Today is Monday, February 19th, the first day of the first week of Lent. A unique Lenten

journey where I'm unining with my brothers and sisters from Bridgetown Church in a

season of prayer and fasting, seeking an increase of faith to come alive in me and in us between now and resurrection warning.

As I enter prayer now, I slow my body and quiet my mind, setting my whole being in the presence of the living God who is ever present to me, aiming all of my desire at the father who loves to give good

gifts to his children, who sets a table for me in the presence of my enemies, and who prepares a place for me even now. And the Lord restored and the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Aba Father, in this Lenten season of prayer and fasting, I remember Jesus in the wilderness now.

Fasting for 40 days of testing and temptation.

Jesus resisted lesser appetites out of desire, not duty.

Desire for me, to call me his own and bring me home.

Holy Spirit, would you awaken my desire now?

The greater hunger for which I am resisting lesser loves.

Would my day begin and my prayer flow

from the deep longing that I'm holding before you this Lenten season. You're not going to be? Today's reading is from Psalm 126. When the Lord restored the fortunes in Zion, we were like those who dream.

Then our mouth was filled with laughter and our tongue with shouts of joy.

Then they said among the nations,

The Lord has done great things for them. The Lord has done

great things for us. We are glad. Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams and

the Negev. Those who so in tears shall reap with shouts of joy.

He who goes out weeping bearing the seat of sewing

shall come home with shouts of joy,

bringing his sheaves with him. Dreams. That's what the Spirit of God gives to those he indwells. I will pour out my spirit on all people your sons and daughters will prophesy your old men will dream dreams your young men will see visions

old men and women those who have walked behind Jesus long enough to have weak knees and

frail frames who have seen it all or so they think.

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