WAKE UP!!

I was informed last week that I haven't written a blog in over a month (actually, it's been 2). And since only one person reads my blog anyway, what does it matter huh? I guess it matters to her, and honestly, it matters to me a little too. I want to write more, just never find the time to do it, or topic to write about.

But today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. I recieved an email through my seminary email about the Asbury Lent/Easter reader and asked them to send me one. In reading today's reading and watching the little video (www.asburyreader.com), I learned that "Lent is a fire alarm, a wake up call, a closer brush with the death that leads to life." It is designed to interrupt our normal patterns of daily life in a way to allow us to focus on the sacrifice Christ made for us.

I have a diagnosis of narcolepsy--a sleep disorder characterized by "excessive daytime sleepiness." This week has been an especially sleepy one for me (probably would help if I'd work on getting my bedtime earlier again). Today, I had the thought that I really want to wake up! I'm tired of being tired. One characteristic of narcolepsy is the ability to go on "autopilot" and still do routine activities even though in sleeplike states. I miss things when I'm sleepy (as evidenced by the stack of reports I turned in with corrections today).

Too often, I go on autopilot in my spiritual life too. I get into a routine and I miss stuff. I miss out on things God is trying to tell me through nature, through people/events around me, through his Word, or through that still small voice. I don't want to miss God. I need to WAKE UP! Lent is designed to get Christian's off autopilot and out of their sleeplike state by breaking routines--doing something different--getting to know God better and seeing what He has to say to us.

It is common to hear people talk of fasting or "what they are giving up for Lent." Fasting is meant to be a way to deny ourselves things of the world in order to identify with Christ's suffering and develop an appetite for God.

In addition to (or instead of) "giving up" something for Lent, Christians may add something to thier daily routine that will enhance their spiritual life. This is one reason I requested the Lent/Easter reader. I have thought and considered various things I might "give up" this year for Lent. Typically, I say I'm giving up something and I don't do very well keeping it. Hopefully, with this blog, I will stay accountable by letting you know the progress--and what I am learning.

So, my plan for Lent this year (for the next 40 days, not counting Sundays as they are "little easters"):

1) to give up dessert -- I like my dessert, especially at NMRC cafeteria, but this is something I think I can do
2) to fast during lunch on Fridays -- i would like to get to where I can fast 24 hours at a time, but I am not sure I will be able to do that yet. I am going to try to start small so I don't get frustrated. And fasting lunch will be difficult for me--missing the social time will be as difficult if not moreso than missing the food.
3) to read the Asbury reader every day -- you can too, if you'd like to read online www.asburyreader.com
4) to read the daily Bible readings our church is reading at least 3 days a week--I really should do this everyday, but I'm shooting for at least 3 days a week.
5) to blog at least once a week and let you in cyberworld know what I'm learning.

WoW that's a lot!! Especially along with the class I'm taking this semester. I look at it now and think I can't do all of that! If I don't, I won't beat myself up about it, but I'm gonna try, and I trust that I will see God!!

Oh be careful little mouths what you shout (and when you shout it)

Joshua 6
All the Canaanites who lived in Jericho went inside the city walls and locked the gates because they were afraid of the Isrealites. God told Joshua to take all the men of war and march around the city once a day for 6 days and seven times on the seventh day. The priests were to take trumpets before the ark and play and on the seventh round on the seventh day, when the trumpets played a long blast, the people were to shout and the wall would fall. Joshua did as he was told and gathered the people. He told them "You should not shout or let your voice be heard, nor shall any word proceed out of your mouth until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout!" (6:10)

I can imagine the tendency of the Isrealites. Maybe they were thinking, in the words of one of my all-time favorite Camp Lake Stephens campers, "My feet hurt. Bugs be bitin me. All we ever do here is walk. I'm tired of walkin. There ain't no roller-coasters here." Okay, maybe they weren't lookin for roller-coasters, but I can see a tendency to complain none-the-less. And Joshua knew them, he knew this tendency and he knew that there was no room for doubt. So he told them to be quiet until it was time to shout.

We can learn from Joshua's command. When you're facing challenges and trials, do not allow your lips to speak unbelieving words. When we refuse to speak doubt and fear, it keeps our heart more inclined to see what God can do rather than what we cannot.


Everyone and everything in Jericho was to be destroyed except that of Rahab and her family in her home. The only items that were not to be destroyed were the silver, gold, bronze, and iron which were to go to the treasury of the Lord's house. The Isrealites were to abstain from the accursed things because they were associated with pagan practices. After the walls fell, the Isrealites killed every person inside (except Rahabs family) and they burned the city.

Rahab's life and the lives of her family were spared because she spared the spies. She was adopted in to God's family, the Isrealites, and became a decendant of David and Jesus.