Garden of Hope

My friend, Kari, found a place in Covington that's been there for over 50 years, yet most Northern Kentuckians have never heard of it. The Garden of Hope is an historically accurate portrayal of the tomb in Jerusalem that is said to have been where the body of Jesus Christ was lain after His crucifixion. Yesterday, we visited the Garden of Hope with some of our home school friends.

In 1958 Reverend Morris Coers visited the Holy Land and decided to build a replica of it in Covington, Kentucky. There are also stones from Israel, including one from Solomon's Temple. The garden is home to several plants indigenous to Israel.

The Garden is funded solely by donation, so a suggested donation of $2 per person for a tour is a good investment in a local landmark too. The garden is open to visitors year round, but if you want a tour which includes opening up the buildings, you need to arrange it ahead of time with one of the volunteer guides.

The garden would be a peaceful place to spend some time alone meditating or enjoy a picnic with several tables available. It was a beautiful, but cold day and the view of the city is great.

For more information, visit this Kenton County Public Library link and for a map and phone number to arrange a tour, click on this link to a Google plus site.

What to Give Up for Lent?

I didn't grow up with the tradition of giving up things for Lent. I was taught that this was something "the Catholics" did and we didn't have to because we knew we were free in Jesus to eat whatever we wanted.

Funny how times change!

It seems more and more evangelicals and Protestants have learned that the Lenten season isn't about giving up a food, per se...but rather about learning what it means to live sacrificially for the One who gave everything He had on the Cross. Truly, if He can do that for me...to give up one tiny thing that actually matters to me for about six weeks is pretty small by comparison.

I say "thing that actually matters to me" because I have known and have heard of people giving up stuff quite to the contrary. Case and point: I could say "I'm giving up lobster for Lent" and it really wouldn't be a sacrifice. I have never had lobster, never want lobster and would probably be on my deathbed and still only through force would I allow this bottom-feeding, cockroach of the sea to cross my lips. You get the idea.

So when my oldest daughter reminded me this morning that it was Fat Tuesday...after my first thought of "Yikes! That means no more packzis until next winter," my thoughts quickly turned to "What will I give up?" I haven't attempted to give up anything for the last two years because my diet has been so limited trying to eat a mostly vegetarian or vegan lifestyle that wants to limit sugar, gluten, fried foods, etc. all year...it doesn't leave me with many options to give up. Unfortunately my desired way of eating and the reality of it don't often mesh. Regardless, I haven't even attempted to participate in Lent for the last two years.

Then this morning, I have a Facebook friend that posted that instead of giving up sweets, which was her usual go-to item, she was going to attempt to give up her negative thoughts about herself and what is going on around her. I love this idea so much that I am borrowing it for my own! So this year, instead of giving up a food, I am giving up something that is such a big part of me, it will probably be excruciating to let it go.

My prayer is that when negativity and criticism of myself or others darkens the corners of my heart and mind, I will swiftly ask the Spirit to sweep them out and keep them under His control. I'm giving Him permission to interrupt my day and my thoughts and bring my focus back to Him whenever I stray.

I'm not naive enough to think this will be easy. Again, it is so much a part of who I am, that I'm not sure how He can do it...but I am confident that precisely because of the great sacrifice He gave for me...He can!!!



What do you hear Him asking you to give up?