Pre-LENT-tive Strike

Greetings Fellow Pilgrims...how's the journey going?

"Blessed is the man whose STRENGTH is in You, whose heart is set on PILGRIMAGE...as they PASS THROUGH...the Valley of Baca (weeping, tears)...they MAKE IT a spring; the rain also covers it with pools (or blessings). The go from STRENGTH to STRENGTH...each one appears before God in Zion." (Psalm 84:5-7)

Tis the season...not to be jolly...but refective. That's right...I'm talking about that tradition of discipline where we take 40 days and do a tune up on the old spiritual life. Of course...the tune up should be happening on a daily basis.. but alas...it is usually like our old car going through a harsh winter...and we finally can't stand it...and we have to wash off the salt brine from the road, the dust...clean out the floor boards where we had discarded trash and clutter. It is a time of focus, reflection, rumination, repentance, strengthening, encouragement, challenge. For some it is a tradition that wears around the neck like a religious stone...that pulls them down to the depths of despair. The thumb of legalism is what they were set free from (either by an experience with Jesus...or by rejection of their church upbringing)...and they are determined not to allow that back in their lives.

DISCLAIMER: If you never go through Lent...God loves you. Lent...a 4th century tradition...is merely a tool...not a commandment.

I for one...am looking forward to this season. This year FAT TUESDAY is on February 20th. This is the precursor to entering into the Lenton season via ASH WEDNESDAY. Fat Tuesday has turned into an excuse for excessive debauchery with it's Mardi Gras festival...Carnival...eating, drinking and being merrily drunk and perverted. It is the last gasp of the flesh. The word CARNIVAL itself means a doing away or turning away from MEAT...FLESH. It is tradition to GIVE UP something during this 40 day timeframe. It can be anything from eating meat, sweets, a plethora of bad habits. This is personal and individual (not a competition of who can trump the other saint's sacrifice). I am approaching it from this prespective this year...I am asking God to put His finger on things that are MASTER in my life. They may actually be things that are not bad...but are in control of me. They may actually be beneficial...they may be lawful for me...but not benefical for me. "All things are lawful for me...but not all things are PROFITABLE....All things are lawful for me...but I WILL NOT BE MASTERED BY ANYTHING." (I Corinthians 6:12) NOTE: There ain't nothin' that you can do or give up that will make the Lord love you any more...or give you an edge on the grace and mercy of God. Your sacrifice is putting yourself in a position to clean out your spiritual ears...so you can hear God more clearly...and do what He says...that's all.

Lent is celebrated by the "high church"...and I guess by default...what is called as the "low church". It can be entered with the pomp and circumstance of ritual..or entered in by a decision to press in closer to him without the pomp and circumstance.

The time frame is 40 days. A cursory overview of the significance of 40 can be seen in Exodus 24:18 and Exodus 34:28 with Moses on the Mountain of God...in Numbers 13:25 with the spies in the land for 40 days...in I Kings 19:8 with Elijah TRAVELING (it is a pilgrimage) 40 days to reach a cave and a vision...in Jonah 3:4) where Ninevah was given 40 days to repent...and of cours in Matthew 4:2...where Jesus was led BY THE HOLY SPIRIT in the wilderness for prayer, fasting, and a time of testing.
The time frame again is 40 days...and for my purposes...it will be 40 WEEKDAYS...with Sunday's off for a time of celebration of RESURRECTION. This season...I am going to be reflecting on and expecting a renewal in the areas of my spirit, soul and body as expressed in I Thessalonians 5:23 "Now may the God of peace Himself SANCTIFY (set apart for His purpose) entirely; and may your spirit, soul and body be PRESERVED COMPLETE, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

I am also expecting God to move in three other areas of my life...(1) the lust of the flesh (2) lust of the eyes (3) the boastful pride of life. "Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If any one loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who DOES THE WILL OF GOD...abides forever." (I John 2:15-17)


As stated before...this is a journey...it is a season. It is not meant to be a permanent self-degrading experiment is false humility. The journey for 40 days ends in a glorious RESURRECTION...THE D.B.R...NOTHING MORE NOTHING LESS. This is RESURRECTION EXPERIENCE is available 365 days a year...for those who receive. Again...Lent is merely a concentrated focus...a time of refreshing...a sober look at who we are and where we are on this journey. Remember Psalm 84:5-7...is a journey THROUGH the valley of BACA...the valley of TEARS. NOTE: Baca is a type of balsam plant that can SURVIVE in dry conditions. There is a promise of RAIN and a PROMISE of STRENGTH in the journey...with the destination being appearing before GOD IN ZION. Because of the D.B.R...and the Blood of Jesus...we have the access into the presence of the Living God. As you GO THROUGH the dry times...as you GO THROUGH the tough times of doubt...as you GO THROUGH the VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH...as you go what feels like GOING THROUGH HELL...don't stop in the middle of it and take up residence...and set up camp...GO THROUGH IT...and come out the other side with proven character and strong. Jesus came out of the wilderness of temptation...he returned to Gallilee IN THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT. (Luke 4:14) GO THROUGH Lent...with the expectation of coming out IN THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT.

This will be the last RUMINATOR RAMBLING that you will receive for a while. I will see you on the other side of Lent after RESURRECTION SUNDAY (April 8th). Be praying for me...and I will be praying for you.

Love and Lent Kisses
Rodney "On The Road Again" Boyd