Lenten Reflection: Feb. 27

Luke 8:4-8

King James Version (KJV)

⁴ And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:

⁵ A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.

⁶ And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.

⁷ And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.

⁸ And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

My reflection:

Judging from last year's gardening experience, I am in DEEP trouble. My garden area was a complete and total DISASTER. Then in the fall, I had some workers put in the sprinkling system in the back yard. They laid sod. They made me a garden are with a devoted hose...but they made it too small. I shall have a window ledge garden in my big A for Aggie yard. Sigh. 

Lenten Reflection: Feb. 26

Leviticus 25:23

King James Version (KJV)

²³ The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine, for ye are strangers and sojourners with me.

My reflection:
A fairly simple and straight forward reminder that this earth belongs to God. Not us. He must be very discouraged with us right now. Have you ever loaned a favorite book out to a friend? You think to yourself, I  know this person, and love this person, surely they will take good care of my favorite book. Then, after you spend months of hounding for them to return it, they finally give it back to you. The dust jacket is gone, and the corners are bent, and there are some pages missing. A coffee stain right on the front cover where it was used as a coaster. It looks like it may have been dropped in a puddle, or maybe the tub.... I think our use of the earth must be like that for God. 

Lenten Reflection: Feb. 25

Almighty God, in giving us dominion over things on earth, you made us fellow workers in your creation: Give us wisdom and reverence so to use the resources of nature, that no one may suffer from our abuse of them, and that generations yet to come may continue to praise you for your bounty; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

--For the Conservation of Natural Resources,

The Book of Common Prayer

My reflection: Last October, JB and I had the opportunity to attend The Crossroads project at USU. Their "performance" was a compilation of scientific research being shared along side/and in collaboration with a string quartet, some modern dancing, oil paintings and photographs. The experience was was a bit hippy talk, a bit artsy fartsy, but still extremely interesting, informative, and really quite moving. The discussion was about the human race, and how we are slowly but surely destroying our natural resources, and soon will die out as a species because we will not be able to sustain ourselves.  Not at all the stewards of God's creation, as we were intended to be. 

To learn more about the Crossroads project, just click HERE, and hopefully it will take you to their website.

Lenten Reflection Feb. 24

Genesis 1:24-25

King James Version (KJV)

²⁴ And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
²⁵ And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.


My reflection:

Lenten Reflection: Feb. 23

Matthew 6:19-21

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁹ Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

²⁰ But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

²¹ For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

My reflection: I don't know how I feel about this passage. It is my opinion, that earthly treasure helps a lot in putting up your heavenly treasure... I remember the exact moment in my life when I received my first credit card in the mail. It had a $200.00 credit limit. I cried with joy, because the rent on our little house we lived in was due in three days and I had no idea how I was going to pay it. The cost of our rent was exactly $200.00. I was able to use the credit card to pay that month's rent, and we were able to make ends meet. That time of my life was great in the sense of adventure, being newly married and still in college, the world was big exciting place. But money was tight and stress was high. It was hard. I don't really want to do it again. 
Now, I feel I am very blessed by the opportunity to knit prayer shawls, and give my knitting away as gifts of love. But, without the "earthly treasure" that my husband brings to our family, I would need to be in the work place on a daily basis, so I would not have the time needed to knit the shawls. If it wasn't for our earthly treasure, I would need to use the money I made working, for food, or to cover my head with a shelter and I would not be able to afford the yarn to knit with. My heart truly lives through my little projects, and I am very grateful for the earthly treasure available to me, to make it possible.

Lenten Reflection: Feb 22

Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.
--Morning prayer II (Ephesians 3:20), The Book of Common Prayer

My Reflection: ... Power, working in us, doing more than we can imagine... This to me sounds a lot like inspiration. Sometimes inspiration can make me do crazy things. Things that I didn't ask to do, or imagine myself ever doing. Things like knitting a prayer shawl for a mother whom I've never met, who's child passed away from cancer. Things like standing in the grocery line, at that precise moment when the lady behind me really needs to talk to someone about her daughters upcoming surgery, or things like volunteering to take photos at the baptism of a child, or trying to write a blog post EVERY SINGLE DAY for Lent.
C.R.A.Z.Y!
I actually like these moment of inspiration, even though 99% of the time they result in WORK. Moments of inspiration, for me, are seldom ways for me to kick back and relax. Often, they are hard, and require a lot more effort on my part than if I had just ignored them. However, they also offer me a sense of closeness to God. If I can feel His power, it is easier for me to believe... and when your faith is broken, and is only being held together by minuscule pieces of tattered and worn emotional masking tape, you tend to take whatever you can get.

So, when have you been inspired?

Lenten Reflection: Feb 21

Ephesians 5:2

King James Version (KJV)

² And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.

