Archives by: Gary Hoag

Today marks the third of seven posts from Julian of Norwich. I admit, the language is Middle English and can be challenging to understand, so let’s work through it together. And let’s how it links to my word for the year – needful – and to our desire to grow in generosity.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

“Our Lord willeth that we know this in the faith and the belief; and especially that we have all this blessed will whole and safe in our Lord Jesus Christ. For that same kind that Heaven shall be filled with behoveth needs, of God’s rightfulness, so to have been knit and oned to Him, that therein was kept a substance which might never, nor should, be parted from Him; and that through His own good will in His endless foreseeing purpose. But notwithstanding this rightful knitting and this endless oneing, yet the redemption and the again-buying of mankind is needful and speedful in everything, as it is done for the same intent and to the same end that Holy Church in our Faith us teacheth.”

Julian of Norwich (c. 1342-c. 1416) in Revelations of Divine Love (Grand Rapids: CCEL, 1966), p. 62-63.

What just happened on the cross and through the resurrection? All who receive Christ are made one with Him.

Julian likes to describe it with the word ‘oneing’ or to be ‘oned’ with Christ. And I like her word picture that the work God did was ‘rightful knitting’ that was ‘needful and speedful’ for mankind.

God, through Christ knitted and oned us to Himself and nothing can separate us from Him.

This gives us confidence. We can live, give, serve, and love generously because the God of the universe who made us practiced the “again-buying” of mankind to be oned with us. Notice how generosity comes into view.

His again-buying of mankind was just what we needed and the cost was His blood. Now, nothing can separate us from Him, we are knit together with Him.

You don’t need to worry about living the Christian life after Lent. Why? You have everything you have ever needed, that you need, and that you will ever need. In the famous words of Julian of Norwich, “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.”

To give my posts context this week, Julian of Norwich was an anchoress. She lived in a room (anchored) adjacent to the church. She saw 16 visions or revelations of divine love and provided spiritual direction to people who came to see her.

Let’s unpack today’s post to see what is needful and how it relates to generosity. I admit, the language is Middle English and can be challenging to understand, so let’s work through it together.

In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. John 1:4

“I had, in part, touching, sight, and feeling in three properties of God, in which the strength and effect of all the revelation standeth: and they were seen in every showing, and most properly in the twelfth, where it saith oftentimes: [It is I] The properties are these: Life, Love, and Light.

In life is marvellous homeliness, and in love is gentle courtesy, and in light is endless Nature-hood. These properties were in one goodness: unto which goodness my reason would be oned, and cleave to it with all its might. I beheld with reverent dread, and highly marvelling in the sight and in the feeling of the sweet accord, that our reason is in God; understanding that it is the highest gift that we have received; and it is grounded in nature.

Our faith is a light by nature coming of our endless day, that is our Father, God. In which light our Mother, Christ, and our good Lord, the Holy Ghost, leadeth us in this passing life. This light is measured discreetly, needfully standing to us in the night. The light is cause of our life; the night is cause of our pain and of all our woe: in which we earn meed and thanks of God.

For we, with mercy and grace, steadfastly know and believe our light, going therein wisely and mightily. And at the end of woe, suddenly our eyes shall be opened, and in clearness of light our sight shall be full: which light is God, our Maker and Holy Ghost, in Christ Jesus our Saviour. Thus I saw and understood that our faith is our light in our night: which light is God, our endless day.”

Julian of Norwich (c. 1342-c. 1416) in Revelations of Divine Love (Grand Rapids: CCEL, 1966), p. 94.

Julian celebrates three key properties of God: life, light, and love.

She sees them in her reason which is our highest gift which helps her unite to God. God measures the light to us (which is Himself) discreetly and needfully, so we are not overcome by the night.

That’s an ancient way to say that He helps our understanding grow over time. We do not see fully until we are with our Triune God experiencing endless day.

And it relates to generosity because these three traits of God – like, light, and love – come together in one goodness. That word ‘goodness’ in ancient English means generosity.

In plain terms. God’s generosity to us is that we can be united with Him, get the light we need to grow in maturity, and rest assured that in Him we have everything we need.

We will not be overcome by the darkness and chaos in our world. We can think clearly and have reason though it is limited until the time of endless day.

And look at the cool bonus in view. Serving Him who is our life, light, and love, “we earn meed” which in Middle English means, we gain reward.

