Testing..1,2,3
/22EQK58T9EC4 Everyone else can ignore this...this is just a test!
A Word on Wednesday: COME to___________
/come, verb
1.to approach or move toward a particular person or place.
2.to arrive by movement or in the course of progress.
3.to approach or arrive in time, in succession, etc.
4.to move into view; appear.
5.to extend; reach
come New Testament Greek = erchomai, to go + pros, to/toward (by marking out the object toward which something/someone moves)
Mark HIM out...no matter your circumstances! Get other people and things out of your focus! And COME to, GO to, MOVE toward HIM today!
On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ”Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 7:37-39
FAITH...responding to Jesus' Invitation
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invitations
I love invitations, don't you? I mean, that someone would like the pleasure of my company...or may need my help or input...or may just want to welcome me into the group (or family, or community, if you will)! What a pleasure and honor! And it's all good, as far as I'm concerned. Jesus loves invitations too...He is the Divine Initiator. Without His call...His invitation, we would be lost! And that's what faith is...responding to the Lord's invitation.
Years ago, I was teaching through the gospel of John. John's purpose in writing his gospel is stated in the closing chapters of that intimate, devotional gospel:
Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:30-31
Notice the key word believe. And as you read through this gospel, you see believe/belief and faith throughout.
There are also metaphors, describing who Jesus is to His people, scattered all through the gospel. So I set out on a quest to see if there might also be synonyms, even metaphors, for the the concept of faith.
But first I asked the question: What is true faith? It's not a work we drum up...not just intellectual assent (the devil "believes" and trembles, the Bible says). Without it, we can't please God! So what is it?
Here are some synonyms that I found (see if you can find these and others in the gospel of John as well as the other gospels):
eat Him, the Bread of Life -- John 6 drink Him, the Living water --John 3, 6, 7 hear and follow Him, the Good Shepherd -- John 10 believe in Him, the Resurrection & Life -- John 11 abide in Him the True Vine -- John 15
and my favorite of all...COME to Him -- throughout the gospel but especially John 5, 6, 7, and 11.
jesus and child, come
What a simple word, come. Even a small child understands come. Why? Because usually there's definite body language associated with it...a beckoning, a welcoming...
...and there's a certain facial expression -- a YES face, if you will.
Jesus, with His YES face, is always calling, welcoming, beckoning...COME to ME! Not just one time for eternal salvation, but all the time...
Come to Me in your grief and loss Come to Me in your anxiety
Come to me when you are happy Come to Me when you are sad
Come to Me when you've failed Come to me when you've succeeded
Come to Me when you've been left out and rejectedCome to Me when you've been included and accepted
Cometo Me when you are struggling with jealousy, comparison, gluttony, idolatry... Come to Me whenever...
So in the good times and the bad...and especially when the storms of life are raging, come to Christ!
And in the coming is faith...and He really loves that!
Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend. James 2:23
Next time we'll look at another friend of Jesus...one we all can identify with, Peter.
Until then, bask in the metaphors for faith in this moving song... COME to your LORD in the exact circumstances you find yourself! His invitation is always open!
Untitled Hymn (Come To Jesus) Chris Rice
Weak and wounded sinner Lost and left to die O, raise your head, for love is passing by Come to Jesus Come to Jesus Come to Jesus and live!
Now your burden's lifted And carried far away And precious blood has washed away the stain, so Sing to Jesus Sing to Jesus Sing to Jesus and live!
And like a newborn baby Don't be afraid to crawl And remember when you walk Sometimes we fall...so Fall on Jesus Fall on Jesus Fall on Jesus and live!
Sometimes the way is lonely And steep and filled with pain So if your sky is dark and pours the rain, then Cry to Jesus Cry to Jesus Cry to Jesus and live!
O, and when the love spills over And music fills the night And when you can't contain your joy inside, then Dance for Jesus Dance for Jesus Dance for Jesus and live!
And with your final heartbeat Kiss the world goodbye Then go in peace, and laugh on Glory's side, and Fly to Jesus Fly to Jesus Fly to Jesus and live!
A Scripture on Saturday: Luke 4
/...on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. 
He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him.
Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him.
He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4:16-21
Celebrating our true freedom which is in Christ!
Thanking HIM for the sacrifice that made it possible!
More freedom verses for your holiday weekend :)
A Word on Wednesday: REMEMBER
/re·mem·ber [ri-mem-ber] verb (used with object)1. to recall to the mind by an act or effort of memory; think of again: I'll try to remember the exact date.
2. to retain in the memory; keep in mind; remain aware of: Remember your appointment with the dentist.
3. to have (something) come into the mind again: I just remembered that it's your birthday today.
4. to bear (a person) in mind as deserving a gift, reward, or fee: The company always remembers us at Christmas.
5. to give a tip, donation, or gift to: to remember the needy.
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If you are younger (under the age of 50, new new 40 :)...
Remember your Creator in the days of your youth... Eccl 12:1
NIV
Or as the Message translation says:
Honor and enjoy your Creator while you're still young, Before the years take their toll and your vigor wanes, Before your vision dims and the world blurs And the winter years keep you close to the fire.
In old age, your body no longer serves you so well. Muscles slacken, grip weakens, joints stiffen. The shades are pulled down on the world. You can't come and go at will. Things grind to a halt. The hum of the household fades away. You are wakened now by bird-song. Hikes to the mountains are a thing of the past. Even a stroll down the road has its terrors. Your hair turns apple-blossom white, Adorning a fragile and impotent matchstick body. Yes, you're well on your way to eternal rest, While your friends make plans for your funeral.
Life, lovely while it lasts, is soon over. Life as we know it, precious and beautiful, ends. The body is put back in the same ground it came from. The spirit returns to God, who first breathed it. Ecclesiastes 12:1-7 The Message
HOW are you remembering Him...honoring and enjoying Him today?
