshiness and all the blood-dripping evidence of ourweakness and sin, and eat the hot, fresh meat of fellowship at the tableof our God.

So come, all who hunger and thirst, all who are besmirched with thefolly and failure of sin; come and eat at the Lord’s table; fellowship inthe Lord’s presence; behold Him! God does not despise your bodinessor your appetites or your needs. This may be just the kind of theophanywe need to preach and seek--God, present right here in our real lives,and not just in some sterilized ceremony we may call worship.

Phil WrightSanctuary Community Covenant Church

Seventeenth Day of Lent March 4, 2013

Exodus 24:1-18

Fill in the blank. My has become my god. If each of us respondedhonestly, many days this may read one or several of the following: ca-reer, money, social status, car, spouse, church, sports, boy/girlfriend, so-cial network, academic achievement, etc. The list of possibilities is end-less and often replaces the only true Sovereign God who deserves firstplace in our lives.

Today’s Christians are very similar to the Israelites in Exodus who be-came impatient with God as He was leading them to the Promise Land.Instead of waiting on the God of the universe to fulfill His covenant withthem, the Israelites became selfish and rebellious. They summonedAaron to design replacement gods to lead them as they grew impatientfor Moses’ return from Mt. Sinai. How could the people of Israel trulythink a man-constructed golden calf could replace God’s power and di-rect them? Almighty God was leading His people through His servantsMoses and Aaron. Not only did the Lord lead them, He performed mi-raculous signs of His deliverance from 430 years of Pharaoh’s treacher-ous bondage and slavery. God’s people witnessed Yahweh’s supernaturalpower, protection, and favour every step of the way as they were sparedfrom disastrous plagues, escaped the fierce Egyptian army via safe pas-sage through the Red Sea, and received the provision of fresh water,manna and quail from heaven. The Lord supplied all their needs and yetas soon as the Israelites fixed their eyes on their own selfish desires theyrebelled and turned from God.

Does this sound familiar about us Christians today? If we don’t immedi-ately get what we want from God we turn to other gods or idols to fulfillour selfish desires? Throughout Exodus, the Lord specifically warnedHis people that He would not tolerate their admiration and worship ofother gods. This was clearly stated in His first two commandments inExodus 20:1-5. Even through God’s anger at the corruption of His peo-ple He extended grace and never broke His promise to deliver them. Heloves His people, us, beyond our finite understanding.

Kim WhittingtonMinnedosa Evangelical Covenant Church

Eighteenth Day of Lent March 5, 2013

Exodus 32:1-20

What a wonderful dialogue, and what a beautiful image of God thesepassages paint for us! He is a God who is anxious to meet with us, be-stow His presence on us, and be generous with His gifts. He did not turnaway from, or decline Moses' request. He accommodated Moses, fulfill-ing his request, yet sparing him what would not have been helpful. Howmuch does God want to do the same for us, if only we would ask? I oftenneed to remind myself to invite God's presence into a room, situation orrelationship, or intentionally slow myself down enough to look for whereGod already is within my day-to-day life.

God is compassionate and merciful, slow to anger and filled with unfail-ing love, and we see this given flesh, blood and breath, and lived out inthe life of Jesus. Jesus' very sacrifice, his death on the cross for our sin,not his own, is testament to the true nature of God.

God is compassionate and merciful, He is slow to anger and He is filledwith unfailing love for us, His people.

Just as Moses' face glowed after experiencing the presence of God, andas those who met Jesus were changed, how much too are we forevertransformed by an encounter with Jesus. Our lives should tell the storyof that experience.

How is your life changed by encountering Jesus? As you live beyond aninitial encounter, does your life give witness to the true nature of God?(compassionate, merciful, slow to anger, filled with unfailing love)?

Corinne StoterHope Community Covenant Church

Nineteenth Day of Lent March 6, 2013

Exodus 33:7-11, 18-23 & 37:1-9

God wants His people to be set apart, an example and blessing to allpeople, all generations to come. He leads them to a geographically sig-nificant crossroads of civilizations, promises them victory over the localsand calls them His holy chosen ones. These people are to be an exampleof a nation living in relationship with the one true God. People passingthrough this little piece of land traveling east, west, north, or southwould come in contact with Israel and see something that they wouldn’texperience with any other nation. They would see people called, rescued,gifted, protected, and living with intention to remain true to Yahweh.

God asks His people in return not to marry foreigners, that is, not to joinbody and spirit with the cultures of the land. He asks that they inten-tionally remember His mighty acts of deliverance and provision andcelebrate those feast days. He asks that they tithe “off the top” as it wereand that they keep Sabbath. God requires that they come away fromtheir ordinary circumstances regularly for worship and celebration. Allthis takes truly mindful - “heartful” intention.

