Olive Tree

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Take Up Your Cross DAILY

Then he said to them all: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.  [Luke 9:23]

Last Friday, I made a list of the mundane things to accomplish before a house guest arrived.  When leaving for the store, I snapped a picture of the list.

Only today did I see the image overlaid on my list.  Do you see what I see?  A cross!  Yes, we are called to carry the daily grind with patience and fortitude. 



 Today marks the first day of school for many.  It means getting back into the "daily grind."  Elisabeth Elliot once said that the hardest thing about life is that it is so "daily."  Yet, we are called to take up our cross, DAILY, and follow Christ.


Sunday, March 1, 2015

Hapus Dewi Sant!

March 1st marks St. David's Day in honor of the patron saint of Wales. 

Who was St David?

St David (or Dewi Sant in Welsh) was born on the south west coast of Wales, near the present day city of St Davids.

His family was aristocratic. He was educated at a monastery and became a missionary, travelling through Wales and to south west England and Brittany to spread Christianity. He is also supposed to have visited Rome and Jerusalem.

David founded a monastery where St Davids stands today. He died in AD589 and was buried in the grounds of his own monastery. He has been the patron saint of Wales since the 12th century. (From the BBC News Magazine)


We read Psalm 51 tonight, the beautiful Psalm of repentance written by King David. 


Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
                                                                                     (Psalm 51:10-12)
 

Friday, February 27, 2015

You'll Get Through This

God gives us footholds in the seemingly impassive wall of suffering.  Today while listening to Christian radio on the 5-minute drive from the gym to home, I happened to hear the world premier of a new song.

Here is the link to listen:

http://1075alive.fm/mark-smebys-song-youll-get-through-this-free-download-share-with-others-2/