Being Intentional Easter Weekend

Posted on March 22, 2016 by Matthew Laker

When Easter weekend comes do you just find yourself running from one activity to the next? For many followers of Jesus Easter weekend can sneak up on you.

Easter weekend and Holy week can serve as a pause in the rhythm of life to be still and know God. For many it is just a weekend with extra activity and no intentionality

What if you intentionally choose to pause everything going on around you? What if you choose to be intentional with how you use your time this Easter weekend? What would change?

What if you choose to evaluate the activities over Holy week or Easter weekend in order to “seek first his kingdom?”

What would change?

In one of the stories in the gospel we find Martha running around doing lots of good things. We also find Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus, also a good thing. However in that moment Jesus says Mary is in the right. (Luke 10:38-42)

Easter weekend is one of those times to sit at Jesus’ feet and be in awe. Easter weekend is one of those times to invite others to come and watch. Yes that last part means some work is needed. Therefore you will need a simple plan.

If you want to get the most out of your experience this Easter weekend, you need to be intentional.

Who are you going to spend your time with? What do you want to get out of the weekend?

What do you want to be the driving values for the weekend?

Create a plan for the weekend and put space in to just sit at the feet of Jesus. If you want to get the most out of your Easter Weekend experience, be intentional with your time.

For some you will be serving this weekend. Do not forget you will be a part of the link in the chain in helping others take steps closer to Jesus. Embrace that opportunity.

Our faith is lived out in community. Are you hosting a meal? Involve those who will be part of it. If you have children, having them help prepare the house or dinner can provide opportunity for great conversations around faith and life. Are you hosting an Easter Dinner? Consider inviting single adults. Consider inviting people you know are not traveling or able to see family.

How can you be intentional with your time this Easter weekend?

Easter Weekend – Some more ideas

Consider inviting non-believers into your activities to let them experience the body of Christ and build relationships.

Consider reading through one of the gospels in the bible as a whole in one or two sittings.

This can provide a fresh view of Jesus. As you read, pray “Lord speak, your servant is listening.” Make sure you are listening for the nudges of the Spirit as you read. When you finish ask: What is one theme that stands out? Why do I need to know that?

Consider Good Friday or Maundy Thursday attending a different church tradition.

The point here is to see a different perspective of Jesus. Sometimes we become so accustomed to our traditions, it is good to shake it up. As you go be respectful and full of grace and go to listen for Jesus.

When you gather with your community gather with the expectation of celebrating, serving, and open your heart to hear from Jesus. The weekend is not about adding to our life, but pausing to celebrate. Pausing to remember who God is and who we are. How can you make it a celebration?

To get more out of your Easter weekend experience be intentional.

Beginner’s Guide to Lent : Finishing Lent well

Posted on April 10, 2015April 7, 2022 by Matthew Laker

How do I end Lent well? You have been fasting, praying, and practicing alms giving over the Lent season. In a way, Lent is like a race, and as one goes into Holy Week, the last lap on the track is entered.

How do we end Lent well?

1. Utilize Holy Week

What is Holy Week?

Palm Sunday is the start of the last loop of the Lent race. It begins with what Jesus followers call Holy Week. On Palm Sunday we celebrate the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem (Matthew 21). Then later in the week, we remember the Eucharist (Lk. 22:17-23; 1 Cor. 11:17-34). This is also known as the Lord’s Supper or Communion. Through these activities, we remember the suffering, death, and finally crossing the finish line of Lent in the resurrection.

Four major days of Holy week.

a. Holy Thursday

This day comes before Good Friday and commemorates communion, foot washing, and Jesus praying in the garden.

b. Good Friday – commemorates the death of Jesus. Many churches hold a gathering on this day filled with song, scripture reading, prayer and teaching.

c. Holy Saturday (Easter Vigil) – A day for rest, a time of waiting and short weeping.

d. Resurrection Sunday. – Celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. This is a time to celebrate. .

I would encourage you to utilize Holy Week. Many churches will hold extra prayer or gathering times. Consider entering into those times. I would also suggest that you read through the gospels, and the last days of Jesus’ death and resurrection. You could even pick up a devotional to guide you through scripture this week.

A Second tip for finishing Lent well is:

2. Hold a Jesus meal.

A Jesus meal is a time for believers to gather over a meal and intentionally share spiritual stories. They share about their walk with God and how they are growing. They share where they are seeing God at work. They share how they came to faith. Then, the night ends by praying for one another. There are many elements one could incorporate, but for a guide, check out this post:

A Jesus Meal

A Third tip for finishing Lent well is:

3. Personal reflection again.

Answer this question – What will you take away from your lent journey? Journaling through the season can help in this area of reflection.

A fourth tip for finishing Lent well is

4. Celebrate.

Often in my life this is another meal. Consider inviting more than just your family. Perhaps you can gather a bunch of people and each take care for part of the meal. Be creative.

Be sure to gather with the church this day for a time of worship, scripture reading and prayer.

Celebrate the life you have in Jesus. Yes, have a party.

Finally to finish Lent well:

5. Keep running the race marked out for you.

This is just one chapter, one season in your life. We have climbed the mountain and have hopefully met with Jesus. But, he wants us to go back down the mountain, and engage life for his glory. Live for Jesus. To not do so will waste your Lent journey.

If you want to finish Lent well, live for Jesus after the season has come to an end.

Beginners Guide to Lent : Lent and Fasting

Posted on March 30, 2015March 20, 2022 by Matthew Laker

“Some have exalted religious fasting beyond all scripture and reason; and others have utterly disregarded it.” -John Wesley

What is fasting? What is its purpose and connection to Lent?

Fasting for the Jesus follower is to be a regular rhythm. Fasting has been part of the life of God’s people throughout biblical history. Sometimes the behaviour was commanded, and sometimes it was voluntary.

Fasting takes on two important roles. One of mourning and one of hope.

Ken Berghuis provides a large list of all the reference to fasting or fasting events throughout scripture.

It is worth a read.

3 Purposes of our Fasting –

1. Worship of God

Throughout scripture fasting has been connected to giving devotion to God. It is a declaration of our dependence upon God. The act of fasting is a reminder that we live in need of God’s word and his Spirit in our life. Fasting accompanied with prayer, and reading of scripture helps centre us on Jesus.

“Our human cravings and desires are like rivers that tend to overflow their banks; fasting helps keep them in their proper channels.” -“Celebration of Discipline” by Richard foster

2. Seek God’s guidance – Throughout scripture fasting is seen as a way to seek direction from God. It becomes an extension of our prayer life.

3. An avenue to prepare to meet with God.

Scott Mcknight shares “Lenten fasting as [is] a response to sins and the prospects of death in our culture, our nation, our church, and our own life, and that we also learn to see fasting as entering into the divine pathos about sin and death.”

He later shares: “Lent reminds us where we were, who we were, what we were doing and have done, and teaches us to tell the truth about ourselves—that as image-bearers of God we have sinned against God in thought, word, and deed, in what we have done and in what we have left undone, in not loving God and ourselves and our neighbors as ourselves—and to turn to God for mercy.

We are not fasting to get something from God but to meet with him. Acts 13:2: “while they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,…”

Joel 20:26: “So all the Israelites, the whole army, went up to Bethel. They wept and sat there before the Lord; they did not eat anything that day until evening. They offered up burnt sacrifices and tokens of peace to the Lord.”

Tips for Beginners to fasting during Lent

a. Start slow.

Try fasting one meal time throughout your week. Then use that time to pray and read scripture.

b. Don’t eat extra snacks.

If you are fasting your lunch, do your best to not eat something till your next regular pattern of eating. Yes, you will be hungry.

c. Let the hunger pain remind you of your need for Jesus.

I often will pray, “I need Jesus more than food.” Know that the hunger pain will pass.

“Arm yourself manfully against the wickedness of the devil; control the appetite, and you will more easily control all bodily desires” – Thomas a Kempis

d. Drink water and drink more water.

e. Understand you may get tired.

When fasting, consider cutting back on your daily activity.

Fasting is connected to Lent because of its ability to help with self-examination. It allows us to reflect upon our own sin and need for the gospel. Fasting is not about our health and has everything to do with our journey with Jesus.

Whatever time you choose to fast during Lent, remember that the purpose is to draw closer to Jesus. Let it be a time to wrestle with your idols and take hold of Jesus.

The next post in this series will look at self-examination.