Repent & Believe The Good News!

Today is Ash Wednesday. It is the first day of the season of Lent which includes the 40 days plus Sundays prior to Easter. There is no mention of Lent in the Bible. Lent is a church tradition which started early, with some traditions saying as early as the 12 disciples themselves. It was oiginally honored for one or two days - 40 hours or the time thought Christ was in the tomb. Later at the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D, the 40 days was mentioned. It was designed to represent the 40 days of temptation Christ went through following His baptism. People would fast from specific kinds of foods or drink - meat, sweets or alcohol. It was as time of fasting to focus on our Lord. Preparing our hearts for the celebration of the risen Christ following a horrific crucifixion on our behalf.

Since Lent isn't mentioned in the Scriptures, our family made mention of it, but did not enforce a celebration of it or sacrifice. We told our children about it and gave them the option to "give up something" if they wanted, but we more wanted them to take the time to make an extra effort to focus on Christ, whether reading through Scriptures, having prayer time or serving God's children in some way. A proactive Lent verses a sacrificial one. But either is beneficial if done to God's glory.

We don't mention this because we feel you should, as a couple, do any kinds of specific Lent traditions, but we do hope that in the time leading up to Easter, you will certainly make an effort to keep your eyes on the risen Christ. One thing proving to be Christ-centering is to read through the four Gospels chronologically in the days leading up to Easter. A schedule has been provided for you, should you want to do this. We highly recommend it. Praying your souls are enriched and blessed during this Lenten season.

Feb. 18: Luke 1; John 1:1-14                        Feb. 19: Matt 1; Luke 2:1-38
Feb. 20: Matt 2; Luke 2:39-52                       Feb. 21: Matt 3; Mark 1; Luke 3
Feb. 22: Matt 4; Luke 4-5; John 1:15-51        Feb. 23: John 2-4
Feb. 24: Mark 2                                           Feb. 25: John 5
Feb. 26: Matt 12:1-21; Mark 3; Luke 6           Feb. 27: Matt 5-7
Feb. 28: Matt 8:1-13; Luke 7                        March 1: Matt 11
March 2: Matt 12:22-50                               March 3: Matt 13; Luke 8
March 4: Matt 8:14-34; Mark 4-5                   March 5: Matt 9-10
March 6: Matt 14; Mark 6; Luke 9:1-17          March 7: John 6
March 8: Matt 15; Mark 7                             March 9: Matt 16; Mark 8; Luke 9:18-27
March 10: Matt 17; Mark 9; Luke 9:28-62      March 11: Matt 18
March 12: John 7-8                                     March 13: John 9:1-10:21
March 14: Luke 10-11; John 10:22-42           March 15: Luke 12-13
March 16: Luke 14-15                                  March 17: Luke 16-17:10
March 18: John 11                                      March 19: Luke 17:11-18:14
March 20: Matt 19; Mark 10                         March 21: Matt 20-21
March 22: Luke 18:15-19:48                        March 23: Mark 11; John 12
March 24: Matt 22; Mark 12                         March 25: Matt 23; Luke 20-21
March 26: Mark 13                                      March 27: Matt 24
March 28: Matt 25                                       March 29: Matt 26; Mark 14
March 30: Luke 22; John 13                         March 31: John 14-17
April 1: Matt 27; Mark 15                             April 2: Luke 23; John 18-19
April 3: Matt 28; Mark 16                             April 4: Luke 24; John 20-21

                      April 5: HE IS RISEN! HAPPY EASTER!

Discussion: Have you ever given up anything for Lent? Do you feel it is necessary? What are somethings you like to do for Lent?

Prayer: Father, prepare our hearts during these days leading up to the celebration of Easter. May we always remember the depth of Your love in sending Christ Jesus and all He did for us. We pray our lives will reflect that love to the lost around us. In the name of the Savior, Redeemer, Teacher,Jesus, Amen.

Taking the Guess Work Out

I love when you and Kayla post what you want on Pinterest. It is so helpful for people like me who are clueless as to what to get as gifts for people. To me, Pinterest "Want Lists" are the Gift Registries for the non-engaged. Which is why I always say "post wisely" when you're on there and update often. I've just recently created my own Wish List board since I see how helpful they are.

I was tickled to hear you and Rob had began wedding gift registry lists (Target and Bed, Bath & Beyond, thus far). It will eliminate guess work in the gift hunt for your needs as newlyweds and with regards to colors, patterns, brand in the gift details.

It was Marshall Fields in Chicago that apparently started the first gift registry in the 1920s and Target which put it online in the 1990s. No longer would newlyweds receive three blenders and four gravy boats. Once those purchases were made, the lists were updated. Of course, not everyone updates the list, so count on a few doubles. And don't count on everyone sticking to the list either. Daddy and I got two ice buckets and we never even asked for one. Praise God for the folks who give you gift cards so you can get what you need. But I will say, if it wasn't for the wedding registry, I doubt your Daddy and I would have the china and crystal sets we have. We could have never afforded it. And they are items that we not only cherish, but use often.

