A BOY, A HORSE, A DAD

I never know what is going to be said in Sunday School class.  One minute, I am in control.  Next, we are going down a “rabbit” trail.  BUT sometimes, sometimes that trail ends in a totally new lesson.  And I love it when that happens.

Romans 13 has been interesting.  We have talked about how we are to submit to the government.  We talked about how - no matter how much I didn’t like this discussion - the speed limit is the law.  Drat!!!  Here, I always said speed limits were a suggestion.  The class laughed.  They often laugh at me.  That is what makes this class special.

They care and the discussion can change from laughter to compassion in an instant.  Or it can change to a rabbit trail that teaches a lesson.  I love those moments the most.  When a person tells a story and an idea pops into my head.  Just like the time …….

Claud had been to a horse sale.  The horse, being sold, was a workhorse.  A big workhorse.  This horse was being led by a small boy.  A boy who was much too small to be leading this horse around a sale ring.  The auctioneer was calling for bids.  It was a noise the horse was not used to.  People were talking loudly about the bid, about the horse.  Again, it was a noise the horse was not used to.  There were strange lights and people moving around.  The horse was getting nervous.  The boy was too small to control the horse.  The rope came out of the boy’s hand.  The dad was there.  The dad grabbed the rope, and the horse settled down.

Claud ended his story with the comment, “That boy was too small and was not strong enough to hold the rope.”  It was then that I saw another picture.

“Do you see it?  WE are the little boy.  The HORSE is life.  The FATHER is Jesus.  We are holding onto our lives.  There is noise pulling life in one direction.  There are bright lights that make sin look inviting.  It is hard to hold the rope.  It is hard to hold on.  No matter how hard we try, trials make us loosen our grip.  Voices in our head tell us we are wrong ….  worthless.  Our grip loosens more.  It will only take one more thing and we will no longer be able to hold on.  The rope is slipping.  Life … Life is winning.  And at that moment, when we can no longer hang on, a hand reaches around and takes the rope.”

Unless the LORD had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death.  When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, LORD, supported me.  When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.

     Psalms 94:17-19

A strong hand takes our rope.  Life is tamed.  There is a way to live … live without fear … live knowing we are never alone.  Live knowing the hand holding the rope is strong.  Strong! Stronger than our fears.  Stronger than the noise of life.  Stronger than the pull of sin.  Stronger than the voices in our head.  And all we have to do is let Jesus take the rope.

PARTS OF PSALMS 116

I love the LORD, for he heard my voice;  he heard my cry for mercy.

Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.

I was overcome by distress and sorrow.

Then I called on the name of the LORD:  “LORD, save me!”

The LORD protects the unwary; when I was brought low, he saved me.

Return to your rest, my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.

For you, LORD, have delivered me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the LORD in the land of the living.

Praise the LORD.

HOW DO I KNOW?

I looked into the empty tomb.  We were walking the Stations of the Cross and I was the last to look into the tomb.  Yes, the burial cloths were there.  Yes, I knew this was not the real tomb.  BUT, at that moment, I had something the women and disciples did not have.  I had the whole story.  I knew why he allowed himself to be placed on the Cross.  I knew why he suffered.  I knew why he cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).  And I knew why Jesus was taken from that tomb and why, shortly after that, he went to be with his Father.

BUT how did I become so sure?  It started when I was young.  Although my parents did not go to church with us, my brother, two sisters, and I went to Sunday School and Worship.  Later, we went to the youth group.  I heard the basics, the normal children’s stories, and painted a cross, but did these make me so sure?  No.

If I didn’t become sure by attending church, what happened?  My grandmother happened.  She could not stay by herself in the winter, so she came to live with us.  She shared a bedroom with my older sister and me.  We absolutely loved her.  And she read her Bible every day.  Not occasionally and not quickly.  She read slowly.  Reading a verse over if she did not understand.  Her Bible was never far.  It was close enough that she could reach it when her hands were tired from crocheting.  It was close enough to read before going to bed and when she woke up.  When she could no longer read, she recruited us kids.  We read verses after verses.  Sometimes it was a chore.  We had to read those books with all the names.  We had to read all 176 verses of Psalm 119.  She knew if we tried to skip even one verse.  As I watched my grandma, I saw faith.  A faith stronger than I ever saw at church.  An absolute faith!  But did that make me 100% sure?  No.  As much as I wanted to believe without question, I still had doubts.  It seemed like Jesus was for adults and children were to settle for Bible stories.

Until one Sunday.  I do not remember how old I was, but I know it was around 8.  I was sitting in church, by myself.  I don’t know where my sisters and brother were sitting.  We rarely sat together.  Hey, we were normal kids.  What kid wants to sit with their siblings?  Anyway, that is not important.  Maybe the part about sitting by myself is important.  If I had been sitting with someone, I might not have been focused on the message.  I might not have realized …..  But I was focused on the message.  I was focused when they asked if anyone wanted to come forward.  In that moment, I became the only person in that church.  In that moment, I realized it was all true.  I realized faith was for my grandma.  I realized faith was for me too.  In that moment, my very soul shouted AMEN and I stood up.  I walked forward and knelt at the altar.  I bowed my head and accepted Jesus as MY SAVIOR.  Yes, He is the Savior of every person in that church, but I finally realized for me, too.  For ME.