God takes our relationship with Him very seriously and rather expectsthe same attitude from us. A friend posted a quote on Facebook by Wil-liam Law that challenged a response to this passage from me. It reads, “And if you will here stop, and ask yourselves, why you are not as pious asthe primitive Christians were, your own heart will tell you, that it is nei-ther through ignorance nor inability, but purely because you never thor-oughly intended it.” Think what you like about the pious primitiveChristian part but I am looking this Lenten season at my “thorough in-tent.” It is not for poor information or poor resource that Israel repeat-edly failed to do as God asked but maybe Law is correct and it was poorintent.

Judy NelsonNorquay Evangelical Covenant Church

Twentieth Day of Lent March, 7 2013

Exodus 34:10-28

God has called every one of us to be His ministers. Today’s readings remindus that no matter our profession or vocation, we can be of service to the Lord.Specifically, these verses affirm the ministry and service of those employed inskilled trades. As highly capable carpenters, Bezalel and Oholiab were able toprovide a beautiful offering of their skills and abilities to the construction ofthe Tabernacle and its furnishings.

As someone who lacks these abilities myself, I am particularly grateful thatGod has gifted many of His people with these talents – so is my wife. All of usare reliant upon skilled carpenters, plumbers, electricians, mechanics, weld-ers, etc . . . . . to whom we owe so much gratitude for the execution of theirgifting and abilities.

When I directed a faith-based vocational training school for Alaska Nativeyoung people, we taught the students that they were called to lives of serviceand ministry in whatever career they found themselves. One of our goals wasto help each of these students to understand that their identity in Christ wasof far more value than any identity they might find in being a carpenter or of-fice assistant. Moreover, we taught them that these vocations were the plat-forms by which Christ would use them in ministry.

This is true for all of us. Our vocational calling is a part of God’s plan to use usin ministry and service. Properly understood, work is both good and an op-portunity for faithful Christian witness. Paul writes in Colossians 3:23-24 –“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord . . . Itis the Lord Christ you are serving.”

In Christ, there is no hierarchy of who is ‘more called’ to serve Him. No onegets a free pass; we are all called to action and ministry. During this season ofLent, may we reflect on how we are using our vocational skills and abilities tofurther Christ’s Kingdom.

Prayer:Lord Jesus, thank you for equipping us with so many different skills andabilities. Show me today how you desire to use my gifts, abilities, and voca-tional calling to accomplish your purposes. Amen.

Mark HillMinnedosa Evangelical Covenant Church

Twenty-First Day of Lent March 8, 2013

Exodus 35:30-36:1 & 37:1-9

“And Moses did everything the Lord commanded him.” Not somethings, not most things, but everything. The phrase “As the Lord com-manded him” is used seven more times in the following verses describ-ing the setting up of the tabernacle. There is no question that Moses wasintent on doing what the Lord commanded him, right down to the lastdetail as he constructed the tabernacle.

In vs. 33 it says, “Moses finished the work.” This task God had givenhim was completed in its entirety and exactly as God asked. What thenfollowed was God’s glory; His very presence filled the tabernacle. It isdifficult to read this passage and not make the connection between theobedience of Moses and God’s presence filling the tabernacle. For fortyyears, this presence of God was evident to the Israelites in the pillar ofcloud by day and the pillar of fire by night, leading the Israelites duringtheir trek in the wilderness. After the tabernacle was constructed thecloud settled over the tabernacle. If the cloud lifted the Israelites fol-lowed. If it stayed the Israelites did not move. Their journey was dic-tated by the presence of God.

Today God’s presence is not confined to a tabernacle or temple. In I Cor.3:16 it says we are the very temple of the Holy Spirit. As God went beforethe Israelites, never leaving them and always guiding them, so He goeswith us today. Under the new covenant there is no longer that separa-tion between the presence of God and His people. His very presencedoes not go before us but is in us as believers. That’s an amazing thoughtbut also a sobering one. Is this evident in the way we live our lives, as be-lievers? Are we led daily by the Lord’s presence in our lives and do weonly move as He leads. Paul says that as we walk daily with Christ we arebeing transformed into Christ’s image (II Cor. 3:18). This is the glorythat needs to be evident in each of our lives in the midst of a hurtingworld.

Terence BargFaith Covenant Church (Breton)

Twenty-Second Day of Lent March 9, 2013

Exodus 40:16-38

James TissotMary Magdalene's Box of Very Precious Ointment, 1886

Fourth Sunday of Lent March 10, 2013

Leviticus 8: 1-17 & 9:22-24

“I’m not sure I have the right to ask God to forgive me.” This statementwas coming from a woman who had just shared with me the problemsshe was facing in her new marriage but not her first marriage. As I lis-tened to these newlyweds share their struggles, they realized they werelooking for a way to deal with their past and the guilt they were experi-encing. I shared how freedom from their past and their guilt is experi-enced through confession and asking forgiveness from the One who gaveHis life for them on the cross. As they poured their hearts out to God inprayer, the freedom they so needed became a reality. Forgiveness hadcome.

