PAINT

In another day or two, a painter who has worked for a couple of weeks repainting the exterior of our house will be finished with this job.  He has worked solo tirelessly to give us a job well done.  I've watched him often as he worked and let me tell you, he's not as old as me but he's not a young whippersnapper either.  

As I thought about this whole process today, I gained some wisdom.  I will say here that I remind The Husband often at his fortune of being married to a simple minded, easy to please wife.  (And he agrees and says thanks.)   When the discussion began to repaint the house after ten years, the first question The Husband asked was "What color do you want?"  My reply was, "the same color it is now.  I've liked it for ten years, I'm sure I will like it ten more.  If it ain't broke, don't fix it."  Well, of course, that made it easy for The Painter and The Husband.  The only interior walls that needed painting was the very small "master" bath that had been painted over ten years ago--painted over wallpaper--and had water spots.  The Husband did advise me that we needed some sort of "eggshell based" paint that wouldn't show as many spots.  He sent me to the hardware store to pick this.  Well, if you consult the early part of this paragraph, you will understand that it doesn't matter to me.  I brought home many samples and told The Husband to pick.  He did.  It's painted.  It looks just fine. 

Before The Painter began, he pressure washed the whole house.  A guest even commented that looked like we had changed up our front porch.  Nah, we just washed it.  Amazing what a good cleaning will do.

Even though all the paints are the exact same color, The Painter has not tried to ease past some spots to make his job shorter and easier.  He has climbed high ladders and squatted to the ground uncomfortably to paint everything.  The doors and touch ups are today.  All this means, the time for his payment for his services is near.  I'm sure he's looking forward to that.  :)

My spiritual life is a lot like this painting job.  Things get "dirty and worn looking" and I need a refreshing and cleaning.  I don't want anything different or new spiritually, I just often need to brush on the reminder of what I really want my "house" to look like.  I have to go high and low often for this job.  I have to work on it in the heat, sweating as I brush on the fresh color.  At the end of the "job", I have a life that pleases my owner and the payment is sweet.  

My house is light gray with white trim and my doors are red.  The main thing I notice now when I drive in the driveway is that it looks like home.  I want my spiritual house to BE home for my Lord and Savior and I want him to BE home for me.  

The physical painting and spiritual fixing are similar....cleaning, renewing, restoring.

"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.....Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation..."     Psalm 51:10, 12

Consider....

SIX!

How can it be six years ago that The Grandbaby made her appearance in the world and captured our hearts and lives?!!  It seems impossible that time has flown by so much but I assure you that it has been that long.  This year The Grandbaby has anticipated her birthday for days and even weeks.  She does looove birthdays, all birthdays, but when it's hers, the excitement is greatest.  

I was recalling that this time six years ago.  I remember the emotions, the excitement, the fear, the unknown.  And honestly, as unconcerned as The Poppa tried to appear at the hospital that day and night, the closer the time came, the more impatient he became.  

There has been so many memories made in the past six years.  I could show you photos at all stages of The Grandbaby's life as anyone who knows me knows that something I ALWAYS have is photos.  But I won't this year.  You can look back in the blog archive for those if you are interested.  I'm certain there is a post every year on this date about this very event.

Instead, I will tell you a bit about my six year old grandest of grands.  She is so skinny.  She is so into fashion, hers and everybody else's.  I can't remember what I was wearing the other day but it was a shirt of some sort with one of my two pairs of jeans--the really faded ones.  She was admiring my shirt and my shoes and then said, "But Neema, the jeans....no....", as she shook her head from side to side and pointed her fingers at my jeans.   Being The Neema of comfort that I am and since those were my favorite jeans, I smiled and wore them anyways.    

The Grandbaby is REALLY good at Math.  It has taken her most of the school year to warm up to reading, even though the family has read to her since she was a wee thing.  She has finally begin to grasp and enjoy reading more.  She loves to sing--says Music is her favorite special subject in school.  She loves going to Sunday School, church, and CHAOS Kids.  She listens good when she wants to and doesn't when she doesn't want to.  She and The Poppa watch Bluey together.  She also loves naps when she's tired.  The favorite outdoor game here at my house is the giant Frisbee.  She can be bossy a bit when we play such or when she has her own ideas but I think that's a normal with girls.  One thing I notice she does is smile so very often.  

Do I love her?  Beyond measure.  Does she bring joy to my life?  No doubt.

Two days ago a small group of family celebrated The Grandbaby's birthday.  It was a cat themed party.  She asked The Poppa and me to dress like cats....whiskers and ears and such.  I made that effort and you know what?  Even The Poppa let me put whiskers on him.  I will post a few pictures here so you can see the enjoyment of the party.  That will be a good way to "celebrate" again.  

She was very grown up and showed equal excitement for each gift she received...

She had already opened this gift as the givers had to leave before the official opening of gifts.   For those who had not seen the original opening, she pretended to do it again and be surprised....

And then....let there be cake.  She loved the cake her mama baked for her.  It WAS truly delicious and her favorite color--purple icing with chocolate layers.

Smiles of joy and hearts full of gratitude....a wonderful combination for such a sweet one!  Happy Birthday sweet one!

ALL

All the eggs are opened, the story has been told again, Easter has been celebrated. To close this "Easter session",  I wanted to give you the words of one of our new choir songs as it says so well the summary.  The title is "He Did It All For Me" and it goes like this:

Once a man whom we know as the Son of God hung upon a cruel tree.

He suffered pain as no mortal man.

He took my place.

He did it all for me.

He did it all for me.

Each drop of blood he shed for even me.

When the Savior cried, bowed his head, and died.

Oh praise the Lord, He did it all for me.

Hallelujah!  Amen!  

Consider....

EMPTY

 

Today's egg is the best!  It might seem empty and have nothing in it but that "nothing" represents EVERYTHING!  

Three days after he was crucified, just as Jesus promised, HE arose!  

THAT is what my faith is built on and I hope yours is as well.  Easter Sunday!  Let's celebrate!

A PIECE OF LINEN AND A ROCK

 

These eggs represent the linen cloths that the body of Jesus was wrapped in as Joseph of Arimathaea, a respected counsellor in that day, asked for the body.  He placed it in his tomb.  Yes, Jesus had a borrowed tomb.  The rock represents the stone that was rolled in the opening of that tomb.  You see, the powers that be had done their best to get rid of Jesus but there was a part of them that was uncertain.  They said someone might try to steal the body so that tomb needed to be secure with the rock and the guards.  I think they also knew that the promise of Jesus was that he would not stay in the tomb and after three days he would come out.  

As my Easter t-shirt says, "A lot can happen in three days."  And as another saying goes, "Get ready.  Sunday's coming!"

Consider...

A CROSS AND A SPEAR

 

The eggs today show a cross and a toothpick dipped in paint.  I'll be real.  It's a toothpick dipped in paint.

The cross represents the crucifixion of Jesus.  A dark, sad day when Jesus, bloody and spent carried his cross to Golgotha, the place of a skull.  A man called Simon was compelled to carry his cross at a point as well.  As they trudged up this hill, I can only imagine the scene and the horror of that scene.

The toothpick dipped in paint represents the spear that pierced his side.  I believe this happened after he had died on the cross before they took him down.  I will be real again that when I sat in that recliner with The Grandbaby beside me listening to her tell me this story for the first time, I was okay with it all until she opened this toothpick egg and pulled out this toothpick dipped in red.  My eyes got all teary and I will tell you they are full of water now as I type as when I look at this toothpick spear, I see the blood of Jesus and it really hits home to me what HE did for ME.

Consider...

A ROPE AND THORNS

 

As Jesus came out of the garden after praying, the powers that be along with Judas were there.  Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss.  There's more to the story, but remember, I'm in the simple egg version here. I encourage you to read your Bible for yourself.

Today's eggs hold a piece of rope and a twig of thorns.   The rope reminds us that Jesus was bound and taken away to the "courts".  The twig of thorns reminds us that a crown of thorns was placed on his head, he was ridiculed, he was whipped, and so much more of inflicted pain.  

I always was sad at the thought of the pain of that crown of thorns so when I saw this twig in the egg, my heart hurt.  I'm reminded, too, of a few weeks back when I was out in the edge of my yard to pick some jonquils.  The ones I wanted had a bush of thorns hanging over them.  These particular blooms were unique so since I now have a new hip, I managed carefully to somewhat squat to reach them to cut.  I did not consider the thorn bush since I was somewhat squatting.  A piece of the bush got tangled in my hair and in my ear.  It hurt.  It really hurt.  Badly.  It took a bit of doing but I managed to get it disconnected from me but not without a bloody ear.  It took a bit of time for healing of that ear.  I think back now and consider even more the pain that the crown of thorns must have been to Jesus as it was pushed hard down onto his head.  The picture I see in my mind of this breaks my heart.   A little thorn but such huge pain and destruction.

Consider....

A GARDEN

 

Today's egg and it's contents are one of The Grandbaby's favorite colors--pink.  This egg and flower remind us of the garden of Gethsemane.  It was in this garden that Jesus went to pray after he had his supper with his disciples.  

There are many things about this event that make me so very sad.  He took his disciples along, minus Judas who had "disappeared" and when he came to the garden, he told them to wait while he prayed.  He actually took three disciple friends on into the garden with him--Peter, James, and John.  He told them to wait.  He went further into what must have been such a beautiful garden and he prayed.  I don't mean he prayed lightly, He REALLY prayed.  Sadly to me, Jesus returned to the three disciples as they waited and he found them asleep.  Two more times, he returned and found them asleep.  

