You Are Holy

Lent

I'm Southern Baptist. We don't really do Lent.

In fact I only loosely get the idea of what lent is all about. (So all of you reading this who are catholic or methodist - I'm warning you - I'm probably not getting it right).

I've never done Lent but I've been thinking about it for the last couple of weeks and I like the idea of it. I don't feel like I need to give up a luxury as penitence. Jesus already paid the price for my sins and His grace has covered me. BUT I thought it would neat to maybe give up something that would enable me to put more focus on God for the 40 days leading up to Easter.

I could give up Pepsi or television but honestly - I don't see how that would bring my any closer to Jesus. It would just make me grumpy.

So I started thinking about it and decided I would give up something that I LOVE a LOT.

I'm giving up Facebook for Lent, starting today (I know I am behind in starting). I love me some Facebook. I get all my news from Facebook. So many of my friends are on Facebook- it helps me have adult interaction throughout the day especially when husband travels for work all the time!!

But it also zaps so much of my time. So instead of constantly checking Facebook ......I'm going to check in with Jesus. I'm going to do a LOT more praying in that time. I'm also going to just be more present with my girls. Not with my phone in my hand.

I also love that in Lent some choose to add something - to do something good each day of Lent so I've decided I'm going to do that also. I know it has already started but I'm still adding something. I'm thinking I might send an encouraging card or note to 40 people during this time.

So if you are my Facebook friend - I'll see you after Easter! And I will miss you!!!

Faithful God

Faithful God by Laura Story

May the grace that sought my heart on that first day

Be the grace that binds my heart to stay

May the truth that opened up my eyes on that first time

Be the thoughts on my mind that never go away

For You are a lamp to my feet

A light to my path

You're the hand that's holding me

Faithful God, every promise kept

Every need You've met, faithful God

May the love that caught my heart to set it free

Be the love that others see in me

And may this hope that reaches to the depths of human need

Be the song that I sing in joy and suffering

For You are the love that never leaves

The friend that won't deceive

You're the one sure thing Faithful God, every promise kept

Every need You've met, faithful God

All I am and all I'll ever be Is all because You love faithfully

Faithful God How deep, how wide the love

That pierced His side, the love Redemption's mine, oh love

That will not let me go How deep Your love How deep, how wide the love

That pierced His side, the love Redemption's mine, oh love

That will not let me go How deep, how wide the love

That pierced His side, the love Redemption's mine, oh love

That will not let me go Faithful God, every promise kept Every need You've met, faithful God

All I am and all I'll ever be Is all because You love faithfully Faithful God, faithful God

Consuming Love

I Will Wait

Tomorrow

Here is my devotion I read today...

I didn’t want to do or think about what needed to be done today, so I put it off until tomorrow. Then tomorrow got pushed back until the next tomorrow. When I finally did what I’d put off, I was stressed out, rushed, in a bad mood or convinced I didn’t need to do my task at all. Here are a few of my I’ll do it tomorrow’s:

I’ll start my diet…tomorrow.
I’ll read my Bible and pray…tomorrow.
I’ll clean my house…tomorrow.
I’ll call my friend…tomorrow.
I’ll have lunch with my son…tomorrow.
I’ll take brownies to my neighbor…tomorrow.
I’ll spend quality time with my husband…tomorrow.

God gave us 24 hours in each day. How I use them is up to me. I may not be able to complete every task assigned to me in a single day. But to continue to put off important things that need doing is not being a good steward of the time and tasks God has given me.

There was a season of my life I was so bad about putting goals and tasks off until another day that I got behind in everything. I wanted things to change, but my choices didn’t reflect that. Sleeping took precedence over getting up for quiet time. Burgers and fries filled my plate instead of healthy soup and salad. Magazines occupied my hands instead of laundry. Television was preferable to exercise. And time with friends was chosen over time with my husband.

Day after day, I had good intentions to make changes.
Day after day, I put them off until tomorrow.
Eventually, I felt like a failure.

It took a simple sentence from my then three-year-old daughter to move me from apathy to action. A few years ago we planned a family trip to Walt Disney World. I made the mistake of telling Haley Grace months in advance. Each day she’d ask, “Are we going to Disney World today?”

Repeatedly, I’d answer, “Not today. We aren’t going for three more months… five more weeks… eight more days…” The night before we left, I announced the news she’d been waiting for. “Hayley Grace, we are going to Disney World tomorrow!”

The next morning she woke early and ran into my room before I was out of bed. “Mommy, Mommy, is today tomorrow?” I was thrilled to reply, “Yes! Today is tomorrow!”

Things clicked for me and I decided then that I was going to start making today my tomorrow.

Instead of wasting precious time, I started spending it in prayer, asking God to show me what tasks He’d like me to complete that day. I prayed for strength and perseverance to accomplish what He’d given me. And I brought a few friends along with me to be encouraged and to be an encouragement to them in finishing their goals.

I put into action today what I’d been putting off till tomorrow.

Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus video