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.

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.

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."

Lenten Photo Challenge Day 23 - Blind

Today's word is blind - how do I find a photograph to show blind? I chose this one because it is hard to see what it is supposed to be. It is not clear what the subject is.

 Do you go through life in a fog - unable to see God at work in your life? In John 9:39  "Jesus said, 'For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.'" Blindness does not only refer to a person's sight. So often we may have good vision, but do not see what is right in front of our faces. The Bible is referring to this kind of blindness in our lives. Do we see God's work in our lives or are we blind to the miracles around us? Are we looking at our lives like the picture above - we see something, but have no idea what it actually is?

I know a person who is legally blind, but only in his vision. In his daily life, he is able to "see" God's love surrounding him in everything that he does. And so often he sees more than I can! I pray that each of us looks for the daily miracles in our lives and do not turn a blind eye to God's wonders.

Lenten Photo Challenge Day 22 - Fight

Fight is a subject that is hard for me to photograph. We had a tree come down and block our road in the subdivision last week. The snow was too heavy for it. Our neighbor needed to get to work and knocked on our door looking for a chainsaw, before we knew it was down.  I thought at the time that some people may have become irate and in "fighting" mode at a time like this. We were thankful that our neighbor was totally understanding and stayed to help while the tree was cut up. (Two others also showed up to help move the branches so the neighbor could be on the way to work.)

In the Bible I have learned that "fight" can have a different meaning. It can mean standing up for what is right as in the Christian songs "Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus" and "Onward, Christian Soliders".

While God tells us to be kind, it is also important to know when a fight is warranted. We should never give in to make someone happy if it is at the expense of God's word. The OLd Testament has many instances when fights and battles were done at God's direction.

In today's world we may be faced with many fighting instances. We need to be sure our battle is God's battle and not our personal fight. Then we can be confident that right is on our side.

Lenten Photo Challenge Day 21 - Doubt

March, 2014 - many friends in our area are "doubting" that spring will ever come this year! It is March 25, five days after the official start of spring and this is what we saw in yard!

We have doubt in so many areas of our lives, whether about the weather, in personal relationships, or in God's love. In Mark 11:23 Jesus says, "Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him."

My first inclination is to say "Really?!" Could anyone really believe something like this can really happen? This shows my doubt in God's power already! While I believe in the Bible, my human nature simply cannot fathom how I could throw a mountain into the sea.

I have experienced many blessings from God and truly believe that He hears my prayers. He has worked miracles that others said could never happen. We say God can do anything, but do we really believe it? If we could get beyond our doubting natures, what fantastic, wonderful "unbelievable" blessings we would experience.

Lenten Photo Challenge Day 20 - Receive

What a joy to receive a gift! The wrapping is beautiful and inside there must be something wonderful, right? We get gifts for birthdays, weddings, new babies, retirements, and other special occasions. However, the most important gift we can receive does not come wrapped in pretty paper or in a gift bag.

In Matthew 7:7-8 (and Luke 11:9-10) we hear Jesus say, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened."

God has provided all we need to live in this world. He simply tells us to "ask".

Lenten Photo Challenge Day 19 - Water

Water is one of the mixed blessings we have. At its best it helps crops grow through timely rain and provides drinking water around the world. At its worst it destroys though floods of creeks, rivers, and oceans.

In the Bible we read that water destroyed the Earth when Noah and his family lived. Then water became the symbol of God's love when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. Perhaps the best know Bible verse is in the Twenty-third Psalm:

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters;
He restores my soul.
He leads me in the pathes of righteousness for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,
for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

May we remember that even in the worst of times. God knows our needs, and works for our good.

Lenten Photo Challenge Day 18 - Peace

Can you hear the butterfly in this photograph? It was taken at a very quiet, peaceful scene last summer. It may be quiet here, but is the butterfly really at peace? It spends all its life searching for food and fighting for survival.

Many times I have heard people wish for peace - peace from noisy children, peace in a disruptive classroom, even "world peace" is a common theme in beauty pageants in the movies. But is peace really? Is it simply quiet around us? Is it just a lack of fighting, although the people involved may not really like each other? Is world peace a cessation of war?

One of my favorite songs is "Let There Be Peace on Earth"

Let there be peace on earth 
and let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth, 
the peace that was meant to be.
With God as our Father, 
brothers all are we.
Let me walk with my brother
in perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me. 
Let this be the moment now.
With ev'ry breath I take
let this be my solemn vow:
To take each moment 
and live each moment
in peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth 
and let it begin with me.

(While this song is often heard during the Christmas season, it was written by Jill Jackson Miller after a time in her life when she was very depressed and suicidal following the breakup of her marriage. She wrote the words when she realized God's love for her. )

I think this song helps explain what Jesus meant in John 14:27 - 

       "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world give do I give to you. Let not       your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." 

 I have also found peace in experiencing God's love as described in Philippians 4:7 -

       "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and mind in Christ Jesus."

This peace from God, which truly does surpass all understanding, is the true peace which people seek. It is ours when we believe that it is ours.

Lenten Photo Challenge Day 17 - Worship

One of the first Bible verses I remember learning as a child was Psalm 100. I had a Bible bookmark with these words printed on it:

Make a joyful noise to the Lork, all the earth!
     Serve the Lord with gladness!
     Come into his presence with singing!
Know that the Lord, he is God!
     It is he who made us, and we are his;
     we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
     and his courts with praise:
     Give thanks to him; bless his name!
For the Lord is good;
    his steadfast love endures forever,
     and his faithfulness to all generations.

It is not a long psalm, but to me it is a perfect example of worship.  Each verse praises God and describes how He should be acknowledged. Make a joyful noise, come with gladness, singing! In these verses the author does not moan, complain or ask for help. Its only purpose is to worship and praise God.

As a teacher, I was instructed to start every parent conference with a positive comment about our student. I hope I can remember to start my prayers and conversations with God on a positive note as well. If I cannot think of something positive because of concerns at the time, I need to praise God for loving me, and I bet the positive ideas will then flow.

Lenten Photo Challenge Day 16 - Blessing

Children, pets, jobs, weather conditions are often referred to as blessings. For today's word - blessing. - I checked the dictionary to see what a generic definition would be. I found - 1) a special favor, mercy, or benefit; 2) a favor or gift bestowed by God, thereby bringing happiness; 3) praise; devotion; worship, especially grace said before a meal. Which definition would you consider to be the best one?

Matthew 5:3-12 is know as the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus spoke the Beatitudes:

3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.  12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

These verses show how the second definition is for us. God blesses His people when we feeli discouraged or simply down. He blesses us when we feel happy or like celebrating. Turn to Him and the Bible for these comforting words.