For Wednesday, February 13th, 2013

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

FEBRUARY 13th, 2013

35 DAYS UNTIL SPRING

If you can't see the Bright Side, polish the dull side

It's WEDNESDAY

ASH WEDNESDAY

The Christian season of Lent begins today, 40 days before Easter, not counting Sundays. We skip Sundays when we count the forty days, because Sundays commemorate the Resurrection.

 Many Christians attend church services on Ash Wednesday to receive ashes on their foreheads in the sign of the cross. Ashes are a symbol of penance in the Old Testament.  Many will wear their faith on their foreheads, literally. For the believers, the cross-shaped ashes represent life, death, repentance, sin, humanity and renewal.

Ash Wednesday emphasizes that life is a pilgrimage.  Lent takes the believer on a journey through Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness and his ministry to the time he enters Jerusalem for the final time.

Dust thou art, and into dust thou shalt return.

 Genesis 3:19

You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage - pleasantly, smilingly, nonapologetically - to say 'no' to other things.  And the way to do that is by having a bigger 'yes' burning inside.  The enemy of the 'best' is often the 'good.'  

Stephen Covey

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

In our busy world, Lent provides us with an opportunity to reflect upon our life style, to pray more deeply, experience sorrow for what we've done and failed to do, and to be generous to those in need.

All of us have named certain things as our priorities.  When we become aware of our not doing something that is really important, we say, I have to make that a priority.  Lent is an important time to do a review of what we value and what we actually do, in our every day lives.

For my Lenten devotional I'm going to be naming what I value in each day.  For 40 days, not counting Sundays, I'll be sharing my priorities.  For me Lent is not so much what I'll be giving up, but what I'll be adding.  

Lent is not a time to merely 'give up something.' It is a season to do something. For others. And for God.
It is a time to focus the heart.

A Lenten Reflection

Give up complaining----focus on gratitude.
Give up pessimism----become an optimist.
Give up harsh judgments----think kindly thoughts.
Give up worry----trust Divine Providence.
Give up discouragement----be full of hope.
Give up bitterness----turn to forgiveness.
Give up hatred----return good for evil.
Give up negativism----be positive.
Give up anger----be more patient.
Give up pettiness----become mature.
Give up gloom----enjoy the beauty that is all around you.
Give up jealousy----pray for trust.
Give up gossiping----control your tongue.
Give up sin----turn to virtue.
Give up giving up----hang in there!

Unknown

PRIORITY FOR TODAY:

Prayer

 Lord Jesus, help me to do everything for the love of God and others

COUNTING MY GIFTS

Know the true value of time; snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it. No idleness…never put off till tomorrow what you can do today. 

Lord Chesterfield

I am trying to count at least 3 things I'm thankful for each day and then in 1 year's time I'll have counted 1000 gifts.

I’ll be sharing them and giving thanks to God for these gifts each day,

270. for a special time to devote to priorities

271. for prayer, a conversation with God

272. for the color purple, which reminds me to prepare well for each day

Enter into His courts with thanksgiving — and in His presence is fullness of Joy!

PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS

Please pray for God's protection of

our troops and HIS wisdom for their

commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in

your loving hands.

Protect them as they protect us.

Bless them and their families for the

selfless acts they perform for us

in our time of need. I ask this in the

name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters

and Paramedics and EMT's

GOD BLESS YOU ALL !

 

Keep your priorities straight.

A little smile, a word of cheer,
A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma