Prayer focus: Resurrection hope

Easter greetings from your Seminary Gal! He is RISEN! He is RISEN indeed! That would be among the greetings spoken if we were all able to gather in worship at our local churches today. But for many of us, maybe even most of us, today will be Easter in seclusion due to the coronavirus. We are blessed with an Internet and better yet with a Holy Spirit who would intercede for us even if the grid went down.

Admittedly for some, the truth is that the isolation and quarantine turns to loneliness. Jesus understands. He’s been there and His Resurrection speaks to you: “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:32-33)

Many of us just hate uncertainty–we don’t know how long this will last. The Resurrection tells us not to worry about days and hours. “I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20) He says.

Others find themselves in despair, maybe because their economic circumstances have been turned upside down. The Resurrected One has proclaimed, “Your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:32-33)

Some are having anxiety over the rapid removal of their normal support systems. Assurances of love seem so far away. The Resurrection speaks to you: “But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.” (John 16:7) The Holy Spirit is our Advocate and praise the Lord, He is the God of all comfort.

Some have died due to this virus. The Resurrected One reminds us that the dead in Christ do not remain dead. They are just not here. “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43) “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)

And why? Because the Resurrected One paved the way, “The dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

The truth is that I’ve had a very difficult time writing this year’s devotionals. My heart and mind have been burdened by many things in addition to the virus. Understanding so little. Holding out hope for so long! Trying to remain faithful and looking beyond the darkness of the many days and the legion of evils mankind can do to each other, asking as so many prophets and men of God have done, wondering why evil prospers. It seems like bad people get away with it and good people lose. It seems like people who hurt others face no accountability and those who try to help are passed over and ridiculed. What kind of world is this we live in??? But when the dizzying pace of an anxious mind takes my breath away, I calm myself as I pray to the Resurrected One who will reign forever. He tells me to hold on. The story’s not over. It’s not history being made, it’s His Story. There is resurrection after the tomb. Life after death. Hope after the storms of life.

“For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when He comes, those who belong to Him. Then the end will come, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father after He has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” (1 Corinthians 15:22-26) The Resurrection tells me death couldn’t hold Jesus and it won’t be able to hold us down either. A day is soon coming when Jesus returns for His people and we’ll see the Resurrected One who will usher in a future with no more mourning or crying or death or pain. He will be all the Love and Light we’ll need for eternity.

Hold onto your hope. He is RISEN. He is RISEN indeed!

Prayer Focus: Jesus is dead

“It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things. Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.” (Luke 23:44-56)

Tomorrow He is Risen! But for now, this concludes our 2020 Lent Devotional Series “Be Thou My Vision.” Thank you for joining me. I write regularly between Lent and Advent, so if you’re already signed up on my Home Page sidebar to receive posts, you’ll get posts automatically. Or you can “Like” Seminary Gal on Facebook and they’ll be delivered to your Facebook news feed. On this Holy Saturday, please take time to ponder the silence, the death of Christ, His blood shed for you. Do as Jesus commanded: “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven has come near.”

Prayer Focus: What it cost

Lord Jesus, there are no words, only tears today as I remember Your sacrifice. Be glorified, Lord. Be glorified. Amen.

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Tomorrow concludes our 2020 Lent Devotional Series “Be Thou My Vision.” Thank you for joining me. I write regularly between Lent and Advent, so if you’re already signed up on my Home Page sidebar to receive posts, you’ll get posts automatically. Or you can “Like” Seminary Gal on Facebook and they’ll be delivered to your Facebook news feed. Understanding that prior years’ devotionals remain popular, you may want to have access to a full Lent series at any time:

• Lent 2013 looked at The Letter to the Romans: Paul’s Masterpiece to reclaim foundations of our Christian heritage and began February 13, 2013.
•  A very special and ever popular offering was Lent 2014’s Be Still and Know that I AM God  which can be obtained through the archives beginning in March 2014. 
• Lent 2015 began on February 18, 2015 with a series entitled With Christ in the Upper Room: Final Preparations.  We explored what is often called “The Upper Room Discourse” found in John chapters 13-17. 
• ReKindle, the Lent 2016 series, began on February 10, 2016 and encouraged us to rekindle our spiritual lives.
• Light: There’s Nothing Like It was the 2017 Lent series and explored this metaphor often used to portray Christ.  It is archived beginning March 1, 2017.
• Lent 2018, we explored the questions of Pi and Chi (the Greek letter beginning the word Christos, which means Christ, Messiah, the Anointed One). We asked and answered the questions “Why?” from the movie Life of Pi as we discovered the uniqueness of Jesus Christ in a world of many faiths.
• Lent 2019 gave us a deeper window into Easter “More to the Easter Story” since we miss so much when we rely only on a superficial understanding of the work of Christ. These devotionals are archived beginning March 6, 2019.

