From the Pastor |
Much like Advent helps us to prepare for the coming of the King, Lent is a time that prepares us for the joy that comes from the resurrection of Christ. Lent represents the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness, fasting, praying and resisting the temptations to turn away from God. This was how Jesus, after his baptism of water and the Holy Spirit, prepared himself to begin his ministry in the world. And that is what Lent is all about; preparing ourselves for whatever God has called us to do. It is a time of repentance and change. Returning to God with ALL our hearts. You know… things we should be doing all year round, but we are human beings, imperfect, and many times we get distracted and sometimes forget on who and what our lives should be focused on. So every year we again encounter the season of Lent and are reminded of how much we need to repent… to turn back to God and ask for his grace and mercy as we refocus our attention, our eyes, hearts and minds on God; as we focus on our relationship with the God of glory. As the prophet Zechariah said (4:6) change does not come through power or might, but by the Spirit. It is through the work of the Holy Spirit in us that can level mountains… not power or strength or might. We need to allow God, through the Holy Spirit to strengthen and change us. Even after we have come to accept Jesus as Lord... even if we already believe in God and in Christ Jesus… none of us is perfected in faith… we all still have a long way to go. We ALL still have room for change. During these highly charged, emotional and violent times, let us ALL remember that the greatest changes have not come through power and might (in fact they have often come IN SPITE of them) but through the fruits of the Holy Spirit :LOVE, JOY, PEACE,PATIENCE,KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS and SELF-CONTROL. Those very things that seem to be lacking from our "modern" and "civilized" society. So this Lenten Season, take the time to reflect on your own life and heart. Allow God's Spirit to begin the change within you... Turn back to God and allow yourself to be filled with the fruit of the Spirit. Change hate to LOVE, sorrow to JOY, Violence to PEACE...
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Yeon Shin
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