Everlasting

"In a far-off land the LORD will manifest himself to them. He will say to them, 'I have loved you with an everlasting love. That is why I have continued to be faithful to you. Jeremiah 31:3

Everlasting.  Forever.  Boundless.  Undying. Endless.  Some words that describe God's love for us.  Jeremiah says that "in a far off land" the LORD will show Himself to them (us).  While we are far off...away from Him, He still chooses to love us.  Not just with an ordinary caring...but an unceasing allegiance to us.  This isn't puppy love, or an infatuation that will diminish as soon as someone else comes along.  Rather, a deep, abiding devotion.  And it isn't in word alone.  He goes on to say, that because of that love, this is why He has continued to be faithful to us.  Faithful to us...not us to Him!  It doesn't say only if you are faithful to Me, will I be faithful to you.  No conditions are present.  He is faithful to us because He loves us.  Period.

In the times that it feels as if God is far away, and His Love is distant.  Remember those words.  Though we may be going through an extremely difficult situation, God is there.  He is there in the distant, calling.  Letting you know that He does love you with a Love that will never end...and you can be sure He will never leave.

Dormant Beauty

My friend Lesli has a cactus vine in her yard.

It wraps itself around the mossy oaks.  It can be hard to see, as it tends to blend in the background.  But when the time is right...an amazing transformation takes place.  The sparse gray cactus becomes a beautiful sight to behold, as it sprouts big, lovely blossoms!  You would never know the plant had such beauty lying dormant inside.

Isn't that like us?  We tend to be bland, ordinary individuals, winding our lives around the surroundings...blending into the background.  Not particularly noticeable.  Then, with the Touch of the Master Gardener, we begin to change and blossom into a beautiful creation.  No one would have guessed that we had such beauty lying dormant within us...something that only the Spirit of God could bring out.

Feeling like an old gray cactus?  Pray for the Spirit of God to invade your being, making you into a new creation.  Ask forgiveness for your sins and turn your life over to God.  Accept the forgiveness that His Son, Jesus offers.  He promises that He will fill you with His Spirit.  Once that happens, you can bloom beautifully into the creation God has intended for you to be!

2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

**Thanks, Lesli S. for permission to share your photos!**

Keeping Our Face Toward the Son

Plants have a mind of their own.  Well, sort of.  I have a plant on my kitchen windowsill, in a silly, little Yorkie plant stand.  No matter how I rotate the plant, it always manages to turn it's leaves to face the window.  It's looking for the sun.  It stretches it's leaves upward, as if it would love to burst through the window.  Smart plant.

How often should we take a lesson from this little, green sprout?  It teaches us to constantly keep our focus toward the Son...setting our gaze upon Him.  No matter how life rotates us, to
 always keep our eyes on Christ, stretching our arms toward Heaven...in praise of our wonderful Creator.

Hebrews 12:2

 We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete. He endured the shame of being nailed to a cross, because he knew that later on he would be glad he did. Now he is seated at the right side of God’s throne!

God is Stronger

Copley Square.  Boylston Street.  Commonwealth Ave.  Watertown.  Places I hadn't thought of in a long time.  It had been almost 30 years, since I'd lived there.  They were now locations that were constantly on the news, and the internet.  Two radicals had decided that the famous Boston Marathon would be a place to carry out their horrendous plan to murder and destroy.  They succeeded in the course of five days, to kill 4 individuals, and injure countless others.

But they didn't count on the spirit of the people of Boston. Some hailed from Beantown, others were "Bostonians" only for the day.  During the aftermath of the bomb blasts, countless brave souls immediately helped each other.  People who didn't know the person next to them, comforted and assisted them.  They did what they could to nurse those who were bleeding and afraid.  Through the next few hours, others who watched the horror on local television, opened up their homes to the families of the hundreds who were injured.  They became the Hands and Feet of God to those in need.

It didn't stop at the Boston City Limits.  People from all over the world, via the internet and television banded together and through their tips, assisted the authorities in finding the location of both suspects.  Heroic officers from Watertown Police, Boston Police, and Massachusetts State Police banded together, along with the FBI and over the course of the next five days eventually overtook both men.

I could not imagine how many people all over the world have been praying, in the last week.  Praying for those injured, for the families of those who lost their lives, and for the safety of the people of Boston through the apprehension of the men involved.

God heard.  He heard and through the valor of these amazing people, they are now no longer a threat to society.

There are no answers for the 'whys' in peoples' minds.  Evil exists in the world.  It will eventually be Vanquished...but for now...it is here.  We, who are Christians, have to hold onto the Hand of our LORD, Jesus Christ...just as small children held on to the hands of their parents, last Monday afternoon.  Amid the turmoil and fear, we hold on tight and don't let go...not for anything. The catch phrase, "Boston Strong" will now have more meaning to those who live there.  But as strong as the people of Boston are...God is Stronger.  His Hand will never get tired.  He will never let us go.  We follow where He leads us, knowing He knows the Way.  He will be there for us...even if we are injured and in despair...He is there. He promised it...and He cannot lie.

Deut. 31:6  Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

Matthew 28:20  "And remember that I am always with you until the end of time."

Time For A Trim

Oh my!  It's that time again.  Marley is in desperate need of a trim.  

I know he can't see that well. Big fluffs of hair are in the way.  He keeps scratching his ears, because hair is growing in there, and it tickles and irritates him.  His feet are hairy, and attract dirt and junk from the outside, and he brings it inside with him.  Time to get the scissors.

If I've failed to mention this...he is not a willing participant, in the makeover!  He doesn't realize I'm doing this for his benefit...because I love him!  Marley wiggles and yanks his legs and head, to try and make me stop.  But I just pause for a moment, then continue on with the process, until it's done.  If he would only realize, his fighting makes the whole transformation take longer!!  

Hmm...kind of like my own 'trims'.  God looks at me, and says, "Oh my!  Looking a little 'hairy' down there!  Got to get My Scissors out, and do some trimming on the one I love!  Fluffs of pride and stubbornness are clouding her vision.  I need to get that out of there.  Her ears are full of the sounds of negativity and lies that disturb her and make her unable to hear My Voice clearly.  Snip, snip, snip...  Her feet have been walking around, and she is dragging the dirt and junk of the world, into the clean Life I try to help her maintain.  Trim, trim, trim....  

I cannot fail to mention that I am not always a willing participant in my own 'makeover'!  All the while, I'm yanking around, trying to make the trimming stop...and God is probably thinking, "Doesn't she know, it's because I love her too much to leave her this way?" "The more she fights, the longer it's going to take."   Do I get it?  Nope.  Just like Marley, I keep struggling against the blades of the Master Trimmer.  I'm glad God has patience with me.  He may give me a little breathing room, then He begins again, snipping away the unnecessary growth, until I look presentable.  Until my character looks the way He intended it to be...like His Son, Jesus.   

As for Marley, he survived his ordeal, and like me, is much better for it!

2 Corinthians 3:18  So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord--who is the Spirit--makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

Sunday: A Rock; a Resurrection and Redemption

The early morning was dark and damp.  The  three women made their way to the tomb.  Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James, and Salome were bringing the spices they had prepared to anoint Jesus' Body.  They had to pass the place of the Skull...Golgotha.  The thought of that horrible place made the women colder than before.  The sun began to peak through the horizon.  It seemed brighter than usual.  The women squinted as the rays pierced the darkness.  Suddenly it was if the ground was trembling and the sound of thunder rumbled in the distance.  They wondered how they could move the stone that covered the entrance.

They came to the garden where the tomb was located.  Something was different. The enormous stone was moved from the opening!  There was a man sitting on it.  He was dressed in white, and said to us, "Why do you look for the living among the dead?"  "You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, Who was crucified and was buried here.  He is risen, just as He said!  Go and tell His disciples to meet Him in Galilee.  He will see them there."  The women ran from the tomb to tell the disciples.  They were too frightened to tell anyone else.
~
Peter
When the women told us what had happened, John and I immediately took off and ran to the tomb.  We ran inside, and saw the linens that had been wrapped around Jesus' body all folded up and laying in a stack.  The piece that covered His Face was laying next to it.  John believed right away, that Jesus' promise was true!  I didn't know what to think.  We ran back to the other disciples and then prepared to go to Galilee.  I hoped in my heart that Jesus could forgive me.  I loved Him, and would do whatever He asked of me from now on.
~
Nicodemus
We were surprised when many of the soldiers that were guarding the tomb came in the temple.  One of them told us, "At dawn there was an earthquake. Suddenly the stone was rolled away and the Body of Jesus was gone!  He must have risen as He said."
Some of my fellow priests hatched a plan to bribe the guards with money to say that they had fallen asleep and the disciples came and moved the body of Jesus.  They agreed to it, took the money, and left.  I have a feeling that story is going to be around for a long time.
As for me, I was filled with joy and couldn't wait to tell Joseph of Arimethia!  He is Risen!  He is Risen, indeed!!!
~
The Soldier
At dawn, I felt something move...it was the ground itself, and there was a loud noise.  I didn't know what to think.  I looked at the other guards and suddenly we saw two men in white appear and touch the massive stone that covered the entrance to the tomb.  I saw a Man walk...out...of...the...tomb!  It was Jesus!  Whole and unharmed!  I closed my eyes and fell to my knees.  I didn't have to say a word out loud, about my sorrow of the participation in His death.  I knew in my heart that He understood and had forgiven me.  When I opened my eyes, He was gone.  The men in white were still there.  The other guards were fleeing.  Some in the direction of Jerusalem...others to the countryside.  I left in the direction of my home.  I had to go and speak to my family about all I had seen and heard.  My life would never be the same again.
~
Jesus met with the disciples in Galilee as He said.  He told them to not be afraid, that He was sending the Comforter to be with them.  He told them, "Go to all the nations, and baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Teach them to do everything I have told you. Know I am with you always, until the end of the world."

