Preparing for the Greatest Week in History
As we approach the greatest week in history of all time, the Passion of our Lord, I reflect upon where I am at. Is not that, part of the purpose of the Lenten Season? To think about your life in regard to where is Christ in your life? Does He make a difference? Or have you pushed Him to the side? I feel very unprepared on the one hand and on the other, there was nothing more that I could do.
Part of me feels very raw, exposed, vulnerable due to my body starting to not work as well, my energy levels get depleted quicker, I can’t do as much …….
Then there is my spirit, the other part, is just raring to go, just getting started, looking to the horizon where my help comes from…….
I lift up my eyes to the hills—
Psalm 121:1 NRSV
from where will my help come?
My inward spirit was exposed to its impurity….during my outward work.
This emptying of self in service during this Lenten Season of Mission work exposed my sighs, my grumpiness, my judgemental thoughts, my impatience, my dissatisfaction, my selfishness……
Why do we have to get up so early?
Why does no one else help?
Why do I seem to never get a thank you and others lots of praise?
This emptying of myself exposed to me My Self.
Not good to look at sometimes.
At Yourself.
Jesus emptied of Himself with No complaint.
But I was complaining (even if it was just inwardly or to my husband) lots.
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,but emptied himself,
Philippians 2:5-8 NRSV
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death—
even death on a cross.
Oh dear, I have a long way to go.
One of the many beautiful things about God is after you truly look at yourself, He never stops loving you, fighting for you, forgiving you and calls you on to receive more of His love and the life He has for you.
Peter’s denial of Jesus three times teaches us this. Peter was exposed to his weakness, after the Rooster crowed. But Jesus did not leave him in this place but called him on to “Love me,” “Love my sheep,” “Love me more” – again three times as if to counter the three times of denial of not knowing Jesus.
The exposure of our true selves should not make us beat ourselves up more. But should make us realise that We Need A Saviour!
We need our God.
We need His Love.
This part makes me feel satisfied – there is nothing more that I can do but pray and fall upon the mercy and love of our Almighty God.
Let us remember to be raw in front of our God who loves us completely. He already knows us through and through. Nothing is hidden before Him.
Let us open ourselves up more to Him filling us up with this love and grace.
May these jottings from my journal inspire you to believe in and fall in love with Christ- the hope of the world, as stated in Jeremiah 17:7, ‘Blessed is the man who believes and trusts in and relies on the Lord and whose hope and confident expectation is the Lord!’
Love
Rosemary
Every week groups of ladies meet together to chat about the things I raise in my weekly blog post and to chat about life in general. We call these ‘Heart Connect’ groups.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Think about where Christ is in your life. Does He make a difference? Is He at the centre or have you pushed Him to the side?
What can you do to realign yourself with Christ?
Where do you need to make some changes to allow Christ to be at the centre of your life?
7 Comments
Judy Obee
Rosemary, I relate so closely to you when I read this reflection. Thank you for sharing your honest and humble feelings. You are gift – that my Lord sends to nourish me. Thank you.
Valerie Lack
Your story of life at present sounds eerily similar to mine. After two bouts of Covid my body wanted nothing more than to sleep and sit. It had to wake up after scans showed the start of osteoporosis and the medical people wanted me to go on Prolea. My doctor who is brilliant agreed to me trying exercise, of the load bearing kind. So I joined a gym. Monday is gym, Tuesday swim, we’d Christian yoga, Thursday gym, Friday swim. It exhausts me. But better than taking a drug with unpleasant side effects. Spiritually I struggle sometimes with the being eager to jump in and help sometimes I really don’t feel like it. My husband is amazing in that if someone needs a helping hand, he just does what is needed no matter what the cost to him. Once when I was young I thought that I was full of love to share with the world, now not so. When I think of the great, great love of God our Father, Jesus our Saviour and the Holy Spirit who never stops breathing the breath of life into us and all the amazing people who give of themselves unsparingly every day, then I realise how far short, how lacking in love I am. It is a daily battle with the inner self. Daily devotions, Bible study, The Rosary and begging My God for help are what provide the strength and hope needed.
Thank you for sharing and I hope and pray that your health improves and that whatever the problems within it are healed. If you are unwell or in pain, it is difficult to find the energy needed for anything other than dealing with that pain. My Mother, who died at age 103 told us to “ Listen to your body”. I am not good at this
Val
Gisèle
Rosemary, I bless you and thank you for your wonderful jottings…they allow us to say me too and also forgive me Lord.
I have added you to my special prayers that you may find relief from your pain. It is a challenge to live with chronic pain. Thank you for being vulnerable with us as it gathers us together to hopefully support you with our prayers. Father God, please take care of our sister Rosemary in Jesus name through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Michelle
Thankyou so much Rosemary for your humble sharing. I pray God truly blesses you at this time when you are having struggles with your body.
Vivienne
Thank you Rosemary for all that you share with us. It’s another perspective for us. May God bless you in abundance with His healing touch. When you need to rest, Rest in Him. 💖🙏💐
Jeanette Easton
Rosemary I can fully relate to everything you have said today. I really was feeling my Lenten journey was soooooo empty even though I was doing the ministry I do. This morning I was at our church to collect consecrated Hosts for the Nursing Home I was about to visit. I sat in front of the Tabernacle and prayed. I thanked God for everything in my life, for what God allows me to do etc. etc. then I said to him I am not going to ask for anything but sit here and listen to what you want me to do this day for you, Lord you speak your servant is listening and waiting. Nothing significantly happened in that half hour BUT when I arrived at the Nursing Home he spoke to me there by the Chaplain that was waiting for me to arrive. So much happened today and I feel so Blessed and the presence of Our Dear Precious Lord so close to me. I received mail when I arrived home thanking me for a note I had sent that made a positive help. DID OUR LORD SPEAK TO ME TODAY! YES. There are times when we just have to sit and listen and all will be revealed. 🙏
Sharon Daniels
Rosemary, I found what you wrote here made my look at myself more with my impatience, my health and tiring more. I focus on Jesus Our Savior as we approach this last week of Lent and process the crucifixion of Jesus and look at our own misgivings and sins.