What started as an ember which seemed to be snuffed out, Is quickly revived by the breath of God. He whispers His true amazing grace to those who would believe. His Spirit fans the dying light and inspired it with faith. The dwindling glow renews once more, turns into a raging fire. The fire spreads across the globe, invading time and space. It won’t be diminished by the screams of those who believed it didn’t exist. Even though the evidence is right there in their face. Some days it seems the light of the world has lost Its luster, But all it takes is one miniscule ember, with the breath of God inspired, To reignite the world and show the way to the truth everlasting.
The people crowded across the expanse just surrounding the Mount of Olives. Jesus would give His final instructions to those who claimed to be His followers. The place was covered with thousands of men and even more women and children. Ears waited patiently for those treasured words. This Rabbi from Galilee was gaining popularity and notoriety all at the same time. The crowd had been there for some time, and were growing hungry. The feeding of the 5000 was an example to all who were present of the provision of God in all situations. Some were there for the food. Some came to see another miracle. Most of them were influenced more by His Words. They were words of hope in a time of poverty, oppression, foreign rule and need.
Jesus spoke about loving one another. He made a list of those who would be blessed in His kingdom – not a worldly realm, but one in His own home – heaven. He would be followed in a few days by many of the same crowd, but they would be among those who would cry out for His death. The power of popular opinion and mass hysteria might have something to do with it, but it was all part of God’s amazing plan of salvation. Jesus knew what lay ahead. He knew the suffering He would undergo. He knew people would hate Him, spit on Him, whip and shout obscenities at Him, but He also knew that it was part of a greater plan. He endured all of it, because He loves us so much.
As we prepare for Jesus’ triumphal entrance into Jerusalem, let’s thank our God for providing the perfect sacrifice for our forgiveness and praise Him always as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Grungy wooden reality check sign on a sign post against cloudy sky
With all that’s occurred in the past two years, it’s no wonder that there’s more mental illness, depression and anxiety. The number for young people needing counseling has risen at alarming rates. Those individuals from 15 to 24 years of age, show that suicide ranks as a leading cause of death.
It makes me wonder about the reality of these stats and what can be done to change them. I know from my own reality, that adolescence is one of the toughest stages of life one must endure. Hormones are raging – self-image is in the pits – bullying was happening even in those long ago days.
Conflicts surrounding a teen are immense. They hear and learn something at home which is in direct conflict with what they’re being taught in school. The moral issues, the gender issues, the political influences, the society norms they try to live up to, the peer pressure, the inability to find their path – and the list goes on and on. We oldsters could put the blame on the fall of the family unit or technology. We might say that lack of respect – inappropriate behavior – decline of morality – all the stuff that we were required to do as teens. The fact is each generation is faced with conflict the minute they leave the safety of their own homes. Many don’t have that family base to begin with, with marriages breaking up, blended families, unmarried couples, and again the list goes on.
I’m certainly not going to expound on the psychological reasons for this. I’m not equipped to do that, but I do know some basic things that will set the stage for dealing with raising teenagers. I was one. I birthed three of them and I’ve enjoyed being a grandmother to three. Those events don’t make me an expert, but if they can be of help to young families out there, they might squash some of the depression kids face today.
From day one, let your child know that you and the rest of your family loves them. It’s a known fact that children who are held securely in the arms of a family member will feel safe and secure. They will also experience the love you’re giving to them.
As they grow into toddlers, allow them to explore their surroundings, but be nearby to make sure they stay safe. That doesn’t mean you hover over them or overprotect them. Be involved in their learning what is right and wrong. Let them know there are consequences to wrong behavior.
When they leave the safety of your home, be prepared for lots of questions and be able to answer them. If you don’t know the answer, let them know that. They will soon learn that you aren’t perfect. Don’t look at your children as if they were your buddies. They are your responsibility – a gift given by God for you to care for at least 18 years or more. As a gift, you treat them as that, but they must show you respect, and you must also deserve it.
Teach your kids that everyone is accountable for their actions. The Golden Rule – treat others as you wish to be treated – try to see their point of view – teach them to find solutions to problems without conflict – show them what teamwork is.
You don’t have to involve them in every sport, competitions, musical endeavor or the performing arts. You don’t have to overload them with extra-curricular programs that often interfere with a task at hand.
If you are a believer in God, the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, you will find so many references to parenting in the Bible. It is the perfect manual for good parenting.
