…make straight the way of the Lord…John 1:23

I remember a stage in my early teenage years when my bedroom frequently looked as if there had been an explosion of some sort and it drove my mom nuts!  One Saturday morning I “cleaned” my room and she made it crystal clear that it did not meet her standards.  I had cleared a straight path from my bed to the door and quoted a version of these very words from Johns Gospel and showed her how I had clearly made “a straight  way for the Lord”.  She assured me he was going to need a much wider path.

My moms assurance is true today!  I realize I don’t always make the path to my heart straight or wide.  I need to give God room to come into my heart and do his mighty works of mercy.  I have all kinds of things in the way that make His way tricky to maneuver. I make Him wind his way around jealousy and pride and selfishness.  The path hooks to the left when I toss in impatience and judgmental thinking.  The way really goes sideways when control, bitterness and gossip get tossed into the mix.

Lent begins two weeks from today so it’s time to start thinking, praying and planning our Lenten path.  You might be tempted to start with making a list of all the things you’re gonna “give up” and that would be great; sacrifice is a discipline we all need to work on for sure but I have a thought.  If we look at our list of “give ups” are they going to help us grow in holiness or are we going to pick them right back up  after Easter?  What about giving up things that really change our path?  The virtue of the week in our classroom is HONESTY so the question was; how hard would it be to give up lying, fibbing or embellishing for Lent; and could that change us?  It was a resounding “YES, but that would be harder than giving up candy!”

Making straight the way of the Lord means keeping my eyes on Him.  When my eyes are on Him and I’m preparing for Him to work in my life I discover I’m moving in a straight and forward  direction.  He is the constant, the guide that straightens my way every time I re-adjust my focus on His way and not my own.  Perhaps as we prepare for Lent these next two weeks we pray for the Holy Spirit to help us identify the road blocks and detours that are in our path and we let that become our focus this Lent.

A Seed To Plant:  What clogs or kinks the path between Jesus and your heart?  Spend some time in prayer asking the Lord to straighten and widen the way to His love and mercy.  Loving Father, help me prepare a path to my heart that leads me straight to you.

​Blessings on your day!

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, BEARING WITH ONE ANOTHER in love.” Ephesians 4:2

I was thinking the other day of things that go together.  The common ones came to mind, like peanut butter and jelly and salt and pepper.  I even began to think of people who went together like Lucy and Ethel or The Lone Ranger and Tonto.  Funny how in your mind, some things are just a pair.  I’ll bet if you stopped for just a minute you could come up with dozens of things that match.  I think we get conditioned to see things together, and don’t really give them much notice.  We even see pairs in Scripture. I did a little “independent research” and realized in most cases, (how scientific is that) when people describe something or someone, they use a pair of words.  For instance, that flower is so bright and colorful or that baby is so cute and chubby.  We tend to do a lot of things in pairs.

As we charge into Lent,  whose up for a “Double Disciple” challenge?  Your challenge will be do Christian acts double. Not just one good deed, but two. Not just a kind word to one person, but two. You could go all out if you wanted to, instead of giving one thing from each closet in your house to charity, make it two.  What would happen if you took a plate of cookies or a bouquet of flowers to two neighbors instead of one.  What about that young couple with little ones you know who could really use a night out, why not offer to babysit their kids for two hours instead of one so they can enjoy a peaceful dinner or a good nap. The possibilities are absolutely endless!

I saw a great church sign recently that said, “A narrow mind and a wide mouth are not a good combination.”  It made me giggle.  So I’m going to use the idea from that sign to make the “Double Disciple” challenge a wee bit stiffer.  If during the week, you happen to demonstrate a pair of “not –so-Christian” behaviors or attitudes; like being grumpy and impatient with a spouse or co-worker,   you have to do another double good act to make up for it.  I can’t wait to see the blessings that are in store for the world if we all take on the challenge!  

A Seed To Plant: Take on the “Be a Double Disciple” challenge this second week of Lent and let us know what happened. ​

Blessings on your day!

“Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile.” Blessed Mother Teresa

Now there is a Lenten challenge!  There is just some advice that needs to be followed and this power-packed tidbit from Mother Theresa begs to be heeded.  I shared this quote during prayer with the middle lovelies last week and they all agreed it would make the world a whole lot better but then one very honest young man said, “But man Mrs. Wohlfert, that’s just so hard to do.”  I told him I agreed completely!

This quote has been heavy on my mind for several days and I’ve discovered it’s much easier to live these words when you’re in control of the situation and interactions are pleasant.  When I really thought about it hard I was pretty good at living this challenge; I would slow down, look people in the eyes when they spoke and be still until they were finished with the conversation.  It seemed a bit awkward at first but after a few days it became more second nature.  I was feeling pretty good about it until that situation I hadn’t planned for; you know the ones that catch you by surprise and tilt you off your balance.  I had one of those situations this weekend and I totally blew it…I was frazzled and almost instantly I reacted and it wasn’t a reaction that matched the quote!  I wasn’t the Wicked Witch of the West or anything but as I replayed the event I realized my reaction was based on selfishness and pride.  A few hours later I was still really heavy hearted about the whole thing so I stopped to pray about it. (I don’t know why I always wait so long to do that!) After just a few seconds of quiet prayer it was very clear that I needed to apologize.  I needed to call myself out on the selfishness and pride.  I needed to admit that I was thinking of myself first and others second and I had to admit that I hadn’t left anyone better or happier with my snappy reaction.  The more I tried to talk myself out of it, the more I realized I needed to do it and do it soon.  After a giant gulp of pride with a huge serving of humble pie on the side, I made the apology and shared the story of my failure to live out this quote.  The apology was graciously accepted and thankfully my reaction was a much bigger deal in my mind than in actuality!

The funny thing about the whole situation…I was the one who left feeling happier and better.  Crazy, I thought that was the gift I was going to give; not the one I was going to get.  God is good and lesson learned…for today anyway!  Thank goodness God expects progress not perfection!

A Seed To Plant: Make it your goal this week to live this verse. Think about the people it will be easiest and hardest to live it with and then ask God to bless your attempts.​

Blessings on your day!

At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but of pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it. Hebrews 12:11

So…what’s your plan?  Hopefully you’ve been pondering last Thursdays questions and you are beginning to pray about the ways God is leading you to grow in holiness this lent.  I asked God to lead me to something I really needed to focus on.  I didn’t want lent to be a repeat of New Years resolutions.  I didn’t want it to be about a dozen little things that made me feel good but didn’t leave me with a lasting change of heart and I certainly didn’t want a repeat of my 7th grade eat only lettuce, tuna and oranges disaster!  About two weeks ago, I asked him to lead me boldly.  I gave him permission to lead me to something new and I promised to “COME” with him (my word this year) into the desert he chose for me; for us.

Knowing how much the Father loves us and wants to draw us closer and closer, I counted on his love and kindness as he led me to a new lent.  What he’s been leading me to the past many days is sometime that has caused me to think, pray and do a lot of surrender and perhaps even a little bargaining.  The final days of his lenten calling were the boldest but in his infinite love and compassion, he saved the hardest parts of the invitation for the days I spent in Florida in the sunshine, listening to and watching the ocean.  I was staying in a fabulous oceanfront home surrounded by family and laughter and fun and so much beauty.  The setting was amazing; the lenten message was not so lovely and simple.  At least he gave it to me in small pieces surrounded by his blessings while I had time to really think and pray about what he was asking.

I boldly asked to be led to something I’d never done during lent before.  I asked for balance.  I asked for him to be abundantly clear and I asked for something that would truly change my desires and holiness.  For the next 14 days, one of my morning prayer book contained a story about “Saints who  Suffered.”  Throughout the last two weeks I’ve stumbled across dozens of readings, posts, stories and examples of suffering and sacrifice. I seem to find them at every turn and I know he’s behind each and every one.  I know those are the two things he’s asking this lent and he’s also being crystal clear about the areas the suffering and sacrifice should find root.  I keep going back to those questions I posed last Thursday and I’m amazed and grateful and a little nervous about the things he’s helped me learn.