Leviticus 16 shares God’s instructions to Moses on the necessary prepa-rations for dealing with a people’s past and their guilt. Forgiveness was-n’t something trivial. The result of that attitude was seen throughAaron’s two sons who died because they had the mistaken notion thatthey could appear before the Lord at any time in any fashion (Lev 16:1).By contrast, Moses learned from the Lord that forgiveness required cer-tain preparation down to the tiniest detail. Aaron would have to dress acertain way, certain sacrifices would be necessary and performed in theproper order for himself, his household, and the nation of Israel as awhole. Specifics concerning animals used for sacrifice, the type of bloodand its application to certain furnishings in the Tabernacle, and the per-sonnel who had to be washed to serve were carefully conveyed toAaron’s ear by Moses. As the preparations were fulfilled the freedomfrom past sin and guilt that was so needed became a reality. Forgivenesshad come.

Jesus’ preparations for dealing with our past and guilt were no less sig-nificant and the sacrifice required was no less noteworthy. In this seasonof preparation (Lent) we are reminded again of the cost of forgiveness.Our dire need for freedom from our past and guilt is a reality. Forgive-ness has come!

Gary GilkinsonMelfort Evangelical Covenant Church

Twenty-Third Day of Lent March 11, 2013

Leviticus 16:2-28

And wilt Thou pardon, LORD,A sinner such as I?

Although Thy book his crimes recordOf such a crimson dye?

So deep are they engraved, -So terrible their fear,

The righteous scarcely shall be saved,And where shall I appear?

My soul, make all things knownTo Him Who all things sees:

That so the LAMB may yet atoneFor thine iniquities

O Thou Physician blest,Make clean my guilty soul!

And me, by name a sin oppressed,Restore, and keep me whole!

I know not how to praiseThy mercy and Thy love:

But deign Thy servant to upraise,And I shall learn above!

Joseph of Studium, 9th century

Twenty-Fourth Day of Lent March 12, 2013

Leviticus 19:1-18, 31-37

For the children of Israel, the exodus from Egypt was a fickle experience.A miraculous work of God for the sake of their liberation was, often-times, perceived as only a painful uprooting. They were, more than once,caught complaining. In this instance, their bellyaching has brought Is-rael’s leader, Moses, to his wits ends. He is fed up with their protests –“If only we had meat to eat!” – and in anger and desperation, confrontsthe God whose mighty salvation has brought emancipation and embit-terment.

“What did I ever do to deserve these whining people? I can’t do this! It’sall too much! Do me a favour and kill me now, Lord!” Moses’ emotionalpetition is heard by God, and God responds. He promises to addressboth Moses’ need for help in leading, and the community’s demand formeat. Elders will be appointed and empowered by God’s Spirit to bearthe burdens of the people along with Moses. Meat will be so plentifulthat Israel will eat until it meat is coming out of their noses. (This does-n’t sound entirely dissimilar to a disciplinary father who catches hischild smoking and makes him finish the entire pack.)

Moses is doubtful, but God is resolute. He reassures Moses with a rhe-torical question: “Is the Lord’s power limited?” The KJV has it rendered,“Is the Lord’s hand waxed short?”

In wild and unexpected ways, God makes good on His promises. TheSpirit descends on the elders, including two, Eldad and Medad, whoweren’t present at the tent where God’s cloud descended (see a similarstory in Mark 9:38-41). Quail are blown in from the sea to provide agreater abundance of meat than grumbling Israel could stomach(Numbers 11:31ff).

Has your journey become difficult? Do you feel unable to carry on? Todo it alone? Amidst grumbling and complaining, amidst frustration andanger, the God who saves and provides asks, “Is the Lord’s power lim-ited? Is the Lord’s hand waxed short?”

Gavin JensenHoly Community Covenant Church

Twenty-Fifth Day of Lent March 13, 2013

Numbers 11:4-6, 10-30

The story of the Israelite scouts begins with divine instruction to Mosesto send men into Canaan to explore the land God was giving them.Moses sent them out, instructing the men to explore the land and bringback their observations about the land and its people. He encouragesthem to be courageous and go boldly into this land bringing back sam-ples of the crops. When they report back to Moses they agree that Ca-naan was a magnificent country, showing off the fruit they brought back.Even with bountiful evidence before them they change their focus fromthe splendour of the country God had given them, to the earthly obsta-cles they saw in their path. Quickly they forgot that this was the landthat God had already given to them. This was their Promised Land.

