Lent Daybook 7: Silver and Gold

Welcome to a Lent daybook for these 40 days of prayerful repentance.

Is this your first time to practice Lent? Here's a simple introduction.

Look: Ancient Egyptian scene inside the head of a needle, Mykola Syadristy, a Ukrainian artist known as the “master of miniature art.” The Micro Wonder Museum, located just 30 minutes north of central Budapest, is a grand collection of miniature art so tiny you can only see it through the lens of a microscope. - Source

Listen*: Justice Delivers Its Death, Sufjan Stevens - Lyrics | Spotify | YouTube

Read**: Psalm 119:49-72; Genesis 37:25-36; 1 Corinthians 2:1-13; Mark 1:29-45

Pray: from 1 Corinthians 2:9-10a, TEV - Source

Do: This week, fast from television (or another form of entertainment). Feast on reading instead!

Read More
Lent Daybook 6: Robes of Many Colors

Welcome to a Lent daybook for these 40 days of prayerful repentance.

Is this your first time to practice Lent? Here's a simple introduction.

Look: Polychrome Warm and Cool, Herbert Bayer - Source

Listen*: Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child, Michael Kiwanuka - Lyrics | Spotify | YouTube

Read**: Psalm 45; Genesis 37:12-24; 1 Corinthians 1:20-31; Mark 1:14-28

Pray: Book of Common Prayer, Prayers of the People (Form VI)

Do: Fast TV / Entertainment this week. Feast on reading instead!

Read More
I Know That You Delight In Me: Lent Daybook 5

Welcome to a Lent daybook for these 40 days of prayerful repentance.

Is this your first time to practice Lent? Here's a simple introduction.

Look: Jewish Sacrifice and the Temptation of Christ, Sandro Botticelli - Source

There's a lot going on in this fifteenth-century painting. Take a few minutes to read this brief commentary for assistance in gathering up more layers of meaning.

Listen*: My Soul Is At Rest, Taizé Community Choir - Lyrics | Spotify | YouTube

Read**: Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7; Psalm 32; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11

Pray: Book of Common Prayer, Collect for First Sunday in Lent

Do: Today's a day to break your fast (at least partially). Enjoy something you've given up, giving thanks to Christ for the abundance we receive from his obedience and great love.

Read More
Lent Daybook 5: I Know That You Delight In Me

Welcome to a Lent daybook for these 40 days of prayerful repentance.

Is this your first time to practice Lent? Here's a simple introduction.

Look: Joseph's Dream, Mikalojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis - Source

Listen*: Love Starvation, Nick Lowe - Bandcamp w/ lyrics | Spotify | YouTube

[This song selection might feel random, but consider listening to it from the perspective of Joseph after he's told his dream to his brothers as expressed in the painting above.]

Read**: Psalm 41, 52; Genesis 37:1-11; 1 Corinthians 1:1-19; Mark 1:1-13

Pray: The Lord's Prayer - Adapted from this source.

Do: This week, fast from television (or another form of entertainment). Feast on reading instead!

Read More
First Sunday in Lent: One Man's Obedience

Welcome to a Lent daybook for these 40 days of prayerful repentance.

Is this your first time to practice Lent? Here's a simple introduction.

Look: Jewish Sacrifice and the Temptation of Christ, Sandro Botticelli - Source

There's a lot going on in this fifteenth-century painting. Take a few minutes to read this brief commentary for assistance in gathering up more layers of meaning.

Listen*: My Soul Is At Rest, Taizé Community Choir - Lyrics | Spotify | YouTube

Read**: Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7; Psalm 32; Romans 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11

Pray: Book of Common Prayer, Collect for First Sunday in Lent

Do: Today's a day to break your fast (at least partially). Enjoy something you've given up, giving thanks to Christ for the abundance we receive from his obedience and great love.

Read More
One Heart and Mind: Lent Daybook 4

Welcome to a Lent daybook for these 40 days of prayerful repentance.

Is this your first time to practice Lent? Here's a simple introduction.

Look: Thousands watch as lynchers prepare to torture Henry Smith on a ten-foot-high platform at the county fairgrounds, Library of Congress/Getty Images. Source: Lynching in America: Confronting the Legacy of Racial Terror, EJI

Listen*: The Passion, Ms. Lauryn Hill - Lyrics | Spotify | YouTube

Read**: Psalm 30, 32; Ezekiel. 39:21-29; Philippians 4:10-20; John 17:20-26

Pray & Do: Spend time today reading through the reflections for Week 1 of An American Lent.