In life after Lent, we have everything we need and He measures out more as we need it discreetly and needfully – though it may seem limited in the moment – and we can anticipate eternal reward.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Colossians 3:1

“Though we be highly lifted up into contemplation by the special gift of our Lord, yet it is needful to us to have knowledge and sight of our sin and our feebleness.

Our Lord of His mercy showeth us our sin and our feebleness by the sweet gracious light of Himself; for our sin is so vile and so horrible that He of His courtesy will not shew it to us but by the light of His grace and mercy.

Of four things therefore it is His will that we have knowing: the first is, that He is our Ground from whom we have all our life and our being.

The second is, that He keepeth us mightily and mercifully in the time that we are in our sin and among all our enemies, that are full fell upon us; and so much we are in the more peril for [that] we give them occasion thereto, and know not our own need.

The third is, how courteously He keepeth us, and maketh us to know that we go amiss.

The fourth is, how steadfastly He abideth us and changeth no regard: for He willeth that we be turned [again], and oned to Him in love as He is to us.

Julian of Norwich (c. 1342-c. 1416) in Revelations of Divine Love (Grand Rapids: CCEL, 1966), p. 90.

Yesterday we completed our journey through Lent so I have decided to return to my word for the year: needful. It appears multiple times in this classic work by Julian of Norwich, so we will explore those usages this week.

I’ve also changed the header photo to feature our tulips in bloom. So beautiful I had to share it.

In today’s reading we Julian reminds us of our feebleness. Why? If we don’t set our hearts on things above, we will get ourselves into trouble.

If we want to grow in generosity, we have to focus on the things God cares about. If we do, He will resource us with knowledge, opportunities, finances, and other things we need to do His work.

If we focus on the earthly things, He will let us do it, but He will graciously encourage us be “oned to Him in love” and join Him in His work.

What will you do in life after Lent?

Father in Heaven, thanks for keeping us mightily and mercifully. May your will be done in our lives and may we be oned with you in love. Help us not go amiss but pursue heavenly things and have generous impact for your glory. Make it so because of your mercy and love we pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

As I enter the last three weeks of my sabbatical, I spend this week at home, then two days facilitating meetings with seminary leaders in Michigan, then 10 days in Pakistan.

I appreciate your prayers for my preparation for the opportunity to serve there for the third time in 15 months. I will share more about the trip in the days to come.

Feast Day 7 of 7 | Easter Sunday

“‘Count off seven sabbath years—seven times seven years—so that the seven sabbath years amount to a period of forty-nine years. Then have the trumpet sounded everywhere on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement sound the trumpet throughout your land. Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants.” Leviticus 25:8-10a

You did it. You navigated forty fasting days and today marks the seventh feast day. It’s Easter, also known as Resurrection Sunday!

In his Lenten sermon, Augustine focused on fasting and prayer to humble the spirit against pride and to learn to battle temptation in life after Lent. He writes, “The number forty is the time of our labor, but the number fifty is the joy of our reward. Therefore, we fast for forty days before Easter, but we celebrate the fifty days after Easter with joy.”

Augustine of Hippo (354-430) in Sermon 210.

Why celebrate today? Christ is risen. He has conquered sin and death. We are free of the punishment for sin and from the power of sin.

Why do it for fifty days? Fifty is the number for Jubilee in Scripture. We rejoice because we labored forty days and seven sevens, now we spread joy to others until we observe Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit fifty days after Easter.

Through giving, prayer, and fasting we have learned to surrender and grasp life. Now we get to go live it with new rhythms and great hope.

Jesus, I will share this life and hope with others. Amen.

We proclaim liberty on Easter because we are free. But not everyone knows this freedom. Make a gift today or start giving monthly to a ministry that helps spread the good news about Jesus to others.

If you want to support my upcoming trip to Pakistan from 14-23 April 2026, make a gift to the Generosity Monk fund here.

Fasting Day 40 of 40 | Holy Saturday

The Israelites had moved about in the wilderness forty years until all the men who were of military age when they left Egypt had died, since they had not obeyed the LORD. For the LORD had sworn to them that they would not see the land he had solemnly promised their ancestors to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. Joshua 5:6

Even as the wilderness trek of the Israelites concluded with entry to land flowing with milk and honey, our journey through Lent ends with a time of celebration. Perhaps enjoy Easter candy made with milk and honey?

