Palm Sunday

From: http://www.stniniansold.org.uk/

Today is the beginning of Holy Week.  I know in years past, I overlooked, or maybe was ignorant of the importance of this week.  Actually, the entire walk through Lent is important so I can prepare my heart for this week....to remember, reflect, confess....and be quiet.  In church this morning our Reverend  brought something to me in a new way....He talked about how as we went through the traditions and liturgy, there were Christians all over the world doing the very same thing.  What  a reminder of the family of God, that because of Christ, we are His children.  Even knowing the Palm cross pinned to my sweater (like the one above) was touched by the hands of a woman in a village in Africa made me feel a connection beyond my little spot on that pew.  Earthly families fall, earthly friends fail....but the family of Christ is forever.

I leave you with this post written by: Greg Goebel founder and editor at www.AnglicanPastor.com

I am not an Anglican During Holy Week

I love being an Anglican Christian. This Communion is my home, these are the people I’m called to serve with, and I’m thankful for the beauty of this tradition.But during Holy Week, I’m not an Anglican. I’m not a Baptist either. Or a Presbyterian. Or a Roman Catholic.

Maundy Thursday

On Maundy Thursday, my feet are being washed, and I’m washing feet. There is nothing particularly Anglican about this. Its what Jesus told us to do. I’m celebrating the Eucharist, during the feast of the Last Supper, the Lord’s Supper. This is the table of the Lord, not of us Anglicans in particular. I feel like Judas. Will I depart? I feel like Peter. Will I deny him? Sometimes I feel like John, and I lay my head upon his breast and rest.

And then the altar is stripped bare. What will remain? Nothing that particularly symbolizes Anglicanism. Instead, its a crown of thorns on an empty table, a symbol for the one true God for all people. With each piece removed, I feel the layers of my own soul being peeled away. And I leave in silence with the crown of thorns left, alone, in my heart.

Good Friday

On Good Friday, more than any other time of year, I’m just a Christian. I’m a sinner saved and redeemed by the blood of Jesus. I’m a disciple who is running away from the cross, and yet being pulled back to it by grace. I’m a Peter, denying Christ and needing his restoring love. I’m Pilate, condemning him. I’m the crowd jeering him. I’m Mary Magdalene, crying for him because he saved my life and delivered me.

On Good Friday, I’m lying at the foot of the cross. I’m looking up into his eyes, and witnessing the pain. I’m looking at his mother Mary, and I have to look away. How can she bear this? She isn’t just the mother of us Anglicans. She is the mother of God, and mother of the Church because she is the mother of Christ.

On Good Friday, I’m confused and wondering. I’m listening but not fully understanding. On Good Friday, I’m finally aware that I’m, after all, a human being. A fallen human being that needs to be saved. And he is saving me.

On Good Friday, I’m listening. And I hear him say “It is finished.” The sacrifices are ended. He offered himself to save us, and heal us, and to end our constant offering of our own sacrifices. Animals. Enemies. Slaves. Our own children. Time, money, talent, and more. We humans kept trying to appease the God who loves us, so he came here himself and allowed us to sacrifice him. He ended it. He saved us even when we didn’t think we needed anyone to save us.

On Good Friday I sit with that reality in a darkened church, with God’s people, gathered around the stark, empty altar of God. I wear a black cassock, which sits unusually heavy on me. I’m not focused in particular on being Anglican at that moment, I’m a desperate, confused, loved, and accepted Child of God.

Holy Saturday

On Holy Saturday I’m always torn between the routines of family life and the utter silence of all creation while Christ lies in the tomb. How can things go on as normal? Why did the earth continue to revolve and people to eat, drink, and be merry as Christ lay in the tomb, dead. Death is silent to the living. He was not moving. He was not there. When will God answer? We had hoped for more. This hope is not just an Anglican hope, it’s a human hope.

And then, at the Easter Vigil, as we shout “He is Risen,” I’m joining my voice with Christians all over the world who celebrate his resurrection.

Easter

I do love the way we Anglicans celebrate. It is beautiful! But really, we aren’t Anglicans or Baptists, Roman Catholics or Methodists. On Easter Day, we are the shocked women at the tomb, the slow-to-realize disciples, and the (temporarily) doubting Thomases who kneel and say “My Lord and My God!”. We’re people who love Jesus, and who want to walk with him and be with him and in him all of our days. We are just little children, entering the Kingdom of God.

