Jesus, you and I both know how I struggle with pride. Today, with your help, I give it up! It seems only appropriate way to start this reflective, repentant season of giving up the things that keep me distant from you, to begin with this one. (And perhaps wearing ashes all day might help… Continue reading Giving Up … Pride
Category: Lent
40 Days of Giving Up…
Lent. Through history, people who celebrate lent often pick something to "give up" during the 40 days (not counting Sundays) leading up to Easter. While sometimes this can become a check-list, Pharisee-like, ritual to try to "be a good Christian" for some, it can also be a beautiful opportunity to focus more on Jesus as… Continue reading 40 Days of Giving Up…
A “State of the Heart” Address
Typically every January, our president gives the State of the Union Address. While of course at times politics can be involved, in general, it's kind of neat concept to pause and look around and see where we are at as a country. Today, as I was reading Luke 3:15 we get a similar "state of… Continue reading A “State of the Heart” Address
Lenten Prayers, Dangerous Prayers
I love lent. Whether I choose to eat only rice and beans for 40 days, don't give anything up at all, spend more time in prayer, bury the "hallelujahs" or let them ring loud, or even, like two years ago, give up LENT altogether for lent, these 40 (47) days each year always prove to… Continue reading Lenten Prayers, Dangerous Prayers
A Sabbath from Perfection {31 Days of Imperfection – Day 17}
About a month ago, I blogged about some new realizations I've been having about the concept of Sabbath keeping. In summary, I realized that while I was good at not being at my job for a 24 hour period, I very rarely took a true break from work. My "days off" were filled with shopping,… Continue reading A Sabbath from Perfection {31 Days of Imperfection – Day 17}
Why We Tell Our Stories {31 Days of Imperfection – Day 11/God Sighting Saturday}
As I reflect today on where I've seen God this week, I'm humbled almost beyond words. He's been so present this week in some powerful ways. One of the ways I've seen him most is one of the same reasons I write on this blog, one of the reasons we do testimonies on Wednesday nights… Continue reading Why We Tell Our Stories {31 Days of Imperfection – Day 11/God Sighting Saturday}
Put Jesus On Like a Wedding Dress
Last night at lifegroup we all found ourselves in awe of how well our passage for the night (James 4) tied in with Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent. We talked about the desires that battle with in us (vs 1-3), submitting ourselves to God and resisting the devil (vs 7), about grieving our… Continue reading Put Jesus On Like a Wedding Dress
Please, Jesus.
For the broken…. He was broken. For the hurting… He was hurt. For the despised… He was despised. For our wounds… He was wounded. Because we are dead… He died. Because He lives… we too can live. Oh Jesus, please come soon!
“Thin places”
A book I’ve read recently was reminding me of the concept of “thin places.” This was a phrase used by Celtic Christians to describe those moments were heaven and earth just seem to meet… those moments of awe and wonder… the moments where the junk that fogs our view most of the time is cleared… Continue reading “Thin places”
I Gave up Lent for Lent
I’m not going to lie… Lent is one of my favorite seasons of the church year. There’s something about this somewhat “dark,” reflective time that provides a stunningly beautiful contrast to the joy of Easter. I love it. But for some reason this year, I just haven’t been able to get “into” lent. As… Continue reading I Gave up Lent for Lent
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