In Scivias, from the Latin phrase Scito Vias Domini, meaning “Know the Ways of the Lord,” Hildegard of Bingen writes, “The Son of God rose from death and appeared often to His disciples to strengthen them. Just as the children of Israel were freed from Egypt, crossing the desert in forty years and reaching a land of milk and honey, so the Son of God rose from the dead and graciously appeared for forty days to His disciples and the holy women, who mourned for Him and desired with great longing to see Him. He did this to strengthen them so that they would not doubt by saying: ‘We have not seen Him and so we cannot believe that He is our salvation.’ But He showed Himself to them on many occasions to strengthen them so that they would not fall.”

Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) in Scivias, Part II.

This devotional has aimed to strengthen you to live out your Christian faith without doubt and with determination. You’ve got this. God’s got you.

Jesus, strengthen me for service to You in life after Lent. Amen.

Get some Easter treats to share with others. Tell them to enjoy them like the milk and honey. Why? Life after Lent is life in the Promised Land.

Fasting Day 39 of 40 | Good Friday –

“I lay prostrate before the Lord those forty days and forty nights because the Lord had said he would destroy you.” Deuteronomy 9:25

Imagine Moses prostrate before the Lord? His appears in the posture of a cross, pleading for God to forgive His people for worshiping the golden calf. That was his cross to bear for his people. And on Good Friday, Jesus died on the cross, making a way of forgiveness for all humanity.

Bernadette of Lourdes writes, “I can only kiss the crosses which the Divine Master has seen fit to lay upon us. Let us pray Him to grant that we may bear them with submission and generosity.”

Bernadette of Lourdes (1844-1879) in Bernadette of Lourdes: The Only Complete Account of Her Life Ever Published, trans. by J. H. Gregory (Nevers: St. Gildard, 1926), p. 197.

Each of us has a different cross to bear. Jesus teaches us that the reason we deny ourselves is so we can take up our cross and follow Him. Bernadette says two things that stand out.

First, she says to kiss the crosses. This means we serve Him gratefully, not grudgingly. We don’t question His ways, His timing, or anything on the way.

Second, she beckons us to pray that we can bear our crosses with submission and generosity. This explains the significance of surrender during Lent. We agree to serve as conduits of blessing in life after Lent. And we do that rooted in His generosity to richly supply.

Jesus, help me bear my crosses with submission and generosity. Amen.

Do some more journaling. Make a list of forty sins that come to mind. Now take seven minutes to thank Jesus for dying on the cross for you. Ask Him to help you deny yourself, leave those sins behind, and follow Him.

Fasting Day 38 of 40 | Maundy Thursday

For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old. Acts 4:22

As Peter and John started to spread the good news, it resulted in healing for a man over forty years old. He had been lame from birth and not fully experienced life. That’s the case for everyone apart from knowing Christ.

John R.W. Stott writes, “The astonishing paradox of Christ’s teaching and of Christian experience is this: if we lose ourselves in following Christ, we actually find ourselves. True self-denial is self-discovery. To live for ourselves is insanity and suicide; to live for God and for man is wisdom and life indeed. We do not begin to find ourselves until we have become willing to lose ourselves in the service of Christ and of our fellows.”

John R.W. Stott (1921-2011) in Basic Christianity (Downers Grove: IVP, 2008), p. 176.

We discover this paradox firsthand during Lent. We give, pray, and fast – acts of self-denial – and we find ourselves and our purpose in the process. We don’t figure it out until we live it out that the way of Christ is the way of wisdom, discovery, and joy.

Think of someone you know who does not know Christ. In life after Lent, commit to praying for them daily. Ask God to open their eyes to see and their ears to hear Christ’s teachings. And invite the Holy Spirit to help you model abundant living, giving, serving, and loving to them.

Christ, help me model abundant living in life after Lent. Amen.

Wish someone “Happy Maundy Thursday” today. Remind them that “Maundy” stems from the Latin mandatum (commandment), referring to the command of Jesus to love one another. And tell them you love them.

Fasting Day 37 of 40 | Seventh Wednesday of Lent

Then the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. Acts 13:21

In Old Testament times, the people of God were not satisfied with God as their leader. They pleaded. “Give us a king!” We must be careful what we ask for, lest our desires destroy us. That was the case with Judas.

