This Afternoon....

Today I was watching Nanny 911 during nap and Marky woke up and saw a few minutes of it.

Mommy: Marky see those children on there? Are they obeying their parents?

Marky: No, mommy, they are not listening to the Holy Spirit. They are listening to vice. We should pray for them.

I am not kidding. Mommy will remember those words for a long time.

My Shepherd Will Supply My Needs

This morning the gospel reading was John 10 where Jesus says "I am the Good Shepherd." It struck me especially because that theme of Christ as the Good Shepherd is the foundation of Marky's catechism program, of which I'm getting 90 hours of training to be a catechist. It just resonates with children- of course the sheep love the Shepherd. After all, He calls them by NAME. He leads them out to good pasture. He lays down His life for His sheep. If He loses one- He will leave the other 99 and find it, put it on His shoulders and come back rejoicing! Who are we to deserve such a Shepherd? How glorious He is! I've been walking in a bit of a dark valley lately, and it is good to know my Shepherd will always be there with goodness and mercy.

After the reading we sang My Shepherd will Supply my needs- written by Isaac Watts:

My Shepherd will supply my need,
Jehova is His name.
In pastures fresh He makes me feed,
Beside the living stream.
He brings my wand’ring spirit back,
When I forsake His ways.
And leads me for His mercy’s sake
In paths of truth and grace.
When I walk through the shades of death
Thy presence is my stay.
One word of Thy supporting breath
Drives all my fears away.
Thy hand in sight of all my foes,
Doth still my table spread.
My cup with blessings overflows,
Thine oil anoints my head.
The sure provisions of my God
Attend me all my days.
O may Thy house be my abode,
And all my work be praise.
There would I find a settled rest,
While others go and come.
No more a stranger nor a guest,
But like a child at home.

On our lenten journey

I love the Church calendar- how there are special times of celebration, preparation and growth. Lent is the most penitential time in the church where we really focus on Christ's passion and repent of our sins in order to prepare to renew our baptismal vows at Easter. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and lasts 40 days. (The Isrealites wandered 40 years in the desert, Christ was in the wilderness 40 days). There are no flowers in the church and less singing. You will not here the words "Alleluia" during lent. In fact, in Marky's little catechism program we put the Alleluia prayer card in a special box that we will open at Easter. The altar is draped in purple to prepare for the King. The idea is to use prayer as spiritual discipline, fasting for mental discipline and service to others as a physical discipline. Spending the days of solemn lent preparing for the joyous feast of Easter is a gift from God. I saw this hymn in my devotional this month and it was so beautiful:

With broken heart and contrite sigh,
A trembling sinner, Lord, I cry:
Thy pardoning grace is rich and free:
O God, be merciful to me.

I smite upon my troubled breast,
With deep and conscious guilt oppressed,
Christ and His cross my only plea:
O God, be merciful to me.

Far off I stand with tearful eye,
Nor dare uplift them to the skies;
But Thou dost all my anguish see:
O God, be merciful to me.

And when, redeemed from sin and hell,
With all the ransomed throng I dwell,
My raptured song shall ever be,
God has been merciful to me.