In a world that is filled with so much violence, hatred, disobedience, lawbreaking, placing blame on others, we must prepare our kids to face the reality that exists out there and give them the tools they need to be kind, open minded yet accountable, confident, and poised for any situation. That begins in the home and must be nurtured throughout their lives – even when they no longer are in your care.
Be available – love them – realize you are building strong character in those who will one day rule the world.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise),“that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:1-4
Retire, they said. It will be fun, they said. You are free to go anywhere, do anything and scratch things off your bucket list, they say. Who are “they” and I’ll bet they’re not retired? Traveling today isn’t easy, no matter what your age.
If you’re flying, you have to arrive two hours prior to your flight. You must sit and wait until your flight number is called. Once on the plane you’re asked to buckle your seat belts and given instructions for surviving a crash. You are then told to wait again while the air bus waits its turn for take off. Your in the air for a couple hours, praying you won’t have to remember those crash instructions while white knuckling the arm rests. When you arrive, you go to collect your baggage. You watch as several suitcases go round and round, trying to locate your own. Too bad you have the same color luggage as everyone else. You decide to wait until everyone else retrieves theirs’, hoping the last one will be yours. You wait at the curb for your ride to pick you up or trying to flag down a taxi. By the time you reach your destination, you’re exhausted. What could have been a three hour road trip has turned into a five hour panic attack.
The same is true of relying on other forms of public transportation. It’s always a waiting game. During that time you size up the crowd of passengers you might be seated next to. You notice the most unappealing of them all. You assume that person is a serial killer or worse and pray again that you will never see them again. You watch as sticky fingered, snot covered little ones tug on your leg and ask to sit on your lap. You retreat to the restroom.
When we get older we have a lot of issues when we travel. We pack differently than when we were twenty. For example, our toothbrush is now accompanied by a plastic container for our teeth. We pack Depends instead of bikini briefs. We include outfits that will cover our aging arms and legs. We add an extra pair of spectacles, a separate suitcase for our medications and a slew of word game puzzles.
We also don’t move as quickly as we used to, so we may include a cane, a neck pillow, a brace of some kind, a walker or any other device to help us navigate. When we run out of breath getting from one plane or train to another, we sit down to catch our breath only to miss our connection.
Traveling by car is fine for the short trips, but as we age we often need to make more stops than the average person. We need to stretch our arthritic legs, use the rest room, get a snack or lunch. When planning a road trip remember to include those stops into your itinerary. It may take longer than you thought, but you will be thankful that you did.
Each day seems to etch a new line onto my face. With all the junk going on in the world it’s enough to make one look like a prune. Actually, a prune was once a flawless plum with tight, shiny skin. Maybe wrinkles are just a result of drying out. I prefer to refer to my wrinkles as laugh lines, because that’s what most of them were caused by. I’ve always been good for a laugh. I love corny jokes. I prefer comedy over drama and the sound of laughter is delightful to me.
There are days when we just have to laugh at our circumstances. Not every day is going to be perfect. We aren’t always going to be happy. All our dreams may never be accomplished. I suppose we could just pack it all up and throw in the towel. A lot of folks do just that. They give up!
God doesn’t want that from us. He wants us to be refined by our troubles – to be crafted into a fine masterpiece. Some of us will be polished and smoothed while others will be shriveled and beaten up, but the point is that He’s constantly reshaping us – smoothing out the creases, straightening the path we walk, and making even the ruts and bumps along the way.
I expect that all my wrinkles will be gone when I get to heaven, but then no one would recognize me. I guess it doesn’t matter what I look like as long as I have an eternity to spend in a perfect place. Life can beat us up or lift us up. It’s our choice. As for me, I’m happy to have the ability to laugh – even at myself. Think of the alternative.
Proverbs 17:22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Jesus spent His final days talking to his disciples about what was about to soon take place. It had to be difficult for them to understand. They knew His purpose here on earth, but why did He have to die? They were willing to do anything to make that disappear. Sitting at their Savior’s side during the time of His ministry, they must have known what was coming – or did they? For the past three years He had made known the lessons of life from day one – Creation – which He was a part of. His mission was established at the time to crush the head of Satan and destroy the sting of death.
