THE GATE

This is the current picture on my iPad.  I like this picture because the gate is open.  There is no barrier to stop me from going down the path.

 I look at this picture and wonder what could be down the path.  I have always wondered what was down the road.  And the next road.  And around the corner.  Over there.  Down yonder.  It is that curiosity that made me open the atlas and say, “Why don’t we go to Montana?”  And we did.  Then there was, “Let’s go to Alabama.”  And we did.  Bill would say, “Let’s go to Tucson.”  And we did.  We have been blessed to travel many paths.

I like this picture because the gate is open.  There is no barrier to stop me from going down the path.  

I look at this picture and think about the roads of learning that I have taken.  I took an online class on websites and set up websites.  I learned how to put pictures together to make a video.  I tried to get a book of devotions published, but quickly learned so did thousands of other people.  What could I do with my desire to write?  A blog.  I learned to blog.  I learned how to put a stuffed frog on Instagram.  I have learned to google and learn more about what I teach in Sunday School.  

I like this picture because the gate is open.  There is no barrier to stop me from going down the path.  

I look at this picture and remember touching a snake so kindergarten kids would not know I am afraid of snakes and have given messages at churches and chapels, even though I get nervous every time.  I have gone against the school board and I have stood up in court to defend children.  I have gone to hospitals when our daughter or grandchildren had surgery and faced the fear that something might go wrong.  

I like this picture because the gate is open.  There is no barrier to stop me from going down the path.  

I look at this picture and realize there is something that could have been a barrier to travel, learning, and other opportunities.  Yes, the gate is open.  There is no barrier to the path.  Well, nothing to stop me except myself.  But I am not stopping myself.  I am going through the gates life presents as practice.  Practice for when I see the twelve gates of the new Holy City.

And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.

The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.

On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭21‬:‭10-12, 21, 25‬-‭27‬ 

Yup, I will keep practicing going through gates so I am ready for the gates of heaven.  A pearl big enough to make a gate.  Now that I want to see.  Plus those streets.  And …..

‬‬

 61 years ago …. Or was it just yesterday?  

It was Friday afternoon and the time was going slow and then, somehow, it was TIME.  Change of clothes..check.  Shoes..check.  (I made sure on that one twice, because back then I never wore shoes.  More than once I had headed out the door and had to go back to put my shoes on.)  Ring..check.  Then it hit me.  I was getting married.  MARRIED!  Me!  I took a deep breath and we headed to the church.

It was a very, very small wedding.  We did not want a larger wedding.  Just us and our immediate family.  We attended a rural church and, even though it was such a small number, the church ladies had cleaned till the wood shined.  

Dad and I waited until we heard the piano play the “song.”  Somewhere between the first note and the second, using the step-wait-step went right out the window.  We walked toward my future.  

Who gives this woman?  Do you take.  Do you promise?  Love, honor, cherish?    You may kiss.  And just like that I went from a Miss to a Mrs.  

That was yesterday … Or was it 61 years ago?

Time can be deceptive.  A breath can be long, as memories of a sick child come to mind.  A smile can hold for hours, as trips are discussed and roads taken turn into cowboys moving cattle, churches with stained glass windows, and the powerful Bison.  A tear can travel down the cheek, as the joy of holding a new baby enlarges a circle called family.

What has our life held?   Oh my.  There is not enough space to list that.  Let’s just say, our life has held blessings and trials.   

 What will it hold?   I do not know and I do not want to know.  BUT I know that whatever comes, we will get through the trials and cherish the blessings.

Yesterday … Or was it 61 years ago … I said, “I take YOU.”  I would say it again today.

Happy Anniversary Bill.  I love you   

I belong to a group called Memoir Writers.  We meet twice a month and are assigned topics.  A while back, the topic was, either, A STRANGE ENCOUNTER or AN ENCOUNTER WITH A STRANGER.  I thought I would take the easy way out this week.  Hope you enjoy.

