Brother...

Brother…

Have you ever thought about having Jesus for a brother? Your parents surely had a special place in their heart for him. You see, they knew who he really was. A secret they kept.

You heard the neighborhood gossip about his birth. At twelve years of age, he stunned the religious teachers with his knowledge. He probably made his bed and took out the garbage without being told to! A wonderful role model. Loving. Kind. Compassionate. The Bible says, He was without sin. Hard to live with a perfect brother!

Then he started acting crazy. Stirring up the people. Especially the ruling-religious. How could he do such unlawful things? Touch the Lepers. Talk to women. Even a Samaritan woman! He was without honor in his own town. Maybe even in his own home. And then miracle after miracle.

And then the end… Captured and drug from Herod to Pilate. Lies! Accusations! Death penalty! Whipped! A cross! And then death!

This was your brother. How would you feel? Would you finally believe that he was more than a brother! He was the Messiah! Your Savior!

Blame us…

‘Blame us… And our children. Just kill Jesus!’ That’s what the crowd, the mob, called out to Pilate.

They had been worked up by the religious leaders. They could only go along with the crowd. Its’ mob hysteria. It is still pretty much the same 2000 years later. It starts small, continues to go to a point where there is no turning back. The mob rules.

Several years ago in Seattle, the Fat Tuesday celebration turned into mob violence and an innocent young man was kicked and beaten to death while others watched.

Five people received new life from his organ transplants. One was his heart. But, that doesn’t make it right.

2000 years ago Jesus hung on a cross. A victim of mob violence and a few religious leaders who saw the law only one way.

The crowd called out, ‘Kill Him! Blame us and our children!’

Pilate washed his hands of the matter. However he had Jesus whipped, then turned him over to the mob. Pilate’s name is always connected to the crucifixion of Jesus. The hand washing didn’t work.

Jesus had to die. It was a sin issue. I’m glad He was willing. The crowd was right. The blame is on them and their children. And me! Jesus was innocent. I’m not. Jesus died because of my sin. To set me free. Thousands live because He died. It’s a heart transplant.

S’more thinkin’

Wonder what would I have done, if I had been part of the mob that morning? Would I have washed my hands and walked away? Or would I have been caught up in the mob hysteria - only to realize too late who Jesus was.

What am I doing today? Am I still part of the crowd? Or do I stand away from the crowd and do what God would have me do? What about you?

Junk

Junk...

'Father,' he prayed. 'Thank you for taking me, broken and looking like junk and making me into something worth while. Judy takes junk (interesting and unusual things) and hangs it on her wall for us to admire. She gives honor and value to broken things -- .'

Wearing an ankle 'bracelet' (because he was on parole) out of a job and attending our Home Group Bible Study, I was surprised at his connection to the 'interesting and unusual stuff' I had on the walls and around our house.

He continued, 'But, God... He takes us where we are and loves us with His powerful, merciful and transforming love. He calls us His. And patiently waits for us to become what He always saw us to be. We are not broken, old junk to Him'.

Simple...

Simple...

I like simple - easy - not complicated.

I just read Psalm 116:5-7: 
     The Lord protects the simple hearted.

I have never thought of a simple heart. A simple mind perhaps. And then my mind goes to College English 101. The instructor stopped the class, of about 50+ students, and asked me, "Are you wasting daddy's money?" 

I could have answered, "No, I wasn't wasting his money. I was the one paying the bills". I don't think she liked me...

Now, that my mind has wandered back, I Googled simple. I was right easy - not complicated, but there are more definitions. Uneducated - foolish - stupid - feeble - little value - ignorant - plain - elementary.

Okay. Now, back to the simple heart. The God I know is all about: grace, mercy and love. If he wants a simple heart, or any of the above definitions, HEAR I am. (Did that get your attention?) 

You have to be quiet and listen with ears, heart, mind and soul. Sounds complicated! But, here I am Lord! Ready to hear with a simple heart.

* gramatical and punctuation errors are mine... I stopped listening to her!

Praise...

Praise

Psalm 50:15 (The Message) “Spread for me a banquet of praise, a feast of kept promises.” Psalm 50:23 (The Message) “It’s the praising life that honors me.”

As I sat this morning with God, ready to begin my list of prayer requests (one of the side benefits of several small group membership, is a rather long list of requests)

I read Psalm 50

Psalm 50:15

• God wants.  A Banquet of Praise.  Banquets are not just meat and potatoes - no a banquet is a long table or two of the tastiest foods possible.  Too many choices – our plates runneth over. We also need to save room for the plethora of desserts.  

