Tag: Spiritual Life

Your Will Be Done In Me

Posted on by leanewinger

 

Your Will Be Done In Me

Song by Leane Winger

 

Lyrics:

Good news from an angel, the saviour is coming,

But her world is turned upside down.

The hope of her people, foretold through the ages.

But not quite what they counted on.

It’s joy to the world but for her she’s not certain

The scandal in which she must live.

Despite all the questions, the fear and the wonder,

There’s only one answer to give:

 

Your will be done,

However hard and lonely it might seem.

Your will be done

On the road you have for me.

When doubts arise and hope is lost,

When it comes time to count the cost,

I lay my way down at your feet.

Your will be done in me. 

 

He kneels in the garden, he knows it is coming,

The reason he came on that night.

Disciples are sleeping, the dark growing deeper,

Betrayal is just out of sight.

Oh please take this cup, now his voice rings in anguish.

He could choose to not pay the price.

With sweat drops of blood and a heart full of sorrow 

He looks to the father and cries:

 

Your will be done,

However dark and painful it might be.

Your will be done

On the road to Calvary.

The agony that is in store

Brings hope to many, many more.

I lay my way down at your feet.

Your will be done in me.

 

So in every moment we look to our saviour 

With those who believe in his name.

Like those gone before us, we find the Lord’s favour

Can lead to a difficult way.

But we know that this pain will last just for a moment.

The joy set before us is sure.

We cling to the love of our God who is faithful 

And the glorious hope that we share.

 

Your will be done.

Someday some glorious day I’ll finally see.

Your will be done,

What you have done in me.

I stand at last before your throne 

And know this life is not my own.

Now and forever may it be.

Your will be done in me.

 

 

 

Easter Eve

Posted on by leanewinger

Easter Eve

“Tomorrow is Easter Eve!” my five-year-old declared. It was Good Friday and I was explaining to him that it was only two days until Easter. I had to stop and consider his words for a moment. Of course, it was true. The day before Easter would be Easter Eve, but Easter Eve was a term I’d never considered before. The day between Good Friday and Easter has been called “Holy Saturday” by some, but it doesn’t generally get much attention, compared to its surrounding days.

For myself, when I think about that day, it is defined by the events of Good Friday. Jesus was dead, the disciples had fled for their lives, and their hopes for a saving messiah were shattered. That doesn’t sound like an “eve”.

The thing about “eves” is that to celebrate them, you have to know what is happening next. The disciples didn’t realize that Jesus was going to rise from the dead. Jesus had told them, but they hadn’t understood. On that dark Saturday, they didn’t know that it was Easter Eve. It seemed like the end.

And I am encouraged. Because you see, when things are tough, when everything is going wrong and I feel overwhelmed, it can seem like the darkness will never end. It can feel hopeless. But you never know what God is going to do tomorrow. It just might be Easter Eve!

The truth is that we know the end of the story. We know that Jesus is coming back! He will make all things new and wipe the tears from every eye. Who knows—it just might be Easter Eve!

So whatever life is like for you today, joy or sorrow, laughter or pain, I pray that you will look forward in anticipation to all that God is going to do, in your life and in our world. Easter is coming, and Jesus is coming soon!

Happy Easter Eve!

 

 

Armour of God

Posted on by leanewinger

The Armour of God

A Liturgy

The belt of truth 

I fasten tight around my waist

Holding close the words you have spoken of me

The truth that the storms of life would seek to tear away

Today I declare your truth

And fasten it close 

 

The breastplate of righteousness

I fasten firm upon my chest

Powerless to do right in my own strength

My sinful flesh has died and Christ now lives in me

This righteousness that is yours, in Jesus Christ is now my own

I fasten it close

 

The gospel of peace

I wear as shoes on my feet

The good news that keeps me steady, whatever may come

A longing and a readiness to share what I have found

I step into that eagerness

And lace it tight

 

The shield of faith

I take upon my arm

Extinguishing every fiery dart the evil one may throw

On every day, in every moment

I raise the shield of faith

And hold it tight

 

The helmet of salvation

I place upon my head

The saving power of Jesus now guards my mind

And fear will have no hold on me

I place his salvation upon my head

And strap it tight 

 

The word of God

I take as a sword in my hand

A word more powerful than any force or violence

A word that brings life and light and truth

I take God’s word in my hand

And hold it tight

 

The vital work of prayer

I take upon my lips

In petition and intercession and thanksgiving

For every brother and sister in the faith

Without ever giving up 

I stay alert and pray

 

I choose to put on today

The whole armour of God

Standing firm in a strength that is not my own

For the battle is real, though it wages unseen

I receive the gift given to me

And take it up 

 

Free Download

For the full poetic liturgy, along with Bible verses and questions for reflection, follow the download link.

PDF Download

 

Journey to Easter

Posted on by leanewinger

 

Journey to Easter

Jesus knew his disciples. He knew their weaknesses, their fears, their motivations. He knew that Judas was going to betray him and that Peter was going to deny him.

He washed their feet anyways.

Join us for Journey to Easter: a time of prayer and reflection, an Easter devotional and prayer walk that leads our hearts through the dramatic and impactful events leading up to Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection on Easter morning. A 20-page devotional guides us through insights, Bible verses, and questions that coincide with a beautiful walk with rest stops and symbols to engage our hearts and minds.

Anyone in Southern Ontario is welcome to come and experience the prayer walk for themselves (contact me for more information if you are interested!), but for those who are unable to join us in person, the booklet is available for anyone to use. The format is similar to the Christmas Prayer Walk I wrote last year, but this time the four stages follow the Easter story: The Supper, The Garden, The Cross, and The Tomb. If you would like to create an Easter Walk for yourself, or to simply read through the booklet as a personal devotional for this Easter season, the booklet is available! Simply follow the download link below.

I hope that this prayer walk can give us an opportunity to slow down, meet with God, and reflect on the heartbreaking and glorious story that we celebrate at Easter.

Free Download

Want to experience the Journey to Easter for yourself? Download the booklet today!

Download Booklet

Christmas Journey

Posted on by leanewinger

Prayer and Reflection

This Christmas I had the opportunity to write the material for a Christmas Prayer Journey, which invited people to a time of private reflection and prayer while walking around a beautiful acreage. This Christmas season has been hard for me, as I am sure it has been for many of us. Writing the poetry and reflections accompanying this prayer walk was a helpful and healing process for me, and I have heard such encouraging words from those who have been able to participate. I hope that you can be blessed by it too.

Anticipating Christmas

I knew that it was coming,

I knew that it was time.

That Christmas brought both joy and pain,

Is yours a bit like mine?

Grieving Christmas

Let me stand beside you,

Place your hand in mine.

The ache of grief can find its voice

Within this love divine.

Resting in Christmas

You look so tired and troubled—

Life’s storm is raging wild;

But for this moment sit and rest.

Simply be my child.

Celebrating Christmas

These tears are not forever,

In me your fears are gone.

Behold, I’m making all things new,

And joy shall be your song.

Free Download

If you’d like to create a Christmas Walk for yourself, or just read through the booklet, you are welcome to download a copy for yourself. I hope that it blesses you this Christmas season!

Download Booklet

 

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