Lenten Photo Challenge Day 37, 38, 39, 40 -What happened?

I feel like I need to explain the past week for anyone who was following my Lenten Photo Challenge - I did not make it to the end.
**Wednesday, Day 37, I was preparing for my first cataract surgery the next day. Praise God that physicians have the knowledge to do operations like this. I am looking forward to greatly improved eyesight in the coming days.
**Thursday, Day 38, I had the surgery and found that it was best for me to take it easy and not try to use my eye too much. No Maunday Thursday service this year. We did remember that special meal that Jesus shared with his disciples and were glad to celebrate it on Easter morning at church.
**Friday, Day 39, I had a checkup with the doctor and my reading vision was not as he expected it to be. I will wait for time and continued healing. Distance was excellent though. I did make it to the Good Friday Tennebrae service at church that night.
**Saturday, Day 40, we went to see all our kids and grandchildren at the Cardinals/Nationals baseball game in Washington, DC. It was so good to see everyone having a good time and the Cardinals won!

I think the Bible verse I had chosen for Day 40 may tie up these final thoughts and is for the word relent:
  "For their sake he remembered his covenant, and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love."  Psalm 106:45

How comforting it is that even though I was not able to complete the challenge I tried this Lenten season, God relents and forgives us. How comforting is the abundance of his steadfast love, which never wavers or forgets us.

Jingle Belles cards are caught up!

I have managed to get caught up on my Christmas card challenge before Easter! Yeah!! This is another card using recycled materials and I have had the ribbon with the tree on it for many years. I never remember to use ribbon on packages so it works very well as the center piece for cards. The actual card is left over from Christmas cards I made two years ago too.

Back to Christmas cards in April

I finally had time to work on the Jingle Belles challenge for this week. We are to use throw away items, in honor of Earth Day this month - recyle! My first card here uses an old Christmas card that was 3-D. It stood up, but I have taken the snowmen and scattered them on this stair step card. I also have more snowmen to make another card.

I also used an old decorative scissors to cut the tag. I often think about throwing those away, but they do come in handy from time to time.

Lenten Photo Challenge Day 36 - Crowd

Crowds can be exciting or overwhelming. Five years ago we had a family reunion with about 85 immediate family members present. These are the children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren (with spouses and fiancees) of Emil and Helen Sprick. It was an amazing time, visiting with some family that we had never met!

 Do you believe in "mob mentality"? Sometimes people in a group or crowd find themselves doing things that they would never consider doing when alone. This kind of group would not give the same happy feelings shown in the photo above.

Crowds gathered around Jesus throughout his ministry: Matthew 14:19-21, with the feeding of the five thousand; Matthew 15:30-31, when he healed the lame, blind, crippled, and mute; Matthew 21:9-11, when he entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. These groups saw his power and love for people.  However, the same people may have been in the crowds described in Matthew 27:17-23, when Pilate asked "Then what shall I do with Jesus who is alled Christ?"

I also have found myself caught up in crowd mentality - when a group makes plans for a Sunday morning outing, when friends want to see a movie that I personally would never go see on my own. It is a constant struggle to stay in God's word and do his will. May each day grant me the strength to what God has planned.

Ephesians 3:14-19 - "for this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may granat you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith -- that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

Lenten Photo Challenge Day 33 - Weep, Day 34 - Tomb, Day 35 - Humble

We were out of town the past three days. Previously I had noticed that many of the words this season seem to follow and connect with each other. I found a connection to these three days and so I have made one entry with three parts:

Weep -
If I fall down and scrap my leg, I probably start crying because of physical pain. The crying actually can help relieve the pain because I focus on something else.

Weeping is the same physical activity of shedding tears, but more intensely felt. This is the kind of crying that leaves a person drained. I think of weeping in relation to emotional pain rather than physical pain.

Lazarus had died when Jesus was was summoned to Mary and Martha. John 11:35 says "Jesus wept." He must have had deep emotions at the time.

Recently, our 13 year old yellow Lab passed away. Our family cried and wept and tears still come from time to time. These feelings are real, but nothing compared to the feelings Jesus had toward the end of his time on earth. They cannot be compared to the feelings we will experience again on Good Friday when the full impact of what Jesus did for us sinners hits home with us again. Then the world will weep.

Tomb -
When Jesus wept (above), it was because a friend had died. However, Jesus went to the tomb and commanded the man to come out - and he did. That tomb was now empty!

