Day 56 – There are no lost chances, only lost days
Prayer for the week
Start you day with this prayer
Symbol: Cloud
Prayer
Holy God, Three-in-One, in the next week we will celebrate the ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ – that strange event that seemed like a final farewell. We are reminded that with the resurrection of Jesus Christ the beginning of a new reality was announced: You are truly the Prince of Peace that will reign for all eternity on earth and in heaven.
Show us, Lord, that we can still believe in these times and proclaim that You truly reign over everything and everyone. Turn our fears into trust, Lord, so that we can still be builders in your kingdom on earth, even in the midst of all this uncertainty.
Remind us that we, through the power of the Holy Spirit, are still part of the story that You are writing with your creation.
Console us with the knowledge that You did not leave us behind as orphans, but that your Advocate is with us for all eternity – and that You will indeed come back for us (John 14:16-18).
Amen.
Reflection
Read this reflection on the text for the day.
But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed – or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her” – Lukas 10:40-42.
Frank Sinatra sings: “I did it my way.” I would like to sing: “I did it God’s way.”
Do not postpone today to live with the Lord as He asks of you. Do not make the mistake Martha made when Jesus came to their home to visit. Instead of putting everything aside, like her sister Mary, and immediately choosing to sit at Jesus’ feet to listen to his words, Martha was running around to prepare food for all the guests. And then she was unhappy because her sister just sat by Jesus’ feet and she had to work alone. Jesus corrected her. He told her that Mary chose the better portion, one that would never be taken away from her.
Mary chose the best option – to be with Jesus. She sat in the right place – at Jesus’ feet. She also did it at the right time – there and then. The outcome? The new life, eternal life. That day was Mary’s best day ever. And it all began with a visit from Jesus that she did not allow to slip through her fingers.
Don’t run around with Martha when Jesus comes to visit. Put everything you are busy with aside, for you do not know if you will ever experience an opportunity like this again. Godly days like these won’t cross your path every day. Days come and go; chances, there are many. But Godly days, they just come one day at a time.
Put your lost days behind you, for there are more than enough on your tally. Start today by living and experiencing each new day you receive freely and by grace in the right way. Do not waste today. Live it by welcoming Jesus as the guest of honour in your life. And sit at his feet to listen.
Lord, keep me from being so busy with the good things, like Martha with her hospitality, that I miss the best part in life – to sit by your feet. Amen.
Liturgy for life
A time to be thankful …
In a time where many people use social media to express their frustrations over what they can and cannot buy, it may be a good time to think about everything we can be thankful for. Everything that we have, yes everything, comes from God’s hand. It is God who blesses us with life and also with what we need to make life possible. God blesses us with all the elements that make life worthwhile, like relationships and the gift of nature. Use your five senses this week to be aware of all these gifts in your life and choose to be truly thankful for what God is blessing you with.
– Listen to the birds in the garden, to music, to the sound of tractors working on the farm. What do you hear that fills you with gratitude?
– Smell the fresh early morning air, the food that you prepare in your home. Be thankful that you still have food to eat.
– Taste the food that you have to eat. Realise that God is giving you the opportunity to work so that you can eat, so you can help build God’s kingdom.
– Touch the ground in the garden outside, in the fields or in the orchard. Touch your pet, your kids, your parents, your partner. How does this blessing feel? How does your dog, cat or horse react when you scratch their ears with love and gratitude?
– See everything around you. Everything that you own, your kids, the beauty of the region where you live and work. See how God is still blessing you in these most difficult circumstances and cares for you and the world. Thank God!
Write down everything that you experience this week. Write a letter of gratitude or a psalm of praise and put it in your Bible or even share it on social media to remind yourself and others that we have so much to be truly grateful for.
Children’s activity
Play with your children.
Wow! 21 Days of isolation. 21 Days in which we’re only allowed to be in our homes (or gardens) and can only go out for the most essential things like food and medicine. It can be a little rough! All the things we usually do during the day, like school, sport, church … are not happening anymore. It can really confuse you and maybe even bore you a little. These daily readings will help you to spend some time with Jesus every day in a creative and fun way. You can do these readings and activities by yourself, with your siblings, or with your entire family. Ask one of the grownups to post your activity on Facebook so that others can enjoy it with you. Tag it with #solitudecalendar #churchtogether
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Do these words seem familiar, “I will do it just now!”
“No, do it NOW!”
Just now are some of the most dangerous words we use when we think what we are busy with now is more important than what we should do. Mostly it doesn’t matter, but sometimes other things really are more important. The problem is when “just now” becomes a habit, and then we miss out on the things that had to happen now. Sometimes we say, “Just now,” to God as well, but God asks us to always be ready and give Him our time and attention NOW.
– How can you make sure that you include a special time to be with God every day?
– What habits can you include in your life to make God a part of your life?
Activity
Practise today to be with God the whole time and talk to God about everything. Do you sometimes think about issues aloud or in your head? Have you noticed that we are actually speaking to ourselves in our heads the whole time? Choose to talk to God today, instead of to yourself, every time you have to think about something or when you have to make a decision.
Picture this
Look at this week’s illustration.
Talk to the people in your home or with your friends on WhatsApp about the illustration.
– What stands out to you?
– Take note of the things you see, but also of the things that aren’t present in the illustration.
– What would you like to add?
– How does this illustration connect with today’s Scripture, and how not?
Create your own interpretation of the illustration through any medium: dance, photography, videography, music, poetry, drawing, painting or short stories.
Record it and share it with us on social media with the hashtag #countdowndoodles
