Day 16, Saturday, Book of Faith – Lenten Journey
Zion’s mission statement is: “As God’s children, we go were Jesus leads.” This certainly is an expression of “walking humbly with our God.” And, I think our mission statement picks up on a nuance similar to “thy will be done” in the Lord’s Prayer. The walk is God’s walk. We want to be going where Jesus leads, not anyone else, including ourselves. Our mission statement also contains the emphasis that we see ourselves as children, those who need to be led. When we walk humbly with God, we do so because we are being led. There is no pride or self-importance when we are being led. There is no, “see how smart I am, or what a wonderful job I’ve done.” There is only the simple but profound gratitude that we are being led from death to life.
It is interesting that “walking humbly with our God,” naturally raises the same question that our mission statement does: How? How do we go were Jesus leads? How do we know we are walking humbly with our God? This is where the seven marks of discipleship can be such a gift to us. These seven activities of praying, worshipping, studying, inviting, encouraging, giving, and serving assure us that we are on the right track with walking humbly with our God. They give us a vision of what “going where Jesus leads” looks like in daily life. It is how we can live into the request, “thy will be done.”
Good morning fellow posters! I have some catching up to do – my new grandson – Grady Steven Huber – was born Friday, March 5th and I must admit, he and his mommy and daddy have been foremost in my mind. He is quite the future Packer player, weighing in at 8 lbs 3 oz. He and mommy are doing great and we are all so very happy and thankful!
My heartest congratulations to you, Gramma and the rest of the family. Isn’t it a blessing!! God is good indeed!!!
I had comments in my head when I walked yesterday and read the Bible Study but this morning I’m starting anew. As I read “Return to me, for I have redeemed you” I think to myself how blessed I am that I have my faith again. Life is at times a struggle but on the other hand we are so blessed as well. And not just the birth of a wonderful grandson but with the mere fact that we get to feel the sunshine on our face, we get to witness the blue of the sky and the green of the trees against that sky. We get to say “good morning, did you sleep well” to those that we love for one more day. God is indeed good and life is a blessing if we but recognize all that we have been given.
Today’s lesson asks us to think about the times and places when I feel closest to God. For me that’s while I’m walking, it’s when I’m at worship and it’s especially when I listen to those around me sharing their faith and their daily experiences with me such as the Bible Study taking place today, or our discussions about Biblical readings. If I let myself go and truly relax and calm myself God seems to fill me and I feel such contentment, peace and love. I am so very thankful I have Zion in my life. I am a better person because of it.
I’m sorry I won’t be with you today. I’ll be worshipping at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton here in Green Bay but know that I am praying for all of you.