The same thing happened when Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the tomb of Jesus after he had died. Matthew 28:8 - "So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples."
The angel had told them that the tomb was empty - Jesus had risen as he had said he would. The tomb could not contain him.


Humble -
When I saw the word "humble" for Day 35, I imediately thought of Wilbur, from Charlotte's Web. Wilbur was the pig that Charlotte, the spider, described as humble and that word, along with others, saved Wilbur from the usual end of pigs.

Jesus, who was God in human form is described in Philippians 2:8 - "And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."

Because he did not escape death, we do! May we continue to follow the advice Matthew gives to us in chapter 23:12 - "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

Lenten Photo Challenge Day 32 - Asleep

I find it interesting how the words I have used this Lenten season all connect to each other. Day 31 was daylight and I referred to sleeping. Now today I see the word is asleep. Can I use yesteday's post again? Not this time.

I looked at I Thessalonians 4:13-14 - "But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

I see why "asleep" has a special meaning during the Lenten season. We typically think of "asleep" as a temporary condition and "death" as a permanent condition. In the verse above I see that death is also a temporary condition for those who belive that Jesus died and rose again.

We attended the funeral service for a friend who was a member of the church we joined when we moved to Fredericksburg in 1987. She was one of those friendly, welcoming "church ladies". She lived her faith. We have a small plaque that her husband made for many of us years and years ago that simply says "Jesus". It is made from broken popsicle sticks. At first glance it may be hard to make out the word, but once it is seen, the word always shows then.

God's love is like that - once we find it, we will see it all the time.

Lenten Photo Challenge Day 31 - Daylight

Sunrise is wonderful for a person who has trouble sleeping at night. If you have ever been awake at night and unable to go back to sleep, you know what I mean. Why are my thoughts at night always dark or less than positive? It seems like the evil thoughts that I can avoid during the daytime come to haunt me at night, in the dark.

God is aware of this trouble we may have and even gives encouragement to overcome dark thoughts.
Romans 13:12 - "The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light."

Call upon Him day or night! He is always listening to our prayers, thoughts and concerns.

Jingle Belles are ringing again!

I decided to take time to make my current Jingle Belle challenge Christmas cards today. I could not skip these cards because they are using a vintage theme. I knew right away that I could use some of the Christmas post cards I have from my dad's collection. I could not decide whether to use the actual card, or scan it for a copy. For this one  I did simply alter the card itself. I added glitter to the bell. I am too late for this challenge, but at least I added two more cards to my stash!

Lenten Photo Challenge Day 30 - Rest

Matthew 11:28 - "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

We know that we can always take a rest after doing physical work or exercise and our bodies will rejuvenate. It may not be so easy to rest or recover from our mental and emotional toils. It is impossible to read the paper or listen to the news and not have worry. Too often I have let the concerns of the world interfere with the peace I crave.

Isn't it a relief to know that God is aware of all that we experience? He knew that people would need rest when He rested on the seventh day of creation. Remember that when we cannot handle our own problems, Jesus is waiting. When stress threatens to overwhelm us,  Jesus calls us with the words above.

Lenten Photo Challenge Day 29 - Glory

Glory - very great praise, honor or distinction. This is one of those words which seems to be reserved for our triune God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. If a person does something great, I would honor or share the triumph, but I don't think I would ever glorify that person.

In I Chronicles 16:8-10
     Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;
        make known his deeds among the peoples!
     Sing to him, sing praises to him;
        tell of all his wondreous works!
     Glory in his holy name;
        let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!

May I remember to always give God the glory for all He has done, is doing and will do in the future. All that we have comes from Him. I try to begin my prayers with praise and glory just as we are taught in the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13)

*Praise - this begins with glory to God, praising Him for all that is in my life through His blessings
*Petition - this is where I ask for God's help in my life, confessing how I have done wrong as well as requesting help physically, emotionally and in relationships with others
*Intercession - this is when I ask God to help others - those whom I am adding to my prayers
*Thanksgiving - this is giving thanks to God for all that he has done and will do.

Lenten Photo Challenge Day 28 - Trust

When I saw that today's word was trust, this is what came to mind first. The United States of America has the words "In God We Trust" printed on its coins. As we handle money these words are shared from person to person. Now I know most people probably do not ever look at the coins they share, but the words are there. Do we really have trust in God? Do we allow Him to do His will?

Proverbs 3:5 - "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding."As humans we want to know and understand everything. If something does not make sense, it must be wrong. This verse reinforces the fact that we do not have to understand everything. If we put our trust in God, He will take care of our concern.

