On The Road to Emmaus Meet the Hero of the Story

Posted on March 19, 2014 by Donna Harris

On The Road to Emmaus, Meet the Hero of the Story

40 Gifts of Lent | Gift 13

Reflections on Luke 20 – end

Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. Luke 24:17 (NASB)

We often read the Bible as if it were fundamentally about us: our improvement, our life, our triumph, our victory, our faith, our holiness, our godliness. We treat it like a book of timeless principles that will give us our best life now if we simply apply those principles. We treat it, in other words, like it’s a heaven-sent self-help manual. But by looking at the Bible as if it were fundamentally about us, we totally miss the Point…like the two on the road to Emmaus.

As Luke 24 shows, it’s possible to read the Bible, while missing the whole point of the Bible. It’s entirely possible to read the stories and miss the real Story.

Contrary to popular assumptions, the Bible is not a record of the blessed good, but rather the blessed bad. The Bible is not a witness to the best people making it up to God; it’s a witness to God making it down to the worst people. The OT predicts God’s rescuer; the NT presents God’s rescuer.

There are lots of stories in the Bible, but all the stories are telling one Big Story. The Story of how God loves his children and comes to rescue them. So, if we read the Bible asking first, “What would Jesus do?” instead of asking “What has Jesus done” we’ll miss the good news that alone can set us free.

In all of its pages and throughout all of its stories, the Word of the Lord reveals the Lord of the Word. Some people think the Bible is a book of heroes, showing you people you should copy. The Bible does have some heroes in it, but (as you’ll soon find out) most of the people in the Bible aren’t heroes at all. They make some big mistakes (sometimes on purpose), they get afraid and run away. At times, they’re downright mean.

The gift is the plot line of the Bible, which is Jesus-centered. He is the Hero of the Story.

Adapted and Quoted from The Gospel Coalition | Tullian Tchividjian | Reading the Stories and Missing the Story | Reading the Bible Narcissistically

About 40 Gifts of Lent

I am anticipating the arrival of Easter and celebrating the most amazingly good gift I’ve ever received. I want to focus my heart on the fulfilled expectation of Christ’s first coming and the glorious expectation of His second coming. I want to focus on the freedom I have in Christ to overcome strongholds, yet also to gain strength, hope, and peace as I lean into the trials…To continue reading, please go here: 40 Gifts of Lent

Repentant Helplessness

Posted on March 12, 2014 by Donna Harris

Repentant Helplessness

40 Gifts of Lent | Gift 7

Reflections on Mark 6 – 11

“I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief.” Mark 9:24

I’m trying to be brave but I’m full of doubts. I am helpless to cure myself, to stop repeating the same mistakes, and to fill my mind with peace. There are many times when I’m running through life at a very fast pace, doing my own thing without prayer…unaware of the danger that lurks around the corner.

The danger ahead is doubting and unbelief and failure to call out to God. I’ve created so many messes because of not trusting God’s plan nor asking for his help. I’ve picked up my own shovel to dig ruts and large potholes just for me to trip over and fall into face first. Why do I do this over and over again? It’s the pain of sin and helplessness that brings me to my knees.

The amazing gift is that I don’t need to wash off the dirt and mud or clean and bandage the wounds before approaching God, just a repentant helplessness. He has already washed me and healed the moral and spiritual wounds. When I am weak and cannot muster the strength to meet these challenges, all I need to say is, “Help me.”

I sense his embrace, my soul is brighter and I’m ready to walk (or run) around the corner to face what life has in store.

Additional Reading: King’s Cross by Tim Keller

About 40 Gifts of Lent

A Really Good Story

Posted on March 11, 2014 by Donna Harris

A Really Good Story

40 Gifts of Lent | Gift 6

Reflections on Mark 1 – 5

He did not say anything to them without using a story. Mark 4:34

We want to raise a generation who find their identity in the story of God. Tell them a story they will never forget, a life changing truth that is bigger and better than themselves. Teach them, instruct them…cause them to ponder and question, to want more of a really good story.

Thank you God for making us characters in and carriers of your great story of grace. You are the author, the narrator of this really good story, the hero that rescues us from ourselves.

Look for God in these coming days, to write stories of redemption that will reveal his glory and showcase his grace—leaving you reveling in his goodness and rejoicing in him.

We’ll grow in our lives what we plant with our love” ~Bob Goff

About 40 Gifts of Lent 2014

I love the anticipation of celebrating birthdays with my children and grandchildren and can’t wait to gather again with my family and friends around a brightly lit tree at Christmas. My focus for any event or special occasion is mostly on the gift I will buy and then tape it up with all of the wrapping and trimmings to make it a beautiful presentation to give away. I do enjoy watching them rip into the paper and toss the pretty bow without a care to get to the inside of that package.

It’s so much fun to be on the receiving end of good gifts!

