How has your Lenten journey been going? Hit any snags or having any unexpected life experiences?
A good friend, Jeannie Waller Harper, posted something on her Facebook page that I would like to share...
Be still, and know that I am God
Be still, and know that I am
Be still, and know
Be still
Be
~Psalm 46:10
Today, no matter what comes your way... good or bad... may you know God's peace in your heart.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Monday, March 12, 2012
Day 17... The Lenten Journey Continues...
One of them, an expert in the Law, tested him with this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
~Matthew 22:35-40
Do all the good you can,
By all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.
~John Wesley
As you reflect back on how today has gone, how have you done in the categories of loving God and loving others?
~Matthew 22:35-40
Do all the good you can,
By all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.
~John Wesley
As you reflect back on how today has gone, how have you done in the categories of loving God and loving others?
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Day 13... The Lenten Journey Continues... A Prayer of Self Denial...
"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."
~Psalm 51:10 (KJV)
A prayer for this day in Lent:
Dear God, my number one problem is me. I have embraced a false self that tries in every way to tell me that I am in control - and even more dangerously, tells me not to trust you but rather to trust my own alleged righteousness. I am ashamed at how many times I have listened to the voice of the false self instead of your voice.
Today, I deny that false self and ask that you would renew a right spirit within me, a self that attends to you and lives accordingly. Especially today, I ask that I might deny the false self in relation to ( ). I am tired of going where it leads me. Instead, lead me in paths of righteousness for your name's sake. I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen
(Prayer taken from: "A Pocket Guide to Prayer" by Steve Harper)
~Psalm 51:10 (KJV)
A prayer for this day in Lent:
Dear God, my number one problem is me. I have embraced a false self that tries in every way to tell me that I am in control - and even more dangerously, tells me not to trust you but rather to trust my own alleged righteousness. I am ashamed at how many times I have listened to the voice of the false self instead of your voice.
Today, I deny that false self and ask that you would renew a right spirit within me, a self that attends to you and lives accordingly. Especially today, I ask that I might deny the false self in relation to ( ). I am tired of going where it leads me. Instead, lead me in paths of righteousness for your name's sake. I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen
(Prayer taken from: "A Pocket Guide to Prayer" by Steve Harper)
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Day 12... The Lenten Journey... What is God Doing in Your Life?
"Come and see what God has done, how awesome his works in man's behalf!"
~Psalm 66:5 (NIV1984)
In this verse, the psalmist invites the hearers and readers of his message to notice what God has done for humanity... and in the next verse he gives just one example, out of many that he could have chosen, of what God had done for God's people.
As you go through the day today, look around you... notice what is happening... where are God's love, mercy and grace intersecting with your life? See if you can notice something that God is doing in your life today... and give God thanks!
~Psalm 66:5 (NIV1984)
In this verse, the psalmist invites the hearers and readers of his message to notice what God has done for humanity... and in the next verse he gives just one example, out of many that he could have chosen, of what God had done for God's people.
As you go through the day today, look around you... notice what is happening... where are God's love, mercy and grace intersecting with your life? See if you can notice something that God is doing in your life today... and give God thanks!
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Through the Late Watches of the Night... Our Lenten Journey Continues...
Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us.
~Psalm 62:8 (NRSV)
As I was driving home from work this evening, I saw a message on a church sign. It is a very simple message, but one that perhaps should be remembered at night and also during this time of the year, as we make our Lenten journey with the Lord.
The message is simply this: "God forgives you - yes, even for that"
Maybe now you are wondering why I said this is a good message to remember at night and during this Lenten journey...
It is usually at night, as the sun sets and the shadows deepen around us that fears and doubts and worries begin to creep up on us and steal into our hearts. Sometimes our fears and doubts and worries can even wear down our strength of spirit that might have seemed so strong to us just a few hours before, when the sun might have been shining brightly.
The strong assurance we felt during the day, the assurance of having God's grace and mercy and forgiveness for our sins, may have slowly weakened, even as the shadows of night lengthened, bringing with them the worry and doubt and fear that maybe, just maybe, there was sin in our lives for which we would not, could not be forgiven...
And now perhaps in the late watches of the night, because of our fears, we begin to lose hope... we begin to wonder how God could possibly love us enough to give us grace and mercy and forgiveness...
No... not us... not for that...
Anybody been there? Anybody still there?
The message on the sign is there for you... and me... It is there to remind all of us that we will be forgiven... and our scripture reminds us that we can pour out our hearts to God, who is our refuge, our protection...
As we travel this Lenten journey, remember this is a time to open our hearts and examine its deep recesses, and in humble trust, repent and ask forgiveness...
And yes... you will be forgiven... even for that...
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us.
~Psalm 62:8 (NRSV)
As I was driving home from work this evening, I saw a message on a church sign. It is a very simple message, but one that perhaps should be remembered at night and also during this time of the year, as we make our Lenten journey with the Lord.
The message is simply this: "God forgives you - yes, even for that"
Maybe now you are wondering why I said this is a good message to remember at night and during this Lenten journey...
It is usually at night, as the sun sets and the shadows deepen around us that fears and doubts and worries begin to creep up on us and steal into our hearts. Sometimes our fears and doubts and worries can even wear down our strength of spirit that might have seemed so strong to us just a few hours before, when the sun might have been shining brightly.
The strong assurance we felt during the day, the assurance of having God's grace and mercy and forgiveness for our sins, may have slowly weakened, even as the shadows of night lengthened, bringing with them the worry and doubt and fear that maybe, just maybe, there was sin in our lives for which we would not, could not be forgiven...
And now perhaps in the late watches of the night, because of our fears, we begin to lose hope... we begin to wonder how God could possibly love us enough to give us grace and mercy and forgiveness...
No... not us... not for that...
Anybody been there? Anybody still there?
The message on the sign is there for you... and me... It is there to remind all of us that we will be forgiven... and our scripture reminds us that we can pour out our hearts to God, who is our refuge, our protection...
As we travel this Lenten journey, remember this is a time to open our hearts and examine its deep recesses, and in humble trust, repent and ask forgiveness...
And yes... you will be forgiven... even for that...
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