Oh, how easy it is to see that they would be victorious if only they wouldbelieve God and trust Him to help them conquer the land. Yetm as weface struggles that seem too big to overcome how quickly do we fall preyto focusing on our circumstances instead of trusting God for what Hehas promised us?

These are the times when we would rather wander around in the wilder-ness than step out boldly and fearlessly knowing that God has gone be-fore us. Just because we can relate to the Israelites story does not meanwe have to respond like them. We can choose to believe God and obeyHis voice when He calls us to step forward.

So this Lenten season as we remember what Jesus accomplished on ourbehalf on the cross and celebrate His victory over death, let us also pre-pare to accept the gifts God has given us and go boldly into our new lifebelieving in Him and trusting Him to have gone before us giving us vic-tory over the giants in our lives.

Norinne SullivanMelfort Evangelical Covenant Church

Twenty-Sixth Day of Lent March 14, 2013

Numbers 12:16-13:3, 17-33

“Would it not be better for us to go back?”

This is the question the people of God are asking? And their asking it after God hasfreed them from slavery, guided them through the wilderness, fought armies forthem, and provided food and water for them in the desert. And this isn’t the firsttime, it the tenth time.

Walter Brueggemann, the Old Testament scholar, says that the covenant that Godmade with His people is more than just an agreement for our mutual benefit. It’s aconnection in which God extends himself to His people in vulnerable ways. Godplaces himself before His people in ways where there is the possibility that He couldbe hurt. God doesn’t stand far off, at arms length, waiting to see if His people willfollow Him or not. He rushes in. It is interesting that in the first book of the Bible,Genesis, the word for anger is never applied to God. The word that is applied to Godis “grieved”, He is wounded by His people, and He grieves. This is God’s identity.“The LORD is slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity andtransgression ...”

And when God in His frustration with His people desires to be finished with them,Moses comes before God and reminds God of who God is, of what God is like, ofhow God acts. Moses even adds, “You are the God who will visit the iniquity of theparents upon the children to the third and the fourth generation”. And yet Goddoesn’t do it. This generation will miss part of the promise; they will not be allowedto enter the land. But, they don’t miss all of the promise, God is still with them, Godstill guides them, God still provides for them. And God doesn’t “visit their iniqui-ties” on their children. The very next generation receives the promise of land.

And what about that next generation, do they do any better? No, they wound Godas well. ... And so do we. We want to “go back”. We want to “choose a captain” tolead us to the life we think we deserve. The captain we most often choose is our-selves. We think we do alright leading our own lives. And God will let us. God willgive us all the gifts and blessings He has for us and let us go to a far off land andspend all the good things we have been given, our God given inheritance. And whenwe come to the end of our rope, and find that we didn’t really know what we weredoing ... when we come to our senses, and make our way back to God, just hopingthat God might consider letting us live in some small corner of His grace ... whatdoes God do?

He rushes in.

Steve MenshenfriendBlackstrap Covenant Church

Twenty-Seventh Day of Lent March 15, 2013

Numbers 14:1-25

One of my friends has had a long life of significant health issues and family chal-lenges. No matter what comes her way, all she seems to see is the seemingly impos-sible circumstances around her. Even after miraculously surviving a life-threatening illness her focus remains primarily on the things that have gone wrongand the things she doesn’t have. This outlook is so similar to that of the Israelites.Despite the miracles they had experienced during their almost 40 years of wander-ing the wilderness, all they seemed to focus on was their lack of water, food (or atleast food that wasn’t manna) and the inconvenience of a circuitous route towardthe promised land.

If I put myself in their shoes, I can imagine that I’d be pretty sick of manna after 40years. I’d know I couldn’t survive without water and I certainly would be ready tosettle at my final destination rather than continue to wander aimlessly in the desert.It’s as if, for these desert wanderers, there is no hope for the future, nothing beyondthe misery they see all around them. This is also true for my friend. Life offers herno hope as far as she can envision. It’s interesting that the Israelites, argued andstruggled with Moses regarding their misery but didn’t even ask for water. They justcomplained and whined about their desperate life. This had gone far beyond a rela-tional dialogue of trying to understand God’s ways, or pleading with Him to inter-vene in a difficult journey while continuing to follow and trust God. In fact it seemsthat the Israelites in these passages have stopped trusting God altogether.

I am often not so unlike them. How is it that God can show himself to be so true,powerful and active in my life in one moment and seemingly the next I’ve forgottenwho He really is? My focus changes so easily from following to fretting.

Although God provided water from a rock, the people persisted with their com-plaining as they continued their journey. Their complaints were not just verbalizedto Moses now, but also to God. That didn’t seem to go over so well with God; ser-pents appeared and people died. As the people’s situation grew more desperate theyrealized their sin and recognized that it was only God that could take the snakesaway. It’s interesting to me that God chose not to remove the snakes but rather toprovide a way to conquer the effect of the serpents. A bronze snake was made andset up high for all to see. When somebody was bit and poisoned by the snake, heal-ing was found by looking up to their source of hope.

