Holy Week's Arrival

April already? And, Holy Week already?!? Wow, this year is just zooming by for our family. It's been a busy few weeks for us and it will stay busy for at least another month or so as we tackle the many things that seem to have collided and landed in our schedules at this moment in time.

Through it all, I see the goodness of my God... as He continues to sustain, encourage, nourish, love! He truly, truly, truly is always good!

And speaking of Holy Week already upon us... I have been reflecting on how observing Lent has been for me this year. Well, friends... it's been a fasting in a Lent that is failing fast. I have often been frustrated these past weeks at how my observance of Lent has been... yet, in all of its failure, I've uncovered this one truth about myself: My weaknesses and selfish cravings are very real! I've realized even more of my minute-to-minute need to rely on the Holy Spirit for the strength to do God's will and to follow Christ's example.

I love what I read in Chris Seay's book A Place At The Table this past Sunday {the Feast Day between Day 34 and Day 35 of Lent}:

Have you come to your wit's end a few times during this fast? I hope so. Have you failed to keep your fast at any point by either mere forgetfulness, willful rebellion, or utter apathy? I have. The last 34 days are not a testament to our power, strength of character, or self-control. Remember: it is the journey to surrender our struggles, to gain insight into our cravings, and renewed reliance on God that is transforming.

Beautiful, isn't it? Lent is all about God transforming me... and in this case, I am being transformed into realizing that minute-by-minute, I need God! I'll take that any day... even if it means failure in my observance of Lent... because in the end, in the form of lessons learned and insights gained, it's a win-win situation for me!

What will a life magnify? The world's stress cracks, the grubbiness of a day, all that is wholly wrong and terribly busted? Or God? Never is God omnipotent and omniscient diminutive, God in need of magnifying by us so small, but reverse. It's our lives that are little and we've falsely inflated self and in thanks we decrease and the world returns right.

~ Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts.

As I continue counting grace-gifts, these are the things I am thankful for this week... #1328 - #1335:

:: Great breakfast meeting with our Lead Pastor.
:: Visiting a friend and we talk about gardening and parenting!
:: A quiet Tuesday night at home alone.
:: Being the chauffeur for my boy's basketball team.
:: To Starbucks with my girl.
:: Getting more informed about the Kony 2012 movement.
:: Great lunch meeting with fellow leaders at church.
:: Heading up the Easter Food Drive at our church which resulted in 864 pounds of food to bless the food bank at Yonge Street Mission! ♥

This is what 864 pounds of food looks like!
Our family is blessed to be part of a faith community that
lives simply and gives generously!!!

Holy Week is here, friends!

May you be looking forward, as I am... to a special week of reflecting on, remembering and being grateful for how deep God's love is for us!

To move into His presence and listen to His love unending and know the grace uncontainable. This is the vault of the miracles. The only thing that can change us, the world, is this; all His love.

~ Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts.

Let's soar into this new week together, friends... let's do justice, love mercy and walk humbly!

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Unwrapping more of His love in this world.

Act justly.  Love mercy.  Walk humbly with God!