Showing posts with label Lent. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lent. Show all posts

3/03/2022

STEADFASTLY HE+ Set His+ Face ~ PASCHAL FAST ~ #2 ~ Lenten Meditation ~ Luke 9:51

XAsh Wednesday - Join us for worship - Evangelical Lutheran ...

 

 

STEADFASTLY HE+ Set His+ Face  ~ PASCHAL FAST ~

# 2 ~ Lenten Meditation

Luke 9:51

And it came to pass, when the time was come

that HE+ should be received up,

HE+ steadfastly set His+ Face

to go to Jerusalem.

+   +   +  

I M M O V A B L E

3/02/2022

The RETURN of the ASHES ~ The EARLY CHRISTIAN'S PASCHAL FAST ~ Ash Wednesday Starts the 40 day "LENTEN" Fast

 


RETURN.

She believed in The LORD JESUS CHRIST . . .  upset, but still alive. Jacksonville school shooting, 2018

 

Ashes to ashes and dust to dust,

in the sure and certain HOPE

of the RESURRECTION unto ETERNAL LIFE

through JESUS CHRIST our LORD.

at Whose+ Coming in Glorious Majesty will judge the world;  and the corruptible bodies of those who sleep in HIM+ shall be changed, and made like unto His+ Glorious Body; according to the mighty working whereby HE+ is able to subdue all things unto Himself+.

3/15/2020

The JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST #1 ~ Pre-PASSOVER MEDITATION ~ The THRESHING FLOOR OF ORNAN




Christians,
do NOT REJECT

the Judgment Seat of CHRIST.

That is: do not push it to the side, ignore its certainty, pretend it won’t happen “to u-u-sss” , or refuse to consider the grave and serious accountability when standing before The Judgment Seat of CHRIST JESUS our LORD.

3/05/2014

ASH WEDNESDAY MEDITATION 2014

Photo by The ORDER of The GOOD SHEPHERD+

Azaleas Hidden in The Woods

Ash Wednesday Meditation
the first day
of the Pre-Passover Preparations 
for the sacrifice of the Passover LAMB+
commonly known as "Lent"

The Collect from 
The Book of Common Prayer... 

Almighty and everlasting GOD, 
Who hatest nothing that THOU hast made, 
and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent; 

Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, 
that we, 
worthily lamenting our sins 
and acknowledging our wretchedness, 

may obtain of THEE, The GOD of all mercy, 
perfect remission and forgiveness; 
through JESUS CHRIST our LORD. 
Amen.

Old Testament Lesson: Leviticus 17:11

For the Life of the flesh is in the BLOOD, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an ATONEMENT for your souls; for it is the BLOOD that maketh an atonement for the soul. 

QUIETUDE: A time to Reflect about the BLOOD+

RESPONSE: 

Worthy is The LAMB+. 
Worthy is The LAMB+. 
WORTHY is The LAMB+ that was slain,
to receive power and riches and wisdom 
and strength and honor and glory 
and blessing! 
Amen. 

Lesson from the Epistles: 2 Corinthians 5:9,10

Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent to be well pleasing to HIM+.  

For we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of CHRIST, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 

QUIETUDE: A time to repent.

RESPONSE:  

LORD, have mercy upon us. 
CHRIST, have mercy upon us. 
LORD, have mercy upon us. 

And let not the enemy exact upon us, 
for our trust is in THEE+. 

AMEN.

The GOSPEL Lesson: Mark 9:43- 44  ~ ~ ~ 
The Words of Our LORD JESUS CHRIST ~ ~ ~ 

"If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. 

It is better for you to enter into LIFE maimed, 
rather than having two hands, 
to go into Hell, 

... into the fire that never shall be quenched, 

... where their worm dieth not 
and the fire is not quenched."

The WORD of The LORD.  
THANKS BE TO GOD !

Meditation ~ ~ ~

Just how AWFUL is sin ... to you ? Your sin is worse than others' sins, you know.  Do you hate sin in your life so badly that you are willing to cut off your own hand rather than to keep sinning ? 

Few of us are willing to do this. 

Yet, the Promise of Life to those who hate their own sin rightfully is this: your hand will be RESTORED WHOLE again when you Enter the Kingdom of Life Eternal with JESUS ! You will lose nothing that you have discarded in fighting your own sinful flesh when you pass into the Heavenlies. You will be rewarded for every stand you have taken against your own sin. 

As a matter of fact, you WIN ! 

Let us pray: 

O Gracious Heavenly FATHER, in the Name of Thy HOLY SON+ JESUS CHRIST,  WHO+ for the joy that was set before HIM+ endured the Cross, I come to THEE, afraid of the consequences of my own sin in my own life.  

