Get ready.....

"Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him."  (Matthew 4:11)
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I say "get ready" and I can hear you..."for what"?  Are we getting ready for another snow storm?  Are we (finally!) getting ready for spring?  Sometimes the interesting, and possibly surprising, thing we are getting ready for is something....... wait for it........ new.  Sometimes, like a new baby, a wedding or graduation we know in advance and can prepare.  Sometimes..... we need to be closer to God, listening for what God is asking us to do.  "The secret things belong to the Lord our God.  The revealed things belong to us and to our children forever; to keep all the words of this covenant."  (Deuteronomy 29:29)

The readings, this morning are starting us into Lent.  The Genesis reading is God telling Adam and Eve not to eat of a certain tree.  (Genesis 2:15--17)  The reading, in Romans, is Paul explaining one person, breaking God's law, is redeemed by Jesus (one man) saving each of us from our sins.  (Romans 5:18-19)  And the reading in Matthew is telling us the ending of the 40 days of Jesus being in the wilderness with the angels coming to "attend" him.  (Matthew 4:11)  The reading, from Deuteronomy above, comes from my God time this morning but fit so well I wanted to include it.

During this Lenten season I want to challenge you to go deeper into your relationship with God.  I especially want to challenge you to add PRAYER to what ever Lenten discipline you choose for these 40 days.  "40 bags out" pray about what goes into the bag AND what happens to the bag.  "Fasting" from food, technology, TV... be in prayer - talking to God, strengthening your relationship with God.  Rereading, or reading for the first time "Draw the Circle" and (maybe) the workbook.... follow the directions and pray for revival INSIDE the circle surrounding you.  Reading "Dynamite"... don't "just" skim through it - read it, listening and following where God is leading.  Then...... TALK ABOUT IT.  TELL someone where, when and how you think God is leading you.