Happy Saturday to all my friend near and far away! Today is Saturday, February 29th, 2020. It is also a special day, today is Leap Day! This extraordinary day only happens every 4 years, so 2020 will have 366 days instead of the usually 365. Happy Birthday to all those celebrating a unique Birthday Celebration!

“O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. For you have no delight in sacrifice; if I were to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased. The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” ~Psalm 51:15-17

The “BLAME” game, have you heard of it? What about “SCAPEGOAT” is that a term you are familiar with? After reading my devotional today, I decided to do some research and in the process learned a lot about the origin of “scapegoat” as it relates to scripture. It is a Jewish ritual used in the Old Testament and can be found in Leviticus 16:1-34.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Leviticus%2016:1-34&version=NRSV

Merriam-Webster: SCAPEGOAT

• a goat upon whose head are symbolically placed the sins of the people after which he is sent into the wilderness in the biblical ceremony for Yom Kippur

• one that bears the blame for others

• one that is the object of irrational hostility

During this first week of Lent, the focus has been on REPENT. Repentance is key to a full and rich relationship with God. We must come before God in prayer taking responsibility for our actions and turn away from our sinful ways. We cannot blame others for our mistakes. We cannot sacrifice the innocence of others to purify ourselves. God does not want us to sacrifice life but to live a life pleasing to Him. It is the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross that makes it possible for us to have life and to live it abundantly. It is God’s Grace and God’s Mercy that makes it possible for us to be in relationship with the God of all creation. The Holy One! The question we must ask ourselves is this, “Does our hearts break for what breaks God’s?” We are called to repentance, so we may be cleansed of our sins and live a life pleasing to God. With a clean heart we are able to spread God’s love and sing praises to God, for He alone offers forgiveness and new life.

Stop the blame game! Stop blaming yourself and others. Seek forgiveness and renewal. Accept your humanness, not as a fault or abnormality but for its truth, you are a BELOVED child of God, created with intentionality and purpose. YOU MATTER! 💚

Read aloud Psalm 51:15-19, “O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. For you have no delight in sacrifice; if I were to give a burnt offering, pyou would not be pleased. The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, then you will delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.”

In closing, the suggested practice for today is to let you know that God will never ask us to be a scapegoat – for our own faults or the faults of others. God simply wants our hearts to break for what breaks His.

ειρήνη – “Peace” in Greek, reference listed below.

~Peace~ειρήνη~Charlotte

References:

https://www.biblegateway.com/

Leviticus 16:1-34: The Scapegoat Ritual

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Leviticus%2016:1-34&version=NRSV

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scapegoat

Happy Leap Day! It only happens every 4 years so enjoy the extra day of 2020.

Serve is the photo word of the day.

The word today is SERVE. In the picture, I wanted to express how I apply “serve” in my daily life. My mother passed away in 2012, and there’s not a day that goes by that I do not think about her. I thank God for her every day. I typically visit her gravesite at least once a month and take new flowers or trinkets to place at her stone. I know she’s not there, she’s in heaven but I find a special sense of peace when I’m there and I feel as if I’m in a very small way I’m caring and serving her the way I would if she were still here.

The next photo is a long table with a blue table cloth. This is from Pancakes & Jazz at my church on Fat Tuesday. It is an annual event at my church that benefits “Family Promise” an agency helping the homeless. I served by helping make the waffles! I also assisted in the clean-up following the event. Serving my church and community is so fulfilling.

The picture on the bottom left is of me speaking at the Disciples Women’s Conference in 2019, it was such an honor to serve God and the women in attendance.

The picture on the bottom right is from my church, a large cross on the wall in our chapel. It is so serene in that space. It has served me in many ways from classroom studies, Bible studies, prayer services, weddings, church meetings and quiet contemplation. The room has served me and in return I have served in it.

I love using the Merriam-Webster Dictionary when explaining word usage. Please know that it is not meant to diminish any one persons intellect, it is used solely to explain my usage and it’s correct usage.

Merriam-Webster: Serve

• to be a servant

• to be of use

• to be favorable, opportune, or convenient

• to wait on or help

• to give the service and respect due to

Here’s a few examples of “serve” in the Bible:

“For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” ~Mark 10:45

“Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.” ~1 Peter 4:10

“Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.” ~John 12:26

“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” ~Galatians 5:13

ειρήνη – “Peace” in Greek, reference listed below.

~Peace~ειρήνη~Charlotte🙏🏻

References:

https://www.merriam-webster.com/

https://www.openbible.info/topics/serve

https://www.biblegateway.com/