Vineyard Notes from Pastor Jimmy: Season of Fasting

March 2, 2022
 
Hello, Family and Friends,
 
Today is Ash Wednesday, a day of repentance, when people of different Christian denominations confess their sins and profess their devotion to God.  It is a counter-cultural sentiment, especially in a time when we can be easily consumed with anger over the war in Ukraine, the cost of inflation, and the long pandemic season.  
 
I don’t know about you, but it is easy for me to think about all the bad things I don’t like about this world and about other people, and it is much harder to look inward and repent for the areas in my life that I have yet to surrender to Jesus.
 
We want to invite you into a season of looking inward into our lives so that we are able to repent and focus on the Lord through devotionals and fasting.  Seasons of fasting are Biblical, because they take our eyes off of the routine of life so that we can set our eyes on God and what He is saying to us.
 
Joel 2:12-14, “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” 13 Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. 14Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave behind a blessing— grain offerings and drink offerings for the Lord your God.”
 
We have been going through a long and hard season, but the Lord desires to bless us in the midst of it.  Many of us welcome material blessings, but I believe He wants to bless us with a deeper awareness of His presence and His love.  
 
Join us for the This Is Love season of Fasting and Devotions.  This season will start this coming Monday, March 7 until Saturday, April 16.  Join us as we do three things:
 
1. Participate in the daily weekday devotional on Facebook (vvinfo.org/FB) and YouTube (vvinfo.org/YouTube) at 9 AM.   Follow the 6-day-a-week Bible reading plan that coordinates with the devotionals.
 
2. Plan to fast for six weeks (3/7-4/16).  Abstain from eating certain foods, fast from food certain days/times, or take time off of social media or another activity.  Use the time and the focus you would regularly use to enjoy these activities to instead feast on Jesus while you fast.
 
3. Make plans to join us on Good Friday, April 15th at 7 PM, to recognize our redemption by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.  
 
For more information and to download the fasting brochure go to the church app or to vvinfo.org/fast, or you can pick up a printed copy at the church lobby this Sunday.
 
The Lord is with us, and He is for us,


Pastor Jimmy Reyes
Lead Pastor