Sunday morning hymns

One of my favorites today.  We included it in our wedding ceremony. (Although not the verse below.)

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

What is important in the world?  In this life?  Those of us fortunate to live comfortably tend to work hard to acquire more wealth.  But what really matters?  How can we be better about focusing first on our relationships?

Here is "Be Thou My Vision" performed by Selah.

Thankful Thursday: Thankful Journal

Back in 2013 (all those weeks ago!), there was one Sunday where we had a particularly memorable and conversation-starting sermon.  It included a story about Matthew Henry, which a quick Google search shows is rather popular.  There appear to be a few different versions, but ours was that he was mugged on day and wrote thoughts about the experience in his journal:

Let me be thankful, first, because he never robbed me before; second, because although he took my purse, he did not take my life; third, because although he took all I possessed, it was not much; and fourth, because it was I who was robbed, not I who robbed.

 http://www.wholesomewords.org/devotion1.html

Both MJ and I were struck by the sentiment.  What a great example of "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thes 5:18) And so, we were inspired to start a journal of thanksgiving.  We picked out a book together while holiday shopping and starting writing down one thought of gratitude each day.  We last a few weeks, but it petered out.  

So, we've started again for March.  But this time, in addition to saying something we're generally thankful for each day, I'm adding a note of how I'm specifically thankful to my husband.  Thank you for your willingness to try new things, MJ.

Welcome to the Wilderness!

I confess that I have a bit of an anticipatory feeling toward Lent.  It's a season for reflection, self-denial, prayer, and, as I learned last year, giving.  It's a way, I often hope, to be better.  And, I prefer Lent to New Year's for setting these sorts of "be better" goals. 

New Year seems to come so suddenly - it's just a turn of a page and then we're off full speed into the next year. Lent, on the other hand, is more gradual. It's a concrete period, instead of this nebulous year that goes along with resolutions. I feel comfortable saying, "I will try this for the next 40 (46) days and then we'll see what happens."  I enjoy the promise of a feast. Lent, seems to me, much more deliberate and reflective than changing the calendar. And it feels heavier, more traditioned. Clearer, perhaps.

Of course, there are some similarities -  Fat Tuesday is not too unlike New Year's Eve in its revelry and splurge. But I think there's a difference between the solemnity of Ash Wednesday and the awakening New Year's Day. Both hold promises. There's a sense of a chance for starting over, improving, and reconciliation. They can both be full of hope!

And so, I enter this Lenten season hopeful.  I do plan to abstain from a few things - notably "added" sugar products, which I've developed a bit of an addiction to. But I hope also to use this as a time to re-balance my priorities a bit and where I spend my time. This year has been rougher than I'd like in that regard, with multiple active work projects and deadlines piled one after another. And, I want to look at how I serve, not just in time spent but in attitude. I also hope, and this one falls a bit to that question of balancing priorities, that I can be a bit more intentional in my study.

What goals will you set for the upcoming 40 days?

Image from Kirk in the Hills, http://www.kirkinthehills.org/worship/ash-wednesday-service