Prayers and Thoughts

for Reflection

Lenton Devotional

2007

April 7

Take your everyday, ordinary life -- your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life -- and place it before God as an offering.

Romans 12:1 [The Message]

Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

John 10:11

You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.

Psalms 18:28

Many years ago, a dogwood tree grew on a hill outside Jerusalem. In those days, the dogwood tree was as tall and mighty as an oak, and this tree was the tallest of all the dogwoods, and extremely proud of its strength.

"Something wonderful is going to happen to me,” it said to anyone who would listen. "I'll probably become the mast that holds the big sail on a grand ship, or the main timber supporting a great house.”

Unfortunately, the huge old dogwood was cut down to become the cross to which Jesus was nailed. The tree was horrified. All its dreams of glory were smashed, and it groaned in agony as two boards from its trunk were nailed together. 

Jesus took pity on the tree, even as he carried it to Calvary. "You will never be put to such use again,” he told it. "From this day on, your shape will change, even as will the world. You will become slender and sway easily with the breeze. And instead of acorns you will bear white flowers in the shape of a cross, with dark red bloodstains at the side of each petal to show the world how you have suffered. Last of all, the center of your flowers will be marked as though with a crown of thorns, to remind people forevermore, that you and I spent our last moments together.”

Author Unknown

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart. I have overcome the world.

John 16:33

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalms 18:2

Lord, Thank you for the joyful, abundant life that is mine through Christ Jesus. Guide me according to Your will. Lead me according to Your plan for my life, today and always. Enter my heart and let your love flow through me. Amen.