I can't fathom the mental agony that Jesus must have been in as he was in that beautiful garden.  He was in a place that had given such peace in times of fear and turmoil, but HIS agony was great.  

In my study, I again was reminded of a chapter before this event in the gospel of John.   It's John 17 and the subtitles in my Bible for each section of this chapter are "Christ Prays for Himself", "Christ Prays for His Disciples", and "Christ Prays for All Believers".  That means HE prayed for ME.  To me, it is one of the most poignant yet one of the sweetest chapters in my Bible and has become one of my favorite passages.  I would encourage you to read it for yourself.

Consider....

A PIECE OF BREAD, A CUP OF WINE, A TOWEL

 

A last supper with his disciples--or his friends, if you prefer to call them--are what today's eggs are reminders of to us.

Jesus and the twelve disciples, yes the twelve, gathered in the upper room that was prepared just as Jesus said.   Jesus had conversation with his friends, instructed them to take the bread as his body and drink the cup of wine in representation of his blood.  After that he "girded" himself with a towel, filled a basin, and began to wash his disciples feet--such an example of humbleness.  I don't know that any of the gospels say specifically, but I often have wondered if Jesus also washed the feet of his betrayer, Judas.  That would be some spiritual food for thought.

Our church celebrates communion and "feet washing" twice yearly with communion also at Christmas.  This spring, that celebration has fallen on this upcoming Easter Sunday.  I love communion and will especially love it on Easter Sunday.  What a wonderful way to REMEMBER what Jesus did for us!  And yes, in case you wonder, I have in the past washed the feet of a friend or two.  Not every time, but have done so before and been blessed by the outpouring of love and humbleness even as I watch others. I think, too, of how often we figuratively "wash feet" in other ways, by loving and serving, and just caring daily about them and showing it.  So often I fail, especially in the showing it part.    

As Easter week continues, remember what Jesus did for you and for me.  As you remember, let your heart be filled with thankfulness and love for HIM.  

Consider.....

COINS

 Betrayal.

The coin in today's "egg" represents betrayal.  Betrayal of Jesus by one of his own.  A disciple named Judas Iscariot.  

He got involved with the powers that be who wanted to get rid of Jesus.  They devised a plan and made a plan to capture Jesus.  For his help, Judas would be "paid" thirty pieces of silver.  "Paid" to capture Jesus.....then there's Jesus who PAID IT ALL.  For you and for me....the ultimate plan.

Consider....

EGGS AND THE RESURRECTION

 I don't know if I mentioned an experience I had but if I did, I think I'll mention again.

The Grandbaby made a set of Resurrection Eggs at her youth group a few weeks ago.  When I visited their house after that, she got the eggs and told me the Easter story.  I had to catch a tear or two as she told me the story of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and events leading up to his crucifixion and resurrection.  I said that some are overcome with emotion when they view the movie, "The Passion of the Christ".  I have found no emotion to compare to the story of Easter from the mouth of a six year old with a carton of colored eggs.

Today as I listened to the sermon, I began to recall that "egg" experience.  The sermon today was fitting and focused on the "Palm Sunday" entry into Jerusalem.   It came to me at that time that especially since this week is medically busy for me that I need to keep my comments simple.  How much simpler can I be than the story from the Resurrection Eggs?   

Today's "egg" holds a leaf.  This leaf represents the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.  The people placed palm leaves and fronds into the path and they cried "Hosanna, Hosanna..."  

I sit here tonight and noticed on the television a lot of greenery in the form of the big palm fronds.  My mind pictures that with Jesus riding on the donkey.  I encourage you to allow your mind to picture that scene and over the coming days when you see beautiful greenery, let it bring to your mind Jesus riding on that donkey with those palms in his path.....Hosanna, Hosanna.

Amidst the busy of this coming week, let your mind move often to Jesus and what he endured for you and for me.

Consider....

WORTH SHARING

Easter, my FAVORITE "holiday", is drawing near.  My life is full of necessary busyness so Easter is sort of slipping up on me.  I'm not certain yet if I will make posts daily pre-Easter week as I have done in the past, but give me a look next week on occasion just in case I do.  I encourage you to also read daily pre-Easter week the life of Jesus during that week.  You may look back at my post from March 27, 2021 titled EIGHT DAYS to see the outline for reading the passages in all four gospels.

In the meantime, I've been tidying up my space--the sewing, scrapbooking, and my space room.  On my cabinet door, my eyes were drawn to a card front I had put there a long time ago.  I read it again and it fit so much in my life today, I wanted to share.  It's unfortunate that I don't know who to credit these wonderful thoughts to but whoever it was, it hit me in just the right place this day.

It goes like this:

We should fear only if the Lord were not in control...

We should worry only if the Lord were not able to meet our needs...

We should strive only if the Lord were not our shepherd...

We should doubt only if the Lord were not faithful....

We should grieve only if the Lord were not risen!

Consider.......