Suffering and Resurrection

This is Easter Sunday, day of Resurrection! What a good day to blog again, as if I'm being "resurrected" from my procrastination. 

Actually this week has been quite the walk. Making my way along the road (in my heart, that is) and in the crowds as Jesus made His way to the cross. He knew what He was walking into, yet He kept going. He didn't deviate from His path. He continued to teach people, performed miracles, and meet with the disciples. Nothing was about Him. It was all about His Father, doing what His Father told Him to do.

He asked for a donkey, a beast of burden. Not a horse that is used by kings and dignitaries. Perhaps the donkey was a symbol of the burden He was carrying. Then He met with His disciples in an upper room for Passover. Only one of the disciples was not in fellowship with the others, but they didn't know a betrayer was in their midst. Judas, really? You asked Jesus if you're the one who will betray Him, when you've already made the deal with the authorities! But what is touching is that Jesus washed Judas's feet, just like He did the others. Basin of grace poured over his feet. Judas' heart was on the 30 pieces of silver. The Bible says of Judas, "Having received the piece of bread, he then went out immediately. And it was night." John 13:30 (NKJ) Dark and cold! Not only outside, but also in his heart. Chills!

In Gethsemane, while Jesus prayed the disciples slept. They had no fight, and were unaware of what was happening. We meet Judas in the garden, betraying Jesus with a kiss. Jesus calls him, "friend." That is overwhelming!! Love!

What Jesus suffered for us/me, is hard to take. Why did He take it. Men didn't nail Him to the cross to hold him there, Love kept Him there! Deity hung on the cross, too horrible to look at! He wore the crown of thorns. Thorns were a part of the curse of sin in the garden of Eden. Now Jesus is wearing the curse on His head. All the suffering before the cross, but the worst was God turning His back on the Son. Praise the Lord, the story doesn't end there!

Jesus was Resurrected! He is Alive, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

It is the same with you and me...unless we come to the cross, we cannot be resurrected. We are commanded to carry the cross daily. We will suffer, but our Resurrection will come! Our  eyes on Jesus and all He has done for us, it is worth it all!

His Grace Abounds

Barb

Little Dust Bunnies

It amazing how God uses the "simple" drudgery of life to teach me lessons. This usually happens when least expected. And so it was, this morning...the dust on the ceiling fan. Yes, you read it correctly.

A few weeks ago, I had asked Agape if he could clean the dust off the fan, but we needed the duster sheets. So it didn't get done. This morning I happened to look up, and clearly saw dust bunnies nesting on the fan. I got the duster, and proceeded to take care of the problem.

As the dust fell to the floor, I was reminded of sin. When I leave sin in my heart, and do not take care of it, it will grow. Sin multiplies quite fast, left unattended.  We usually "nurse" our sin by making excuses. I had my list of excuses for not cleaning the fan—no dusting sheets, my arms are too short, I'm not tall enough, I could fall, etc.

After I had the dust bunnies swept together and in the waste basket, the room even felt cleaner. I feel so much cleaner, if my sin is taken away and I am washed by the blood of Jesus. Forgiveness feels so good. No one else in the house may notice the clean fan, but it is clean. When Jesus cleans my heart of sin, I feel peaceful freedom.

One more little lesson in this "dust" story. When did I see the dust? When I looked up? When I look to Jesus, the sin will show up. When I look into the mirror of His Word, the Holy Spirit will convict me. When I look up, He will take me in His arms and wash away all my "dust bunnies" hiding in my heart. Thank you, Jesus.


His Grace Abounds
Barb

"Small Favors"

'For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in my name because you are Christ’s, truly I say to you that he will never lose his reward” (Mark 9:41)

Do I pass by the "small" favors because I think God is looking for bigger? Am I willing to accept blessings from another? When we serve someone in the Name of Jesus, or someone serves me in His Name, there is a blessing. 

We often will categorize that which is important to God. What's a cup of water anyway? It's only a cup of water. During my years in Haiti, this verse became reality to me. In a country when water isn't always accessible, people walk everywhere, and it is hot and dusty, water is a blessing.

No favors or good deeds in the Name of Jesus are trivial. We never know what a blessing our "favor" will be to the receiver. Let me give you an example: One of my friends (we are in the same Bible Class) felt she was to give another lady a gift. The Lord showed her what to give, it was "something" from her house. She thought it strange, as she was thinking to buy something, but no peace with that idea. She knew she was to give her the "item" from her house. So she wrapped it, and the next week gave it to the lady. When she saw it, she burst into tears, knowing exactly the reason for this gift. 

