JOE: TALKS AND KEYS

JOE

Joe and I worked auctions together. We packed out houses. We set up sales. We laughed and talked and laughed some more. Joe was the go-to-guy during the auctions. "Joe, could you go get a sheet? Thanks." "Joe someone is going through other peoples stuff would you go tell them to stop?" "Joe…" "Joe…"

We had an agreement: If one quit, so did the other. One day Joe told me he was not going to hold me to that agreement because he was ready to quit. You see, Joe's health had started to fail and, being a STUBBORN man, he would not go to the doctor. Among other health issues, he lost his eye sight. One of the ways Joe coped was to distance himself from people. I regret that I allowed him to do that. I should have been stubborn and kept calling.

TALKS

I just loved talking to Joe. He told me all about his "froggie." He loved Becky and his family. I told him about my family.

Being the same age, we talked about good old rock and roll music. We rarely talked politics. We often discussed religion.

Joe told me about Viet Nam and my heart broke with his memories.

Joe talked about fishing and being out on the lake.

We talked whenever we had a break and I sure did miss him when he quit.

KEYS

At the graveside service, all I could picture was Joe's keys. He had a set of keys that would open just about every door, drawer and cabinet imaginable.

"Hey, Joe, this drawer is locked. Think you can open it"? And out came the keys. He would eye the drawer. Size up the key hole and look at his keys. Sometimes he picked the right key the first time and sometimes it took more than one try, but almost always Joe would have a key that fit.

I realized Joe had used his final key. I picture him going right up to those gates and saying, "I know this is the key to eternal life."

I picture those gates swinging wide as Saint Peter says, "Yes, Joe, you have the right key. Come in."

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QUESTION:  Do you have the right key?

STRIVING TO SURVIVE

I attended a women's conference and they closed with a poem Keys to the Kingdom, by Regina Elliott. (seasonsofhopeministries.org) The poem began:

We are living in a world consumed with much distress,

People are on every hand discouraged and oppressed,

Questioning their existence, the reason they're alive;

Living without purpose - just striving to survive.

Wow! Is there anyone who has not felt like that? Just striving to survive. We were awakened by just such a person.

At 5:15 AM, we heard someone knocking on our back door. When we looked out the door, there was a young woman standing there. We did not know her so we only talked to her through the door. When we asked what she wanted, she was incoherent. We did understand, "I know someone who lives here." and "I'm sorry." Over and over, she kept saying, "I'm sorry."

We had options. We could have opened to door. That was not an option. (Such a distrusting society we have become, because it could have been an act. Another person might have been hiding, just waiting for us to open the door.) We could have told her to go away and turned out the light. That was not an option. The option we chose was to call the police. Maybe they could help her. She was coherent enough to leave when my husband told her that we had called and the police would help her.

Just as she was walking away from our home and into a neighbor's yard, the police came. They talked with her. We later saw in the paper that she was 22 and arrested for public intoxication.

Living without purpose - just striving to survive.

How lost do you have to be to knock on a strange door, early in the morning and have no idea where you are. What discouraged and oppressed her so much that the only relief she could find was in a bottle? Is the only reason she is alive is to take the next drink? Living without purpose - just striving to survive.

As we watched the police talk to the woman and then assure the officer that she had not been trying to break in, my husband kept saying, "That is someone's little girl." He felt such compassion as he watched a lost child being taken away in the back of a police car.

When we went to the police station the next morning, the officer said he could not give us any information. Thankfully, we live in a small town, because the officer understood our concern and said, "I can tell you that she is in a place where she can get help." Those were comforting words but the picture of "someone's little girl" dwells deep in my husband's heart.

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Just striving to survive. Is there anyone who has not felt like that? BUT there is help when our burdens are so big.

Jesus came to help with our burdens.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30

All you have to do is go to Him. He will not talk to you through the door. He will open His arms and share your burden.

PINTREST

As I strolled around Pintrest, my eyes were drawn to these three works of art.

So many emotions came flying at me when I saw this painting.

Wild on the left, soft on the right.