I know what he’s asking me to do, he will give me the grace to accomplish.  I know that what he’s asking me to do he will give me the strength to follow through with.  I know what he’s asking me to do will absolutely draw me closer and lead me not only to the foot of his cross but to the glory of his rising.  The most amazing thing about all of this journey toward lent…even though sacrifice and suffering are the path he’s leading me to, I feel so much joy and anticipation about the weeks ahead.  I’m getting excited about what he’s leading me to even though I’m painfully aware that it’s gonna be hard.  He hasn’t always asked me to do “hard”, but this year he is and he’s also asking me to be very honest and transparent about this journey.  I promised him I’d write about it, but not yet!  I want all of you to spend a couple more days praying and pondering with him about how you will journey this lent.  After I stopped trying to talk him out of the hard stuff for this lent and surrendered to his plan I opened a prayer book and read these words; Loving Father, make me a student of the cross.  Teach me to rejoice in suffering. There it was, a giant exclamation point to his request so, step one…get ready for class…I plan to be a great student this lent.

A Seed To Plant:  Pray with your whole heart to know the desires of the Father for your lenten journey.  Remember, it’s about your holiness and your relationship with him.  Ask him to make it clear and make it personal.​

Blessings on your day!

So humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time.  1Peter 5:6

It’s almost time my friends…lent is less than a week away so it’s time to start thinking about growing in holiness!  Today I offer a few questions for all of us to think on and pray with in these next few days.  

*What are the habits and behaviors I seem to “go back to” even though I try to avoid or change them.

*In times of stress or frustration, what do I turn to for consolation?  Is it prayer or something else?

*If Jesus took human form and spent the day with me, what would he notice or encourage me to do differently?

*When I hear the word “Sacrifice” what comes to mind?  

*On a scale of 1 to 10 how comfortable is my  life and how important is comfort and convenience to me?

Lent isn’t meant to be a time of torture but giving up beach swimming for lent in Michigan isn’t really going to develop much holiness.  As with all things, balance is key.  Lent is a time for God to exalt you.  The sacrifices we make are supposed to help us grow closer to God and that isn’t always easy work.  The work of holiness can be really hard and it requires change and that often means being uncomfortable and inconvenienced, so as we ponder these questions let’s pray that the Father will help us discover the ways he’s inviting us to humble ourselves before him and be touched by the power of his mighty hand.

A Seed To Plant:  Take these questions to prayer and jot down what he puts on your heart so we can take a look at them on Monday and form a lenten plan.​

Blessings on your day!

He must become greater, I must become less. John 3:30 

Crosses, daisies and faithful Disciples of Jesus!  That pretty much sums up the past couple of months for me!  In the last few months I have spoken to  several hundred folks who were on the same mission…to grow in holiness.  As usual, I show up with my computer to do what God has asked me to do, using the words the Holy Spirit gives me and think I’m giving something.  In all truthfulness; I always walk away taking more than I gave! 

The Lenten message I’ve shared a few times involves the image of crosses and daisies.  I saw a meme on Ash Wednesday that said “pick up your cross and not a handful of daisies!”  It made me laugh and it made me think.  After I pondered it a bit I realized Lent is about recognizing the power of both the crosses and the daisies.  The daisies are the beautiful, simple, Christlike things I can do dozens of times each day that help me think of others more and myself less.  The daisies are tiny acts of service and compassion that truly do help us grow in holiness.  If these things are offered to Jesus with love, they console his heart and they draw our attention to the service of others and not ourselves.  If I smile instead of argue; if I offer my spot in line or hold open the door; if I walk away instead of gossiping; if I offer a helping hand to a struggling soul and I do all those things out of love for Jesus…those little daisies allow holiness to blossom.  Anything done out of love for, and offered to Jesus, has results that are as pleasing to him as a beautiful daisy is to us.

The crosses are the tough stuff!  It’s true that the daisies help us grow in holiness but life can’t be all daisies.  The crosses are personal, they may be private and they may be heavy but Jesus is just waiting there beside us ready to help us with the heavy lifting.  We have to reach down and pick them up before he will grab on and help with the struggle.  Our free will doesn’t allow him to join in until we get started and ask for help.  Sometimes I hover over my crosses.  I would imagine I must look to Jesus like one of those professional weight lifters on TV.  I rub my hands, make some noise, bend down, practice the motions but as I step up to grab the cross I put my hands on it but don’t always stand up with the weight in my hand; I just go through the warm-up again and never get to the heavy lifting.  Lent is the perfect time to quit the warm up and get to the lifting.  No more studying the crosses; no more dragging the crosses; it’s time for ready set LIFT and CARRY!
As you focus on your crosses and daisies this lent, stop to tell your story and stop to ask others about their story.  God doesn’t mean for us to bear our crosses in silence.  We are called to support and love each other along the way.  

A Seed To Plant:  Make  a list of the crosses and daisies you will focus on this week.​

Blessings on your day!

“Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile.” Blessed Mother Teresa

Now there is a Lenten challenge!  There is just some advice that needs to be followed and this power-packed tidbit from Mother Theresa begs to be heeded.  I shared this quote during prayer with the middle lovelies last week and they all agreed it would make the world a whole lot better but then one very honest young man said, “But man Mrs. Wohlfert, that’s just so hard to do.”  I told him I agreed completely!

This quote has been heavy on my mind for several days and I’ve discovered it’s much easier to live these words when you’re in control of the situation and interactions are pleasant. I was intentional about this quote for a few days and I was pretty good at living this challenge when I would slow down, look people in the eyes when they spoke and be still until they were finished with the conversation.  It seemed a bit awkward at first but after a few days it became more second nature.  I was feeling pretty good about it until that situation I hadn’t planned for; you know the ones that catch you by surprise and tilt you off your balance.  I had one of those situations this weekend and I totally blew it…I was frazzled and almost instantly I reacted and it wasn’t a reaction that matched the quote!  I wasn’t the Wicked Witch of the West or anything but as I replayed the event I realized my reaction was based on selfishness and pride.  A few hours later I was still really heavy hearted about the whole thing so I stopped to pray about it. (I don’t know why I always wait so long to do that!) After just a few seconds of quiet prayer it was very clear that I needed to apologize.  I needed to call myself out on the selfishness and pride.  I needed to admit that I was thinking of myself first and others second and I had to admit that I hadn’t left anyone better or happier with my snappy reaction.  The more I tried to talk myself out of apologizing, the more I realized I needed to do it and do it soon.  After a giant gulp of pride with a huge serving of humble pie on the side, I made the apology and shared the story of my failure to live out this quote.  The apology was graciously accepted and thankfully my reaction was a much bigger deal in my mind than in actuality!

The funny thing about the whole situation…I was the one who left feeling happier and better.  Crazy, I thought that was the gift I was going to give; not the one I was going to get.  God is good and lesson learned…for today anyway!  Thank goodness God expects progress not perfection!

A Seed To Plant: Make it your goal this week to live this verse. Think about the people it will be easiest and hardest to live it with and then ask God to bless your attempts.​

Blessings on your day!

…he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion…Philippians 1:6

Every so often, something so amazing happens in our classroom that I feel like I should sign my paycheck over to the kids!  Last week I had one of those days!  It started as a simple job, but it turned into something so inspiring!  Ash Wednesday, all my female middle lovelies were singing like angels in the school choir and all the boys were asked by our friend Beth to help unpack and display all the Lenten Prayer Books available for parishioners.  When the boys returned to the classroom, a few of them had a copy of Matthew Kelly’s book, Rediscovering Jesus.  They were so excited to have a copy.  I was pleased that they were interested in the book but didn’t give it a whole lot more thought.  At the end of the day, I heard the boys who had grabbed the book having a discussion.  Since the book had 40 short chapters, they decided to read one each day of Lent and discuss the questions at the end of each chapter at morning recess.  I was stunned! The next morning, right before recess, they cracked open the book and began discussing the questions. At the sight of that, the rest of the boys decided to join them.  There was a quick run to church to grab more copies of the book and discuss the plans for their “Boys book study.”  

