Tag Archives: Scripture

Hosanna! | Sunday Respite | 40 Gifts of Lent 2014

Posted on by

Palm Sunday

Hosanna!| Sunday Respite | 40 Gifts of Lent 

All glory laud and honor
To thee, Redeemer King
To whom the lips of children
Made sweet hosanna ring!
~”All Glory Laud and Honor”

They cried “Hosanna” (a shout of adoration in the New Testament, but also found in the Old Testament Hebrew to mean “help” or “save, I pray” in Psalm 118:25). They threw their cloaks down and, as the donkey’s feet trod across the palm branches, only Jesus knew the full weight of what they were saying – what their cry of “save us” was really asking.

For now, to know Him better, the best we can muster is to look behind and ahead based on what His Word tells us – like we are looking at His face in a dimly lit, memory-filled mirror. And yet, we can be assured – just like He was thousands of years ago as He rode to Jerusalem to take part in the events that would utterly change the course of history – when we cry “Hosanna! Save us!”, He will.

When our hearts betray us like the crowds eventually betrayed our Lord – He still saves.

Hosanna in the highest! Salvation belongs to our God.

–Quoted in part from: She Reads Truth, Hosanna, Posted on Apr 13, 2014 by Raechel Myers in #SheReadsTruth, Lent.  

I am anticipating the arrival of Easter and celebrating the most amazingly good gift I’ve ever received. I want to focus my heart on the fulfilled expectation of Christ’s first coming and the glorious expectation of His second coming. To continue reading, please go here: 40 Gifts of Lent

#LentChallenge

This is Love | Sunday Respite | 40 Gifts of Lent 2014

Posted on by

This is Love Sunday Respite

This is Love| Sunday Respite | 40 Gifts of Lent 

In humility, we rejoice that His lovingkindness never fails – while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

“…but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

This is Love

Jumping Tandem
SUNDAY STILLNESS

About 40 Gifts of Lent

I am anticipating the arrival of Easter and celebrating the most amazingly good gift I’ve ever received. I want to focus my heart on the fulfilled expectation of Christ’s first coming and the glorious expectation of His second coming. To continue reading, please go here: 40 Gifts of Lent 

#LentChallenge

Surprised to Be Loved |Sunday Respite | 40 Gifts of Lent 2014

Posted on by

From the Sky to the Sea

Surprised to Be Loved | Sunday Respite | 40 Gifts of Lent 

But me he caught—reached all the way
from sky to sea; he pulled me out
Of that ocean of hate, that enemy chaos,
the void in which I was drowning.
They hit me when I was down,
but God stuck by me.
He stood me up on a wide-open field;
I stood there saved—surprised to be loved!
Psalm 18:16 – 19 (The Message)

Sunday Respite 3

Jumping Tandem
SUNDAY STILLNESS

Scripture and Snapshot

About 40 Gifts of Lent

I am anticipating the arrival of Easter and celebrating the most amazingly good gift I’ve ever received. I want to focus my heart on the fulfilled expectation of Christ’s first coming and the glorious expectation of His second coming. To continue reading, please go here: 40 Gifts of Lent 

#LentChallenge

Receive This Peace |Sunday Respite | 40 Gifts of Lent 2014

Posted on by

Receive This Peace

Receive This Peace | Sunday Respite | 40 Gifts of Lent 

I leave my peace with you.

I give my peace to you.

I do not give it to you as the world does.

Do not let your hearts be troubled.

And do not be afraid.

John 14:27 (NIrV)

Through Christ, we have peace. Through Christ we can be deeply joyful. Through Christ we can have unshakable faith. I want the kind of peace that He gives, not the kind the world gives. I want the kind of joy that he gives, not the world’s joy. I want the kind of faith that can only he can give.

Jumping Tandem
SUNDAY STILLNESS

Scripture and Snapshot

About 40 Gifts of Lent

I am anticipating the arrival of Easter and celebrating the most amazingly good gift I’ve ever received. I want to focus my heart on the fulfilled expectation of Christ’s first coming and the glorious expectation of His second coming. To continue reading, please go here: 40 Gifts of Lent 

#LentChallenge

The Great Artist |Sunday Respite | 40 Gifts of Lent 2014

Posted on by

Sunday Respite 2Sunday Respite | 40 Gifts of Lent 

God is the Great Artist–Creating a Masterpiece

Lord, in the morning you hear my voice.
In the morning I pray to you.
I wait for you in hope.
Psalm 5:3 (NIrV)

Let God show you His way for you today. Pray about everything–the big things and the little things .Give your entire day to God and then wait to see what He will create with it.

God is the Great Artist, and your day is His empty canvas. Watch him do his work; he will pair his colors into your life–colors of Jesus’ love, mercy, peace, hope, and joy. And you will not be disappointed.

Trust Him to take your ordinary day and create a masterpiece.

