Entering the Holy Week

 Spent a fantastic few days in Puerto Princesa, Palawan

with 16 family members.

We saw a lot of twisting, cavorting dolphins.

My first glimpse of so many of them

going ahead of us in our motor boat

made me cry with awe and wonder.

We also went island hopping in Honda Bay.

Our boatman was an aspiring art director

and had a lot of camera tricks up his sleeve!

We also saw the Underground River, 

one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the World,

went firefly watching and visited the

Iwahig Penal Colony,

an amazing prison where there are no bars

and prisoners don't escape out

because they live a pleasant life with their families. 

I was not able to post while I was away

so I have several days worth of paintings!

 "The truth will set you free." John 8:32

The truth, God's Word, 

will set you free to become the best you can be,

 the same way that following traffic rules, signs and lights 

will give you the freedom to get 

where you need to go without the chaos 

that comes from the lack of discipline!

"I have grasped you by the hand,

I formed you..." Isaiah 42:6

 "Before Abraham came to be, I AM." 

John 8:58. 

Jesus claimed to be God 

 numerous times in different ways. 

That is why the Pharisees and many in the crowd 

were indignant and wanted to stone Him. 

They didn't think he was merely a crazy person, a fool. 

They believed He was a charlatan, a deceiver, the enemy! 

We too need to make a choice about who or what Jesus is, 

because if He is who He says He is, 

and He came to teach us how to live, 

it is the most important choice we'll ever make!!!

 "The Lord is with me, like a mighty champion." 

Jeremiah 20:11

 One of my favorite verses from the Bible is

 "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and 

you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today." 

Exodus 14:13

 "I will...cleanse them so that 

they may be my people and I may be their God." 

Ezekiel 37:23. 

Thank you Lord for desiring
for us to be Your people!
You did not have to do it!
After so many tries
to make us understand,
you could just have given up on us 

and left us to wallow in our own sin 

or you could even
have destroyed us!
But you try again and again,
sending us prophets,
and ultimately Your own Son
that we might be made clean,
made whole, made new!
Sooo sad that this promise
was made to the Jews,
to His chosen,
and they don't even claim it
because they reject the One
who can cleanse them!
What promises of God
do I NOT claim for myself
when it is just there
for the taking?

"Though all may have their faith in you shaken, 

mine will never be," 

Peter said this to Jesus in, 

I imagine, a firm decisive manner (Matthew 26:33). 

But as we all know he betrayed Jesus three times. 

The great difference between Peter and Judas

is that Judas gave up and did not repent. 

He was so filled with guilt and remorse 

and who knows what else! 

 As we enter into Holy Week, 

I look to Peter. 

Like Peter I have betrayed Jesus many times. 

I forgot that last Friday, 

I was supposed to abstain from eating meat.

 I neglected to fast, and give alms, and be kind, 

and who knows what else!

But Jesus knows our weaknesses

 and forgives us, even if we find it hard to forgive ourselves!

We just need to not give up 

and look to Him to be washed clean.

Thank You Lord for never giving up on us, 

for allowing Yourself to be forsaken 

by Your Father so we wouldn't be! 

Thank You for the example of all the

 weak men like Peter and the saints, 

who did not give up, 

but when they turned to you 

for strength and forgiveness, 

were able to go on victoriously!

 Previous Posts

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Jean Ferguson at Soli Deo Gloria

Word Art Wednesday

 Sunday Stillness, The Beauty in His Grip
Mandarin Orange Monday, Unite, 
Weekend Blog Hop, What We Accomplished
Creative Mondays, Gracelaced Mondays

 Tuesday Link Up Party
Super Handmade Sunday, Sacro Speco