Posted at 12:05 AM on 3/10/2010 | Permalink

Too often we look at Lent as a time to work at becoming better, holier, more faithful people.

At best, that's only half true.

What we need to be busy about are those things that serve to render us more docile to the Lord's Word, attuned to his voice, malleable in his hand, ready for his forgiving, healing touch.

Lenten prayer, fasting and works of mercy are meant to deepen our relationship, our friendship with the Lord. Most of all in Lent we need to make time to simply be with the Lord, to sit quietly in his presence, to render ourselves open to him and to whatever it might be that he wants to do in our lives in this holy season.

Lent is a time to be honest with God: a time to put all the pieces on the table and to look at them with the Lord's help. Thus, the truth of the sign above: God wants to mend our broken hearts, to strengthen our weak hearts, to refresh our discouraged hearts, to relieve our worried hearts...

But to do this, he needs all the pieces to work with - even the ones we'd rather hide from (our ourselves), the pieces we've tried to forget or ignore, the pieces that embarrass and shame us.

One of the most foolish things we do is to try to hide our hearts from the Lord. There's not a speck of my heart that's hidden from God. God knows every secret of our hearts: nothing escapes his loving, forgiving attention.

Lent is a time to bare our hearts before the Lord, trusting that he will be gentle with whatever is revealed.

God accepts our broken, sinful, contrite hearts with the desire to mend, forgive and heal them.

Let us open our hearts to the Lord who opened his heart for us...


Subscribe to A Concord Pastor Comments
lent2010

Posted at 10:24 PM on 3/9/2010 | Permalink

Cleveland, Ohio, Mar 9, 2010 / 10:24 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Calling pro-life advocates and all Christians to courage and virtue, Archbishop of Denver Charles J. Chaput provided a list of "dos and don'ts" for the pro-life movement on Tuesday evening. He urged an end to divisions and false oppositions, encouraging pro-lifers to be joyous and hopeful witnesses through public action and new technologies.

Posted at 10:14 PM on 3/9/2010 | Permalink

Posted at 8:21 PM on 3/9/2010 | Permalink

Washington D.C., Mar 9, 2010 / 08:21 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Following his remarks last week that he and his colleagues are prepared to strike down health care reform if it provides federal funding for abortion, Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) said on Monday that he is "more optimistic" than he was a week ago regarding legislative negotiations.

Posted at 7:32 PM on 3/9/2010 | Permalink

Outside my window...  Cloudy, windy and 46 degrees.  Brrr it's been cold today, and probably feels even colder especially since we haven't had much of a winter.

I am thinking ... about how fast the time seems to be flying.  Easter will be here before we know it!

From the kitchen... I made enchiladas last night; my husband loved them.

I am going . . .  to see my daughter's new apartment tonight.  

From the schoolroom . . . I am making plans for next year already.  And I think I have most of my choices nailed down. I like ordering new books and hopefully it will rejuvenate me.  I will share my plans here sometime soon.
 
I am wearing... khaki slacks, a white t-shirt, and a light blue hoodie. 

I am creating... Resurrection Eggs for my religious education class on Sunday.
 
I am hoping ...  that our second sick chicken turns out to be okay.  Hmmm, what's going on here?
 
I am reading...   The Whistling Season still.  I am not lovin' it, but I will try to finish.

I am hearing ... my husband and the kids playing with software that sets Christmas lights to music.
 
Around the house... no projects!  It feels good to not have anything going on right now.  Although we do need to expand the size of our chicken coop this year to accommodate the 3 new chicks that are scheduled for pick up on March 26. 
 
One of my favorite things... all the cherry blossom trees that are all pink right now.  It looks like big tufts of cotton candy all over town.
 
A few plans for the rest of the week:  Science class for the kids, a Little Flowers planning meeting, PE class and 4-H Poultry Learning Day. 

A picture thought I am sharing: