GUILTY

Bible reference:  Matthew 27:11-28; Mark 15:1-20; Luke 23:1-25; John 18:12-14, 24-16

The band, captain, and officers of the Jews took Jesus, bound him, and led him to Annas first.  Annas was the father-in-law to Caiaphas who was the high priest that same year.  The high priest asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine. 

“Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret I have said nothing.  Why askest me?  Ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them; behold, they know what I said.”  John 18:20, 21

When he said these things, one of the officers struck Jesus with the palm of his hand.

Annas sent him to Caiaphas, then he was sent to Pilate.  The false accusations by his accusers continued….perverting the nation, forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying he himself is Christ the King.

“And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews?  And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.  Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.”  Luke 23:3,4

The crowd became more fierce, talking about Jesus being from Galilee.  Pilate at this point saw another way out and sent him to Herod, the Galilean jurisdiction.  Herod was in Jerusalem himself at this time.

When Herod saw Jesus he was glad because he had heard many things of him and Herod hoped to see a miracle with his own eyes.  It seemed that Herod was a bit starstruck at the idea.  Herod questioned Jesus but Jesus spoke not a word.   The chief priests and scribes stood by and continue accusing.  Herod with his soldiers mocked Jesus, put on him a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.  An interesting part of my study told me that in the past Pilate and Herod had been somewhat at odds for whatever reason.  Somehow this day, Pilate and Herod buried their differences and became friends. 

Pilate again told the multitude that “I find no fault in this man.”  Pilate, seeing another potential way out knew that it was customary at that feast to release a prisoner.  At that time they had a notable prisoner named Barabbas, accused of murder.  Pilate asked the people gathered, Whom will ye that I release unto you?  Barabbas, or Jesus which is called the Christ?” 

Pilate’s wife came to him and told him that she had a dream and that Pilate should have nothing to do with Jesus, this just man.  But the chief priest and elders persuaded the multitude to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 

Pilate again asked the multitude which should be released, Barabbas or Jesus?  They all said to let Jesus be crucified.  Pilate argued, “What evil has he done?”  But they cried out all the more, “Crucify him, crucify him.”

When Pilate saw he could make no difference in the decision, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying “I am innocent of the blood of this just person; see ye to it.”  The multitude answered, “His blood be on us and on our children.”

Barabbas was freed.

Jesus was scourged.  (Scourging is being beaten with knots of rope or plaited leather thongs, often armed at the ends with acorn-shaped pieces of lead or pointed bones.)

Jesus was stripped and clothed in a scarlet robe.

Jesus had a crown of thorns pushed down onto his head and a reed placed in his right hand.

Jesus was mocked.

Jesus was spit on.

Jesus was smote on the head with the reed.

Jesus was mocked all the more. Then his robe was removed, his own clothing placed back on, and he was lead away to be crucified.   All of this he bore in silence.

Guilty.  Of what?  A desire to do His Father’s will.  Guilty.  Of what?  Love for you and me. 

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”  John 15:13

When I ponder what the Lord has done for me, I find myself brought to the Old Testament prophecy, one of my favorite scriptures, in Isaiah 53:3-7 and it reads like this: 

“He is despised and rejected of men: a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not,

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him: and with his stripes we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way: and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.”

THAT’S only part of what He did for you and me.  

SOLD OUT

Luke 22:1-6, 47-65

Back even before the Passover meal, the chief priests and scribes were trying to figure out how they might kill Jesus.  Satan entered into Disciple Judas so Judas went to the chief priests and scribes and struck a deal for thirty pieces of silver.

After Jesus had prayed in the garden, a multitude approached with Judas among them.  Judas came close to Jesus to kiss him.  “But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?” Luke 22:48  A kiss of betrayal.  A sign that this was the man you want.  Jesus.

One of his disciples asked if they should draw their swords and drew his sword.  He then cut off the right ear of a servant of the high priest.  Jesus immediately touched the ear and healed the servant.    Jesus, in the midst of turmoil, was still showing compassion.

“Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves?  When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”  Luke 22:52, 53

They took Jesus, and led him to the house of the high priest.  Peter followed from far back. 

