And so Lent Begins... 13.02.13

 The LORD is like a father to his children,

tender and compassionate to those who fear him.

For he knows how weak we are;

he remembers we are only dust.

Psalm 103:13-14

We begin our 6 week journey through Lent,

a season to prepare for a deeper experience

of the passion and resurrection of Jesus,

with the acknowledgement of and reflection upon our own mortality.

"Ash Wednesday worship is the chance for us all to openly acknowledge our frailty and sinfulness. 

On Ash Wednesday we are faced with our imperfections. 

We all bear the mark of sin... We all stand guilty before a holy God. 

We all are mortal and will someday experience bodily death. 

Thus we all need a Saviour."  

And that is the good news we anticipate as we journey toward Easter.

 On Ash Wednesday

We can admit our own mortality.

We can talk openly about the limits of this life. Why?

Because through Christ we have entered into life eternal,

 fullness of life that will not end when our bodies give out.

The emotional result of Ash Wednesday observance isn't depression or gloom,

but gratitude and new energy for living.

When we realize how desperately we need God,

and how God is faithful far beyond our desperation,

we can't help but offer our lives to him in fresh gratitude.

And when we recognize that life doesn't go on forever,

then we find wonder anew to delight in the gifts of each and every day,

and to take none of them for granted... 

 Ashes are placed on our foreheads

as a reminder of our mortality and sinfulness.

The person who imposes the ashes quotes something like

what God once said to Adam after he had sinned:

 "You are dust, and to dust you shall return" (Gen 3:19).

This is the bad news of our sinfulness that prepares us to receive

the good news of forgiveness in Christ.

May I inspirit you with this final thought ? ~ 

"How grateful I am for the grace of God that allows us to stare death in the face

so we can live with greater wonder and delight!

How thankful I am for a day that grants us permission to think about death

so we can cherish life even more."

Let's live in Wonder on This Lenten Journey ...

  

Let's #LiveWonderstruck

 

_eHope on Twitter

January's Gratitude {1000 Gifts} List

Counting Gifts of my Gratitude
for 2013 ~

3 per day = 1000 per year!

January Gratitudes ~

1. 3 gifts heard: New Yr greetings, words of appreciation, birdsong 

2. a gift inside, outside, on a plate: cookies/tea, son arriving, healthy meal 

3. 3 graces I overheard: God's whisper, compliments, counsel  

4. a gift old, new, blue: books, fab quilted comforter, son's eyes

5. something I'm reading, making, seeing: blog posts, Scotland reading challenge, new perspectives

6. 1 thing in my bag, fridge, heart: books, chicken, gratitude

7. 3 graces from people i love: patience, time, prayers

8. dusky light, surprising reflection, lovely shadow:at sunset, Christmas lites on curtains, from candles 

9. a gift held, passed by, sat with:

10. a gift sour, sweet, just right: sour cream, flavoured cream, whipped cream

11. 3 yellow gifts of fresh mercy: sun, light, peppers

12. something above, below, beside: clouds, roads, friends

13. 3 things about myself I am grateful for: heart for God, love of reading, humour

14. 3 startling graces of God: 

being carried by God, unexpected Provision, Protection 

15. a gift worn, given away, shared: coat, counsel, laughter

16. 3 witnessed blessings: 3 children in law 

17. a gift bringing laughter, prayer, quiet: comedy dvd, children, God's Word 

18. 3 gifts from God's Word: Life, Light, Insight

19. 3 gifts that might never have been: son, daughter, son

20. 3 gifts only seen up close: colours of eyes, intricacy of flowers, delicacy of lace 

21. a gift in sky, water, memory: snow, reflections, UK trip

22. a gift wrinkled, smoothed, unfolded: babies, sheets, towels

23. 3 gifts found in Christ: Love, acceptance, mercy

24. 3 things blue: ink, bookcover, felt pen

25. a grace borrowed, found, inherited:a borrowed book, favour, hospitality 

26. a gift before dawn, at noon, after dark: colours of sunrise, lunch, peace 

27. 3 gifts in the kitchen: beautiful teacups, new pine hutch frm charity shop, teacup stand

28. 3 graces found in friends: generosity, interest, support

29. a song heard, a soft word, Light seen:'Your Love is a Song', from God, in Scripture 

30. 3 old things seen new:psalms, antique china plates from charity shop, rest

31. a gift on a paper, in a person, in a picture:the message on a card, faithfulness, P&P movie 

Tweet

Everything Beautiful in its Time ~

~ Welcome Summer Time ~

source

 

Beginning 2 weeks of Wednesdays focused on
the practice of 'Citizenship' ~
how to live Here when our Home is Heaven . . .

Tweet

The Easter Story on Twitter...

An amazing visual timeline of Yeshua Jesus' life
expressed in 

Twitter's 140 character messages...

challenged?

