Covenant TGIF Message from Ron

TGIF

This week I found myself in somewhat of a quandry!  I usually spend this time of year thinking about a message regarding suggested New Year’s resolutions, but this year I am also thinking about the upcoming Lenten season, which this year is from March 5 through April 17.   I have decided to solve my quandry by combining those two important times on our annual calendar and will explain the why and how of my reasoning below. 

I recently found a copy of the Lenten Fast that Pastor Carl Romey shared with me soon after he became our Pastor at Covenant Church about 7 years ago.  I was so impressed with it that I sent it out to all our church members each Lenten season for them to consider.  After Carl retired as our Pastor, I lost track of the document, until I found it again recently.  As I was considering my New Year’s resolutions message for this week, I kept thinking about that Lenten message.  I have decided that the best New Year’s resolution that we can make is to follow the fasting suggestions made in Pastor Carl’s Lenten Fast.  Also, we should make this a permanent New Year’s resolution that we try to live every day of our lives going forward!

The following scripture in the Bible is titled Cure For Anxiety which I think covers the list of topics we should fast from during Lent and every day in our lives.

Matthew 6:25-33 – “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the sky, that they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather crops into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more important than they? ²⁷ And which of you by worrying can add a single day to his life’s span? ²⁸ And why are you worried about clothing? Notice how the lilies of the field grow; they do not labor nor do they spin thread for cloth, ²⁹ yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. ³⁰ But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! ³¹ Do not worry then, saying, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear for clothing?’ ³² For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.

My proposed permanent New Year’s Resolution plus permanent Lenten Fast is attached for your review and consideration for deciding whether you wish to try it.