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No matter your age...
Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:7-8
WHO are your remembering today? What did their faith look like in their life?
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If you are over 50...
I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
I will consider all your works
and meditate on all your mighty deeds.
Psalm 77:11-12
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, he will grow like a cedar of Lebanon planted in the house of the Lord, he will flourish in the courts of our God. he will still yield fruit in old age; he shall be full of sap and very green to declare the Lord is upright; He is my Rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him! Psalm 92:12-15
WHAT deeds of the Lord do you remember and proclaim?
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...and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of ME."
Kingdom Academy
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shepherdess and sheep
Do not be afraid, little flock, for the Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32
I look at the framed picture hanging on the wall in my bedroom. It's a classic painting of a shepherdess with her sheep. And I remember my preschoolers 1998 and their moms.
I think of the privilege I have had to be that shepherdess pointing them to the Chief Shepherd, Who Himself also is the Good Shepherd. Jesus is the Great Shepherd...and Guardian of their souls and mine!
So when it was my turn to lead teacher devotions that year, I knew I had to share about my preschoolers. They had become my Kingdom Academy... not primarily because they learned so much spiritual truth through me, but because they taught their teacher (a.k.a. shepherdess) about the simplicity of devotion to Christ.
There were many ways they taught me. But I'll just share three...the simplicity of prayer, the simplicity of forgiveness, and the simplicity of blessing.
Prayer
Early in the year, I taught the children the Bible story of the storm at sea and how Jesus came, walking on the water, to His disciples who were in the boat. I explained that Jesus got into the boat when the disciples invited Him in. Then He calmed the storm and rode with them the rest of the way to shore.
I then told the children that our classroom was our "boat." We could invite Jesus into our classroom to be with us. One of the children said, "Well, let's do it right NOW!" And he burst into prayer!
tree huggers
The Blessing 1999
Sometime during the school year, I had read The Blessing by Gary Smalley & John Trent. In that wonderful book, the authors explore our human need for approval and validation. They show how this need was met in the Biblical blessings given by fathers to children. But also we could do this for our children today and for others we care about. The authors listed 5 elements to the Blessing:
1. Meaningful touch 2. Spoken words 3. Expressing High value 4. Picturing a Special Future 5. Active commitment
I intended to use what I learned from this book to bless my own young adult children and the ladies in my Bible study group. I basically left it at that, but God had other ideas.
It was the last day of PK class. We were gathering our things into each child's box. Just as we were all lined up and starting to walk down the hall and out to the waiting moms, the Holy Spirit stopped me. "Bless them!"
PK 98 LAST DAY
So there in the hallway, I laid my hands on them one by one and prayed over each in turn...unique words and blessings for every child. I wish I had journaled the blessings...alas! I didn't :(
But what I'll never forget are the eager little faces...as each child waited his turn to be blessed!
No dry eyes for me...and a lesson learned in the value of blessing others!
So dear sweet ones, I bless you and say that your lives are full of promise...as you face your futures, walking with your Savior. Honor HIM, for He is worthy!
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
I Am A Promise I am a promise I am a possibility I am a promise with a capital “P” I am a great big bundle of potentiality And I am learnin’ to hear God’s voice And I am tryin’ to make the right choice I am a promise to be anything God wants me to be.
I can go anywhere that He wants me to go I can be anything He wants me to be I can climb the high mountains I can cross the wide sea I’m a great big promise you see!
I am a promise I am a possibility I am a promise with a capital “P” I am a great big bundle of potentiality And I am learnin’ to hear God’s voice And I am tryin’ to make the right choice
I’m a promise to be anything God wants me to be Anything God wants me to be!
Carson
Brian
Andrew
Pre-school 1998...HS Graduation 2012
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PK 98 signatures13
Yes, it's that time again...graduation! Some of you may have read my post last year when my Dream Team graduated. If not, you may want to take a look at that PK story. It tells how a teacher like me, who emphatically doesn't DO preschool...ended up DOING preschool...and LOVING IT!
But now Graduation 2012 is a new year and a new group of graduates. This is the year that my last PK group graduates from high school.
You may wonder how I think of this group, if the other was my Dream Team (after all, how many Dream Teams can one have?). Let me just say, I remember these five precious four-year old's as my Free Spirits.
wiggle worm workout
At times, these little ones seemed to bounce off of every wall...not in a bad way, mind you...but in a four-year old way! My Free Spirits kept me on my spiritual toes. And that was good!
In fact, as the year went on, I came to think of this little group as my Kingdom Academy. Why, you might ask? Because God in His grace did some very special things...amazing to this "non-preschool DO-ing" teacher!
But I'll leave that for my next post. In the meantime, let me introduce you to this year's graduates from Mrs. Loyd's preschool:
Amy
First there's the princess and only girl in the midst of four boys...Amy. Amy was always smiling, caring, helping. In fact, when the boys started telling her, "Amy, get me this...put away that," I had to jump in to rescue her from the chauvanistic :) males of the group. Seriously though, Amy is an only sister in a family of boys, so enough said!
Carson
Brian
Then there is Carson. Carson would read my bulletin boards as I put them up. When I asked him who taught him to read, he said , "No one!" And I believe it! Carson had a sensitive conscience and often struggled with what was right and wrong...a smart little guy.
Brian was our budding artist. He loved to draw and color. He didn't love when there was too much "upheaval" in the classroom...a man after my own heart!
David
David was the pray-er of our group. Often when I would say, "Let's pray," David would burst into prayer. He often didn't give me a chance to lead out as I had intended. David was very spiritually sensitive and repented easily when he did the wrong thing.
Andrew
Last but not least is Andrew. Andrew joined us in the middle of the school year. I remember his grateful spirit. Shortly after he joined us, Andrew said to me, "Teacher, thank you for letting me be in this class!" He also thanked the Lord in prayer one day for "Mr Potato Head, my cat peeing and pooing in the litter box, and even for my teacher!"
