#LentPhotos today asks us to look at “the road ahead” – so I looked back to our first full day in Uganda, where we spent much of our time bouncing along badly made roads, but was also reminded of the fact that we were going to engage with a different culture… and this poster opened our eyes to one aspect that we hadn’t realised – many Ugandan men spend much of their time drinking, and then beating their wives – a huge problem – and one that PEP was taking huge steps to change:
#BigRead13 Thoughts
Today’s Bible verse:
King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
Looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)
And now am I confused between ‘Fix’ and ‘Turn’ – although either is about focusing on Jesus, rather than on the things that annoy us (she says, having been a bit of a Mrs Grumpy Pants this morning):
I don’t know about you, but I’m always so busy, I keep forgetting at important times – been a real encouragement to be in a place where that is the first thought of many! We always think we have a solution, but reminder to self – and the point of #notbusy – take time to be (hence why am being encouraged to do a short day today!)
@40Acts
An interesting one today – to go and hug someone (whether they need it or not – but thankfully not whether they want it or not!). I used to hate being hugged, but I’ve a very good friend who overcame that, and now I don’t mind with most people! I’m not sure I’d want to go out giving free hugs, but I like the idea of small acts of encouragement – and I give smiles away like they are going out of fashion much of the time!
Brian Draper: Lent 40
“I am my beloved’s,
And his desire is for me.” (7.10 NASB)
Brian reflects upon Brennan Manning who spent 30 days just engaging with these 2 lines on a silent retreat – at the end of which he said:
‘The drumbeats of doom in your head will be replaced with joy in your heart, which could lead to a twinkle in your eye … you will not be dependent on the company of others to ease your loneliness … the praise of others will not send your spirit soaring, nor will their criticism plunge you into the pit … You will move from I should pray to I must pray … You will live with an awareness that God not only loves you, but likes you … You will stop comparing yourself with others … And off and on throughout the day you will just know that you are being seen by Jesus with a gaze of infinite tenderness.’
Other
Pam: If we do not want judging on what we might have done in the past, we should give others the same privilege.
Every day: #Do1nicething Lent Challenge today – Catch a bus (#Do1NiceThing for the environment) and say thank you to the bus driver
#LiveLent: Bishop Stephen Cottrell on a good way to live out today’s #livelent challenge to be a good neighbour http://bit.ly/YSE6wo Please don’t forget that in the modern world we have restricted our notion of neighbour to the geographical one – they are important, but the digital allows a much wider spectrum of neighbours!