My reflection: These words, or words that are VERY Similar,

 “Walk in love, as Christ loved us, and gave himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God.”

 are spoken at an Episcopal Church service every Sunday. These words are spoken after the congregation greets each other in the name of the Lord in a process that is called "sharing the peace." These words let the people know it is time to stop shaking hands and to focus on the service, and the communion which is to come. I find it interesting that these words are spoken as a cue to the crowd that the silver plates are on their way, and it is time for them to get out their wallets and make their own offering and sacrifice to God. But the part of the verse that I like the best, are the words "Walk in Love." That pretty much says it all for me. If we walk in love, everything else will just fall into place. 

Lenten Reflection: Feb. 20

Amos 6:1-4

King James Version (KJV)

6 Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!

² Pass ye unto Calneh, and see; and from thence go ye to Hamath the great: then go down to Gath of the Philistines: be they better than these kingdoms? or their border greater than your border?

³ Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near;

⁴ That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall;

My reflection: I interpret this passage to be a warning. It instructs us to not be prideful and think we are better than our neighbor. It cautions us to not get complacent or lazy, and to not be wasteful of the blessings that are given to us. My thoughts are simply "OK."  That's it. No burst of insight, no relate-able personal anecdote.... Nope. I "got nothin'." (Shrug)  How about you?

Wordless Wednesday

Ok, I know this is a WORDLESS Wednesday, but I think some explanation might be in order. At first glance this simply looks like a boring photo of an old mailbox, which in essence, is correct. But look closer, and you will see where the post has been broken off...by one of my girl scout mothers, backing out of my driveway, and completely OVER the mailbox. She missed the driveway by about 5 feet, drove over a two foot snowbank, and backed over the lawn to take out the mailbox. I am nervous to see what the lawn looks like under neath all the snow she plowed through. Fortunately, there was enough left of the post attached to the mailbox, that the mailman and I just stuffed it into the snowbank, for now. When the snow thaws I will have to figure out how to keep the mailbox up until I can get the post fixed. I am thinking a 5 gallon bucket full of gravel might do the trick.

Lenten Reflection: Feb. 19

Ruth 2:15-18

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁵ As she got up to glean, Boaz gave orders to his men, “Let her gather among the sheaves and don’t reprimand her.¹⁶ Even pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up, and don’t rebuke her.”

¹⁷ So Ruth gleaned in the field until evening. Then she threshed the barley she had gathered, and it amounted to about an ephah.^[a] 18 She carried it back to town, and her mother-in-law saw how much she had gathered. Ruth also brought out and gave her what she had left over after she had eaten enough.

Footnotes:

1. Ruth 2:17 That is, probably about 30 pounds or about 13 kilograms

My reflection: It has been said that all good stories have a beginning  a middle and an end. For me this story of Ruth, when she meets Boaz, is starting to close to the middle for my liking. I think it is necessary to understand that Boaz was a "close kinsman" to Naomi's deceased husband, Elimelek. There is some ambiguity as to the exact relationship between Boaz and Elimelek, but I am not thinking they were brothers, because I think it would say "brothers" if that were the case. I am thinking Boaz could be a cousin, or a nephew...but nothing more distant than that. He was close enough in the family circle to hear all that family gossip that rolls around, and knew that Ruth (that foreign lady that married Naomi's son) had stayed with her mother-in-law and was helping to take care of her. So, I am not surprised that when Ruth accidentally ends up in his field, he is kind to her and offers her not only the opportunity to pick up the last of the fallen barley, but encourages her to take some grains straight from the stalk. None of this would have happened for Ruth, if she had not FIRST taken loving care of Naomi. I think that had she been cruel to Naomi, firstly she would have never been in that field to begin with because she would have stayed in her own homeland, or Boaz would have known she was an evil wench and sent her packing right away. This story, to me, is a good example of "karma" come around to pay it back. For me, the "real life lesson" here, is simply be kind to others when you can, because you just never know when you will be blessed in return, and it is simply the "right thing" to do. I don't know why, but this story always reminds me of my mother in law, and her sisters. She, like me, comes from a family of 4 girls.  When her father was alive, he was domineering, headstrong, and often harsh. Yet, when he had a stroke, and had to be put in a care center, she would go almost daily, with her sisters, to make sure he was comfortable. They would take him reading materials, and would pick him up to take him to lunch, and sit with him through medical procedures. Usually their visits would result in him insulting them, or their husbands, or him saying some other mean thing that would make her cry. I once asked her why she continued to go visit him. He was habitually really cruel to her. She KNEW he was going to be mean to her, yet she continued to go visit him. I wanted to know why. She told me "He may be a mean old son-of-a-bitch, but I'm not." She went on to explain, that even though he was an ornery old cuss, he was in need of her assistance, whether he wanted it or not. It was HER CHOICE to determine her response. I have often thought of her answer when I am placed in situations I don't want to be in, and try to remember that even though I may not always be happy with my circumstances, I can still choose to conduct myself with kindness and grace, because I'm not a mean old S-of-a-B, either. My hope is, that like Ruth, if I am kind to others, kindness will come back to me.

