Monday: Change Cheaters and Children

The temple was full of people.  The outer courts was a busy place.  This is where they sold sacrifices and exchanged the money that had images of emperors and kings, with the Tyrian type of currency. This was the only kind of coin acceptable in the inner courts of the temple.  The businessmen had a good racket going on.  The Jews that brought their own sacrifices to the priests were told that they were unacceptable and had to buy new ones.  The priests would then resell the unacceptable ones to other people.  In order for the Jews to pay their taxes, they forced them to exchange their currency for the Tyrian kind.  The money changers would then charge them an unfair exchange rate.   They then charged the priests a high rate to exchange them back for the Roman coins.

Suddenly a loud noise disrupted the activity.  The people saw this man Jesus begin to overturn the money changers' tables!  He knocked over the benches of the people selling doves, and began to yell, "My house is supposed to be a house of prayer...and you are making it into a den of robbers!!"  The people looked at one another in amazement. Some began to whisper  and move silently away.  Others stayed close to Him.

After a time, the blind and lame began to make their way to a now calmer Jesus.  He gladly healed them.  Some nearby children began to shout, "Hosanna to the Son of David!"  The Pharisees who had been keeping a keen eye on this enigma, said to Him, "Did you hear what those children are saying?"  Jesus looked at them and replied, "Yes.  Haven't you ever read, 'From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise.'?"  Jesus was speaking about one of the psalms.

The priests and scribes silently walked away.  They had a feeling this man was going to be trouble.

Palm Sunday: A Path, A Palm and A Promise

The crowd was thick.  They were lining the sides of the path to Jerusalem, straining their necks to get a glimpse of Him.  The One who would save their people.  This Jesus from Galilee was on His way to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration.  He had performed so many miracles...this simple carpenter from Nazareth!  Who would have thought it possible?

Here He comes!!  He was riding on something...what was it?  A donkey?  Why didn't someone give Him a great steed to ride?  This was almost embarrassing.  The least they could do was make the path more comfortable.  Some threw their cloaks down  for the colt to walk on.  Others began cutting palm limbs from the nearby trees.  That was appropriate...palms were a symbol of victory, of triumph.  This Jesus must be the Messiah to bring the Romans to their knees!  Finally, they would be vindicated!  Their countless years of torture and pain were coming to an end!

Here He is!!  Nothing especially handsome to look at...but no matter...He had to be the Redeemer that God had promised so many years ago.  They had been waiting for so long.  Even though His demeanor was unassuming, surely He would get tough when it came time to fight.

They were so excited, they began to sing a song of praise, "Hosanna!!!  Hosanna!!  Blessed is he, who comes in the name of the Lord!"  The people looked at each other and smiled with joy.  Things would never be the same again.

Riding Shotgun

I call shotgun! Since I can't drive, that's the way it is.  I get to be the co-pilot; the sidekick; the partner; the support system.  With my husband and my friends, that seems to be the pattern.  It may seem less than satisfying to some, but I don't mind...I'm in pretty good company!

See if these names bring a sidekick to mind:

Fred and _______
Laverne and _______
Lucy and _______
Andy and _________
Tom and ________
Batman and ________
Sonny and _____

In the rules of kickdom, the sides always support their partner....they do what they can to lift them up, and encourage them.  Their job is to help bring out the best in them.

Do you ride shotgun?  Did you know the Bible encourages us to be a sidekick?  1 Thessalonians 5:11 tells us:  "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."

So many people feel invisible.  They feel as if they do not make a difference.  Maybe their jobs are not in management, and they don't get to call all the shots.  Maybe their lives seem out of control, and they feel they have no voice as to what happens to them.

We may not always get to choose what happens to us, or where we're going...but we always have a choice on how we treat the people that God places in our paths.  The people that He gives us to partner with in day to day activity...whether that be family members or co-workers.  We are all called to be encouragers.  We are supposed to hold each other up and bring out the best in people.  We are called to be a sidekick.

So when you feel like you are an Ethel and want to be a Lucy....remember...Lucy would not be as funny without Ethel; Fred would be nothing without Barney (how many of you thought "Ginger"?) ;)  Laverne only lasted one season without Shirley; Andy would be lost without  Barney (no relation to the previous Barney);  Tom would be chasing his tail without Jerry; Batman would be half a superhero without Robin; and Sonny without Cher?  Well...you saw what happened there.

Ride shotgun....encourage someone in Jesus' name today!!

Broken and Blooming

The other morning, when I took the dogs out, I noticed a sweet smell coming from somewhere close by.  Our avocado tree was blooming profusely.  It really surprised me, as last year, there was nothing.  The previous year's crop of avocados was so large, that it literally broke our tree.  It was so heavily laden with avocados that the branches could not hold up under the strain of them, and many branches were either broken or dead.  That was months and months ago.  Finally, it is beginning to bloom again.

Isn't that like us, at times?  We become so heavily laden with the burdens of life that our souls become broken from the strain...and at times, they seem to die.  To look at us, our lives are a mess.  Brokenness and barren limbs everywhere...no signs of life to the naked eye.

But God is always at work.  He is living deep inside, waiting for us to hand our heavy burdens to Him.  Jesus is always there to renew us and refresh our withering souls with the Living Water of His Holy Spirit.

