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View this email in your browser A daily Lenten e-mail with lessons of hope and courage, inspired by a variety of resources to encourage us in these confusing and turbulent times from St. Luke’s Church, Lebanon. Monday - Fourth Week in Lent All through the gospels Jesus performed miracles as a testimony to his mission from God. These seek to give evidence of how God is a God of abundant mercy. Many expect these signs and wonders as “proof” of his identity. Perhaps this is because many expect the gift of faith to arise from external evidence like miracles; rather, an authentic faith arises from an interior revelation from God in which He communicates God's self to us. We respond to this revelation by our trust in this interior leading. Jesus did signs and wonders not to prove anything but to demonstrate God's lovingkindness for God's creation. He offered these miracles not because anyone deserved them, but to allow this generosity to spark faith in the lives of those who otherwise found it hard to believe through the interior gift of faith alone. It is important to understand that we need to develop our faith without relying upon external signs. Imagine, for example, if Jesus would have never performed any miracles. How many people would have come to believe in him? Certainly there would have been some who came to believe, and those who did would have had a faith that was exceptionally deep and authentic. The deepest form of faith is born in our lives when we choose to love God and serve Him, even when things are very difficult. Faith in the midst of difficulty is a sign of deeply authentic faith. Reflect, today, upon the depth of your own faith. Seek to have true faith at all times and in every circumstance and you will be amazed at how real and sustaining your faith becomes. Scripture Lessons appointed for the day (Click on the lesson for the text) Isaiah 65:17–25 John 4:43–54 Psalm 30:1–6,11–13 “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” ― Corrie ten Boom Authentic faith . . . Do I believe because of what God can do for me? When life is hard, do you love God and serve Him anyway? Even if God doesn’t remove the crosses you may carry? We Walk by Faith Ned Tipton and the St. John's Cathedral Compline Choir  Los Angeles "Faith is to believe what you cannot see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe." - St. Augustine Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.