The girls in the room were watching and listening just like I was and one of them ask if they could do a book study too.  With all the sweetness and sincerity they could muster, one of them told me that it was the boys idea and they didn’t want to “steal”  their book.  I promised to go on Amazon that night and pick something for them to start next week.  I am ditching part of my lesson plans for the next few weeks so they can put their full effort into a Lenten book designed to help them grow in holiness.  When they left the room that day, I flopped down in my chair and I just started to cry.  I don’t know if I’ve ever been prouder of a group of students!  I am so inspired by them.  What they did was absolutely unprompted by an adult, it wasn’t suggested, offered, assigned or instigated by a big person…it was just some 12 year olds who wanted to make Lent a time to grow closer to Christ. 

These kids are amazing, they come from fabulous homes and they are surrounded by a community that prays for and supports them and boy does it show!  I’m old; I have degrees and I’ve been to seminars and trainings and workshops but I am so often outdone by the faith and spirit of the kids I get to spend my days with!  I don’t know if they will process the books the same way an adult will; I don’t know how in-depth their discussions will be; I don’t know if they will find the text difficult and frustrating at times but I believe the words of St. Paul to the Philippians and I know he will complete the good work he started with these amazing  kids who fill the seats in room 6-1.  I think it’s fair to say…the teacher just got schooled…and for that I am grateful!

A Seed To Plant: Be like these amazing kids…pick up a book and grow in holiness as you take 40 days to work your way through it.  There will be grace!​

Blessings on your day!

…and your Father who sees…Matthew 6:6

Happy Lent!  Welcome to that time of year when we set out with all our hearts to grow in holiness. For me, it’s easy to look at the road to holiness and feel a little overwhelmed because I get so off track.  It’s easy for me to look at lent as a time to “bear down” and do some really hard stuff to show Jesus I’m so thankful for all he did.  My intentions are good but I read something today that was so very simple and so very powerful that it adjusted my thinking in a beautiful way..

One of the prayer books I was reading mentioned that three times in Ash Wednesday’s Gospel it said “The Father Sees.”  Clear back in the book of Genesis he looked around and saw that it was good. How did I miss that?  I’ve heard that Gospel on Ash Wednesday dozens of times and never caught that!   More years that not, I set out to do some crazy long list of stuff in order to “make up” for all my shortcomings the rest of the year.  Lent certainly has a penitential feel and purpose but it’s not a time to lock ourselves in a personal dungeon and be crabby and miserable for 6 weeks.

I think I wanted to do hard stuff so Jesus would see me and notice all the sacrifice and love and suffering.  The author of this little article pointed out so clearly, the Father sees…he sees ALL THE TIME and he sees us with such love and mercy.  It made me think of a chubby cheeked baby and how I just want to kiss their face off when I see one!  I believe the Father looks at us that way every…singe…time!  He’s always looking, he doesn’t miss a thing so that realization changed the way I thought about Lent this year.  The point is not to get the Father’s attention; not to get him to look at me and the hard stuff I’m doing.  The point is to get ME to look at HIM!

One of the things I decided to work on this Lent was speaking patiently.  Sometimes people say silly stuff and it can be tough to resist the eye roll or stare or “Way to go Captain Obvious” attitude.  Today was one of those days when I had many opportunities to practice this Lenten Promise.  It was easier to do today because each time I wanted to react badly, I looked up first and quickly said, “Lord I see you and I will try to be like you.”  The wave of patience that washed over me each time I did that was amazing.

If you’ve ever taken children to the pool, you know how many times they can say “hey watch this” in thirty minutes.  That was the way I did Lent; hey Jesus, look at me I’m not eating chocolate or hey Jesus did you see that I went to an extra daily mass today, wasn’t that good of me, doesn’t that count for extra?  It was almost like a giant score card and Lent was the bonus round!  Now, I realize it’s me watching him.  It sure takes a lot of the pressure off!  My biggest Lenten task is to do the things that help me fix my gaze on him. If I’m looking to him and I know he’s looking at me, that influences my choices and attitudes; that helps me grow in holiness.

A Seed To Plant:  Look at your Lenten list, what things are there that will help you look at Jesus the way he looks at you?​

Blessings on your day!