What a great reminder especially during this season of Lent as we prepare forEaster, to look up toward the cross where hope is found. The Israelites looked to thebronze snake, we look up to the cross and we are reminded that our hope for rescueis there in a risen Jesus. Look up and follow.

Patience HenningFaith Covenant Church (Winnipeg)

Twenty-Eighth Day of Lent March 16, 2013

Numbers 20:1-13 & 21:4-9

DuccioArrest of Christ (Fragment) 1311

Fifth Sunday of Lent March 17, 2013

Hebrews 1:1-14

“Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help thosewho are being tempted.” (V.18)

Jesus does not hesitate to speak to his disciples about suffering anddeath. Even though they do not yet understand, even though they re-buke him for his words, Jesus does not hesitate to speak repeatedlyabout his suffering and death. Jesus also speaks very plainly about theneed for his disciples to deny themselves, take up their crosses and fol-low him. Once again, he is speaking of suffering and of death.

It has been said that human beings have a tremendous capacity to en-dure suffering and even to face death boldly IF there is meaning or IFthere is a higher purpose in sight. We know the degree to which a parentwill suffer for a child and even ‘give their life’ for the child if that is whatis needed. Somehow, in the great mystery of this redemption story, thefact that Jesus became one of us, fully God/fully man, qualifies him tobe able to help us, save us, offer us forgiveness of sin and new life inChrist. He suffered and gave his life for the sake of the world. Somehow,in the great mystery of this redemption story, Jesus, in sharing our hu-manity, becomes our merciful and faithful high priest with the power tomake atonement for our sins. Somehow, in the great mystery of this re-demption story, Jesus is able to help those who are being tempted, be-cause he himself suffered when he was tempted. Jesus, “for the joy setbefore him, endured the cross, scorning it’s shame and sat down at theright hand of God.” (Heb.12:2)

In this season of Lent, as we day by day move closer to the cross, let usremember that Jesus understands our trials and temptations. Jesus un-derstands our suffering and our fear of death. Jesus, our merciful andfaithful high priest, is able to help us.

David JohnsonValley Evangelical Covenant Church

Twenty-Ninth Day of Lent March 18, 2013

Hebrews 2:5-18

During this season of Lent, it seems rather strange that we would needto be reminded to keep our focus on Jesus—to fix our thoughts on ourSaviour—and yet, that is exactly what the writer of Hebrews exhorts usto do. "Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fixyour thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we con-fess" (Hebrews 3:1).

We all know how busy we can become in our day-to-day living. Distract-ing thoughts hinder us from keeping our attention on Jesus too often.Rather, we tend to concentrate on what we’re going to have for dinner...we think about what’s going to be reported on the news... we worryabout how our children are coping with the challenges of life... we longfor a chance to enjoy a favorite television show... we think about balanc-ing the bank account and paying the bills... we snatch a few moments tocheck up on Facebook contacts... The list is endless!

What tends to attract us in our day-to-day living are those things that wecan see, feel and touch. Jesus, whom we can’t see, feel and touch, istherefore easily distant from our thoughts. Paul wrote to the Corin-thians, "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (2 Corin-thians 4:18). It is crucial that we sit back today and concentrate on thosethings which we can’t see; that we "fix our eyes on Jesus, the author andperfector of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2). Take time to do this... today.

Tina MastRainy River Covenant Church

Thirtieth Day of Lent March 19, 2013

Hebrews 3:1-19

The recipients of this letter were both Jews, who had turned from Juda-ism to Christianity, and Gentiles. Some who received this letter neededsolemn warnings against drifting back into Judaism; while others gaveevidence of being genuine followers of Christ. Both are encouraged tokeep up the good work and not to lose heart nor become lazy in theirfaith but persevere to the end.

Warning of judgment should not unsettle believers concerning the as-surance of salvation. When God gives a warning it is accompanied by apromise of Salvation, which is based upon the finished work of Christ atCalvary sealed with an oath. Abraham is an example of one who receiveda promised blessing sealed with an oath. In legal affairs people swearoaths to confirm their statements. God does the same. He swears byHimself giving believers a double assurance of salvation through the ad-dition of His Oath. This security, based upon the work of Jesus Christ,guarantees the believer will never be cast out.

Once a year, in the Levitical system, the high priest entered behind thecurtain (veil) into the Holy of Holies as the peoples’ representative. Je-sus Christ our High priest entered God’s presence as our representativebut also as our forerunner guaranteeing that we too will enter God’spresence one day.

