Introduction for Lenten Devotional Guide

Tues, Feb 28, 2017

And He Set His Face toward Jerusalem . . . .

Lenten Devotional Guide
2007

Introductory Thoughts
by Patience Nave

In my Christmas journal for you, I wrote about verses I found after having asked God not to allow Christmas to be usual. He and I visited day after day as I read his words about what he was going to do and what he did that first Christmas, not expecting to share my thoughts with anyone. You may remember that I changed my mind, and printed a little devotional for all of us.

Several suggested that I do that again, this time for Lent. Thank you for the encouragement, for you have made me once again look closely into Scripture and have refreshed my mind about this critically important time in the life of the church – Easter. It has been a great journey for me.

This time I consciously focused on finding things not for myself. I thought about all of us and asked God to help me find verses and think thoughts that would encourage us.

There are so many passages, and I had trouble choosing. My hope is that what I have written will whet the appetite, cause you to read the whole passage from which I chose a verse, and lead you to find others that relate to what I have written.

I didn’t plan this, but when I finished, I realized that the verses fell into a pattern, almost like little categories. So, as you read, you’ll see verses that promised a Messiah, that tell about what he did and thought, that tell us about the kingdom of God, and finally that are what I call “after-Easter thoughts.”

I was amazed at how many times he said, “It is written.” (such as Matthew 4:4, 7, 10) Kind of reminds me of raising children and how often we say, “How many times do I have to tell you . . . . “ Just like a patient parent, he tells us over and over and over again!

Easter and Good Friday are the most important events in history! God tells us over and over that it is going to occur. He goes to great length to prepare us for it in the Gospel accounts, he reminds us of it in the early church history and today he continues to call us to the foot of the cross so we won’t forget. Paul says, “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (I Corinthians 1:18) Gaining a better understanding of the importance of Easter is important to our spiritual health. You challenged me to this task and I am grateful.

I pray that God will help us think thoughts we have not had before, so that when Easter dawns, we’ll cry out in amazement, “Oh, my! He is really alive!”

 

Coming Soon: Resurrection Sunday

Celebration is on the Horizon

Monday, February 27, 2017

With the promise of Spring comes the reminder that Easter is just around the corner.

I’m pleased to announce that the next few weeks of my blog will be dedicated totally to Lent – the 40 days leading up to Resurrection Sunday. I find it hard to believe that the day after tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, or the first day of Lent. I must be getting old because time is going by way too fast!

In 2007, my mother wrote a Lenten Devotional Guide for her church in Homosassa, Florida. Her introduction will be published on my blog tomorrow and then Wednesday will begin the 40-day devotional.

I think it is important for you to know what was happening in my mother’s life at the time she wrote this little book.

My wonderful, sweet father celebrated his 80^th birthday in November 2005. His life had started to change a few years before that and he continued to decline for another 18 months. A significant heart attack, some infections, dementia, and kidney failure took their toll on him and on his primary caregiver, my mother. As mother penned this Lenten booklet, she was dealing with what would turn out to be my father’s last Easter. He died just a few weeks later in May 2007.

As you read mother’s introduction and each of her entries for the next 40 days, I dare say it will be difficult for you to discern that she was struggling with this monumental event in her life. She was so focused on the Lord who strengthened her through it all. My prayer is that her example will inspire us all to keep our eyes trained on our Father and not to get lost in the difficulties we face each day.

With God at our helm, we can weather any storm on this sea of life.

May these next few weeks prepare us all for the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection on Easter Sunday.

Lord, thank you for my parents. Daddy showed me beyond a shadow of a doubt what unconditional love was all about. He taught me that there was One who loved me more than he did – You. How thankful I am that I can begin to conceptualize who You are because of who he was. And mother truly loved this quirky third child. She celebrated and encouraged me like no other. Thank you for the opportunity I now have to share mother’s words with my friends. Use them for your glory, O Lord!

 

Memory Verse 2017 -- Week 9

Sunday, February 26, 2017

Trials and Temptations

 

No temptation has overtaken you 

except what is common to mankind. 

And God is faithful; 

he will not let you be tempted 

beyond what you can bear. 

But when you are tempted, 

he will also provide a way out 

so that you can endure it. 

1 Corinthians 10:13

I hope you take the time and make the effort to memorize this verse. It is a little lengthy. But I'm confident that you can do it.  Break it down into sections and really focus on it's meaning. God's blessings you as you apply it to your life.  

