Lent

Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, a period of 40 days of penitence and prayer in preparation for the celebration of Easter, which comes only after Good Friday. Before the Resurrection and the Glory comes the Garden of Gethsemane and the Cross of Calvary.

Jesus taught us to pray thus:

"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

This, then, is how you should pray:

'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be Your name,
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.'

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will also not forgive your sins."

Matthew 6:5-15

Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for teaching us how to pray. Thank you indeed for praying for us, your disciples. Thank you for giving us Your Holy Spirit to help us to pray to the heavenly Father. Thank you for giving us Your precious name to pray.

Father, I come to You, Your child, just as I am, in Jesus' name. Thank you for Your love and amazing grace, thank you for this wonderful privilege of being Yours and having this relationship with You.

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Praying and looking for the Silver Lining

Jesus, the Greatest of all Leaders, the King and Lord of all said,

"But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted." (Matthew 23: 11,12)

And He practised what He preached when He "did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10: 45)

Though "being in very nature God,
(Christ Jesus) did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2: 6-11)

I know I'll see the Silver Lining in due time, because the Son is shining always behind the dark clouds, and the Prince of Peace reigns over all.