Online Lenten Devotional
The last couple of years, we have asked for your feedback on iLent.org. Of the many things we have heard back, a common theme was “loved iLent.org and wished it could go all year”. Well one week from today will be your lucky day if this statement rings true for you.
On Sunday, June 16th we will be launching the first post on IHearAndDo.com. Another collaboration of Church Without Shoes pastors unifying together. Hope you will join us for the journey through the book of Mark.
Another great year. Thanks to you for your participation and conversations.
It was a gift to have so many people participate. We saw a slight increase over 2012 on visits and new visitors. We saw tremendous growth in our global reach over last year. We weren’t surprised to see in 2013 the tipping point of more than half of the page views on a mobile device. That’s why we updated the theme to be responsive to the different screen sizes.
In light of this growth our #1 prayer that you saw the Kingdom of God breakthrough in your everyday during the 2013 Lenten Season. We hope you look forward to iLent.org next year! We sure do.
We also extended our reach for the first time to the Philippines, Netherlands, Guatemala, Australia & Italy.
How did you experience God through iLent.org 2013? Any suggestions of improvements?
John 21:18-22 I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”
Noah Stepro
Kairos Community
PERCEPTION // What I see/hear God saying/doing:
Father, I am reminded once again that I like to examine myself through comparison with others…just like Peter and John. But You have called me to follow You, imitating You, emulating You…not someone else
PLAN // What I am going to do about it:
Invidiously comparing myself with others simply produces pride…as I catch myself doing this, let me use it as an opportunity to turn towards humility. I will find one person each day this week to praise for something that is beyond my ability.
PRAYER // Seal the deal:
“Lord, help to not think less of myself, but to think about myself less” (C.S. Lewis)
John 4:34-36 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.”
Bill Francis
Morello Hills Christian Church
PERCEPTION // What I see/hear God saying/doing:
A week ago, it was Good Friday. I remember that my grandparents believed that Good Friday was the perfect time to plant their garden. I think it somehow had to do with the moon. There is a time to plant (like now) and a time to harvest (like about 4 months from now). But Jesus seems to be reminding His disciples here that God has already planted, so stop waiting around — harvest!!!
PLAN // What I am going to do about it:
It’s a good reminder for us right now. Easter might have planted a few seeds, but actually there are people who God has planted something in some time ago and now they need to be harvested! Today I will tell someone who might be ripe for harvest about my hope in Jesus.
PRAYER // Seal the deal:
Lord, please show me the person or people that I need to talk to today about Jesus.
John 1:43-46 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.” Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote–Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.
Jer Swigart
The Open Door Community
PERCEPTION // What I see/hear God saying/doing:
God, I hear you saying that when I follow You, the Jesus that people “Come and See” in me is a progressively accurate representation. Rather than inviting those in my village to “Come and See” the thing we’re doing on Sunday, I hear You challenging me to invite them to “Come and See” the Jesus that I follow.
PLAN // What I am going to do about it:
This week, I am going to take two action steps: (1) I am going to invite someone who loves me enough to tell me the truth, to give me some feedback on the following questions: “What does my life demonstrate about what the Jesus I follow, thinks, sounds, and acts like? What matters most to the Jesus you observe me following?” (2) I am going to invite the Person of Peace in my neighborhood to “Come and See” the Jesus I follow.
PRAYER // Seal the deal:
Father, thank You for “seeing” me. As I follow, keep transforming me such that the distance between who I am and who I am becoming, grows thinner.