I have not loved THEE+ as I ought.
   
I have not forsaken all.
  
I have harbored things in my heart 
that I KNOW are unworthy of a follower of THEE+.
   
I have lifted up my "know-it-all" spirit 
and done presumptuous sin.

I acknowledge myself to be in need of Thy+ cleansing 
and reformation power.

O, LORD, I am in desperate need of Thy+ cleansing. Change me, O LORD. Have mercy upon me. Extend Thy+ mercy with Thy+ Cleansing BLOOD unto me, a sinner.

This I pray in The Sight of The FATHER, The SON+, and The HOLY SPIRIT. 
Amen.      



3/03/2014

Pre-Passover MEDITATIONS for the Lenten Season

Photo by The ORDER of The GOOD SHEPHERD+
 Azaleas Hidden in the Woods
The season known commonly as Lent in the Christian church calendar is the season of fasting and repenting of one's sins during a 40-day period preceding Holy Week and The Resurrection.  

The word "lent" itself is from the German, according to Wikipedia, and it simply means "spring" ~ ~ ~ derived from the Germanic word "long" , relating to the "longer" days when springtime arrives after winter. 

Thus, the word "lent" or "lenten" is a secular term and the name LENT has nothing to do with Christianity, in and of itself, nor does it even mean "repentance." 

Therefore, we at the Order of the GOOD SHEPHERD+ have re-named this season of repentance with a term associated with What Happened at this season of the year in the ancient Holy Calendar: "Pre-Passover Preparations."    

Repentance --- removing the old leaven as was commanded before the Passover Season --- is certainly the central theme of this important Christian season leading up to Holy Week.

During Holy Week, we remember Our LORD'S death and sacrifice for our transgressions, HIM+ being bruised for our iniquities. We remember the chastisement of our peace was upon HIM+, and that with HIS+ stripes --- not ours --- we are healed.

During this season in which we remove the old leaven of malice and wickedness, we search our hearts before GOD, asking HIM+ to show us areas hidden to our own deceitful hearts, areas where we need to repent.

It starts with Ash Wednesday, with the acknowledgement that WE INDEED ARE SINNERS... and have need of a SAVIOR+. 

CHRIST OUR PASSOVER 
IS SACRIFICED FOR US
THEREFORE, LET US KEEP THE FEAST. 

Not with old leaven, 
neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness
but with the un-leavened bread 
of purity and Truth. 

Let us search our hearts... beginning now.  

2/13/2013

Behold, The LAMB+ ... #2

Preparation for the Passover Season

Behold the LAMB+ of GOD 
that taketh away the sin of the world !

Photo by    Sonomachristianhome.com
The Invitatory

Come unto ME+, 
all ye that labor and are heavy laden
and I+ will give you rest, 

Take My+ yoke upon you 
and learn of me;

For I+ am meek and lowly
in heart.

And ye shall find rest
unto your souls.  

For My+ yoke is easy
and My+ burden is light. 

Matthew 11

Rubric:  

This is the Invitation to Come to CHRIST and sit with HIM+ in stillness and quietness of heart. 

Pray this aloud, very slowly, with pauses between the phrases. 

Do this 3 x until His+ Invitation becomes REAL to you. 

During this part of your daily Guided Meditation,  lay down your burdens and your yokes of bondage, and see CHRIST HIMSELF+. 

Since it is an invitation, do this near the beginning of your Guided Meditation time this Passover Season, to start out your Time with CHRIST in stillness. 

2/12/2013

Behold, The LAMB+ .... #1


Preparations for the Passover Season...
Photo by Sonomachristianhome.com
During this Lenten Season we will be focusing on WORSHIP during times of Private, Individual Meditation... in order to draw near to The LAMB+ of GOD Who+ taketh away the sin of the word. 

In order to do this, we will learn to practice "Guided Meditation" during Quiet times of prayer. Recommended Quiet Times are early in the morning, 9 a.m., noon, 3 p.m. ( the hours of the Crucifixion ) and  / or 6 p.m. 

During this season, it is GOOD to practice fasting of some sort: fast some sleep times, some entertainments, some foods or days, fast from temporal activities and normal friendly "interaction" via emails or phone... in order to MAKE IT A PRIORITY to sit quietly with HIM+ Who+ is the LAMB+ of GOD. 

Thus, during this particular Season of the Preparation for Passover,  the posts will be about how to come into worship during devotional times within the individual prayer closet. 

The Guided Meditations may be printed out and made into a personal prayer booklet.  Each one is MOST effective if prayed aloud, very slowly, meditating on Who+ HE+ is. 