In ancient times the Mediterranean Sea had many harbors, some ofwhich were very shallow and rocky. If the tide was out, larger shipscould not enter. The deeper waters were too deep for an anchor to se-cure the ship. The captain of the ship would put down a small boatknown as a forerunner and the anchor was lowered into it. The forerun-ner was then rowed across the waves into the shallow waters behind therocks known as the veil. The winds could blow, the sea become violent,but the ship would be safe because the anchor in the harbor was behindthe “veil”. We also have an anchor of hope, for the soul, which is beyondthe veil in the very presence of God.

Joe OrrOff Lake Covenant Church

Thirty-First Day of Lent March 20, 2013

Hebrews 6:9-20

This Lenten season is the perfect opportunity for reflection upon ourjourney with God. Very often, I have found that this is how God continu-ously reminds me of His faithfulness and presence in our lives. From be-fore I came to know Christ and even until now, in times of ignorance andindifference, He has carried me through every situation, circumstanceand season. That’s also one of the most beautiful things about Scripture,as it holds our entire history and the grand story of God’s consistent andpersistent love for His people, even amidst all the times of ignorance orindifference.

There was never a way to God without Him first reaching and revealinghimself – our sin kept us apart. So He gave Moses the laws, created thetemple and appointed priests to fulfill the enactments of the sacrificialsystem just so His presence could be with His people. But even then, theLord knew we needed another way; a means to Him that would be per-manent by which no person could ever accomplish, except for God Him-self.

So it was always about Jesus. God had Jesus in mind for all from thevery beginning and the priestly order of Melchizedek alludes to every-thing that Jesus came to fulfill. Set apart and named to resemble the Sonof God, Melchizedek points the way to Jesus as the true High Priest whonot only fulfilled the law once and for all, but in doing so has broughtfreedom for all to live the ultimate commandment – to love.

When we look back, it’s so clear that God’s faithfulness to us has neverchanged even when we couldn’t see it, He saw the bigger picture andpaved the way for us to return to Him. It’s amazing that this is the Godwe have relationship with – the One who is love. A love so deep that be-fore we were conceived He knew our names and so steadfast that nomatter the days, years or generations, His commitment to those whomHe loves is what gives us the capacity to faithfully love Him and others.

Jaisy TamAvenue Community Church

Thirty-Second Day of Lent March 21, 2013

Hebrews 7:1-10

“Aren’t pastors supposed to help me in my relationship with God?”asked a friend of mine before she explained how one pastor had snappedat her for her on-again-off-again addictive behaviors. Another had madejudgmental remarks that shamed her before others and made her feelunaccepted and devalued. The one she had liked and trusted the mostmoved to another church leaving her feeling abandoned. I winced as shenamed one disappointment after another with her former pastors.

In Hebrews 7:11-28, the writer notes that although the priests in the OldTestament represented God to people and people to God, they were notable to help provide lasting access to God. The priests were sinful menwho had to offer a sacrifice for their own sins before they could offer sac-rifices for the sins of the people. And there was no continuity in them aseach one of them died and required a replacement. But Jesus, the writerstresses, is superior to all these priests. He is the High Priest like Mel-chizedek who has come as promised in Psalm 110 to help us in our rela-tionship with God. He has no need to offer sacrifices for His own sins asHe has none and He has no need to keep offering sacrifices for the sinsof the people for His one sacrifice is perfect and complete. As a result,there is no shortcoming to His representation of God to people and peo-ple to God. Jesus the High Priest could do what the old priests couldnever do, namely give us a perfect, direct and lasting access to God.

Friends, disappointing people or being disappointed by people is inevi-table. Yet, even in our imperfections, God has sent Jesus the perfectpriest to help us. May we have confidence in Jesus, our better hope,through whom we have perfect, direct and lasting access to God and inwhom we can draw near to Him.

Sam WilliamsAvenue Community Church

Thirty-Third Day of Lent March 22, 2013

Hebrews 7:11-28

So this is it. The new is better. Simple as that. And the new is JesusChrist our High Priest who sits at God’s right hand – a true represen-tative who holds the power of the King and is approved and ready,ministering to us, His people. The old Priesthood was faulty. So a newagreement had to be made. He is a God who cares. A God, who is pre-sent in our daily life and is the ultimate Redeemer, so we live into thenew. The new exciting promises of a hope that we cannot possiblyimagine. And now we have a new agreement that renews our relation-ship with God and gives us grace in Christ by faith alone.

God is leading us now into the new. As our faith becomes more per-sonal and as we make a commitment to honor Him and live for Himthe question for us all is: How are we living out our ‘new’ agreementwith God? Are we seeing Him in all His glory and shouting it out tothe world? Or are we just existing, taking it all for granted and keep-ing it to ourselves?