In his Homily on the Betrayal of Judas, John Crysostom writes, “Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, and said unto them, ‘What will ye give me, and I will deliver Him unto you?'” (Matthew 26:14–15). These words seem to be clear and not to hint at anything more, but if you carefully examine each word, you will find deep meaning and a great deal to contemplate… That He granted you power over demons? That He granted you the power to put an end to sicknesses? To cleanse lepers? To raise the dead? That He brought an end to the tyranny of death? For these benefactions you give this recompense? “What will ye give me and I will deliver Him unto you?”

John Chrysostom (c. 347-407) in Homily on the Betrayal of Judas.

Chrysostom mourns Judas and all those who have tasted the gifts of God and who, driven by greed, chose the gifts over God.

It happens today. In Lent we get the keys to the kingdom. Many, like Judas, try to use those keys just to fulfill their desires. What will you do with them?

God, I desire only one thing. I want You at the center of my life. Amen.

Journal on this: Contemplate what you desire most today. Ponder what you have learned during Lent and what you will do with the keys to the kingdom. Determine what you want life to look like after Lent.

Fasting Day 36 of 40 | Sixth Tuesday of Lent

Once again, he spoke to him, “What if only forty are found there?” He said, “For the sake of forty, I will not do it.” Genesis 18:29

Abraham pleaded with God not to wipe out Sodom if forty righteous people were found there. Ultimately, not finding forty or even ten, God poured out vengeance on the city. This Scripture seems fitting as Jesus cursed the fig tree on Holy Week Tuesday when He found no fruit on it.

In Summa Theologica, Thomas Aquinas writes. “When the whole multitude sins, vengeance must be taken on them, either in respect of the whole multitude—thus the Egyptians were drowned in the Red Sea while they were pursuing the children of Israel, and the people of Sodom were entirely destroyed—or as regards part of the multitude, as may be seen in the punishment of those who worshipped the calf.”

Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) in Summa Theologica (Grand Rapids: CCEL), p. 3766.

All humanity deserves God’s vengeance because of our sin. After God wiped out humankind with the flood, He promised not to do it again.

As God is both gracious and generous, He dealt with our sin problem with the work of Christ, dying on the cross for our sins. But we must receive this gift and produce fruit in keeping with repentance, or we will end up like Sodom and the fig tree. Cursed!

On the first Holy Week Tuesday, Jesus inspected a tree for fruit. What would He see on your tree today?

Holy Spirit, produce fruit in me in keeping with my repentance. Amen.

Remember the Surrender Novena. “Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything.”

Pray that every day in life after Lent. Why? Only from a posture of surrender does the Holy Spirit produce fruit in us.

Fasting Day 35 of 40 | Sixth Monday of Lent

“After forty days Noah opened a window he had made in the ark.” Genesis 8:6

Can you imagine the moment when Noah opened the window of the ark? He almost certainly wanted to feel the light of the sun on his face and let it illuminate the darkness of the ark. We wonder if Jesus had a similar thought when he cleared the vendors from the temple on Monday of Holy Week to make space for people to offer up prayers.

Watchman Nee writes this on prayer. “What, then, is the prayer ministry of the church? It is God telling the church what He wishes to do so that the church on earth can then pray it out. Such prayer is not asking God to do what we want to do but asking Him to do what He wants to do. Oh, let us see that the church is to declare on earth the will of God in heaven. The church is to pronounce on earth that this will of God is what she wants. In case she fails on this point, she will be of very little value in God’s hand. Even though she may do well in other matters, she is of little use to God if she is defective in this matter. The highest use of the church to God is to allow His will to be done on earth.”

Watchman Nee (1903-1972) in The Prayer Ministry of the Church (New York: Christian Fellowship Publishers, Inc., 1973), p. 18.

When we watch Jesus closely this week, we learn what God wants to do. He wants to open a window and make a way of salvation for the whole world. The window is the church. But will we allow Him to use us?

Father in Heaven, I allow Your will to be done in my life. Amen.

To allow God’s will to be done in our lives, we must spend time in God’s Word. Commit to reading God’s Word daily in life after Lent.

It’s also helpful to read good books by saints through the centuries from whom I draw inspiration to live out the teachings in God’s Word.

Special thanks to my friend, Jud Savelle, who pointed me to the writings of Watchman Nee. Sometimes practicing generosity links to money. Other times it links to sharing precious things like good books.

To download a free PDF copy of The Prayer Ministry of the Church, click here.