Some people made a fire in the midst of the hall and were sitting around—waiting to see what happened, I would guess.  Peter just sat there with them.  There was a woman there who spoke and said that Peter was with Jesus.  Peter replied, “Woman, I know him not.”  And after awhile, a man spoke up and said to Peter, “Thou art also of them.”  Peter again said, “Man, I am not.”

“And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean.  And Peter said, Man I know not what thou sayest.  And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.  And the Lord turned , and looked upon Peter.  And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.  And Peter went out and wept bitterly.” Luke 22:59-62

In my mind’s eye as I picture that look between Jesus and Peter, I can picture the agony in both sets of eyes.  How many times have I wept bitterly over wrong decisions and painful times?  There’s no weeping like a bitter weeping.  

As for Judas, Matthew 27:3-10 says that when he saw he was condemned, he repented himself and brought the thirty pieces of silver back to the chief priests and scribes saying that he had sinned and betrayed the innocent blood.  The chief priests and scribes were very uncaring.  Judas threw down the silver, left and went and hanged himself.  As for the silver, the chief priests found it unlawful to put back into the treasury as they were the price of blood so they bought a potter’s field in which to bury strangers. 

Sold out.  Denied.  So sad.

THE GARDEN

MATTHEW 26:36-46, MARK 14:32-42, LUKE 22:39-71

After the supper had been finished, Jesus took his disciples and went to a garden called Gethsemane to pray.   He asked his disciples to wait while he took three of his disciples with him further into the garden.  The three that went on with him were Peter, James, and John.  I find it interesting that these were the same three disciples who were with Jesus  on the mountain and witnessed the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-13)….a time of joy and wonder so much that the three disciples wanted to stay on the mountain.  Jesus told them to keep the experience to themselves until “the Son of Man be risen from the dead”.  Now they were the three disciples who were asked to go with him deeper into the garden—a place quite the opposite of joy and wonder—a place of deep agony. 

Jesus told the three of his soul’s sorrow and to “tarry here, and watch with me.”  Jesus had no distrust of his father, nor a conflict or struggle within himself, I don’t think.  I believe He knew what was ahead and the human pain it would cause.  He was looking death in the face.

“And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” Matthew 26:39

I find it interesting here that he calls this agony that lies ahead of him a cup.  To me, it would be a river or an ocean that would be totally scary.  I was thinking, though, that the difference in a river, an ocean, and a cup is that you can’t see the bottom of a river or ocean but you can see the bottom of a cup.  I know to Jesus, he saw the “rest of the story”, if you will.  Maybe I, too, should be encouraged in times of trouble that it is only a “cup” and I can see the bottom.

After praying this prayer, he returned to his three disciples and found them asleep.  Asleep!  He asked them if they could not watch with him one hour.    “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation:  the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  Matthew 26:41

So he went back for the second time to pray.  “O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.”  Matthew 26:42.  Willingly.  The gospel of Luke tells that an angel appeared unto him from heaven, strengthening him.  And that being in such agony, he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Jesus came and found the disciples asleep.  Again.  Sound asleep.

So he went back for the third time and prayed the same words.  When he came back to his disciples, he told them to sleep on and take their rest for the hour was at hand that He would be betrayed. 

To me, there’s a lot of sadness in this part of the Easter story.   Sadness that Jesus had done so much and showed so much love to his disciples and they couldn’t even stay awake to comfort him and be there for him.  Sadness that Jesus, feeling the pain in his soul would have to be in such agony.   It does show me that anything I experience in my life, He’s already experienced and been there.  The sins of the whole world were weighing on his shoulders.

There have been a few times in my life that my soul has been so sorrowful and fearful that I have REALLY prayed with my face to the ground.  Sadly, I don’t pray that earnestly as much as I should.  I try to go with a prayer on my heart daily and talk to the Lord as I do my daily “stuff” but as for praying in agony, it’s not a regular thing for me.  I know that I want to strive to be closer to my Heavenly Father in prayer and be assured by faith that the “rest of the story” will be in accordance to my heavenly Father’s will.   I need to be more willing to do my Father’s will.  Willing.

One of our choir’s Easter songs this year is one of my favorites.  I’ll bet you think I have a lot of favorites and you would be right.  The song is titled “He Was Willing” and speaks volumes to me.  It goes like this:

It must have been lonely that day in the garden

When Jesus knelt a stone’s throw away.

