Abundantly Hope
Lectio Divina
Lectio Divina 3-5-25
I am posting this verse specifically today, in honor of Ash Wednesday, the beginning of lent. This is not Lectio Divina style, but a great verse for the season. As Catholics we practice ash Wednesday, and lent, in remembrance of when Jesus went into the desert for 40 days, and 40 nights in preparation for his death on the cross. This is a time of fasting, and reflection for us.
Matthew 4:1
Then Jesus was led by the spirit to the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for 40 days, and 40 nights, and afterwards he was hungry. The temper approached and said to him, if you are the son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread. He said in reply, " it is written: one does not live by bread alone, but by every word that cones forth from the mouth of God. "
Reflection questions taken from my Bible:
For each of the three temptations, what is it's nature? What price would there to be paid had Jesus yield? How does Jesus respond?
Personal reflection: When was a time in your life you felt line you were stranded in the desert? What did you do to make it through?
* I personally have been feeling stranded in the desert lately, while being laid up with a bulging disk, and the pain continuing after surgery. The pain is deliberating. And yet, I know O am no where close to suffering life in a desert with the many blessings I am surrounded with. I have a roof over my head, a supportive husband, 2 dogs, food electricity etc. And yet it is so hard to focus on anything but the pain. I will work on focusing on the positive during this season of lent, and going forward.
Lectio Divina 3-2-25
Step 1. Get your Bible ready.
Step 2. Pray that God gives you the verse He wants you to hear, and thst your heart be open to the message.
Step 3. Close your eyes, and randomly open the Bible, and pick thr first verse that jumps out to you.
Step 4. Read the verse, and reflect on what it means to you personally.
I did this today, and it was a great verse once again! I got the verse Ecclesiastes 10:12.
Do not say, how is it that former times were better than these? For it is not in wisdom that you ask this. Consider the work of God who can make straight what was made crooked. On a good day enjoy the good things, and on an evil day consider both one, and another. God has created both so that then we can not find fault with Him in anything.
This hits home because lately I have been struggling physically with a bulging disk, which resulted in surgery. It will be a long recovery, but I must choose to be thankful that I had the ability to get the surgery, and that I got it sooner than what would have been because of a cancellation. I can focus on the fact that this incident caused me to have to leave my dream job, or I can choose to focus on positive things, and make way for better days that are coming, and focus on positive things, like this website! I like the saying: "Every time your mind thinks a negative thought, think of a positive thought to follow." I also love the saying "Focus on glimmers, not triggers." Glimmers are positive sightings, like seeing a butterfly when you are struggling, as a reminder that there are good things to be thinking about as well!
What is something you are struggling with in your life? What is a glimmer that you have seen lately?
Lectio Divina 2-20-25
Happy Thursday! I hope everyone is having a good day! I decided that one of the ways I want to make this page more active, is by sharing Bible verses. God, or Abba, as is my favorite name for Him, plays an important role in my life, and gets me through even the darkest times. But we can't forget to praise him in the good times as well. I have been struggling lately, being laid up with a bulging disk, that I am having surgery on the 27th.
My favorite way to read the Bible is Lectio Devena style. Not sure if I spelled that right...
This means that before opening the Bible, you pray that Abba gives you the words He wants you to hear, and to open your heart to understanding the message. You then close your eyes, open the Bible, and pick the first verse that jumps out at you. It's amazing how it hits home. I did this today with my Catholic Serendipity Bible, and wanted to share the verse for you, which was perfect again.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Man Cannot Hit on the Right tine to Act
There is an appointed time for everything,
And a time for every affair under the heavens.
A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to uproot and plant.
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
A time to tear down, and a time to build.
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them;
A time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces.
A time to seek, and a time to lose;
A time to keep; and a time to cast away.
A time to rend; and a time to sew. A time to be silent, and a time to speak.
A time to love, and a time to hate,
a time of war, and a time of peace.
This has always been a favorite of mine, it reminds you there is a season for everything. Apparently now, my season is a season of rest, which I know a lot of you would take, but it cost me my dream job, and has been very difficult for me, as I like to be on the go. I do like to binge watch, and rest, don't get me wrong, but it's hard when you are forced to, for long periods of time. I will say this time has forced me to just stop and fully grieve. I have grieved plenty in the past couple years, I didn't block it, but also kept going, and looking for distraction. Apparently now is my time to face it head on, and maybe even let go, so I can keep the one's with me that I've lost in the past couple years, a good friend, my Dad, and baby Hope; all in the past 3 years, and fully grieve, and maybe even heal.
My Bible even gives personal reflection questions. The question for you, what season in your life is it right now? I'm not talking about actual seasons, but what are you experiencing based on the verse, or otherwise?