Monday, March 9th, 2020

Today’s scripture is John 21:17, “He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”

Do you remember when you first fell in love with Jesus? I read the devotional for today and my first thought was…I just wrote about this yesterday! Honestly, I had not looked ahead in my devotional book! It is wonderful how the Holy Spirit works within our lives. It’s truly miraculous. I had another interesting thing happened to me today as I unlocked the door to my home after work yesterday, I had a question just pop up in my mind, “why did you stop pursing your dream?” The dream is not something I want to write about today but hopefully soon. I do believe this was the Holy Spirit communicating with me again.

Life can get you down sometimes, for a variety of reason and when we do, we just get into “auto-mode” going through the motions. Alive but not truly living. It is at these moments we must remember!

• Remember falling in love with Jesus

• Remember the first time you fell in love

• Remember your first date

• Remember your first kiss

• Remember buying your first car

• Remember your first home

Remember and smile, thanking God for loving you💗🙏🏻

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

~Peace~ειρήνη~Charlotte 🌻🙏🏻❣️

References:

https://www.biblegateway.com/

https://biblehub.com/greek/1515.htm

Monday, March 9th, 2020

The photo word of the day is JOURNEY.

“Some journeys take us far from home. Some adventures lead us to our destiny.”

~C.S.Lewis~

“Our Father refreshes us on the journey with some pleasant inns, but will not encourage us to mistake them for home.”

~C.S.Lewis~

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

~Peace~ειρήνη~Charlotte 🌻

References:

https://biblehub.com/greek/1515.htm

Sunday, March 8th, 2020. The Second Sunday of Lent

Today’s scripture is Matthew 17:5, “While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!”

The scripture passage today tells us about Jesus going to the mountaintop. He took His inner three, Peter, James and John with Him. It is upon this mountain that Jesus is TRANSFIGURED! Jesus is joined by Moses and Elijah. I can’t even try to imagine what that moment was like. The Bible also tells us that Jesus, Moses and Elijah struck up a conversation.

What do you suppose they talked about?

I am only speculating but perhaps Moses and Elijah came to speak to Jesus about His current ministry, preparation for Jesus’ impending death sentence.

Or perhaps it was a lesson for Peter, James and John and ourselves that we are not to build up treasures for ourselves on earth and we are not to construct things that take away from the glory meant for God.

Matthew 6:19-21

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Leviticus 26:1-2

“You shall make for yourselves no idols and erect no carved images or pillars, and you shall not place figured stones in your land, to worship at them; for I am the Lord your God. You shall keep my sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord.”

This week we will focus on “REMEMBER”

• Do you recall where you last encountered God in a transformational way?

• What did it feel like?

• How did it change you?

As Rev. Sam Grothlin writes in the pamphlet, “High on the mountain we experience God in palpable ways. It is good for us to be there. And it is good for us to return home.”

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

~Peace~ειρήνη~Charlotte 🌻

References:

https://www.biblegateway.com/

https://biblehub.com/greek/1515.htm

Saturday, March 7th, 2020

Dear Friends, I am so sorry this post is a day late. I was not feeling well yesterday and slept most of the day away. I trust you are all doing well and are in full “RECOVER” mode. We are finishing up the week and our topic of recover.

The scripture reading for today is Psalm 63:5-7.

Psalm 63:5-7, “My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast, and my mouth praises you with joyful lips when I think of you on my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.”

David wrote this Psalm while in the wilderness of Judah, it is a song of comfort and assurance. Whatever David was facing he was placing himself in God’s care. Sometimes a song may not be the best choice when facing trials or despair, we all react to situations differently. Some people react with laughter, not a joyful noise but rather a “nervous, I don’t know what to do laugh.” They are quick to apologize but it is a coping mechanism that takes over. Others might be totally calm in the face of danger, they methodically map out steps that need to be taken and when. No judgment here, my only advice would be to recognize your emotions and practice some scenarios so you will be better prepared in the future. Songs, writing and singing them was what worked for David.

How about you? Are there things you do or a song that comforts you?

Here’s my “go to” song.

If you are interested in the author of the song here’s a link to find out more:

https://www.staugustine.com/article/20150305/LIFESTYLE/303059925

Practice for today and any day: Sing over you pain with a song or a hymn that brings you comfort.

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

~Peace~ειρήνη~Charlotte 🌻

References:

https://www.biblegateway.com/

https://www.staugustine.com/article/20150305/LIFESTYLE/303059925

Sunday, March 8th, 2020

Today the photo word is CELEBRATE!

I have many things in my life I celebrate and I am extremely thankful for all of them. One thing in particular that I celebrate on a regular basis is my mom. She passed away in June 2012, she is buried in the cemetery near the town I grew up in. I try to visit her gravesite every month and leave flowers or something memorable. I know she not there but I feel like when I go there I can say things that are just between a mother and daughter. She taught me so many valuable life lessons and she loved me like no other. I miss her and she is in my thoughts daily, I know she’s resting in God’s eternal love. I’m thankful for her and it’s not sadness I feel just an emptiness I have made friends with over time. I also try to celebrate my friends and family on a regular basis, they certainly are gifts from God!

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

~Peace~ειρήνη~Charlotte 🌻❣️

Saturday, March 7th, 2020

Today’s Lenten Photo Word is SAVED.

