Costly-Lent 2019

Christmas in our house is a costly holiday. We love each other and it seems none of us can adhere to the budget. Easter reminds me that Jesus loves me, and you, more. Fortunately He spared no expense. To redeem me, and you, from a life of doom.

Celebrate-Lent 2019

“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭118:24‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/59/psa.118.24.esv

“I’m Just glad to be here.” I have a habit which celebrates my existence one more day. A chocolate syrup heart atop the whipped cream in my coffees. It’s a good reminder that God has given me a new gift- today!

Celebrate the small stuff today.

Darkness-Lent 2019

“for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5:8‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/59/eph.5.8.esv

We gathered on the deck to be amazed st the brightness of this moon. It had such a reflection on the water. Hopefully the Light God brings to my life will shine in this dark world.

Walk -2019

“so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1:10‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/59/col.1.10.esv

The dogs daily walk is really a sniffing expedition. It’s quite leisurely. Each one sniffs a spot but soon the other two join in the same sniff spot. I think of the walk as the dogs reading the newspaper or watching the morning news. They savor, learn and commi to memory.

Hmmm... would I describe my daily walk with Jesus with the same adjectives, verbs and adverbs? Leisurely. Savor. Learn. Commit.

Troubled - Lent 2019

It's throwback Thursday!  Here I am at the Garden of Gethsemane many, many years ago. I choose the photo as it was taken at the place where Jesus was troubled.

“And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26:37‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/59/mat.26.37.esv

My smile is a dilemma.  Why did I smile at this spot where Jesus prayed, prayed and prayed for the coming events?  He was sorrow filled.  Am I sorrowed filled because of my sin?  Yes and No.  Yes because I have regret and consequence.  No, because Jesus paid the price for me.  Jesus is my bridge over troubled.....

Serves - 2019

“Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭100:2‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/59/psa.100.2.esv

The server presented dessert and the cameras came out! I can’t remember if I enjoyed the art or the pie the most! What an impression! The kitchen artist even made sure each plate at our table had a different design.

When I serve the Lord do I make a happy, unique presentation? God doesn’t need a camera to preserve the memory. He chose me  He knows me. He loves me.  That’s the motivation for serving Him.

See-Lent 2019

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭34:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/111/psa.34.8.niv

“How far can you see?” The question was discussed as the group pondered this view. We all made a guess. Mine was 150 miles! Someone searched the internet and we learned it is actually only a handful of miles, something about the curvature of the earth and a man six foot tall.

This discussion and today’s word alerted me to my failure in perspective. Too often I’m trying to control 150 miles into my future. I miss the beauty of the current 3 miles. God has control for the 150 miles in the future as well as all the miles in between. Perhaps I should savor and utilize the current mile in my life.