AN ENCOUNTER WITH A STRANGER

If mother told me about stranger danger, I did not listen to her.  To me, strangers are a story waiting to be told.  I heard a young man sing to some customers in his grandfather’s restaurant in southern Indiana.  His story?  He was earning spending money to go along with his full-ride scholarship to Juilliard.  I met a single dad, in Hannibal, Missouri, who told me, “I hated Mark Twain.  Every year, I had to write a paper on him.  When I graduated, I tossed my cap in the air and shouted:  NO MORE PAPERS ON MARK TWAIN.”  We then talked about how hard it was to be a single dad, with full custody of his daughter. 

Then there was the time I jumped into a stranger’s car.

I was in Terre Haute, Indiana.  My sister, mother, and I were having a great time.  The meal had been extra good.  The staff never said a thing about us visiting and laughing at family stories.  BUT every good thing must come to an end.  The owner came over and said, “We are about to close.”  Oh my.  We did not realize we had sat and talked that long.  We also did not realize it had rained.

 It was more of a downpour than the word rain would indicate.  The parking lot was flooded.  My car was on the far side of the parking lot.  Sitting there, all by itself, waiting.  My mother and sister agreed, “It is your car.  You can go get it.”  I did not even have a jacket to hold over my head.  What I had was a sweet, elderly lady who said, “My husband is getting our car.  There is no need for you to get wet too.  When he gets here, jump in the car and tell him I said to take you to your car.”  And I did just that! 

The car stopped.  I opened the door.  I jumped in the passenger's seat.  I said, to a very wet, confused man, with eyes that had a deer in the headlights look, “Your wife said you would be thrilled to take me to my car.  She doesn’t want me to melt.  Bless her heart.  My car is right over there.”  He took me to the car.  I told him, “Thank you.”  I got out and quickly got in my car. 

When I pulled up, my mother said, “I cannot believe you did that.”  My sister said, “I can.”

Many years later, I had the opportunity to pay it forward.  Again, I was in Terre Haute visiting my sister.  I was eating breakfast at the Hampton, when I heard a man talking to the lady at the registration counter.  “I have an appointment in 30 minutes and my rental car will not start.  Do you have a taxi service here?”  He was informed that there was one, but no way would a taxi get here in time.  The man looked worried.  He sighed loudly and said, “I have been trying to get an appointment with this company for a year.  If I do not get there …..” 

I finished the last sip of coffee.  I asked where this company was located.  It was about a mile down this street.  I looked at the man and said, “If you will wait for me while I get my purse, I will take you.” 

We walked out to my car and this stranger kept saying, “I cannot believe you are doing this.”  If I am honest, I couldn’t believe I was doing this either.  We arrived with 10 minutes to spare. 

North Manchester and Terre Haute are 186 miles apart, but news travels fast.  I called Bill.  “If you hear I picked up a man in the lobby of the hotel, I did.”

 

 

 SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS

Tell.  Tell.  Tell.  Be the light.  Spread the Good News of Jesus.  BUT …

What do you do when you try and the wheel falls off?  Last week I had 45 emails bounce back.  45!!!  Talk about being frustrated!!!  Those very same email addresses had worked the previous week. I even apologized and sent the blog out again.  Nope.  Still had them bounce back and, now, a few new ones were added.  I had emails bouncing all over the place.    I checked the ones that were from our church or friends.  The others were people I do not know but who want to read my blog or who are too polite to ask to be deleted.  

Why would this happen?  I was doing exactly what the Bible said to do.

He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭16‬:‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I tried.  I failed.  I was frustrated.

What now?  I will try again Friday to send out this blog.  Will there be a glitch again?  Or will the emails make it through?  I have no idea.  If it does, I will work to fix the problem.

Another type of spreading the word is telling family and friends.  BUT what if they do not listen?  What if we cannot get through to them?  What now?  PRAY FOR THEM!!

I often use scriptures and make them personal.  An example is Ephesians 2:1-10.  (Fill in the blank with the name or pronoun of your loved one or friend.)

Lord,________ is dead in _______ transgressions and sins. I understand because I was in the same lifestyle.  I followed the cravings of flesh, desires, and thoughts.  Please put someone in ______ life that will explain the great love God has for ___.  Let ____ find the mercy which will make ______ alive with Christ. Touch _____’s soul so _____ realizes that Christ sees ____ sin and still offers saving grace.  

