“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.” ~Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Ecclesiastes%203:1-13&version=NIV
I was recently ask the question, “What is calling for your attention?” Could it be “control” or possibly “vulnerability?” I started approaching this question with a past method that had not served me well, avoidance. What I have learned is two things, avoiding things will only delay the inevitable and two, my ability to suppress my thoughts while sleeping, impossible.
One thing I have noticed is the more distance I place between the things I want most in my life, the louder they call to me. The appear in the news feeds I read, they randomly show up in conversations and even in movies and TV shows I watch. I have a tendency to perform risk analysis to many things in my life and often it keeps me from moving in the direction of finding and pursuing. I’m left with a sense of emptiness and a void that I try to fill with “things.” These things are typically just “fillers” watching a movie I’ve seen multiple times, playing useless video games or my go to favorite, sleeping. I try to keep myself in check knowing the risk of depression taking a stronghold, when I feel the tightening grip of depression I can sometimes do one of two things, give in or physically move myself to a new environment. Often going for a drive or a walk outside helps and gives me a new perspective. But, depression is not something you turn on and off, it can be completely debilitating at times. Depression is a disease and is not about making yourself feel good. Just like other diseases, depression is a medical condition that can require the assistance of medication or counseling or a combination of the two. With that being said, sometimes I am depressed and withdrawn. The spring weather is definitely good for my soul, seeing nature coming to life and hearing the sounds of new birth is very refreshing. I am reminded of the power of God and His endless, boundless and wondrous love for me. I am also blessed with friends and family that support me and encourage me.
God’s perfect timing, I just read my verse for the day, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” ~Philippians 4:6-7 https://biblegateway.com/passage?search=Phil.4.6-Phil.4.7&version=NIV
I want to be very clear here and say that my depression is not a curse from God or some kind of punishment, it’s an illness and a disease and God loves me and created me for His glory. Depression is not for anyone to judge or burden one another with self-righteous babble. God alone is the Truth, Life and the Light of the world. “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” ~John 14:6 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%2014:6&version=NIV
So, to get back on point…I was sharing a question about what is calling for my attention. Is it “control” or “vulnerability?” I have been examining “control” more specifically “my control” over the past year and have be blessed with wonderful role models in my life to assist me on this quest. The biggest and greatest lesson I have learned is the different between “control” and “concern” and they are not at all what I thought they were. I had assumed that the things I was interested in and passionate about, I also held some sense of control of, in true reality there are very few things we have absolute control of. For example, I am in total control of what I wear to work everyday true or false? False, I have control only within the confines of the workplace dress code. The same is true for many things in life. The selling point for me was learning the difference between control and concern, when I saw things as they truly were, I found out I have a lot of things I am concerned about and very few where I have absolute control. This was a huge awakening for me, I would stress myself and those around me when things were not precisely the way I had intended them to be. The issue was rarely that they were wrong they just weren’t the way I had envisioned them to be. Kind of an ego buster to admit that you’re not in control, lots of concerns but no control. Once I was able to more clearly see my role and my responsibilities, as opposed to the self-imposed responsibilities; I found myself feeling less intense and less demanding of patrolling areas outside of my control. An added bonus to learning this life lesson is I discovered boundaries and what they truly mean and what they represent. It was as if someone turned a light on and all of a sudden I saw boundary lines as real as if they had been painted in white. Boundaries have always been so elusive to me, the concept was never really clear, it was like looking through a frosted window where things are all distorted. I actually have a book I’ve started reading a few times over the past decade called “Boundaries” I just could never get past the first chapter. I just wasn’t ready to learn the lessons I needed to until now. I look back over the past few decades and can see God’s will working in my life and leading me to this particular time to more fully understand life and my place within it. This is just another part of my journey and I know God is using the people and circumstances in my life to teach me the things I will need as I journey forward.
I haven’t shared much about vulnerability, as it’s a tough subject for me. Most people do not like being vulnerable. Webster defines it as capable of beingphysically or emotionallywounded. Well neither sounds good to me! In a world where power, popularity, and wealth seem to be coveted, vulnerability has no place. Why? Often because in my opinion, it is misrepresented as only a negative, a fault and defect. I think it can be those traits as well as being the means of developing a better understand towards one another and it can help solidify ones own character traits. By definition a vulnerability assessment is the process of identifying, quantifying, and prioritizing the vulnerabilities of system/person/place/thing. I have things that I am vulnerable (sensitive) about and I try to avoid them whenever possible. And, just because you are vulnerable in an area doesn’t mean you will always feel that way. When I was in high school I detested speech class, I was embarrassed to be in front of my classmates for fear of being laughed at along with other fears as well. I think I only gave one speech the whole time I was in high school, then came college. I decided to major in Education…obviously I did not think that through…what do teachers do? Talk in front of others! My solution for freshman speech class…get into a class where I didn’t know anyone, my thought was it wouldn’t hurt as much to have strangers laugh at me. Not sure how I did it but I managed to pass the class, and I graduated with a B.A. in Secondary Education. I still get nervous when talking in front of people but it’s different now, this is yet another example of God’s unfailing love, He was providing learning lessons that molded me over time and through a gradual process for His glory not mine. I have had the privilege of leading a women’s bible study the past two years and it has brought me so much joy! Amen! All things are possible with God! When it was no longer about me and was about God will, my vulnerability became God’s message.
We are all imperfect people living in an imperfect world, my hope is that we treat others in the same manner that we want to be treated. In a world where you can be anything, BE KIND!
Thank you for sharing my journey with me. I truly appreciate you taking the time to read this blog entry and my prayer is that you know Jesus in a personal way!
I changed the title after I started thinking about this blog post first because I am in no position to tell anyone what their moral compass is or should be and tell you how to find your moral compass. What I do hope to convey is my moral compass and the journey I have traveled and where it might lead me to next. Life is not a destination to arrive at to plant oneself and stop. Life is a journey with many stopping and starting points along the way. A musician doesn’t learn to play a specific instrument and suddenly stop, they crave new sounds and arrangements, challenging themselves to new discoveries. The same is true with artists, it’s even been said “they like to push the limits and press ideas outside of conventional means in order to start new conversations that connect people. Writers have a burning in their souls to share their thoughts and ideas, allowing their readers a glimpse into their organized chaos.
Everyone’s journey begins at birth, everything we are exposed to during the critical developmental stages of life make an impact on our understanding of life. It has been my experience that children with siblings develop a sense of sharing more quickly than children with no siblings. I grew up with several cousins and that taught me that not everyone gets to do their favorite thing everyday, some days we played baseball for hours, some days we rode our bicycles for hours, some days we would go fishing…mostly outdoors activities occupied my childhood and I was exposed to lots of activities which help develop passions for some of those activities. I also learned concepts like trust, cooperation, teamwork and companionship.
As I grew older some of these traits solidified and made profound impacts on my life. Growing up in a small rural area I just assumed my values, my dreams and my aspirations would and should be just like everyone else’s. It’s seemed very clear based upon the data available to me at the time. I had similar dreams that other girls did…a boyfriend in high school, dates and first kisses. Thoughts of getting married, living in a cute little house with a white picket fence. *Those that know me, don’t laugh…I really did dream those dreams. Because that’s who I thought I should be, be like everyone else. I even had a picture in a scrapbook of a southern mansion with a wrap-a-round porch painted in the purest of white paint and decorated with beautiful flowers. *i still have the picture today, not the dream…I realized it really wasn’t me at all but beautiful all the same.
I was fortunate to have been able to know and remember not just my grandparents but also my great-grandparents. What a blessing! My deep sense of family comes from growing up with multiple generations of my family. My mom had 8 bothers and sisters and my dad had 2 brothers and numerous cousins and second cousins. Family was valuable and priceless. I was the only granddaughter on my father’s side of the family, which was good and not so good all at the same time. I learned at an early age that family is always there for you, no matter what. I learned generosity from my family, whether it was providing a meal, transportation, money until payday, labor to mow the yard, borrow a cup of sugar…hearts were filled with compassion and generosity. Second chances, third chances…you’re family and that’s all that matters, take care of family. Helping a neighbor, saying hello to a neighbor and just plain being neighboring!