Spend the week focusing on this scripture: 

• Read the verse in your Bible. 
• Read the passage before and after it. 
• Write it in your journal. 
• Ask the Lord to show you how it applies to your life. 
• Put it on a piece of paper and post it in a prominent place in your home so that you can see it often. 
• Put the words to music. Make up a tune or use one you already know. Singing always helps in the memory process. It's a left brain / right brain thing. 
• Always memorize the scripture reference with the verse so you can remember where to find it in the Bible. 

Everything in Season

Everything in Season

February 25, 2017

“Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime; it is the Lord who sends the thunderstorms. He gives showers of rain to all people, and plants of the field to everyone.”
‭‭Zechariah‬ ‭10:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I love February! 

When I got home yesterday afternoon, something very special greeted me at my doorstep: crocuses! They are lovely. They come up every year at this time and they delight my heart! They remind me that there really is hope! Spring is just around the corner!

And God is in control of the seasons. 

In light of our memory verse this week, have you ever thought about Christian ministry occurring during certain "seasons?"

“Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.”
‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭4:2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

So now it's up to us to put into action what we've covered this week. We've got to be prepared to do the Lord's work no matter what season. 

Lord, thank you for equipping us with the tools we need to do your work. Thank you that you have chosen to use us as your instruments. May we always bring you glory. 

 

Why does God use Scripture like this?

Why?

February 14, 1017

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work”  2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV

We've established this week with our memory Verse that

1. God provided His word to us through the Bible. 
2. The Holy Spirit speaks through Scripture to teach us all sorts of things. 
3. He uses it to show us when we are wrong. 
4. He shows us what is right. 
5. He trains us to practice right living so that we do it more and more naturally all the time. 

But why does He do all that for us and in us? There has to be a good reason. 

Parents teach their children various things as they are growing up. One of them is to have a good healthy respect for the street. 

• "Hold my hand as we cross the street."
• "Look both ways before you cross."
• "Don't chase the ball into the street." 

Do parents use these statements because they are mean? Or power hungry? Or irrational? Or have a fear of the pavement?

These are, of course, rhetorical questions. They simply don't want their child to be squashed like a pancake! And as their child grows older, their healthy respect for traffic grows with them so that they, in turn, teach others the same lessons. 

So God isn't being mean, or power-hungry, or irrational, or fearful when He shapes us through His word. He is helping us grow and mature spiritually so that we can, in turn, shape others we meet along the way. 

Lord, thank you for your love and your careful parenting. You always know what is best for us. Thank you that you don't leave us on our own to raise ourselves spiritually. But you guide us every step of the way through your word. 

 

Scripture Trains Us in Righteousness

TRAINING  IN  RIGHTEOUSNESS

Thursday, February 23, 2017

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work”  2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV

What is righteousness? 

Acting in accord with divine or moral law; free from guilt or sin; morally right or justifiable.

How can you “train” in righteousness? Seems like either you are righteous or you are not.

Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins. Ecclesiastes 7:20

Keep in mind that the Ecclesiastes passage was written before Jesus Christ walked on the earth. HE was sinless. There is no way for any of us on our own to achieve perfection or righteousness. It is only by the grace of our Lord that we are made right in God's eyes.

So...how do we "train" in righteousness?

Well, how does anybody train in a sporting event or in a vocation or in anything else?

• Study
• Practice
• Learn from mistakes
• Push through painful "workouts"
• Perform / practice
• Talk to others in the field
• Evaluate criticism
• Find a mentor 
• Perform / practice
• Teach others 
• Hard work
• Perform / practice

I think training in righteousnes is a lot like this. We read Scripture, study it, and practice what we find in it. We work with spiritual mentors. We learn from our mistakes. We teach others as we mature. We yield to the Holy Spirit's correction. 

Sometimes it isn't easy. But the ultimate reward is our final resting place in the presence of our Lord. 

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:11 NIV

Lord, help us to learn from you. Help us to grow closer to you every day. Thank you that Jesus secured our perfection for us. Otherwise we would be hopeless. Because of Him, we will one day worship you face to face. 

 

Scripture corrects us.

CORRECTING

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”  2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV

What is correcting? 

Making right an error or fault.

Rectifying, amending, remedying, repairing, mending, fixing.