Read More
Ever Merciful: Lent Daybook 2

Welcome to a Lent daybook for these 40 days of prayerful repentance.

Is this your first time to practice Lent? Here's a simple introduction.

Look: The father embraces his prodigal son, Reconciliation window, St. John's Church, Tralee, IR, Tom Denny - Source

Listen*: Come Thou Fount / I Will Arise - Lyrics | Spotify | YouTube

Read**: Psalm 37; Habakkuk 3; Philippians 3:12-21; John 17:1-8

Pray: from Philippians 3:13b-14, NIV - Source

Do: Sit in silence for 5 minutes praying only the “Jesus Prayer”.

Read More
Last Sunday after Epiphany: Transfiguration

Blessed final Sunday of Epiphany, friends!

Look: Sketch for Dugny Church: The Transfiguration: The Resurrection of Christ, Camille Bellanger - Source

Listen*: Revelation 19, Bent Tree Bible Fellowship - Lyrics | Spotify | YouTube

Read**: Exodus 24:12-18; Psalm 2; Psalm 99 ; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Matthew 17:1-9

Monday: Psalm 25; Proverbs 27:1-6,10-12; Philippians 2:1-13; John 18:15-18,25-27

Tuesday: Psalm 26, 28; Proverbs 30:1-4,24-33; Philippians 3:1-11; John 18:28-38

Pray: Book of Common Prayer, Collect for Last Sunday After Epiphany

Do: Prepare for Lent

Read More
Epiphany Daybook +6: Words to Build a Life On

Blessed Epiphany, friends!

Look: Blessed are all those who feel their spiritual need (window 2 of 9), designed and painted by Siegfried Reinhardt and produced by Emil Frei, 1957. Seedy antique glass, 35 x 6 ft. Sanctuary of the Beatitudes, Second Baptist Church, Richmond Heights, Missouri. - Source

Listen*: Words to Build a Life On, Mike Crawford and His Secret Siblings - Lyrics | Spotify | YouTube

Read**: Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Psalm 119:1-8; 1 Corinthians 3:1-9; Matthew 5:21-37

Monday: Psalm 89; Genesis 30:1-24; 1 John 1:1-10; John 9:1-17

Tuesday: Psalm 97, 99, 100; Genesis 31:1-24; 1 John 2:1-11; John 9:18-41

Wednesday: Psalm 101, 109; Genesis 31:25-50; 1 John 2:12-17; John 10:1-18

Thursday: Psalm 105; Genesis 32:3-21; 1 John 2:18-29; John 10:19-30

Friday: Psalm 102; Genesis 32:22-33:17; 1 John 3:1-10; John 10:31-42

Saturday: Psalm 107, 108; Genesis 35:1-20; 1 John 3:11-18; John 11:1-16

Pray: Book of Common Prayer, Collect for Sixth Sunday After The Epiphany

Do: Forgive God, yourself, and others this week.

Read More
Epiphany Daybook +5: Salt of the Earth

Blessed Epiphany, friends!

Look: Saltcellars, Rebekah Pryor - source [H/T: Artway.eu]

Listen*: The Kingdom Is Yours, Common Hymnal - Spotify | YouTube (w/lyrics)

Read**: Isaiah 58:1-12; Psalm 112:1-10; 1 Corinthians 2:1-16; Matthew 5:13-20

Monday: Psalm 80; Genesis 25:19-34; Hebrews 13:1-16; John 7:37-52

Tuesday: Psalm 78; Genesis 26:1-6,12-33; Hebrews 13:17-25; John 7:53-8:11

Wednesday: Psalm 119:97-120; Genesis 27:1-29; Romans 12:1-8; John 8:12-20

Thursday: Psalm 146; Genesis 27:30-45; Romans 12:9-21; John 8:21-32

Friday: Psalm 88; Genesis 27:46-28:4,10-22; Romans13:1-14; John 8:33-47

Saturday: Psalm 87, 90; Genesis 29:1-20; Romans 14:1-23; John 8:47-59

Pray: Book of Common Prayer, Collect for Fifth Sunday After Epiphany

This week walk through the neighborhood where you live, work, or worship. Pray the collect for this week (above), and ask God to open your eyes to the people and places He's asking you to proclaim the Good News of the liberty and abundance Christ offers any who will follow Him. Ask a friend to pray for you to answer readily to what the Spirit reveals to you during your prayer.