My parents provided for our spiritual needs as well, as a kid my parents attended the “big” events life Easter, Christmas and VBS programs and sent my brother and me to Sunday school every week. Some of my fondest memories are from that part of my life’s journey. We were picked up every Sunday by our Sunday school teacher, her name was Roberta Smith and we called her “Birdie” she was an angel. A strong godly woman with a heart of gold. I attended that church from toddler through my high school years, I still drive by the church about once a month and pause to remember and smile because of the peace I feel in my heart. The other beautiful thing is that this church is at the entrance to the cemetery where my mom was laid to rest. There’s so many happy memories of this place and although I know my mom is not really there, I know she’s in heaven with God, but it comforts me to be able to visit her here and to leave tokens of my love at her gravestone. This too has been part of my journey, in the midst of the pain of saying goodbye to my mom God was preparing me to discover new things about who I am and the learning continues. I experienced grief like I had never imagined, I found out that I would survive without my mom’s physical presence and learned she will always be a part of me. I am her daughter, she loved me beyond imagination and supported me beyond understanding, she taught me how to be strong and confident, how to give without reservations, to display bravery even when your frightened. She was honest, faithful and fearless.
Recently, I have found myself looking back on events that have happened in my life and examining the lessons I’ve learned. I’ll be honest, I’ve had some really “crappy” things happen to me that have helped to form some of the moral ideas on my compass. Let me be the first to tell you, you don’t have to hang onto those “crappy” things or ideas. You have, I have the ability to say…NO! That’s not right, that’s not true! That’s not me now! We can choose to delete those false ideas that were pressed upon us when we trusted the wrong people and situations. I don’t want to forget, I want to put them in their proper place and look at it from a new perspective then recognize it for what it was and let it go. Tell it, that it no longer has control over you. When we spend too much time in the past, we lose sight of the present. Respect the past, receive the lesson and the move forward freeing your hands and feet to meet the next step in your journey with arms open wide.
I have learned that I can honor and value my parents and their beliefs and to not be bound to them. I can form my own values and beliefs and I have the ability to change them. My core values (love, respect, forgiveness) remain unchanged, it is the learning of new ideas and living through life experiences that lead me to more clearly and concisely define who I am and what I believe. Some experiences have led me to greater empathy towards others and there have been times I just had to say, I don’t understand but I respect you. Life, like I mentioned earlier is not always about what we want, it’s compromise and cooperation. I have friends that I love and respect and we do not agree on everything and that’s ok. To be respected one must give respect. To be heard, one must be willing to listen. If we start with commonality and work together towards our differences we might actually see possibilities.
I am thankful for all the stops, starts, detours and derailment so far in my journey through life. God has blessed me, God continually forgives me, God comforts me, God leads me, God chases me and God restores me. No regrets, because I learned from the mistakes and the missteps, sometimes I learned quickly and other times it took years but God never left me even though I wandered off many, many times.
Sometimes we just need to stop and check our compass, make sure it’s pointing in the right direction. Thank you for reading about my journey and I pray for your journey may we meet at Jesus’ Place someday!
Have you ever diligently planned for something only to find out you studied the wrong material?