Bent low beneath the burden, he prayed to his father

Be thy will, let this cup pass away.

An angel came to strengthen the Savior

As earnestly he prayed there that day

And sweat like drops of blood fell on the ground before him

Deeply grieved, he knelt there to pray.

He was driven by compassion for the lost and the dying.

No other way our sins could atone.

He knew the time was nearing when he would be taken

He would bear the sting of death all alone.

The cross was just ahead on Mt. Calvary

In agony his life he would give

But he could see beyond to that resurrection morning

He would die so that others might live.

He was willing to suffer such agony

He was willing his life he would give

For he could see beyond to that resurrection morning

He would die so that others might live…..might live…

He would die so that others might live…..might live.

Willing to suffer for me.  Willing to suffer for you.   Willing.

A SUPPER

After Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, he spent some time with different teachings to his disciples.    The time spent at “The Last Supper” as it is so familiarly called is documented in all four gospels—Matthew 26:17-30, Mark 14:12-26, Luke 22:3-39, and John 13.

The supper took place on the first day of the feast of the unleavened bread.  Jesus sent two of his disciples, Peter and John, to prepare.    After they had asked him where to prepare, Jesus replied and told them that when they entered into the city, they would find a man bearing a pitcher of water.  (This was a different kind of thing as women were the usual waterbearers.) He told them to follow that man into the house where he went.  They were told to say to the goodman of the house that the Master told them to ask for the guest chamber where he might eat the Passover with his disciples.  The Goodman would show them an upper room.  Peter and John went and found the upper room and made ready.

The Bible says that when the hour was come, Jesus and his twelve disciples entered the upper room.  I try to imagine how the disciples must have felt.  Did they feel the somber mood?  Were they grieving over what might be to come?  Or were they clueless?

Matthew 26:21:  “And as the did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.”  This news certainly made the disciples sorrowful and fearful and they began to question, “Is it I?”  Of course, the Lord knew….the Lord knows all about us.  Jesus let them know it was someone familiar as he said in Matthew 26:23, “He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.  The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It had been good for that man if he had not been born.”  Judas, calling the Lord “Master” asked if he was him and the Lord replied, “Thou hast said.”  Something I learned in this study was that Judas was the keeper of the money….had the moneybag with him on a regular basis.  Can greed get the best of us all some days?  Greed for money?  Greed for worldly pleasures?  Greed for self?

As the Lord’s Supper was instituted, Jesus took the bread, and gave thanks, and brake it and gave to them saying, “This is my body which is given for you; this do in remembrance of me.”  Likewise the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.”  Luke 22:19, 20

At my church, we celebrate communion three times a year, once in the spring, once in the fall, and on Christmas Eve.  This is just when our congregation has set aside to do this.  Communion to me is one of the sweetest times in the life of a Christian when taken with humbleness, remembrance, and thanksgiving for what the Lord has done.  One of my favorite organ songs to play during this service is “Jesus Paid it All”.  It says “Jesus paid it all.  All to Him I owe.  Sin had left a crimson stain.  He washed it white as snow.”  I love that.   After the two regular communion services, tradition at our church is a feet washing service.  This is not so common many places anymore and I won’t go into the whole thing of that, it’s a personal choice for participation.  I will say when I have participated at the leading of the Spirit, I have been truly blessed.  I can say, too, that I have been blessed watching.   The gospel of John documents the washing of the feet at the supper.

The scriptures say that when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.  Jesus said unto them, “All ye shall be offended because of me this night; for it is written,  I WILL SMITE THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK SHALL BE SCATTERED ABROAD.  (Zechariah 13:7 prophecy)  But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.”  A promise to rise.....

Peter, being an outspoken and confident disciple, told Jesus adamantly that he would NEVER be offended, even though all others are.    Jesus tells Peter that Satan desires to have him (Peter) and sift him as wheat but He (Jesus) has prayed for Peter that his strength fail not.  In spite of Peter’s claims that he was ready to go ALL the way with Jesus,  ‘Jesus said unto him “Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shall deny me thrice.”  Matthew 26:34….not once, not twice, but THREE times.

Peter and all the disciples agreed that though they should die with him they would NOT deny him.  The disciples, as we do today, have a road paved with good intentions.  Sincere intentions. Believable intentions.