Once something is corrected, what do you have?

Perfection.

If I make an error in my check register (assuming I still do paper records), first I have to recognize there is an error. Then I have to locate it, erase it, and replace it with the perfected number.

Now isn’t that an interesting concept?

Scripture is useful for correcting us – for making us perfect. The Holy Spirit uses Scripture to help us recognize there is error in our lives. Then we have to locate the error and allow God to erase it.  God then replaces the error with Truth. Perfection.

Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. Job 5:17 NIV

To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy – to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. Jude 1:24-25

Lord, Thank you that through Jesus Christ, we are able to stand before you faultless – corrected perfected through His sacrificial atonement.  We praise and glorify You.

 

The Scripture Rebukes

REBUKING

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV

What is rebuking? 

Expressing sharp disapproval or criticism of someone because of their behavior or actions (reprimanding, reproaching, scolding, admonishing, reproving, chastising, taking to task).

What gives God the right to rebuke us?

Because he is our Father.

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? Hebrews 12:7 NIV Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire. Proverbs 29:17 NIV

Why does he rebuke us?

Because He loves us and wants us to grow up to be strong, mature, contributing members of society. (That’s the reason why we disciplined our children.)

…”My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Hebrews 12:5-7 NIV 

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Revelation 3:19 NIV 

I don’t know about you but I am unfortunately not unlike the Israelites of the Old Testament.  I get my act together as far as the Lord is concerned. Then little by little I get complacent and let my thirst for power take control, leaving God in the background of my life. Then something catastrophic-ish happens and God gets my attention. I turn from my egocentric ways and He restores me to His presence. Then, before I know it, I repeat the process. Yes, I need His rebuke and discipline.

Lord, Thank you for keeping us in line, even when it means chastising or reprimanding us. Thank you that you love us enough to do that. May we learn from you. 

 

The Bible is useful for teaching.

TEACHING

Monday, February 20, 2017

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV

You’ll recall that the memory verse for this week is just verse 16 above. My plan for the week is to look individually at teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training so that we can better understand the verse and can perhaps memorize it more easily.

I also want to take the time to look at the reasoning behind the teaching, rebuking, correcting and training.

Hopefully something will stick out for you each day that will help you remember the verse.

(And don’t forget to memorize where it lives in the Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16.)

So,,,

What is teaching?

Giving information about or instruction in a subject or skill.

Who is the teacher?

God is. Specifically the Holy Spirit gives us the understanding we need.

My people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. Psalm 78:1 NIV God the Father)

They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority. Luke 4:32 NIV (Jesus)

Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:20-21 (The Holy Spirit)

What is being taught?

Life principles. Morals. Attitudes. History. Characteristics of God. And more.

Who is the pupil?

We are – those of us who believe in Him.

           

When was the last time you were an actual student or pupil in a class? Some of you are in coursework now. Others haven’t been in a high school or college classroom for decades. What is the difference between being a student back then and now? Somehow as a high school or college student, there was some incentive for learning and getting a passing grade. As an adult reading a text of Scripture, though, we sometimes aren’t too interested in learning anything from it. We tend to pick and chose what we will put into practice and what we will overlook as not applying to us. I don’t think that’s how it is supposed to work. I think we need to be open to hearing what the Lord wants to teach us and we need to put his teaching into practice regardless of how easy or convenient it is (or isn't).

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching – if the pupil is open and willing to learn.

Lord, show us where we have resistance to learning. Help us remove any pride or anything else in the way. Help us to truly learn from you.

 

Memory Verse 2017 -- Week 8

Sunday, February 19, 2017

New Creations in Christ

  

All Scripture is God-breathed 

and is useful for teaching, 

rebuking, 

correcting and 

training in righteousness. 

2 Timothy 3:16

People have wrestled with the concept of the "infallible word of God" for years. According to this verse, every single piece of the Bible is from God. God is Truth. How can anything come from Him that is not. I don't quite know how He did it, but I have no doubt that the whole thing from beginning to end is perfect.

This upcoming week we'll look at how practical God's word is. If we let it, it can teach, rebuke, correct, and train us in righteousness. 

Start memorizing and tune in this week as we break it all down. 

Spend the week focusing on this scripture: 

• Read the verse in your Bible. 
• Read the passage before and after it. 
• Write it in your journal. 
• Ask the Lord to show you how it applies to your life. 
• Put it on a piece of paper and post it in a prominent place in your home so that you can see it often. 
• Put the words to music. Make up a tune or use one you already know. Singing always helps in the memory process. It's a left brain / right brain thing. 
• Always memorize the scripture reference with the verse so you can remember where to find it in the Bible. 

Serve the Lord With Gladness

Be Glad in the Lord

February 18, 2017

A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Proverbs 17:22

Do you have an "Eeyore" in your life? 

     "Could be worse. Not sure how, but it could be." 

     "I'd look on the bright side . . . if I could find it!"

     "It's snowing still . . . and freezing. However, we haven't had an earthquake lately."

     "Don't worry about me. Go and enjoy yourself. I'll stay here and be miserable."

     (from "Winnie the Pooh" by A.A. Milne)

He's so gloomy, he makes us laugh. And laughter is good medicine. 

I love to laugh -- loud and long and clear.

I love to laugh -- it's getting worse every year! 

.(from Mary Poppins)

My mother lived with us for about 3 and a half years. At one point into her first year I heard her comment to someone, "I've laughed more in these past few months at Bill's and Patience's house than I have in a long time!" What a complement! Laughter permeates our home. 

Why is that? Partly its because we are just plain silly. We never take ourselves too seriously, I don't think. But I also think that one of the reasons we laugh so much is that God has taken away the anxiety and gloom of our lives and has replaced it with His joy.

Yes, a cheerful heart IS good medicine. It cures what ails you.

Lord, take away the gloom in our lives so that Eeyore we are not. Help us to find the joy in each day.

 

Victory in the Lord

An Example for Us All

February 17, 2017

“Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭12:2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Once upon a time, long, long ago there lived a fair-haired, blue-eyed boy who caught the eye of a young maiden. Not only did he win her heart but also the heart of her queenly mother. As fate would have it, the girl and the boy eventually resolved to be very good friends. But the boy always held a very special place in the hearts of the girl and her mother. 

One night when the boy was still young, something terrible happened -- a horrific, life-changing accident. The girl and her mother, heart-broken for the fair-haired boy, visited him in the hospital and prayed diligently for his recovery. 

God's healing came in a different way than anyone had hoped, for the boy never again walked or danced. Instead, through diligence and determination and his reliance on his heavenly Father, he conquered his physical challenges and lived for many years with princely strength. 

Time has passed and the maiden is old and grey. Her mother, who continued to pray for him for all of her years, has gone on to her heavenly dwelling. And this fair-haired boy is now a seasoned gentleman. In fact, today marks another anniversary of the date of his birth! 

So it is with respect and admiration that I wish him the best. He is the epitome of a life that has been saved by the strength of God. Well-done, my friend!

Lord, as we reflect on our lives, show us the times when we survived because of your intervention. Help us to be totally dependent on your strength. 

 

What can I do?

I Can Do ALL Things....

February 16, 2017

We've talked a lot about the power or strength of our God in the past few days. It is by His strength, after all, that we can do all things. 

Today let's explore "all things."

What can we do through His strength?

For David it had a lot to do with fighting those who were opposed to the Lord. 

“You armed me with strength for battle; you humbled my adversaries before me.”
‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭22:40‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The disciples (and that includes us) were charged with spreading the Gospel around the world. Don't you know we need God's strength to do that?

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28:19-20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Each of us has a God-given gift that we are to put to good use. They may not be socially acceptable so we must rely on God's strength to exercise them. 

“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:6-8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I claim David's declaration in 2 Samuel 22:33 for me and my family as we go through day-to-day activities. 

"It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.”
‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭22:33‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I would assume that God's power is there for us to:

• Go to work or school 
• Have a good attitude. 
• Love those who hurt us. 

Lord, help us remember that we have direct access to your power. Help us to draw on that strength every moment of every day. You are our strength and our shield. 

God is so big, strong, and mighty.

GOD'S INCREDIBLE STRENGTH

February 15, 2017

Do you remember this kids' song?

My God is so BIG, so STRONG and so MIGHTY!
There's nothing my God cannot do. 
The mountains are His. 
The valleys are His. 
The sky is His handiwork, too. 
My God is so BIG, so STRONG and so MIGHTY!
There's nothing my God cannot do!

I'm finding it interesting to consider how strong God is. Do you think it's safe to say that his strength and power is greater than we can fathom? I found an interesting piece of Scripture in 1 Corinthians about God's abilities. 