Do I still wonder why Jesus had to die on the Cross?  No.  He had to die for my very tiniest sin.  Even if every other person in the world were perfect, Jesus would have died to save my soul.  Jesus had to die to save the souls of Mary Magdalene, his mother, Mary, the other women, Peter, Matthew, John, Saul/Paul, and you.

When you look at the Cross, do not only see a suffering Jesus.  See a love so bright it will shine from the soul of every believer?

HAPPY EASTER

SURPRISE

How long can a minute be?  I wanted to walk out the door, but the Sabbath was not over.  I had not stayed at the tomb to weep.  The Sabbath would begin shortly and I had to go home and wait.   I have wept.  Tears that came from my very soul.  Now I wait.  Will it ever be dawn? 

Everyone saw me as a danger, except him.  It was not my fault that I was possessed.  Then I met Jesus and he cured me of seven demons.  Can you imagine having seven demons controlling you?  Others saw my actions.  Jesus saw my soul.  Jesus … Jesus changed my life.  I joined some other women.  We followed and supported Jesus and the disciples.  Now we would serve Jesus in one more way.  We would anoint his body with spices and perfumes.

The sun is coming up!  I can go now!!!!!

Turning to the other women, I asked, “How will we move the stone?  Maybe some of the disciples will be there.  I would think they would be there.”  One of the women shook her head, “They are hiding and we will have to keep watch.  The chief priests and the Pharisees convinced Pilate to put guards at the tomb.”

I look around at the other women.  Each has their own reasons for loving Jesus.  Each had been changed from how society saw them and how Jesus saw them.  —  How do I explain being a woman?  Young women are cared for by their parents and very few have control over their future.  As wives, we are chattel.  We are to serve our husbands.  As widows, we are fortunate if we have sons who can and will provide for our needs.  At each stage of women’s lives, they are told they are worthless.  They have no value.  And then Jesus …..

Jesus looked into my eyes and I saw … I saw love.  How could Jesus, the Son of God, love me?  I looked again.  I saw love.  I saw a love that would last an eternity.  I saw a love that said I was valuable.  I saw a love that said I had worth. 

As we approached the tomb, we became quiet.  Each woman was trying to stay strong.  Each woman was ----- In an instant, my heart skipped a beat.  THE STONE WAS ROLLED AWAY!  Slowly – each step taking me closer – I looked into the tomb …….

SCRIPTURES USED – As you read these scriptures, you will notice each has different women at the tomb.  I have used Mary Magdalene and tried to put myself in her place.  As you read these scriptures, really think about the women who went to the tomb.  What would they have felt?  What would they have been thinking?  Were they afraid?  Were they confused?  How much courage would it have taken to make that walk to the tomb?

Matthew 27:62-66 and 28:1-10 , Mark 16:1-8, Luke 8:2 and 24:1-12, and John 20:1-18

TO BE CONTINUED

WHERE DO WE GO?

When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw how he had died, he exclaimed, “This man truly was the Son of God!”
     Mark 15:39

Jesus died on a cross.  Even a centurion realized Jesus was the Son of God.  Even a centurion realized this was no ordinary man.

Jesus was not an ordinary man, but he was dead.

JESUS IS DEAD ….  WHERE DO WE GO?

JESUS IS DEAD.  Jesus is dead and we are devastated.  What now?  We were not prepared for this.  We had thought ……..  Jesus is dead.  Where do we go?  We thought he was the way to the Father.  We thought ….  Jesus is dead.

We had walked beside him, as he carried his cross.  We heard him talk with God, as he hung on the cross.  We thought ….  But where do we go?  What will they do with the body?  We thought …

Just a man.  BUT the centurion had seen the truth.  He now knew Jesus was the Son of God.  He knew he would have to forever live with his part in nailing Jesus to the cross.  He had heard, “Father, forgive them.”  He had thought this was just a man, but now he knew the truth and he wondered..

Joseph was a man who faced reality.  Jesus was dead and the body needed to be buried.  Would he be allowed to take Jesus’ body and lay it in a tomb?

It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath).  So as evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body.  Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead.  Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died.  When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph.  So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock.  Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.  Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where he was laid.

     Mark 15:42-47

I have taken great liberty as I tried to put myself in the place of the centurion.  I do not know if he would have driven the nails.  If not actually driving the nails, he would have been watching.  BUT once he realized that Jesus was the Son of God, he would have been changed.  He would have hurt as the nails were removed.  He would have wondered why Jesus did not save himself.

I wonder if he found the answer to his questions.  Did the centurion seek an answer?  Did he discover that God allowed his Son to die so he could have eternal life?  Did he celebrate when he found out that the tomb was empty?

I also took liberty when trying to understand how those who loved Jesus, those who walked beside him, those who watched him hang upon the cross felt.  BUT it came to me that they would be confused.  What now?  They had not understood when Jesus told them all this would happen.  What now?  Where would the body lie?  How would they get the spices on the body?  Where would they go?  Going home seemed ….  empty.  Jesus is dead.  What now?  They could not go back, back before they knew Jesus.  BUT how do they move forward?  Jesus is dead.  What now?