The most exciting sentence is, “I will be their God and they will be mypeople” We are HIS people! How absolutely awesome and thrilling isthat?! I have no words for that. It is just the most amazing thing toknow I am HIS! He is a God of love and kindness and forgiveness, Heloved us enough to make it possible for Jesus to mediate for us so wecan be forgiven and move into a right relationship with God. This isthe day we shout it out to everyone and rejoice and dance!! He is ourGod, our King, and we are to respond by faith and obedience for weare His people. What are we waiting for?

Natasha WesterhoudMalmo Mission Covenant Church

Thirty-Fourth Day of Lent March 23, 2013

Hebrews 8:1-13

TitianThe Last Supper, c1544

Sixth Sunday of Lent March 24, 2013Palm Sunday

Hebrews 10:1-18

Our journey toward Easter is a journey of confidence. Breathing deeply,we walk in the new and living way Jesus opened up for us. Vistas expandand horizons broaden, for Jesus has gone before us on this road of pas-sion. Standing at the Father’s right hand, Jesus welcomes us in and of-fers, on our behalf and in our names, the prayers and concerns andstruggles of our journey. Jesus, our high priest, lives for us.

And so, casting aside those howling voices of accusation and recollectedshame, we draw near to our Father fully confident of our place at His ta-ble. We don’t tread this Lenten road in fear or insecurity, wonderinghow we will be received. Rather, with humble boldness, we follow theOne who has gone before us, for us. Washed by God’s rain, purged andpure in Jesus, we walk with lungs full to bursting with the joy of God’smercy.

This is the hope which guides us, unswervingly, as walkers throughweather fair or foul. Sure hope, true hope, grounded in the unfalteringpromise of God, that the faithful One who always follows through willsee us home to His side.

We do not travel this Lenten journey alone; fellow pilgrims join us onthe passion pathway. As we travel, we may stumble, hope dimming asstrength wanes. We need each other. Voices of encouragement renew us.Stories of hope and remembrance spur us on in this journey of love andgood deeds, marked out by our Saviour. And so we rise and continue, asloved children and precious, for we are not of those who would shrinkback.

Let us journey toward Lent with confidence today. Jesus, the one whohas gone before us, left us not to journey alone. The Spirit gives us guid-ance and strength; we walk with brothers and sisters. Journeying withthe confidence gifted from perfect love, let us despise shame and guiltand pursue the passion pathway of Jesus.

Tom GreentreeErickson Evangelical Covenant Church

Thirty-Fifth Day of Lent March 25, 2013

Hebrews 10:19-39

I was recently listening to a documentary on aging on CBC radio. Thereare a few areas in the world called “blue zones” where both men andwomen live to a very old age. Among the reasons proposed for this phe-nomenon was the fact that the people of these regions lived all of theirlives under hard conditions. They worked hard physically in the fields,as shepherds or fishermen and continued to work into their eighties.The discipline of hard physical work building endurance seems to con-tribute to a long and good life.

I wonder if the discipline of God which allows us to be spiritually fit issimilar to the life circumstances of the very elderly people in the bluezones? Just as their hard life conditions contribute to strength and lon-gevity, so those practices which contribute to spiritual strength do notcome without struggle either. In verse seven we read, “endure hardshipas discipline…” Far from intending to hold us back or keep us from en-joying life to the full, God desires to “strengthen (our) feeble arms andweak knees” so that we can experience life as strong Christ followers;“healed and not lame.”(vs12, 13)

The discipline needed to train for a race is like that needed for a strongspiritual life. Lent is a good time to remember the value of discipline andtake up some new spiritual training practices. We can’t experience thefreedom to run our spiritual race with all our strength unless our feethave been freed and made strong by regular spiritual discipline. Spiri-tual practices are intended to bring the reward of a stronger and health-ier life of right living, peace and joy as we share more and more in thewholeness of God. God wants to free our feet from entanglements in sinso that we will run this race of life like real winners; strong and sure ofour goal.

Linea LanoieGateway Covenant Church

Thirty-Sixth Day of Lent March 26, 2013

Hebrews 12:1-13

“We are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken!”

What joy is found in these words.

This season of lent, let us not forget that Jesus’ life and death allows usto receive this Kingdom. It was through His blood that we are forgivenand saved. No longer do we need to tremble with fear at the sound andpresence of the Almighty God. Instead we are welcomed to a life follow-ing Christ, who is the mediator between God and all people. Those whochoose to follow Christ will be a part of a Kingdom that cannot beshaken.