I like to think I would say the same as Peter---No, no Lord, I will never deny you.  When I think about it,  I know in my heart that I deny him almost daily, just by not sharing Him and His gospel with others who might not know Him. 

I do find comfort in these passages speaking of Jesus’ conversation with the disciples at the beginning of the supper.  Luke 22:11-15 says, “And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat the Passover with you before I suffer; For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”  A promise that He would be back……

HOSANNA!

From the four gospels you may find the reference for this post.  They are Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:29-40, and John 12:12-19.

“Hosanna” is defined as a fervent and worshipful praise.

In my studies, the gospel of John says that the next day after the supper at Bethany, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said, “Go your way into the village over against you; and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.  And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? Say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither.”  (Mark 11: 2,3.)

So the disciples went their way, found the colt, and were asked by the ones there why they needed the colt.  After their explanation, just as Jesus instructed, they let them go with the colt in tow.    They brought the colt to Jesus and laid their garments on it and Jesus sat upon it.  Now most all the time Jesus walked wherever he went and had very little possessions other than what others provided for him.  Now he would ride.

Because of the feast of the Passover, many people had come to Jerusalem.  Common people.  News of Jesus’ miracles had gone before him.  When the people heard Jesus was coming, they cast their clothes on the ground for him as well as took branches of palm trees and went to meet him.  Palms signified victory.  They cried out to him, “Hosanna: blessed is the king of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.”

At first the disciples didn’t understand but when Jesus was glorified, they remembered what was written and prophesied by Zechariah:

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee; he is just, and having salvation;  lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.”  (Zechariah 9:9)

I wonder how Jesus was feeling in HIS heart, knowing He was coming into Jerusalem for His own death?  Riding up to Jerusalem to do His Father’s will--the King of Kings and Lord of Lords riding into Jerusalem, not in a big showy “parade” of sorts as many regal kings and rulers would require for themselves but slowly on a borrowed colt to the shouts of “Hosanna!  Hosanna!” 

I wonder, too, how those in the crowd felt seeing him there.  Many were just curious, many were angry of the attention He was getting, many just wanted to be in the crowd for the “fun” of it, but many were there because they knew Jesus as King and believed the prophecy....Jesus, the Lamb of God.

The last book in the Bible, Revelation, is written by John, focusing on prophetic events of things to come.  John says in Revelation 7:9-10, "After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;  And cried with a loud voice, saying, SALVATION TO OUR GOD WHICH SITTETH UPON THE THRONE, AND UNTO THE LAMB."

Palms...of victory!

On most every calendar on the date of the Sunday before Easter, you will find it says “Palm Sunday”.   A true description reminding us of that day of the triumphal entry and victory to come!

AN ALABASTER BOX

I had a conversation the other day with my good Catholic friend.  Now I can’t remember why we were even on the subject but he told me that the one “story” from the Bible that gave him the most encouragement was the raising of Lazarus from the dead.  I thought a little about that on that day but not much, truly.  Monday of this week, I was hearing some Southern gospel and a song came on titled “Four Days Late”.  This song told the story of Lazarus (imagine) so I began to listen.  In the song, it talks about how that Jesus didn’t come right away but waited till Lazarus had been dead for four days.  All hope seemed to be gone.  But as it happened, Jesus came and raised his friend Lazarus from the dead.  The song’s point was that “isn’t it great when He’s four days late, He’s still on time”. 

What I want to talk about today happened six days before Passover back in the days of Jesus. This story is told similarly in the gospels of Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9,  and John 12:1-8 just in case you want to read them.  They are attributed to be from the same event.   I brought up Lazarus because on this particular day, Jesus was in a house in Bethany and Lazarus was there also.  This was after Lazarus had been resurrected.  They were in this house for a meal, a supper, a most important meal--probably a meal of fellowship and friendship and possibly there was much joy that Lazarus, too, was there.  From the readings, it leads us to believe that several people were in attendance.

The Gospel of Matthew 26:7 says “there came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.”   The story in John elaborates that "Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment."  (Spikenard is  an aromatic perennial herb of the Himalaya Mountains, having rose-purple flowers.)  Of course, the disciples there, being just like we are most times, were complaining that using this real expensive ointment was a huge waste.    Shucks, it could have been sold for a lot of money and given to the poor.   How dare she use it in a wasteful way?  