I have the privilege of being part of a very special group of women from my church and our group meets monthly in one another’s homes for devotions, conversation and delicious food. This group of strong godly women have given me the honor of leading our bible studies and it has been so rewarding to me in more ways than I can adequately describe to you. So we had decided to use a book for our bible study and it contains the Bible books of Ruth and Esther. We purchased the books initially for the study of Esther, I thought it would be a great idea to learn more about the woman our group is named after. So, with that being said I was ask, are we to read chapter 1, I replied yes! So, I spent several hours reading through the scripture chapter, the book we purchased and I had additional purchased the commentary companion book to use. We arrived and I started the conversation with a few introductions and explanation about the different names that the king was referenced to between the Greek and Hebrew translations. We decided to listen to the audio reading using my phone to practice “Lectio Divina” and that’s when a “puzzling sense” overcome the room. It became clear that I was not on the same page as everyone one else in the group. I studied and planned the devotional on Esther Chapter 1 which is actually chapter/lesson 4! It was funny and I’m so glad I was able to laugh with everyone. *(In the past this kind of situation would have crushed me and I most likely would have wanted to run away and never face the group again. Praise Be to God I was able to laugh with the group at an innocent misunderstanding and not take it as a personal flaw in who I am). After we all had a good laugh we switched gears and listened to Ruth chapter 1 and then we went through the questions in the book, everyone participated and shared personal moments and God was with us.
Through these wonderful women, who I call my friends; my faith has been strengthened and I see the world through more caring eyes.
So, through “Us” instead of “me” the group was able to spell and study “Ruth” out of “Us and Esther!”
Have you experienced being laughed “at” instead of laughing “with” a group? What I have learned and I hope can help you is this…love yourself enough to laugh at yourself; do not hold yourself to a different standard from others; no one, not a single human being is perfect. Jesus is the only one being perfectly human and perfectly divine. You were not created for perfection. God loves you! You are unique and special to God. Don’t allow others to put you down to be a part of their group, you are more valuable than that. Be bold and be brave, I don’t use these words lightly. Life can’t be about regrets, we all learn through our experiences and some of the lessons I’ve learned through difficulties have helped shape me into the person God created me to. Life really is about changes, every day is a new opportunity to do things differently.
“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” ~Psalm 139:13-14
“For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.” ~Romans 12:3
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” ~2 Corinthians 5:17
“It has been testified somewhere, “What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor.” ~Hebrews 2:6-7
“…so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth.” ~Ephesians 3:17-18
“…knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” ~1 Peter 1:18-19
“May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done.” ~Ruth 2:12
This post is dedicated to all who have supported me on my journey which started out as a conversation and simple sharing of my thoughts and ideas.I have been writing my thoughts and feelings on paper and electronic devices for many years and the practice has served me well.I didn’t realize my words could be used to help others and share my faith until a dear friend explained blogging to me.It has been a learning experience since the beginning and continues to be.God has blessed me far beyond any of my expectations.It has been sheer joy to see so many people read my blog, I am humbled at the places my page has been viewed around the globe.Only through the power of Jesus has that even been possible.I strive to be authentic and transparent as possible when sharing my thoughts.This journey is entirely in God’s hands, I truly am blessed to be able to share not simply my thoughts but to share the love of Jesus.
“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you.” ~Philippians 1:3
This entry is completely for anyone who has ever read one of my posts and felt the love of Jesus.I simply want to say thank you and to share some of the amazing statistics with you and a couple of songs.
Hello! I have missed writing and experiencing God the way I did during Lent. I took some time away from writing but honestly I’ve missed it. I hope everyone reading this is fully aware of the wonderful fact that “You are loved by God!” You are His Beloved!
I am excited to share with you that I have decided to start posting videos and pictures on YouTube! It will be a slow process I’m sure because I am still trying to figure it all out. I find all my videos that I post on YouTube and there’s just so much stuff to choose from. Today I had the pleasure of enjoying a beautiful Spring day! I went for a drive in the county and took pictures of things that sought my attention. Photography is just a hobby, but it bring me pure joy. I always feel closer to God when I’m outside taking nature in through all my senses. All the seasons have distinct smells and the air feels different throughout the year. Often when taking pictures I have moments of clarity where Bible verses or bible passages speak to me through the visual display of God’s majestic landscapes.
In the coming weeks and months I am going to be guiding and participating in a Bible study of the Book of Esther and I hope to share them with you in this space.
