See...Lent Photo-a-Day

See...When looking through the lens of a camera I see the world from a different perspective.  This photo of a snowflake was taken with a macro lens and it shows some of the intricate details of a snowflake.  When looking at snow with the naked eye, all I see is white stuff falling or white stuff sitting on the ground.  That white “stuff” is millions of beautiful and very detailed snowflakes; yet, I cannot see it.  

We have a God that can see everything; He can see every fine detail there is.  He can see the past, the present, and the future and in that He puts together a plan for us.  When we look at our  

plan we see the “white stuff” and do not know all the details that are interwoven together for us.

Take a moment to consider this perspective – God sent His Son to this earth so that we could be Redeemed.  Our redemption is though Jesus’ death and resurrection.  God could see all the details and knew His Son would die and He still loved us enough to follow through.  Jesus did not say He would not bear the physical pain because it was too much to bear.  He willingly went to the cross for us. 

What can I see…very little but I know my God sees everything!

Cheryl

Wise...Lent Photo-a-Day

Wise…There are plenty of images that pop up when I hear the word wise.  Remember the wise owl licking the lollipop and offering his advice or the wise “old” man that is willing to share great insight.  No matter what image comes to mind the word wise is an interesting word to ponder. 

What makes a person wise?  Is it someone that has read everything under the sun or someone that has a great deal of experience in something?  In my opinion there are multiple factors present in a wise person.  When you look at scripture it offers a great deal of thought on the wise.  “Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil” (Proverbs 3:7) Then if you look back a chapter it notes that the Lord gives wisdom (Proverbs 2:6) and the wise have wisdom.  Scripture talks about the “wise son hears his father’s instruction” (Proverbs 13:1) and the “wise son makes a glad father” (Proverbs 10:1). 

Four simple verses that offer great insight into the word wise.  There might be plenty of thoughts on what makes a person wise.  However, do we base those thoughts on what scripture has to say?  Be wise – wise in His ways!

Cheryl

Knowledge...Lent Photo-a-Day

Knowledge…How many strive for more knowledge?  Today it seems so easy to gain knowledge.  We can “Google” anything and within a fraction of a second we have more information than we know what to do with.  In fact, we can get bogged down in all the knowledge that is at our disposal.  So, while looking to see what scripture had to say about knowledge I found it interesting that in Colossians it notes, “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” (1:9) How often do we ask God to fill us with the knowledge of His will?  It is not something that we just “Google” and get.  The knowledge of His will is acquired through a relationship with Him.  It is time spent in His Word and listening to His will.  It is the knowledge we should strive for, as it is flawless knowledge.  Seek His knowledge.  

Cheryl  

Sabbath...Lent Photo-a-Day

Sabbath…Again another word that we tend not to use much anymore.  We are a go, go, go society.  The more we go the better we are.  After all the word Sabbath is from the “old” days.  We are not in need of that anymore.  We can be “spiritual” from home and for that matter we can be “spiritual” at any time.   So why do we need to consider the word Sabbath?  God commanded – “Remember the Sabbath day…” Yet, when God stated, “remember the Sabbath day” it was more than stating, “go to church”. 

Yes, we need to spend time with God and church is one of those places. Worship is a time for God to share with us.  Scripture talks about gathering together and spending time in worship.  Hebrews 10:25 states, “Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another…”  Yet, remembering the Sabbath day is more than taking time for worship.  It is a time for rest.  Mark 2:27 reads, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”  God created a time for us to rest.  He knew that we would need it!  He even rested.  However, in our human plan we know better and can go and go and prosper. 

As humans we develop such faulty plans.  Sure we can go and go and maybe “prosper” in the eyes of the world, but are we really prospering?  Are we missing out on a relationship with Christ and the ability to rest as God had planned it?  Take the rest God has given.  Sure there are 101 things to do but that list of things to do will always be there.  Rest and grow in the One that matters! 

Cheryl  

Speak...Lent Photo-a-Day

Speak…A word that seems to cause me to have writer’s block.  I have the opportunity to “speak” and I am at a loss for words.  I shut my computer down last night because I was just staring at the screen.  Now the screen is before me and I should “speak”.  The bible passage that keeps popping into my head is a well-known verse.  James 1:19 – “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.”  Too often we are quick to speak to make sure our voice is heard and we forget to take the time to hear what is being said.  Do we “listen” by preparing our rebuttal in our head or do we really take the time to truly hear what is being said?

I am guilty of not always hearing what is being spoken to me.  When my son talks about football stats I find my mind drifting all over the place.  If the conversation is a conversation that leaves me feeling defensive I also do not always hear what is being said.  I am more worried about what I am going to say than really hearing what is being said.  In both instances I have missed out on an opportunity.  I could’ve connected with my son and had conversation about what he enjoys.  I could’ve also heard how the other person was really feeling and acknowledged their position. 

Scripture is full of wisdom; yet, we turn to other sources to gain wisdom.  God gave us great advice in James and it is in such a simplistic way.  It is not a 7-step program, it is simply stating be careful how you speak to one another and tune into what others are saying.  Live life with God’s wisdom being your guide.   

Cheryl

Beloved...Lent Photo-a-Day

Beloved…Not a word that is used as much as it probably once was.  So, I looked it up and the definition given was “Greatly loved”.   If going off of that definition to me beloved is a pretty powerful word.  Someone that is greatly loved is blessed.  When I saw the definition I thought of my kids.  There is a great love that exists when you parent.  The love you feel when your child is born is a love that is indescribable.  It is a love that loves through all the ups and downs of parenting.  No matter if it is the terrible two’s, horrific three’s, or the teenage years there is a great love that exists. 

1 John 1:1-2 states “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.  The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.  Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.”  Now that is love!  We are His beloved children!  We have a Father that extends His love to us in a way that is indescribable.  To fully grasp the love extended to us is impossible.  We don’t know what it was like hang on the cross for hours and die.  We don’t know what it was like to give up the only Son so that we could have eternal life.  We don’t know what it is like to forgive over and over and over again and love fully despite the faults.  It is a love that goes beyond words.  We are blessed!

Cheryl