Prayer Focus: Humility and Compassion Capped Jesus’ Life

Lord Jesus, Your Word tells us “It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.” It was Your deep love for the Father, Your deep love for us, Your compassion upon our helpless state of sin and impending justice that kept You faithful to the end. There is no way we could ever repay You. All I can do is ask for Your forgiveness and Your mercy…Your compassion…upon me, a sinner. I praise You that Your death on the Cross accomplished a paid-in-full upon my sin and that I don’t have to beg for mercy though by all rights I should. Your compassion is matchless. Remembering that among Your dying words, they were spoken for forgiveness because we didn’t know what we were doing. Spoken for Your mother Mary and the beloved disciple John of ongoing relationship, and more, giving an admitted sinner reassurance of paradise with You. “Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt! Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured. There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled. Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that will pardon and cleanse within; Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that is greater than all our sin!” My soul wells up with Hallelujahs…Receive my adoration, Lord Jesus. You are worthy! Amen.

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If you’re already signed up on my Home Page sidebar to receive posts, you’ll get the 2020 Lent Devotionals automatically. Or you can “Like” Seminary Gal on Facebook and they’ll be delivered to your Facebook news feed. If you haven’t signed up, today is a great day to do so. Advent and Lenten devotionals remain among my most popular offerings. You don’t want to miss this encounter with God to prepare your heart for Easter! Understanding that prior years’ devotionals remain popular, you may want to have access to a full series ahead of time:

• Lent 2013 looked at The Letter to the Romans: Paul’s Masterpiece to reclaim foundations of our Christian heritage and began February 13, 2013.
•  A very special and ever popular offering was Lent 2014’s Be Still and Know that I AM God  which can be obtained through the archives beginning in March 2014. 
• Lent 2015 began on February 18, 2015 with a series entitled With Christ in the Upper Room: Final Preparations.  We explored what is often called “The Upper Room Discourse” found in John chapters 13-17. 
• ReKindle, the Lent 2016 series, began on February 10, 2016 and encouraged us to rekindle our spiritual lives.
• Light: There’s Nothing Like It was the 2017 Lent series and explored this metaphor often used to portray Christ.  It is archived beginning March 1, 2017.
• Lent 2018, we explored the questions of Pi and Chi (the Greek letter beginning the word Christos, which means Christ, Messiah, the Anointed One). We asked and answered the questions “Why?” from the movie Life of Pi as we discovered the uniqueness of Jesus Christ in a world of many faiths.
• Lent 2019 gave us a deeper window into Easter “More to the Easter Story” since we miss so much when we rely only on a superficial understanding of the work of Christ. These devotionals are archived beginning March 6, 2019.

Prayer Focus: Sorrow

Lord Jesus, that Your soul was overwhelmed with sorrow makes me really sad. Angry, too, at sin and truly grieved that human sin made You suffer to redeem us from it. Your sadness, Your sorrow, Your distress and trouble–all of these remind me that You didn’t go to the Cross as a superhuman. You went to the Cross in Your humanity. I’m so sorry You had to suffer in ways I cannot even imagine. I’m sad thinking that You were so distressed and for my part in it–oh, Lord, forgive me! I’m so sorry, Lord! You asked Your disciples to stay and keep watch, to be with You in Your hour of need. They fell asleep. I would have done the same thing, I’m certain, because You said that “You will all fall away…for it is written: “‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ These days and moments leading up to Your Crucifixion are dark. Humanity’s evil in all its ugliness displayed itself and tried to claim victory. Death wanted You to die, die, die. Death wanted to trample Your grave, dance on it, and pounce forever on every man, woman, and child as victorious. But You were resolved to see these events as God had planned them and that You would have victory over death! In the flow of time, Your sadness, sorrow, distress and trouble remind me that the battle was and remains real. There is a terrible cost. Casualties happen, but as You have said “Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come! Lord Jesus, thank You for Your faithfulness– from Your birth and life to Your death to the tomb to the resurrection and ascension! Darkness had its moment, but the Light of the World prevailed! May I share in the communion of the saints and proclaim Your death until You return. Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.