I was speaking with a friend today and I shared my thoughts of missing my connection I felt with you and with God in very intentional ways during Lent. My Lenten journey that I shared with you exceeded all my expectations. I felt more connected with God and with each of you, I am extremely thankful for your support and prayers as I move to be more fully, the person God created me to be. I also what each of you to recognize how incredible you are and I wish to share in your journey as well. We are all God’s children, we are not all alike and that’s okay! We can be different and respectful at the same time. Something tells me that God intended for us to be different and to work together in spite of differences; after all, as believers we will be spending eternity together 😀. Every minute of every day, each one of us faces difficulties and challenges: victory is in facing them BOLDLY with God by our side. Be the BEST you can be and be proud of that and trust in God’s plan for your life. Sure there will be tough days but there will be great days as well. If we never experience the rough and tough days, how would we ever appreciate the good and wonderful days(?). God promises to always be with us, no matter how bad we think things are…that kind of guarantee has no comparison or competition! “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” -Matthew 28:20 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Matthew%2028:20&version=ESV
“Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.” ~John 20:1
I just love “In The Garden” it is a favorite from my childhood. I find myself singing it often when I’m in my car on trips to visit my family. It brings to mind so many memories, I have a particular memory I keep tucked away of singing it a cappella with two of my cousins for a church service. I’m not sure if they remember it (we were maybe 10-12) but it holds a special place for me. Wonderful memories, thanks Teresa and Terry. I hope my mom and my cousin Terry are singing it together in heaven. And, speaking of Heaven…What a glorious day this must be in Heaven as well as on earth. Today, we remember and celebrate Jesus’ triumph over sin and death! Jesus is the Risen Savior!
Our verse for today tells us of Mary Magdalene going to Jesus’ tomb early in the morning, she is filled with grief and has entered in the wilderness of that pain. As she approaches the burial site she finds the stone has been rolled away and the tomb is empty. Mary was distraught and wanted to know who took Jesus and where they had taken him.
“At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). ~John 20:14-16
Today’s verse and commentary brings us to a close of this Lenten Study, it has been a joy for me to share my thoughts with you and I sincerely thank you for your support. Although, the study is ending, life goes on and I pray that you have gained some new insights to the different wildernesses that life takes us. I have enjoyed the journey and the opportunity to dwell within the wilderness with you and with God. I’ve learned a lot about traveling through the wilderness, and the one constant, true and reliable thing throughout it all has been God. God loves us so much, the purest love ever imagined and we can’t earn it or repay it, we simply need accept…believe…trust…be faithful! It sounds too good to be true, God loves me, why? He loves you and me because He created you and me, He has plans for you and me, He’s built a Manson specifically for each of us in Heaven. Today, we celebrate Jesus! We celebrate God, He loved each of us so much He sacrificed His one and only son.
The Sanctuary For Lent 2018
The Wilderness and Mortality
The Wilderness as a Liminal Space
The Wilderness and Hunger
The Wilderness and Divine Testing
The Wilderness and Power
The Wilderness and Providence
The Wilderness and Restoration
By: Katie Z. Dawson
Who will you tell about the resurrection of Jesus today?
Breath Prayer: Death could not hold Jesus, death cannot hold me.
The Message version of 1 Peter 4:1-11
“Since Jesus went through everything you’re going through and more, learn to think like him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. Then you’ll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want. You’ve already put in your time in that God-ignorant way of life, partying night after night, a drunken and profligate life. Now it’s time to be done with it for good. Of course, your old friends don’t understand why you don’t join in with the old gang anymore. But you don’t have to give an account to them. They’re the ones who will be called on the carpet—and before God himself. Listen to the Message. It was preached to those believers who are now dead, and yet even though they died (just as all people must), they will still get in on the life that God has given in Jesus. Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!”
Today, is called “Holy Saturday,” it is the day before Easter and the last day of Holy Week in which Christians prepare for Easter. It commemorates the day that Jesus’ body lay in the tomb and the Harrowing of Hell.
In Christian theology, the Harrowing of Hell(Latin: Descensus Christi ad Inferos, “the descent of Christ into hell”) is the triumphant descent of Christ into Hell (or Hades) between the time of his Crucifixion and his Resurrection when he brought salvation to all of the righteous who had died since the beginning of the world.[1] After his death, the soul of Jesus was supposed to have descended into the realm of the dead.
