WATER: Lenten Devotion Day 29

Lenten Devotion Day 29

WATER

"I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; 

I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Matthew 3:11

On my morning walk I came across a weeping tree. Ok, not a real weeping tree but I could not help but notice that of all the trees that surround my home there was only one tree that had water dripping off of it. Being the curious sort, I went in for a closer look. (The picture doesn't do justice but that white dot in the middle is a water droplet). After a few puzzling moments of trying to determine why this one tree was weeping it finally hit me. As I looked around I noticed the way the grass and fallen leaves were sparkling in the morning sun - frost. All around me was an icy glaze shimmering in the rising light. The sun was just peaking over the top of the church and hitting the yard...and the weeping tree.

Of course, I realized then that the sun was simply melting the frost that had formed on the tree and now that it was warming up it was beginning to melt. Soon, other trees would be sparkling with water droplets on their branches and all the earth would look bedazzled in silvery splendor. 

There are mornings, like this one, in which it is clear that the entire purpose of the earth is to serve as a witness to the glory of God. As I walked and felt myself warmed by the rising sun I began to think again about that tree. Isn't it just like God to provide such a beautiful and simple reminder of what life in Christ is like. 

That icy tree transformed under the ray of the rising sun...as it warmed, the ice melted, and water formed that now drips down and baptizes the earth, the flowers and the insects below it so that they too understand provision, love, fruitfulness and life. 

Isn't that was Christ has done for each of us? Under the ray of the Risen Son we are transformed so that our cold, hard hearts melt.The icy ways of this world begin to sparkle in the light of Christ and soon the Baptism waters are dripping from our hands, our heads, and our hearts. 

WATER

Dripping

flowing from the Son's warm light

WATER

EARTH: Lenten Devotion Day 16

Lenten Photo Day 16

EARTH

The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. 

Genesis 2:15

As we contemplate our Lenten word for today (EARTH), I can't help by be drawn back to the creation story of our wondrous garden. Which also then draws me to the command that was given to Adam - "till  it and keep it." Our culture today is now in a heated debate over just what that means. Some believe that the earth's resources should be stripped and used up by her inhabitants. I even saw a quote recently from a preacher that said we were sinners if we didn't use the resources the good Lord had provided in the Earth. Hmmm, is that really what Adam was commanded?

Till it and keep it. I'm certainly not a farmer but I did learn a few things from my garden growing family. I learned that the ground has to be tilled to be productive. You break up the hard soil so that the seed can take root deeply and grow strong. I learned that the soil sometimes needed help to stay productive - You had to allow a field to stand empty every few years so that the nourishments could build back up. Sometimes you fertilized so that you could help add nutrients back into the soil. I learned that the earth must be respected - A little gift from our Cherokee neighbors. They taught us that you give back to the earth if you take from it.

I believe this is what God had in mind when he commanded Adam (and those to come after Adam) to till and keep it. That isn't a command to strip her of all she has and leave her used up it is a command that says take care of her, she will give to you abundantly if you take care of her.

EARTH

till it and keep it

safe.

COVER: Lenten Devotion Day 13

Lenten Photo Devotion: Day 13

COVER

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy. 

Spread your protection over them, so that those who love your name may exult in you.

 For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover them with favor as with a shield.

Psalm 5:11-12

I am so blessed to say that almost every room in my home contains millions of little tokens of love. My Granny Hamlin (Geneva) loved to quilt and the only thing she loved more than quilting was giving her quilts away. The million tokens of love are the tiny little stitches that she hand stitched in each of my quilts. They may not have been perfect but in each stitch I can imagine what she was doing as she made it...sitting on her sofa, thinking of her family, praying for us, worrying over us...and loving us. She may be gone from this earth but every time I cover myself with one of her quilts or place one on my children's beds I know her love still covers us and I am secure in her arms once more.

As I reflect on the love of Christ I see how his love also transcends the separation of heaven and earth. I am surrounded by millions of tokens of his love - big and small - that remind me each day that I am covered in his love and sheltered in his arms. 

What tokens of Christ's love will you recognize today? 

COVER

be wrapped up in Christ's love.