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My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.(1)
.Father,
Thank you for waking me up. Thank you for waking me up on time. Thank you for rest, rejuvenation, prioritizing, and making room for you.
One of my Lent activities this year is to declutter my life. I made a list of five things I would clean out during lent:
my car trunk
my email inbox
my closet
my room
my bathroom drawer
As I began to remove things that have no room in my life anymore I found myself removing obligations, associations, rules that shut love out…I began to declutter my soul.
“…my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”- Phil 4:10-20
Father, thank you for today. Thank you for my family taking care of me today and thank you for the gift of writing. Most times I forget that this is a gift. You could have given someone else this love to write. You could have given another author a publishing contract. This past year you gave me that gift. I thank you for it. The gifts that have come along with this gift have afforded me to be able to take care of many of my medical costs, my daughters birthdays, back to school supplies, her wants and needs. That would not have happened if it were not for this gift. I also thank you for putting people in my life who respect and champion this gift. I wanted to thank two of them personally today. I had big plans to do it. Yet, my body demanded more rest to heal. I felt bad about not doing all the things that I want to do and then I felt even worse for not being thankful for what I do have. You. All that is good is you. I know you took care of my friends for me today. That is another gift you do so well for me. I pray that writing to you will help someone else recognize the gifts You have given to them.
Again thanks. This year I will be a better writer.
I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of[a] your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by[b] that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.
When I read this scripture earlier today it made me cry, Lord. I’ve lost so many wonderful people in my life this past year. I’m still not over losing Maggie and I’m still in shock of Suzette’s death. It doesn’t make since, but I still feel sad about Whitney Houston. I didn’t know her personally. And then this morning I learned that another friend had gone on to be with You.
That news hurt, because I’m still fighting battles against the disease that took her HOME. And I don’t know why I’m here and why she isn’t.
I’m thankful that I am here to see my daughter another day. I’m not so sure if anyone cares to read another book I write, whose life would be affected if I never wrote another word?Mom must have felt my pity, because she made her special deep dish pizza pie to make me feel better. Yet, I’m still weary. Probably more than yesterday. I dislike myself for sounding like a whining baby when so much work has yet to be done, when good people have gone and I know they had great plans to accomplish much.
So I reread these words Christ said to You, as he prepared for his death gave me a measure of peace with these losses. All is not lost. They are with you and I am with you. We are One. Perhaps I can carry on for them. My spirit knows this. My spirit knows this. My spirit knows…
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Today was a day. When I was a child every day was a new adventure. The days didn’t last long enough. I had no cares in the world unless my brother or my best friends didn’t want to play with me.
But at a brand new 38 today I found myself not wanting to get out of bed. Tired before the day begun. Not filled with the fight I had yesterday. I needed a little more sunshine. God this day was hard for me.
As the day has turned to night, I became disappointed that I didn’t complete the many tasks I had planned for me. There are so many things I have to do. People are counting on me. Then I remembered why I loved childhood so much. Although I had plans, I didn’t knock myself for not trying. I believed I had another day. I believed that what happened in that day was enough and the best thing ever. If I couldn’t play with my friends that day, I could tomorrow.
Perhaps because I’m an adult and I live with serious health challenges, I can’t count on tomorrow working out for me. I don’t if you will give me tomorrow.
Reflecting on my Daily Scripture for this second day of advent I am reminded to lay down my burdens, even those I inflict on myself…even my fears about the future.
This is hard for me, so I’m clinging to you tonight. Hold me.
Thank you for granting me the gift of full family. My mom and dad are still alive and in good health. My sister and brother are still alive and in good health. They are living in the way that makes them happy. We are not fighting. We enjoy each other’s company. I’m thankful for that, because I have friends and other family members who cannot say the same. I am most thankful for Selah. She is healthy, happy, all A student, sweet as can be and growing into the kind of woman you have entrusted in me to rear.
Forgive me for not writing to you sooner. Forgive me for putting my pen, my thoughts, my passion before you. You are always first. Thank you for reminding me. I am ash.