I think it must have been very confusing for His followers though. The thought of this man suffering deep humiliation and finally a brutal death had to be terrifying for them. Even when it was over and Christ revealed Himself as the risen Son of God, there were those who doubted. I’m sure I would be the same if I had lived in that time. Any time a new teacher came to them, they believed it might be the promised Messiah, but Jesus was just like them. He wasn’t anything special from a kingly standpoint. He was ordinary – not extraordinary. He lived a life a poverty without a house to call His own. Yet He reached thousands of people with His words and nuggets for living a God pleasing life.
As we reflect on the events of the next coming weeks, I pray that minds will be awakened, and the truth will be made known to all. His death was imminent, but His resurrection gave us all victory over death. His return to life is our insurance of eternity in His heavenly kingdom. His last days were just the beginning.
I was expecting the birth of my second child on the lst of April, but he fooled me and was born on April 3rd. That is the only April Fool’s Day prank I remember and my son had nothing to do with it. Do you recall some of the pranks you played on this day as a child? The only one that comes to mind is saying something untrue and make it sound true.
Guess what? That happens every day, not just once a year. Shakespeare used the character of the fool in many of his plays. His fools are usually clever peasants that use their wits to make those of higher social standing look foolish. We think it’s funny when we can outsmart someone who should know better.
“The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.” As You Like It – Shakespeare
Practical jokes can be fun, but they should never be done to humiliate or belittle someone. However, what we think is funny, may not be to someone else. The Bible has plenty to say about fools as well.
“Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.” Proverbs 18:2
Even one of our presidents had something to say about fooling others.
“You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.” Abraham Lincoln
The definition of “fool” includes a long list of synonyms such as, idiot, ass, halfwit, nitwit, nincompoop, blockhead, buffoon, dunce, ignoramus, imbecile and many more.
Apparently this whole April Fool’s Day began way back in the 1500’s when Pope Gregory changed the Julian calendar to the Gregorian Calendar. Hhmmm, sounds a little narcissistic to me, but I digress. There was confusion because the dates were changed and it took most common folk a long time to get used to change.
Kind of like today. Change is difficult. April 1 was originally the first day of the new year. I guess I’d get confused too. It isn’t really known when the source of the pranks occurred, but as time progresses, the pranks can be fun or they can humiliate. As you decide how to trick someone today, keep in mind the fact that this isn’t really April first at all. It’s New Year’s Day.
When I feel attacked from all sides, when my motives are questioned, when my life seems like it’s going nowhere and when troubles seem to be piling up higher than I can possibly handle, how do I go on?
There are so many examples of people just like us in the Bible. There were the very wealthy, the physically disabled, the poor, the emotionally and spiritually challenged, those who felt no hope – people just like us. Their stories can help us face what we’re going through.
God didn’t just send extraordinary people into the world to show His power. His writings about the average guy, with typical needs show up throughout His word. The Bible is filled with the struggles of many of heroes like David, Samson, Solomon, Moses and the greatest One, Jesus. There are also stories of those struggling with loss, like Job – or those who wait for just the right moment to do the will of God, like Esther – or a prostitute named Rahab who became part of Jesus’ lineage. We are all special in God’s eyes and He has plans for each one of us. All we need to do is trust and have faith in His will for us.
Ransack the scriptures for the answers you need. They indeed are the word of God Himself.
There’s a whole lot of groveling going on in the Old Testament. The Children of Israel continued to make the same mistakes over and over and over again. It’s easy for us to see where they blew it – how they strayed from God’s promises – fell victim to foreign gods – tried to fit into different societies as they moved from place to place – fell to peer pressure – were bullied for their beliefs – and much more. The prophets of old were constantly preaching the wages of sin and the woe and misery that would befall this nation. Sometimes they listened. Most of the time they were much like us and followed the path chosen by them.
We point fingers and say how foolish they were, but as we do this, remember that three fingers are pointing back at us. We easily succumb to the world and its temptations. We are bombarded daily with stories of no respect for human life. We see disgruntled people settling their differences with violence. We allow our leadership to say and do things that compromise our safety and morality. There’s no end to the evil in this land. We put political correctness at the forefront not standing up for what we believe in. We allow evil to take the place of good and don’t bat an eye. We’re surrounded by quotes about being kind to each other, but people continue to become brutally harmful with their words and actions.