Do we carry reminders?  Yes, we do.  But through the deep remnants of our battle scars, there is a sweet smelling bloom of new life beginning to form.  A lovely fragrance that rises up to the heavens  as incense to our LORD, glorifying Him and thanking Him for His ever present faithfulness.

Matthew 11:28-30  “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.”

The Empty Mailbox

                                                                                      

Confession time.  I love Charlie Brown.  Even as a child, I did.  Perhaps, like many others, I felt that I could relate to him...an underdog of sorts.  (No pun intended, Snoopy.)  Every year I would watch Charlie look in that empty mailbox for a Christmas card, or a Valentine...and nothing.  Poor Charlie.  It was so sad that he could not see how special and lovable he was.

Today is Valentine's Day.  For some reason, this year I am more aware than ever, of how many people out there that are feeling just like Charlie.  They don't have a 'special someone' to get all "hearts and flowers" over.  They feel very alone, and, like Charlie, wonder why "we have to have a holiday season to emphasize it".

Valentine's Day is all about love.  We use hearts, lace and flowers to symbolize it, but in reality, those aren't exactly the correct images to use.

History tells us that Valentine was a priest who lived in the third century.  He lived under the rule of Emperor Claudius the second.  Claudius devised an edict that young people were not allowed to be married.  He felt that soldiers fought better if they didn't have to worry about a wife and family.  Valentine thought differently, and secretly performed marriage ceremonies.  He was caught and imprisoned, and eventually, beaten, stoned and decapitated for the sake of his stand on Christian marriage.  Just before his death, he had written a letter, that was delivered to a friend's daughter. That is where the term, "from your Valentine" came about.  Hardly Hallmark material.

True love is a wonderful thing...but to believe that it is all roses and sunshine, is unrealistic.  It is hard work.  It is a day to day choice of loving someone despite the circumstances that surround us. True love involves sacrifice.  We don't think of ourselves first.  We make our choices based on what will benefit the ones we love.  This applies to the person we love, our children, or even our friends.

The book of John tells us about real True Love.  John 15:13 tells us, "Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."  Sacrifice.  Death.  Christ gave the ultimate sacrifice for us.  He loved us that much.  When we feel like Charlie Brown...alone and unloved...remember that.  You are unique and special and loved.  Loved enough to die for.

New Beginnings

As my black eyed peas are soaking…I’m sitting here reflecting on what New Year’s Day means to me.  It is traditionally, a time to say goodbye to an old year, and embrace the new.  It is a great time for new beginnings.

For some reason, January 1^st has had a few life changing events associated with it in my lifetime.  Not only did it annually signify a new year, it brought some sad goodbyes and the most important decision I would ever make. 

Thirty five years ago today, my grandmother passed away.  Growing up, she had such a profound influence on my life.    The traditional grandma who always had an apron with big pockets, and sensible shoes; she always had a hug waiting in her arms and a cookie in her cookie jar.  That unexpected goodbye was a sad one.

Eighteen years ago today, my daddy died.  He had suffered from lung cancer, and that goodbye was, although extremely sad, was also a blessing.  He was a loving father, and a sweet grandfather to our children.    

But New Year’s Day doesn't entirely hold unhappy memories for me.  It is also the anniversary of the most joyous event in my lifetime.

Thirty four years ago today, I was sitting in church with my older sister and her boyfriend (now husband).  She seemed to have such peace in her life.  I wanted that.  She had recently made the decision to make God the top priority in her life.  Was that the key?  I had ‘given my heart’ to Jesus as a child, but that was about as far as it went.  I was now almost 19, and knew I wanted something different.  I prayed and asked God to please fill my life with His Peace, and I would hand my life over to Him.  At that simple, unassuming moment, my life was forever changed.  I truly knew what it was, to be a child of God.  And I’ve never looked back.  I have made many mistakes since then, as being a Christian doesn’t exempt you from sin…but I see that sin right away, ask for forgiveness and do my best to refrain from doing it again.   Thirty four years of having Someone to lean on during difficult times.  Thirty four years of a Peace that passes all understanding.  Thirty four years of knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am Loved beyond measure.  And thirty four years of knowing that when I die, I have a mansion waiting for me and I will be able to see with unhindered eyes, the face of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

How about you?  Are you looking for some type of peace?  Now is a good day to ask for it.  Happy New Year!

Matthew 7:7   "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."

Acts 17:27 ^“ God did this so that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from any one of us.”

Another Nail

Here we go again.  Have you ever had one of those relationships with someone, where you wonder, "What next?"

We were wondering that last week.

We had tried once more to give this person a break...and were disappointed and hurt.  I told Steve, "It's like another nail (in the relationship)."

Another nail.  Quickly, another nail came to my mind.  Three of them, actually.  They were hammered into a beam of wood...for me.  They were driven through Flesh...for me.  So that I may have forgiveness for the times that I choose to do what I want to do, instead of what God wants me to do.

Jesus made the choice to take those nails for me.  So what do I do in return?  I choose to make MORE selfish decisions, over and over.

 I wonder what He's thinking.

"AGAIN???" "It's like another nail!!"  "Will she EVER learn?!"

And yet, He loves me.  He knows that I mess up....and He loves me.  He hates the sin...but loves the sinner.

I have no choice but to do the same.