My last sugary dessert before giving them
up for Lent. This is a Dole Whip from
the Dole Plantation in Hawaii.
David and I actually shared this!
David and I after officiating our first wedding
together. This was my first wedding to officiate.
Well, here it is again. We find ourselves in the Church Season called Lent. Some of us give up things for Lent while others add something meaningful to their lives. The intention is that either way, giving up or adding, will allow each individual to grow closer to God. This Lent, I am giving up sugary desserts. This means that when I am stressed and want to eat every piece of candy or cookie in sight, I will reach for a piece of fruit and think again about why I am reaching to fulfill that hunger that can only really be satiated with time spent with God. I often wish that I did not stress out about certain things, but I do see this as an opportunity to get closer to God and God's purposes for me. God called me here in this time and this place, so God will equip me with all that I need to serve God's people where I am now. Why sweat the small stuff when God has already gone before and worked them out? Why is that so easy to forget? Why is that so hard to live into?
Recently, my husband and I officiated our first wedding together. Not only was this our first wedding to officiate together, but it was the first wedding I ever officiated. The coolest part for me was that my first wedding was on a beach...in Hawaii!!! How many people can say that? Life's journey certainly takes unexpected turns at times! It was a beautiful day with a beautiful couple and beautiful guests. What was amazing to me was the imagery the bride and groom selected in the first part of the service - hands. When the bride's sister gave her to be married to the groom, the sister took the bride's hand and placed it in the groom's hand. Hand in hand this couple will journey through the rest of their lives together. Not only that, but God will be holding them in God's hands. When things get tough, God will offer an outstretched hand, perhaps in the form of a hand of one of the guests at the wedding or one of the many loved ones who absolutely love this couple. Accepting an outstretched hand does not mean giving up, but is an act of faith to journey through the most difficult times and become stronger and closer to God and each other as a result.
Where are the outstretched hands during this season of Lent? Where did Jesus find an outstretched hand when he was tempted by the Devil in Luke 4:1-13? The outstretched hand was consistently scripture. However, by the third time the Devil tried to tempt Jesus, the Devil recited some scripture. Jesus saw through the Devil's misuse of the scripture and still did not give into the Devil's temptation. Even when we are tempted by something that at first seems good and righteous, we must be careful that we do not get carried away. Fortunately for us, when Jesus was tested and/or tempted, he remained strong and did not give in.
This Lenten season, as I look to what God is trying to say to me, my hope is to deepen my understanding of scripture - to really live into them as a servant of God and disciple of Jesus. Sugary desserts, though very delicious and enticing, do cause some of us to gain weight that affects our health in some negative ways. Also, I have come to depend on these sugary delights when I have become overly stressed. I am depending or relying on these desserts to give me the comfort that can only really come from God. Instead of reaching for sugary desserts, I should be reaching for God and God's Word more than I have recently. My hope is that during this Lenten season you would grow in your relationship and understanding of God and scripture as well. May God bless you as you journey. Let us journey together with God.