Through Jesus we are given this great gift and great promise, but wemust choose to live it out. This is not just a choice we make once in ourlife, but rather it is one that we choose everyday. We are to live a holylife, loving and serving our God. Unfortunately, this does not come asnaturally as we wish that it would. Hebrews says that we must “makeevery effort” to live in this way. Everyday we must choose to make theeffort towards following Christ. We must be wary of bitter attitudes, andinstead fill our life with thanksgiving and praise. We must be careful ofengaging in immoral acts, and instead do all that is righteous and just.The good news is that we are not intended to travel this journey alone.Those who choose to follow Christ are to do so in community and fellow-ship, building each other up and holding each other accountable.

As I read this passage, I was reminded of the well-known, camp song, IWill Not Be Shaken. What great joy there is in knowing that when allelse crumbles and falls, we cannot be shaken.

Let us declare our choice, shout with joy, and worship God.Let us love the Lord, trust in Him, and serve our God. All our days

Hanne JohnsonFaith Covenant Church (Winnipeg)

Thirty-Seventh Day of Lent March 27, 2013

Hebrews 12:14-29

Just as I am, without one pleaBut that thy blood was shed for me,

And that thou bidd’st me come to thee,O Lamb of God, I come.

Just as I am, though tossed aboutWith many a conflict, many a doubt,Fightings within, and fears without,

O Lamb of God, I come.

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;Sight, riches, healing of the mind,

Yea all I need, in thee to find,O Lamb of God, I come.

Just as I am, thou wilt receive,Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve:

Because thy promise, I believe,O Lamb of God, I come.

Just as I am (thy love unknownHas broken every barrier down),Now to be thine, yea thine alone,

O Lamb of God, I come.Just as I am, of that free love

The breadth, length, depth and height to proveHere for a season, then above,

O Lamb of God, I come.

Charlotte Elliott, 1789-1871

Thirty-Eighth Day of Lent March 28, 2013Maundy Thursday

Hebrews 4:14-5:10

Today is called Good Friday but it’s only good because we have the benefit ofreflecting upon history.

In today’s passage of Scripture, we read that without the shedding of bloodthere is no forgiveness of sins. Christ Jesus uniquely presented himself as themediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive thepromised eternal inheritance. In this new covenant he died as a ransom to setus free from the sins we’ve committed. This ransom was his own lifeblood,spilled to the ground that we might know cleansing and forgiveness and life.

Today is “Good” but one Friday years ago, it was very bad.

It was Jesus Christ, the leader of our small group being taken from us.It was our suffering friend and our painful denial of him.It was the pounding of the nails through his body and the anguish he en-dured. The sky growing dark, the tearing of the temple curtain.It was watching his mother and family in their deep grief, weeping near thecross.It was the heartache and loss we all felt.

No, that Friday long ago there was no sense of redemption being played out,or forgiveness being offered or eternal life promised.There was only pain and loss and great anguish in our souls.And there was blood everywhere.Everywhere.

It can be a great temptation for us to only see the good that this Fridaybrought about for us, because we live in the understanding that death did nothold Christ and that He put death in it’s place by conquering it three dayslater. But we only see the Friday through Resurrection Sunday.

Today let us see and know the great blackness of the cross. That Christ wholoves us without limit was willing to suffer and enter into that great black-ness, for us. Let us reconsider the cost, and give thanks.

Randall FriesenMalmo Mission Covenant Church

Thirty-Ninth Day of Lent March 29, 2013Good Friday

Hebrews 9:11-28

Here we are. Holy Saturday. Standing in the agonizing hours betweenthe crucifixion of Christ and His resurrection. And what does today’sScripture offer us? The promise of rest. An invitation into the Sabbath-rest of God. An invitation to surrender, in faith, to His beckoning voiceand to receive the fullness of the promises of God. A letting go of our-selves into the fullness of Christ.

I know the struggle of responding to this invitation. I sense the hard callto a deep obedience that it requires, and the focused attention I mustgive to receiving the promise. We live in a world where productivity andefficiency, accomplishment and accumulation are revered, where ouridentity is defined by what we do, what we have, who we know, whatthey say about us. God’s call is to a way of being that is revolutionary,countercultural, inviting us to relinquish control and come to know the“health of self-forgetfulness” as Wendell Berry calls it.

Sabbath-rest redefines the criteria, basing it on God’s character andGod’s truth. In this place of rest we come to know our true identity – asthose living fully into the reconciling work of Jesus, standing firmlyrooted in their place as children adopted into the family of God. Thisrest is offered to us today in the midst of whatever joys, sorrows, de-mands, responsibilities, uncertainties, and wanderings we may be fac-ing.

God is calling us. “Remember who you are. Remember what you know.Have faith in my sufficiency. Taste the gifts of my rest. In this life, andforever.”

Deb ArndtCollege Park Covenant Church

Fortieth Day of Lent March 30, 2013Holy Saturday

Hebrews 4:1-13

He is Risen!He is Risen Indeed!

Alleluia!

Fra AngelicoResurrection of Christ and Women at the Tomb, 1442