The New Testament is also filled with people issues like bigotry, hatred, martyrdom, anger, self-absorption, narcissism, cheating, unethical and immoral behavior and kindness seems to be a thing of the past. These are signs of the end times, but actually they’ve been going on since the first human beings thought they were as good or better than their Creator. Obedience and respect for Him went by the wayside, giving way to jealousy, hatred, guilt, anger and all the other evil actions we continue to participate in.
God came up with a perfect plan for our redemption. He knows the plans He has for each of us. They may not be for us to attain success or wealth; they may mean we will suffer infirmities and illness. Life will not be a perfect journey. Everyone will face challenges on the way, but when God’s people returned to him – no matter how often they groveled, He forgave them. Did that give them free reign to go and sin again? Well, they did and so do we. We sin every day – in our hearts and minds as well as our actions. When we see the beauty of God’s redemption plan, our mindset changes. We become focused on Jesus and His example for living – receive the Holy Spirit through baptism and God’s Word – and honor God, the Father for His amazing grace.
Maybe it’s time to get down on our knees and do some serious groveling.
Lord, You are in control of our lives. We ask that you intervene in the hearts of men and bring them back to you. You are our only hope in these troubling times. Amen!
When bruised and injured we do fall, before our Father’s throne And look upon the lamb once slain for all sins to atone, Our pain is nothing next to His, our wounds are all but naught. The blood He shed, His torturous death were all with insult fraught,
But still the Son of God went forth in dignity and strength, He took our place and bore the cross until His dying breath, Three days went by, He shunned the grave and rose to life again. He did this so I too could claim a life in heaven with Him. Sweet Jesus you have walked the road that I deserved to go.
You did this oh so willingly and You knew just what to do So when I’m feeling battered and pulled in many ways, Remind me of the walk you took and please accept the praise.
If I knew the exact time, day, year and hour when I would die, I certainly would be in preparation mode. At my age, I should have thought about things like wills, final wishes for my funeral, songs I wanted sung, a burial place, a prepaid funeral. With a lifetime of ups and downs, those things should be of the greatest importance, right?
If God was your Father and He sent you on a mission to take on human flesh, live as one of us, observe life in all its forms and never sin – if He ordered you to suffer brutally at the hand of the Roman government, have yourself exposed to crowds of mockers, liars, and those who one week prior were hailing you as the King of the Jews – if He expected perfection of you as the unblemished lamb to sacrifice for the sins of all people – if you knew this was your destiny – how would you fill your final days?
Jesus knew His time on earth was coming to an end. His disciples were still in the dark about His real purpose. All the events that were to follow on that first Maundy Thursday would only add to their confusion. They’d run away from Him. One would betray Him and another deny Him before the night was over. Before all this happened Jesus tried to explain what was about to happen. He spent His final weeks as He had all along, by healing people physically as well as spiritually. He preached to monumental crowds who were eager to hear His message of hope. He provided for those who came by feeding them with an impossible meal. In other words, He followed His orders to completion and did so willingly because of His love for us. He served as a perfect example for us to follow.
He became a slave by washing the feet of His disciples. He served them the final meal they would share together before His death. He told them what was about to happen, because He is God and knew precisely what the course of the final days would be.
This is what our King Jesus wants us to do. We’re not to lord it over others with our Christianity. We’re to become like Him, serving in humility. So how would you react if you knew the time of your death before it came? Would you give up and just wait for it to happen? Would you begin a marathon of wild and reckless behavior – eat, drink and be merry? Would you get your affairs in order so your children don’t have that responsibility? Jesus knew every detail of His death. He also knew the outcome of that sacrifice. He was fulfilling God’s promise of salvation for all humanity. He knew it would be worth the price.
Live every day as if it were your last, because we don’t know when our final hour will come – but live it with the promise fulfilled that you have been purchased and won by Jesus, God’s own Son. With that in mind, continue living by sharing God’s amazing grace with others. His will is done!
The leaders of the Sanhedrin were becoming more and more enraged by this new rabbi, Jesus.
The leaders of the church were becoming uneasy. Who was this man who claimed to be from God? They knew what was written about the foretold king. He was supposed to finally release them from their oppression. He was going to come in majesty and destroy their enemies. They were looking for another warrior king who would provide them with a worldly victory.
To them, this simple man from Nazareth was nothing more than a lowly carpenter who spoke of love and peace and associated with the riff raff of society. To them His words were nothing but blasphemy, but to those who know Him as the true Savior of the world, He is the fulfillment of each prophesy ever penned about Him.
