GOD COMES TO US!

GOD COMES TO US!

You know how you hear something over and over? Over and over to the point that you quit listening or just no longer hear? And then all of a sudden you hear. You actually hear and get it. This happened to me a couple Sundays ago.

We were attending church in Durango, while on vacation. The minister was giving a very good message and said, "God's choice is to be with us!" My soul heard and I thought, "What? God's choice is to be with us. I thought it was the other way around. I thought it was our choice to be with God."

I thought about this and searched the scriptures.

TODAYS SCRIPTURE

But the Lord God called to man, "Where are you?" Genesis 3:9

After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward." Genesis 15:1

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. Matthew 3:16

As he (Saul later named Paul) neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. Acts 9:3

I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride, beautifully dressed for her husband. Revelation 21:2

GOD COMES TO US!

Now how could I have missed this? I am sure I have heard this before and I have read all of these scriptures. This time I looked at them differently.

God walked in the garden. That in itself is amazing to picture. God strolling around looking at the trees and listening to the birds. Maybe checking out the baby buffalo. Then calling out to Adam and Eve, "Where are you?" Give me a break. God knew where they were and what they had done, but he still wanted to be with them. God came to the garden to be with them! Did you get that God came to find Adam and Eve?

Abram, later called Abraham, received the word of the Lord in a vision. The word came to Abram. Came to him to assure him God was his shield and above all, God was Abram's greatest reward. Did you get that the word came to Abram?

Jesus was baptized by John and the Spirit of God descended. The Spirit came down like a dove. Did you get that the Spirit came down to Jesus?

Now Saul was a man with a cause and that cause was to kill these new Christians that believed in that Jesus guy. Saul was determined. Determined until a light from heaven flashed around him. Did you get that the light came from heaven to Saul?

I love the last scripture. What a vision this creates. The Holy City. The new Holy City coming down out of heaven from God. A city beautifully dressed. Did you get that the city came down from heaven to us?

Now how could I have missed this? I am sure I have heard this before and I have read all of these scriptures. This time I looked at them differently.

God loves us so much that HE came to the garden. HE came in a vision. HE came like a dove. HE came in a burning bush. God loves us so much that HE will come in the New Jerusalem. God's choice is to be with us.

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

Are you ready for God to come to you? When you hear God say, "Where are you?", are you prepared to say, "Here I am. Please spend some time with me."

LET US PRAY

Today talk with God and thank Him for wanting to be with you. Thank God for being there in your joys and in your trials.

OUR HOPE

OUR HOPE

(Today, there will be no comments, questions or scripture after the pictures. Look back over the last two posts. Please take time to feel these pictures. Put yourself there. Then read today's and finish in your own way and in your own time. I hope you have been blessed by my telling you about my experience. If possible, go experience this yourself.)

Our church took a field trip to The Shrine of Christ's Passion, at St. John, Indiana. What a moving experience. www.shrineofchristspassion.org

As I looked at the Stations of the Cross, I noticed three very import things, the Roman Soldiers, the hands of Jesus and our hope.

I was going to tell you about this in one blog, but have decided to make it a three part experience. This is part three on our hope.

The first part on the soldiers and the weight of the cross was hard to witness, write and read. The second part on the hands of Jesus was easier to witness and gently touched my spirit. This part is our joy. This part is our hope. This part is the empty tomb!

 

A MOTHER'S GOODBYE

 

READY FOR BURIAL

OUR HOPE

 

THE EMPTY TOMB

 

ALIVE

 

OUR RISEN LORD

THE HANDS OF JESUS

THE HANDS OF JESUS

Our church took a field trip to The Shrine of Christ's Passion, at St. John, Indiana.  What a moving experience. www.shrineofchristspassion.org

As I looked at the Stations of the Cross, I noticed three very import things, the Roman Soldiers, the hands of Jesus and our hope.

I was going to tell you about this in one blog, but have decided to make it a three part experience. This is part two on the hands of Jesus.

Unlike the pictures last week, the pictures this week are much easier on the heart. Yes, Jesus is carrying the cross, but he is encountering believers or being given assistance by a stranger. But first, Jesus prayed in the garden.

THE HANDS OF JESUS

 

JESUS PRAYS IN THE GARDEN

 

MARY KNEELS BEFORE HER SON

JESUS STANDS TALL BEFORE HIS MOTHER

 

SIMON OF CYRENE IS TOLD TO HELP CARRY THE CROSS

 

VERONICA OFFERS COMFORT

 

 

REACHING OUT TO THE WOMEN OF JERUSALEM

Did you notice the veins standing out on Jesus' hands, as he prayed in the garden?

Did you notice the look on the face of Mary? I had trouble walking away from this one. Mary must have been feeling such deep grief. But Jesus stood tall for her. He stood tall so she would understand that this was to be.

In the other pictures, did you notice Jesus always put his hand out to those helping him? His hand went out to Simon, Veronica and to the women. Even during this painful, agonizing journey, Jesus gave comfort.

TODAYS SCRIPTURE: MARK 14:35 - 36

Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. "Abba, Father," he said, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

Have you ever said a prayer so intense that your hands were gripped as if your life depended on the outcome of your prayer? Have you felt the hand of Jesus reaching out to you?

 

DID YOU TAKE HIS HAND?

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

Dear Jesus, When I pray, I want my prayers to be honest. True. I want my prayers to be sincere. O Lord, hear my prayers when I place my deepest fears, my greatest joys, and my sincere petitions into your care. Thank you for giving comfort to those that had the courage to step out of the crowd and give you comfort. I pray that I can be a Veronica, a Simon or a believer. Strong enough to answer the call for help, as Simon did, or as brave, in my faith, as Veronica and other believers that stayed by your cross. Amen