Not well... knocked sideways by a bad cold :(
Will return when feel better...
xx

Second Sunday in Lent

Lorenzo Veneziano (fl. 1356--79) Christ Rescues St Peter from Drowning

First Saturday in Lent

Angelica Kauffmann, Christ and the Samaritan Woman at the Well (1796)

Yesterday's images didn't inspire me, but today's certainly does! It's of a favourite Bible story (John 4.1--26) AND it's painted by a woman - a double hit!! 

It's a favourite for it shows Jesus engaging in serious theological discussion with a woman (gosh!), a foreign woman (golly!), and a 'sinner' (gasp!). It shows how he sought out the outsider, the 'least' of society to connect with at the deepest level - he knew her past, present and future, and revealed his true nature to her.

And I enjoyed learning about the artist here and here - I'm not a fan of the Neoclassical, but I can appreciate her skill and I love that she was a foundation member of the Royal Academy!

Focus on Life Week 11: Beauty all around

I totally agree with Sally's sentiment to 'enjoy the beauty that abounds in our world', but we've seen little sun in our part of the UK, and any natural beauty has been shrouded in very chilly mist and fog...

I can barely see my beloved pine trees in the distance...

But a neighbour's tree does have a certain ethereal beauty shrouded in mist...

Hopefully, you've had sun where you live, and as we all know, Beauty IS in the eye of the beholder...

And this week's Giveaway is beautiful - a fine sliver ginkgo necklace. There's more photos and info over at the Giveaway post here where you can leave a comment to enter tomorrow drawing

First Friday in Lent

I'm not inspired by the images for today's reading in the book, so I'll show you this - which I've worn every day throughout Lent and Advent for several years. I do wear it at other times (because I like it!), but wear it 'with intention' in these two special times of the year...

It is a silver Jerusalem cross - made by a jeweller in Israel, bought online as I've never been to the Holy Land. In the centre is a bronze replica of a denarius - a Roman coin first minted about 200BC according to wikipedia...

But, for me, the significant part is on the back...

The words are from the Bible story of the widow's mite (a mite was the slang word for a denarius, which by Jesus' time had been devalued to the lowest currency, like a penny/cent)

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few pence.

Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, 'Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything...'

Mark 12.41--44 

It reminds to always try and 'put in everything'. Sometimes, I give from my 'poverty' of time, energy, money... and at other times, I give from my wealth of the same. But, the intention is always to 'put in everything'...