Lord, let ___________ see the incomparable riches of God’s grace, which was expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. I pray that _________  is saved, through faith, as a gift of God, and discovers ____ was created by God.  

Lord, I pray __________ will hear your Word and turn from the ways of the world and toward eternal life with you.  Please put someone in ____  path if I am not the one to open ____ eyes.

Amen

Tell.  Tell.  Tell.  Be the light.  Spread the Good News of Jesus.  BUT …

What if things go wrong?  (Send the emails again and then work on the problem.  Do not give up.)

What if they will not listen?  (Pray.  Pray.  Pray.  While you pray, accept that it might be someone else that gets through to them.)

FEEDING THE FIVE THOUSAND

 

Jesus had just heard about the death of John the Baptist.   

As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone.   But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns.   Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

 

That evening the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late.  Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.

 

 But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.”

 

“But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” they answered. 

 

“Bring them here,” he said.  Then he told the people to sit down on the grass.  Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them.  Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people.  They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers.  About 5,000 men were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children!

       Matthew 14:13-21 NLT

I like this story, but I wonder what it would look like today.  I can picture …

Peter looked around and said, “Here we go again.  A crowd and I am responsible for the legal stuff.  It used to be so easy.  A crowd came and Jesus healed and taught.  Not now.  I'd better get to it.”  Peter then made sure they had all the permits and checked on local restrictions.   

The news spread fast.  “JESUS IS GOING TO BE ON THE HILL.”  Things started happening!  The local ticket broker printed tickets for the section close to where Jesus would be.  Ticket sales went through the roof.  The man, who had the only porta-pots within fifty miles, loaded them on the flatbed and headed to the hill.  The food truck owners also heard the news.  They took off, paying no attention to the speed limit.  The roads were congested with people walking.  The news reported that at least five thousand men, plus the women and children, were filling the hillside.  The reporter thought it was strange that there was no sound system and no band for an opening act.   

Jesus stepped out of the boat and the crowd became quiet.  He had compassion and healed the sick. Then he began to teach.

Towards evening, the disciples suggested that Jesus end his teaching and let the people go into the town and get something to eat.  Jesus chuckled and said, “Go into town?  Look around, there are food trucks and the Ubers are making so many deliveries they called Grubhub to help.  But sit back and wait.  I have an idea.”

Immediately, the food trucks discovered they were out of food.  The Ubers and Grubhubs stopped delivering.  Their electric cars suddenly needed charging.  Only a few people had gotten anything to eat because 99.9% were hanging onto every word.   

Jesus looked around and asked the disciples, “What food is available?”  

The disciples, still whispering about all the sources for food having shut down, said there were only two fish sandwiches and three extra buns from the golden arches.  Jesus told them, “That is perfect.  Bring them to me.”

Jesus looked up toward heaven and blessed the food.  Then he instructed the disciples to feed the people all they wanted.  The disciples did just that.  They fed the people and had baskets of food left.

= = = = = = = = = = = = =

I love this story and, yes, I let my imagination bring the story into today.  I think this story is told for many reasons.

Jesus healed and Jesus taught a whole lot of people.  These people will go home and tell a whole lot more people.  They would spread the message Jesus taught them and talk about the healings.  The Word of God can spread quickly, if we allow our lives to shine with God’s love and tell Jesus’ story to others.

Men, women, and children came because they were seeking to fill the hole in their lives that only God can fill.  They were hungry for the Good News Jesus was teaching.  They came to be fed.

HE FED THEM!!  Think about that.  He fed their bodies food that had been blessed.  He fed their souls with words from God.  They came to hear this man called Jesus because everyone was talking about him.  They left knowing earthly food fills us only until our next meal, BUT the Word of God fills our souls and lasts forever.

I also think this story was a lesson for the disciples, especially Peter.  Jesus was preparing them to feed his sheep.

A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

 

Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time.  He said, “Lord, you know everything.  You know that I love you.”

 

Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.”

        John 21:17

I have two questions:

1. Do you leave full when you pray, read the scriptures and spend time with Jesus?
2. What did they do with the leftovers?

WAIT QUIETLY, LET IT PASS

I enjoy a coloring app.  It is a time to breathe and step away from the reality of life.  And, yes, we all need to do that once in a while.  This popped up and, since I like frogs, I colored it.  