My eyes moved to the right side and, although the tree was bare and dark, a feeling of peace rested there - as if the tree knew the storm was over. The colors are soft and easy to my eyes. As my eyes moved to the left, the personality of the painting changed. Calm was replaced by blowing wind, tumbling clouds and colors that removed the calm feeling.

My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare. Psalm 25:15

What a perfect scripture for this! I am the tree and I may be bruised and battered after the "snare" no longer has me, but I am calm because my eyes are on the Lord.

Now this is amazing!!! Thanksgiving Chapel in Dallas, Texas.

When I saw this my eyes followed the spiral to the center. I marveled at the way the light reflected. How the center looked like a perfect jewel. I envisioned a prayer being lifted to God.

I lift up my eyes to the hills -- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2

I lift up my eyes -- My eyes so often lift up. I look up to watch hawks fly and clouds drift. I look up when I seek help.

Totally alone but completely relaxed!

When I saw this picture, it took my breath away.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

Can you feel the peace in this picture? The calm in the reflection? It is as if God is saying, "I am here. Do you want to talk now?"

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What do your eyes see?  Where do you find reminders of God?

WOW! WHAT A RIVER

Yes, I have a big imagination and it has been fun putting my imagination to use. I hope - no I pray - my imagination and words have encouraged you to read the Bible differently. To understand the Bible is more than words. The Bible is God. The Bible is people. People who, although they lived long ago, were no different than you and me. They were struggling. Sometimes they got it right and sometimes they did not. They wanted healing of the body. They needed healing of the soul.

I want you to use your imagination one more time to picture this scripture.

WOW! WHAT A RIVER

(REVELATION 22:1-6)

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

The angel said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place."

Jesus died. Jesus was buried. Jesus arose from the dead. And he did all this so you - so everyone who believes - will have a journey through the grave into eternal life. They will see his face ……The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people.……………Amen

SAYING GOODBYE

(based on Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24:1-10 and John 20:1-2)

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all wrote on the women going to the tomb. Amazingly, they all told it differently. Matthew says Mary Magdalene and the other Mary. Mark agrees but adds Salome. Luke finally gave the women names and added Joanna and others. John has only Mary Magdalene going to the tomb.

My imagination thinks more than one but -- be it one, two or many -- going to a grave would not have been an easy journey. Can you hear their conversation as they go?

"Walk with me up the path to the grave. Be beside me as we go to prepare the body. Each step is hard. I know I should hurry, but I am so afraid," says Mary Magdalene.

Mary replies, "We all listened as Jesus spoke. His voice was always so sure. So calm. To know I will never hear his voice again breaks my heart."

"The grave is closer now," Salome adds. "I wonder how we will roll away the stone. We have the spices and perfumes. We will attend to the body, of Jesus, with love and respect. But how will we roll away the stone?"

Joanna whispers, "We are almost there."

Can you picture these women? No longer saying a word. Each lost in their own thoughts. Each wondering what will happen. Each fearing the answer to the question, "How can we go on?"

Mary looks at Mary Magdalene and gasps, "There is the grave. I don't understand -- The stone is rolled away. The body of the Lord Jesus is not here. Where is my Lord?"

Do not be afraid. Remember everything Jesus told you.

He has risen!! He has risen!! He has risen!!

IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU

The women made a painful journey to the grave of someone they loved. This was not an easy walk. They did not want to reach their destination. They did not want to say goodbye.

It could happen to you. No, it will happen to you. This is one we all must face.

Bottom line: Death is going to happen.

It is a hard walk to the cemetery when a parent dies. When a spouse dies. When a child dies. When a friend dies. It is a painful journey.

Please go back to the women at the tomb. Watch as they finish their journey.

Jumping up and down and with a smile which filled her face, Mary shouted with joy, "Why did I not remember? The man simply asked, 'Why do you look for the living among the dead?' "

Turning first to one woman and then the other, Mary continued, "Remember what he said? 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' Of course our Lord is not here. HE IS ALIVE! HE HAS RISEN!"

My friend, the journey is hard but the journey ends not on earth but in heaven. Jesus died, was buried and rose from the dead so you - so everyone who believes - will have a journey through the grave into eternal life.

Remember John 14:1-4 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."

He has risen and Jesus, the Son of God, is waiting to welcome you to eternal life.