Friday, November 29, 2013

BACK JANUARY 10, 2014

If you read my blog and wonder where I have been -- nowhere.  I love writing the blog and would do it even if no one read it, but occasionally even something you love to do can become work instead of fun.  That is where I am right now. 

Sooooo – I have given myself permission to take a blog vacation instead of feeling guilty because I haven’t written anything.

I hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving and pray you have a blessed Christmas.

Mary

Friday, November 08, 2013

COMMUNION

As I held the bread, it hit me. Stronger than usual. Jesus ate bread. He was in a human form - a human body and he got hungry. He got thirsty. He needed to sleep. He felt pain.

Jesus knew what rejection felt like. He knew what it felt like to have family and friends not believe him. He knew what it was like to have leaders in the church disavow him.

Jesus knew what it was like to be tired. He knew there were times he just wanted to be alone. Jesus knew what it was like to have people always wanting something from him.

Jesus knew what it was like to need to talk to God. He knew what it was like to pray and to feel forsaken by God. By His Father!

Jesus knew what it was like to smile and celebrate. Jesus knew what it was like to see someone stand tall, be healed and to believe. Jesus knew how it felt to have a child sit on his lap and how it felt for a leper's hands to touch his. Jesus knew how it felt to teach others to carry on.

Jesus knew how it felt to be praised with shouts of Hosanna and how it felt to be sent to the cross with shouts of Give us Barabbas.

As I held the cup, it hit me. Stronger than usual. The Blood of Jesus - a direct line to God. Blood that was shed for my very smallest sin. Blood that takes my sins and permanently attaches them to this side of the cross.

Blood that washes me so clean that I can travel through the cross and continue my life in the presence of my ALMIGHT GOD.

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SCRIPTURE: ISAIAH 1:18

Come now, let us settle the matter, says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

AND NOW

How do you feel during communion? What do you think about? Have you ever had to train someone to take over your job and wonder if they would do it right? Jesus knows how you feel. He had to teach/train the disciples to carry on his job. Have you ever had family or friends not accept who you are or what you believe in? Jesus knows how you feel. The people in his home town told him to leave.

Do you ever feel like there is never enough of you to go around? Jesus knows how you feel. Someone always wanted Jesus to turn water into wine, heal the leper, get rid of demons or bring back the dead.

Do you ever just want to go off alone? Jesus did. He went to the garden. Do you ever feel like God has forgotten you? Jesus felt forsaken by His Father!

You get hungry. Jesus got hungry. You like to laugh. Jesus liked to laugh.

You feel unworthy because you are a sinner? Well, welcome to the club!! We all are sinners and we all are unworthy. But that is on this side of the cross. On the other side of the cross we are washed as white as snow.

LET US PRAY (Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.)

Bread and wine, the body and the blood of Christ. Thank you Jesus for coming in a human body so that I know you understand how I feel. You ate, you laughed, you loved. Then you died on the cross for me so my sins could be washed whiter than snow. Then you arose and are sitting on the right hand of God telling Him all about me. Thank you. Amen

Friday, November 01, 2013

HOLIDAYS AND CELEBRATIONS

Halloween is almost over. Many communities postponed trick or treating because of the weather which means those little ones will be knocking on doors tonight.
Don't ya love this cartoon? Out with the pumpkin and get ready for the turkey.
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This time of year seems hectic because one shelf has candy left from Halloween and across the aisle the Santa hats are already out. Each year the turkey and Thanksgiving receive less and less shelf space. A few napkins, a stack of paper tablecloths and a fall candle for the table are sitting in boxes, in the middle of the aisle, so they can quickly be stashed away on November 29. So much for Thanksgiving.
When did celebrating Thanksgiving shrink? Yes, we still get together and expect a huge meal of turkey, dressing, green beans, mashed potatoes and gravy and all that topped off with pumpkin pie, but then it quickly falls apart. That big meal, which took hours to prepare, has to be consumed between the parades and the ball games. Of course, the family no longer sits around, letting their turkey digest and telling stories on this crazy aunt or that unique cousin, because the stores are open.
What does Thanksgiving mean today? It means CHRISTMAS SHOPPING BEGINS!
SCRIPTURES
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. Psalm 100:4
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God, acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire." Hebrews 12:28
AND NOW
The pumpkin is right. The turkey is next. Thanksgiving is next. As you plan holidays and celebrations, don't forget Thanksgiving. Why not start a list now. Each day list something you are thankful for. Come Thanksgiving you will realize just how blessed you are and you will be excited to celebrate.
LET US PRAY (Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.)
My God, with reverence and awe, I say, "Thank you." Amen