Scotty Williams

Passage

“Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, ‘Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?’ They replied, ‘Certainly, Your Majesty.’“ (Daniel 3:24)

Reflection

While answering the call of God to fasting, prayer, and repentance, Lent is a time to answer the many things that are against us. Our foes, be they devils or temptations in our lives, work hard to make us feel alone while on the road of faith. They aim give us a sense of isolation and fear that we might heed their voices and follow where they lead. Nevertheless, we must remind our foes that we are never alone, for we always have the company of an ever-present God. With us always is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit Who will keep us and guide us beyond the end of our days.

Prayer

O Ever-Present God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), help us to not forget that we are never alone. With You we travel from this life with broken cities to a life that is eternal with a city not made by hands. May we not forget You when a foe should cross our path and ask, “Where is Your God?”, that we might heed its fearful voice. May we boldly answer back, “Our God is here beside us”, and carry on in faith while trusting in Your loving voice. To You be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Donut of the Day

Today’s donut is the Bugne. Though French pastry is made of deep fried ribbons of dough and is eaten during the Carnaval season.

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Passage

“He sent darkness and made the land dark—for had they not rebelled against his words?“ (Psalm 105:28)

Reflection

Unbeknownst to many rebellion is a major theme of Lent, and there are two rebellions we think about while fasting, praying, and repenting. The first is one of sin which Jesus Christ has saved us from, where we went against the way of God and chose unrighteousness. And the second is one of grace which Christ has saved us to, we go against the way of sin and choose His righteousness. As we look forward to Easter we are grateful for freedom from sin, and commit to rising against it by grace whenever we encounter it.

Prayer

Our Lord Jesus, Who set us free from sin and set us free to live by grace and walk in righteousness. May we not go back to our former selfish ways, which hindered us from loving God and those You call our neighbour. May we choose Your selfless way over and over again. Your way which brings us peace with God and blessings for all people. In Your gracious name we pray. Amen.

Donut of the Day

Today’s donut is the Twisted. Though this type of donut is eaten around the world, it is most enjoyed in Korea, China, Japan, and the Philippines.

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Passage

“The king sent and released him, the ruler of peoples set him free.“ (Psalm 105:20)

Reflection

One reason that we give things up during the Lenten season is that it calls for liberation or being set free. Lent moves us to be released by letting go of things that bind us and hold us back in faith and better enjoying life. Through fasting, prayer, and repentance we can delight more in this world and better honour the God Who has blessed us with its wonders.

Prayer

O Generous King, Who has given us many blessings, we ask that You forgive us for the times that we misuse them. From the food that we receive each day to our relationships with others, each of these is a precious gift to rightly be enjoyed. Lord, set us free from what stifles our delight in these gifts, and above all what stifles our delight in You. Amen.

Donut of the Day

Today’s donut is the Fastnachtskiechli. This popular Swiss fritter, which is eaten during Carnaval, is made of paper-thin dough that is baked until crispy and covered in powdered sugar.

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Passage

“He remembers His covenant forever, the promise He made, for a thousand generations,“ (Psalm 105:8)

Reflection

While it is important to not forget the Lord, it is equally important to know that we are not forgotten. There is never a moment where He does not remember us, and we are always on His mind with thoughts of care and great delight. The Lord’s concern for us is a constant priority, and yet it goes hand in hand with a joy in who we are. And even we feel neglected and shameful to the heaven, He care and delight persist and He fondly thinks of us. After all, we are more than merely servants in His Kingdom, and He is more than holy deity Who rules and reigns all things. God is our Father and we are children in His family. Children not forgotten and important in His sight.

Prayer

Blessed Father Who has called us to be members of Your family, forgives us for the moments when we think that You have not forgotten us. And forgive us for the moments when we fail to remember You, and the good works You have done for us whom You have made Your children. Through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

Donut of the Day

Today’s donut is the Boortsog. This fritter can be found among Turkic and Mongolian people groups, and is often eaten as a dessert with syrup, honey, or jam.

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Passage

“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.“ (Psalm 27:13)

Reflection

Every Lent there comes a point where we find ourselves interrupted and breaking the different commitments we began the season with. For a moment we take up things we had given up in fasting, and we feel like abandoning the goals we set while thinking we have failed. Nevertheless, the focus of Lent is not remaining in commitments, it is remaining confident in the goodness of our loving and gracious God. While we are interrupted nothing interferes with His goodness, and this includes when we struggle or fail with reaching goals we have set.

Prayer

Gracious Lord, Whose goodness we see in this life on the earth, we thank You that nothing pauses it or makes it come to cease. Like Your love it is steadfast, never-ending, and never-changing. Therefore, help us to abide in it through Lent and every season. In Your holy name we pray. Amen.

Donut of the Day

Today’s donut is the Apfelküchle. This German pastry is apple slices dipped in batter and fried, and it is often topped with powdered sugar and eaten with ice cream.

