The Christian in the World

I read this this morning in my morning devotions, and I thought y'all might get some good out of it too.

Christians love those who hate them just as the soul loves the body and all its members despite the body's hatred. It is by the soul, enclosed within the body, that the body is held together, and similarly, it is by the Christians, detained in the world as in a prison, that the world is held together. The soul, though immortal, has a mortal dwelling place; and Christians also live for a time amidst perishable things, while awaiting the freedom from change and decay that will be theirs in heaven. As the soul benefits from teh deprivation of food and drink, so Christians flourish under persecution. Such is the Christian's lofty and divinely appointed function, from which he is not permitted to excuse himself.

From Letter to Diognetus

It’s the Ho-Ho-liest Week of the Year

So it’s Holy Week.

And I find myself, at the end of Lent, needing to start over again.

Do you ever find that? Do you ever find at the end of something big and grand and wonderful that, when you look back, you have, perhaps, missed the mark?

And you know what?

That’s OK. That’s what Holy Week is about. Even if our Lent hasn’t gone so well (and maybe I set myself up for failure with my too-much-crammed-in attitude), we have Holy Week.

This week, we stop. Bam. We reflect on just what’s coming. We have to cross Calvary to get to the empty tomb. The Cross is the path, for each of us. We walk hand-in-hand with our Savior this week, as he faces his death.

We know the rest of the story. We know he rises.

But he rises through the pain. He first suffered his Passion and death.

So as you journey toward Easter, however you find yourself looking back over Lent, grab Jesus’ hand. Walk with him this week. Let go of what’s holding you back, and embrace the Cross.

And then, on Sunday, celebrate with him!

Just a Minute

Lately, at odd times when I ask my three-year-old to do something or get something for me, she’ll casually say, “Just a minute, please” or “In a moment, sweetheart.” She’s so stinkin’ cute when she does it that I usually smile. Then I gently remind her that she needs to complete whatever request I’ve made.

But the other day, I heard something, and it made me wince.

She asked me for something, and guess how I replied? Yep. “Just a minute, please.” It’s not surprising that she picked up one of my most-used phrases, when I stop to think about it. She is, after all, around me most of the time. We’re still at a point where I’m her hero.

But you know what? I use those phrases a lot more than I should, and not just with my daughter.

God might ask me to spend more time in prayer. My husband might ask me to do some small task. My boss might request a report.

My answer?

“Just as soon as I’m done with this project, OK?”

It’s not that anyone minds it. What is it that God’s asking me to do, calling me to be, leading me to learn? And how will I ever learn it if I’m always putting it off for “just a minute” more?

Something to Imagine

I came across this, thanks to a blog I enjoy, and didn't want to NOT share it with y'all. Enjoy!