A Servant Heart

It has been one week since Lent began. {And what a week it's been ~ I will sprinkle some photos throughout the post.} For those of you who struggle with why one might observe the season of Lent when it is not directly prescribed in the Bible, I came across this eloquently written post on Lent. It is very informative and well written while and offering what I thought were some good reasons why everyone might want to observe Lent. Take a look if you have a moment, and I would love any feedback you might have to offer.
I for one have always enjoyed Lent and it's not because I am so good at giving something up {because that isn't the point}. I think it is because I have always loved Easter. It is hands down my favorite holiday. The reality is I am pretty bad at Lent {if that's possible}. Yes, I am quite the rule-follower and can be quite legalistic, but I have never been very consistent with my own Lenten resolve. It isn't that I don't want to or that I don't have good intentions. It is usually that I simply forget and then I do something or eat something without thinking which is precisely the point. All to often we go through our days, hours, and minutes acting without thinking of the consequences or how it might affect someone else much less how God factors into the equation. During the years I have strictly followed my own Lenten resolve, I have developed a deeper relationship with Christ and have felt significantly more blessed on that glorious Easter morning.
Okay so we are one week into Lent ~ that means we are one week into the season of preparing. As individuals, we might have our own "thing" we are trying to work on throughout this season in order to help us grow closer to Christ. As a family, we are focusing on having a servant's heart and truly putting that into practice throughout the forty days of Lent while we prepare our hearts and minds for the remembrance of what Jesus did to serve each of us as He was crucified on the cross so many years ago.

At breakfast we are continuing to read our devotional with the children and we are talking about ways we can serve others during the day. Then at dinner we are checking in with each other to try to hold one another accountable ~ children and adults alike. I would like to be sharing a Bible verse with the little ones each day, but haven't started that yet. Each week, we are going to try to do something as a family to serve others. That is easy this week because it is spring break and we don't have much on the agenda.

Ephesians 6:7-8

Serve wholeheartedly, as you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.

A Lenten Resolve

A Lenten Resolve
Fast from criticism, and feast on praise.
Fast from self-pity, and feast on joy.
Fast from ill temper, and feast on peace.
Fast from resentment, and feast on contentment.
Fast from jealousy, and feast on love.
Fast from pride, and feast on humility.
Fast from selfishness, and feast on service.
Fast from fear, and feast on faith

Today is Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of lent. Lent is a somber season in the church year but when observed it makes the sacrifice of Jesus' death on the cross more real and his resurrection so much more glorious and powerful.

Over the years, I typically try to give up something that I love such as chocolate and take something on such as writing a daily letter to a friend or family member. Both involve sacrifice though nothing holds a candle to the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made for us. The small sacrifices I make when done with Jesus at the forefront of my mind take me to the cross daily, hourly, sometimes minutely and help me know and feel His love and the depth of the sacrifice He made. This year I will do some variation of those while also working with our children on having a servant heart. {An idea is brewing...}
Today also marks a year since Norval was taken home. A year in which a lot has happened and a lot has changed yet it is still does not seem real that Norval is gone and that she has not experienced the highs and lows with us. She was truly larger than life and touched so many. Her memory certainly lives on for those of us who knew her. Today in the devotional Jesus Calling, Sarah Young closes with this, "Live in the Light of My Presence, and your light will shine brightly into the lives of others." That epitomizes Norval!

As you know we are living in Norval's house and there are reminders of her everywhere. The little sign pictured above sits in the window sill above her kitchen sink. I love it's message and it's simplicity. God is good ~always though sometimes when you are caught in the moment when tragedy strikes, death occurs, disease is diagnosed, life gets hectic, etc it is easy to lose sight of this truth. This sign is a precious reminder oh God's goodness ~ ALWAYS!

I had hopes of making it to church this morning, but the weather is dreadful so my babies and I will be sticking close to home. Honestly, it is raining so much and so hard that I wish I could keep Mary Frances home too.

"I Trust You"

Two years ago just after Walker was born, my mother 'n law gave me what I consider a great little devotional. The title is Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. For a time after Walker's birth, it was all I had the time or energy to read by way of a quiet time. I found it peaceful, soothing, calming, simple yet enlightening...

As time went by, I was able to spend some time looking up the verses referenced at the bottom of each page. They elaborated on the text and were typically quite powerful and added to the meaning, but they are unnecessary to get the gist of the message.

