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

Lent Photo-a-Day Challenge 40 Days-40 Photos

Teacher is the photo word for today!

TEACHER:

• One whose occupation is to instruct.

I have experienced many teachers in my life, here’s a list of some:

• Sunday School

• Kindergarten Teacher

• Elementary Teacher

• Jr. & Sr. High School Teachers

• College/University Professors

• Instructors in Employment

These are only a few, I certainly cannot name them all. As we live and grow and experience life we are afforded endless teachers truly at our disposal. Some of these individuals come to us through the means of education as evidenced in my list above. We also encounter teachings from people based upon where we are in our life journey. I have met individuals I thought would always be active within my life but life happens and we tend to go in different directions. People may come and go; however, how they made us feel remains within our very being. This is true whether it was a good experience or a negative one. I mention this not to encourage heaviness of heart, NO exactly the opposite. I mention these things to encourage gladness of heart, recalling beautiful memories and even brief beautiful moments, then, after a short visit you can tuck them away in your heart until your next visit. We were not created to carry regret, sadness or grudges. Jesus tells us in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Hands down, Jesus is The Greatest Teacher! My mom (in my humble opinion) is the Greatest #2 Teacher! I trust we can all agree with #1 and I encourage you to pick your own #2. I wish I could thank all the individuals who have taught me value lessons over the years. I will not names, names because I would inevitably leave someone out, I thank God for each of you often, very often! Thank you for guiding me and teaching me.

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

~Peace~ειρήνη~Charlotte 🌻

References:

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

https://www.biblegateway.com/

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

Lent Photo-a-Day Challenge 40 Days-40 Photos

The photo word for today is SPIRIT! My photo my seem a bit odd but it holds purpose for me. 😊

This may look like an ordinary candle burning and that is true! I love coming home from work or spend a lazy day at home, snuggle up with a blanket and light several candles. I like the soothing effects they have on me. I typically buy scented candles and recently purchased lavender scented ones. They have a comforting aroma that relaxes me. I love to watch the flickering wick with its dancing flame. I never feel alone in this created atmosphere. I feel and sense a closeness with God and the Holy Spirit as the flame dances, much like the trees and bushes dance with the wind. The wind has long been used to explain the Holy Spirit, we can’t see the wind but we can feel it and know it’s there and the same is true with the Holy Spirit.

John writes in 3:8, “The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

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

~Peace~ειρήνη~Charlotte

References:

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

https://www.biblegateway.com/

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

http://www.spirithome.com/spirit-presence.html

Wednesday, March 4th, 2020

Psalm 61:1-4

“Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the end of the earth I call to you, when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I; for you are my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy. Let me abide in your tent forever, find refuge under the shelter of your wings.”

~Selah~

In my devotional for today, Rev. Sam McGlothlin introduced the word “Selah” to her readers. It is a word that is used many times in the Hebrew Bible in the Books of Psalms (72 times) and Habakkuk (2 times).

It is defined in Merriam-Webster:

• A term of uncertain meaning found in the Hebrew text of the Psalms and Habakkuk carried over untranslated into some English versions.

The translators of the Septuagint translated “Selah” as an intermission. Using “Selah” to take a pause to think about what the Scripture says – to reflect on the meaning of the verse before continuing to read the rest of the passage. Selah.

https://www.yourdictionary.com defines “Selah” as:

• An instruction calling for a break in the singing of the Psalm or it may mean “forever.”

• As an interjection.

• Indicating a pause for contemplation.

Selah sounds like a practice we could all benefit from. Do you routinely take time to “pause” or simply catch your breath? This practice is important and especially necessary as we traverse life. Our lives are often filled with things that deplete is of our energies. Some push themselves past the point of tired and run directly to exhaustion. Please take time to recover, rest and refuel. We need time with God, healthy choices for our bodies and restful sleep. God is our Rock and our Redeemer, our Strong Tower. Do not wait until rest is forced upon you by an sickness, trust God will all your cares, because He cares for you.

1 Peter 5:7

“Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.”

Practice: Set an alert on your phone or you electronics to remind yourself to take time to breathe, breath in life! In other words, Take A Selah!! Blessings to you today and forevermore, Amen!

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

~Peace~ειρήνη~Charlotte 🌻🙏🏻

References:

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

https://www.biblegateway.com/

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

CSL Daily 4/17/17

https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-terms/what-does-selah-mean-in-the-bible.html

https://www.yourdictionary.com/selah