Good Friday

This morning I found myself waiting in a parking lot and reading Isaiah 53. I cannot get through it without tears. It breaks me every time–and it ought to.

Written by the Hebrew prophet Isaiah, who lived some 700 years before Jesus walked this earth, the words so vividly portray what happened well over 2000 years ago. That was way into the future from Isaiah’s vantage point and even further in the past for those of us on this side of eternity’s question. Isaiah couldn’t have imagined what was coming. We have that in common with him. Only God truly understood. That’s typical.

As I read these words today I was struck all over again at God’s own plan and reaction to the sacrifice of His Son on the cross:

“After his anguish,

he will see light and be satisfied.

By his knowledge,

my righteous servant will justify many,

and he will carry their iniquities.

 Therefore I will give him the many as a portion,

and he will receive the mighty as spoil,

because he willingly submitted to death,

and was counted among the rebels;

yet he bore the sin of many

and interceded for the rebels.“

Isaiah 53:11-12 (CSB)

When you read the whole chapter it’s filled to overflowing with a word that never makes an appearance. Isaiah 53 is full of love…and, as one of those rebels it did mention, all I can say is, “Well, glory! It’s a Good Friday, indeed!”

Grace and Peace!

One more day

My calendar app notified me that I have only a few more hours left of Lent. That sent me to pondering:

1. What have I learned this Lenten season? Hmmm…well, I learned that giving up FB was a LOT easier than giving up sugar! I didn’t have any serious withdrawal symptoms although it did take me several days (about 4?) for my thumb to stop moving toward that little blue square! That, alone, showed me how much I had gone to auto-pilot mode when I picked up my phone. I think this was actually a good lesson for me about using technology to IMPROVE valued relationships and not just be informed about a broad array of things that don’t have any personal impact for me or my loved ones.
2. How will my Lenten fast this year affect me in the future? It’s already made a difference! Simple awareness of how much time I had spent “mindlessly scrolling” has led me to become more deliberate in how I spend my time. I’ve made more face-to-face visits and phone calls, sent more cards and texts, and taken time for some educational opportunities. My list of books read has expanded along with my sense of rest. My husband, who took the same FB fast this season, and I have enjoyed more time in art galleries and public gardens, sought information regarding local resources, and made/planned road trips to see family and friends. Honestly, I hadn’t realized we had silently drifted into that depth of withdrawal before this Lenten season. Bonus: We’re more relaxed these days! That’s one of my greatest delights…and one of the reasons I have deliberately left this app off my new phone. I’m not saying I won’t enjoy FB in the future, but I’ve decided that any time spent doing so will be both limited and deliberate.
3. Does it matter to Jesus that I gave up FB for Lent? On the surface, it sounds silly to think one single 40-day FB fast would matter to the Creator of the universe, but I think it does. Scripture tells us in Psalm 139 that God knows when we sit down and rise up–in addition to knowing what we think! In Luke 12:7, we’re told that God knows and has numbered every hair on our heads. For anyone who keeps a running total on things like that for each of us, details matter. That includes imperfect 40-day fasts…of any kind.

I believe my biggest takeaway from Lent this year has been about becoming more personal in relationships. That, too, sounds really obvious, but I still think it’s an important spiritual lesson for me and a reminder that God sent His Son to save us personally. Nothing and noOne (deliberate!) else would do. His sacrifice was neither comfortable nor convenient, but Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection made it possible for us to know GOD instead of God just knowing us–and THAT is a lesson worth knowing and sharing personally.

How about you? What have you learned in the past 39 days? If you fasted or made an addition to your Lenten-days schedule, what was it and how has that made a difference for you? Share with me, please, so I can celebrate this Easter season with you!

Grace and Peace!

New Year 2022

It’s Aptil–and finally time to choose my new focus for 2022! This past year of Curate has been both informative and interesting…and unexpectedly different in the best ways possible.

I expected to learn more about art, reducing possessions, honing my already focused scheduling skills, prioritizing spending, identifying areas that needed more space in my calendar of events while weeding out some whose purpose no longer served me well. I’ve learned about all that and more!

This year, WE (because my husband is SUCH a fantastic support and blessing that he jumped right in there with me!) also learned about practical things like composting, recycling, reducing our consumer needs, making use of what we already have, sharpening our focus on extracurricular activities, setting–and meeting!–some long-term goals, extending and receiving grace for ourselves and others, setting boundaries, pacing ourselves, choosing times of deliberate rest, making room for spontaneous joy, and selecting our own community. It’s been quite the year…

…and I expect my new one to be nothing less! Once again, the hubby and I are headed in similar directions…and calling it something different. (Ha!) He’s choosing to reduce his focus to go in-depth. I’m choosing to reduce MY focus…and calling it Back to Basics: Body, Soul, and Spirit. Yeah, I know. Mine breaks the one word rule, but…it’s a brand new year for me and I’m ok with that.

“Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.“

1 Thessalonians 5: 23 (ESV)

Now let’s see where God goes with this one.