I don't think you've totally completed your lists yet, so I would say pick durable, high quality items. Now that doesn't necessary translate to more expensive, so keep that in mind. Do your research. Know that you will use these gifts either forever (china) or until they die (towels, sheets, toaster) so you want things that will last. You may get upwards of 20 years out of some gifts, so choose wisely. Go room-by-room through your home to see what you really need. If people call to ask you want you specifically want, don't hesitate to have a list of items at hand to help them out. Remember that many folks are traveling great distances to come to the wedding, therefore their attendance at the event may for some be all the gift they can give.

"Ask and you shall receive." (Matt. 7:7) That is God's advice in prayer. And in this instance, works as well. Even God tells us what He wants from us in his Bible Gift Registry of sorts: in Psalm 51:17 "The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."  1 Chronicles 16:28 says, "Bring your offering and come to worship Him." and Psalm 116:12-14 says, "What shall I return to the Lord for all his bounty to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord, I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people." Romans 12:1 tells us, "I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." So now you know exactly what you can give God ... a humble spirit, your offering, sharing Christ's salvation with others, praying, being faithful and giving yourself completely to Him.

See, isn't it nice to not have to guess in the gifting?

Discussion: Have you gone through your home to see what you need? What is something you really hope you receive from the wedding or showers? What advice have you gotten from newlyweds about gifts?

Prayer: Our Father, how blessed Rob and Ayla will be by the souls how come to the wedding, and doubly blessed by any gifts they will receive. We thank you, Father, for the guidance you provide and the greatest gift of all in Jesus. Amen.

Poured Out

Did you know that Jesus' first miracle was at a wedding? Recorded by John in the second chapter of the gospel, he tells of his first-hand observance where Jesus turns water into wine at a wedding reception. Everyone is having a grand time drinking wine at the wedding feast, and it runs out. His mom, Mary, sees that there's no more wine and goes to her son, whom she knows is God, to tell Him about it. And Christ's response is classic. He says in verse 4, "What concern is that to you and me? My hour has not yet come." It's like He's saying, "Seriously, you are asking Me to do a miracle for this? I am just starting this ministry, just now gathering disciples and you want Me to get more wine or even make it? That is not why I'm here. It's not my job. It's not my time." (Makes you wonder what she observed Him do prior to this event.) But here's the beautiful part. This story is bathed in symbolism, literally. First, the jars Christ asks the servants to fill with water are stone jars used in ritual washing for the Jews. This ceremonial washing was to cleanse and purify the Jews prior to meals and worship. And these jars were big, holding upwards of 30 gallons of

water. Christ asks for six of these to be filled. Then He just asks the servant to draw some out and take it to the chief steward. Imagine the bravery of the servant carrying a cup of what was originally water to his boss for a taste. Then imagine his surprise that is was the best wine ever. Think about the number of people that day who learned what happened there. You can hear the whispers: "Psst, I heard Mary's son, the carpenter, magically transformed this water into wine. Not even kidding." Christ, in this one act, was announcing to all the people at that wedding (many who were probably drunk with wine at this point), "Hey, look what I can do" with a more poignant "See Who I Am." The fact that He used jars for ritual cleansing and changed it into wine, you can see the symbolism and preview of His saying at the Last Supper (recorded in Luke 22:20), "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for many." They would not need stone jars for ritual cleansing anymore. Christ had it covered.

We know you both love wine (and have the cork collection to prove it). As cuisiniers, you know what wines enhance other foods to make them taste even better. And obviously Christ loved it, too, enough to make it an example and symbol of His great sacrifice for all time. We love that Christ chose (even if his mom nudged Him to do it) a wedding, a sacred event and union symbolic of His marriage to the church, to introduce Himself as Savior. And it was this first miracle that convinced the men who recently decided to follow him (John, Andrew, Peter, Nathaniel and Phillip in John 1) that they were following the right Rabbi. John 2:11 says, "Jesus did this, the first of His signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed His glory; and His disciples believed in Him."

Christ has revealed His glory, and we believe. Pouring His life out for ours and rising from the dead, glory to Him.

Now don't count on Christ changing any water into wine at your wedding reception. But you can count on this: no matter what you do in this life, no matter what mistakes you make in your relationship together, He has it covered.

Discussion: What impresses you most about this first miracle at the wedding in Cana? Just for fun, what kind of wine do you think Christ turned it into? How important is the symbolism of wine to Christ's blood to you? Is communion a possibility at your wedding? What kinds of wine will you have at your reception?

Prayer: Father, we thank you for your Son, for His sacrifice for us and most importantly that He conquered death that we can be brought to you pure and holy. Thank you for Him and the beautiful symbol of the wine at the wedding in Cana. In name of the True Vine (John 15:5), Amen.