At that moment, we who have been baptized into the One Body of Christ, are more united in our praise than at any other moment of the year.

We are just Christians, and that’s enough.

2014

Not my image, credited to Julie Tillery from Facebook

Personally, the last 2 years have been very hard. I was glad to see 2012 come to an end because we had been through so much with my DS2's illness, which changed my (our) world.  I had high hopes for 2013...hopes don't always bring results.  2013 has probably been my worst year thus far, and by now I have had a few to compare it to.

2013 saw me, for a time, have a crisis of faith which haunts me. I literally looked at my life, the devastation and destruction in it, and  I witnessed the person I thought was the strongest Christian I knew walk away from his faith, so in anger I said, "If this is what being on God's team brings, I don't want to play anymore!"   I was selfish and wanted to take MY toys and go home.  It was wrong, I sinned - there is NO excuse. I walked blindly through life for a while, without His light.  I know He was still there watching over me, but I was stumbling, falling and crawling on skinned knees without him. But like a child, I have come seeking the direction and hand of my Father and feeling His forgiveness.  The difference is, I feel like a baby now...having to learn to walk, talk and do most everything.  I am a baby in Christ right now, learning to pray, to seek His Word, to try to stay within his Will in Everything.  The above image is not my own, I saw it on Facebook and it spoke to me about the coming year....2014.  I am going to trust Him and His plan...knowing it is wonderful, knowing He thinks I am beautiful when others don't, knowing He loves me when others don't, knowing He cares what happens when others don't.  I am seeking His in 2014.

I know there will be pain in 2014 and in all honesty, I am struggling mightily with temptation as I enter this new year.  I am struggling against myself a great deal and fear is a constant battle.  But, I am determined to keep trying, to keep seeking my Savior. 

May you experience blessings and joy in 2014.

Coveted....

Shoes by Kate Spade

From my devotional today, "What will it take for you to come to that settled place where the central desire of your life is, "God, I just want more of you?"*   

Does anyone else wonder this for their own lives?  I do continually and sometimes I even seem to get a glimpse of that place...then I look away at something new, something shiny...something to distract me and catch the attention of my selfish desires.  This was the focus of my devotional today in a series on covetousness, which is funny to those who know me well because "coveted" is a very regular word in my vocabulary to describe all kinds of things, particularly a good parking spot.

I have learned a great deal about myself with this series especially about my  desire for the "right things at the wrong time."  I would never consider myself covetous in the sense that I see things others have and I desire them...but I do see things that I want for the sake of want.  I want it now, I want more than I might need, and want more than I need to fulfill God's plans for my life.  It seems that most of those "want things" are truly just a distraction to let myself stay focused on making myself number 1.  I use my wants to keep my focus off what I should focus on and that is contentment and the overwhelming blessings in my life and what I have.  Focusing on wanting a new pair of cute shoes is much easier than focusing on what God has called me to do...particularly if that calling might be a wee bit uncomfortable.  So, in the vain of transparency, I am here to say I struggle with covetousness but I so want to find that settled place where God is my central desire...

God granted them their request, but sent leanness into their lives.

Psalm 106:15 (ISV)

*The Word For You Today

"Be My Valentine" ~ Marriage Challenge via Women Living Well

Be My Valentine Marriage Challenge

One of the best things about blogging  is other bloggers.  I often find inspiration from other bloggers in creative pursuits, cooking, decorating and even spiritually.  Today is no exception as Courtney, over at Women Living Well, has come up with a great idea on how to celebrate Valentine's Day for a whole month and in a more meaningful way than with just a box of chocolates and a few flowers.  She is issuing a challenge to all of us wives out there to take the focus of the big "romance" holiday off ourselves and use it to honor and build up our husbands.

Courtney writes: "Each week the challenge will be the same – to praise, encourage, inspire, admire, build up, thank and appreciate your husband. But each week I will give you different ways to express your praise. Feel free to tweak it for what you think is best for your husband.

JR Miller writes “So it is in the dark hours of a man’s life, when burdens press, when sorrows weigh like mountains upon his soul, when adversities have left him crushed and broken, or when he is in the midst of fierce struggles which try the strength of every fibre of his manhood, that all the radiance and glory of a true wife’s strengthful love shine out before his eyes. Only then does he recognize in her God’s angel of mercy.”

