This week's immersion focuses on Apostle Paul's words to Timothy. "Reflect on what I am saying" in regards to joining up with God's mission.  You will see much to reflect on in our scripture selections perparing for Lent.

As we step into this week of reflection,

We celebrate You, Father, the Rock for our souls;

We celebrate You, Jesus, the Redeemer of our souls;

We celebrate You, Spirit, the Refresher of our souls;

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

The full reading is Matthew 26:36-45

Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."  He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.  

Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will but as you will." 

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping.  "Couldn't you men keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter.  "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

What jumps out at you from this reading? Ask God why…

Let God assess your prayer life with you; seek his advice.

How Great Thou Art

Carl G. Boberg

And when I thinjk that God, His son not sparing,
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing
He bled and died to take away my sin.
Then sings my soul My Savior, God, to Thee
How great thou art, How great thou art,

Remember: Take five to ten minutes a day to stop and listen, to connect with God in music. Let the Holy Spirit use it to feed your soul.

Joshua 1:5b-8a

As I was with Moses, so I will be wih you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 

Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.

Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on i day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.

Father God, just as you called Moses and Joshua, you also led them in all that they would do for you, asking that they spoke your Word, meditated on it, and were careful to obey.

This is the relationship I seek with you,asking that you also lead me in all that you call me to do. I commit here to keep your Word central to my life, to meditate on it, and I will seek to obey it.

Grant me a strong measure of your Holy Spirit to accomplish this to your glory.

Amen

The Four Spheres of Life for Disciples

A mere understanding of salvation in Jesus doesn't make a person Christ-like in action or mature in faith. God uses many relationships to bring us to maturity. Jim Putman suggests four "speheres" or main areas of the life in which a disciple grows under God's hand.

1. In relation to God himself
2. In relation to God's family, the church
3. In the person's home life
4. In relationship to the world.

DiscipleShift, Putman page 78

Philippians 4:8-9

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- think about such things. 

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me -- put it into practice.  And the God of peace will be with you.

If you read through the Bible, you get a sense that the soul was designed to search for God. The Hebrew Scriptures - which might be thought of as the great soul-book of human literature -- are almost obsessed with this though. 

• The soul thirsts for the Might One (Psalms 63:1).
• It thirsts for him like parched land thirdsts for water (Psalms 143:6).
• Like a laser, it focuses the full intensity of its desires on him (Psalms 33:20).
• It lifts itself up to him (Psalms 25:1).
• It blesses him (Psalms 103:1-2, 22).
• It clings to him (Psalms 63:8).
• It waits for him in silence (Psalms 62:1).

Indeed, the soul lives in God... For the soul to be well, it needs to be with God.

Soul Keeping, John Ortberg, pages 116, 117

Father God, you know better than I do the needs of my soul. Help me to trust your guidance and to feed my soul regularly. Let me internalize the truth that even with a willing spirit, my flesh will struggle to act -- and so to plan accordingly by being intentional in putting you central to each day. I want to 'put into practice' what is good for my soul, living an excellent and praiseworthy life – in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Joshua, aide to Moses

(Read Joshua Chapters 3 and 4)

Praised spy of Canaan, aide to Moses, Joshua was groomed by God to lead His people in the wake of Moses' departure. Joshua clearly understood whom he was serving, having been on the Mount of God during the giving of the 10 Commandments.

God's people flourished under Joshua's ladership, and much of that could be traced back to Joshua's personal faith and walk with God. He made sure that he and his own family stayed centered on the Lord, regardless of his station in life.

He sets a good example for us.

Selected versus from Psalm 19 (read the whole chapter)

The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul.
The statues of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
Who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults.
Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression.
May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Thank you, Father, for the blessings that come in and through your Word. Refreshment of soul, joy to the heart, light to the eyes. Let your Word show me any sin that's ruling over me and stealing my joy and refreshment; remove it that I can be blameless before you, pleasing in your sight.

And thank you, Jesus, for forgiveness that runs deeper than I even know. You are a life-saver, and worthy of all my praise - I give it to you now and forever,

Amen.