TO BE CONTINUED

Please remember to send cards to the girl who was burned.  I wrote about her in last week's blog. Thank you for bringing her joy when she receives your card.

    Rosetta Lengacher

    9036 W 800 S

    South Whitley, IN 46787

    USA

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE CENTURION

 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”

                  Mark 15:39

 Just another man.  Just another crucifixion.  Just a few nails and a hammer.  Just … another day.

The centurion had watched as Jesus was beaten.  He heard the remarks.  He heard the sarcasm when someone called him ‘King of the Jews.’  The centurion was confused.  When the crowd yelled, “Give us Barabbas.”, Jesus was silent.  Why had he not proclaimed his innocence?  He did not yell at those beating him.  One time he did talk to the crowd, as he was going toward the place called the Skull.  He did not try to remove the crown of thorns.  Jesus was entirely different than any man he had seen crucified.  The centurion began to realize this day was not a normal day.

The centurion continued with his duties.  Others cast lots for his clothes.  People walking by made fun of Jesus.  He heard Jesus talking with the thieves.  He heard Jesus talk to his mother.  He heard Jesus cry out and then cry out again.  It was as if he were calling on God.  He called him Father.  And then …

And then Jesus died.  The centurion felt the earthquake.  He saw Jesus die.

With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.  The temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom.  And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”

This was not an ordinary day.  The darkness and the earthquake had never happened during a crucifixion.  The temple curtain had never torn from top to bottom.  No one, on a cross, had ever called out “Father, forgive them” and “Father, into thy hands”.

Jesus died on a cross.  Even a centurion realized Jesus was the Son of God.  Even a centurion realized this was no ordinary man.

Jesus was not an ordinary man, but he was dead.

(To be continued.)

IN AN INSTANT

Plans.  Oh, how we make plans.  Oh, how plans change in an instant.  Life changes in the time it takes to breathe in and breathe out.  Life is so quiet this side of that breath and frightening and chaotic the other side.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

Matthew 25:34-36

This week I am not writing a blog.  Instead, I am asking you to invite a stranger into your heart.  I am asking you to shower a young girl with cards.  A young girl whose life changed in the instant a gas grill blew up and burned her from her head to her knees.  I do not know Rosetta Lengacher, but compassion comes from our hearts and does not require we know a person firsthand.  I am asking you to do two things:

First, please pray for this young Amish girl as her body heals.  Pray for those who are changing the bandages.  Pray for the family as they watch a loved one suffer.

Second, because of the painful recovery, I would like us to put some joy into her life by sending Rosetta a card or letter.  Our hope is that cards will lift the spirits of this young girl.  Cards from people she does not know and cards that show that the love of God extends from doors across many states and from doors around the world to her door.

The parents have given us permission to use her name and address, as we join together to support a stranger, a child of God.  Please send cards to:

    Rosetta Lengacher

    9036 W 800 S

    South Whitley, IN 46787

    USA

THANK YOU.

PS: If your church has a prayer chain, please have them post information on the card shower.

THE LORD NEEDS IT

You came home long enough to drop off the groceries and then you will be off to have lunch with a friend.  Looking out the window, you see two men getting ready to take your car.  “Hey! What are you doing?  That is my car!”

The one man says, “The Lord needs it.”

“Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden.  Untie it and bring it here.  If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’ ”

Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them.  As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”

They replied, “The Lord needs it.”

     Luke 19:30-34

“Almost done.  I need candles and everything on my list will be marked off.  Now to go home and finish the preparations for Passover.”  Looking up from your list, you see two men waiting.  Waiting as if they are waiting for someone, but they don’t know who.  They turn and see you holding a shopping list.  “We have a need for a place to hold Passover.”

“If you get in my car, I will take you to the room above our garage.  It is all furnished.  You can make preparations there.”

Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.  Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”

“Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked.

He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you.  Follow him to the house that he enters, and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’  He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished.  Make preparations there.”

They left and found things just as Jesus had told them.  So they prepared the Passover.”

Luke 22:7-13

Wow!  What trust.  Off goes the colt.  A room offered immediately.  Would that happen today? Are we so different from the man with the colt and the man with the room?  What would you do?

BUT — (all true examples)

• A boy began to pass out blankets to the homeless.
• Many pay for other’s meals.
• A stranger listened as a 15 year old vented about life.
• You were headed home and a stranger stopped to help when your car broke down.
  A co-worker, having a rough day, received a compliment which changed her day.
• A police officer sat with a mother, whose son had died, for a couple of hours until her other child could get home.
• The woman was struggling with her sacks of groceries when a stranger offered to carry them.
• A paper boy shoveled the snow for an elderly woman.

These examples could go on and on.  “The Lord needs it.”  This does not only apply to a colt or a room.  It applies to our daily lives.  We just have to open our eyes.  We have to change how we look around us.  Does someone need a blanket?  Food?  A friend?  How can we provide?  

The Lord needs it.  One of God’s children needs it.