Then I realized I need to apply this to my life. 

Wait quietly, let it pass.  This is my new motto.  Not easy … waiting is extremely hard.  It requires patience.  It requires trust.  It requires working during the waiting.  It requires faith that God is in charge.  It requires me to take a breath and follow God instead of trying to lead Him.  (Again, not easy.  We try to do it our way first and, when that fails, we ask God to direct our path.)

The quiet part is not easy either.  Quiet means I must listen.  Quiet requires me to realize others have the right to speak out too.  When I do speak up for my beliefs, my one voice can be shut down by the silence of others.  (Please think about this.  Have you stopped speaking out about an issue or stopped speaking up for a cause because no one clicks the like button/leaves a comment?  Have you put your beliefs in the “Sunday only, at church” column?  Do people know what you stand for?  Do you support others when they have the courage to speak up?)

This also reminds me that “this” will pass.  Life is full of “this” thing and “that” thing.  They are temporary and, even during the waiting, I know I am not alone.  I have a God who gives me the strength to get through and family and friends who support me.  (When life is rough.  When you are going through trials, do you feel alone?  Do you ask for support or do you hide your fears and your needs, so others will think you are strong?  Do you know that God gives you strength and is beside you?)

Now, do not read anything into this.  There is nothing new.  I am just thinking about life and realizing I am blessed. 

I'd better get to the working part.  A bed waits to be made, the laundry will not get in the washer by itself, and I do believe there are bills to pay. 

And, sometime this week, wait quietly, let it pass.  In the waiting, we often find the answer and the help we need to be strong.

Have a super fantastic week. 

 

GOD IN A BOX

Our minister asked me where I get my blog ideas.  This week’s blog is because he mentioned putting God in a box.  That got my imagination going.  Going on warp speed.  Faster than Hans Solo could fly.  Or if I quoted Yoda, “Box God put in.”

Putting God in a box would take a bit of effort.  First, you would need a small box.  Why small?  If you used a big box, it would have to sit in the middle of the living room, and you would be tripping over it.  A small box can be stuffed into the back of a closet.  Out of sight, out of mind.

Next, you would have to find bubble wrap and newspaper.  You might want God in a box, but you would want to protect him with bubble wrap.  Another reason for a small box.  In the back of a closet, you would not hear God popping the bubble wrap.  Hey, he has to have something to do while waiting for you to come to your senses and take him out of the box.  The newspaper would be next.  Sticking crumpled newspaper into the corners will keep him from rolling around when you are carrying the box to the closet.

Next, you will need tape.  Not that tape will hold him, but the tape has writing on it.  You will need a roll of tape with FEAR written on it.  Rolls of tape labeled: WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE IT THIS WAY and THE MUSIC HAS CHANGED or LACK OF TRUST. Do not forget the tape that says, “BUT I DON’T WANT TO DO IT GOD’S WAY.”  There are many reasons we can find to secure God in the box.

Now you have all the supplies you need.  Go ahead.  Put God in a box.  We all put him there.  We all have different reasons.  We all have times when our faith dips and we question.  It is hard to go through trials or watch those we love go through trials.  Sometimes we put God in a box because we don’t want him to see our sins or our actions.

Putting God in a box will take some effort, BUT taking him out is easy.  Go to the closet and find the box.  Take it to a quiet area.  Find the scissors of BELIEF, MERCY, FORGIVENESS, and LOVE.  Cut right through that tape.  When you have all the tape cut away, open the box and you will not find God.

You see.  God does not stay in “our” boxes.  He stays right beside us.

 UPDATE:  The girl who was burned is doing much better.  She still has a long way to go and needs prayers and encouragement.  One more round of cards would be a blessing.

 Rosetta Lengacher

9036 W 800 S

South Whitley, IN 46787

USA

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

IT IS ONLY APRIL

I am sitting outside and it feels so good.  A light breeze, blue sky, a few puffy clouds, and warm sunshine.  Oh, how good that feels.  The sounds and the view are special.  The birds are chirping.  The grass is green.  Some bushes are flowering.  I hear a lawnmower.  The trees are getting their leaves.  Yes, a treat to be sitting outside!!!