It is recommended that each Guided Meditation will be prayed through, contemplatively, 3 times. Spontaneous prayer, worship, and most likely, tears of healing will follow such a Meditation.

Psalms or other Scripture verses can be added at will. 

So, on this Ash Wednesday, our first Guided Meditation will be the familiar "spiritual song"... 

Agnus Dei... The LAMB+ of GOD. 

O  LAMB+ of GOD,  
LORD JESUS CHRIST, 
Who+ taketh away the sin of the world...

have mercy upon us. 


O LAMB+ of GOD, 
LORD JESUS CHRIST, 
Bearer of our sins... 

have mercy upon us. 


O LAMB+ of GOD, 
LORD JESUS CHRIST, 
SAVIOR of the world... 

grant us Thy+ Peace.


Rubrics: 
This is to be repeated 2 X, slowly and reverently, pausing between the phrases, in order to become quieted enough to be aware of  His+ Presence.+  

The 3rd time through, replace US with "me",  OUR with "my" or your name. 

In The Name of The FATHER, 
HIS HOLY SON+, 
Our LORD JESUS CHRIST, 
and The Blessed 
HOLY SPIRIT. 
Amen.  

3/09/2011

Set Apart.... A Vessel Meet for The MASTER+ ...

Psalm 119:57
.
THOU+ art my portion, O LORD:
I have said that I would keep Thy+ Words.
.
Forgive me, LORD, for ignoring Thy+ Word to turn the other cheek,  as THOU+ hast done toward THINE+ enemies. Forgive me, LORD, for hotly refusing to go the second mile, as THOU+ hast done with Thy+ disciples.
.
Change me into Thy+ likeness and image, O LORD, as it pleases THEE+. Yes, I have said that I would keep Thy+ words.
.
Help me to do what I have promised THEE+, for all Thy+ marvelous benefits towards me. Great is Thy+ faithfulness; The LORD is my portion saith my soul; therefore, I will trust in THEE+.
.
I do from henceforth
set apart
my heart
for THEE+, O LORD.
.
+ + +  
Passover 2011
Meditation #2
Set Apart...  

Set Apart.... for the Passover Preparation

SET APART...

A Vessel Set Apart 
...scoured and cleansed... set apart... buffeted and polished.... set apart... repaired and refurbished... set apart... sanctified... set apart... emptied of bad Self... set apart... emptied of "good" Self... set apart... a Vessel meet for The MASTER'S + use.
+  +  +
.
If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the MASTER'S +  use, and prepared unto every good work.
.
Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the LORD out of a pure heart.
2 Timothy 2: 21,22
Passover Meditation #1,
Year of Our LORD, 2011

3/06/2011

REAL TIME... via the CHURCH Calendar



+ + + 

We Christians do things differently.  We keep our own time... REAL TIME... via the Church Calendar. We don't mark our days or months by the moon, the sun, nor by the Heavenly Lights or stars. We don't mark the celebrations and feast days observed on the masonic calender. We don't celebrate dead ... twice dead... national heroes' birthdays, death days, or battle days. The worldlings do all that, in every country. 
.
We Christians are strangers and pilgrims here upon planet earth and mark our days by the events important in the HEAVENLY KINGDOM. Thus, we observe the dates related to CHRIST'S ministry here upon earth: Advent, Incarnation, Transfiguration, Pascha Passion, and the GREAT RESURRECTION.  We also mark Ascencion Day and Pentecost. All these days or seasons related to the key person who changed ... and will soon change again... HISTORY ON PLANET EARTH.
.
So, on March 9, 2011, the 4th day of the week [known on the pagan calendar as "Wednesday"], will begin the season of deep repentance of the Pascha [ Passover ] with Ashes marking our foreheads in the sign of a cross.  Lent is the common name for the Preparation for the Passover, but lent is derived from a German word which simply meant "spring." Hence , we will call this season the Preparation for the Passover Passion.
.
May The LORD help each one of us during this REAL TIME to deal with our hidden natures, our self-centered lives, and any self-indulgences we have allowed ourselves... all of which hinder our nearness to The LORD.
.
May The LORD help each one of us to get into REAL TIME, the Eternal time-frame and mind-set, during this season before HIS+ death and Resurrection.
.
May the LORD help us to SET APART time for HIM+... so that we may truly become a people set apart ... a peculiar people... of The LORD.
.
An Invitation

Sister Judith Hannah will be sharing meditations as The LORD gives them to her.  OTHERS may feel free to write a meditation  also and email it to her, for posting on the blog. [Please do not send something NOT original, however, like an article read somewhere else.] If someone has an inspiring photo, also original and not lifted from some other place, that original photo may be sent along to her email address: srjudhan@yahoo.com  with a note of explanation, to be posted, if appropriate.  

