Lenten Devotional - The Practical Disciple - Page 2

Posts in Category: lenten devotional

Lenten Devotional, Day 17, Four Ways to Respond to God Faithfully, (episode 77)


 
Sitting out in nature comes with great gifts and even greater responsibility. First, scripture basically says that we can know God fully through nature, so much so that none of us have any excuse for not believing. Specifically, this appears in Romans 1:20.

“For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.”

Stop and think about this for a moment. According to the word of God, you can know God’s eternal power and divine nature in the things God has made. So, if  you want to understand the invisible attributes of God,

Read More

Lenten Devotional, Day 16, Have Fun, (episode 76)

I gave myself a much break this weekend.  Saturday was an extremely long day due to an out-of-town meeting. Plus, the day followed a series of long days and late nights. I can’t describe how tired I was. I had to pull over and nap in my car to safely drive home.

So when I finally got home Saturday evening, I made a judgment call to forego writing up my sit spot time and producing my podcast until Sunday. In over fifteen years of Lenten disciplines, I can’t tell you when I have ever not delivered on my intention.

This was a wise choice

Read More

Lenten Devotional, Day 15, Exploring Beneath the Surface (episode 75)


 

An immense amount of life happens beneath the surface. We don’t see or think about it typically. This past week I took a few minutes to flip over bricks around a raised bed. I specifically, was looking for slugs. This bed is full of Hostas, a green decorative ground cover, and last year slugs nearly wiped them out. I found these slugs particularly like hanging out under bricks around the bed. I discovered their hideout at the end of the season last year. I’m going to try to reduce their population early in the season this year.

As I started flipping bricks I was astound at all of the life happening just beneath the surface. Pill

Read More

Lenten Devotional, Day 14, Midnight Showers, (episode 74)

As I am writing this it’s 12:32 a.m. I was going to write my post in my sit spot on the back porch. I was surprised though to find it raining. I had no idea showers were coming. But, I want to be outside so I am on my front porch now. I wish you could be here to listen with me. Actually, you can if you like, because the above recording was done right here on the porch in this rain.

I’m struck by the fact that a rain storm is simultaneously a single sound and yet many many voices at once. As I listen closely I’m hearing a high pitch

Read More

Lenten Devotional, Day 13, Mix it Up (episode 73)


I have a clear routine for my devotional time. Each day, roughly at the same time of day, I sit in a chair on my patio. I set a timer for fifteen minutes. I give thanks for roughly five minutes. I then pay attention to my senses for the next ten minutes. When my timer goes off I make an entry in my “oblog” (observation log).

I even have a routine for my oblog. I record the weather: time, temperature cloud cover, wind direction and speed. I record general observations; particularly, noting anything new. I write about beast sightings, meaning disruptive thoughts that interrupt me observing. I list questions. And lastly, I drop down a few initial thoughts on what

Read More

Lenten Devotional, Day 12, Trouble Tree (episode 72)


Well today, was just another absolutely beautiful day in Jonesboro, Arkansas. The temperature was moderate, the bird’s and squirrels were abundantly active. I even saw my first scuffle between Robins. This was most likely male-to-male aggression as birds begin establishing their territory. That’s a common phenomenon to expect in the spring.

The way to spot this is to watch for two bird’s physically and vocally going after each other hard, until one peels away and flies off. I count on the one left behind becoming the new sheriff in town.

One of the miraculous wonders of sitting in nature everyday is how worries have a way of diminishing or sometimes completely evaporating.  I’m remind of an old story called the “Trouble

Read More