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If you’re already signed up on my Home Page sidebar to receive posts, you’ll get the 2020 Lent Devotionals automatically. Or you can “Like” Seminary Gal on Facebook and they’ll be delivered to your Facebook news feed. If you haven’t signed up, today is a great day to do so. Advent and Lenten devotionals remain among my most popular offerings. You don’t want to miss this encounter with God to prepare your heart for Easter! Understanding that prior years’ devotionals remain popular, you may want to have access to a full series ahead of time:

• Lent 2013 looked at The Letter to the Romans: Paul’s Masterpiece to reclaim foundations of our Christian heritage and began February 13, 2013.
•  A very special and ever popular offering was Lent 2014’s Be Still and Know that I AM God  which can be obtained through the archives beginning in March 2014. 
• Lent 2015 began on February 18, 2015 with a series entitled With Christ in the Upper Room: Final Preparations.  We explored what is often called “The Upper Room Discourse” found in John chapters 13-17. 
• ReKindle, the Lent 2016 series, began on February 10, 2016 and encouraged us to rekindle our spiritual lives.
• Light: There’s Nothing Like It was the 2017 Lent series and explored this metaphor often used to portray Christ.  It is archived beginning March 1, 2017.
• Lent 2018, we explored the questions of Pi and Chi (the Greek letter beginning the word Christos, which means Christ, Messiah, the Anointed One). We asked and answered the questions “Why?” from the movie Life of Pi as we discovered the uniqueness of Jesus Christ in a world of many faiths.
• Lent 2019 gave us a deeper window into Easter “More to the Easter Story” since we miss so much when we rely only on a superficial understanding of the work of Christ. These devotionals are archived beginning March 6, 2019.

Prayer Focus: No building is the temple or the church

Lord Most High, we praise You that You do not live in houses made by human hands. No temple can contain You. Heaven is Your throne, and the earth is Your footstool. Therefore during these times when we’re separated from gathering in worship, especially on these most holy days of our church calendar, remind us that the ones You look on with favor are those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at Your word, something we can do no matter where we are. Thank You that we don’t need to pilgrimage farther than Your holy word and shout louder than a heart’s prayer. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for that encouragement and for the knowledge You will extend peace like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream; that as a mother comforts her child, so You, Lord, will comfort us. Our hearts rejoice that we will flourish like grass; the hand of the LORD will be made known to Your servants, but Your fury–Your righteous wrath–will be shown to Your foes. Scripture tells us “See, the LORD is coming with fire, and His chariots are like a whirlwind; He will bring down His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire. For with fire and with His sword the LORD will execute judgment on all people.” We have sinned as a nation and as individuals. The righteous blood of innocents has cried out to You for vindication and vengeance. May the nations repent so when they are gathered in Judgment, they will see Your glory and rejoice instead of trembling as dead men. May Your word go forth as You set a sign among us, sending some of those who survive to the nations and to the distant islands that have not heard of Your fame or seen Your glory. Then we will proclaim together Your glory among the nations whether in our individual homes, over social media, or by gathering together again in a church or temple building, if it be Your will. May our witness cause all Your people, from all the nations, to come to Your holy mountain in worship as a beautiful offering to the LORD. All glory to You, Father! Amen. (Adapted from Isaiah 66:1-20)

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If you’re already signed up on my Home Page sidebar to receive posts, you’ll get the 2020 Lent Devotionals automatically. Or you can “Like” Seminary Gal on Facebook and they’ll be delivered to your Facebook news feed. If you haven’t signed up, today is a great day to do so. Advent and Lenten devotionals remain among my most popular offerings. You don’t want to miss this encounter with God to prepare your heart for Easter! Understanding that prior years’ devotionals remain popular, you may want to have access to a full series ahead of time:

