Category: inspiration

To Everything, There is a Season

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

sallie & ian2 Comments
Take time to think – thoughts are the source of power.
Take time to play – play is the secret of perpetual youth.
Take time to read – reading is the fountain of wisdom.
Take time to pray – prayer can be a rock of strength in time of trouble.
Take time to love – loving is what makes living worthwhile.
Take time to be friendly – friendships give life a delicious flavor.
Take time to give – any day of the year is too short for selfishness.
Take time to show appreciation – thanks is the frosting on the cake of life.

Take time to count blessings.

{source unknown}

Reflections on Lent

sallie & ian
I would like to start by saying thank you.  Lent is a season where we make a conscious effort to renew our faith and relationship with Christ.  As such folks often choose to eliminate or limit some of the things that they typically (often unhealthy habits) do as a means of penance, reflection, and praise.  Lent is also a season when people choose to take on more and/or different types of spiritual practice, acts of charity, and new ways to (re)connect with God. This year I have chosen to take on two particular practices that I don’t typically, or enough anyway, participate in. One of my Lenten practices is that I have taken on praying over a certain child named Colton who goes to a preschool at one of the local day care centers at a Methodist Church.  This year, each child in that program has someone praying for them every day during Lent.  There are cards that guide these prayers in a sort of daily devotional format.  I like the idea of praying over someone who I don’t know and likely may never meet.
I have also decided to take on the task of naming the things and people and experiences that I am thankful for as often as I can.  This is why I want to take this opportunity to thank you, the person reading this, for being you. You give so much to the world and I hope you know that.  I am thankful for you. You are loved.
So as for school, I have recently been accepted to the School of Theology in Sewanee, as well as the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas. I expect to hear back very soon whether or not I have been accepted to Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia. We will make our decision on where we as a family will live, learn, and grow in the next month or so.  As you can imagine this is an intense period of time for me and for my family as we decide where we will spend the next three years of our lives. Again I am thankful for you and I ask for your prayers as we continue on this journey.  Also help me by praying for and over Colton.
Your brother in Christ,
Ian