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Passage

“The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.“ (Psalm 118:24)

Reflection

While expecting great things from God as we fast, pray, and repent, we also rejoice in the great things He has done while observing Lent. God has accomplished so much that He need not accomplish any more, and could sit back for eternity and still be worthy of praise. He has given us life and allowed us know this beautiful world. And He has given us relationships and the gift of being with others. Most of all He has given us salvation through His Son, and blessed us with His Spirit and His promises of love. There is so much God has done that is reason for rejoice. So let us, in this Lenten season, be glad and give Him praise.

Prayer

To You Who made this day with wonders to enjoy, we rejoice and are glad in it like David in the Psalms. We are grateful for the good works done by You in times now gone, and we are grate for the good works You will do in the times ahead. Lord, like this day, we rejoice and are glad in You. You Who are worthy of every praise and honour we can give. through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

Donut of the Day

Today’s donut is the Sufganiyah. This jelly donut comes from Central European Jews, and is eaten during the festival of Hanukkah.

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Passage

“That I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ “ (Genesis 14:23)

Reflection

Though the Lenten season calls us away from earthly riches, it also calls for gratitude for the riches we have in Christ. Through Him we are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, which are more than things invisible like spiritual gifts. As believers we are rich in blessings we can see, and these are things that matter and are often overlooked. May the Lenten season make us think upon this wealth, and may it bring us closer to source of all our good. That source is Christ Who is the Fount of every blessing and wants us to enjoy His gifts bestowed on us in love.

Prayer

O Precious Savior and the Fount of all our blessings, we praise You for the riches that we have in knowing You. Thank You for the daily gifts, both seen and unseen, and help us not to treat them with a careless attitude. And help us use them and enjoy them for Your glory that those who see our lives might find Your goodness and Your love. In Your name we pray. Amen.

Donut of the Day

Today’s donut is the Old-Fashioned. First called “fry cakes”, this American classic first appeared in 1829 and is now enjoyed around the world.

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Passage

“For in the day of trouble He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.“ (Psalm 27:5)

Reflection

At present many things feel unstable in the world, from economies and politics to society and culture. Some feel, as Edward Mote’s hymn puts it, like they are standing on sinking sand and brace themselves for a moment when things begin to fall. Yet, in the words of Solomon, there is nothing new under the sun, and the world has seen its share of times with instability. And through these times there is a rock that has stood firm. The presence of God Whose tender care and love will never change. During Lent He calls us to turn our eyes from the sinking sand, and to build upon the comfort of His Spirit, grace, and Word.

Prayer

O Rock of Ages, Who stood firm within the past, we thank You that You still stand firm through troubles of the present. Help us to turn our eyes from all that brings us worry, and to rest in the stability of Your presence, care, and love. And give us comfort as we worry for the future, reminding us that You will be there no matter what it holds. In Your gracious name we pray. Amen.

Donut of the Day

Today’s donut is the Danish. This pastry from Denmark is topped with chocolate, frosting, or fruit, and can be stuffed  with custard, marzipan, and a variety of other fillings.

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Passage

“And the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people.“ (Luke 22:2)

Reflection

Like the practice of Spring Cleaning Lent is a time to declutter and rid ourselves of things that no longer serve us in life and faith. This giving up is more than a break from different indulgements (e.g., chocolate). It is a throwing off and throwing out to thrive with gladness and freedom. And the reason we declutter is not to get “closer” to God, Who is always with us even when we feel that He is gone. We do this so that we might get more of the Way of Christ, and in keeping it become more like Him with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer

Gracious God, Whom David asked for a clean heart in the Psalms, we ask that You would do the same by the work of Your Spirit and grace. Help us to let go of unwholesome things that bind us and things once wholesome that no longer fit or serve us for our good. And as we let these things go help us to take up Jesus’ way, and find ourselves more like Him for Your glory and the good of this world. We pray these things in His name. Amen.

Donut of the Day

Today’s donut is the Oliebol. This beignet from the Netherlands is often covered with powdered sugar and can be mixed with fruits like raisons and apples or filled with jam and custard.

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Passage

“The Lord said to Satan, ‘The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?’“ (Zechariah 3:2)

Reflection

One thing that hinders our observances of Lent, is thinking that the season is a time to “fight” with devils. From our personal fault to spiritual forces not in our favour, we believe that is our job to rebuke and drive them off. But throughout the Scriptures when the devils are rebuked, they are often not beaten by the people they attack. Instead, they hear the words, “The Lord rebuke you”; the Lord is called to take fight and all foes begin to flee. Therefore, in this Lenten season let us leave the battles to God, and let our fasting, prayer, and repentance not be weapons of defence. They are different ways of saying, “The Lord rebuke you”, and making Him our sure defense which nothing can withstand.

Prayer

Almighty Defender, Who makes the devils flee, we thank You for Your matchless strength which drives away our foes. Forgive for the times we seek to fight in our own strength and forget that every battle is not ours but Yours. And may our fasting, prayers, and repentance be stepping aside that You might step in and rebuke what is against us. In Your holy name we pray. Amen.

Donut of the Day

Today’s donut is the Churro. This Southern European fritter, which might have come ancient Greece or Rome, is often sprinkled with sugar and pair with a cup of melted chocolate.

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