In the next blog, I'll tell some more about these dear ones...
But right now, I want to thank you, dear Amy, Carson, Brian, David, and Andrew, for enriching my life with your free spirited innocence and love and life!
Your names and little faces :) are forever etched in my heart!
PK 98 signatures
See, I have written your names in the palms of My hands... Is 49:16a
Truly AWE-some!
/Read this magnificent psalm.Then click on the picture below...you will be glad you did :)
Psalm 8
The Message
1 God, brilliant Lord, yours is a household name.
2 Nursing infants gurgle choruses about you; toddlers shout the songs That drown out enemy talk, and silence atheist babble.
3-4 I look up at your macro-skies, dark and enormous, your handmade sky-jewelry, Moon and stars mounted in their settings. Then I look at my micro-self and wonder, Why do you bother with us? Why take a second look our way?
5-8 Yet we've so narrowly missed being gods, bright with Eden's dawn light. You put us in charge of your handcrafted world, repeated to us your Genesis-charge, Made us lords of sheep and cattle, even animals out in the wild, Birds flying and fish swimming, whales singing in the ocean deeps.
9 God, brilliant Lord, your name echoes around the world.
Click on the picture!
The animation in this is very cool... Be sure to slide the bar left and right... Go both ways to see the dimensions of God's greatness... and notice how man is right in the middle of it all!
Alone? on Mothers' Day?
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There are lots of emptyings in life. There are deaths and losses of every kind. There are ends of relationships...ends of jobs...ends of school-years...ends of eras...ends of phases of life. Some of these are expected. Some catch us by surprise!
This Mother's Day, I think of an emptying that affects all mothers sooner or later...the emptying of the nest!
I know! This is what we have been preparing our children for, right?...the launch, the flight out of the safety, security, and nurturing of their childhood home... out into the excitement of what God has for them up ahead. But who ever prepares us moms?
I've always been an independent person. So releasing my children into adulthood...to make their own way...has caught me by surprise. It has been harder than I ever thought! In fact, it's been one of the swords that have pierced this mom's heart.
My mind goes back to a Mothers' Day at the very start of the emptying. The Lord in a unique way comforted this grieving mother's heart. It was at a time when my children, who were young adults, had just gone through some serious health crises. So I was drained emotionally.
At that time, there were significant others in the picture. So the issue of celebrating Mothers' Day became somewhat of a dilemma. John & I decided to defer to the other mothers and postpone our celebration to the following Sunday.
That should have taken care of it, right? But to my surprise, being alone on the real Mothers' Day was a grief to me! I was doing my best not to wallow in my sadness, when the Lord surprised me with three gifts...three delights for a hurting mama's heart! Three God-winks that most likely would have gone unnoticed had we been celebrating that day.
The first gift was finding old cassette tapes of my babies' voices. (Keep in mind that in the 1970's early 80's, that was the best you could do to record audio.) There were tapes of Jeremy and Beth when each of them was just starting to talk. Others, when they were very young. One was even labeled "doing school and being obnoxious!" I listened...I laughed...I cried...as the bitter-sweetness of those precious voices washed over me!
The second sacred wink was catching sight of a mama house finch launching her babies. Talk about the perfect metaphor at the perfect time! Here the mama of the little family of house-finches, 
that had nested in a bush next to our porch, was giving this sorrowing mama a lesson in the circle of life. I imagined mama finch saying her good-bye's as each left the safety of her nest. Was she grieving the way I was, or was she more courageous than I?
And last but not least, I just happened to come across a monthly letter from Telling the Truth, a ministry I had begun to follow. I had tossed it aside to join my stack of others to be read someday. By God's grace, in that alone time, I picked it up and started reading. It all came together...
Stuart Briscoe, describing how motherhood changed his wife Jill, wrote:
When the baby was born, I stood by helplessly and watched the transformation that took place in my wife. Motherhood changed her irrevocably. As she nursed her child I detected a mysterious gleam in her eyes--a certain glow, a knowing, a secret insight that she shared with the new arrival. She and he knew something that I didn't know.
I could do nothing more than observe and wonder at the mystery of motherhood.
He went on to say...
It occurs to me that the unique bond between mother and child makes possible an intimate nurturing relationship that men never know for they, by definition, are removed--they stand at a distance from the mother-child phenomenon. But hard as it can be for the father to make the adjustment to the beloved intruder, there is divine genius in the arrangement.
For the day comes---all too soon--when the child must spread his wings and take flight from the nest. Guess who struggles at this point? The mother, of course! Releasing and relinquishing are not mother gifts.
Guess who knows how to handle distance? The father, naturally. So as the wise mother has steered the puzzled father through the mysteries of nurturing, so the wise father now steps forward to guide the fearful mother through the anxieties of relinquishment.
And the child receives what he needs -- a healthy balance of mother nurture and father freedom... (Stuart Briscoe, Telling the Truth newsletter, May 1999)
What a comfort these words were. Having never gone through this phase of life before, I was struggling. And as hard as it was and would continue to be for some time, I had to realize in my experience that it is God's way to move my children into responsible adulthood. It's their turn to step up to the plate of life and fulfill the will of God in their generation.
Emptyings are never easy...
But God's intent in the emptyings is never to leave us void. He wants to fill us with a greater capacity for Himself...to fill us with a greater experience of WHO HE IS in every phase of life.
So dear mama-sister, if you are going through THE emptying of all emptyings (or so it seems at the time), open your eyes...there may be God-winks all around you, visitations from your Abba-Father to comfort a relinquishing mama's heart.
My Mother...My Hero
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mommy & me
Mothers are awesome creatures. They are the lovely reflections of our Father God's unconditional, sacrificial, faithful LOVE! Moms are the true HEROS of life, or should I say, HEROINES! My mother, Jeanette Galuszka Renner, is MY hero!
