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Jeremiah 17.5-10

Thus says the Lord: Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals and make mere flesh their strength, whose hearts turn away from the Lord.They shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when relief comes. They shall live in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit. The heart is devious above all else; it is perverse— who can understand it? I the Lord test the mind and search the heart, to give to all according to their ways, according to the fruit of their doings.

Life gets more complicated all the time doesn't it? If it's not figuring out some new mystifying technology, it's figuring out how to protect yourself and your loved ones from the newest plague. You also have to figure out how to deal with so many other humans who have amazingly strong opinions about so many things. Even for the "doers" in this world, it can get overwhelming. Then here comes Jeremiah's words of wisdom. I'll admit that I was initially turned off when he starts off by talking about being "cursed" - but I read on and we got to the tree.

Trees just quietly stand there and trust through all seasons. They house the birds and squirrels. They shade even those who don't deserve it. Even naked their silhouettes against the winter sky take my breath away. The roots reach down and the limbs reach up and they quietly produce fruit and just do what they need to do. They wait, they stand and they trust.

God, help me to quiet down, look up and listen carefully. Help me to reach further down into your unending love and turn palms up as I receive your warmth and carefully trust day after day no matter what turmoil is going on. Thanks for these words Jeremiah.

Lenten Reflection for Wednesday, February 27 
Jan Hansen 

Philippians 3:12-21

12 Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal;^* but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. ¹³Beloved,^* I do not consider that I have made it my own;^*but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴I press on towards the goal for the prize of the heavenly^* call of God in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too God will reveal to you. ¹⁶Only let us hold fast to what we have attained.

17 Brothers and sisters,^* join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. ¹⁸For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. ¹⁹Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. ²⁰But our citizenship^* is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. ²¹He will transform the body of our humiliation^* so that it may be conformed to the body of his glory,^* by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself. 

Citizenship is a hot topic these days.  The fears and struggles of those living in a land where they are supposedly "illegal" should be familiar to all.  Even if one is "legal" there is a fear to safeguard passports and wait in LONG lines to get "REAL" IDs ( if one can find all the correct documentation!)  

In researching this REAL ID thing, apparently there are some with stars and some with American flags.  All very confusing and intimidating.  What a soothing reminder Paul gives - "BUT OUR citizenship is in heaven!"  Jesus supplied all the documentation needed for that citizenship for us on the cross.  And even though we can't get a REAL ID that is marked with the cross of Christ, WE are marked with the cross of Christ and must "press on towards the goal for the prize fo the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus."  

Sharing in the fellowship of his suffering with you this Lenten season,
Jan Hanen