He came to save all sinners – everyone. He came at the perfect time in history. He lived a life without sin. He is the Lamb of God. He is the King of heaven and earth. He has liberated us from the troubles of this world and given us peace. He gives us the promise of a life in paradise with Him. He takes care of all our earthly needs. He protects us from the slings and arrows of Satan. I praise God that He loved us, as unworthy as we are, and that He shed His blood for us. He then conquered death and gave us that same eternal life that he possesses. He has given us the victory!
I’ve decided to use Saturdays to bring a laugh or two to my audience. In these perilous times we certainly could use something to lift our spirits.
When I as a young girl, still living under my parent’s roof, I always wondered about those labels that appeared on mattresses, pillows, furniture, etc. and why they proclaimed in bold letters, “DO NOT REMOVE UNDER PENALTY OF LAW.” I’m sure you’ve seen them. I wondered how they could possibly enforce such a law once the product got into your possession. My mother took it even a step further. She was convinced that if she ever removed one of those tags, she might be spending time in prison. When one of us was going to remove one, she went ballistic. She ran to the windows and closed the drapes, making sure that no one had observed this crime in progress. My mom was a saint, but she did some really funny things. I think I may have inherited some of her DNA.
Those tags are not easy to remove. I know – I’ve tried. OK don’t rat on me! They’re usually sewn into the fabric and once you cut into the stitches, you’re releasing the seam and all the stuffing comes falling out, leaving the cushion lifeless. Could that lead to a criminal offense? Like label homicide?
As we get older there are so many things that are difficult to remove, open or lift. Take those gallon jugs of juice, milk or whatever. Even the mouthwash bottles come with childproof (and senior proof) tops. I’ve learned that if I want to rinse out my mouth, the top better not slip back into its original position or it might take me a day to reopen it. Pill bottles are much the same. In the hope of preventing mishaps for children, the manufacturers have made them impossible for us old fogies to open as well. Then there’s clothing. I’ve noticed that many shirts now are label free, which is great in my opinion. Those nasty little tags can become a nuisance so I would generally cut them off, which made it even more uncomfortable. Besides, now everyone can see you are a size 2X through the shirt you’re wearing. It’s easy to understand why us old folks get so crabby at times.
I must admit that efforts have been made to solve some of these problems for us elderly. For example, there is a contraption that’s supposed to help you reach something that’s situated out of your reach. Nice try, except if you’re reaching for a bag of flour, it might be too heavy for you to lift. Have you ever seen a white haired, white faced, flour drenched, older woman? It’s not a pretty picture. Actually, I contrived my own resource for opening bottles that seem impossible. I have an old metal nutcracker in the junk drawer that works great. I hate to admit that I’ve tried and failed at many of these situations, but it sure makes for funny stories.
Jesus and Nicodemus discussing rebirth through the Spirit of God in the book of John, Chapter 3
I’m amazed by the extraordinary stories of how people come to faith in God. Many of them have been extremely inspirational and demonstrate the zeal of their faith. My story is different. Some might even find it boring. I’m a Christian. I ‘ve been one since my baptism as an infant. I went to Christian schools through high school. I was confirmed in my faith when I was 13. I married a Christian man with high morals and a love for God which I had not yet experienced, despite my long connection to the church. It took me a long time to really understand who God is and how He has changed the course of my life over time.
I was the child that always followed the rules, but in my mind, I never felt good enough to be saved. I always felt that there was something more I should do or say or believe. My dad was very strict and often downplayed my importance so you might say I was verbally abused, but he was doing the best he could. He had no father figure in his own life, so didn’t understand how to be one. I looked at God the Father as I looked at my dad. I was sure I would never have a solid relationship with either of them.
In my younger years, I saw hypocrisy in the church. People would go and worship on Sunday and live totally different lives during the week. I saw my church build into a business rather than a house of worship. I saw a lot of human error, but later realized that we can only do God’s work with Him as the CEO. The minute we get in the way, corruption occurs. The pastor of my youth was a “fire and brimstone” preacher, and I was always terrified that I would spend eternity in hell. The fact that he spoke from a raised pulpit, put the fear of God in my soul, but not in the right way.
I’ve never experienced the vivid feelings of exhilaration or enthusiasm that I hear from new Christians. It’s always just been there for me. Many years and many churches later, I’ve learned that wherever the Word of God is taught, God is there. It really has nothing to do with us or our feelings or any kind of extraordinary revelation. God is there. For me, the journey has been one of slow and steady growth. I know that I’m a work in progress and the work won’t be completed until I join my Creator in heaven.
I believe that God crafted me before I was even born. He knew that I would have difficulty with my weight. He knew that I would have a dad that drank too much and used words to put me down. He knew that it would take me years to rely on Him and that didn’t matter. He knew that even though my self-image was in the pits, I’d one day feel beautiful and useful to Him. He also chose the right people to put in my life. I didn’t have a “born again” experience. I’ve had a “lifetime” experience being crafted by my Creator. God has whittled away at me – carving each little bit of my character – punching at the clay to form my life into what He wants it to be. He has given me challenges which I can now use to help someone going through the same difficulties. By creating a free will in me, He has also given me the ability to choose what I believe. I choose Jesus. I will die knowing that He is my Savior and King. I pray that I have a few years left to share how Jesus has woven His way into my heart – how He has mingled hope in times of despair – how He has held my hand when I was unsure – how He carried me through life threatening moments – how He continues to hold me on the last leg of my earthly existence – how He can make a real difference in the lives of those who don’t know Him yet.
Disclaimer – this is not the original artwork. That is long gone.
Funny things happen to me all the time. Either that or I’m not all there and everything just seems funny.
My youngest daughter brought an assignment home to finish for her art class. It was made of paper mâché and when it dried completely, she was able to paint it. She was very proud of her work. It was really cute and she put extra effort into making it extra special.
Everyone turned in for the night and the little paper mâché sculpture sat unconcerned on the kitchen counter.
It was one of those nights when I semi-woke up and wandered aimlessly into the kitchen. I wasn’t fully conscious. This wasn’t unusual since I was often found sleep walking. The house was dark. There wasn’t a sound to be heard except the growling coming from my stomach. Even though I was in a dream state, I felt the pangs of hunger.
My hands reached out in the darkness and landed on the dog art. Slowly I lifted the innocent victim to my lips. I opened my mouth and my eyes. It looked like dark chocolate, but it didn’t smell like it. It didn’t smell like anything. My pearly whites wrapped themselves around the morsel and bit down. It was one of the most disgusting things I’ve ever tasted. I immediately woke up, spit the tidbit into the garbage, rinsed my mouth out with water and went back to bed.
The next morning, I was sharply awakened by screams coming from my youngest child. I ran to see what happened and there she was with the decapitated dog in her hand. I had a hard time explaining the truth to my family and to her teacher. I had eaten her homework, but looking back, it was one of those funny things I was talking about.
This event took place over 40 years ago. But we still laugh about it. Finding humor in unlikely situations can make you look like a real idiot or it can help you keep your sanity.
The parables of Jesus are recorded in the first three books of the New Testament. There were countless stories that Jesus used to illustrate something He was trying to teach those who came to hear His words. He was a master storyteller, because He has been with humanity from the beginning when the world was first created. His wisdom and knowledge are key to these relatable stories.
His mother, Mary undoubtedly was a storyteller as well – instilling this ability in her Son as He grew from a small child into a young man. I can envision Jesus sitting on her knee as a small boy, listening to the adventures of Joshua, Elijah and Moses. Each of those stories were presented to the young so they would eventually pass them on to their sons and daughters. What a precious gift they were giving to descendants to come.
When Jesus began His ministry, the world was dominated by Roman rule and culture. Foreign gods were everywhere along with differing opinions on the Holy Scriptures which had been repeated for years. Jesus often used parables – or stories which pertained to things most people would understand, but with a heavenly meaning that could be applied. Wherever He traveled, people came to see His miracles, but more importantly to hear His stories. He spoke about farmers, servants, the rich and poor, family situations, opposition to enemies, submitting to the governing bodies, charity, love, peace, wealth, position, marriage, contentment, hope and sin. The message of sin was something they didn’t want to hear. No one likes to be reminded of bad behavior, but it was a necessary message – one that would lead to His promise of salvation. Without knowing the cost of sin, there would’ve been no need for this Savior.