A few years ago, I wrote a letter to honor my "Mommy" as she turned 85. We published mine, along with others from her children, grandchildren, and other relatives, in a book to honor this amazing lady.
I'm posting my letter to thank God again for the gracious gift of my MOM, my HERO ...and to encourage YOU to give thanks to the Maker of Mothers...for YOUR mother!
letter writing
Also, don't wait to eulogize your mom. If you are blessed to still have her in your life, tell her! Better yet, prayerfully and thoughtfully write her a letter. Don't assume she knows how wonderful and important she is...put it in print! (I think there's something sacred about the written word!)
Summer 2009
Dearest Mom,
Someone once asked me, “Who was the person who influenced you the most?” Without hesitation I answered, “My mother!” You, dear Mommy, more than any other human being, have profoundly impacted who I am and how I live my life. I will be forever grateful to God and to you for your sacrificial love, your teaching, and your example.
young jeanette
There was never a question in my mind that you loved me unconditionally and with great sacrifice. You were always on my side and helped me with school work, projects, etc. even though you had the others to take care of too. I remember how skinny and tired you always were, forgetting to even to eat lunch (amazing to me as a child!) because of your constant care for all of us. You would always make sure we had what we needed and often even stayed up late sewing to make clothes and costumes for us. I remember wondering how you could be happy never getting anything new for yourself. Now I know that your happiness was in giving to your family.
mom & dad, young
I also remember your teaching. You taught me to write my name in cursive before I went to school – something I took pride in! You taught me to crochet, which gives me great pleasure even today. I know you drilled school work with me and really wanted me to do well.
But most of all, I remember you taught me about God. I have memories of us sitting together on the couch in our living room in Tucson, looking at the big family Bible together. There were some pictures in it, so you told me about those Bible stories. I remember that you often quoted a verse from the Bible that I have never forgotten: “Eye has not seen, nor has ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1Corinthians 2:9)
You gave me a view of God and His ways that has remained at the center of my life to this day. You instilled in me that the most important thing in life is to do the will of God. I heartily agree!
mommy & me
But you not only taught me about God and His ways and about life in general. You showed me and my brothers and sisters what it is to live out faithfulness to God and your family by your example. You didn’t have an easy life…there were heartaches, difficulties, and struggles. You have often doubted yourself, but you have never doubted God and your love for your family. You have always set us a good example of devotion to God through prayer, giving, and attendance at church. And you have always been loyal, loving, and generous to all of us, your children, grandchildren, and now great-grandchildren.
It is a great pleasure to honor you today at this celebration of your 85th birthday! The Bible says that a woman like you is a treasure to find. I consider you among the greatest treasures of my life, and I do truly “rise up and call you blessed!” (Proverbs 31:28) You are my hero!
My love always
Janet Gale
mother of 7
great-g'ma of 4+
grandmother of 12+
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I cry every time I hear this song...always thinking of my mom! My niece Noelle sang it to my mom at her celebration. Listen and think of your mom...
Wind Beneath My Wings
It must have been cold there in my shadow To never have sunlight on your face You were content to let me shine, that's your way You always walked a step behind
So I was the one with all the glory While you were the one with all the strength A beautiful face without a name for so long A beautiful smile to hide the pain
Did you ever know that you're my hero And everything I would like to be? I can fly higher than an eagle For you are the wind beneath my wings
It might have appeared to go unnoticed But I've got it all here in my heart I want you to know, I know the truth, of course I know it I would be nothing without you
Did you ever know that you're my hero? You're everything I wish I could be I could fly higher than an eagle For you are the wind beneath my wings
Did I ever tell you you're my hero? You're everything, everything I wish I could be Oh, and I, I could fly higher than an eagle For you are the wind beneath my wings 'Cause you are the wind beneath my wings
Oh, the wind beneath my wings You, you, you, you are the wind beneath my wings Fly, fly, fly away, you let me fly so high Oh, you, you, you, the wind beneath my wings Oh, you, you, you, the wind beneath my wings
Fly, fly, so high against the sky So high I almost touch the sky Thank you, thank youThank God for you, the wind beneath my wings
Abba's Little Girls
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Jan Youth07
Motherhood is a Sisterhood...unrivaled by any other (except perhaps, Grandmother-hood). So if you are a mom, you are my beloved sister...
And sometimes we mama-sisters just need to be daughters...Abba's (Hebrew for Daddy) little girls.
So this Mothers' Day, let us hear these restful words of promise from our Abba:
1. Open wide...and be filled...
I am the Lord your God...Open wide your mouth and I will fill it. Psalm 81:10
open your mouth wide ps 81:10
2. Dwell in Him...and find refuge...
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty... He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge... Psalm 91:4
Psalm 91:4 Under His Wings
3. Lift up your eyes...and receive help...
I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from?My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2
mountains
This Mother's Day...
may you open your heart wide to befilled with Him and His provision! (Psalm 81)
may you dwell in Him and find refuge and protection from all dangers under Abba's wings! (Psalm 91)
may you lift up the eyes of your heart to your sovereign Creator Abba God for the help you need -- strength, safety, and stability! (Psalm 121)
Yes, even we mamas still need to be Abba's Little Girls :)
Total PraiseLord I will life my eyes to the hills Knowing my help is coming from You Your peace you give me In time of the storm You are the source of my strength You are the strength of my life I lift my hands in total praise to you Lord, I will lift my eyes to the hills Knowing my help is coming from You Your peace you give me In times of the storm You are the source of my strength You are the strength of my life I lift my hands in total praise to you Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen
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cild reading bible
Psalm 121 is very memorize-able.
When my kids were very young we used to take car trips to New Jersey to visit my family. It was a l-o-n-g drive, so one year we memorized Psalm 121 together as we rode along. To this day, I have fond memories and sweet emotions whenever I read or hear that comforting psalm.