Lenten Reflection: Feb. 18

Matthew 25:37-40

King James Version (KJV)

³⁷ Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

³⁸ When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

³⁹ Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

⁴⁰ And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

My Reflection: This photo was taken in Aug 2010 at the Cache Community Food Pantry. Pastor Susan started a "First Tuesday Ministry" where on the first Tuesday of each month members of the congregation go to the food pantry to pass out muffins/orange juice/hot coffee/cocoa to the people waiting in line. My orders were document the occasion in photos, and due to privacy reasons of the patrons of the food bank, I was to only take pictures of people involved with St. John's. Well this young man saw me taking pictures, and wanted so desperately for me to take HIS picture. I tried to tell him I couldn't, but he didn't speak enough English to understand my reasons. Finally, Mom saw our conversation, and told me it was alright to take his picture, so I did, then I showed the image to him on the back of the camera. His face lit up and he was so excited. I sincerely wish I had a portable printer that I could have printed it out and given it to him. But I didn't, and I still have NO IDEA who he was. I love this image, because I remember him, and his excitement, but more than that I can see the purity in his eyes. He was shucking corn, peeling off the soggy, rotting layers of husk, until he got to the cleaner layers below. He was doing this not just to help his Momma, but as a service to the other patrons of the food pantry. It was a stinky, dirty, messy job, but this youngster was happy to do it. Even though he was small, he found a way that he could help and he dove in with both hands and one big heart. 

For more images of that day, click here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tlcbull/sets/72157624664294974/

Lenten Reflection: Feb. 17

Acts 20:35

King James Version (KJV)

³⁵ I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

My reflection:  This brought back some fun memories of my childhood. Dad and I are hiding behind a bush, at night, in the cold, developing our strategy for "doorbell ditching" a family in the ward. We had a cardboard box full of canned goods, and were delivering it.... secretly. I remember the thrill of sneaking up on the house, heart racing, and pushing the doorbell, as Dad laid the box on the porch, then running as fast as I could back to the bushes to watch as the door opened and the family discovered our little surprise. 
   My parents have always been great examples to me in the stewardship and caring of others. Whenever someone knocked on our door asking for donations for a food drive, Mom was always able to spare a can or two. I don't think she EVER said no to making a donation. When I was in college, and we were making simple baby blankets to donate to the hospital, she kicked in a few she had made as well. 
   Through their example, I have learned about giving to others, and continue to enjoy the blessings of this practice by giving to my own "causes." I knit prayer shawls for my church, that are given to people as a token of God's love and support as they struggle through illness, the death of a spouse or friend, or even for happy occasions such as weddings and births. I can always find a can or two for food drives, and have even been known to knit baby hats for the preemie ward. I know that now, I get to be the Mom, and I know JB is watching me. I hope I can be as good of an example for her as my parents were for me.

Lenten Reflection: Feb. 16

John 6:35

King James Version (KJV)

³⁵ And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

My reflection: This is one (of many, I might add) scripture passages, that I understand with my head, but don't necessarily feel with my heart. I understand that it is not talking just of physical food, and that there is starvation and hunger throughout the world, whether people believe in Christianity or not. I know it is meant to be understood on more of a spiritual plane, and talks about the feeding of the soul. But here, again, I take issue. The last few years have taken their toll on my family, and my faith has taken a serious hit. I continue to believe, but I have to admit my mustard seed tends to get a little bit smaller every year. Even though I continue to attend church on a regular basis, and continue the praying, and have even taken up meditation and yoga and scripture study...I often do not feel satisfied with the results. I continue to feel let down, ignored, and frankly REALLY pissed off, and a lot of times I just want to say screw you, God. I'm done with this $#!%. But, then I have to think about all of the blessings I do have, and I think that God probably knows all about my little bit of a rebellious streak and is probably laughing at my temper tantrums, and it is all part of "the plan" for me anyway. So, here I stand. Still at the corner of Unsure and Hesitant, just taking it day by day, and praying that at the end of this ride, the answers to my soul's questions are actually good ones.