Jesus answered them in Matthew 26:10-13 like this, “…why trouble ye the woman?  For she hath wrought a good work upon me.  For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.  For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.  Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.”

A memorial.  Of her.  She did a good thing with an alabaster box of ointment.  An act to her Lord  from her heart.   An alabaster box….. a box of a fine-texture usually white and translucent gypsum often carved into vases and ornaments holding an ointment that itself is very costly. 

I can never hear of any box or gifted item such as this without remembering an experience in my own life that I must share here.  Several years ago, I directed the Children’s Choir and we had fun singing together. If I remember correctly, the particular Wednesday was Valentine’s week.  One of the little guys, probably in kindergarten then—maybe middle schoolish by now—came into practice and sweetly handed me a gift.   Now this is the little guy with the reputation of much mischief.  (I could always see through that mischief to his sweet heart.)   His gift was a little paper mache heart shaped box that he had done in school that day….red and white with foam stick ons.  I declared it’s beauty and thanked him profusely for it.  His mother told me later that he brought it home, got it out, and she had begun to thank him when he said, “It’s not for you, it’s for Ms. Bwenda.”  The poor mother.  I felt bad for her just for a minute, then my joy at my own good fortune took over my emotions.   She, of course, was laughing about it and we  get joy from the story now years later but I’ll tell you that my heart was REALLY warm and fuzzy.  That little box sits on a shelf in my studio room still today and every time I look at it, I am reminded of a child’s love.  For me.  And I feel good all over again.

When I think of Mary’s alabaster box, I think of the love that she had for her Lord.  To her, the cost didn't matter.  She was giving the best to Him she could give.  I wonder if I give Him as much from my own alabaster box as I should.  Do I give the best I can to Him? Or do I worry more about what my best will cost me?    I know the Lord knows my heart, my faults, and loves me anyway.   I know the importance of love, praise, worship, and glory to HIS name as well as the strength and spirit-filled joy it gives me in my life to exercise that love, praise, worship, and glory to HIS name.  I am so blessed, as Mary was, to call Him MY Savior and Lord.

At last fall’s Bible Study I attended, a song was sang that I had never heard before titled “Alabaster Box”.  It touched me and every lady hearing it that night.   I thought I would share the lyrics with you as I close today's post.  It goes like this:

“The room grew still

As she made her way to Jesus

She stumbles through the tears that made her blind

She felt such pain

Some spoke in anger

Heard folks whisper

There's no place here for her kind

Still on she came

Through the shame that flushed her face

Until at last, she knelt before his feet

And though she spoke no words

Everything she said was heard

As she poured her love for the Master

From her box of alabaster

And I've come to pour

My praise on Him

Like oil from Mary's alabaster box

Don't be angry if I wash his feet with my tears

And I dry them with my hair

You weren't there the night He found me

You did not feel what I felt

When he wrapped his love all around me and

You don't know the cost of the oil

In my alabaster box

I can't forget the way life used to be

I was a prisoner to the sin that had me bound

And I spent my days

Poured my life without measure

Into a little treasure box

I'd thought I'd found

Until the day when Jesus came to me

And healed my soul

With the wonder of His touch

So now I'm giving back to Him

All the praise He's worthy of

I've been forgiven

And that's why

I love Him so much”

What will you give Him from your alabaster box?

MY FAVORITE TIME OF THE YEAR

Year and years ago (yes, literally years and years ago) my favorite time of the year was Christmas.  The Christmas tree decorating, the paper chains, icicles on the tree, and the presents...ah, the list is endless of the fun that was to be had.  I've found, though, as I have gotten older that my "favorites" have changed.  Now understand, I like to get presents as much as others do.   I love tree decorating, cookie making, church Christmas plays, and Joy to the World the Lord is come.

However, let's say as I have "matured", I have recognized that my favorite time of the year has changed.  Instead of happening in the winter, it happens in the spring.  Easter.  I love Easter.  It's my favorite time of the year now.  Not because of the Easter eggs.  Now I've enjoyed many egg hunts in my years.  I've enjoyed the egg coloring.  I've enjoyed many deviled eggs, potato salad, and egg salad sandwiches the days after Easter.  I've enjoyed Easter frocks and Easter bonnets and all the other fun stuff that many consider when they consider Easter.

