Inspired by . . . ascent into darkness

The room is bathed in a heavy golden light. I can feel the warmth of it, even though there are walls between me and the source.

I'm thinking about hell. 

The darkness  that Jesus descended into after He finished the work of the cross. This time between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, these forty hours, is where the season of Lent, as we know it today, began. A forty-hour fast, mirroring the time Christ spent in the grave. In darkness, separated from God.

For my sin.

I've never celebrated Lent before. I wasn't raised, and have never attended churches that followed the "church calendar." I didn't even know there was such a thing. To me the church calendar was a list of scheduled activities: game night, baptism services, Mother's Day, Fall Festival, etc.

But last year, during a time when I was entering my own period of darkness, God began to show me that there is a rhythm to His days. Just as He created the seasons, Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer, there are seasons to our walk with Him. There is more to celebrate than Christmas and Easter.

I began learning about "ordinary days" - which aren't ordinary at all. I began to see that each moment, each day is sacred, when we invite God to be actively involved. 

Laura Boggess, Playdates with God

This isn't easy with the lives we have and the culture in which we live. It takes attention, and a measure of discipline. That's where Lent comes in. 

It's a time of emptying. A time of sorrow over the cause of Christ's death.

My sin.

To me - a non-churched in the ways of Lent person - fasting {or giving something up} is not the point. Creating space in my life for my relationship with God, is the point. Maybe I have to give up something to create that space, maybe I don't, either way, the focus is on God, not MY sacrifice.

This year, I have decided to join my friend, Kimberlee Conway Ireton, in meditating on the Psalms of Ascent during this time. As she says,

During Lent we get to journey with Jesus as He makes His way to Jerusalem for the last time. What better songs to sing in this season than these Psalms of Ascent, sojourning songs of the faithful? What better way to prepare for the Triduum than to meditate on these pilgrim songs, songs our Lord Himself sang as He climbed the mountain of the Lord, to offer Himself as our Passover lamb?

Will you join me? 

We begin later this week, with Psalm 120.

Shalom,

Ascent Into Darkness
Psalm 120
Psalm 121
Psalm 122
Psalm 123
Psalm 124
Psalm 125

Footnote: If you're interested in learning more, Kimberlee's book, The Circle of Seasons, will introduce you to the rhythms that help us slow down, and  enable us to invite God into our every day. You may find it here. 

Sharing inspiration here:
Playdates with God, Testimony Tuesday, #TellHisStory,
Thought Provoking Thursday, Grace & Truth, Weekend Whispers,
Inspire Me Monday, RaRa Link Up, Intentional Tuesday,
#WordswithWinter, Titus 2 Tuesday, Thoughtful Thursdays,
Encourage Me Monday, Wholehearted Wednesday,
Women with Intention Wednesdays, Word Filled Wednesday,
#GiveMeGrace, Still Saturday

Inspired by . . . time

 

The hands of time tick on,

like spokes on a wheel,

moving our souls forward into eternity.

 

Textured with Bonnie's Graphique texture

 

We don't have any control over time. The passing of minutes, hours, days, years. But we do have control over what we DO during this mysterious "when" that we call time.

What I do with my time is one thing I want to be more intentional about in 2014.

With all of the advice out there about time management, you would think we would have this one aced. While some people do better than others, I think we all struggle with managing our time to one degree or another.

I'm not an expert, but I think the reason for that is because time management is ultimately a personal issue. Our lives can go from simple to complicated and back again -sometimes all within 24 hours!. What worked last year, or last month, may not work this year, or this month.

The Psalmist prays, "[Lord] Teach us to number each of our days so that we may grow in wisdom."

 

 

To number our days - to be aware of the passage of time, allows us to grow in wisdom.  This is a wisdom that only the Lord can give, and it's specific to each one of us.

Let's face it, we are never going to have enough time to do everything we want to do, or think we should do. But I believe that God gives us enough time to accomplish His will for our lives.

All those tips out there on how to manage your time more effectively have their place. But if we can begin by knowing what we should be doing in the first place the need for self time management will be greatly reduced.

 

 

So how do we know God's will for our time?

The same way we know anything about God:  by staying connected to Him. We stay connected through prayer, the reading & study of His word, and worship. This seems so simple and yet so many of us just don't do it. I think I'm too busy to carve out time for God, but the truth is: I'm too busy NOT to!

This is where some of those time management tips can help:

Say no.

Put yourself {i.e. your relationship with God} first.

 

 

This is another thing I want to be more intentional about in 2014: Spending more time with God.

I know from experience that spending time with Him results in a better life for me. I'm convinced that until I can be more intentional about time spent with God, I won't have the wisdom I need to effectively manage my time.

I know what I need to do – now I just need to {sincerely} ask God to give me the discipline I need to do it!

 

Blessings,

 

 

 

Sharing inspiration here: