Lent

Lent begins this Wednesday, March 9th and lasts until April 23rd which is a period of six weeks. The ashes I will receive on my forehead on Ash Wednesday is a reminder that I am dust and to dust I will return. It also reminds me that it is time to do some special things and to get started right away because six weeks goes by extremely fast! Matthew 6:1 states that we should take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them. So it can be tricky in my estimation to do good things and not boast about it or let people know you are doing it for lent. It is a good idea to start thinking about some ways you can make a good lent and then begin on Ash Wednesday. I will share with you some ideas that came to me in the mail recently as I feel they are good and helpful. "Do something kind and anonymously for someone; Read the scriptures daily; Fast and pray during a mealtime that you have given up; Pray for the unfortunate; Resist temptation; Help a homeless person; Make peace with a family member that you are estranged from; Confess your sins; Ask forgiveness from someone you have wronged. Offer words of encouragement; Donate to the less fortunate; Give up eating between meals; Make Jesus the center of your life." There are so many others things a person can do, but hopefully these few will help you get started and on Easter Sunday you will feel like you too have risen from your old way of life and new things are in store for you. Happy Lent!

Healing

I have been reflecting and reading scripture verses on healing because I have been praying for healing for some of my loved ones that have been sick this week. God's word is sharper than a two edged sword and will not return void, so praying scripture makes a lot of sense to me. I particularly like a verse in Acts 4:30 that I came across: "By stretching forth thy hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus." Lk 6:18 says "People came to hear him and be healed of their diseases." Lk5:17 "One day Jesus was teaching, and the power of the Lord made him heal." 1stPeter 2:24 "By His stripes you were healed" James 5:16 "Declare your sins to one another, pray for one another, that you may find healing." Jer 30:17 "For I will restore you to health." These are just a few of the many scriptures on healing in the bible, so it is good to exercise your faith and pray for healing whether it is physical, emotional, mental, inner healing, etc. God will hear you and answer your prayers. I am not advocating that you only pray, if you need to go to a physician then that is a course of action you should take. I believe God gave us doctors and I use them when I am sick and need a doctor, but I also add prayer! I had an eye inflamation earlier this week and I went to my eye doctor and medicine took care of the problem, so I highly recommend both!

Are you sad or lonely?

Are you sad, lonely or filled with despair? Then come to the life-giving waters that are waiting for you to drink. Jesus is the Living Water and he will refresh you and lift you up. Let him shoulder your burdens for he cares for you. He promises that he will carry our burdens and will not give us more than we can bear. How do we find this life giving water? Read the Holy Scriptures and meditate upon them. Jesus will speak to your heart and give you what you need to lift your spirit. He will speak to your heart if you sit in silence and let him in. The following is from my book, Living Waters: "Turn to me completely, and I will fill you with my love. Your joy will be complete. Rivers of Living Water will flow out from within your very being and all my blessings will be yours."

I have been praying this week for my two little granddaughters that have a bad cold/virus. It breaks my heart to see little ones sick and I know it is hard on their parents. It is wonderful that we can bring our concerns to Jesus and ask for him to help them to heal. Prayer is such an integral part of my life I can't imagine living one's life without calling upon Jesus for help. He is always with us and hears our prayers when we cry out to Him. Philippians 4:6 says "If there is anything you need, pray for it, asking God for it with prayer and thanksgiving." The following is from the chapter on Prayer in my book, Living Waters: Writings from the Heart of a Christian: "My followers are very precious to me. Your prayers are sweet smelling incense, a pleasing aroma that rises to my nostrils. When you smell good perfume that pleases you, a smile comes to your mouth. So it is with the sweet smell of your prayers, they bring a smile to my lips."

Jesus: Help us all to remember how pleasing our prayers are to you.

Childlike trust

This past week my husband and I had the privilege and joy of being with our 4 month old granddaughter. There is just something special about a baby's smile and grin that melts your heart. They are also so very trusting, loving and cuddly. I had a hard time leaving her so we could return home. Jesus calls us to be like little children and have the same complete trust in Him that a baby has with its parents. Many people are afraid to trust because of the rejection they felt at some point in their life, yet Jesus has never rejected us or forsaken us. Scripture tells us to become like a little child with our faith in Him. Being with our grandchild reminded me how to have that baby like trust. Are you trusting God with all of your worries, concerns and cares each day?

Cold weather

I have enjoyed the warmer weather this past week! Makes me realize how much I love Spring and Summer. Extreme cold is moving into our state starting today so I am thinking we will fire up the fireplace! It is always a cozy, warm feeling to curl up in front of the fire and read a good book and perhaps sip a cup of hot chocolate. Another warm feeling I love is the warmth of the Holy Spirit. There are times in prayer one can literally feel the Holy Spirit hovering and his warmth on my shoulder. The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Holy Trinity, is my comforter and leads me into a deeper prayer life with Jesus. I received the Holy Spirit at Baptism and then again at Confirmation. I also received a greater fullness when I asked the Holy Spirit to come and grant me the baptism of the Holy Spirit in all of its fullness. That is when the gifts of the Spirit began operating more fully in my life. You can read about the gifts of the Spirit in I Corinthians Ch 12:4-11. They are: wisdom, knowledge, faith, gift of healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, gift of tongues, interpretation of tongues. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is found in Galatians 5: 22,23, which is love, joy, peace, patient endurance, kindness, generosity, faith, mildness and chastity. So you can see the Holy Spirit is powerful and gentle and deserves a greater place in all of our hearts. Come Holy Spirit renew us again with your power and your love. Have a great and blessed week!

Talents

I started an art class this week to do acrylic painting. I have painted with watercolor for a number of years, but never tried any other media, so this will be a challenge for me. I am looking forward to trying something new. I think it is good for all of us to branch out and try something different and see whether our hidden talents may be ready to come to the forefront. I have discovered over the years that following Jesus always seems to lead to some new and exciting adventures. He seems to always have a fresh word for us to reflect on and is always leading us onward. In my book "Living Waters;Writings from the Heart of a Christian" there is a chapter on Talents, and I will quote a few sentences from it. "The special talents I give each of my children are deep within the heart. Do not be envious or jealous of someone else's obvious talent, but pray that I may help you recognize and develop your special talent. Many of my children have grumbled and complained that they were left out when special abilities and talents were handed out. I would not slight any of you." I pray you all will develop a special talent this year and pray that the Lord will help you with it. Blessings!