2/20/2010

ALL THEY THAT SEE ME+...






...laugh ME+ to scorn...

~ In Preparation for the Great Passover ~

Lenton Season Meditations

+ + +

Turn ye even to ME+, saith The LORD, with all your heart, and with fasting; and with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto The LORD your GOD... Joel 2:12

+ + +

from the Book of Common Prayer, Old Version, p. 125 ~

O LORD, Who+ for our sake didst fast forty days and forty nights; Give us grace to use such abstinence, that, our flesh being subdued to The SPIRIT, we may ever obey Thy godly motions in righteousness, and true holiness, to Thy honour and glory, Who+ livest and reignest with the FATHER and the HOLY SPIRIT, One GOD, world without end. Amen

+ + +

2/16/2010

I am a Worm...

Meditations for the Preparation
of the Great Passover
.
Psalm 22

But I+ am a worm and no man;
a reproach of men,
and
despised
of the people.
.
+ + +
.
Are we also worms
for His Sake ?
.
Are we also reproached of men
for His Glory ?
.
Are we also despised of the people
for His Truth...
as was Our LORD?
.
+ + +
.
If not, why not?
.
+ + +
.
In the name of The FATHER,
Who created thee;
and
His Beloved Son+,
Our LORD JESUS CHRIST,
Who+ saves thee;
and
The Blessed HOLY SPIRIT,
Who sanctifies thee.
.
+ + +
.

3/14/2009

A LENTEN PRAYER...


Forgive them all, O LORD:

Our sins of omission and our sins of commission;


The sins of our youth ...
and the sins of our riper years;

The sins of our souls and the sins of our bodies;


Our secret and our more open sins;

our sins of ignorance and surprise,

And our more deliberate and presumptuous sins;


The sins we have done to please ourselves

and the sins we have done to please others;


The sins we know and remember,

and the sins we have forgotten;


The sins we have striven to hide from others

and the sins by which we have made others offend;


Forgive them, O LORD,
forgive them all for His+ sake,

Who+ died for our sins
and rose for our deliverance,


And now stands at Thy Right Hand

To make intercession for us,

JESUS CHRIST our LORD.

Amen


Prayer found in Bayley Thompson's Hymn Book,

Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs

attributed to Wesley, slightly adapted by OGS.

2/08/2008

LENTEN MEDITATION 3

Lenten Meditation 3

Excerpts from the Prayer of Manasseh, A Song of Penitence
from the 1979 Episcopal Book of Common Prayer

And now, O LORD, I bend the knee of my heart,
And make my appeal, sure of your gracious goodness.

I have sinned, O LORD, I have sinned,
And I know my wickedness only too well.

Therefore I make this prayer to you:
Forgive me, LORD, forgive me.

Do not let me perish in my sin,
Nor condemn me to the depths of the earth.

For you, O LORD, are the GOD
of those who repent
and in me you will show forth
your goodness.

Unworthy as I am, you will save me,
in accordance with your great mercy,
and I will praise you
without ceasing all the days of my life.

Your merciful promise is beyond all measure;
it surpasses all that our minds can fathom.

Blessed be the Kingdom of the FATHER, the SON, and the HOLY SPIRIT. Amen.

2/07/2008

LENTEN MEDITATION 2

LENTEN MEDITATION 2--- from Psalm 51
In PEACE+ let us pray to the LORD+

Have mercy upon me, O God,
according to thy lovingkindness:
according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies
blot out my transgressions.

Wash me throughly from mine iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions:
and my sin is ever before me.
Psalm 51:1-3

O THOU, Who knowest the thoughts and intents of my heart;
THOU Who cared for me before I was born;
THOU, Who knowest my down-sitting and up-rising…
Hear the cry of my heart as I look at my lack.
With dismay, O LORD, another year has gone by
and I’m not where I should be in discipline, in growth,
in my training for work in your camp.

Forgive my excuses and my self-indulgence.
Forgive my slovenly ways of serving THEE.
Forgive my broken commitments to you, O LORD,
and for being so easily removed from a steadfast discipline.
O look upon the weakness of my nature
and forgive me these things
of which I am sorely ashamed.

O gracious Heavenly FATHER, help me to chasten myself,
so that I need not to be chastened by THEE.
Strengthen me to submit my spirit
to Thy Word and Thy Ways.
Help me to turn away from Self-pleasing
and to no longer follow my own convenience,
but the Example Thy Beloved SON has put before me.

I pray these things in the Life-giving Name of Thy Beloved and Obedient SON, JESUS CHRIST, in Whom THOU wast well-pleased… Who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own Blood.

Worthy is the LAMB that was slain!
+ + +