Obedience is so important even when we don't understand. The small and mundane is Big in God's sight. Nothing is mundane. Let's not miss the blessing for us or for others.

One of my friends is a fairly new Christian, newly baptized. She wanted a cross as a reminder what Jesus has done for her. As she shopped she just couldn't find the "right" one. Later another gal, who also knew her, felt she was to give her a gift for her baptism, decided to give her the cross that was given to her when she was baptized. What a surprise and blessing when the gift was opened and found the perfect cross, and now even more precious because a friend had given it to her without knowing that she was even wanting one!

Don't pass by the small and insignificant today. Bless someone with a "cup of water." 

His Grace Abounds
Barb

My Gethsemane Battle

A couple weeks ago I was privileged to attend a Ladies' Retreat. The campground was gorgeous. The rooms were more than comfortable. The food was tasty. But I didn't really attend for the comfort, although, it was very peaceful. I enjoyed reconnecting with friends, as well as finding new friendships.

I attended each session which was held in an old chapel, gorgeous! They even rang the church bells. But the first several sessions, I came away feeling like I must have missed something. Have you ever done that? Just feeling like I didn't really connect to the subject at hand. There was nothing wrong with it,  I just felt disconnected.

But God was waiting for me, at the last session. Oh yes, and waiting He was!! The speaker said something that we all need to go through Gethsemane. Of course, that perked my ears. And what she said next has stayed with me.  What experience did Jesus have in Gethsemane before His arrest? He prayed. He prayed harder and more sincerely than I ever have, and I am thinking more than anyone ever has. There are seven words that culminated His prayer, "Not my will, but thine be done."

I need more times in Gethsemane, crying out "not my will, but thine be done." Letting go of that which is trying so hard to keep me from victory! Those things which rob me of my joy. Letting go of that which is a selfish desire. Letting go of the easy way out or the easy road to travel.

You may ask "What is God's Will?" There are 6 things that for sure are His will, and I believe if we follow this 6 things, everything will fall into its proper place. But the battle must be fought in Gethsemane. If we don't let go, and let God...we will not walk in His will.

 His will: (not original with me...Pstr Shawn)
1. To be Saved
2. To be Sanctified
3. To be Spirit-filled
4. To Suffer for His sake
5.  To be Submissive to His will
6. To be Thankful in all Things

To Suffer and be submissive really hits the selfish part of our hearts. But then, we need to cry out "Not my will but Thine be done."

Today has been difficult. But now at the end of the day, I know there is victory after Gethsemane. But I must be submissive to His will.

His Grace Abounds
Barb

Mentoring Our Little Ones

Yesterday in Bible class our teacher was encouraging those of us who wanted to, to sign up to be a mentor to others in the class who may not be as seasoned in the Word as some of us who have been Christians for a long time. As always, my mind goes down a "bunny trail" wondering what mentoring is really all about.

My thoughts are first and foremost to my family, especially my grandchildren. As tiring and busy as it may often be to have young ones around, when I've been in an "empty-nester" for 7 years. But I count it a great joy to mentor my little ones. Many times, I've prayed, "Lord what is it that I'm doing here?" Meaning after all these years in Haiti, now I'm "here." Every time I have a clear sensing that "I'm standing in the gap." That is a great responsibility to "stand in the gap," meaning we give warnings when danger or the enemy is near.

We are commanded to teach our children "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."  Deut 6:6-7 (NIV)  Basically it is commanding us to teach our children God's law and word in every situation.

My favorite example of mentoring in the scripture is Paul and Timothy. Paul called Timothy "my true child in the faith" I Tim 1:2. And again in 2 Tim 2:2, Paul calls him his "beloved son." He taught Timothy every thing he needed to know to carry on the ministry of the Gospel.

How are we doing in this? Are we really teaching our children? There are many times throughout the day when we as parents/grandparents can be using the Word of God as examples for things that are happening. We can instill the Word of God into their hearts. One thing we have done recently is enroll them in AWANA club at church. This will be another way for them to learn.

There are times when I wonder if I am really making an impression on their little minds. I had an answer this summer, when the kids were going on a road trip. So I said "What am I going to do without you for so long a time?" Zion, 5 years old, pops out the answer, "Well Grandma you can read your Bible." I was thrilled that they do notice that I am reading my Bible often. Now at bedtime, they want me to read something from the Bible. What a privilege this is.

So I encourage you to make the Word of God alive in the lives our little children. It may take a while before you see signs of your faithfulness to this, but it will come. I love to hear how their little minds are thinking. We as God's children are the light in this dark world. 