Why not spend a little time this Mothers Day memorizing Psalm 121 together. Bask in the care and protection of your Abba Father!
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deut 6:4-8
You may also like to visit some other Mama stories
...especially Open Letter to a New Mom
Beth with Kaden 2006
Evan Arrives 002
Cortney with Carter 2008
Beth and Eli at birth
John at playground in Metafe 138_5764
You might also like to read Children Incognito
Time to Vote!
/Thank you, dear readers, for your input a few blogs ago. 
I want to tell you the reason for my request. I'm planning to enter some of my writing in the Writers' Digest Annual Writing Contest (spiritual, inspirational category). I feel like this may be a door from the Lord...the info about it came to me. I didn't seek it out.
However, because there is a fee for each entry, I thought I might ask for help narrowing down what I send in. So here are the few blogs that seem to have surfaced as contest potential :).
If you have time and inclination, would you "vote" on the one(s) you like best? You could rate them 1, 2, 3, ... (with 1 being the best). Or just pick one or two.
By the way, when they are submitted, they will have been revised slightly to sound more like an article than a blog. And I won't be able to include pictures :(
A Word of Salvation [This one will be revised as "Lost & Found"]
Choose Your Face...Change Your Day
Thanks so much, dear friends, for taking the time to read and evaluate! I treasure your input! Blessings!
Resurrection Walk...
/When I was at the University of Arizona in the late 60's & early 70"s, the "Jesus movement" was in full swing. A song that we always sang during praise time at our Christian student meetings in those days was "He Lives". This song grabbed me! The concept of a living Christ who intimately related to me on a daily basis was just beginning to dawn on me. Look at the words to this glorious song:
mom & me walking
I serve a risen Saviour He's in the world today; I know that He is living, Whatever men may say; I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer, And just the time I need Him He's always near.
Chorus: He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today! He walks with me and He talks with me Along life's narrow way. He lives, He live, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives: He lives within my heart.
In all the world around me I see His loving care, And tho my heart grows weary I never will despair; I know that He is leading Thro' all the stormy blast, The day of His appearing Will come at last.
Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian, Lift up your voice and sing Eternal hallelujahs To Jesus Christ the King! The hope of all who seek Him, The help of all who find, None other is so loving, So good and kind.
Brennan Manning has a phrase that I love...living in Present Risenness. In his precious book The Rabbi's Heartbeat, he says:
We are not cowed into timidity by death and life. Were we forced to rely on our own shabby resources we would be pitiful people indeed. But the awareness of Christ's present risenness persuades us that we are buoyed up and carried on by a life greater than our own.
The Christ within who is our hope of glory is not a matter of theological debate or philosophical speculation. He is not a hobby, a part-time project, a good theme for a book, or a last resort when all human effort fails. He is our life, the most real fact about us. He is the power and wisdom of God dwelling within us.
Even though the holiday we call Easter has passed, dear child of God, meditate on this glorious thought: The Resurrected Christ is alive in your world right now. The Living Christ lives in you today. And this same Lord Jesus Christ lives His resurrection life through you as you walk in Present Risenness...every day!
Christ in you, the hope of glory. Col 1:27
...you have died and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, we shall appear with Him in glory. Col 3:3-4
...to those who are the called,...Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 1Cor 124
Now enjoy this simple, sincere rendition of "HE LIVES"...
*This was posted last Easter as Walking in Present Risenness
Resurrection Joy!
/Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! What a reason to celebrate! And celebrate is just what my 5 year old grandson does when he sings this, his favorite song.
Let's join Evan (and his brother Carter)...and all the saints and angels in praise to God for His glorious gift of His Risen and Reigning Son!
From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise... Psalm 8:2
Happy Day by Tim Hughes
o happy day...evan & carter
The greatest day in history, Death is beaten You have rescued me Sing it out Jesus is alive The empty cross, The empty grave Life eternal You have won the day Shout it out Jesus is aliveHe's alive
Chorus: Oh happy day, happy day You washed my sin away Oh happy day, happy day I'll never be the same Forever I am changed
o happy day evan & carter
When I stand, in that place Free at last, meeting face to face I am Yours Jesus You are mine Endless joy, perfect peace Earthly pain finally will cease Celebrate Jesus is aliveHe's alive
Chorus
Oh what a glorious day What a glorious way That You have saved me Oh what a glorious day What a glorious name
Chorus
What a glorious glorious day, I'll never be the same
Be sure to view it in the full screen...awesome!
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Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21
Resurrection Zoe!
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Esaster lily and cross
Easter isn't Easter unless it's Easter to YOU!
So declared a radiopreacher early in Holy Week. At first I said, "YES!"
Then I thought about it a while and said, "Not really...Easter is Easter whether I get it or not!" Now I'm rethinking the statement.
What is Easter anyway? I remember in my confirmation catechism class learning that...
Easter is the first Sunday after the first full moon of the spring equinox.
That explains when, but WHAT is Easter?
Easter is the day we celebrate when...
Jesus rose from the grave...
conquering sin and death on the Cross on our behalf...
so that we could walk in newness of life.
EasterEggHunt
And that's the point, isn't it? Easter isn't about chocolate bunnies, chicks, coloring and hunting eggs, new clothes, Easter lilies and other spring flowers, and freshness. These are all simply pictures...metaphors, if you will, of the real deal.
And the real deal is ZOE! LIFE! Jesus Himself said,
I came that they may have life[zoe, in Greek] and have it abundantly. John 10:10
How does zoe happen for you and me?
The eternal life of God is imparted as a gift to all who believe in His Son, the God-Man Jesus Christ. He is the One who paid the penalty for our sins, so that...
when Jesus died, my sinful self died with Him; when He was buried, I was buried with Him; when He rose from the dead, I rose with Him...a new creation in Christ.
