Moving From Epiphany Into Lent

Read Matthew 4:1-11

On Wednesday, February 6, 2008, things will change. The light of the world will become the sufferer of life. It seems too soon. On the first day of January, we were celebrating the birth of Mary's baby. Now look at us. Listen to us. Our songs have turned from praise of birth to the traditional hymns and music for a season of ministry. Not so bad? Well, lets listen. We just finish singing "We Three Kings", "Joy To The World", etc. We were all about the light of the world and the manifestation of the Anointed One. Now, we are "Moving from Epiphany into Lent." In the midst of songs of praise, we come out singing: "The Old Rugged Cross."

Understand me. The Old Rugged Cross is one of my favorite hymns. I will never put is down. Oh no! In fact, I will sing it as though it is mine. It is on the cross that my life is restored. On the cross is where salvation of my soul is to be found. On the cross, you see, Jesus dies for you and me. Oh, yes, "I love that old cross." Yet, it is in the movement from singing celebration birth songs that we move to celebration of death songs and I wonder.

I wonder how it is that it came to be that God would love us so that he would give his only Son for our souls. How could it be? Love! You see, at the birth of Mary's baby the gifts came to him. At the death of Jesus Christ, the gift of live came for me. And, not me alone. God so loved the world that he gave us Jesus, The Anointed One, Christ as savior for all who come by faith to believe. Do you believe? If you believe the gift is yours. If you believe, then join me and all Christian on Ash Wednesday for the 46 days of spiritual growth soaking in the experience of the gift of life.

The gift of life for you and me was brought by God with the cost of his Beloved Son - Jesus! When you come the pray and study and accept what God has done through Christ, you come to change. Things change. Everything changes. It may not happen on Wednesday, but it can. It may not happen of Thursday, but it could. However, I promise you that when you take the leap of faith on the adventurous journey to the Cross, change will come. Try it!

Read each day of Lent a Scripture leading us from the temptation to the triumphant entry, then on the day of Resurrection. Easter! When Jesus Christ comes once more to arise and give us a new song. Change! Things change. Because for every move from Epiphany into Lent, there is an assurance of the change into Easter. Come, Lord Jesus, change us.

Agape!
LAR1