• Lent 2013 looked at The Letter to the Romans: Paul’s Masterpiece to reclaim foundations of our Christian heritage and began February 13, 2013.
•  A very special and ever popular offering was Lent 2014’s Be Still and Know that I AM God  which can be obtained through the archives beginning in March 2014. 
• Lent 2015 began on February 18, 2015 with a series entitled With Christ in the Upper Room: Final Preparations.  We explored what is often called “The Upper Room Discourse” found in John chapters 13-17. 
• ReKindle, the Lent 2016 series, began on February 10, 2016 and encouraged us to rekindle our spiritual lives.
• Light: There’s Nothing Like It was the 2017 Lent series and explored this metaphor often used to portray Christ.  It is archived beginning March 1, 2017.
• Lent 2018, we explored the questions of Pi and Chi (the Greek letter beginning the word Christos, which means Christ, Messiah, the Anointed One). We asked and answered the questions “Why?” from the movie Life of Pi as we discovered the uniqueness of Jesus Christ in a world of many faiths.
• Lent 2019 gave us a deeper window into Easter “More to the Easter Story” since we miss so much when we rely only on a superficial understanding of the work of Christ. These devotionals are archived beginning March 6, 2019.

Prayer Focus: Old Jerusalem, New Jerusalem

Lord Jesus, Scripture doesn’t record Your weeping often. You wept over the pain Lazarus’ death left in its wake. And You wept over Jerusalem, Lord, they were so blind to the peace You were bringing! Lord God, as we’ve been warned that death hangs heavy in coming days due to this virus, I pray that Your peace would hover over us and protect Your people. I pray that those who do not know You would seek Your face and find comfort and eternal peace with You. Remove the blinders off the eyes of Old Jerusalem, I ask Lord, that Your salvation would be made manifest among the chosen people of Your heritage on earth. May I never forget that salvation is from the Jews and that You, Lord, came to fulfill the Scriptures given to the Jews over the many years through Moses and the prophets. May I never neglect the olive tree into which I’ve been grafted as a wild branch. May the time of arousing the consciousness of the Jews of our day come upon us swiftly and the New Jerusalem You have promised come to fulfillment as You are faithful to what You have promised and fulfill every last word of Scripture. Help me to fight against hatred of certain racial and ethnic groups knowing that the New Jerusalem will have many tribes and nations and tongues. Help me to have an open heart toward those Jews still waiting for their Messiah, having expectations layered over what Your word says, expectations that cloud their thinking. Lord, I’m watching and waiting for the full number to be redeemed and Your imminent return. I believe in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. I believe in Your bride, the Church who You will return to claim. I believe in Your power. I believe in Your deep historic love for Israel and that Your love for Gentile peoples then and now has never been diminished because of it. Thank You that God so loved the world. Thank You for the sacrifice of Your Son Jesus Christ, willingly He laid down His life to pay for human sin though He had no sin of His own. We praise You and glorify You and look forward to the New Jerusalem. In Christ alone. Amen.

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If you’re already signed up on my Home Page sidebar to receive posts, you’ll get the 2020 Lent Devotionals automatically. Or you can “Like” Seminary Gal on Facebook and they’ll be delivered to your Facebook news feed. If you haven’t signed up, today is a great day to do so. Advent and Lenten devotionals remain among my most popular offerings. You don’t want to miss this encounter with God to prepare your heart for Easter! Understanding that prior years’ devotionals remain popular, you may want to have access to a full series ahead of time:

• Lent 2013 looked at The Letter to the Romans: Paul’s Masterpiece to reclaim foundations of our Christian heritage and began February 13, 2013.
•  A very special and ever popular offering was Lent 2014’s Be Still and Know that I AM God  which can be obtained through the archives beginning in March 2014. 
• Lent 2015 began on February 18, 2015 with a series entitled With Christ in the Upper Room: Final Preparations.  We explored what is often called “The Upper Room Discourse” found in John chapters 13-17. 
• ReKindle, the Lent 2016 series, began on February 10, 2016 and encouraged us to rekindle our spiritual lives.
• Light: There’s Nothing Like It was the 2017 Lent series and explored this metaphor often used to portray Christ.  It is archived beginning March 1, 2017.
• Lent 2018, we explored the questions of Pi and Chi (the Greek letter beginning the word Christos, which means Christ, Messiah, the Anointed One). We asked and answered the questions “Why?” from the movie Life of Pi as we discovered the uniqueness of Jesus Christ in a world of many faiths.
• Lent 2019 gave us a deeper window into Easter “More to the Easter Story” since we miss so much when we rely only on a superficial understanding of the work of Christ. These devotionals are archived beginning March 6, 2019.