“For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭1:25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Did you catch that? God's folly is wiser than humans will ever be. His weakness far overpowers the strongest man. It reminds me of the saying, "He's forgotten more than I'll ever know." 

I love this. So I CAN do all things through Christ who gives me strength. How wonderful is that?! His strength is available to us. US!

Lord, we really don't deserve this tremendous blessing of your strength. Help us to claim it for ourselves, to recognize it, and to utilize it wisely. 

 

God Is All-powerful

GOD'S MIGHTY STRENGTH

February 14, 2017

Our memory verse this week says God gives us strength to do all things. How much power does God have? What are some of the things we know God can do? He can:

• Create the earth . . . from NOTHING. 
• Design the intricacies of the human body such that we humans can never totally understand it all. 
• Heal us. 
• Forgive us. 
• Defeat adversaries for us. 
• Defeat Satan. 

I found this verse in Ephesians that I though was pretty cool. 

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know . . . his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,” ‭Ephesians‬ ‭118-20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We can do all things through Christ who gives us resurrection power! Savor that today. 

Lord, your power lives inside of me! No wonder I can do anything through you! Thank you. 

 

Strength to the Weary

STRENGTH

Monday, February 13, 2017

“Do you not know? 
Have you not heard? 
The Lord is the everlasting God, 
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary, 
and his understanding no one can fathom. 
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 
Even youths grow tired and weary, 
and young men stumble and fall; 
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. 
They will soar on wings like eagles; 
they will run and not grow weary, 
they will walk and not be faint.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:28-31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

God is Creator. 

He is everlasting.

He is strong. 

What does He do with His strength?

He gives it away to those who need it. 

Sometimes life is just flat out overwhelming. 

But He doesn't want us to go it alone. 

He wants us to lean on Him, depend on Him, and draw our strength from Him. 

Lord, sometimes life is out of control. Out of OUR control, that is. Help us to completely submit to you and your control. And with the hope that comes from submission, we welcome the strength you will give us. 

 

Memory Verse 2017 -- Week 7

Sunday, February 12, 2017

New Creations in Christ

 

I can do all this 

through him 

who gives me strength. 

Philippians 4:13

What is "this" Paul is referring to?

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."
Philippians‬ ‭4:12‬ ‭NIV‬

God alone is our source of life and power. Because His Holy Spirit resides in us, we are full of His unfathomable abilities. We just need to get out of the way and allow Him to do it. 

Spend the week focusing on this scripture: 

• Read the verse in your Bible. 
• Read the passage before and after it. 
• Write it in your journal. 
• Ask the Lord to show you how it applies to your life. 
• Put it on a piece of paper and post it in a prominent place in your home so that you can see it often. 
• Put the words to music. Make up a tune or use one you already know. Singing always helps in the memory process. It's a left brain / right brain thing. 
• Always memorize the scripture reference with the verse so you can remember where to find it in the Bible. 

What a Wonderful World

February 11, 2017

Bill and I decided a few months ago that we would go to Florida to see Madison Central cheer for a national championship. So here we are.

The competition starts on Saturday and finishes on Sunday.

But on Friday we had some free time so we did what we love to do -- go to Epcot Center.

Now we never took our children to Epcot when they were young because they wanted roller coasters and stuff like that. In the past few years, though, Bill and I have steered clear of the coasters (because we are getting too old for that nonsense) and have thoroughly enjoyed roaming through the different countries at Epcot. Here are some fun things we did today:

