Lent: Uncluttering of the Soul |
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The sabbatical started more suddenly and violently than anticipated. A high fever, a few scans, multiple masses, possibly a lethal abscess… the specialists convened, conferred, counseled me to cancel all engagements, and began cutting. The reduction had begun. Though the masses, thankfully, were all benign, my body did not respond well to the invasion. The area's organs went into hibernation and for the first time in my life, I became familiar with breathtaking pain. The experience redefined that word for me. It hurt to be awake. It hurt to see my children's fear. It hurt to hear, "We don't know why." In time, it would even hurt to hope. Reductions, it seems, have blurry release dates. Days stacked upon one another in vain like whisper-thin blankets with no warmth to offer. Though technology blinked, beeped, and buzzed noisily around me, the organs slept on. This healing simply would not be hurried. The wound was evidently too great to risk haste. After eight days in the hospital, the doctors sent me home and my entire recovery-time "to do" list vaporized in the desert heat of pain. All I could do was sit and be loved — a need that my family filled extravagantly. Little did I know that the pain was under assignment: it was making room in my life for another operation well beyond the reach of any surgeon's scalpel. I would not trade that desert of pain for the world. Deserts unclutter the soul. |
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Deserts unclutter the soul. |
Deserts unclutter the soul. |
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The hot desert sun vaporizes all manner of luxuries. Then the cold, shelterless nights expose the essential guts of life. I needed to eat, to sleep, to be protected, and to not be alone. God asked me to fast mental and physical strength. He invited me into holy weakness. As the days blurred into weeks and months, helplessness exposed the contents of my heart. My eyes were opened to see an invisible danger that had been growing within me. Prior to surgery, God was not absent. The challenge was that self was so very present. Though I had purposed to live simply, clutter was collecting around my faith. I was becoming more vulnerable to sin, but sin of a slightly different strain than in earlier years. We all guard against sins of commission and we are vigilant toward sins of omission. But achievements — even in small doses — can make us vulnerable to sins of addition: adding niceties and luxuries to our list of basic needs, adding imaginations onto the strong back of vision, adding self-satisfaction to the purity of peace. Years later, the pain from that surgery has, thankfully, disappeared. The fruit of pain's assignment in my soul has, thankfully, remained. My desert decrease was divine. Throughout our 40 Days of Decrease journey, let us rest assured that when Father God calls us to fast increase, decrease will purify our souls. |
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What do you think needs to be decreased in your life particularly during the season of Lent? In what area of your life does God look at you with love and ask you to set something aside for a closer walk with Him? Come share with us on our blog! We want to hear from you! |
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Prepare your heart for Easter |
Dare to live awed by Christ's resurrection! |
40 Days of Decrease: A Different Kind of Hunger. A Different Kind of Fast. |
+ FREE shipping on all orders $35 and more | What if you fasted regret? What if your friends fasted comparison? What if your generation fasted escapism? What if your community fasted spectatorship? Trigger a spiritual revolution with this daily devotional for Lent. Decrease life's unnecessary details and increase your relationship with the Lord so you can live in awe of Christ's resurrection! 40 Days of Decrease is a guide for those hungering for a fresh Lenten/Easter experience. Dr. Alicia Britt Chole guides you through a study of Jesus' uncommon and uncomfortable call to abandon the world's illusions, embrace His kingdom's realities, and journey cross-ward and beyond. Containing readings, refection questions, daily fasts, ancient quotes, and more, each day offers a meaningful consideration of Jesus' journey and then invites you into a daily fast of heart-clutter—the stuff that sticks to your soul and weighs you down. You can begin your forty-day journey any time of the year, but you may find it especially meaningful as a Lenten preparation to live in awe of Jesus' resurrection. - Each daily, 1000-word entry includes a:
- Devotion based on Jesus' life
- Reflection question to guide journaling or group discussion
- Heart fast to inspire a tangible response
- Thought-provoking Lenten quote
- Optional sidebar into the historical development of Lent
- Suggested reading that takes you from John 12 to John 21
- Journaling space for reflection
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What our readers are saying |
"This book!!!! One of THE most impactful reads of my life. Alicia Britt Chole has been given a powerful gift , her insight into the Word of God is truly life changing . This was the most meaningful Lent of my life! I will use this devotion over and over for the rest of me life. " — Sheala P. |
"A good challenge for Lent - will probably do it again next year. I have studied lent for around 50 years and learned new things I did not know that caused me to do research. Great book for background and challenge to change your spiritual life." — Douglas K. |
"I am thankful for this devotional. Each day it challenges me to give up something else that is spiritually good for me. Much better than giving up chocolate. I love that there is a place to journal each day. This book makes me want to do my devotional time. Thankful for a God who gave writing gifts to this author." — Gail |
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In the Footsteps of the Savior Online Bible Study |
In the Footsteps of the Savior Online Bible Study |
"This is the wonder of the land where Jesus walked. Each square mile seems to have a message. I pray that the pages of this book bring those messages to life in your life." - Max Lucado You're invited to walk where Jesus walked! Come join the free In the Footsteps of the Savior Online Bible Study with Max Lucado in the weeks leading up to Easter - his first study filmed on location in the Holy Land. |
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