2/22/12 - Welcome to Lent 2012!

From today's first reading: Joel 2:12-13

Even now, says the LORD,
return to me with your whole heart,
with fasting, and weeping, and mourning;
Rend your hearts, not your garments,
and return to the LORD, your God.
For gracious and merciful is he,
slow to anger, rich in kindness,
and relenting in punishment.
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We all fall away and need .... NEED to return to the Lord. All of us.

He wants us to come to Him, and He wants our full hearts. He doesn't want us just to be conscious of Him. He doesn't just want us to say "I believe", without changing our hearts. He wants us to rend our hearts and deliver them to Him.

Best wishes for a fruitful lent!

3/9/11 - Return to Me With Your Whole Heart

Joel 2:12-14

Even now, says the LORD,
return to me with your whole heart,
with fasting, and weeping, and mourning;
Rend your hearts, not your garments,
and return to the LORD, your God.
For gracious and merciful is he,
slow to anger, rich in kindness,
and relenting in punishment.
Perhaps he will again relent
and leave behind him a blessing,
Offerings and libations
for the LORD, your God.
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This is a piece of the first reading out of the gate for Lent, and it's a beautiful reminder of what Lent is really about.

Through the prophet Joel, God is telling us to rend (tear open) our hearts, and bring them to Him.  He wants us to give ourselves completely to Him.  Not partially.  Not a little bit after the football game, or soccer game, or basketball game.  Not a little bit after work, or after the chores are done, or even after works of charity.

He wants us to come to Him first.

That's where Lenten sacrifice comes from for me this year.  Identify things that I choose to do instead of following God, and put them aside, so I can keep my eyes on Him.