• SOARIN - How cool to be suspended in front of a concave screen, "hang gliding" above some of the most picturesque places on earth. I loved it!
• LUNCH and a SHOW - We have had some REALLY good food at Epcot over the years. (It OUGHT to be good -- we pay enough for it!) Today I just got a salad but it was SO yummy! We took our lunch outside and ate as we watched a 3-man drum corp perform using trash cans and lids and buckets and dust pans and hard hats . . . .
• FROZEN - Bill has never seen this movie. We need to remedy that! This little boat ride was really cool. It went forward, then backward, then forward again. Interesting twist to a routine indoor boat trip. And, of course, the characters and scenery and special effects were spectacular. Do you wanna build a snowman?
• CARAMEL - In Germany, there's a caramel shop that has all kinds of delectable yummies. We usually get a square of just straight-up caramel but today we also got an apple caramel oatmeal cookie. It's fun to over-indulge when on vacation!
• CHINA - Every time we go to Epcot we make sure to see the acrobats perform. They do NOT disappoint! How on earth they do all that stuff, I'll never know!
• ART ON EXHIBIT - We didn't spend a whole lot of time looking at the various art exhibits. But we did take part in a HUGE paint by number mural. They hope to have it completed by Saturday evening.
• DISNEY ON BROADWAY - We thoroughly enjoyed hearing some awesome music from various Broadway shows: Lion King, Little Mermaid, Aladin, and others. It was exquisite.
• MARIACHI - I was entranced by the rhythm of some of the Mexican songs. I was able to chat with a couple of the musicians about this after their performance. How surprised I was to learn that it was 3/8, 6/8, 9/8 and sometimes 12/8. I would have never guessed.
• PRINCESSES - We saw big Snow White and Belle and lots of little Elsas and Annas!

I have often wondered about what people think who come to Epcot from other countries. Do they like the section in Epcot devoted to their country? Is the food authentic? Is the architecture accurate? Knowing Disney's attention to detail, I can only imagine that it is spot on.

After having walked through all the different countries in Epcot, I am reminded of what a beautiful and diverse world we have. It is wonderful. We are truly blessed.

 

 

The Perfected Temple

February 9, 2017

Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2:7‬ ‭NIV

Because of this week's memory verse (1 Corinthians 3:16), ‬we've been talking about our bodies as God's temple or dwelling place. 

On Wednesday night I had the privilege of visiting a dear, sweet woman in the hospital. What a special lady. Thursday morning she left her earthly body and went home to be with the Lord. 

I thought about her all day Thursday. 

I thought about how sweet she was to my daughter -- and how blessed I was as a result. 

I thought about how cute she was and how much she loved to wear crazy hats!

With a touch of melancholy I thought about how much I will miss her. She was one-of-a-kind. 

Then as I contemplated what to write about for my blog, it occurred to me that her departure illustrated a very important concept regarding the temple of the Holy Spirit. 

• Our bodies here on earth are flawed by sin. 
• Because of Christ's victory over sin, He resides in us -- in His temple. 
• He breathed breath into us in the beginning and stands at the ready to take us home when we breathe our last. 
• His earthly dwelling place is perfected at death and He breathes life into our eternal spiritual body as we take up residence in His holy presence.

Lord, thank you for creating my friend and for making your home in her heart. Thank you for taking her home and for perfecting her. Replace my sorrow with joy. 

 

Temple Worship

What is Temple Worship 

and Do We Do It Today?

February 9, 2017

What does temple worship conjure up in your mind?

• rituals
• rites
• pagan idols

Rather than the temple of the Lord in Solomon's time, I think of the temple of Aphrodite in Corinth. I think of pagan or cultic practices like human sacrifices, prostitution, and cutting. But most of all I think of people with misdirected worship, eating, sleeping, breathing, and totally focusing on false gods and not on the Creator of the Universe. 

So now I'm going to stop preaching and go to meddling. . . . 

 

Some would say this icon represents idolatry. I know. I know. But think about it. You've got thousands of supercharged blue-clad fans placing all their trust in a handful of young men who are likely as not to fall flat on their faces and totally let the fans down. 

That's the trouble with idolatry. False gods can only disappoint. 

Placing all our energy on clean eating and working out can take our eyes off the Lord. And when our efforts fall short, the disappointment can be profound. 

Placing too much emphasis on following a church's pastor and not the Lord will surely lead to disappointment. 

 

Letting the needs of family get in the way of quiet time with God can totally drain you dry. 

Basically, ANYTHING can be an idol and take our attention from our Father. 

So what do you do?

• Assess your situation. Identify the things that are getting in the way of your worship of the Lord.  
• Prioritize the things/activities in your life and through out the unnecessary stuff. 
• Place God first in EVERYTHING. 
• Others come next
• You come last

“You shall have no other gods before me.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭20:3‬ ‭NIV‬

Lord, You alone are worthy of our praise. You alone are God. Help us keep our eyes on you at all times. 

Temple of love

I Am Your Temple Filled with Love

Feb 8, 2017

“Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭48:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

If our bodies are, indeed, temples of the Holy Spirit as1 Corinthians 3:16 claims, then Psalm 48:9 should also be true. 