Now in my life for the past several years, the faith part of Easter has become the most important and my favorite.  I realize anew what Jesus went through for me, why it went through it for me, and what it means to me NOW.

I'm probably one of very few Christians that has not seen the movie, The Passion of the Christ.  I have it unopened in my cabinet.  I know that to the many who have seen it, it was worth the watch.   I just could never get my heart set to watch it.  It's not that I don't realize what Jesus did for me.  I think it's that I've read the scriptures and try to KNOW what they say and as I have read time and time again, I think in my own mind and heart I have it pictured there.  I don't want someone else's thoughts and pictures in my mind and spiritual heart.  I want my own....the ones God puts there.  That's what's important to me.  So I may watch it sometime and I may not but that would be the reason why I have not.

So with that in mind, I invite you my blog readers to join me starting tomorrow and all of next week as I remember what HE did and why I can celebrate Easter with a happy heart and joy that runs my cup over.  My hope is to have a post each day as I "remember".

Stay tuned.

A LESSON OF KINDNESS

“Kind” is defined as being of a friendly, generous, or warm-hearted nature.

"Kindness" is defined as the act of being kind.

There are many times in my life that I am taught by example.  You know the saying that “a picture is worth a thousand words” so actually I find that by watching and learning, I have experienced more lessons watching than any other way.  Such was the case this past Sunday afternoon at the church egg hunt.

I found the day to be beautiful, especially for hunting eggs and taking photos.  The lesson came after most all the eggs had been found.  I was standing around the center of the large field that was empty of the eggs that had been all around a few minutes earlier.  I was snapping photos with my large lens and having a good time when I noticed three siblings coming into the area.  These were blonde haired children, two sisters and a brother.  I asked if I could take a picture of them and, of course, as most children in our church do when they see me with my camera, they posed.  Nicely.  

After the photo had been taken, I just stood and watched and listened.  The Brother said to The Little Sister, “Wanna go find some eggs?”  She looked up at him, smiling and nodding.  Okay, so my pessimistic adult mind is thinking, “All these hundreds of eggs have been found.  Good luck.”

The Big Sister, The Brother, and The Little Sister started walking.  The Little Sister walked along with her siblings most willingly, a look of anticipation on her face.  I watched as they made their way towards the hill at the playground with The Brother leading the way.  

The Brother headed off to the right.

 The Big Sister climbed the hill.  The Little Sister started up the hill.  

As The Little Sister was near the top of the hill, I noticed The Brother coming back with an egg.  Imagine.  He is some egg hunter, isn’t he?    The Brother called The Little Sister’s name and she turned around.  The Brother was laying the egg he found on the ground and said, “Look, here’s an egg for you to find!”  The Little Sister, of course, happily went and “found” the egg. 

It was one of those times when my heart and my face both smiled widely.  How could one not smile?  Awww……KINDNESS.  The Brother and The Little Sister then joined hands and headed off to "find more eggs".

As I usually do when seeing such a lesson, I analyze my own life and wonder why I’m not like that.  I resolve then to try harder to be that kind of person with that kind of kindness.  Not expecting anything in return.   Not looking for recognition.  Just simply being kind because that’s what you do. 

I’m thinking that this kind of kindness is a positive nature to The Brother.  Now for sure he has his days of misbehaving, complaining, and other such actions that require discipline.  I have yet to see a perfect child.  Or a perfect adult.  Or a perfect one "in the middle".  Deep down, though, I have a big hope that The Brother's adult life will be a life of kindness also.  Can you imagine nurturing such a positive nature and the benefits he can share from it as an adult?  Can you imagine what WE can share if we exercise this quality as adults?  I know I want to work on it harder but I was truly blessed just from watching this interaction on Sunday.  

 

From one of my favorite Bible chapters for living, Colossians 3:

“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering….”

And lest you doubt it, be assured that God speaks loudly through the lives of children.   

Listen.

SPLINTERS

If you are one of my regular ten blog readers, you know that I am a firm believer in “no good deed goes unpunished”.  And if you are reading my blog for the first time, I have a post about that very thing in my list of posts. 

Yesterday was such a beautiful Sunday and loving to take photos of children the way I do, I decided to go to the church Easter egg hunt.  There were tons of children, lots of beautiful weather, many eggs, wonderful food, and great fellowship.  Our egg hunt is in a grassy spot pretty much right at and near the cemetery and playground.  How’s that for a location?  As the egg hunt was winding down and folks were preparing to head back to the basement for the food, I began my walk back to the church and was noticing the cemetery as I walked.  There was a tombstone that had two flower pots in front of it and both pots had blown over.  Being the good citizen that I sometimes am, I decided to go and set them upright.  One was in a basket, one was not.  The first one out of the basket uprighted pretty easily.  The basket one was more of a challenge.  I twisted and pushed and finally got it to work; however, in my efforts a splinter from that old, weathered basket got into my finger….actually two splinters a bit apart on the inside near the top of my little finger on my right hand.   All this descriptive information is important. 

My cousin, a retired fireman, was walking by as I sat on the steps of the old church trying to pick them out….with no luck, I might add.  I asked him if he had a pocket knife and of course, being a retired fireman and a redneck, he did.  He kindly opened it for me and handed it to me.  I looked at it and it looked a huge xacto knife…I carefully picked a little then he and I decided I would safer to just leave the splinters alone.  I decided suffering was best for a while until I got home to my safety and straight pins.  From my prior experience, safety or straight pins are the perfect tools for splinter finding and removal.  

When I got home, I got under the light to see good (older folks need a lot of light), saw both splinters and dug a little, confident the pins would do the trick.  Bad news.  They didn’t.   What did I do, you ask?  I remembered my grandmother’s home remedy that worked for me when I got a REALLY LARGE fencepost splinter UNDER my fingernail.  Not just under, but under all the way down to the cuticle with nothing near the top of the nail.  It was a huge, long black splinter.  Nasty looking.  Even a medical doctor wouldn’t touch it.  Really.  So my memaw told me to put a “piece of fat meat on it” and that meat will draw that splinter out.  Now THAT splinter REALLY hurt.   Being redneck that I was and in the pain I was in, I didn’t hesitate to get a piece of bacon fat, put it on my fingernail, and bandage it up good.   Let me tell you, that’s not an easy thing to do, fat is slippery. It took at least two days for that to work but eventually it got my fingernail in such a shape that I could stick my trusty pin under that nail without pain.  Too much information, you say?  You get a splinter down in your fingernail all the way to the cuticle and none showing at the top and see you what you think.  It’s pain.  Really.  Bet you’ll be remembering this and headed to your refrigerator for that bacon.

Even though that was years ago, it was still fresh in my mind so I came home and put some salt pork fat on my finger.  I took it off about bedtime and was able to use a pin to get that large splinter out.  I’m telling you, it hurt.  Badly.  My little finger is comparatively small to the rest of my larger body.  Throbbing pain.  Bad news is that the smaller splinter was and still is very embedded.  I put fresh meat on—doesn’t that sound gross—for overnight and this morning was still not able to get out that splinter.  So what do I do?  I go to the internet because you know what that commercial says…if it’s on the internet you know it’s true.  Duh.  The internet said many things but the one more reasonable to me was to soak it in vinegar for 20-30 minutes.  So yes, I soaked that finger in vinegar this morning.  When I took it out, it was all pruned up just like I’d been soaking in a tub.  It just smelled like I was canning pickles.  I got my pin again and was able to ease some of that pruning away but I STILL could not get that splinter out. 

I went to internet suggestion that I like #2.  It said make a paste of baking soda and put it on the spot and bandage.  I did that before my cardio class.    The internet also suggested that you could buy something that begins with an “I” at the drugstore.  I stopped there on the way home and asked and there is that something.  The druggist rattled off the long name immediately but they didn’t have any and would have to order.  I told her if it was not out with any of my other manipulations I would call for her to order in a day or so.  

I’ve just taken the baking soda bandage off and washed off the baking soda.  Ouch!  That little spot REALLY does hurt badly.  And you know from my other blog posts that I have a big tolerance for pain.  It hurts.  I looked closely and was able to see that the tiny black splinter was nearer the top of the skin than before.  I got my magnifying glass and pin and was able to remove the splinter.  It was soooo tiny and black…..but what a punch that tiny thing did to my little finger.  I was so very happy the splinter came out.  Now I’ll use the Neosporin and heal up the mess I’ve made of my finger and keep infection from coming.   I was so excited to have that thing gone.  I was letting it continually be on my mind because of the pain it was causing me.

