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The Turquoise Table

Kristin Schell

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Resources for Lent

Lent Traditions Ribbons of Gratitude

My heart longs. I’m making pancakes for tonight’s Shrove Tuesday celebration, but my soul has moved on. Past the celebration, forward to the thin place where the Holy Spirit draws near as breath.

Tomorrow, black ash will mark me. An outward sign on my forehead of an inward condition of my heart. I welcome Lent always, but this year I’ve thrown the door wide open and begged the season inside. I’ve never felt the solemn time of preparation beckon me so surely, so strongly before. I feel the rhythm of the Kingdom beating, moving me from feasting, to fasting, into the promise of love everlasting.

Growing up with a liturgical tradition of Lent, I’ve fasted, given up, taken on, and even ignored the 40 days leading up to Easter. I do not have fond memories of my earliest knowledge of Lent from my Catholic school days. But, the Lord has redeemed the pain of those years and what I once abhorred and resisted, I now crave. It’s not Lent I abhorred, it was religion. And it’s not Lent I crave, it’s Jesus.

In a favorite book Thin Places: An Evangelical Journey into Celtic Christianity by Tracy Balzer, she defines:

A thin place is any place that creates a space and an atmosphere that inspires us to be honest before God and listen to the deep murmurings of the His Spirit within us.

A thin place is a tangible expression of what I call a Sabbath Moment. I’m welcoming this season of Lent as a thin place, a sacred space of sabbath. For the first time in years, I do not have a plan. What to give up? What to take on? I’m trusting that if I show up faithfully to sabbath with my Father in the thinnest of places, He will provide. I’m giving Him a surrendered heart and embracing the season of refinement I know in faith He will provide.

Lent as a thin place is a huge leap of faith for me as I stir pancakes for tonight’s feast.

I suffer from First World Malaise – a muchness of everything. I’m over-consumed, over-committed, over-indulged, and over-wifi’d! And, I’m over it.

I wonder how many times a week I say and hear the phrase, ‘it’s all good’? There’s so much clutter in my life and almost all of it IS good. Oh and I’m so very grateful. But, I’m feeling far from the sabbath-y, sacred places I know with Him. I hear His voice, ‘return to me’. Yet, I feel as if I’m drowning in a sea of worldliness and my outstretched hands aren’t long enough to reach heavenly. I remember it is not my arms that will lift me out, but His.

Throughout the Old Testament, our forefather’s named places and built altars to honor and glorify God. I’ve named a few recently, too. I don’t have a name for this Lenten season. But, I’m laying the foundation, smoothing the stones, and trusting that the Lord will show up in mighty and wonderful ways.

A few Lenten resources and traditions I’m using this year:

Not By Bread Alone (2013) Lenten Devotional by Bishop Robert Morneau

Holey, Wholly, Holy: A lenten journey of refinement by Kris Camealy

Knowing Jesus Better: 2013 Lenten Devotional from The High Calling

For the children: Through the Cross {Lent Table Cards} from Candle Press

Lent Traditions: Ribbons of Gratitude

For our family: Lent Gratitude Ribbons ~ Years ago, our beloved kindergarten teacher began the tradition of tying ribbons to an old, ugly, chain-linked fence at school. Each day, on the way to the playground the children tie a brightly colored ribbon to the fence and take a few moments to think of a blessing in their lives. By the time Easter arrives, that bare fence has transformed into a beautiful canvas of gratitude. We have adopted this tradition in our own home. Every night we tie ribbons to the iron grillwork upstairs and share something we are grateful for that day.

Do you have special traditions or ways you prepare for the season of Lent? I’d love for you to share.

Love,

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Filed Under: Conversations Tagged With: Lent, Lent 2013, Lenten devotionals, Sabbath

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Comments

  1. AvatarMary says

    at

    Kristin-
    LOVE this message! Today you spoke to me. I am going to adopt your special tradition of ribbons for our blessings. We all need those colorful reminders of the gifts God has given us. Also, I have regrouped my troops for “Sunday Suppers”…i needed the nudge to get back to good food and good family time–thank you!
    Mary

    Reply
    • AvatarKristin says

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      Mary – So glad you like the gratitude ribbons. And that you’ll be joining us for 52 Sunday Suppers. Welcome to the table, friend!

      Reply
  2. AvatarAshley says

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    Love the Lent Grattitude Ribbons…The Coelhos will be adopting your tradition this year. Love you!

    Reply
    • AvatarKristin says

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      Love to you, friend! I have extra ribbon if you want some. 🙂

      Reply
  3. AvatarChristy says

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    Being raised in a southern baptist church, I never observed Lent. I have been happy to learn about the significance of Lent and other seasons of the Church through different blogs, and have been observing it for the past couple of years. Thank you for the resource for children. I was just wondering the other day what was out there.

