Wednesday, March 11th, 2020

SPRING! SPRING! SPRING! That’s the photo word for today.

“Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth.” ~Psalm 46:10

I’ve added a poem I wrote many years ago and it was published in a poetry.com book called, “Woven Magic-The International Library of Poetry.” My life has take many twists and turns since writing this poem. I’ve experienced overwhelming joy and unspeakable grief and it still hold truths. Seasons come and go, there’s a cycle to things in life: Winter before Spring, Healing always comes after Hurting; although we may not always understand the healing process. I read a fellow bloggers post today that reminded that in this hurried world we must remember to be still, listen to God’s voice in our lives. *https://brideofchrist.blog/2020/03/10/being-still/

Seasons

The rush of adrenalin
causing the rapid pounding,
will the pressure be contained?

The theory of spontaneous combustion,
results of cause and effect,
does the end serve the means?

January will always follow December,
Winter will always proceed spring,
life begins; the ending is death.

Action reaps reactions,
for every yes, there will be a no,
the skies that hold stars also have clouds.

Renewal can only be gained after the rain,
growth is enhanced by the sun,
sounds of nature will deliver peace.

Endure the rain!
Appreciate the sun!
Accept the nature!

-Charlotte Ann Robinson©️

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

~Peace~ειρήνη~Charlotte 🌻🙏🏻❣️

References:

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

https://www.biblegateway.com/

Tuesday, March 10th, 2020

Psalm 71 written by King David is a Prayer for Longlife Protection and Help.

Psalm 71:22

“I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praises to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel.”

During this week of Lent I’m sharing with you “Remember.” From a pamphlet written by Rev. Sam McGothlin called “The Sanctuary for Lent 2020.”

We have discussed 2 of the 7 R’s of Lent, Repent and Recover. Let’s continue our journey through the wildness as we talk about “REMEMBER” today. In the scripture today David is praising God, not just with his voice and prayers but through his musical abilities by playing on his harp and lyre.

Are there specific ways you praise God?

As we journey through Lent and Life, take a look back on some of your adventures or seasons, are there moments you remember vividly? Just as the seasons change from winter to spring, spring to summer, summer to fall, and fall into winter. Our lives cycle in very similar ways. Here’s a quote about change,

“Everything changes but change itself. Everything flows and nothing remains the same…You cannot step twice into the same river, for other waters and yet others go flowing ever on.”
Heraclitus

One of my favorite passages in the Bible is Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

a time to be born, and a time to die;

a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

a time to kill, and a time to heal;

a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh;

a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;

a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away;

a time to tear, and a time to sew;

a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

a time to love, and a time to hate;

No matter the circumstances of our lives we are assured that God never changes. He is the same today as He was yesterday and will be tomorrow He remains unchanged. His love endures. Sure, life is hard sometimes or maybe even a lot of the time, but never fear God will never leave you, He’s always with you. We may not always understand or know why we travel through the wilderness, especially when we are in the thicket, press-on and praise God for His faithfulness, just as David did. Stay on the journey, thanking God for the strength of the day and the hope for tomorrow.

If you need to lament, do so! I love what Rev. McGlothin says, “Tears do not equal a lack of faith…we can be angry and understanding; grieving and grateful.” David reminds us of the wide range of God-given emotions, we are meant to use them. Lent can bring us to our knees and we often weep and praise God while we are on our knees.

Practice: Read aloud or listen to “How Great Thou Art”

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

~Peace~ειρήνη~Charlotte 🌻🙏🏻❣️

References:

https://www.biblegateway.com/

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

Tuesday, March 10th, 2020

The photo word for today is DRINK.

Yesterday was a long day for me, I needed lots of coffee. Coffee and diet soda sustain me on my work days. My life source is from Jesus. The weekly gathering at the communion table reminds me that Jesus paid the price for my sins and for the sins of every person ever born or will be born. It is because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross that we can be forgiven of all our sins and have eternal life, salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. We are cleansed and Jesus bridges the gap between mankind and God because mankind’s sin separated them.

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 14:6

“For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human.”

1 Timothy 2:5

“For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit.”

1 Peter 3:18

“For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

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

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