April 7 The Wait

Ro 8:25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

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When I was little, I heard that God answers prayer in 3 ways. "Yes," "no," and "wait awhile."

Some days it feels like I'm always waiting. Waiting for God to show me His will. Waiting for Him to answer prayer. Waiting for Him to help a challenging situation be more tolerable.

But waiting is what we do. There's something about faith in the midst of patience that God likes. The disciples and His followers actually lost hope after Jesus died. They forgot His promise to rise again.

Sometimes waiting feels like God forgot. Like maybe He died and is buried in the tomb. He'll never deliver.

Wait.

This photo was taken a couple mornings ago in our backyard. The tulip has unfolded now - but I had to WAIT for it!

April 6 Thorns Hurt

Mt 27:29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said.
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The Soldiers
Hands struggled
To twist
Thorny branches
Around
The Prize
Is ready
In a purple robe
He is crowned
See the glistening
Red jewels

Thorns hurt. When I tried to prune some wild rose bushes in our back yard, my hands hurt for days.

Thorns hurt. He suffered. He was mocked and teased. He was brutally killed. He died.

For me.
For you.

This photo was taken in our back yard this morning of the wild rose bushes.

This poem was written by me in a college creative writing class during Easter.

April 5 Brokeness

Luke 22:19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me."

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Today is Maundy Thursday. On this day of Holy Week the church reflects on the night Jesus was with His disciples celebrating passover right before He died on the cross.

Jesus took bread and broke it. Was He thinking at that moment what it would take to break Him?

He knew He had to die on the cross.
He knew that He would raise from the dead.

He knew that He would live eternally.
He knew this sacrifice would save me from my sins.
He knew He would be broken for me.

Some days I feel broken, beaten down and discouraged. We all do. But on days like that, I usually pray more asking for God's help. When I feel like I can't do it, I come to Him.

Curiously, in the Psalms, God reveals how much He appreciates a broken attitude. Thank you, Lord for modeling brokeness for me.

Ps 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

This photo was taken yesterday morning in our backyard with a communion set.

April 4 Christ's Love

II Cor 5:4 For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all.

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Christ's sacrifice for all mankind is such amazing love.

This is what must drive my Holy week... my life.

Help me, Lord, to love others like you do.

Motivate me. Compel me.

Worship chorus:

Amazing love, how can it be, that you my king would die for me. Amazing love, I know it’s true. It’s my joy to honor you. Amazing love, how can it be that you My king would die for me. Amazing love, I know it’s true. It’s my joy to honor you. In all I do I honor you.

Photo taken this morning in our flower bed.

April 3 Perishable

1Cor 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
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Grass. Sometimes beautiful and lush. Sometimes full of dandelions, or brown and patchy. When we lived in San Antonio, TX it seemed impossible to have nice grass. Even with TruGreen Chemlawn, and all their advice, we still had dying patches.

The Bible tells us that grass will wither (Is. 40:7). It is perishable. So are people according to Psalm 103: 15.

The cross of Christ is not a perishable thing.

We are. Especially without the cross.

By the blood of Christ on the cross, we are given eternal life. That's amazing. That's powerful.

If one doesn't know about this, it sounds absurd.

Don't perish. Embrace everlasting life.

For me.

For you.

John 3: 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (King James Version)

This photo was taken last Saturday morning in the meadow near our home.

April 2 In His Steps

I Peter 2:21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

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This verse was the inspiration for the book, "In His Steps" that spearheaded the question, "What would Jesus do?"

Holy week is the perfect time for me to reflect on this. Christ's life wasn't an easy one - especially His last week before His death. He was misunderstood, set up, betrayed by friends, beaten...

Yet in everything that happened He kept the faith. He stayed close to God the Father. He prayed. He loved those around Him. He was gentle and kind.

Help me, Lord, to follow in Your steps.

This photo was taken yesterday at a castle a couple miles from our home. The date on the crucifix is 1704.

April 1 Palm Branches for the Lamb

Rev 7:9 After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

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Palm Sunday. The beginning of Holy Week. Our last week of Lent.

"Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" (John 12:13, Psalm 118:25-26)

"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain." (Rev.5:12)

The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29) is worthy of my praise. Telescopically from Palm Sunday in Jerusalem, to thousands of years as the church celebrates this day, to my own homage in my heart, to the end of the ages when people from every nation and language honor Him.... He is worthy of all praise.

This is the refrain of one of my favorite hymns:

Refrain
I will praise Him! I will praise Him!
Praise the Lamb for sinners slain;
Give Him glory, all ye people,
For His blood can wash away each stain.

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/w/iwillpra.htm

This photo was taken recently near our home.