Sunday Reflection 18.8.13

* Blessings on your Sunday Reflections
May they carry and challenge you through your week...
Go in JoY to Know, Love and Serve God ! *  #LiveWonderstruck 
*

Tweet

Sunday Sanctuary 4.7.13

Welcome to Worship !

Blessing our rest and restoration

as we spend time in God's Presence this day...

#livewonderstruck !

Tweet

Prayer, Wonder, Transformation #LiveWonderstruck

When we choose to faithfully pray for wonder, we can’t remain the same.

A challenge from Margaret Feinberg, author of
Wonderstruck: Awaken to the Nearness of God

A prayer for wonder invites God to begin transforming us from the inside out.[Tweet this]

When we pray for wonder and live eyes wide open to wonder,
the tone and tenacity with which we live our lives changes.
We become expectant to catch glimpses of God in ways we’ve never seen Him before.
We begin dismissing mere chance and embracing divine appointments.

Some people live as if they’re looking for Satan under every bush.

I’ve always thought:
Why spend time looking for an enemy
when you could live your life in hot pursuit of the Savior? [Tweet this]

Praying for wonder invites you to turn your eyes on God.
A prayer for wonder invites you to look for God under, in, and behind every bush. [Tweet this]

A prayer for wonder puts you on high alert for God and His handiwork
and join to God in the great plan of redemption He’s unfolding
throughout the earth. [Tweet this]

The truth is, praying for wonder will change you. Forever.
And that’s a good thing.

Join me in praying for wonder today - praying that God will transform us. Praying that we will experience and find God in all we do, everyday! 

Praying God's intended blessings on you as you pray !

{and #livewonderstruck}

Tweet

LInked with more inspy at Pamela's Sheltering Tree 

#Live Wonderstruck Wednesdays : Tree photo capture

Today from author Margaret Feinberg:

The wonders of God’s creation surround us—
from slinging comets to creating the scaly creatures that slither around the earth,
God is the Master Creator. [Tweet this] 

Take a walk around your yard or nearby park.
Find a tree, plant, flower, or piece of vegetation and really study it.
Notice the vines, leaves, colours, smells, and textures.

Spend a few moments thanking God for his intimate design.

Wonder Challenge:

Snap a photo of the piece of vegetation you studied and
share on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. [Tweet this]
Use hashtag #LIVEWONDERSTRUCK so that we can thank God for his beautiful creation together.

Join us each Wednesday for Wonderstruck Wednesday.
#LIVEWONDERSTRUCK by God ...

Here's my photo response to Wonderstruck Wednesday 'Tree'~

Shared on my #LiveWonderstruck Pinterest board ~

You're always welcome to find or follow there for more of
my Life Lived Wonderstruck ...


Are you ready to share yours?

The Lord's Prayer : Transformative #liveWonderstruck

Another opportunity to #LiveWonderstruck
from author, Margaret Feinberg:

Not only does God give us a voice, 

He invites us to use our voices with Him anytime, anywhere. 

Through prayer we are given access to approach 

the One who holds all things together—

a breathtaking invitation, indeed. [Tweet this]

When asked how to pray, Jesus provided a specific prayer as a model
known as The Lord’s Prayer. 

Set three alarms throughout the day. Consider 9AM, 3 PM, and 6 PM. 

When each one goes off, pray the Lord’s prayer aloud. 

Each time you recite, write down what changes you can make in your prayer life 

to more replicate Jesus’ prayer life.

“Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one.” –Matthew 6:9-13

Wonder Challenge: 

Share the Lord’s prayer with others throughout the day 

on Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram using the hashtag #LIVEWONDERSTRUCK.

Example: Your kingdom come, Your will be done. #LIVEWONDERSTRUCK

See MORE at my #LiveWonderstruck Pinterest board 

We get a glimpse into the prayer life of Jesus throughout the Gospels. 

Download a free copy of the Wonderstruck by the Prayers of Jesus eBook, here.

- See more at: Margaret Feinberg's site


Tweet

Joining Michelle DeRusha at

Hear it on Sunday Use it on Monday

Angie's Knick of Time Sondays

February's Gratitude {1000 Gifts} List

 Counting February's Gratitudes

3 per day = 1000 Gifts per year !