Thank you for my health and continued healing. At times when my body doesn’t want to cooperate with your will, it manages to get back into line. Thank you for doing that for me. I have lost dear friends and relatives this year, whose bodies had run their courses.
Thank you for Whitney Houston. Even in death you were glorified. She will rest in bliss with You. Her legacy—despite her stumbles and her struggles—end with Glorious You.
Her death reminded me of my struggle with Grandma. How sweet and how troubled; how despite the love we showered over her and the love she gave to us back, she couldn’t beat this shadow that wanted to step out of place. Grandma’s life made me understand that our soul’s are precious and there are things that we don’t or yet understand that our determined to take our unyielding joy, if we are not careful. And that we need the prayers of many and the presence of the Body of Christ to carry us when our soul’s are weak. I thank You that I am in my right mind today. My today could easily be a tragedy, because I am ash, no different than she. I thank God for the people who you have placed in my life for me to lean on and love me and shine your light to me when I can’t see you through my muck. I thank you.
I thank God for motherhood. It has taught me that life goes on and will go on when I’m gone. What I must do is to make the most of my life, to not squander this precious time. To leave a legacy that ends with Glorious you.
Psalm 103:8-14 (New International Version (NIV)
13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; 14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.
Writing to God – Kid’s’ Edition offers guidance to kids that parents can also appreciate: It invites them to speak to God creatively through their pens (or pencils, or crayons). In 35 days, kids are invited to pray to God using their senses, reflecting on their feelings, in light of Bible verses, looking at nature, to understand the ordinary events of life, to use new words and pictures for God, and as a way to say “thank you.” “Hackenberg’s book gives children permission to experience prayer as daily conversation with God. The freshness and honesty of her own prayers and her helpful prompts invite them to find and value their own words as offerings to a God who wants to be in relationship with them.” -Anabel Proffitt, Associate Professor of Educational Ministries, Lancaster Theological Seminary
9 “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. 11 Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? 12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”
My friend Cathy and her husband Rick are repainting their home interior. Cathy told me that she’s good at trimming and Rick is a pro at rolling the paint. I thought her story perfectly exemplified this week’s Lent message.
We were created to be the Body of Christ. All of us having an important role to play and loved equally by the one living God, our God. As you prepare today, ask yourself this question?
Who have partnered with lately? And has that partnership proven fruitful? If not, why do you stay?
A great novel that speaks on partnership, Claudia Mair Burney’sMurder, Mayhem & a Fine Man.
Today think about the past year and the decisions made that separated you from God? Did you realize it after it happened? What did you do to return? And what will you the next time a tempting offer makes you question whom you belong to.
This summer my friend Victoria Christopher Murray releases The Deal, The Dance, and the Devil, a christian fiction novel that exemplifies this theme and can serve as an entertaining, yet cautionary tale and reminder when you forget your way.
We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin[a]for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2
Scripture:
Joel 2:12-18 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2 Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18
Today think about what you’ve done to show who God is in the past year and then think of how you can do a better job this year. Share your comments here.
I am building a superblog for Gospelfiction.com. Stay tuned for its relaunch. A part of this relaunch is my new blog-Deevotions. From now until Easter it will feature my own Lent Devotions. Please stop by and use it as a spiritual tool. If you would like to contribute to the 2007 Lent Devotion please leave a comment or email me off loop.
Ok. It's the Second Monday of the month, so of course, I'm talking at The Master's Artist this morning. We are discussing my plans for this year's Lent and giving you details about my upcoming Lent Devotion, which will be featured here. If you would like to participate in the 2007 Lent Devotion for Artist, contact me or leave me a comment. Now go over to TMA to read about Lent, Candy and the dead people in the Golden Corral buffet line here.
Quick question: will you be participating in Lent this year?
![[image%255B6%255D.png]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBj7yiDcivjZVfd72_CcuU7vojX1I0zSrwBGFIOn7X7O6ybsmSlF0u67ZitKAZdz6EUD1zzqX55KRJzrS9TXkm_ZTXZ2WoY6pDNLmyCc7yiUmJxqO0OFgGt52c6naVcojuNQ901w/s1600/image%25255B6%25255D.png)
Natasha Munson.