This verse suggests that within our very core, we should spend time set apart for uninterrupted concentration on the love of God. Meditation is not a fleeting or haphazard thought. It is focused. It is dedicated. It is private. 

So how would you describe love?

Well, God IS love. 

Love is perfect affection. 

Jesus showed His love for us in that before we could confess our sins to Him, He died for us. Now that's love. We definitely didn't deserve what he paid for us. 

And if we meditate on it, we should discover more and more love. So far we have just scratched the surface. 

The more we meditate on His love, the more His love should seep out of our pores and onto the hurting world around us. 

Meditation is good. Spreading His love is better. 

Lord, thank you for your unconditional love. Help us to explore it, to take it all in, and to freely pass it on to others. 

 

God's Temple

A Closer Look at the Corinthian Temples

February 7, 2017

Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst?
I Corinthians 3:16

This week's memory verse is 1 Corinthians 3:16. Why was it important for the believers living in Corinth to grasp the concept of their bodies being God's temple?

Are you familiar with the temples found in Corinth in that day?

In Corinth you could find the cults of the gods of Egypt, Rome and Greece. The temple of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, stood atop the Acrocorinth.

Of equal fame in Corinth was the temple of Poseidon, ruler of the sea (on which Corinth's commercial life depended) and maker of earthquakes (a frequent danger in the area). 

Numerous other temples in Corinth include ones to Apollo, Hermes, Venus-Fortuna, Isis, and one dedicated to "All The Gods" (Pantheon). On the slopes of the Acrocorinth was the sanctuary of Demeter, which dates from the 6th and 7th centuries B.C.

http://www.padfield.com/2005/corinth.html  

All of these temples were dedicated to false gods. Unlike churches of today, nobody really did anything inside these temples. All of the sacrifices and temple practices occurred outside of the columnar walls. 

The ancient temples served one purpose: they were the dwelling places of the gods. Only their statues stood inside protected from the elements. 

Are you beginning to see why this verse had such an impact on the Corinthian Christians? Our body is the dwelling-place of the one true God!

I think that is so cool. 

Lord, thank you for making your dwelling place in my heart. That means that wherever I am, you are. But it also means that if I do something to harm myself, I also hurt you. Help me to show my body the respect that your temple deserves. 

 

Sportsmanship

What Is Good Sportsmanship?

February 6, 2017

On the heels of the Super Bowl, I'm compelled to ask the question, "What is Good Sportmanship?"

Good sportsmanship is when teammates, opponents, coaches, and officials treat each other with respect. (Wikipedia)

What would it be to treat each other with respect outside of a sporting event? Let's say at work? Or at school? Or in politics? 

Good citizenship?

I love a good come-from-behind game as well as the next person. And I know that in the heat of the competition tempers can flair. But no matter what, we MUST be nice to each other. 

Kids telling their friends that one of their classmates is retarded should never happen. 

Football players taking the attitude that they are entitled to special treatment should never happen. 

Physicians belittling medical students should never happen. 

Politicians calling each other names should never happen. 

People shunning Christians because of their faith when they accept other religions should never happen. 

But it does. 

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
Matthew‬ ‭7:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We must teach our children and our grandchildren and our co-workers that this is the way to be. 

We must model this at the grocery store, at restaurants, at church, at work, and driving down the road. 

Good sportsmanship and good citizenship should be the norm and not the exception in this great land. 

Lord, help us remember that our attitudes reflect on you. May we ALWAYS treat each other with respect no matter what. 

 

Memory Verse 2017 -- Week 6

Memory Verse -- Week 6

Sunday, February 5, 2017

New Creations in Christ

 

Don't you know that 

you yourselves 

are God's temple 

and that God's Spirit 

dwells in your midst?

I Corinthians 3:16

In the Old Testament, God's initial dwelling place was in a tent of sorts. Later King Solomon built God a magnificent building for His residence. Jesus' victory on the cross tore the temple curtain right down the middle, giving us personal access to the God of the Universe. Now, God's home is in the hearts of His people. And he will live there forever.

Spend the week focusing on this scripture: 

• Read the verse in your Bible. 
• Read the passage before and after it. 
• Write it in your journal. 
• Ask the Lord to show you how it applies to your life. 
• Put it on a piece of paper and post it in a prominent place in your home so that you can see it often. 
• Put the words to music. Make up a tune or use one you already know. Singing always helps in the memory process. It's a left brain / right brain thing. 
• Always memorize the scripture reference with the verse so you can remember where to find it in the Bible. 

