Lenten Discipline

For the past few days, I've been pondering what my focus for Lent should be.  I didn't want to give something up, I wanted to focus on really giving into something.  After much thought (and a certain PUSH from my mentor), I decided to blog each day for the 40 days of Lent.

Speaking of mentor, I feel like I should reflect a little on the Ash Wednesday service that was held at Maple Springs last night.

Earlier in the week, Corey Washburn texted me to offer me tickets to the Wake Forest vs. Duke basketball game.  Without hesitation, I said of course we'd take the tickets.  Then I realized-that game is at 7pm and our Ash Wednesday service is at 6:45pm.  I acted fast and texted my boss.  Her response was....

Just so you know- the game did end PRETTY!

I spent my Wednesday evening in the sanctuary at Maple Springs not at the Joel watching my DEACS! But oh the Lord spoke many things to my heart through Pastor Bev Coppley.

The title of the sermon was "The Life That Really Is Life" and centered around the words from 1 Timothy 6:11-19.  She focused on mentoring relationships- one that she shares with her mentor, the one shared between Timothy and Paul, and the mentoring relationships shared between Jesus and his disciples.

She spoke true words- she spoke life to our congregation.  We were encouraged this Lenten season to flee from the ways of the world and to embrace endurance- to pursue this eternal life that we've been given.  For this eternal life is not something waiting for us, it is something that we already have.

A mentor is defined as a wise and trusted counselor or teacher.  I have had many mentors along my journey- those that have guided me during my younger days,  college years and early years as an adult. But for the past year, the Lord has blessed with a mentor who pushes me to do what's best for the Kingdom.  Pastor Bev is by far the greatest mentor I have ever had during my time in ministry (and life).  She is never afraid to push me.  Sometimes she'll say something to me and then with her hands make a pushing motion.  Just yesterday afternoon (hours before she preached), she looked at me and pushed her  hands as she was encouraging me to do what needed to be done.  My response was odd- I pushed my hands back at her and said "I don't want to do that right now" and walked away.  Within a few minutes, I was back in her office accepting her words and following her guidance.

As I sat in the sanctuary last night, I reflected on the mentoring relationship between Jesus and his disciples.  Jesus pushed them, made them think and act differently.  I am quite certain that they didn't always like what He said or what He did.  Jesus pushed them- continuously.  He stretched them and grew them just like some of my most trusted mentors have for me.

I thank God for the mentors the Lord has placed in my life and for those He has placed in my path to mentor.  I pray that He will continue to teach me and use me to show the life that really is life.