February Gratitudes ~

1. 3 gifts red:  Canada maple leaf mitts, valentines, my hot little car 

2. 3 gifts on paper:  God's morning message in scripture, story in book, mail

3. 3 gifts found in writing:
 creativity, connection, fresh thinking

4. 3 gifts found when bent down:
 cd cover, electrical plug, loose change 

5. a gift stitched, hammered, woven: quilt, vintage cupboard, scarf 

6. 3 gifts found outside:
 milder weather, parking for dr appt, snow cleared on sidewalk  

7. a gift at 11.30a, 2.30p, 6.30 pm:
 teatime, freedom to watch a dvd, wanted coupons in the mail

8. a gift broken, fixed, thrifted:
 teacup handle, blog links, gift bags

9. 3 Surprise Gifts! - Unexpected Grace:
 FB reconnxn w/ friend frm Scotland!, message frm cousin on Pinterest,

project catch up time 

10. 3 xs I heard laughter today:

neighbour, self, store clerk 

11. 3 gifts in working:

satisfaction, joy in ability, pride of accomplishment

12. 3 hard eucharisteos:

long distances for family connecting, health, winter's depth and length

13. 3 gifts behind a door:

Eternal Life in Christ, The Door, 

sanctuary behind the door to my home,

Ash Wednesday services behind the church door 

14. 3 ways I feel the Love of God:

Presence, Peace, Embrace 

15. a gift in losing, finding, and making something:

losing distractions gifts me with time,

joy re-gained in finding time to create,

inner satisfaction in making velvet bookmarks

16. 3 gifts in shadows:

the refuge, shelter and protection of 'Elyon in Psalm 91 

17. 3 gifts found giving/serving:

hospitality, generosity, Christlikeness 

18. 3 gifts on paper:

Automobile Association membership gifted by brother & sister-in-law, 

a book win from a blog giveaway ,

Words of Life on pages of my Bible 

19. 3 gifts that were 'plan b's':

alternative mission training in Scotland, city living, UK trip extension

20. a gift at breakfast, lunch, dinner:

Breakfast tea, worship music refuel @ lunch, son's visit

21. 3 gifts white:

fresh fallen snow, pillow case, jewellry ribbon 

22. 3 gifts that changed today:

neighbour willing to try starting my car, mild weather, 

charity store manager's kindness 

23. a gift of tin, glass, wood:

tin wall hanging, pine hutch doors with muntined glass fronts

24. 3 gifts before 11 am:
great sleep, time with God, revelation 

25. a gift worn out, new, made-do:
car tire, new tire, kitchen table  

26. 3 gifts seen as reflections:
the moon as it reflects the sun, God's glory reflected in us, 
fiery sunset reflected on downtown high rises

27. 3 ugly-beautiful gifts:
muddy car = snow melting/spring ahead
Yeshua's scars = covenant of completion,
dirty dishes = food available to be eaten 

28. 3 gifts from the past that help me trust the future:
God's Faithfulness, God's Word given, 
God's always present never ending Love


And that's it for February!
 Counting our Gratitude for March up next...

Tweet

LENT: 40 Days of Renewal

1. Oddly this year, the second day of Lent was Valentine's Day. 

How was this for you? 

Was Valentine's Day any different being in Lent?

For me, there was an increased gratitude for God's Love,
even an anticipation.  Definite difference in the Love focus.
Reading Ken Wytsma's debut, 'Pursuing Justice', redirected thoughts on Love
with his discussion of our current culture's definition vs Yeshua's example
and call to Love in selflessness...

2. Did you celebrate Mardi Gras/Shrove Tuesday this year?
Any memories of memorable celebrations past?

 I celebrated with a blog post specifically as preparation for Lent
[along with a great pancake recipe!]
Great memories of celebrating - church family working + eating together -
participation!

3. How about Ash Wednesday, past and/or present? 

Providing disabled residents with Ash Wednesday services is a fave memory...

4. Do you have a personal plan of give-ups, take-ons, special ministries,
and/or a special focus for your own spiritual growth between now and Easter?
Giving up distractions to my spiritual focus as learnt HERE
There is a re-awakening to Awe and Wonder of God in my 
spiritual growth that I am pursuing with expectancy!

