Celebrate- Lent 2019

“Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:4-5‬ ‭MSG‬‬
https://www.bible.com/97/php.4.4-5.msg

The word today is CELEBRATE.  I think The Message says it all-when,why, how!

True - Lent 2019

“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭119:18‬ ‭NIV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/111/psa.119.18.niv

As I scroll through my photos I notice many of these types of pictures. I’m visual, I need to see to understand.  When I was young I thought I didn’t see God. When I opened my spiritual eyes and saw God, my photos document plenty of proof of God’s love.  It is true, God loves us.

Light - Lent 2019

“The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭21:23‬ ‭NIV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/111/rev.21.23.niv

I love my solar powered bird. Once I found the switch to activate it, each day it gathers power from the sun. Each night it happily broadcasts its cheery glow.

Jesus activated my opportunity to experience God’s glory, when  He paid the debt for my sins.  Now I can draw energy from Him and hopefully reflect my gratitude and The Glory of God!

Saved - Lent 2019

“What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/111/php.3.8.niv

We saved a lot of stuff when we moved. I wonder why.  Some could be classified as garbage. Fortunately God doesn’t have the same view of you and me. He sees us as worthy to be saved. Hallelujah!

Send -2019

“As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.”
‭‭John‬ ‭17:18‬ ‭NIV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/111/jhn.17.18.niv

The child sent us on a hunt for a “tiny “ pumpkin. Who knew? Usually it’s a hunt for the giant pumpkin!  She must have wanted a pumpkin of a size she could relate.

Jesus sends us into the world to care of people to whom we relate. Sometimes we think we are overwhelmed by the task but Jesus knows our abilities and provides.   Plenty in the field of harvest. Be sent.

I

Eternal - Lent 2019

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

‭‭John‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/111/jhn.3.16.niv

I love flowers and so wish they lasted longer. So I photograph them, save the image on the cloud.  Yet even the cloud is not forever, eternal.  Jesus gave me a forever, eternal life in the clouds!

Lifted -Lent 2019

“He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭40:2‬ ‭NIV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/111/psa.40.2.niV

There were two ways up. She could have used the hand/foot holds on the front OR the back way with a ladder and support from mom.  Too often we choose to get ourselves out of the slimy pits of life when God is ready to support us with a ladder of His design.

Celebrate- Lent 2019

“they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭3:23‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/59/lam.3.23.esv

Celebrate the new day. The sunrise is God’s invite to spend the day together!

Testify -Lent 2019

“and you will testify also, because you have been with Me from the beginning.”
‭‭JOHN‬ ‭15:27‬ ‭NASB‬‬
https://www.bible.com/100/jhn.15.27.nasb

Yesterday I witnessed my friends’ testimony of love and commitment. They reaffirmed their wedding vows on their 50th anniversary at sunrise.  Congrats and well done!

Jesus asks me to testify to His love and commitment because He has loved me from the beginning!

Signs - Lent 2019

““Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?””
‭‭Mark‬ ‭13:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/111/mrk.13.4.niv

Confused by this sign?  Me too. There are many signs of troubling events in the future. When I’m concerned I’m reminded by the disciples to ask Jesus!

Words - Lent 2019

“Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭147:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/111/psa.147.5.niv

“Know your limitations “ were the words in the brochure.  I had started up the 219 steps. At step 43 it dawned on me: these are the steps I’ll have to come down! I had a decision to make.


I heeded these words in the brochure. Too often I ignore words from the One who has no limitations.

Remember- Lent 2019

“Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,”

‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭16:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/111/1ch.16.12.niv

In April I stopped and took this picture of the clouds  I thought.  A few months later the courthouse took a direct hit from a tornado. God miraculously intervened in my life both days. He protected me in July. This photo, He prompted me to take, reminds me that He knew before what I needed, when I needed it and He is always with me.

Consume -Lent 2019

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭4:10‬ ‭NIV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/111/1pe.4.10.

Consume is my key word for my craft projects. Use the materials I’ve shopped for throughout the years. “Finish it up!” As Grandma Ada said.

Do I do likewise with what God has given? Use. Share. Give. He will replenish as needed.

Zeal - Lent 2019

We are zealous about our coffee. So much so that when vacationing  with friends I brew ours early so they can brew their brew of choice.

Today I am reminded to be devoted or zealous to the eternal.

“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭4:2‬ ‭NASB‬‬
https://www.bible.com/100/col.4.2.nasb

Celebrate- Lent 2019

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5:1‬ ‭NASB‬‬
https://www.bible.com/100/eph.5.1.nasb

Every March 17 I like to pretend to be Irish. Celebrating today that He chose me to be His Child not a pretender. I’ll follow God’s example. Hallelujah!

Glory Lent 2019

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭19:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/111/psa.19.1.niv

“The best color is...” the ad proclaimed. It made me  open the email. I response to vivid color and see God glory. My purpose is to display His glory. Am I vivid enough to do so?

Suffer - Lent 2019

Suffer - Lent 2019

"If one part suffers, every part suffers with it..." I Corinthians 12:26a

Mickey, the dog, occasionally hides under the quilt.  This Lent season I've become aware that perhaps I hide from suffering in the world.  I'm pretty good at talking myself out of my own definition of personal suffering.  But what am I doing about the real suffering around me, my community or my world?  It's time for me to peak from under the "quilt" I hide and see the sufferings.  Perhaps Jesus wants me to become part of the relief.

