Events of the Moment

As I write this, my heart is heavy. Heidi and I watched the events unfold in Iran, and we grieved deeply over what was taking place. We are praying earnestly for our nation, for the President, for the men and women serving in our military, for the people in Iran, and our Christian brothers and sisters around the Middle East. A close friend of ours is currently deployed, and we continue to pray for him.

In moments like these, we naturally ask how we should respond. We wrestle with uncertainty, fear, and even anger. However, our Christian faith gives us a solid foundation to rest upon. God is sovereign over all things, and Jesus reigns and will eternally reign.

As Christians, our faith and our hope are always in God. We look at these events with hope and remember a few things.

  1. We are living in the last days. Scripturally, the last days began with the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:16-17; Heb 1:1-2; 1 Peter 1:20; 1 John 2:18, Jude 17-18).
  2. God is sovereign over all details in the world. He is on His throne, completely in charge (Psalm 47:7-8; Daniel 4:17, 35; Acts 17:26; Isaiah 40:17 and Matthew 28:18).
  3. History is moving to a “Last Day.” On that day, there will be the resurrection (John 6:39-40; 11:24), final judgment (John 12:48, Revelation 20:11-15),  Jesus will vanquish His enemies once for all (Revelation 19:11-16), establish His Kingdom on the new earth, and reign eternally (Revelation 21:1-8). In other words, Jesus gains eternal victory, and nothing will hinder history’s progress.

Are we nearing the end? Will the war hasten its end? All I’m sure of is we know “our salvation is nearer than when we first believed” (Romans 13:11). While we wait, remain faithful to God. Make disciples of Christ. Pray fervently while you love God and love others.

40 Days of Lent

Lent is the 40‑day season Christians use to prepare their hearts for Easter. It begins tomorrow, February 18, on Ash Wednesday and concludes on the Saturday before Easter, excluding Sundays. Historically, Lent has been a time of reflection, repentance, and intentional preparation—a season set aside to turn our hearts and affections toward Jesus and His saving work.

Lent is, at its core, a season of preparation. Many Christians choose to give something up or add something meaningful to their lives during these weeks. As you consider how to enter this Lenten season, here are a few simple practices to guide you.

1. Sunday Worship

Make corporate worship a priority. There are six Sundays before Easter—commit to being present and engaged each week.

2. Read

Spend time in Scripture throughout Lent. Consider focusing on the Gospels, especially the final days of Jesus’ life and ministry.

3. Fast

Ask the Lord if there is something you should set aside for these forty days. Perhaps you could fast from one meal each week and use that time for prayer. Or maybe God is prompting you to step away from a non‑food distraction.

4. Serve

Many churches offer opportunities to serve during the Easter season. How might you use your gifts to bless your church family as Easter approaches?

5. Invite

Make it a point to invite someone to join you for Easter worship. Lent is a natural time to extend that invitation.

The Easter season is a sweet and meaningful time of year. Prepare your heart for Easter morning by worshiping with your church family and fixing your attention on Christ. As you do, you may find that the habits of grace you cultivate during Lent become rhythms you want to carry with you long after Easter—and that’s part of the beauty of this season.