His Grace Abounds
Barb

The Fruit Orchard

Recently I have been strolling around the fruit orchard. The trees are loaded with fruit, just waiting for someone to eat of it. It is a bit unusual to see so many different fruits all in one orchard. In Florida, there are orange groves, but no apples in these groves. In California, there are vineyards full of grapes, but no cherries there. In Washington, we would find beautiful apples and cherries, but not in the same orchard.

The orchard in Ephesians 5:8-9 speaks of the Fruit of the Light. This fruit is goodness, righteousness, and truth. The Root of this tree is the Light of the World, Jesus! Without the Root, there is no Fruit!! I can't just pick and choose this fruit, when I am grafted into this Root, the fruit will be there. I am washed in the Blood of Jesus, and then am clothed with the robe of Righteousness. He sees me through His rightness. Within myself, there is no goodness. Only through Jesus, is there goodness. and truth.

There is another fruit orchard found in Galatians 5:22-23. This one is the fruit of attitudes. This seems more like a vineyard, where the grapes are processed in the winepress. It is truly a daily process in my life, where God "squeezes" out more and more of self. Read the list: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Just when I think I am doing fine, then comes the testing. Someone says something that hurts my feelings, and then come unlovely thoughts, not so kind. Oh I may not say them, but they are "in" there. God takes me back to the winepress, and presses in on those things that need to be taken out.

As we grow in Jesus, as we learn more and more of His ways and how to walk faithfully in Him on a day to day basis. The fruit becomes sweeter, not because of who I am but because of Who He is, and who He has made me through Him.

Reminds me of the Garden of Eden, how Adam and Eve walked with God in the Garden. What peaceful walks that must have been. They did not know the ugliness of rotten fruit until after disobedience.

As I stroll through the fruit orchard with God, my desire is to see more fruit in my life that is in His likeness. May the fruit people see in me, exemplify the Fruit of the Light.

His Grace Abounds
Barb

Seasons of Life

Seasons come and seasons go. The summer season is now gone. School starts on Monday.  A new beginning. Beautiful memories of our summer vacation days. Patrick and I had a 10 day road trip visiting churches, friends, and small groups. A great time. Two days after returning home, he went to Haiti. The children had a 10 road trip to Michigan and back. Great memories. They learned so much on the farm, canoeing on the lake, going to Mammoth Cave. All new experiences. They had many beach days. Another highlight, I had 5 days alone at home, just God and I. It was a great experience. I was also privileged to enjoy my mother's 93 birthday.

Seasons of Life. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 cites many seasons. Some things are but a passing moment, but then there are those times which are truly seasons. For  example vs 2, "there is a time to give birth." Giving birth doesn't stop there, the season of raising our children lasts many years. Those years bring times of laughter and tears. Raising children is a very emotional time for a mother. And then, suddenly that season is done, and our children are gone. As difficult as it is, to see our children leave "the nest," I remember telling our children, "I didn't raise you to sit at home and nest, I raised you to go out and make a difference wherever you are."

Mourning is a difficult season. Psalm 30:11"You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness." Even that season, will eventually turn to a more joyous time.

For those of you who are hoarders, stashing everything: there is a season for you. Vs 6 "...a time to keep and a time to throw away." What a job that is!! Shall I keep this or throw it away? There is a time to throw away...you may give it to Goodwill, a garage sale (did you know you can donate your unused items to a fund-raiser garage sale for Kingdom Kids in Haiti?). By the way, it is much easier to clean a house that isn't loaded with "stuff."

A season of speaking and one of silence. Now that is a difficult one. Truly it is a refreshing time when I just reflect and listen. A lot can be learned in a time of silence. My family may read this and wonder if that ever happens in my life, the silence. Smile. But it does happen. It is so important to be silent when God speaks. Hear Him. Don't try to defend yourself. He already knows your heart.

Eccl 3:11 "He has set eternity in their hearts" is one season that will not end...eternity. Whatever you are going through right now, remember it is a season. The seasons of life are for our learning and drawing closer to God. It is a preparation time for Eternity. The secret to enduring the seasons of life is to keep our eyes on Him and not on the misery of the season. Trust the God of the circumstance and not the circumstance. We may not always understand, but God sees the beginning from the end.

I hope your summer vacation (season) was a blessing to you. Now we move to the season of school months again. Let's make them a blessing to our children and their teachers.

If you need information about the Fund-raiser Garage Sale, contact me at:  livingwordhaiti@me.com

His Grace Abounds
Barb