Life - Lent 2019

Last fall I was invited on a family excursion to a sunflower field.  I found the photo of the field as I scrolled through my photos for today's word. Life. 

We try to make life linear.  One event after another building on each other to achieve a final great reward.  What if Life is like this sunflower field.  The blooms seem to randomly appear throughout the field.  I stand in the middle, in a small bare spot.  Any direction I look, there are bare spots, green leaves and glorious sunflowers.

Jesus said "I am the way and the truth and the life."  John14:6a

Save- Lent 2019

When I am old, I will eat on the good china.  I made this decision when confronted with boxes of china sets I'd saved other the years.  My wedding gift china. My mom's wedding gift china.  Grandma's china.  I asked, "What am I saving this for?"  There's no real money in it, just my sentiment.  So,  we eat off our wedding china everyday and yes, it goes in the dishwasher.  I do keep it out of the microwave.  This means another set of dishes gets used.  The china was created for our use, not to exist in a box!

Matthew 5:15 tells me that God doesn't put His light in us to be hidden.  He didn't save us to hide but to shine.  Let others see His work in your life today.

Lose - Lent devotion

We were desperate.  We had lost a very valuable item.  We had lost control and we needed it back!   The TV remote was missing!  Now our only option was to unplug the device from the power source.  No longer could we choose channels or volume.

Just as the woman in Jesus' parable about the lost coin (Luke 15: 8-10)  we developed a strategy. Our plan was to systematically unpack and organize the moving boxes.  Together we tackled the hunt.

Good News:  The lost was found.  Apparently we were standing next to remote the whole time.  It was under a pile of books.  All we had to do was move the obstacles.

Perhaps there is a spiritual implication.  To grow our spiritual life, we need to focus on the treasure, relationship with God,  have a plan and adhere to it, join forces with others on the same mission and move the obstacles, our own hindrances and the distractions of the world.

Follow -Lent 2019

Follow -Lent 2019

"It has to fit." My teacher's final encouragement.  She'd introduced me to a new tool, taught me to follow the pattern and offered her tips from personal experience.  When I used her tool, pattern and advice, I ended up with one of my best quilt  projects. (triangles and matching points are not my best work!)

Jesus left us a similar method.  Spiritual gifts, the Bible and the advice of other believers.  If I follow His plan I can have the abundant life He promised.

I Corinthians 14:1 "Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts..."

Celebrate - Lent 2019

Children birthday celebrations usually have a theme, the child's current favorite super-hero!  I assume the child chooses the theme character because of the character's overcomer qualities.

This year an old song plays in my head, we should "Celebrate Jesus celebrate!...He is risen and He lives forevermore."

He is risen.  He is risen indeed! Celebrate!

Beloved - Lent 2019

I'm organizing photos and have a digital folder entitled "Flowers".  It's full of pictures of floral arrangements sent to remind me I am beloved.

Easter reminds me I am beloved.  My paraphrase of Romans 5:8 hung over my fireplace: This is Love, while we were sinners Jesus died for us.

Live life to be loved by God because we are beloved of God.

Fulfilled- Lent 2019

One year and a handful of days ago I had a dream, a hope and a plan.  Our retirement home would exist on this spot.  I had the timeline established and was again reminded that I had no control over time.

There were a few delays but, in the end, my dream and my hope was fulfilled, regardless of my plan!

Easter reminds me who is the Master of Time.  Jesus arrived and left this Earth at the exact point in time to fulfill God's Plan, which include dreams better than I can imagine.  Galatians 4:4-5 "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son...to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption..."

Water- Lent 2019

We've had a hard winter.  I thought we'd moved South to a bit warmer climate yet the Iowa winter has followed.  Our Iowa friends are having a Canadian winter!

This "ice sculpture" gutter reminds me that too often my choice to "go with the flow" of this world congests my life so that it prevents me from living my purpose.

Good News!  Jesus is the Son who will melt the "ice" of this blockage and then His Living Water will flow.  John 7:38 - "Whoever believes in Me...streams of living water will flow..."

Come quickly Lord Jesus (and Spring!)

2019 Lent Devotion - Sprit

I've been readying and waiting for today.  Last year, for the first time in my life, I finished a Lent discipline, a photo challenge I found on Facebook.   Each day I posted a photo and a brief thought on the assigned word.  I made it all 40 days.  Thought I'd see if I could do it again!

Lent is about readying and waiting, remembering how and why Jesus came into this world and forever changed it.  I enjoyed the daily challenge of remembering how Jesus has forever changed my little world.  Hope my thoughts cause you to thank God for His Indescribable Gift!

Today's word is Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is the Comforter, just one of the many roles of Jesus' promised Guide and Companion. John15:16.   The Holy Spirit reminds me Jesus is always with me.

Mickey and Molly love fireplaces.  They find calm and solace in front of a fire.  The command, "Come, I'll turn the fire on."  is the most  obeyed command. 

Sometimes the pups approach the fireplace and stare into it until I turn on the flame. They are ready for calm and rest.

The pups have moved from their first home to a new home.  I worried about their adjustment.  They found comfort  once they discovered the fireplace!  

The last time in their first home

At home again

Jesus is my real home, the Home that is always with me  wherever I land. I just heard Jesus whisper "Come, I'll turn the fire on."  Today I find comfort is His warmth.