He is Risen.  He is Risen, indeed.

Saturday: Death, Darkness and Despair

Peter
I was so scared.  I was in the back of the crowd, as I watched them crucify my Lord.  Some men took His Body.  They placed it in some tomb.

What had I done?  Jesus knew it.  He knew what a coward I would be...to deny that I knew Him.  Not once.  Not twice...but three times!  I was so afraid.

The rulers and officials are so angry.  I know they'll come after us next.  What will we do?  The only thing we can think of is to hide in the upper room.  Eleven of us disciples are here, along with a few followers.

To make it worse, we've heard they found Judas' body hanging in a tree on the outskirts of town.  Apparently he had remorse about what he had done, in betraying Jesus to those men.  It's amazing what he did for the sake of money.  I guess he realized it wasn't worth it.  Too late, now.

It's torture being in here.  Just 24 hours earlier, we were preparing for the Passover meal.  Looking around, our things are just as we left them.  Crusts of bread on the table.  Bread that He said was His Body.  His Body.  His Body that was hanging on that wretched cross.  Drops of wine on the tablecloth.  Not wine, but He called it His Blood.  Drops of Blood.  The Blood that covered His mangled Body....  He knew.  We had no idea, but He knew.


Nicodemus 
I was shocked.  I had no idea that Joseph of Arimathea was a believer of Jesus.  He is a highly respected member of the Jewish Council.  He had been on the lookout for the Messiah...I had no idea he also believed it was Jesus.  No one else here, knows.  If they knew that the two of us were secret followers of the Christ, we would no doubt suffer the fate that He had.

Joseph had asked Governor Pilate for Jesus' Body.  We knew we had to get Him buried soon, as the Sabbath was upon us.  We cannot do anything on the Sabbath.  Pilate, after confirming that Jesus was indeed dead, agreed to it.  Joseph had bought some linens and owned a tomb nearby.  He was planning on using it for himself one day.  This was more important.  We wrapped His Body in the Linens and placed Him in the tomb.  His poor Body.  So tortured and mistreated.  No one deserved this kind of treatment.  Especially Someone who didn't do anything wrong.  He was an innocent man.  I grabbed the filthy crown they had put on His Head and threw it in the garden.  Drops of blood formed in my palm, from the thorns.  Nothing, compared to what He endured.  It turned my stomach to think about it.

Could we even hope that what He prophesied was true?  That He would rise again? Even if He did, He was so deformed.....  It was probably for the best that He was out of His misery.  Too bad, though.  It would have been glorious if He were the Messiah....  Wishful thinking, I guess....



The Soldier
I have to keep it together.  My mind is racing in a thousand different directions.  What had I just seen?  What had I just experienced?  I can't let on that I've had a 'heart transplant' of sorts...if such a thing existed.  It's like all of the things I knew and believed are gone...and now I see things with new eyes!  It's frightening.  I have no one to talk to about this.  How am I going to tell my wife?  My family?  Will they turn me in to the authorities?  Maybe I'll just keep my mouth shut.  They don't have to know.  But how am I going to explain that I'm planning on quitting my job?  I could never take part in another crucifixion.  Never.

I reach up and touch my ear, as I watch as two men take Jesus' Body away.  For two Jewish leaders, they seem to handle His Body so gently.  It's almost as if they care about Him.  That's not possible...or is it?  Nothing I have seen in the last 24 hours was what I believed it to be, anyway.

The officials have just come and ordered a huge stone to be placed in the front of the tomb.  Apparently Jesus had predicted this would happen, and He said He would rise again in three days time.  What??  How bizarre!  Pilate is afraid that Jesus' disciples are going to come and steal His Body and then say that He rose from the dead.  Hmm...  Understandable I guess.  They order me to help move the stone.  It takes a few of us...this thing is so heavy!  They just asked for volunteers to guard the site for a few days.  I raise my hand.  I will gladly guard it.  For a couple of reasons.  Not so much as to protect it from Jesus' followers, but to make sure the officials don't sabotage the efforts, then blame it on the disciples.  Also...I have a very selfish reason to stay here.  If there IS a chance that Jesus would rise from the dead...I want to tell Him how sorry I am.  I want to be the first one to fall on my knees in front of Him and beg his forgiveness and mercy.  I have committed such an unpardonable sin.  I don't deserve it, but perhaps He would be gracious.  One can only hope....