 Let’s be angels of mercy to our husbands. We may think they are filled with confidence and strength but they are only human. They have insecurities, fears, failures, burdens and cares that we do not always slow down to recognize. We lose our tenderness in the hustle and bustle of life and this month let’s slow down and really see our husband’s with fresh eyes."

I encourage you to use this as a building block to shore up, encourage and love on your man.  Let him know exactly what he means to you.  Show him that you do appreciate and understand all the ways he sacrifices for your family out of love. Use these exercises to strengthen  your love skills (we all need refresher courses on that from time to time!)  I feel sure that your marriage will be blessed and I can't wait to get started!  Won't you join me?

Three things will last forever--faith, hope, and love--and the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:13

Monday Mommy Musings

This week is VBS at my church and for the first time in many years I feel a renewed sense of excitement about being involved.  Last year we were in the middle of a move so we didn't participate in VBS and maybe that is why I am more excited than usual.  Either way, I am honored to be part of VBS!  It is so much fun meeting and greeting all those sweet little faces.  This year I am acutely aware of how my response  to these impressionable little people can make or break their view on church and possibly in a greater sense... what being a Christian represents.  If a child looks up and only sees impatient and scowling big people in relation to church, that is what they will associate with being a Christian (that stands true for all of us!)  On the other hand, if they feel welcomed and accepted their heart will be softened and open to learning about Christ and true Christianity. 

I cringe to think of the times when I might have not been the best example or face of Christ to another...especially to my own children.  Did my response close up a heart?  Did my thoughtlessness cause someone to avoid church or Christ?  It is heartbreaking to think how casually I have often taken my position as a Christian.    I am trying to remember that I don't know what is happening in these children's lives and if I can make their day just a little bit brighter I want to take advantage of that opportunity.  The world is such a hard, cold place...I hope that VBS can be a wonderful, warm, fun, place for these sweet little souls even if it is just for a little while.

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me,

and do not hinder them,

for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these

~Matthew 19:14 (NIV)

Christmas in Charleston

We took a break from all the busy, hectic, must be, must do and snuck off to Charleston on Sunday afternoon.  It was a much needed break and great time spent just with the 5 of us.  Here are some pictures I took of our day:

 Our day started with a visit with the man in red.  My sweet DS2 asked for a Chess set for Christmas and Santa informed us that no one had asked for one of those this year! 

 This lovely gentleman was seen wandering downtown.

 Ahh...empty sidewalks

 Now if this isn't a brilliant marketing strategy I don't know what is!

Simple and Beautiful

 Shopping in Charleston...LOVE it!

 Even with the cold weather we have had lately, there were beautiful blooms to be found.

 There is just something about that water.

 peeking...

Merry Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving, 2007

Happy Thanksgiving!!! I hope that everyone has a wonder filled day focusing on the things that make life worth living.

Today I am so thanks filled for my God. His grace, mercy and forgiveness are beyond my comprehension but I am so thankful for them.

Today I am thankful for my DH (dear husband). He is the bestest! Just last night he tromped all over shopping with me and took me out to dinner and then this morning cooked a wonderful breakfast for the whole family...even making me heart shaped pancakes.

Today I am thankful for my children. I know so many sweet couples who are trying to hard to have children of their own (or had to go through so much to get the ones they have) and seeing the heartache that infertility can bring makes me focus on the gifts that God has blessed me with. I don't know why I was blessed like this (surely, of no worthiness of my own) but I hope I never lose sight of what wonders they are.

Today I am thankful for the country in which I live. Freedom...real freedom is what we in America have. I am thankful daily for the men & women who continue to fight and the sacrifices that their families make so that my family will be safe and free. I am thankful for those who have died in the fight for freedom, my freedom.

Today I am thankful for the shelter, food and clothing that I have been blessed with. I am thankful that I have access to medical care and that I can provide that to my children.

Today I am thankful for the "Belles", a group of friends who are scattered all over the world but found me when I was really in a lonely place in life and have continued to love and support me. Though we are all in different places and seasons of life our friendship is a beautiful thing!

Today I am thankful that I have a chance to really soak in the blessings and gifts in my life.