I am anticipating the arrival of Easter and celebrating the most amazingly good gift I’ve ever received. I want to focus my heart on the fulfilled expectation of Christ’s first coming and the glorious expectation of His second coming. I want to focus on the freedom I have in Christ to overcome strongholds, yet also to gain strength, hope, and peace as I lean into the trials…To continue reading, please go here: 40 Gifts of Lent

Watch Wait…Be Ready

Posted on March 10, 2014 by Donna Harris

Watch, Wait…Be Ready

40 Gifts of Lent | Gift 5

Reflections on Matthew 25 – end

Watch, therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” Matthew 25:13

And the story shines on with light fighting the darkness, gaining victory over strongholds, giving strength through the trials. The king, the giver of life and bearer of true light is betrothed, he has gone on a journey, and he is going to return to be married.

We are his bride and a bride prepares to meet her bridegroom.

The bridegroom is coming!
Watch for his return
Wait…
Be ready!

We are called to watch for him, to do our work to prepare for him. Do not lose hope in waiting. Do not fall asleep when there is work to be done.

The gift of readiness is to be alive and alert…to use all of the means God has given you to know him and love him and trust him.

“So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may stay away from temptation. Your spirit wants to do what is right, but your body is weak.” Matthew 26:40-41 (ESV and Easy-to-Read version)

Reflections on Matthew 25 – 28

About 40 Gifts of Lent

It’s so much fun to be on the receiving end of good gifts!

Lent is usually about giving something up to remember the sufferings and ultimate price that Christ endured on our behalf. But I’m not doing that this year. While I’ll never forget the price Jesus paid to rescue me, I don’t want to give something up in order to remember…to receive inner peace or a personal triumph of going without.

I want to anticipate and receive unexpected gifts during Lent. I want to rip open beautiful presents everyday to discover a different gift inside. When I discovered the link to #theLentChallenge to read the entire New Testament during Lent 2014, I immediately knew, by making this commitment, I would receive (at least) 40 gifts! My heart is bursting at its seams in anticipation for the gifts God will show me.

You are welcome to join me in opening a new gift everyday. It’s not too late to start.

More Grace,
Donna

Worry Dethrones God |Sunday Respite | 40 Gifts of Lent 2014

Posted on March 9, 2014 by Donna Harris

The gift of being treasured by the one who sacrificed his life.
The gift of not worrying as the anxious thoughts fly away.
The gift of more grace and praying his kingdom come.

All worry dethrones God
All worrying says that we need to be King
because God is incompetent
When the King really rules your world,
you really don’t need to worry ~Ann VosKamp

Reflecting on Matthew 6:1-31
40 Gifts of Lent 2014

About 40 Gifts of Lent

Take heart, sons and daughters

Posted on March 6, 2014 by Donna Harris

Take heart, sons and daughters

40 Gifts of Lent | Gift 2

Reflections on Matthew 8 -12

You are not a second-class citizen. If you know Christ, He is even now cleansing you and thereby enabling you to approach Him with gladness. Expect your faith to be strengthened. Expect to be touched by Christ. Expect a miraculous healing of your heart.

Take heart, sons and daughters…Jesus is the gift. Come to him, you who are weighted down with grief and suffering and you will find rest for your souls. He is gentle and lowly and he understands everything about you.

Ask him to touch your life. He will stretch out his hand to you.

And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him…Matthew 8:3

“I will come and heal him.” Matthew 8:7

He touched her hand…Matthew 8:15

“If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” Matthew 9: 21 – 22

…he went in and took her by the hand… Matthew 9: 25

Then he touched their eyes… Matthew 9:29

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11: 28 – 30 (The Message)

About 40 Gifts of Lent

It’s so much fun to be on the receiving end of good gifts!

Life and Light

Posted on March 5, 2014 by Donna Harris

Life and Light

40 Gifts of Lent | Gift 1

Reflections on Matthew 1 – 7

You are the light that shines for the world to see. Matthew 5:14

The gift of God’s son as the light of the world gives life
A darkness has been flooded with light and is no more
His infinite love for us has shattered this darkness
And the flicker of light grows bigger
The gift of life and light to the world cannot be hidden

If your life, by its order, by the way in which you handle pressure, by the way in which you take criticism, by the way in which you treat the people who work under you, if you are like Jesus Christ, the beauty of that is going to show up the reality of the environment. A good light shows you real color, right?

Have you ever noticed that sometimes you pull out a pair of socks, and you can’t tell if they’re blue or black, and you look in one light and you still can’t tell, and you have to come to a good light in order to tell whether it’s blue or black? A real good light shows you the real colors. If you are a Christian walking like Jesus Christ, then the beauty of your life shows everybody around you what is good and what is bad.~Tim Keller, Salt and Light

About 40 Gifts of Lent

It’s so much fun to be on the receiving end of good gifts!

You are welcome to join me in opening a new gift everyday. It’s not too late to start.

More Grace,
Donna

Donna Harris‑More Grace

A Life Filled with More Grace is a Story Worth Sharing

Tag Archives: Reflections

On The Road to Emmaus Meet the Hero of the Story