Unhurryup!™ into Easter

Easter seems to sneak up on me most years. 

Suddenly the shops are full of plastic eggs and stuffed rabbits, pastel colours and fake grass

Outside the trees are showing blossoms and the spring flowers are showing their colours

All of creation seems to point towards the most amazing thing that God has done for us

On the 3rd day He rose again from the grave! 

Oh glorious day!!!!

In the time leading up to Easter, I want to walk with intention. 

I want to ponder the amazingness of God's love and the sacrifice for our sins. 

I am excited to join in the 

Unhurryup!™ into Easter Lenten Pilgrimage

which Paula Gamble, my boss, has put together.

Last year, about 300 people from all over the world joined in this pilgrimage together.

You can read their responses and more about the email or pdf versions of this pilgrimage at

www.mysoulrefresh.com

Ordinary Time

In the churches that follow the traditional church calendar.. The time between Christmas Time and the time of Lent is called Ordinary Time. 

I find this interesting... so I have done some looking into it...

Wikipedia states: "In this context, the English name "Ordinary" translates the Latin termordinalis and is used because the weeks are numbered in a series"

Ordinary Time is celebrated in two segments: 

From the Monday following the Baptism of Our Lord (about January 12th) up to Ash Wednesday (March 5th this year); 

and 

From Pentecost Monday (early June) to the First Sunday of Advent (Nov 30th this year).

The thing is... there is nothing ordinary about life when we are following Jesus Christ. 

I love the distinct seasons to reflect, remember and ponder the amazing gift it was for God the Father to send His only Son to earth to experience the life of a human being and to die for our sins on the cross thereby ending the need for animal sacrifices and securing our ability to spend eternity in heaven. 

common sense

I am listening/watching the breaking news about the snow in Oregon right now. A phrase that is said over and over is to "use common sense". 

The problem with common sense is when it is not common. 

Common Sense for one person varies from Common Sense for another person 

based on their culture and experience.

Common Sense tells me that our bodies are not made to 

go, go, go, go, go, go, go... 

but that rather we need to stop and rest from time to time. 

God created a Sabbath day for us because we need to rest. 

We need to stop in the going and just be for a time. 

I guess there is a difference between having common sense and using common sense.... 

How often do you use common sense? 

Day reFresh

Matthew 11:28-30 (Amp)

28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]

29 Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls.

30 For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good–not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.

Do you feel a need to have your soul eased and refreshed? That is what a Day reFresh retreat is like. We vary the scripture and the methods, but the focus is to come to the Lord whose yoke is wholesome and whose burden is light.

It was delightful today to spend time with others who invested in themselves today by coming away for time with the Lord.

the next two Day reFresh retreats:
March 19th
May 7th

Sign up on the reFresh website: http://mysoulrefresh.com/
I LOVE my job! 

Day of reFresh

Next Wednesday, I am excited to co-lead a day reFresh retreat. 

It brings my heart delight to help others be free to listen to the Lord. 

I find myself wondering how many people who follow Christ would be comfortable spending a day with Him. 

Would you? 

Would you find it peaceful to intentionally spend a whole day with the Lord? 

• listen to worship music
• read your Bible
• sit in quiet after asking the Lord if He wants to show you something
• follow a guided meditation
• walk or run without headphones and see what you hear
• eat a meal being very conscious of how God provides nourishment for your body.

When I was on staff with Cru, we were given a day with the Lord each month. 

A day out of the noise and battle of ministry to recharge with Jesus. 

Now I get to help others learn how to listen to the Lord and have time with Him to refresh their souls. Oh how blessed am I? 

and how much more do I need those days to keep my eyes on Jesus 

who is the author and perfecter of my faith. 

...and the author and perfecter of your faith.