Adapted from, Jesus Calling, 365 Devotions for Kids, Sarah Young, page 193

Jumping Tandem
SUNDAY STILLNESS

About 40 Gifts of Lent

I am anticipating the arrival of Easter and celebrating the most amazingly good gift I’ve ever received. I want to focus my heart on the fulfilled expectation of Christ’s first coming and the glorious expectation of His second coming. To continue reading, please go here: 40 Gifts of Lent 

#LentChallenge

A Really Good Story

Posted on by

A Really Good Story

A Really Good Story

40 Gifts of Lent | Gift 6
Reflections on Mark 1 – 5

He did not say anything to them without using a story. Mark 4:34

We want to raise a generation who find their identity in the story of God. Tell them a story they will never forget, a life changing truth that is bigger and better than themselves. Teach them, instruct them…cause them to ponder and question, to want more of a really good story.

Thank you God for making us characters in and carriers of your great story of grace. You are the author, the narrator of this really good story, the hero that rescues us from ourselves.

Look for God in these coming days, to write stories of redemption that will reveal his glory and showcase his grace—leaving you reveling in his goodness and rejoicing in him.

We’ll grow in our lives what we plant with our love” ~Bob Goff

A Good Story

About 40 Gifts of Lent 2014

I love the anticipation of celebrating birthdays with my children and grandchildren and can’t wait to gather again with my family and friends around a brightly lit tree at Christmas. My focus for any event or special occasion is mostly on the gift I will buy and then tape it up with all of the wrapping and trimmings to make it a beautiful presentation to give away. I do enjoy watching them rip into the paper and toss the pretty bow without a care to get to the inside of that package.

It’s so much fun to be on the receiving end of good gifts!

I am anticipating the arrival of Easter and celebrating the most amazingly good gift I’ve ever received. I want to focus my heart on the fulfilled expectation of Christ’s first coming and the glorious expectation of His second coming. I want to focus on the freedom I have in Christ to overcome strongholds, yet also to gain strength, hope, and peace as I lean into the trials…To continue reading, please go here: 40 Gifts of Lent

#LentChallenge

Watch Wait…Be Ready

Posted on by

Watch Wait Be Ready

Watch, Wait…Be Ready

40 Gifts of Lent | Gift 5
Reflections on Matthew 25 – end

Watch, therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”  Matthew 25:13

And the story shines on with light fighting the darkness, gaining victory over strongholds, giving strength through the trials. The king, the giver of life and bearer of true light is betrothed, he has gone on a journey, and he is going to return to be married.

We are his bride and a bride prepares to meet her bridegroom.

The bridegroom is coming!
Watch for his return
Wait…
Be ready!

We are called to watch for him, to do our work to prepare for him.  Do not lose hope in waiting. Do not fall asleep when there is work to be done.

The gift of readiness is to be alive and alert…to use all of the means God has given you to know him and love him and trust him.

“So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may stay away from temptation. Your spirit wants to do what is right, but your body is weak.” Matthew 26:40-41 (ESV and  Easy-to-Read version)

Lamp

Reflections on Matthew 25 – 28

About 40 Gifts of Lent

I love the anticipation of celebrating birthdays with my children and grandchildren and can’t wait to gather again with my family and friends around a brightly lit tree at Christmas. My focus for any event or special occasion is mostly on the gift I will buy and then tape it up with all of the wrapping and trimmings to make it a beautiful presentation to give away. I do enjoy watching them rip into the paper and toss the pretty bow without a care to get to the inside of that package.

It’s so much fun to be on the receiving end of good gifts!

I am anticipating the arrival of Easter and celebrating the most amazingly good gift I’ve ever received. I want to focus my heart on the fulfilled expectation of Christ’s first coming and the glorious expectation of His second coming. I want to focus on the freedom I have in Christ to overcome strongholds, yet also to gain strength, hope, and peace as I lean into the trials.

Lent is usually about giving something up to remember the sufferings and ultimate price that Christ endured on our behalf. But I’m not doing that this year. While I’ll never forget the price Jesus paid to rescue me, I don’t want to give something up in order to remember…to receive inner peace or a personal triumph of going without.

I want to anticipate and receive unexpected gifts during Lent. I want to rip open beautiful presents everyday to discover a different gift inside. When I discovered the link to #theLentChallenge to read the entire New Testament during Lent 2014, I immediately knew, by making this commitment, I would receive (at least) 40 gifts! My heart is bursting at its seams in anticipation for the gifts God will show me.

You are welcome to join me in opening a new gift everyday. It’s not too late to start.

More Grace,
Donna

#LentChallenge

Worry Dethrones God |Sunday Respite | 40 Gifts of Lent 2014

Posted on by

Bird Matthew 6:26 Lent

The gift of being treasured by the one who sacrificed his life.
The gift of not worrying as the anxious thoughts fly away.
The gift of more grace and praying his kingdom come.

All worry dethrones God
All worrying says that we need to be King
because God is incompetent
When the King really rules your world,
you really don’t need to worry ~Ann VosKamp

Reflecting on Matthew 6:1-31
40 Gifts of Lent 2014

Jumping Tandem
SUNDAY STILLNESS 

About 40 Gifts of Lent 

#LentChallenge