All of His life, Jesus saw the difficulties of everyday living. People lived in squalor. Life was endured day by day, with very little sustenance. He saw the injustices of the governing officials – the changes that occurred in the temple square as merchants sold their wares – the use of ritual becoming more tradition than God’s requirement. He saw the effects of demonic possession, the sins of adultery, lust, theft, murder, betrayal and denial. He was surrounded by every deadly arrow Satan had in his quiver.
All His stories had a meaning, but His own story was the best one of all. He was fulfilling every prophesy written about Him in the Scriptures. He was the promised Messiah, the Son of God and man, the suffering blameless lamb who took the sins of the world to the grave. The final chapter shows us His victory over death when he rose again on the third day. In the end, He won and because of that, we win too.
We are the beneficiaries of these stories that have endured the ages. Every time we open our Bibles, we experience the greatest love story ever told. Now it’s up to us to pay it forward by sharing it with others!
And they said to Joshua, “Truly the Lord has given all the land into our hands. And also, all the inhabitants of the land melt away because of us.” Joshua 2:24
The image above depicts what our landscape looked like a couple days ago. Within just a short period of time a snowfall of six inches, added to what was already on the ground. In just another short span most of that snow had melted. It looked like we were going to be blessed with an early spring. Living in Minnesota, we know that it can snow all the way into May, so even though folks were donning their shades and flip flops, we knew it was only temporary. Last night the spring rain turned into snow and here we are again, with a fresh slushy snow on the ground. It seems like a kind way for God to water the earth that was scorched by drought last summer. Snow melts slowly and delicately nurtures the soil.
Before Joshua and the army of the Israelites circled the walls of Jericho, the people within those barriers were said to be melting in fear. They had seen the army of this large band of people, and it shook them to the core. The spies that returned with news of the city of Jericho could tell that the people were terrified of God’s army. So much so that they melted in fear.
As we watch the newscasts regarding the devastating war that seems to escalate each day in Ukraine, I can’t begin to imagine the fear that these people are experiencing. Not only is the population being forced from their homes, but men, women and children are losing their lives. The fear must live within those on both sides. For those carrying out the unprovoked terror ordered by a power-hungry man it must be equally difficult for them to follow those orders. As these events progress without outside help, we see fear controlling even the strongest of people.
Fear is almost as destructive as the weapons being used in this battle. I’m sure that’s why heads of government use the tactic of terrorism when the wage their battles. Getting into the mind of people and manipulating them to live in fear of death, danger, hopelessness is vicious warfare indeed and quickly causes folks to lose their faith. It’s a magnified form of bullying at the cost of innocent lives.
It’s hard to see God’s hand in any of this, but He is there. He has a purpose for everything that happens in this life. It is far better that He is in control, because He already knows what the outcome will be. His love for all people, indicates that He wants to bring everyone back to Him. Even in the face of the most horrible things, we can take courage in the fact that Jehovah is in charge. His promises are always kept. His plans are always for our good. He loves us more that we are worthy to be loved. He sacrificed His only Son to atone for our sins. We have eternal life because of that. We also have the inheritance of His kingdom.
Our fear can melt us, but with God as our Champion, we will always win the victory. I call that a generous gift from Him – a slow melting of our hearts in submission to Him alone.
As I reach the end of my years, I find I have a lot of good information stored up in this old decrepit mind of mine. If I don't write it all down, it may vanish and no one will have the advantage of my thoughts. This is why this blog exists. I love the Lord, Jesus with all my heart and soul. I know I'm undeserving of all He's done for me, but I also know that His love is beyond my comprehension.
I've always wanted to write. I never kept diaries, but tucked my thoughts in my head for future reference. I use them now in creating stories, plays, poetry and my blog.
I continue to learn every day. I believe the compilation of our time spent with God will have huge affect on the way we live. I know I'm a sinner and I need a Savior. I have One through Jesus, Christ.
My book, "Stages - a memoir," is about the seven stages of life from the perspective of a woman. It addresses all the things girls and women go through in life as they travel it with Jesus, and it is available on Amazon.com.
Life is a patchwork of moments — laughter, solitude, everyday joys, and quiet aches. Through scribbled stories, I explore travels both far and inward, from sunrise over unfamiliar streets to the comfort of home. This is life as I see it, captured in ink and memory. Stick around; let's wander together.
God's amazing grace removes walls and replaces those barriers with Jesus, freedom from sin's consequences, freedom to forgive, and freedom to love unconditionally.
atimetoshare.me 
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