Will You FOLLOW ?





 for more Easter weekend post reading





 

one thousand gifts...

i was delited to win the book of my choice

courtesy of a book blog this past week ~

i had no idea prices could fluctuate that rapidly!

from the time of choosing to hearing back from the blog admin,

the price had gone up by over 4 dollars!

i didn't know whether to make another selection 

or wait til weekend passed {hoping for a decrease!}

which is precisely what happened ! yay!!

it went back down

but in the meantime, 

i had found a Book Depository discount code

that brought my choice within the offer limit!

so it's now on its way to me ~ another yay !!

in keeping with my winning book,

'One Thousand Gifts' by Ann Voskamp

who authors the "Holy Experience" blog,

i'm adding to my 'Goodness & Grace' list of gratitude

along with Monday's posts ~ Multitudes on Mondays ...

have something you're grateful for?

share it with the community by adding your gratitude post to the linky ~

i'm adding One Thousand Gifts to my reading

as soon as it arrives !

in the meantime, i'm continuing with

Sense and Sensibility

now in the page turning version that arrived via Indie Jane

currently reading for next discussion of chapters 37>

and the reading of Lisa Tawn Bergren's "Waterfall "

with discussion group for Waterfall Wednesdays

don't forget to share your reads for 

 It's Monday! What are You Reading? !

living with Christ at the centre...

joining with Ann Voskamp at Holy Experience today on the topic ,
"the Discipline of Living Christ-Centric"...

for me the discipline of living Christ-centric begins, as i wrote in my previous post, 
the beginning of each day turned back to the Giver.
the Creator of the gift of the new day. 
seeking the direction, the will of God for me in living each day. 
pleasing, serving, delighting. 

then living that gift with a sense of awe and wonder. 

recognizing God's Presence in it, on it, flowing through it. 

and being amazed... not taking things for granted.

source

beauty.  joy.  warmth.  hospitality.  change.  routine. 
Life.  Light.  revelation.  interpretation.  understanding. 
aha! moments.

living with an awareness of Christ 'in all'. 
looking for it with expectation
anticipation.
with gratitude...

may you be blessed in your Living today.

Every Wednesday, we Walk with Him, posting a spiritual practice that draws us nearer to His heart.
 To read the entire series of spiritual practices
What does it mean to live with Jesus in the center of our lives?

Today, if you’d like to share with community:
The Discipline of Living Christ-Centric
just quietly slip in the direct URL to your exact post…..
If you join us, we humbly ask that you please help us find each other
by sharing the community’s graphic within your post.

have gratitude to share?

drop by  Iris at Grace Alone on Thursdays

Lent 2 psalm 121...

 truly,

 our help comes from ADONAI the maker of heaven and earth...

today i join with the multitudes on monday
offering our gratitude listed as encouragement 
to let go of the situation to the source of our help,
ADONAI, maker of heaven and earth...

gratitude for the Truth of scripture ~
that we can know the Truth + the Truth will set us free~
that there is Help!
that our Help, my Help, is larger than life itself~
that my Help knows the situation better than i~
that my Help is undaunted by my situation~
that my Help's timing is impeccable~
that my Help is also my Comfort~
that He who created me, also redeems me through Son, and sustains me
through Holy Spirit~
that i am assured of that sustenance when i let go~
that Help is more than enough~
and will fill every void left by letting go...

Thank You
Father, Son and Holy Spirit
for knowing my need of You
and
making provision long before needed...

gratitude ...

from the gratitude community at holy experience, Ann Voskamp has offered an invitation to a transformative life opportunity i'd like to share with you ~  it begins with developing a thankful heart, an attitude of gratitude.  then making the time to acknowledge our appreciation for what comes to mind.  i'm taking time sundays as the day to record.  it's inspiring wonderful contemplation that increases my worship of the Giver of all Good and Perfect Gifts.  as i reflect upon each gift, my worship increases.  it brings me to deeper revelation and relational intimacy.   use whatever day works for you.  get a unique notebook, start a new blog page, a flexible binder now that school supplies are everywhere, or ?  be creative.  this is your gratitude expressed to your Creator.  let's see what we notice of all the grace and goodness given.

i found Ann's quote from John Milton restated Faith Hope & Cherrytea's life statement so beautifully. * "Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world."
People who kept a gratitude journal reported feeling more joyful, enthusiastic, interested, attentive, energetic, excited, determined, and strong than those in the hassles condition. They also reported offering others more emotional support or help with a personal problem— supporting the notion that gratitude motivates people to do good.*

ready to begin? ...

*1. Pray that He may open the eyes of our hearts
2. Begin giving thanks for the daily washing in His fountain of Gifts--just on a scrap piece of paper or in a journal. Notice and write down from the obvious to little. And begin to feel more joy, less stress, better health, more connected in your relationships, and more delight in your everyday life. Praise is what we are made for!
3. I found setting a time goal of choosing to give thanks for a 1000 gifts over a course of a few months was beneficial --- kept me attending to all the ways in which He whispers "I love you." Some folks set a goal of counting ten graces a day, others spend one day a week intensely counting. But consider youself warned: counting gifts is addictive and becomes the happiest of habits that becomes a way of living praise!
4. I try to add to the endless list of gifts every Monday... to begin the week with a heart spilling with gratitude!*
5. If you'd like to add your blog to Ann's gratitude community blog list, she offers you the use of the 1000 Gifts graphic (see above)*

and ...
   if you are participating, would you take the moment to comment and let me know?  then grab a cup on me and add it to your blog post or page.  this will link us together and others interested, to join the pursuit of goodness and grace.  i am starting a new page, 'goodness & grace', to record my thanks and will look forward to hearing of your beginnings.  there is no obligation as to how many goodnesses you record or expected time limit to record them. this is about process and growth. depth. about transformation. more will be gained by meditating on what H Sp reveals than just crunching a gratitude grocery list.  peace be with you as you deepen your intimacy of relationship with your Friend of Friends...

let's celebrate this transformative step together!
and let's inspire and inspirit each other as we grow in faith, hope and cherrytea ~

here's an opp to link us with your goodness and grace post or page  ~