JACKIE SMALLBONES
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4th Thursday of Lent (March 26) “Sleeper, awake!”

3/25/2020

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Prepare to Listen.  Take time to still your heart and mind then prayer with the psalmist: Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.
 
Prayerfully Read Ephesians 5:8-14
8For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light.  Live as children of light--9for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true.  10Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord.  11Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.  12For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; 13but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14for everything that becomes visible is light.  Therefore it says, ‘Sleeper, awake!  Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’
 
Prayerfully Wonder
‘Once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light.’  We weren’t in darkness and now in light.  We were darkness (ignorant, evil, corrupt, liars) and now we are light (‘all that is good and right and true’).  And we’re light because we’re in the Lord Jesus.  This comes with a two-fold responsibility.  First, ‘try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord.’  This isn’t looking for a needle in a haystack type of deal.  Rather, it means testing things, facts, words, etc., in order to discern and approve all that is light, what is good, right and true.  Therefore, remain diligent in reading and responsibly interpreting and obeying God’s Word and avoid being deceived by empty words (Eph 5:4).  Second, ‘Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.’  Only once we’ve discerned what is light, will we be able to discern and expose what is darkness.  We learn what is darkness, not by studying evil and lies, but by becoming more and more familiar with what is good, right, true.  Exposing and confronting evil (darkness) is a responsibility of all Christ’s followers, a task we’re all called to.  Therefore, says Paul, ‘Sleeper, awake!  Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’
 
Prayerfully Reflect
Our culture desperately needs people who are now light, living as light and courageously exposing and confronting darkness.  How can you be good and righteous and true in your place today?
 
Respond to Jesus
Jesus, Light of the World, you have transformed me to be light in you, light like you.  Help me live today as your light, good, right and true for you today and thus expose evil and lies and ignorance.  Amen.
 
Go live obediently in the world, awake and alert to the good, the right, the truth.
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    Because I believe that Scripture is food for our soul (our entire being) I seek to read it and encourage others to read it in ways that nourish and transform our beings.  I invite you to read the Bible with me during Lent and into Easter.  I am a Bible teacher, spiritual companion and retreat director.  I know the Bile and how to read it for spiritual formation.

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Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their STORY
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  • Home
  • LIVE THE STORY
    • READING the BIBLE for all YOU’RE WORTH
    • READING the BIBLE TOGETHER for all its WORTH
    • Tell me a story and put me in it
  • Read Your Bible
    • Advent 2020
    • Lent 2020
  • Spiritual Practices
    • SPIRITUAL DIRECTION
    • RETREATS >
      • Next Retreat Date
      • Personal Retreat
  • Sacred Sagas
    • Smallbones Saga 2020
    • SA 2020 Adventures
    • Response to Jan 6
    • Binding the Strong Man
    • Come, everything is ready
    • Help my Unbelief (Mk 9:14-29)
    • Off with your shoes
    • Psalms and prayer
    • Praying in Ugly Times
    • The Messiah we Want
    • They have no wine
    • Why I can't vote for Trump
    • Worship & Discipleship
  • About Me
  • Contact