Maundy Thursday, marked the crucifixion of Jesus, Good Friday Jesus was carried to the tomb, prepares for burial and the entrance was secured with a stone. Now we wait, we lament waiting for new life to come forth.
“Death is the final wilderness and Jesus faces it alone to secure salvation for every one created by God. Death has been imagined by artists and theologians throughout the years since the crucifixion. They have described death as a place of suffering, darkness, and pain. And, yet God desires wholeness and life, and even the depths of hell to be restored. Christ, on this Holy Saturday breaks the world free from its chains and opens us to the power of God’s restoring love. If Jesus can rescue disobedient, broken, lifeless people from the wilderness of hell itself, then surely Jesus can rescue our world from its disobedience, broken, and lifeless systems and structures that have us bound, from all the places that feel like wilderness: addition, racism, consumerism, all kinds of phobia’s…the catalogs of personal and systemic sin that goes on and on.” (Paraphrased from the pamphlet).
On this Holy Saturday, we may lament for a time but as believers we know that Christ is victorious over death. Yet, the forces of death and darkness continue their fight in our world. The devil knows that he has lost the war but he rages battles still because he will not give up until the very end. There are signs all around us of wildernesses being renewed by believers in Christ because we are called to transform our world for goodness, for God! Keep fighting the good fight!
I had the pleasure of attending Maundy Thursday service at my church last night. It was a beautiful service filled with scripture reading from John’s Gospel, liturgy reading and responses, singing, foot and hand washing and communion. It was a very personal space shared with fellow believers. I chose the hand washing station and I will be honest, I wish I had chosen the foot washing station. The only reason I did not was fear, similar to Peter’s experience after Jesus was taken away. Peter denied knowing Jesus, I denied myself and those performing the symbolic washing of the feet of an experience like the one long ago as Jesus washed the feet of His disciples. My excuse was “I don’t want to take my shoe off.” Really Charlotte! The hand washing was a personal experience and if you have never experienced something like this I hope someday if it is offered to you, I hope you take advantage of it. My thoughts during the hand washing were of gentleness, tenderness and love. All the things that Jesus wants to be to each of us if we would just ask Him and allow His will to be done in our lives. I left the service last night feeling encapsulated by the love of Jesus, covered with His love. My hope and prayer is that you know Him too and call Him Lord and Savior.
“When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.” ~Luke 23:33
There’s a line in this song that I wanted to share with you: “Like voices in the wilderness, we’re crying out.” My prayer is that this song with give you courage and strength as you traverse your own wilderness. May you seek God and His plans.”
It is Good Friday and this Lenten season has been a season of discovery and defining for me and I hope your for as well. Throughout we have read about the “wilderness” and I now have a new understanding of it and see it through with renewed insights.
There’s a story of a father and his young daughter, the father is busy and wants to find something for his daughter to do that would keep her occupied while he was busy. So, the father sees a world map and has the great idea of tearing it into pieces and having the daughter put it back together. The father thought to himself, this is brilliant it will keep her busy for quite sometime. It was only a short while and the daughter had reconstructed the map and the father was completely dumbfounded! The father ask, how did you put the map back together so quickly? She responded, I saw the person on the back side and knew if the person was put back together right then the map would be right, too. What a beautiful story on many levels. The difference a single person can be to the whole world. Jesus was and is the person to unite and redeem the whole world. Throughout Lent we have explored the wilderness and have seen it as an intersection of contrast: life and death, hunger and provision, faith and doubt, power and humility. In many ways, it represents a world torn into pieces and needs to be put back together.
The story of the cross is a story of the wilderness as well. The cross is an intersection where tensions collide. Today, we remember that if a person can be made right, the world can be restored, too. And, so God enters our human lives through Jesus Christ, bears our suffering and pain, and takes it all through the cross, redeeming not only our sin, but the entire world.
What is an intersection of brokenness you see in the world?
How can you bring restoration?
Breath Prayer: God help me to love the world as you love the world.
“May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done.” ~Ruth 2:12
DISCOVER 
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