View the post for February 27 for an explanation of my Lenten Project Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” Moses was going about his business watching the sheep. He could have just looked at the bush with the unusual light and thought, “Wonder what that is too bad I have to look after these sheep and get back to the tent before dark.” That isn’t what he did. He went to see that bush and it changed his life forever. He had an encounter with God and the bush and the ground become holy because he stopped to listen.
This is one of my favorite pictures. This tree stands almost at the entrance to the loop road in the horse pasture. The day I took this picture instead of hurriedly driving past to get to the place where I had planned to photograph, we were walking on the road. I noticed the tree for the first time. It was just so beautiful to me, serene and calm in the fog. While this wasn’t a burning bush, God used this tree to remind me of his beauty and his greatness. Now this tree has become something that I long to see because it reminds me so much of God. We can miss so much of God when we move through each day at breakneck speed. Notice that God did not speak to Moses until he stopped to investigate the burning bush. Prayer Lord God Teach us to take the time to notice your presence in the world. Open our hearts to hear your words and let them change us. Amen
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View the post for February 27 for an explanation of my Lenten Project Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” I was drawn to this little tree because of its position. It wasn’t big and beautiful; it wasn’t straight and tall; it wasn’t standing in the forest. Even though it was small it still had an unique place on the cliff overlooking the ocean. In this story after Abraham was willing to follow God’s command and offer his only son, God stopped his sacrifice of Issac. Abraham had trusted God even when it meant doing the unimaginable. And then in a small tree the Lord provided the sacrifice. God will provide for us when we seek to follow him even when we feel like this small tree on the cliff wondering how long we will be able to stand in the place where we are planted.
Prayer Lord God We trust in you to provide for us. Walk with us closely today as we seek to serve you in the unique place where we are planted. Amen View the post for February 27 for an explanation of my Lenten Project Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked Lent is a time when we can plant ourselves more firmly in God’s word. It is a time for us to root ourselves in him and spend time doing the hard task of discerning God’s purpose for us.
Prayer Lord God, Draw us closer to you and help us to plant our roots in you our living water. Amen View the post for February 27 for an explanation of my Lenten Project I love you, Lord, my strength. These trees in the Canyon Region of Yellowstone stood straight and tall on the wall of the 1,200 foot deep canyon. The canyon's walls were formed from geysers and mud springs and are easily eroded. Still in these harsh conditions these trees stand. We have a refuge, a rock, and a strength to stand when we walk in harsh times. Look to God and take refuge in him.
Prayer Lord, Our Strength May we run to you first in difficult times knowing that you are our rock, our fortress, and our deliverer. Amen View the post for February 27 for an explanation of my Lenten Project Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy. On clear, cold, winter days like this one I imagine the trees worshiping in the warmth of the sun. God made us to worship him. Sing with the trees this day.
Prayer Lord God We sing your praise with the tress of the forest. We worship you for your abundant grace. Amen View the post for February 27 for an explanation of my Lenten Project Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. When God put man in the garden he planted trees. These trees were pleasing to the eye. God wanted man to have beauty and to appreciate beauty so he planted trees. We need to have beauty in our lives. Sometimes that means we have to search for it. Remember God’s purpose for man was to till the garden.
Prayer Creator God Thank you for trees that bring beauty into our lives. Amen View the post for February 27 for an explanation of my Lenten Project You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. The air was cold and the snow covered the ground. The leaves were gone and the tree laid bare. Man’s sin, his choosing to decide for himself what is good and evil rather than trusting God’s wisdom, has made the world a cold place. Yet as with the tree in the snow there is promise of new life. Spring will come and the leaves will be full of life. So Jesus comes into our lives, warms us, and gives us new life.
Prayer Great God Lay bare our hearts and show us our sin. Melt the coldness from our hearts with your love and forgiveness. 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