As more time as gone by, I have fallen from looking up the referenced scripture, but still read the devotional most mornings. After a fitful night of rest, these words helped me this morning: I want you to learn a new habit. Try saying, "I trust You, Jesus" in response to whatever happens to you." No, I do not know the plan or all that is going on behind the scenes, but God does. He is in control. I truly believe that he will not give us more than we can handle and so I will continue to trust ~ no matter what comes, no matter how gray the day seems, no matter how anxious, overwhelmed or stressed I am, I will trust that God loves me and has a plan for me.

Joy to the World

Joy to the World , the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing!

What a way to usher in the day that we celebrate the birth of our savior.

I hope you and yours have all had a Merry Christmas filled with family, fun, and food.

I will be back with a full report of our Christmas but for now I'll leave you with a sneak peak of us waiting on Walker to rise...Blessings!

Happy Anniversary

A few weeks ago, the children and I made a quick weekend jaunt to Mobile so that I could attend the wedding of a high school classmate. As I sat through the service, I was reminded of Father Powers words as Frank and I were preparing for our own wedding eight years ago. He was going through the service with us and got to a particular place in the service where he said he would read the "beautiful prayers" associated with the service of marriage. As I've attended many Episcopal weddings since that time, I think about his statement and I agree with his words so I wanted to include them in today's post.



In addition, I want to dwell on them and challenge myself and Frank to remember and live them each day.



Taken from The Book of Common Prayer


Eternal God, creator and preserver of all life, author of
salvation, and giver of all grace: Look with favor upon the
world you have made, and for which your Son gave his life,
and especially upon this man and this woman whom you
make one flesh in Holy Matrimony. Amen.


Give them wisdom and devotion in the ordering of their
common life, that each may be to the other a strength in need, a
counselor in perplexity, a comfort in sorrow, and a companion
in joy. Amen.


Grant that their wills may be so knit together in your will,
and their spirits in your Spirit, that they may grow in love
and peace with you and one another all the days of their life.
Amen.


Give them grace, when they hurt each other, to recognize and
acknowledge their fault, and to seek each other’s forgiveness
and yours. Amen.


Make their life together a sign of Christ’s love to this sinful
and broken world, that unity may overcome estrangement,
forgiveness heal guilt, and joy conquer despair. Amen.


Bestow on them, if it is your will, the gift and heritage of
children, and the grace to bring them up to know you, to love
you, and to serve you. Amen.


Give them such fulfillment of their mutual affection that they
may reach out in love and concern for others. Amen.


Grant that all married persons who have witnessed these vows
may find their lives strengthened and their loyalties
confirmed. Amen.


Grant that the bonds of our common humanity, by which all
your children are united one to another, and the living to the
dead, may be so transformed by your grace, that your will may
be done on earth as it is in heaven; where, O Father, with your
Son and the Holy Spirit, you live and reign in perfect unity,
now and for ever. Amen.

Choices

We have so many choices throughout a day and I preach "choices" to my children daily, probably hourly, and sometimes minutely. The reality is I have to make choices all day too, and sometimes I too need to remember to make good choices. At the beginning of the month as I was beginning my quiet time, I came across this in the front of the devotional book, Grace for the Moment by Max Lucado. I loved it and have read it almost every morning since then. I find it a great way to begin my day and keep things in perspective. I helps me make better choices. Maybe it will help you too!


Note: The pictures are from the archives of 2009!

"It’s quiet. It’s early. My coffee is hot. The sky is still black. The world is still asleep. The day is coming. In a few moments the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of solitude will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met. For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day’s demands. It is now that I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I’m free to choose. And so I choose.

I CHOOSE LOVE...No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.

I CHOOSE JOY...I will invite my God to be the God of circumstances. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical...the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I CHOOSE PEACE...I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.

I CHOOSE PATIENCE ...I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I’ll invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clenching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

I CHOOSE KINDNESS...I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

I CHOOSE GOODNESS...I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse.

I CHOOSE FAITHFULNESS...Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. My wife will not question my love. And my children will never fear that their father will not come home.

I CHOOSE GENTLENESS...Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.

I CHOOSE SELF-CONTROL...I am a spiritual being. After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will not, rule the eternal. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ.

LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS AND SELF CONTROL Gal.5:22,23

To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek His grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest with the peace that passes all understanding." ---Max Lucado