Friends of The Good Shepherd,

I hope you are having a good week, filled with an awareness of God’s blessings in your life. If you have not already begun to do so, I encourage you to take some extra time during this season of Lent to refocus your life and draw closer to God. 

This coming Sunday, the Second Sunday in the church season of Lent, we will hear the passage from Paul’s Letter to the Philippians.  Paul says to the church of Philipi “our citizenship is in heaven.” He is reminding the church to stay focused on the faith that has been passed on to them, and not on the ways of the world around them. Apparently there had been some among them who were not acting as citizens of heaven, and Paul is urging the rest of the community not to be distracted by them.
This is a reminder to us as well, to stay focused on The Way of Jesus that brings us the fullness of life and not on any one or any thing else. Who or what are the distractions in your life right now? Who or what is upsetting you, occupying way too much space in your brain and heart? Let’s not allow the poor examples of others to influence our own actions.
Instead, turn to God and talk to God about the distractions in your life. Ask God to forgive you of any unfaithfulness, and to help you to let go of the distractions. Then, ask God to help you to stay focused on The Way of Jesus.

See you Sunday!

  Pastor Dan