Lenten Reflection: Feb. 15

Mark 12:43-44

King James Version (KJV)

⁴³ And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:

⁴⁴ For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

My Reflection: I have actually been pretty luck in my life time. I have never been homeless, or gone without food. I have always had my basic needs met, and have never had to cast into the treasury all that I had when it comes to money... But I have sometimes given EVERYTHING I could to a special project. I don't know how often I have been up late making just one more flavor of cookie for the school party, or trying just one more type of medication to aid a sick and dying pet. Sometimes I find myself exhausted with all the planning and scheming for the next dinner party, or Easter Egg hunt or, the next week's girl scout activity. It's funny, because I know in my brain that I don't HAVE to do all of this crazy stuff. Yet, I am compelled to do it anyway, sometimes to the point where I physically wear myself out. I just know that if I commit to doing something, I want to make sure it is done well.   The thing is, it makes me happy when I can see I have pleased another person through my efforts. I want to share my talents. I like to know that I have touched another's heart through that special piece of knitting, or by helping them with a task they wouldn't be able to do on their own...like sewing the badges that my scout troop earns onto their vests for them. I like going to big events and seeing "my girls" all decked out in their uniforms with all of their hard work displayed by their badges sewn on in all the right places. I want others to benefit from my efforts. So, I know I will keep on with such nonsense, and even when I think I have given everything, I will probably come up with some crazy way to give just a little bit more.

Lenten Reflection: Thursday Feb. 14

Matthew 6:11

King James Version (KJV)

¹¹ Give us this day our daily bread.

My Reflection: 

Well, what more is there to say, really? I am thinking that this has GOT to be the shortest and yet most covering prayer ever. I think I often loose touch with my most basic of needs. I think I NEED a new outfit, or for my stupid phone to work properly, but in reality, I can survive without those things. It is hard to remember to be thankful that I have my "daily bread." I have a roof over my head, I have food in my pantry, I have access to medications when those I love are ill, and I have people who care about me. Truly what more do I need? That is enough.

Wordless Wednesday

Lenten Reflection: Ash Wednesday Feb. 13

During Lent, The Episcopal Relief and Development Organization which can best be described as the Episcopal Church's version of the LDS church's Humanitarian Aid Program sends out a booklet entitled "Lenten Meditations." They include a scripture passage and then a meditative comment form a church leader in response to the scripture passage. This year the overall "THEME" of the booklet has to deal with food scarcity throughout the world, so a lot of the scriptures may deal with food, or the scarcity of it, or how we should share it, etc. I have chosen to read and reflect on each day's passage as my Lenten project. Just so you can play along, I will post the scripture reference here for you to enjoy/ponder/ignore as you see fit.

Genesis 1:27-31

King James Version (KJV)

²⁷ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
²⁸ And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
²⁹ And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
³⁰ And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.
³¹ And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

My reflection: This week, Bill and Jb have been sick. I have been doing my best to take care of them... to "have dominion over" them. It is my responsibility to see that they are properly medicated, clothed, rested, and fed. In reading this passage I realized, and it kind of surprised me, that I actually have been paying more attention to what they are being fed, now that they are sick. I have been trying really hard to give them better, more nutritional foods. Instead of soda I am encouraging them to drink water or Gatorade... not that Gatorade is that nutritious, but I do think it is healthier than soda. They have had sore throats, so I have given them smoothies made from fresh fruits and yogurts rather than strawberry syrup and ice cream. I would suppose that if I fed them "healthier" all the time, they would probably be stronger to start with, and maybe wouldn't get this sick at all. That is something I can do better. I can work on feeding them healthier foods all the time, rather than just taking the lazy way out and going for the pop tarts for breakfast.

p.s. So WHY did God create the nasty little viruses in the first place? HUH? The scriptures say things were GOOD. There is Nothing GOOD about a flu virus! Just sayin'!

What about you? Feel free to share your thoughts.

Ash Pancakes

Today is Pancake Tuesday, (read about past Pancake Tuesdays here)  and we are sad because JB and Bill are both sick with colds so we will not be attending the Pancake Supper at the church tonight. FROWNIE FACE!

I am not sure I even have the energy to try and make pancakes of ANY sort tonight.  Everyone in the entire house is just kind of running on fumes, we are all out of energy and just want to go to bed.

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, (read about past Ash Wednesdays here) and Lent is usually a time for letting old bad habits go, and trying to pick up some new good ones. I guess I think I must be just perfect in every way because this year I have NO idea of what I want to let go. Sure I could do the old standbys of no sugar, chocolate, Sims, or Facebook, but I'm not that committed to any of those things. If I truly had a choice of what to let go, I would let go of the flu virus, I would let go of grey weather with no sunshine, and I would let go of constantly feeling exhausted and strained to the breaking point. I would take on sunshine, and warmth, and energy, and giving a damn.

How about you? What is your Lenten project?

Cursed phone

My stoooopid phone keeps over heating, so I bought a new battery cuz that was going to fix everything. Two days into new battery and the thing has begin to overheat again....curses! So now I am out $20 and still have a phone that overheats. I guess it is time to get a new one, but the trouble is, I LOVE the pop out key board and all the new phones I saw at the local Verizon store do NOT have the pop out key board. Any suggestions as to which phone to get?