Meditation Focus: Triumphal Entry to Triumphal Suffering

Rather than leave today’s Lent 2020 Sabbath rest as silent meditation, I beg your indulgence. It’s important to gain that 2020 clarity of seeing things correctly and from God’s perspective, to let Him “Be Thou my Vision.”

The Triumphal Entry (as Palm Sunday is often called) was Triumphal mainly for the crowds who thought they were getting political liberation and victory over Rome. Jesus had something entirely different in mind. It was Triumphal Entry only as He went knocking on the doorway of death. It was His entry to Triumphal Suffering.

Following the events (using the Gospel according to Matthew beginning in Matthew 20:17), Jesus was headed to Jerusalem. He tells His disciples explicitly He will be betrayed, condemned to death, mocked, flogged, crucified, and only on the “third day” will He be raised to life.

After that major downer of news, what was their reply? It’s almost like they didn’t hear it! Scripture doesn’t record their immediate reply as individual disciples, but what comes next suggests they truly didn’t get it. Maybe they said, “OK”, or “Cool”, or “Whatever. Now about this Kingdom stuff. We’re stoked!”

It’s time Jesus corrected their understanding.

Vision correction 1. Their reply was to see who was going to sit next to Him at the coming of the Kingdom and they asked their mommy to press Jesus. Jesus says He can’t give them choice seats the Father alone gives, but they too will drink the cup of suffering. It’s not about honor. It’s about suffering.

Vision correction 2. The crowds see 2 noisy blind men as hecklers and spoil sports of the big parade they’re following. Jesus gives the 2 men sight, displaying His compassion. This is not a popularity thing by a nice man, but a steady drumbeat of fulfilling Scripture.

Vision correction 3. Entering Jerusalem on a colt, the foal of a donkey, the city is stirred and asks, “Who is this?” The crowd in the big parade answers incorrectly: “Jesus the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” Jesus answers for Himself by overturning tables in the temple area and pointing to Himself as receiving the praise ordained by God from children and infants. “The Son of David,” the children shout–it’s a Messianic term.

Vision correction 4. Jesus curses a fig tree that is all show and no fruit as He enters the temple area and His authority is questioned by the all-show-and-no-fruit crowd of chief priests and elders of the people. They have the audacity to try to test Him. They’ll wither spiritually for it.

Vision correction 5. Jesus is not a political solution and doesn’t fall for that trap. Jesus knows their evil intent. Don’t ever confuse politics with faith.

Vision correction 6. The Kingdom of God and the elites of men are two different things entirely. Jesus, pointing that out and seven woes later, lets them know in explicit terms He knows their showy but empty power structures and how vacant they are. “Your house is left to you desolate” He says.

Vision correction 7. The temple isn’t what you think it is. It’ll be destroyed. So much for what man builds.

Vision correction 8. Don’t go looking for a checklist, a crib sheet, or signs for you to determine for yourself when the end of the age will come. That hour is unknown for good reason. Your job? Be ready.

Vision correction 9. Trust Me, you don’t want a Judge to assess vindication rights before I’ve paid for your sins. The good works are helpful, but only as you do them for others as if we did them for Jesus out of gratitude for His mercy. Unforgiven sinners who do nice things are still unforgiven sinners who do nice things and die unforgiven.

Vision correction 10. We all betray Him. Some more irredeemably than others. Judas was over the edge and couldn’t live with himself afterward. Peter would be restored. Our collective sin and universal betrayal is why He had to die. We’re all to blame.

Vision correction 11. It’s not blasphemy if it’s true. Jesus alone is God’s one and only Son, His perfect Image, and the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being. He is King of kings and Lord of lords. The only thing false in the accusations of the high priest, chief priests, and Pilate–are You the Son of God and King of the Jews–was they didn’t believe Him when He said Yes.