Groundhog Day

What is the Significance of Groundhog Day?

February 3, 2017 (the day after)

As a child, I always looked forward to Groundhog Day because it meant I was just a few days from my birthday. It's a curious tradition, though, don't you think? Where did it come from? When did it start?

Some theorize that Groundhog Day is derived from the German celebration of Candlemas Day.Okay. So what is Candlemas Day? It is the day halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. Clergy would bless the candles needed for winter and distribute them to the people. Somewhere along the way the Germans added the concept that if it were sunny during this distribution of the candles, then there would be six more weeks of winter. But if it were cloudy and overcast, spring would be just around the corner. They enlisted the help of a hedgehog to make this prediction. Pennsylvania (where Punxsutawny Phil lives) had a lot of German settlers back in the day. In 1886 they used a local animal, the groundhog, to do the forecasting and the rest is history.

I thinks its interesting how these things happen. I'm fairly certain no one sat around in 1886 thinking, "what kind of tradition can we think up that people will celebrate for the next 130 years?"

But what if we could do that?

What if we could come up with something that would go down in history as being worthy of celebration? What would it be?

• Super Bowl Sunday?
• Advertisement Showcase?
• Wing Day?
• Family Home Week?

My prayer is that in 130 years we will still be able to freely celebrate the Christian traditions of Easter and Christmas in our country. After all, those days hold the foundation for our hope of heaven. 

Lord, thank you for the opportunity to celebrate even the little things like seasonal changes. Help us to never lose sight of the importance of your special Christmas gift and Jesus' victory over death on Easter. May they never become just some ancient celebration that has as much significance as a hedgehog seeing his shadow. May we always remember your love poured out on those important days.

 

I Don't Understand

I'll Never Quite Get It

But I'll Move Forward Anyway

I don't want to take Scripture out of context so I try to read the verses before and after a passage so that I can have a better feel for it in its entirety. I saw this passage and immediately thought about our political environment. 

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians‬ ‭3:13-14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I was thinking, "The whole country finds it hard to grasp the enormity of this last presidential election." And, "We need to get over it and move on down the road."

Although I do feel that way, I don't think that's what this passage is saying in the least. It was a good idea, though!

No. I'm pretty sure Paul is talking about the unfathomable grace of salvation. No matter how hard we try, we can never truly grasp the sacrifice or love Jesus expressed for us on the cross. 

And God may be able to forget my shortcomings but to me they are vividly ever-present. Paul is saying, though, that I need to unhitch that trailer full of guilt and get along with my victorious life with Christ. 

Lord, thank you that I live in a culture that allows me to think for myself -- and to post my Christian views on-line for the whole world to see. Thank you for providing my salvation from eternal darkness through your death on the cross. I still don't get it. Why would you do that?! But I'm glad you did! Help me to do your will and to live my life in such a way that I will please you and bring you glory. 

 

Blessed are the Peacemakers

Blessed are the Peacemakers

February 2, 2017

According to what I hear, we live in a troubled time of division and violence. Peacemakers are few and far between. Indeed it appears that the more riled up people get about certain issues, the better. Name-calling. Bickering. Hate speech. Common senselessness. It's everywhere these days. So what are we to do about it?

I don't exactly know -- I'm at a loss. 

I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is one of peace. He accepted people who were scorned and who others avoided at all costs. The writer of Hebrews emphasized peace:

“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Although Jesus had some pretty radical ideas for the day, His very nature was one of peace: 

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:22-23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

And He promoted peace through His preaching:

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This is where I disagree with all of the violent protests that have cropped up in our country over the past couple of years. I fail to see how burning someone else's property or smashing random car windows proves any fruitful point.  In fact, according to Scripture, peacemakers reap righteousness. So what do naysayers and antagonists reap?

“Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.” ‭James‬ ‭3:18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

As believers, we should focus on the Lord and on loving others. We should put our utmost trust in Him. Not until this country places our trust in the Lord will we truly be at peace. 

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”  ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭26:3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Lord, we love you and we trust you. Help us to put that love and trust into action. Help us lead those around us to cease their grumbling and to focus on peace. Your peace. And may we lead by example.