    “…but this year I’ve thrown the door wide open and begged the season inside. I’ve never felt the solemn time of preparation beckon me so surely, so strongly before. I feel the rhythm of the Kingdom beating, moving me from feasting, to fasting, into the promise of love everlasting.”

    That’s exactly what I’m feeling! Thank you for sharing today. 🙂

    Reply
    • AvatarKristin says

      at

      Christy – Although I was raised knowing about Lent, I really thought it was mostly a long time in which one was forced to give up chocolate. You can imagine my surprise and awe and wonder when I learned as a young adult the beauty of the journey to the cross.

      So glad you are here today!

      Reply
  4. AvatarYM says

    at

    Thanksgiving for your resources. You have a marvelous way of opening the doors to creativity and joy in each liturgic season of celebration. I have pulled the devotional’s from baskets and shelves ready to drawn nearer to to the next 40 days. Ribbons are a wonderful way to “tie” you and yours to symbols of blessings.

    Reply
    • AvatarKristin says

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      YM – good one “tying” it all together. xoox

      Reply
  5. AvatarAshley says

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    You have inspired me and we will be doing ribbons as well. I have posted about this and linked back to your blog! Thanks for sharing! <3
    ~Ashley
    http://www.momma-on-a-mission.com

    Reply
  6. Avatartammy @ grace uncommon says

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    Kristin, I loooooove this. I too feel grateful for the overwhelmingness of all that I have, so much good and yet not enough room for Him. Desiring to practice this season deeper & fuller than I ever have, thank you friend. xoxo

    Reply

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Meet Kristin

Welcome! I'm so glad you're here.

I'm on a mission to love my neighbors. I put an ordinary picnic table in my front yard, painted it turquoise and invited neighbors, friends, and even strangers to hang out and do life together at the Turquoise Table®.

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My little Valentine turns 18!! 🥰💕❄️ Happ My little Valentine turns 18!! 🥰💕❄️ Happy birthday @ellieeschell We love you so much!
Looks like we’ll be snowed in this Valentine’s Looks like we’ll be snowed in this Valentine’s Day! Between quarantine and ice our 💕 plans will feel a bit different this year! 

That won’t keep us from celebrating our #1 Valentine who turns 18 on Sunday! And since I’m feeling nostalgic I’ve rounded up some of our recipes from celebrations past! I bet you find something to make your Valentine’s Day sweet. (Link to recipes in profile)

If you’re in the mood for some serious 💗 inspiration I’d like to introduce you to some extra special and super creative friends! 

@teresa.swanstrom.anderson 
@orangegrovecorner 
@eryn_whalen_online 
@linenandcake 

I’ll be sharing their valentine inspiration in stories through the day! 

In the meantime, I’m grateful for:

grocery store tulips 🌷 
take out 🍱 
upside down pineapple 🍍 birthday cake
homemade valentines 💌
neighbors who bring sweet treats 🍰 

What does your Valentine weekend look like?

#celebratehome #valentinesday #birthday #valentines #chocolatecake #milkshake #celebrate
Have you ever had pashka? A sweet friend from chur Have you ever had pashka? A sweet friend from church — who I haven’t seen in person in ONE solid year— just delivered this traditional Russian dessert. She said she hasn’t hosted a gathering in so long she decided to pull out all her heart molds and make a favorite dessert to surprise her friends.

💕🍰

What a special way to offer hospitality during Covid. I feel sooooo loved and my family will go nuts! 

Now I’m thinking of what I miss making for guests that I can whip up and deliver this weekend. 🚐💌 

What do you miss making? What if we all dropped off some sweet love to someone we miss this Valentine’s Day?!? 💗🥰
💕 Sunday funday making Valentine cards for heal 💕 Sunday funday making Valentine cards for healthcare workers in our community. Our church is collecting Love Letters to send to one of our local hospitals. Such a great idea, right? 

🥰 💌

There’s plenty of time to make some cards and let people in your neighborhood know they are loved! 

#valentines #frontlineworkers #healthcareworkers #love #neighbors #community
Inauguration January 20, 1993. 🇺🇸 I was a br Inauguration January 20, 1993. 🇺🇸 I was a bright-eyed, young Hill staffer, full of enthusiasm for politics, our government, and America. I actually thought I’d be a senator or maybe even President one day. 🤪

I’m more realistic, reserved and battle weary thirty years later. But, I still believe in a place called hope.
Winter wonderland in #atx 🤷🏻‍♀️❄️🙌🏽
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