When I read the word for today, the first thing that came to mind was my own conversion (Accepting Jesus as my personal Savior). It was a Thursday night, September 6th, 1979, a school night. I remember asking me mom questions and she called the Pastor of the Church that operated the school I attended. We drove to the Pastor parsonage it was late for a school night, nearly 10pm. I remember the excitement and curiosity bubbling up inside me. I wanted the joy I saw in others who were Christians. I wrote the event in the front of my Bible that night, below is a photo of it.

I was Baptized a few years later in 1982 on February 28th.

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

~Peace~ειρήνη~Charlotte 🌻

Friday, March 6th, 2020

This week we have been talking about RECOVERY. Have you experienced recovery(?), sure you have…we all have for a variety of reasons. Recovery in my opinion is neither positive or negative, it is required. Athletes go through a recovery period every single time they compete whether it be practice or the actual event. Artists also need recovery, it my be from an acting performance, a musician, an artist,etc. as human beings our physical make up requires rest, relaxation and recovery. This is absolutely true for and in our spiritual journeys as well. Following Jesus and living the life as a Christian is not an easy path to follow. It is definitely worth it but it can be very difficult and even dangerous. God promises to always be with us and to never leave us. He comforts us and teaches us. The journey of following Jesus is an all-in endeavor and is so rewarding.

Blow are some great first steps from Rev. Sam McGlothlin:

• Take things one day at a time.

• One hour at a time.

• One step at a time.

We are surrounded by God and His teachings of good and grace-filled ways for our life.

God has gone before us.

God is within us.

God is behind us.

Practice for today is to read aloud Psalm 25:4-5

“Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.”

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

~Peace~ειρήνη~Charlotte 🌻

References:

https://biblehub.com/greek/1515.htm

https://www.biblegateway.com/

https://unsplash.com/s/photos/thank-god

Friday, March 6th, 2020

TESTIFY is the Photo-a-Day-Challenge for today. I really like the photo below, it was a huge honor for me to speak at the Disciples Women’s Conference in 2018. I was asked to share about myself, my faith and diversity within the church in general as well as personal experiences. I was nervous and excited to speak, here’s a quote from that speech. “My experiences in life have taught me that I am the most scared and fearful of the things I do not understand. Fear and hate are fed through insufficient knowledge. The more you know, the more informed you can be to form educated risk assessments.”

Here’s another quote from that same speech.

~Peace to you~ Charlotte 🌻

I am humbled by the support and following of my blog. I wanted to try and find a way to connect with my followers that speak different languages than I do, say “Thank you!” Please forgive me if there is an error in the responses below. I only wish to express my gratitude for your support. I used Google Translate to find a translation for “thank you” for each country listed. I also used Google to search the information for spoken languages of each country.

I am thankful to God for the ability to write and I pray God is glorified through all that I do. Trust in God!

Proverbs 3:5-6

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

~Charlotte 🌻

References:

https://translate.google.com/

https://www.google.com/

https://www.biblegateway.com/

Thursday, March 5th, 2020

The scripture verse for today is from Psalm 121:1-3. The Psalms were written by King David of Israel and this particular passage has been entitled, “Assurance of God’s Protection” and “A Song of Ascents.”

Matthew Henry’s Commentary says this about Psalm 121:

“Some call this the soldier’s psalm, and think it was penned in the camp, when David was hazarding his life in the high places of the field, and thus trusted God to cover his head in the day of battle. Others call it the traveller’s psalm (for there is nothing in it of military dangers) and think David penned it when he was going abroad, and designed it pro vehiculo—for the carriage, for a good man’s convoy and companion in a journey or voyage. But we need not thus appropriate it; wherever we are, at home or abroad, we are exposed to danger more than we are aware of; and this psalm directs and encourages us to repose ourselves and our confidence in God, and by faith to put ourselves under his protection and commit ourselves to his care, which we must do, with an entire resignation and satisfaction, in singing this psalm. I. David here assures himself of help from God (v. 1, v. 2). II. He assures others of it (v. 3-8).A song of degrees.”

“Verses 1-8 This psalm teaches us,I. To stay ourselves upon God as a God of power and a God all-sufficient for us. David did so and found the benefit of it. 1. We must not rely upon creatures, upon men and means, instruments and second causes, nor make flesh our arm: “Shall I lift up my eyes to the hills?’’ —so some read it. “Does my help come thence? Shall I depend upon the powers of the earth, upon the strength of the hills, upon princes and great men, who, like hills, fill the earth, and hold up their heads towards heaven? No; in vain is salvation hoped for from hills and mountains,Jer. 3:23 . I never expect help to come from them; my confidence is in God only.’’ We must lift up our eyes above the hills (so some read it); we must look beyond instruments to God, who makes them that to us which they are. 2. We must see all our help laid up in God, in his power and goodness, his providence and grace; and from him we must expect it to come: “My help comes from the Lord; the help I desire is what he sends, and from him I expect it in his own way and time.”

Where does your help come from?

Practice for today: Where do you go to recover? Is is a place or is it a thing(?) you do to recover? Can you make time and space to retreat so you allow yourself to recover? Trust in God’s help, He watches over you and never leaves you alone.

Prayer for today is to read aloud Psalm 121.

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

~Peace~ειρήνη~Charlotte

References:

https://biblehub.com/greek/1515.htm

https://www.biblegateway.com/

https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/psalms/121.html