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. Col 3:1-4
So Easter is Easter to me because the indwelling, resurrected Christ is my ZOE! Is He yours, dear friend?
Even as believers, though, if we are perfectly honest, we must admit that we don't always live from His indwelling, resurrected LIFE, do we?
Rather we often live as if our abilities and cleverness, our relationships (including our favorite social media), our jobs, our pet activities, and our possessions are the source of LIFE. But of course, when looked at that way, they aren't life at all, but rather false gods and dead works.
So back again to the statement:
Easter isn't Easter unless it's Easter to YOU!
May Easter BE Easter as we refocus on our glorious, Risen Lord who indwells all who believe.
Prayer: May every day be Easter, O Lord, because of Your abundant, indwelling, resurrection ZOE...thank you for the precious gift of Your glorious self. Amen!
KNOWING YOU
EMPTY TOMB
All I once held dear Built my life upon all this world reveres And wars to own All I once thought gain I have counted loss Spent and worthless now Compared to this
Chorus: Knowing You, Jesus Knowing You There is no greater thing You're my all You're the best You're my joy, my righteousness And I love You lord
Now my heart's desire Is to know You more To be found in You And known as Yours To possess by faith What I could not earn All-surpassing gift Of righteousness
Oh, to know the power Of your risen life And to know You in Your sufferings To become like You In Your death, my Lord So with You to live and never die
The written lyrics are in English and hmong (a Chinese dialect); the song is sung in English.
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bible student
Bible Students:
Meditate on this marvelous passage. Enter in...and give thanks:
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:7-11
Lenten Meditation: a Word of Reunion
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praying child
Now I lay me down to sleepI pray the Lord my soul to keep If I should die before I wake I pray the Lord my soul to take
So goes a traditional nighttime prayer taught by American moms to their children for generations.
It may seem odd to us today that there would be the mention of death in a child's prayer. But scientists say that sleep is the closest we come to death while still alive. The Greeks even had a proverb,
Sleep and death are brothers.
However, in the first century, Jewish moms taught their children a different bedtime prayer...quoting Psalm 31:
Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit.
Sound familiar? It should...they are the final words of Jesus as He breathed His last (Luke 23:46).
For most of us, death comes suddenly and often without warning. But for many, there is a sense that death is imminent...and it even seems that in some cases, the dying individual yields his spirit after seeing that treasured love one or after receiving permission from an important someone, "It's okay...you can go" (perhaps merely giving in to the inevitable).
But not so in the case of our Lord Jesus Christ! His death was totally voluntary...under His control...in submission to His Father's will:
Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. Luke 23:46 ESV
Good Shepherd
About a year or so earlier, He had spoken of this voluntary quality of His death in the beautiful metaphor of the Good Shepherd:
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.... I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep... For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father. John 10:11-18 ESV
Later in that same beautiful passage, Jesus says,
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” John 10:27-31
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Talk about intimacy and security! And this with our Father God through His Son, our Lord!
So in this last word from the Cross, the God-Man Jesus Christ recites His familiar childhood prayer...the prayer learned at His mother's knee. In doing so, He consciously and in full control yields His life and returns to the bosom of His heavenly Father. Why? for love of you and me!
Lord, we are overwhelmed...thank you...thank you...thank you!!!!!
Calvary's Love -- S Green
Only Jesus, Only He Brings redemption, full and free There's a yearning, in all our lives That only Jesus satisfies
Calvary's love will sail forever Bright and shining, strong and free Like an ark of peace and safety On the sea of human need
Through the hours of all the ages Those tired of sailing on their own Finally rest inside the shadow Cast by Calvary's love across their souls
Chorus: Calvary's love, Calvary's love Priceless gift Christ makes us worthy of The deepest sin can't rise above Calvary's love
Calvary's love can heal the Spirit Life has crushed and cast aside And redeem til Heaven's promise Fills with joy once empty eyes So desire to tell His story Of a love that loved enough to die Burns away all other passions And fed by Calvary's love becomes a fire
Chorus
Calvary's love has never faltered All its wonders still remain Souls still take eternal passage Sins atoned and heaven gained Sins forgiven and heaven gained
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Further Application:
Consider making this your nighttime prayer as you drift off to sleep each night. You may also want to read and meditate on all of Psalm 31.
crown of thorns with bible
Further Meditation:
During Holy Week, you may like to join me by going back through the meditations...one or two each day. Journal what the Holy Spirit highlights to your heart. Here they all are...
bible student
Bible Students: Explore these Shepherd passages and be blessed! Psalm 23 -- the Lord, my Shepherd Ezekiel 34 -- contrast with false shepherds Luke 15 -- seeks for lost sheep John 10 -- the Good Shepherd John 21:15-23 -- feed My sheep... Heb 13:20-21 -- the Great Shepherd of the Sheep 1 Peter 2:25 -- the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls 1Peter 5:4 -- the Chief Shepherd
Lenten Meditation: a Word of Completion
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tetelestai cross
Tetelestai!* It is finished! The death of Christ on the Cross is the HINGE of human history...and nowbefore He breathes His last breath... a cry of victory,It is finished!
What's finished? It must be something BIG,...look at what happened when Jesus died:
At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead. They left the cemetery after Jesus’ resurrection, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people. The Roman officer and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, “This man truly was the Son of God!” Matthew 27:51-54 NLT
So WHAT was finished? What wascomplete at the death of Christ?
All the work that the Father had sent the Son to accomplish:
“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work."
paid in full
...especiallythe work of atonement and redemption as our Sin Bearer:
For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. 2Cor 5:21 NLT
...so that there was nothing left to be done to bring us to a Holy God!
Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. 1 Peter 3:18 NLT
This has HUGE implications for us!
Jesus did everything that He needed to do... ...for our salvation from the penalty of sin! ...for our Christian life on this earth! ...for our eternity in glory!
Look at how Paul says it:
When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners....God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. Romans 5:6-10
But not only did Jesus die for us (as if that wasn't enough), but we died with Him (read Romans 6 and Colossians 3)
I have been crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me... Galatians 2:20a NIV
...you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Col 3:3-4
crucufixion tetelestai
Now this is where it gets really exciting...and practical for my everyday life:
WHAT did I die to through my union with Christ?
I died to the sinful self -- Gal 2:20; 2Cor 5:17; Rom 6:3-14 I died to the flesh -- Col 2:11-12; Rom 8:1-10 I died to sin -- Col 2:13; Romans 6:3-14; Eph 2:1-7;2Cor 5:21 I died to the Law (“to do list” religion)! -- Rom 7:4-6; 8:3-4; Gal 2:19-20; 3:10-25; Col 2:14 I died to the power of Satan, whose main tactics are lies and accusation! -- Col 2:15; Heb 2:14-15; Eph 1:19-21;6:10ff I died to the world -- Gal 6:14; Col 2:8
So if death means separation, then...
I've been disconnected from my selfish self as my source of life; I've been disconnected from the fleshly and sinful attitude of independence as the source of my life; I've been disconnected from the need to do good works (religious and otherwise) to earn God's favor (I already have God's favor in Christ); I've been disconnected from the power of the lies of the enemy (for a good example of this, see Caught in the Web); I've been disconnected from the world system with its values and mindset as my source of meaning in life.
Now I can chose to live from the indwelling, risen Christ who is my life...
And that's worth shouting about...Tetelestai!
And singing about..
How deep the Father's love for us, How vast beyond all measure That He should give His only Son To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss, The Father turns His face away As wounds which mar the chosen One, Bring many sons to glory
Behold the Man upon a cross, My sin upon His shoulders Ashamed I hear my mocking voice, Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that left Him there Until it was accomplished His dying breath has brought me life I know that it is finished
I will not boast in anything No gifts, no power, no wisdom But I will boast in Jesus Christ His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer But this I know with all my heart His wounds have paid my ransom
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Bible Note: In John 19:30, "John chose to quote Jesus using the Greek word tetelestai, an accounting term found on canceled loan documents, relieving a debtor of future payment. When the last payment had been made, the paper was stamped tetelestai, meaning 'paid in full.' If the lender wished to forgive the debt, he could stamp the document tetelestai, meaning 'fulfilled' or 'completed.'" (Chuck Swindoll, Saying It Well, p. 131)
A Request of my Dear Readers
/Hi friends! It's been a year since I started writing A Branch In the Vine. My desire has always been to honor the Lord and encourage God's people.
I have also wanted to get some of what the Lord has done in my life written down for my children and grandchildren. [I wish my mom and my "Babci" had written down their journeys with the Lord as young moms on into their senior years. But I digress...]
The reason for this short post is that I'd like to ask a favor. Whether you have been a regular reader, an occasional reader, or a hit or miss reader, would you do me the honor of letting me know if there was a particular post (or posts) in the past year that...
...impacted you in some way or...
...was enjoyable to read or...
...particularly well written or...
...just memorable for some reason.
I'm sorry I don't have any prizes to offer :( But there is a reason that I'm asking (more about that later on).
So if you have a few moments to do this, I would be grateful! You can leave it as a comment below, or you can email via this site: jan@abranchinthevine.com
With gratitude and love, Jan
Lenten Meditation: a Word of Personal Need*
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Thirst is a primal need in all of us humans...more demanding even than hunger! We can go quite awhile without eating, but a very short time without drinking.
Jesus on the Cross had refrained up to this point from satisfying His thirst. Instead He drank the Father's cup to the very last drop! He became sin for us...the Sinless One! Jesus took our place, and the Father turned His back. The punishment for sin had been accomplished...spiritual separation from God....for US!
Now in fulfillment of prophecy, Jesus expresses His own physical need:
After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said ( to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. John 19:28-29 ESV
Here He is...the Source of Living Water...asking for a drink! That reminds me of another time Jesus was thirsty...and it was a thirst that ended up quenching thirsty souls.
He had been traveling through Samaria, and He asked an unknown woman at a well for a drink.
Samaria was the place where a mixed race lived...half pagan, half Jewish...wholly outcast to pure bred Jews. But not to Jesus! He was to have a divine encounter with this forgotten woman over a drink of water.
This woman of Samaria was not the godly, religious type, even according to Samaritan standards...in fact, the exact opposite. She was looking for love in all the wrong places...five husbands and now a live-in boyfriend. Yet still thirsty for love...from Someone, but didn't know it!
So in her shame, she daily came to the well to draw water at mid-day...
at a time when she could avoid the knowing glances and whispers of the "righteous women" of the community.
Here she encountered a Stranger with a strange request:
Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.”
The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?”
Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”
“But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water?...
Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”
Thinking that Jesus was talking about physical water and physical thirst,
“Please, sir, the woman said, give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.”
Jesus, gently confronting her of her sinful and fruitless life, answered her God questions:
The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
Then Jesus told her, “I AM the Messiah!”
The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?” So the people came streaming from the village to see him...
Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, “He told me everything I ever did!” When they came out to see him, they begged him to stay in their village. So he stayed for two days, long enough for many more to hear his message and believe.
Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. Now we know that he is indeed the Savior of the world. John 4:1-42 NLT
In the end, this little woman, as well as the community she desperately tried to avoid, drank deep of the Well of Living Water...all in response to a Thirsty Stranger's request for a drink.
