Works of Heart

 

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 50: Today, I am grateful for works of heart.

This is from yesterday's passages for lent. Joel was a prophet to the people then and his writings still ring true. The tradition of the people was to but on sackcloth and ashes when they were repenting and confessing their sins and the troubles of their own making. It had been their way for a long time. God has seen it and seen them repent and then return to their old ways. 

This time he tells them to tear their hearts. We use the phrase broken-hearted quite often. It creates an image. God is instructing them to be brokenhearted over their poor decisions. He pleads with them to return to Him, while there is still time. 

"That is why the Lord says,
    “Turn to me now, while there is time.
Give me your hearts.
    Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.
Don’t tear your clothing in your grief,
    but tear your hearts instead.”
Return to the Lord your God,
    for he is merciful and compassionate,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
    He is eager to relent and not punish." -Joel 2:12-13

This image of a broken heart with the butterflies emerging caught my eye. He trades our brokenness for freedom and beauty. Surrender is not to become a slave; there is freedom like no other in Him. Our hearts are lighter when our souls know true peace. It is a work of  heart.

Today, I am grateful for works of heart. 

Lent Begins

 

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 49: Today, I am grateful Lent begins. 

It is 40 Days until we celebrate Easter. Brothers and sisters who worship in the Catholic tradition will attend mass and receive the mark of the cross in ashes on their forehead. It is a physical act to declare something spiritual. Lent officially begins. 

Lent is for everyone. Forty days of focusing on the days before the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Lord, our Savior, our brother, and the one who purchased our sin debt and made it his own. We are free because of His decision to take our place... so that we might be rescued and restored. 

Knowledge of it all is quite humbling. The baby who was born in the little village that means "House of Bread" grew up to be broken for us. His purpose and the mission became clear. In the forty days before Easter, we remember the choice and the sacrifice. He stepped into our shoes and claimed victory for us. 

He trusted the Father's will, even when it was inconvenient. He understood better than our human minds can grasp the "big picture" of our redemption stories. Connected, but individual and personal, too. The scriptures are full of glimpses into His heart and love for all of us. One person's biggest trial may bring another to the foot of the cross for rebirth. 

Jesus allowed himself to be broken for us. He paid our sin debt in full! Cancelled. Paid in full in His blood. 

"But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” -Matthew 4:4

Forty days of focus on the One who made it all right as a gift. It was a promise fulfilled. 

Today, I am grateful Lent begins.

Semicolon

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 48: Today, I am grateful for the semicolon.

I had to laugh at the image. 

"Yes, a winky face is correct. But in ancient times, times, the semicolon was actually used to separate archaic written devices known as 'complete sentences.'"

I love a semicolon. It is a pause that indicates that the first one is complete, but the second one is connected. It can keep a sentence from being too long. It can add strength to a piece of writing without extra words. 

I giggled at the winky face. Still, I think we are missing something if we do not apply the semicolon when it is appropriate. 

The semicolon has become a popular tattoo for those have contemplated, overcome, and found their way past suicidal thoughts. It reminds them of the power of the pause. Whatever is overwhelming today is truly temporary or something that will become more manageable with time. 

Today is not forever; tomorrow is not promised. We truly only have this day. 

"He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” -Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

Read it again. Pause. Pray. He has got this day. The good, the bad, the victorious, and the pause. Often it is in the semicolon moments that we learn to fully rely on His strength and grace for the day. 

Today, I am grateful for the semicolon.

Battle Ready

 

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 47: Today, I am grateful for reminders to be battle ready.

Scar is the villain in "The Lion King." He is jealous, a liar, and murderous. Still, I love the song, "Be Prepared." We all need reminders at times to be prepared. 

Knowing and trusting that God is on the throne does not excuse us from good effort preparations. We are  told not to worry. We are instructed to not be lazy or unprepared when a task or assignment is in front of us. 

This passage captured my heart today. I have many I care about preparing for or engaged in cancer battles. Others are dealing with other struggles and seasons of grief. We are instructed to prepare for the day, but to remember that the victory belongs to Him. 