•  God wants a feast of kept promises.  Now a feast isn’t just hamburgers and fries. A feast is like a banquet – too much food.  All good food.  Again we eat way too much.  

• God wants us to call Him for help.  Help for what?  He doesn’t describe help – but I know when I need it. He wants me to call on Him and He will help.  His way.  His time.  

God doesn’t want our sacrifices, He already has all He needs.

Psalm 50:23  

Praise honors and delights God.  A little praise brings much pleasure to God.  And to others. Promises kept are His desire and He is ready and willing to help.  

We parent our children to become independent.  To make wise choices.  We love to have them ask our advice.  But usually we hear later.  God, on the other hand, wants us to become like children.  Completely, wholly dependent on Him.  

His ways are not our way – nor are His thoughts our thoughts.

3/20/10

Balance...

Balance

The hardest, no the 2nd hardest exercise is balancing on one foot on a four inch piece of semi/stiff foam for a whole minute. That is 60 seconds! Until the beeper beeps.

Someone stands beside me to catch me if I tip or fall and to offer encouragement.  “Almost there!”  “Good job!”

I can grab the bar in front of me when I get too wiggly.  Sometimes, just touching the bar steadies me.  How this helps my new knee is a mystery to me.  There are few times, actually, none, where I have needed to balance for any length of time on a four inch piece of foam.  

It has been explained that the balance centers mostly in the ankle, then moves up the body.  Sometimes putting my arms out helps.  Touching the bar happens often. One whole minute.  60 seconds seems like an eternity. But finally the beeper beeps.

The hardest exercise is the heel slides. I lay on my back.  Hook a belt on my foot and drag it as close to my butt as possible.  Hold. Then release.  10 times.  My knee is really not interested in bending that much.  If I want to walk normally, I need to get to 120 degrees.  Right now it takes a lot of pulling on my part and pushing, massaging on their part to get to 120 degrees. Balance and flexibility necessary for a smooth  walk.  

The therapists and helpers are great encouragers.  Their whole focus is on getting me back to a normal full life and they are ready to catch me if I fall.  They are pushing and pulling and most of all – encouraging.  

God says, “Count it a sheer gift when tests and challenges come to you… under pressure your faith life is forced into the open and shows its true colors – So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely.  Let it do its work as you become mature and well developed not deficient in any way.”  James 1:2-4 The Message.

I want to walk normally without pain.  I have a new knee and will soon have another.  I have a whole team of people helping, instructing and encouraging.  

Test?  Trial?  Or a sheer gift!

I wrote this a few years ago. After my first knee replacement. It seems as though various parts of my body are needing special attention now.

Maybe, my attitude too!! Do these things continue forever?

Plans Change...

The Plan…

Dan and I got married before his senior year and my junior year in college. We would graduate, teach and then start a family

Plans change...

Time to reverse the plan. Surprise! We were starting a family. OK. Dan would graduate. I would finish my junior year. Have the baby and finish college.


               

That plan changed too...

Three babies and four years later, Dan decided to return to college and get his Masters Degree. I would then finish my senior year.

Plans change again…

A mix-up with grades caused Dan’s fellowship to collapse and vanish. He took a long-term substitute position in Spokane. I student taught 1st grade then another student teaching in 7th and 8th grade. I got hired to teach 3rd grade beginning in January. But, I had to finish my BA before I could teach. So, I took a correspondence class and one or two night classes. All this totaled 26 credits for fall quarter and a BA in December.

Again plans change...   

Fast-forward 10 years…
I taught Special Reading for six months. Finished my 5th year of college and began my second year of teaching. The first day of school my principal showed up, “You are one credit short.” Somehow, one credit was earned before I taught a full year. I called Olympia. The Queen and final word on teacher certification, informed me, “You should have taught school instead of staying home and raising kids!". This was said by, the single ‘in’ charge of credentials lady.

One credit! OK! I can do this. I called Central Washington College. I did a directed study, finished in one week (got an A). Done. The credit was sent here, there and nowhere to be found. Lost! My job could no longer be held. Home Again!

Another 10 years…
Two kids in college, Karmen a junior in High School and once again, I began my beloved teaching career.


I would not change all these changes, even if I could. I was able to accomplish my most important job in the world… I was home with my kids…
PRICELESS…