I have eye surgery scheduled in April and I certainly do not know all that will be involved. I have talked with the doctor, I have scheduled with the surgery center, I have read the handouts provided and I have spend time on the computer reading about the procedure. However, I still do not understand exactly what will take place.

It is imperative that I do not rely on my own understanding or I would not have the surgery. I must trust God's will that he will guide my doctor and those assisting him. I will be in God's care during surgery just as I am every minute of every day.

Lenten Photo Challlenge Day 27 - Believe

Believe is a word, but can it really be proven? If you believe in a person, no amount of evidence in a courtroom can change that belief. It is a feeling, faith, a knowledge that is unshakeable.

This is how God wants us to believe in His word - knowledge that is unshakeable.  Unlike Thomas, who had to see the holes in the hands of Jesus before he would believe in the risen Christ, we must believe by faith. We were not there at the time.

I believe in many things that I have never actually seen myself. I am sure that Niagra Falls is real, as well as Antarctica and Hawaii. I may not know what lies beyond the sky when I look up, but I believe God is real.

 John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Lenten Photo Challenge Day 26 - Pain

I don't think anyone enjoys pain. Just in 2014 my family and friends have certainly had their share - my sister had a knee replacement, my father broke his hip, a very close friend needed emergency gall bladder surgery, and I learned I need cataract surgery. This all began within a 2 week period and we were 900 miles between the ones we wanted to help. Plus, another aquaintance had surgery on a foot in January and has just been able to start walking again this past week! Yes, there were many inconveniences to normal life, but family and friends helped tremendously. In each of these cases they knew the pain should only be temporary.

 What pain did Jesus feel as he hung on the cross on Good Friday? He knew it would also be temporary because of what would happen on Easter. However, what eases the pain God must feel when His children do not follow His will? Is that pain temporary? Why do we cause pain to our God over and over again?

We now have medicine which can ease physical pain for people. We have the Bible which tells us in Lamentations 3:40 - "Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the LORD!" Perhaps that is one way we can ease the pain we cause our Lord.

Lenten Photo Challenge Day 25 - Sabbath

For me the Sabbath was always a day of rest - in our lives as Christians this day was Sunday. In the history of the Bible and Jewish tradition it was Saturday. Growing up when I did, Sunday was very different from the other 6 days of the week. As a child I went to school Monday through Friday, had Saturday to play, and then Sunday had its own set of regulations: Church and then visits to the grandparents - Grandma and Grandpa H one week and Grandma B the next week. AND we kept our church clothes on the entire day - these were clothes that we did not wear any other day of the week. Most stores were closed and the few drug stores that were open could only sell necessary items. Things deemed "unnecessary" were covered with sheets, paper, etc. and not available for purchase until Monday.

Exodus 20:8 - "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy." This was the reason for our Sunday routine, beginning with church services.

Over time this routine has changed in our society. However, I still try to make Sundays different from the rest of the week. We continue to go to church on Sunday mornings and have lunch with "family" where we are living now. I try to plan different activities from the rest of the week so this day can be identified as a sabbath day.

Lenten Photo Challenge Day 24 - See

When I first saw this word, I was not sure what to say that would be different from the previous word - blind. Then I realized that I have been having trouble with my vision recently. I can no longer see clearly at any distance and have eye surgery scheduled this month.

I am thankful that I have still been able to do the quilt making that I enjoy. It is a hobby where vision is important. However, my mother-in-law also truly enjoyed quilting for many years. She was active with the Ladies' Aid group at church and found time to make bed quilts for her grandchildren as well. These she always wanted to do by herself, since some of her friends did not quilt with the same skill she did! Over time her sight deteriorated and she had to give up her quilting. However, one day (at the assisted living home where she lived) she commented that it was good to be needed - one of the ladies quilting there had dropped a needle and could not bend down to pick it up. Mom could not see the needle, but she was agile enough (at 90 years old!!) to get on the floor and follow their directions - "Over to your left, now just a little bit further, no go back a little..." and she got the needle!

This quilt is one I made for her to use at the assisted living home so she had a homemade quilt as she had given so many to others over the years. I now use it and think of her often when quilting or sitting under the quilt.

May we all SEE the value of our lives as we live through each phase of our lives. Rmember that God sees us in and through each circumstance we face - good and bad. Attributed to Helen Keller, this sentence sums up "see" - "Life's most beautiful things are not seen with the eyes, but felt with the heart."