Prayer: Lord, I hear Your words, I thirst, and I realize that You thirsted for me too. Thank you for Your ever-thirsting thirst for the souls of men and women like me! I have to admit that I go through my days thirsting also. But I often try to quench my thirst at broken cisterns that hold no water ...cisterns of human approval, recreation and entertainment, social media, relationships (even good ones), religion, perfectionism, comparison, one-up-manship, and the list goes on. In the end I come up dry...because I'm really thirsty for YOU, my Savior and Lord. Thank you for Your Indwelling Spring of Living Water...Your Beautiful Self! Cause me to walk in Your overflowing fullness every day of my life. Amen and amen!
Let anyone who is thirsty come to ME and drink. Whoever believes in ME, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them. John 7:37-38
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Bible Students:
Fully God, but fully HUMAN.
This is another of the divine mysteries...the Kenosis, the self-emptying of the Son of God.
Explore these passages and be humbled and blessed by the realization that the Sovereign God became one of us...for you and me!
Philippians 2:6-11 ESV Hebrews 2:9-18 ESV
*Thanks to friends at Abiding Christ Church for this title. Traditionally, this statement is often called a "Word of Distress."
Lenten Meditation: a Word of Abandonment
/Abandoned! Left on the "doorstep of Life"...but with no Rescuer in sight! What happens next in the unfolding drama of the crucifixion of our Lord is incomprehensible!
My God, My God...
It's an abandonment so profoundly mysterious that it boggles the mind...but ravishes the believing heart! Let's watch it unfold...
It is noon.
By this time, Jesus has already forgiven His executioners as they cruelly hammered Him to the Cross...as they, careless for His pain, roughly lifted and dropped His Cross into the ground...Father, forgive them.
By this time, He lovingly has received the confession and cry of a repentant thief with a word of hope...Today you will be with me in Paradise.
And by now, He has tenderly cared for His suffering mama by entrusting her to His beloved disciple and friend...Behold your son...behold your mother.
Three hours of agony are yet to come...as if enough suffering hasn't already been His cup. This agony will be beyond understanding and description! But this is the crux of theFather's cupthat Jesus has chosen to drink...and drink it He must...to the full!
At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for the prophet Elijah. One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to him on a reed stick so he could drink. But the rest said, “Wait! Let’s see whether Elijah comes to save him.” Matthew 27:45-49 NLT
crucifixion with darkness
Strangely silent, God the Father abandons Jesus, God's Son...for three hours.
This is the same Father who validated Him at His baptism with the words:
This is my beloved Son in whom I'm well-pleased. Matthew 3:17 ESV
...the same Father who declared Him superior to Moses and Elijah at the Transfiguration:
While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" John 17:5 ESV
...and the same Abba who responded to Jesus' prayer just days before His crucifixion:
“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” ...Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” John 12:27-32 ESV
But now nothing but darkness! What kind of rift could be happening in the Trinity?
Whatever it is, it's so mysteriously real that we hear the very human God-Man ask the question we all ask when we face the "unanswerables" of life...WHY?
Theologians* down through the centuries have basically scratched their theological heads, trying to understand and explain this mystery of mysteries.
But it's the pages of Scripture that give us the answer to Jesus' WHY?
Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed forour sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all.Is 53:4-6 NLT
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us,so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2Cor5:21 ESV
God turned His back on His Son so He wouldn't have to turn His back on us...
Because the wages of sin is death...spiritual as well as physical; because death means separation...separation from God (spiritual death) as well as separation of the soul from the body (physical death); Jesus our Brother underwent spiritual death as well as physical death to be our sinless Sin-Bearer, our Perfect Substitute.
Jesus the God-Man was spiritually separated from a Holy God in order to take our place...and bring us to God.
For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit... 1 Peter 3:18 NIV
And WHY?
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.John 15:13
By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 1John 3:16
Prayer:
"We twist in anguish at Your cry ..."My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" God forsaking God, this is a mystery beyond understanding. A forsaking that was meant for us, but wretched alienation and blackness experienced by You.Because of that tormented howl, the barrier that kept us from God tears in two. And we who have insulted and mocked You, denied You and crucified You, we fall on our knees and whisper Good Friday truth: "Surely this man was the Son of God." Ann Voskamp, Trail to the Tree
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Something to Think About:
Tears
Have you ever been forsaken by someone you love? Jesus understands...He was no stranger to abandonment. He was abandoned by His nation, His people, His "so-called disciples, His brothers, Judas, Peter...and in reality, us as well.
He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Is 53:3 NLT
Have you ever felt abandoned by God? Jesus was! And this has been the experience of devout believers through the ages. (See Dark Night of the Soul) Of course, we will never experience it to the extent of the Son of God. But we know that because He has gone through it before us, He understands and comes to our aid even when the Heavens may seem like brass...silent and dark.
This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:15-16 NLT
Have you asked the WHY? question...without getting a reply? Read what our Mysterious God says:
The LORD our God has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all that he has revealed to us, so that we may obey all the terms of these instructions. Deut 29:29
Bible student:
Bible Students:
Many Bible scholars consider Psalm 22, the psalm Jesus quoted here, a Messianic Psalm. There are at least four points of comparison between Psalm 22 and Matthew 27. See if you can find them. Look especially at Ps 22:1,7,8,18 and Mt 27:35,39,43,46.
You may also like to read through the Gospel of John during this Lenten season. As you do, make note of how intimately connected to and dependent on the Father, Jesus was. This made the abandonment the Son experienced all the more painful...all for you and me!
* A Theological Word:
God forsaking God. Who can understand that? Martin Luther (quoted in Abiding Christ Church, Lenten study 2012)
The first three sayings were probably all spoken before noon. This one, which is in every way central, was uttered about 3pm, after three hours of darkness and silence during which the Son of God bore the sin of the world. In that work He had to be forsaken by God, and yet at the same time there was no splitting up of the Trinity. All that is involved is inscrutable, but He gave Himself, He was made sin, He bore sins, and His soul was made an offering for sin. His work was to bear sin.
Charles Ryrie, Biblical Theology of the New Testament, p.69