5. Do you have a book or a website you are reading often during Lent?

 I love Ian Adams' Morning Bell on FB, Ann Voskamp's blog  Holy Experience ,
have joined the Abbey of the Arts Lent photo group on FLickr,
Margaret Feinberg for more on Wonder,
and downloaded a booklet from Michelle DeRusha HERE
while I work at posting my own Lenten journey of Wonder
in photo and quote on Pinterest 

Bonus:  Song, prayer, picture, etc. that sums up your feelings
about this liturgical springtime.

{ Slice of Life }

annnnd

Be blessed in your expectancy !


 

Let us know in comments if you played too!

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

A Year to Live in Wonder #LiveWonderstruck

 Invitation from author, Margaret Feinberg:
Reflecting on the  21 Days of Wonder journey is a little overwhelming.

Am so thankful for the ways God showed up- every single day.

And, am so thankful for YOU and everything that you shared along the way.

The community that formed leaves me… well… wonderstruck.

We encouraged each other. We prayed for each other. We giggled with each other. And, we celebrated. Lots!

God unleashed his wonder in amazing ways.

The day we shared our three word prayers moved me to tears.

The day we all posted sunsets (even in rain and crazy weather) made me feel like we were part of a team determined to appreciate wonder across the world.

The day we shared our favorite music and I got so inspired by artists I’d never even heard of but now love.

The end of the journey was really bittersweet. I was thankful to have gone down the path with old friends and new friends. But, I didn’t want to loose the amazing community that had sprung up, seemingly overnight, determined to appreciate wonder in the smallest of details.

But, one of the most amazing things about wonder is that it’s not just confined to 21 Days. Now that we know where to look, we can find wonder in every circumstance. 

Let’s continue! Let’s declare 2013 the Year of Wonder! [Tweet this]

We’re inviting you to share how you are experiencing and seeing the wonder of God in 2013. It could be God working in your life. Or, in someone else’s. Take a picture. Write a blog post. Share on your facebook. Create a Pinterest. Tweet. Post as you feel inspired, but know that each time you post using the hashtag #LIVEWONDERSTRUCK we’re more likely to see it and it’s another chance to win some great gifts.

We’re going to be scouring the internet looking for people who are choosing to #LIVEWONDERSTRUCK every day.

On the first day of each month, beginning February 1st throughout all of 2013, we’re going to be picking someone who is living wonderstruck to receive a $50 AMEX Gift Card.  This month’s winner is: Philip Shimer.

At the end of the year, we’re going to pick one person who has lived wonderstruck to receive a Grand Prize. The Grand Prize is a surprise for now, but let’s just say it’s something that will inspire wonder in an amazing way.

Ask God to unleash His wonder in your life like you’ve never experienced it before during 2013. Now live today expectant for how God is going to answer. [Tweet this]

How to chronicle your #LIVEWONDERSTRUCK moments in 2013? 

**For me?  Pinterest Journalling my responses HERE reveals what makes me #LiveWonderstruck

Actually, any way that works best for you:

• Post on Facebook: Tag posts using @Margaret Feinberg, so we can see and share in the joy of experiencing God’s wonder.
• Post on Twitter: Use hashtag #LIVEWONDERSTRUCK.
• Post on Instagram: Post a photo of how God is astounding you with His wonder, hashtag #LIVEWONDERSTRUCK.
• Post on your blog or website: Send the link to wonderstruck@margaretfeinberg.com
• Keep a Wonderstruck Journal: The Wonderstruck Workbook includes extra space for writing how God is wowing you with His wonders.
• Grab a few friends and take a walk with Margaret. Don’t worry– the trail is accessible to all. Pick up a copy of Wonderstruck 7-Session DVD Bible Study Kit and explore the wonders of God as found in the Scripture together. Click here to buy.
  

With each page of Wonderstruck, may you discover another facet of God’s character, feel the soft pinch of His presence, and step back in astonishment at the One who holds you. 

So cup your hands in prayer. Scrunch your face against the vault of heaven in childlike expectation. As you pray for wonder, may you be wonderstruck. 

May you fall in love anew with a mysterious and wonder-filled God.

And, if you haven’t ordered your copy of Wonderstruck yet, it’s not too late! Pick up a copy today from Amazon, here.

***

Don’t let the wonder stop there. Join us as we explore the wonder of Scripture during Lent. Click here to download the free Wonderstruck by Scripture: 40 Day Bible Reading Guide.

Tweet

R