Lent: Friday, March 17, 2006

Today's blogging is coming to from Jackson, via my laptop. I'm here for ordination interviews. Remember me, as well as Greg Hazelrig and about 15 other preachers that go before the Board of Ordinated Ministry this weekend.

Old Testament Lesson

Genesis 43:1-15

Sometimes, things happen in life that cause us to grieve, and we don't know why. Today, Jacob grieves because his youngest son is going down to Egypt and he thinks that he may never see him again. He doesn't know that this is part of God's plan to reunite his family. How often have we went though something, not knowing why, only to one day find out that is was part of God's great plan.

God is at work in ways that we don't fully understand. In life, we can't always trust experience. We can't always trust our reason. We can't always even fully trust what we think that we see. We can only fully trust in God. He is doing things we can't experience at the time, see at the time, or understand at the time. He is at work in all of our lives. We just have to trust, even when we don't know why or what He is doing. Is at at work in all thing for the good of His children.

New Testament Lesson

1 Corinthians 7:1-9

In marriage, we are to work together, and for each other's good. We see here that while Paul seems to exalt celibacy, he also says that those that marry, their marriage relationship should be that of a shared journey. He said that they should realize that the in the marriage relationship, they exist for each other. One is not Lord over the other but they are to exist to serve one another. In service we find greatness, in service, we find the true joys of marriage. Examine a lifeless marriage. More than likely, either one person is doing all the serving, or neither is serving at all. For marriage to be at its fullest, then both husband and wife should show their love in serving and loving each other.

Gospel Lesson

Mark 4:35-41

To me, this is one of the most important questions the disciples ask Jesus. Teacher, do you care if we drown? How often have we been in a place where didn't know if God heard our prayers, or cared if we lived or died. In moments of frustration, loss, or hurt, we can think that Jesus doesn't care if we drown.

How does he respond? He calms the waves. He does care. No matter what our doubts tell us. No matter what our fears tell us. No matter what the world tells us. He does care. Sometimes he calms the waves of the storm, sometimes, its the waves of our heart. But, our Lord will calm the storm, and we will not drown.