As I sit here, it is hard to remember:  IT IS ONLY APRIL!  Surely the weather is ready to be nice.  Or is it?  Our forecast: Today and tomorrow, we could have a chance for strong thunderstorms and gusty winds.  OH GREAT.  And a stronger system could move in Monday with renewed thunderstorms, with the potential to be strong to severe.  If that is not a big enough change in our weather, after Monday, there could be a large cool down by next weekend.

I have to keep telling myself, “It is only April.”

This weather is like a wolf in sheep’s clothing.  Teasing with some half-truths (or a few days of warm sunshine) and then, when the wolf has us tricked, he takes off the sheep’s clothing and reveals his true self.

“Watch out for false prophets.  They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.”

     Matthew 7:15 NIV

Be wary of false preachers who smile a lot, dripping with practiced sincerity.  Chances are they are out to rip you off some way of other.  Don’t be impressed with charisma; look for character.  Who preachers are is the main thing, not what they say.  A genuine leader will never exploit your emotions or your pocketbook.  These diseased trees with their bad apples are going to be chopped down and burned.

     Matthew 7:15-20 The Message

 I used the Message because it puts these verses in plain language.  BUT, how do we see beyond the outer skin and see the wolf? Examples are in ( ) to help get you thinking.

•  Listen and think.  —- Think before you agree with everything you are told.  (Just because you believe and pray, you still might not get the job, your mortgage will not magically disappear, and all your aches and pains will not go away.)
• Read the Bible and hold your ministers, teachers, and others in leadership roles accountable.  (I teach Sunday School and tell my class to read and study.  They are responsible for making sure I am teaching the truth.)
• Serve God!  (Serving may be helping at the food pantry.  It may be leading the singing.  It may be anything God asks you to do.  Yes, we are to tithe, but if a church only sees you for the money you can give, that is a church in sheep’s clothing.)

Celebrate the true Shepherd, Jesus, but be on guard.  There are a lot of wolves out there doing their best to take you down the wrong path.

 OUR GAME

Bill and I play a game almost every day.  It is called:  What do you want for supper?  This game has no rules.  Strictly question and answer.

Me:  “What do you want for supper?”

Bill:  “I don’t care.”

Me:  “We had that last night.  It was baked.”

Bill:  “What do you want for supper?”

Me:  “I don’t know.”

Bill:  “We had that Wednesday night.”

Me:  “Oh, right.”

You get the idea?  A good friend says they play this game also.  Being the “ladies of the house,” our job has been to plan meals.  And we are tired of our job.  It is not that we mind cooking.  We are just tired of making the decision on food.  Every day!  For our friend, a few years less, but I have been in charge of this for 60+ years.  Now, Bill had been in charge a few times when I have been laid up, but even then he would ask what I wanted to eat.  If I found a magic lamp, I would ask the genie for a personal chef.

Oh what a wonderful idea.  No matter how the day went, the evening meal would be prepared and placed on the table.  We could just sit down and enjoy!   Anyone know where I can find a magic lamp?

BUT … I wonder if it would get old?  Would I miss cooking?  Miss the challenge of making a meat loaf?  Would they make mashed potatoes as good as Bill does?  Would they know how to make cooked carrots with orange marmalade?  Would they cook green beans or serve them only dipped in hot water?  Would I still enjoy the meal if I put no effort into it?

Maybe this is how I treat God.  I want him to give me all the blessings — peace, strength, joy, comfort, healing — without me lifting a finger.  I’ve been a Christian for a whole lot of years.  Do I still have to pray, read the Bible, serve others, walk away from sin, hold family, friends, church family, and even strangers in my heart and prayers, and give thanks?  Do I still have to put in the effort?

I know the answer.  The answer is yes, I do.  I have to put in the effort.  I have responsibilities in my relationship with God.  Those responsibilities are no less now than they were the day I accepted the sacrifice Jesus paid on the Cross.  

BUT, if you do know where there is a magic lamp with a genie, I will allow beauty pageant contestants to wish for world peace.  I will go for a personal chef and sit down and enjoy supper.

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