During this Holy Week I am taking time to look back at all the words that God has given me over the past 3+ years. Sometimes I say to myself, “I wrote that?” and then I know that those words and images were truly a gift and are not really mine. I thought for this Holy Week I would make this short post with links to some posts that I have written on Holy Weeks and Easter in the past. I pray the image and words will touch your heart as you make your way through Holy Week this year.
Palm Sunday Maundy Thursday Easter Resurrection
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View the post for February 17 for an explanation of my Lenten Project As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. While the crowd of disciples joyfully sang praises, blessings, and hosannas as they entered Jerusalem, Jesus wept. He saw the storm that was coming. He grieved for those who had closed their eyes to him. He knew that even his disciples would all abandon him for a time before they would understand who he was. He grieved for the world lost in sin. We also need to grieve for the world. For only when we truly grieve like Jesus did we will have the courage to share the story of Jesus to those who need to know the way through their storm to the light of dawn.
Prayer Jesus Give us eyes to grieve as you did that day and the compassion to share your love with those who don’t know you. May our lives and our words show them the way through the storm to your peace. Amen View the post for February 17 for an explanation of my Lenten Project As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him. While we were camping last week at the lake, I got up early and headed down to the shore. The fog and clouds hid the sun and everything was quiet. The summer crowds are yet to come and there weren’t even any fishermen. It was a time to just sit and be in God’s world and pray and think.
As I sat on the hill overlooking the shore I thought about the stories of Jesus that took place on the Sea of Galilee. I imagine that he spent lots of time walking along the shore alone in the early morning hours. We know that he did this at least once on the day he called his first disciples. They were by the water, too, going about their daily business. Take time today as you go about your daily tasks and imagine a walk along a shore. Listen for Jesus to call to you, “Come, follow me.” Walk with him this day. Prayer Lord Jesus Walk with us today and open our hearts to hear your call. Give us the courage to share your love with all we meet this day. Amen View the post for February 17 for an explanation of my Lenten Project On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. Sometimes when I think of living water I picture a quiet mountain stream. But when I read this passage again a new image came to mind - an image of this most unusual waterfall that just appears to come out of the rocks. Running Eagle falls actually comes from a stream created by runoff from Two Medicine Lake. When the stream reaches a sinkhole it bursts through the rocks above and creates this powerful waterfall.
Jesus promises us that when we follow him rivers of living water will flow from within us like the water that flows through the rocks to create Running Eagle Falls. This living water will not only wash us clean but it will give us the power of water to transform, the power to hope, the power to keep going through the wilderness, the power to love our enemies, and the power to share the Living Water with others. Prayer Lord Jesus Cleanse our hearts and let the rivers of living water transform us and flow through us to all that are thirsty. Amen View the post for February 17 for an explanation of my Lenten Project These are the words Moses spoke to all Israel in the wilderness east of the Jordan—that is, in the Arabah—opposite Suph, between Paran and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth and Dizahab. I remember the evening I took this picture. We had traveled all day on scenic highways in Vermont and made it to our hotel on Hero Island in Lake Champlain shortly before sunset. After asking the innkeeper where to watch the sunset, we headed to the Hero Island Dock. We watched from the quiet beach and stayed as twilight fell across the lake.
As the book of Deuteronomy begins the old generation has given way to the new generation that now stands ready to cross the Jordan. The wilderness is behind them and the promised land lay ahead. So Moses remembers and speaks. He reminds the people of the times they rebelled and complained and the times that God forgave them and yet still led and protected them on their way. He tells them that there will be times when they will rebel again but as God as done throughout their wilderness journey he will forgive them again. They only need to call on him. When I look at this picture I remember all the hardships and mistakes we made on the trip as well as all the beauty we saw. We need to remember. Lent is a time of remembering - remembering our own wilderness of sin. For only when we remember the wilderness can we know the beauty of God’s forgiveness. Prayer Dear Father Remind us not only of our sin but also of your forgiveness and presence in our lives. Use our memories to teach us your wisdom. Amen |
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Soli Deo Gloria,
1 Corinthians 10:31
© 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Karen Milligan
1 Corinthians 10:31
© 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Karen Milligan