Vision correction 12. Jesus went to Jerusalem to conquer. But the invisible enemy with the visible results (death)–now, that was the enemy He would engage in battle. Not the temporary and minor victory over Rome. The genius of God was hitting a target no one among the Pharisees could see. Even today, faith in Jesus Christ for the salvation of sinners is a target many remain blind to seeing. Give it up. You can’t earn it yourself. We all need Jesus.

So as we progress through Passion Week, let’s do it with corrective lenses of Scripture to see the Triumphal Entry for what it meant to Jesus. He entered into suffering for us, to give His life as a ransom for many. Amen?

This year’s Lent Devotional Series: Be Thou My Vision resumes tomorrow after today’s Sabbath.

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If you’re already signed up on my Home Page sidebar to receive posts, you’ll get the 2020 Lent Devotionals automatically. Or you can “Like” Seminary Gal on Facebook and they’ll be delivered to your Facebook news feed. If you haven’t signed up, today is a great day to do so. Advent and Lenten devotionals remain among my most popular offerings. You don’t want to miss this encounter with God to prepare your heart for Easter! Understanding that prior years’ devotionals remain popular, you may want to have access to a full series ahead of time:

• Lent 2013 looked at The Letter to the Romans: Paul’s Masterpiece to reclaim foundations of our Christian heritage and began February 13, 2013.
•  A very special and ever popular offering was Lent 2014’s Be Still and Know that I AM God  which can be obtained through the archives beginning in March 2014. 
• Lent 2015 began on February 18, 2015 with a series entitled With Christ in the Upper Room: Final Preparations.  We explored what is often called “The Upper Room Discourse” found in John chapters 13-17. 
• ReKindle, the Lent 2016 series, began on February 10, 2016 and encouraged us to rekindle our spiritual lives.
• Light: There’s Nothing Like It was the 2017 Lent series and explored this metaphor often used to portray Christ.  It is archived beginning March 1, 2017.
• Lent 2018, we explored the questions of Pi and Chi (the Greek letter beginning the word Christos, which means Christ, Messiah, the Anointed One). We asked and answered the questions “Why?” from the movie Life of Pi as we discovered the uniqueness of Jesus Christ in a world of many faiths.
• Lent 2019 gave us a deeper window into Easter “More to the Easter Story” since we miss so much when we rely only on a superficial understanding of the work of Christ. These devotionals are archived beginning March 6, 2019.

Prayer Focus: Seeing You as the Messiah I need, not the Messiah I think I want

Lord Jesus, forgive me for all my wrong understandings of You as the Messiah. For all the ways I’ve placed expectations upon You than I have no right to expect with my incredibly limited knowledge. I know that You can do all things; everything is possible with You, even saving sinners! You are mighty and wise. No purpose of Yours can be avoided or overcome. When You ask, ‘Who is this that obscures My plans without knowledge?’ I hang my head in shame. All my plans and expectations melt away. You alone are the source of all wisdom and knowledge. When I speak, Lord, too often I speak of things I do not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. I am listening and waiting for You to speak truth to me. My eyes read Your Word and my ears have heard of You but there is no substitute for the experience of a relationship with You through Your Holy Spirit. I repent of my pride and offer myself, humbly to You. You are my God and I praise You. In Christ always. Amen. (Adapted from Job 42:2-6)

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If you’re already signed up on my Home Page sidebar to receive posts, you’ll get the 2020 Lent Devotionals automatically. Or you can “Like” Seminary Gal on Facebook and they’ll be delivered to your Facebook news feed. If you haven’t signed up, today is a great day to do so. Advent and Lenten devotionals remain among my most popular offerings. You don’t want to miss this encounter with God to prepare your heart for Easter! Understanding that prior years’ devotionals remain popular, you may want to have access to a full series ahead of time:

• Lent 2013 looked at The Letter to the Romans: Paul’s Masterpiece to reclaim foundations of our Christian heritage and began February 13, 2013.
•  A very special and ever popular offering was Lent 2014’s Be Still and Know that I AM God  which can be obtained through the archives beginning in March 2014. 
• Lent 2015 began on February 18, 2015 with a series entitled With Christ in the Upper Room: Final Preparations.  We explored what is often called “The Upper Room Discourse” found in John chapters 13-17. 
• ReKindle, the Lent 2016 series, began on February 10, 2016 and encouraged us to rekindle our spiritual lives.
• Light: There’s Nothing Like It was the 2017 Lent series and explored this metaphor often used to portray Christ.  It is archived beginning March 1, 2017.
• Lent 2018, we explored the questions of Pi and Chi (the Greek letter beginning the word Christos, which means Christ, Messiah, the Anointed One). We asked and answered the questions “Why?” from the movie Life of Pi as we discovered the uniqueness of Jesus Christ in a world of many faiths.
• Lent 2019 gave us a deeper window into Easter “More to the Easter Story” since we miss so much when we rely only on a superficial understanding of the work of Christ. These devotionals are archived beginning March 6, 2019.

Prayer Focus: Unpleasant as the thought may be, God’s wrath is real

Father God, I know Your wrath is real. But if I’m honest, I prefer to see You as “God is love.” Yet the two are equally weighted sides of love. Your love without Your holy wrath would be meaningless. Your wrath without unconditional love would be heartless. Maybe I’m frightened at the knowledge my sins are ever before me. You know them too. Nothing is hidden from Your eyes. Apart from Your mercy and forgiveness, Lord, I’d experience Your wrath. Maybe too, it exposes my heart. I want to see Your wrath against those I think deserve it, who have wronged the least of these in ways unthinkable. I want to see them punished and yet I remember that You are the only One able to Judge perfectly. You alone are holy. You tell us, “‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ and again, ‘The Lord will judge his people.’ It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” When I think about You, the One who “treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty,” I know You mean business. You wouldn’t be loving if You didn’t act to protect and preserve the innocent little ones, the weak, and the least among mankind. The nations are as a drop in the bucket to You. As You sent the plague upon the firstborn in Egypt, yet You provided a way safe within their homes for those who love You, who showed their devotion by their obedience with the blood of the Lamb protecting them. May I have a healthy respect for and fear of Your wrath. To know that it is real. When You come to judge, we will all tremble before You…not a baby in a manger. Not a dead man on a Cross. Not a vanishing act telling us always to wait for the end of days. No. Your return is a fearsome thing to behold. Your Word tells us that every knee will bow and every tongue confess that You are Lord to the glory of God the Father. You do not bear the sword for nothing. On Your robe and on Your thigh You have this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. We bow before You. Have mercy upon us, Lord Jesus! In Your mighty Name we pray. Amen.

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If you’re already signed up on my Home Page sidebar to receive posts, you’ll get the 2020 Lent Devotionals automatically. Or you can “Like” Seminary Gal on Facebook and they’ll be delivered to your Facebook news feed. If you haven’t signed up, today is a great day to do so. Advent and Lenten devotionals remain among my most popular offerings. You don’t want to miss this encounter with God to prepare your heart for Easter! Understanding that prior years’ devotionals remain popular, you may want to have access to a full series ahead of time:

• Lent 2013 looked at The Letter to the Romans: Paul’s Masterpiece to reclaim foundations of our Christian heritage and began February 13, 2013.
•  A very special and ever popular offering was Lent 2014’s Be Still and Know that I AM God  which can be obtained through the archives beginning in March 2014. 
• Lent 2015 began on February 18, 2015 with a series entitled With Christ in the Upper Room: Final Preparations.  We explored what is often called “The Upper Room Discourse” found in John chapters 13-17. 
• ReKindle, the Lent 2016 series, began on February 10, 2016 and encouraged us to rekindle our spiritual lives.
• Light: There’s Nothing Like It was the 2017 Lent series and explored this metaphor often used to portray Christ.  It is archived beginning March 1, 2017.
• Lent 2018, we explored the questions of Pi and Chi (the Greek letter beginning the word Christos, which means Christ, Messiah, the Anointed One). We asked and answered the questions “Why?” from the movie Life of Pi as we discovered the uniqueness of Jesus Christ in a world of many faiths.
• Lent 2019 gave us a deeper window into Easter “More to the Easter Story” since we miss so much when we rely only on a superficial understanding of the work of Christ. These devotionals are archived beginning March 6, 2019.