Read More
Epiphany Daybook +3: Walking & Proclaiming

Look: Self Portrait: The Lord's Prayer (Letters cut from the Tibetan Book of the Dead), Meg Hitchcock - Source

Listen*: Sometimes By Step, Rich Mullins - Lyrics | Spotify | YouTube

Read**: Isaiah 9:1-4; Psalm 27:1, 4-9 ; 1 Corinthians 1:10-18; Matthew 4:12-23

Monday: Psalm 41, 52; Genesis 14; Hebrews 8:1-13; John 4:43-54

Tuesday: Psalm 45; Genesis 15:1-11,17-21; Hebrews 9:1-14; John 5:1-18

Wednesday: Psalm 119:49-72; Genesis 16:1-14; Hebrews 9:15-28; John 5:19-29

Thursday: Psalm 50; Genesis 16:15-17:14; Hebrews 10:1-10; John 5:30-47

Friday: Psalm 40, 54; Genesis 17:15-27; Hebrews 10:11-25; John 6:1-15

Saturday: Psalm 55; Genesis 18:1-16; Hebrews 10:26-39; John 6:16-27

Pray: Book of Common Prayer, Collect for the Third Sunday After Epiphany

Do: What is your cultural footprint? How does your weekly schedule proclaim the Gospel of the kingdom?

Read More
Epiphany Daybook +2: Revealed

Blessed Epiphany, friends!

Look: Baptism of Christ by Vitaly Melnichuk (Виталий Мельничук) - source

Discover more about the profound symbolism in Orthodox icons of Jesus' Baptism at the Art & Theology blog.

Listen*: River, Leon Bridges - Lyrics | Spotify | YouTube

Read**: Isaiah 49:1-7; Psalm 40:1-11; 1 Corinthians 1:1-9; John 1:29-42

Monday: Psalm 25; Genesis 8:6-22; Hebrews 4:14-5:6; John 2:23-3:15

Tuesday: Psalm 26, 28; Genesis 9:1-17; Hebrews 5:7-14; John 3:16-21

Wednesday: Psalm 38; Genesis 9:18-29; Hebrews 6:1-12; John 3:22-36

Thursday: Psalm 37; Genesis 11:1-9; Hebrews 6:13-20; John 4:1-15

Friday: Psalm 31; Genesis 11:27-12:8; Hebrews 7:1-17; John 4:16-26

Saturday: Psalm 30, 32; Genesis 12:9-13:1; Hebrews 7:18-28; John 4:27-42

Pray: Book of Common Prayer, Collect for the Second Sunday after the Epiphany

Do: Look for opportunities God gives you this week to simply point to Jesus.

Read More
Epiphany Daybook +1: Baptized and Beloved

Look: This isn't a typical image I'd share for the day we remember Christ's baptism in the Jordan River, but it's the image that's captured my imagination for us this week. How often do we consider the pronouncement of belovedness that comes at Christ's baptism? How often do we consider our own? The story of Pearl Brown's extraordinary life and death (as recounted through her adoring father, Eric's, Instagram feed) seems to be summed up in her mother's gaze in the photo above. Can we imagine this same kind of love in our Heavenly Father's gaze toward Jesus and spilling over onto us?

Listen*: Baptized & Beloved playlist on Spotify

Read**: Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 29; Acts 10:34-43; Matthew 3:13-17

Tuesday: Psalm 1, 2, 3; Genesis 2:4-25; Hebrews 1:1-14; John 1:1-18

Wednesday: Psalm 5, 6; Genesis 3:1-24; Hebrews 2:1-10; John 1:19-28

Thursday: Psalm 119:1-24; Genesis 4:1-16; Hebrews 2:11-18; John 1:29-42

Friday: Psalm 18; Genesis 4:17-26; Hebrews 3:1-11; John 1:43-51

Saturday: Psalm 16, 17; Genesis 6:1-8; Hebrews 3:12-19; John 2:1-12

Pray: Book of Common Prayer, Collect for the Baptism of Our Lord

Do: Remember your baptism!

Read More