"The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord." -Proverbs 21:31

Lent starts this week. How quickly we move from Christmas to Easter! Jesus's time of ministry is estimated to be about three years. That must have felt short, too. These 40 days will fly by swiftly, and we will once again be at the foot of the cross. For some, it is a time of remembering and gratitude. For others, it will be a time of decision-making. Christmas was about the gift. Easter is a gift that requires a choice and response.  

Then, as now, the world was full of trouble and political unrest. History always seems to repeat itself in one way or another. Illness, financial struggles, evil, and other trials can create a sense of fear and unrest. Prayer is not a last resort defensive move, it is the first line of offense. 

Are we battle ready? Is the horse prepared? The victory is the Lord's, but we are required to show up prepared for the day. 

Today, I am grateful for reminders to be battle ready.

(image from Pinterest, source unknown)

Who Wrote the Book of Love?

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 46: Today, I am grateful for "The Book of Love." 

The Monotones sang "Who Wrote the Book of Love?" It is from before I was born... more than a decade... but it is a great song. I am glad I grew up hearing it as an "oldies."  

It was the song that Earworm started singing this morning as I read these words:

"This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins." -1 John 4:10

Now, your Earworm is singing it, too. 

Real love. True love. Forever love. Soul mates. These terms are familiar and show up on everything from Valentines to candy hearts. 

Love is the intentional decision to seek only good for another imperfect person. It is a choice every day. Now, some are easier to love than others, but we are called to choose love, like God chose us. God sent his perfect son into a messed up world. They were killing babies, capturing kingdoms, and even those on the same side often disagreed. It was a harsh and unwelcoming place. 

Lent begins this week. We are reminded of the ultimate example of love. A perfect sacrifice to purchase our sin debt so we might enter eternity with Him. Excellent deal for us, right? 

"The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins." -Romans 8:3

Set free. Sin free. Loved.

Today, I am grateful for "The Book of Love." 

Love Wins

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 45: Today, I am grateful love wins.  

Love has so many seasons, facets, and chapters. From new romances to 70th Anniversaries, love can take on many faces and fill many spaces in our heart. 

This scripture is another way for reminding us that because God loved us first, forgiving the worst in each of us, we can love each other with grace and forgiveness. We will spend a lifetime learning about and practicing "perfect love." We will not always get it right, but we can keep trying. 

"So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” -John 13:34-35

Each time we choose love, we provide evidence of His work in our lives and in our hearts. It does not mean we always have to get our way, nor do we always need to give in. It means there is give, take, and a balance in love that reflects Christ's work in our hearts. 

Love big. Love hard. Love softly. Love tenaciously. Love with mercy and grace. Love never fails. Love always wins.

Today, I am grateful love wins.

Connectedness

 Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 44: Today, I am grateful for connectedness.

We were designed to be in relationships. Solitary confinement has long been a punishment for prisoners. Friendship, marriage, and being part of any team are examples of connectedness that make the human experience better. 

Growing up with a small town being the nearest town, I remember the sense of connectedness. People knew each other. There was history between people. It was not perfect. Some did not get along, but mostly it was good. 

People took care of each other. If you had a loss, meals showed up. If you were ill, there was help. If you were facing hunger, someone had "extra" to share. It was real and it was good. It was connectedness. 

Nature experiences connectedness too, by God's design. I think about the war on dandelions, but bees and other creatures benefit from them, and they provide a source of food and healing. It is the bees that help pollinate the pumpkins before the harvest and so many other things. 

"When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world." -John Muir

Symbiosis in nature is not uncommon. Peonies need ants to bloom. Cattle can graze on a field, but then sheep can follow and dig deeper for more food. The Nile crocodile allows the Egyptian plover (bird) to clean its teeth and does not eat the bird. Food for the bird and flossing for the crocodile. Nature is connected and so are we.  

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” – 1 Peter 4:10

Today, I am grateful for connectedness.