View the post for February 14 for an explanation of my Lenten Project Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. We break out the jackets and enjoy walks in the woods in the autumn air, so crisp and clean. Fall is filled with amazing colors. The leaves turn from their green to golds, reds, and oranges. Fall also signals a time of change. The leaves gradually fall to the ground and soon the branches will be bare again.
Change is hard but the seasons remind us that change is a part of life. With Christ we can not only have change but we can have transformation. There is no need to fear the winter if we allow God to renew our minds. The cycle will repeat. Seasons of our lives come and go. Yet we have hope no matter the season for we worship a God who is alpha and omega one “who is and was and is to come.” Prayer God Who Never Changes Guide us through seasons of change so that we become transformed by your mercy. Show us the good, perfect, and pleasing will you have for us this day. Amen
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View the post for February 14 for an explanation of my Lenten Project Shout for joy to God, all the earth! You can hear them before you see them, the cool mountain streams of summer. They flow through a deep, verdant green forest. If you take the time to sit quietly beside one it is like you can hear the water singing joyous songs of praise. Summer reminds us of seasons of joy; those little gifts of time when we sit in awe in your presence. All that we can do is join in the song of the stream and sing our songs of praise to Creator God who loves us beyond all understanding.
Prayer Great God We join the world you created in songs of praise to you. May our lives this day bring glory to you and share joy with those around us. Amen View the post for February 14 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. This single daffodil stands alone as a herald of spring. It is alone under the protection of the tree but nearby a whole host of daffodils raise their heads. There will still be cold snaps to come, for this is East Tennessee after all, and another month before most of the other wildflowers break through the ground. As I look at this daffodil I am reminded of the day when Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey, the day we call Palm Sunday. There was great joy in the crowd with people shouting his praises. I wonder what we would have seen if we could have seen Jesus’s eyes that day. He knew what was coming. He knew that these crowds would soon call out Crucify Him! So in one way he was alone in a great crowd of people but in another way he knew that he was doing the task the Father has given him. He knew that he would step out alone to bear the world’s sin. He also knew the true joy that was coming of a new heaven and new earth. He knew we would never have to be alone again.
Prayer Suffering Savior Thank you for standing alone, dying alone on the cross so that we can stand in your presence filled with joy at your unfailing love. Amen View the post for February 14 for an explanation of my Lenten Project We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. The first sign of spring in the mountains are the daffodils. They come when the trees are still bare and the grass is still brown. Yet here they are almost standing at attention, waiting. For me the daffodils are signs of hope. We will still have to wait a little and waiting is hard. Sometimes we find ourselves waiting on the Lord – waiting for him to reveal himself in his world and in his word. But we know like these daffodils that stand attention and bring me so much hope and joy that God’s unfailing love will be with us.
Prayer Lord God, Father of All Seasons We wait silently and expectantly in your presence. We put our hope in your unfailing love. Amen View the post for February 14 for an explanation of my Lenten Project, Seasons If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. One thing I look for when I go to the mountains in winter is how the cold temperatures change the water. I am amazed by intricate ice formations along the streams and waterfalls. The interesting thing about water in the winter is that while part of a stream or waterfall may freeze, there is always a part of the water that is still moving. Moving water creates heat that will keep some of the water flowing even when the temperatures are below freezing.
When we stop and take a cold hard look at our lives, we can be overcome with our own sin and failure. In these times after looking at ourselves we need to turn and look at God. His forgiveness never freezes. His love always is moving underneath purifying us and bringing us to him. Prayer Loving God, We confess the times this day that we looked to our own selfish desires, times when we failed to serve you. Forgive our sins and unfreeze our cold hearts. 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