As I suffered through this pain the last 24 hours, I was reminded this morning that  I,  along with all of you probably, allow “things’ to become embedded in our lives.   Or maybe they sneak up on us before we know it.  Foreign things that have no business in our lives.  Little things that cause a big pain.  Everybody at one time or another allows things to become embedded in their lives—emotionally, spiritually—you name it, it’s there.   I’ve been there and you have , too. 

In these cases, the remedy doesn’t come with baking soda and a pin.  It comes from a talk with the Lord and a genuine healing with His forgiveness, His comfort, His mercy, His grace, and His love.    Why don’t I go to Him first when I have these things embedded in my life?   Because I’m stubborn and think I’ll just do it on my own all the time knowing that He is always ready to lead me to the right remedy for whatever my problem is.  He pulls out those splinters of sin, fear, broken pieces, pride, and so much more. That’s just what He does.  Why?   Just because He loves us so.

“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.  He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.  He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.  For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.  As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:8-12

Amen.

SOUNDS

“Sound” is defined as vibrations transmitted through an elastic solid or a liquid or gas, with frequencies in the approximate range of 20 to 20,000 hertz, capable of being detected by human organs of hearing; transmitted vibrations of any frequency; the sensation stimulated in the organs of hearing by such vibrations in the air or other medium. 

That is quite a scientific definition I would say.  After reading and attempting to comprehend that definition, I am assured there was a good reason that Science was my absolute worst subject in school when it came to grades and understanding the subject matter.  In my comprehension, sound is what I hear with my ears.  Simple.

Since last Sunday’s church service, I have been making a conscious effort to pay attention to sounds in my daily life.  The Pastor had gotten up to do his message and told where he would be reading his scripture from for the message.  Since I was the organist that particular day, I was sitting in the front by the organ.  (I think sounds are louder there.)  As I began to turn the pages of my own Bible, I immediately stopped and listened to the sound of the many, many Bible pages turning in the congregation.   I always just want to close my eyes and listen and often I will find a tear escaping from my tear ducts.   I want everyone else to just be still and quiet and listen, too.  It's THAT good of a sound.   Let me tell you….that sound is one of my very favorites.  It represents to me the beauty of God’s Word and gives me comfort in my heart that many of those worshipping with me know that comfort also.  Last Sunday my heart just got warm and fuzzy and so full of joy.

I’ve heard the sound of my front porch wind chimes as they hit together when it gets a bit windy….can’t see that wind but can hear the effects of it.

I’ve heard the sound of the chirping of the birds as they fly around my yard with no cares.  I've even heard the birds singing loudly over the sound of heavy traffic in a heavy traffic area just yesterday in a metro area.  Now that's some kind of happy birds.

I’ve heard again the sound of the wrens as they fly in my wren house on the porch.   They DO have a distinctive sound.

I’ve heard  the sound of my 30 year old vaporizer run in the living room.  The Husband has had a sinus infection and a bit of strep this week.  Last night I listened to the sound of the gurgling and pumping of that vaporizer and realized from that sound that it’s pretty old and might not last too much longer.

I’ve heard the sound of a siren signaling an emergency situation.

I’ve remembered the sound of a little girl’s voice calling “Mama” in the middle of the night.  I ‘ve thought of how I, if not at first call, would waken and know something was amiss.  The sound of that one word just had some kind of fear when called in the middle of the night.

I love to hear the sound of children singing “Jesus Loves Me this I know”. 

Right now, I can hear the sound of a hammer and tools letting me know that The Husband is safe as he works outside.  Yes, you read correctly.  The Husband is working on his garage again.  Carefully so the not-completely-healed-yet-ribs stay together.

So next week, you pay attention to the sounds.  Close your eyes and just listen to what is going on around you.  Think of emotions that certain sounds bring....emotions of joy, happiness, comfort, sadness....you get the picture.  And, if you listen closely, you just might hear the sound of God’s voice in the most unlikely of areas.  His voice is there to hear EVERYWHERE.

Listen.

“Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound; they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance.  In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.  For thou art the glory of their strength….”

Psalm 89: 15-17