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Thankful Thursday ~ Lent

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23 (ESV)

Lent is my favorite season. Although I think often about Christ’s sacrifice, during Lent I really like to ponder on the Cross.

Giving something up during the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday is something I do each year. This year I had to really think about what to give up…So, starting today, I will not visit Facebook for the next 40 days. I hope that God will give me the discipline to hold up the 40 days. 40 days doesn’t seem long, but goodness – it is 6 weeks voluntarily staying away from my world-wide friends (and my sweet niece in Germany I just connected with).

One of my local friends said: “You shouldn’t – you try to build your photography business”…But you know what? To me that means that I have to daily combat this urge — laying down my life to honor Him and His sacrifice.

So, this week I am thankful for Lent; its meaning for my personal walk of faith. May God give me the discipline I need during the next 40 days. Lori had shared a ministry site with me last week (pst – if you like books you might want to subscribe to Lori’s review blog). Check out Sovereign Grace’s February sale. I picked up three books; Living the Cross Centered Life will be my read through Lent 🙂 .

I am also thankful that Alanna contacted me to share a very cool Lent project for kids. Check out her Lenten Grass Project which is based on an old Finish tradition.

What are you thankful for this week? Please do share with us by leaving your link below. Hopefully we all can make a few visits to each other this week (okay – I hope I can – you all have been so good visiting each other)…

Thank you for stopping by today. Remember: We have an amazing God; He sent His son to rescue us from ourselves.

Thankful Thursday Participants

1. Lynn (Spiritually Unequal Marriage)
2. Debbie @The Way We Are
3. Pia
4. Rocks @ Made To Worship
5. bp
6. Heather @ A Day In My Life
7. Holly @brokenforgod
8. Joan @ Reflections
9. Laurie @ Women Taking a Stand
10. Pastor John
11. It Feels Like Chaos
12. K @ In The Lord’s Path
13. Sharon
14. Bogie
15. jo.attalife
16. Grace, Philippines
17. Amazing Grace		 18. Heather @ Marine Corps Nomads
19. Ramblings of Casey
20. Jocelyn
21. Melissa @ Frugal Creativity
22. Julie
23. Dana
24. Susan@Daily Coping Skills
25. Jen S.
26. SusanD
27. Erica
28. monkeymommy08
29. By Grace Alone
30. Wendy @ Faith’s Firm Foundation
31. Mary
32. Nic @ As My World Turns
33. Shelby
34. LeAnn @ See Great Things		 35. Gemini,Philippines
36. Laurie@Nana’s House
37. Yoli ! Apron Senorita
38. Kimberly
39. Nancy @ Homemade Blessings
40. Dawn’s Daily Life
41. julie @ mom by faith
42. Michele
43. MageeMommy
44. ann
45. alely lee
46. Marsha
47. Donetta at a Life Uncommon
48. Denise
49. Heart’s Delight

Learn more about Thankful Thursday here.

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By His Wounds

“But he was wounded for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his stripes we are healed.”
~ Isaiah 53:5 (ESV)

Oh, and how deep His wounds were…it makes me shiver…

To read the rest of my Easter thoughts over at Laced with Grace.

His is Risen…

grace_iris1

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A Perfect Love

“For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. ” ~ Romans 5:7-9 (ESV)

How often do you use the word ‘Love’ in your daily conversations? I have to admit…

You can read the rest of my little devotion this morning over at:

Thank you for stopping by this morning. Have a blessed day and week…

grace_iris1

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Thankful Thursday ~ Love

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
~ 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (ESV ~ emphasis mine)

I think that 1 Corinthians is the best known love passage (besides John 3:16 of course); I know it is often used during a wedding ceremony. However I love to apply these passages to my entire life, not only to my marriage. The passages truly help me to keep the focus in times I encounter some very unlovable people.

I have encountered such a person yesterday; and to be honest with you — I didn’t handle myself very well. This morning I was reminded of the above Scriptures, especially “it is not irritable or resentful”…oh my – did I mess up…Today was a much better day, because I kept the passages in my head and on my heart 🙂

Yes, love is a powerful word. Most of the times love is connected with feelings, but sometimes our feelings get hijacked by the day-to-day grind…So, I have to look to my Lord to keep me focused to love the unlovable…

  • Thank You Lord for reminding me this morning that Your love is perfect. If I slip, You make sure how much I am loved by You — what You gave up for me…

  • I am thankful for my beloved, who loves me in the unlovable moments. If you knew me in person, I am very straight forward and speak what is on my mind. My beloved always listens to what I have to say, but lets me know (in love) when I am wrong…

  • I am thankful for my marriage. Although it is not perfect, but ‘love covers all…’

  • I am thankful for my mom, who loves me only like a mother can love…

  • I am thankful for our son, whom I love only a mother can love 😉 …

  • I am thankful for my friends who always remind me to look to our loving God when I need directions in life…

What are you thankful for this week? Please do share with us in leaving your link below. Please only link if you have written a TT post this week – thank you from the bottom of my heart…

Thank you for stopping by today. Remember: God’s love is perfect, ours is not. Let us keep our eyes fixed on the One who perfected love.

Blessings to you always…
grace_iris1

Thankful Thursday Participants

1. Melanie
2. Lynn (Spiritually Unequal Marriage)
3. milet@lupusurvivor.com
4. Cheryl @ Hope
5. Linda
6. Debra
7. grammy
8. Laurie @ womentakingastand
9. Tracy @ Thirsty for Him
10. To Know Him
11. Tammy
12. Mhay
13. Denise
14. Annie
15. bp
16. Rita
17. Janujennifer
18. Sarah aka Mamalotsoftots
19. Laurie Ann
20. Ms.Theophilus (new blog)
21. Jennifer@Through The Storms of Life
22. Michele
23. Ann
24. Come Here Little Bugh
25. Willnette
26. Carla
27. LaDonna
28. Donetta at a Life Uncommon
29. Heather @ Dear Diary		 30. Forgetfulone
31. Lynne(Ultimate Love)
32. Nancie
33. Serendipity Park
34. Lisa @ Crazy Adventures in Parenting
35. Miriam Pauline
36. Alicia @ More Than Words
37. Genebei Faith
38. Lori ~ Simple Life at Home
39. I am heading towards my destiny!
40. micey
41. Angela
42. Janet
43. Blessed by 8
44. The Crazy Cotherans
45. SharonB
46. Rocks
47. Tammie @ Are You For Real?
48. Mary
49. Dana-from chaos to Grace
50. Lisa
51. Joyfully Living
52. 7th Heaven
53. jennifer’s joyride
54. Jenn
55. Lisa@BlessedwithGrace
56. Dana Tate-Feels Like Today
57. Kelli (Embracing the JOurneY)
58. Sherry(@myjourney		 59. Melissa Multitasking Mama
60. Debbie ~ Heart Choices
61. Erica
62. Diane (Thankful for the hard lessons)
63. Heather @ Not a DIY
64. Vicki
65. Mrs.Cuddles
66. Newlyweds
67. grace
68. becky aka theRAV
69. Chocolate and Coffee
70. Tammy ~@~
71. JA@Gravity of Motion
72. Tricia @ It\’s All About Him
73. Who Says 8 Is Enough?
74. sweet
75. Amy @ Five Flower Mom
76. Marsha
77. Ruth A. Stiles
78. Vicki
79. tanya
80. Janet @ Daily Provision
81. Carmel
82. Lindsey @ Reading Red Letters
83. abby’way of life
84. purple moose
85. Cara

Learn more about Thankful Thursday here.

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