June Caedmon's Blog, page 6
May 27, 2021
Power-filled Witnesses
“…you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8b
Have you ever wondered how a group of men who, time after time, failed to grasp the teachings of Christ during His earthly ministry, could successfully bring the message of the Gospel to the ends of the earth?
The answer is in the first part of the verse I quoted above: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and…” Acts 1:8aOn the day Jesus ascended into heaven, He once again, assures His disciples that He will send them a Helper, (Comforter, Advocate) just as He promised:
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” John 14:26
Jesus still had many things that He wanted to teach them, but He was leaving. In His absence, the Father had promised to send another to testify to the Truth, to teach them and guide them in the Truth, just as He has sent them Jesus. (John 15:26)”
I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take what is Mine and declare it to you.” John 16:12-14It’s unlikely the disciples could have received the comfort of these words given on the eve of Christ’s trial and crucifixion. At the time, all they could think of was their sorrow.
So, on the day of His ascension, Christ reminds them of His promise and bids them to wait for the gift promised by the Father. Acts 1:4
What happens next turns these fearful, uneducated men, into confident, fearless, enlightened, and power-filled witnesses of the Good News!
A New Beginning!
Well, friends, after ten years of blogging, I’ve finally made the move to WordPress.
I probably should have made the move long ago, but change is always difficult for me. With ten years of content over on blogger, this space feels a bit sparse.
But like any new space there are a lot of exciting things, too. New color palette, new design, additional content and functionality.
Beginning in July I’m going to be sending out a quarterly newsletter filled with inspiring, beautiful, and serendipitous things. I hope you’ll take a moment to sign up using the form below. I’ll be sharing more about this in the weeks to come.
As many of you know, I’ve been posting devotionals on my Instagram page for several years. Now that I’ve moved my blog to WordPress I plan to integrate more of that content here. Not all of my followers are on IG or FB and I am hoping to serve all of you better from this space.
My intent is to bring you more of Him, through words and images shared on this page. That you might know and experience the joy of His presense.
Grace to you and peace.
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May 22, 2021
Inspired by . . . 10 years
Inspired by . . . 10 years
Well, friends, I can hardly believe it but this May 29th will mark my 10 year anniversary of blogging!
With over 1000 posts to date, over the years I've averaged about nine posts a month. That's a lot of writing!
I originally started blogging with the intent to share about the novels I had written. But quickly realized that I wasn't comfortable constantly talking about myself or the books!
Thankfully the blog title, Inspired By, allowed me to write about pretty much anything that "inspired me" and so the first years are filled with posts about cooking, crafts, birdwatching, and photography.
In 2012-2013 the blog shifted away from crafts and DIY, and in 2014 started focusing more on photography and devotionals.
I joined Instagram in 2015 and the platform has served me well for years, especially during those times when job demands and health issues have limited my ability to blog regularly.
I've met so many interesting people and made some very special friends.
I'm working on a giveaway to celebrate my anniversary and to say thank you to all of you who have supported and encouraged me over the years - so stay tuned!
Blessings,
Well, friends, I can hardly believe it but this May 29th will mark my 10 year anniversary of blogging!
With over 1000 posts to date, over the years I've averaged about nine posts a month. That's a lot of writing!
I originally started blogging with the intent to share about the novels I had written. But quickly realized that I wasn't comfortable constantly talking about myself or the books!
Thankfully the blog title, Inspired By, allowed me to write about pretty much anything that "inspired me" and so the first years are filled with posts about cooking, crafts, birdwatching, and photography.
In 2012-2013 the blog shifted away from crafts and DIY, and in 2014 started focusing more on photography and devotionals.
I joined Instagram in 2015 and the platform has served me well for years, especially during those times when job demands and health issues have limited my ability to blog regularly.
I've met so many interesting people and made some very special friends.
I'm working on a giveaway to celebrate my anniversary and to say thank you to all of you who have supported and encouraged me over the years - so stay tuned!
Blessings,
April 28, 2021
Inspired by . . . upon pain of death
Inspired by . . . upon pain of death
When numbered, the list of Kohathites by family, men between the ages of thirty and fifty, were two thousand, seven hundred and fifty.
So why was God so concerned that this family might be lost forever?
The Kohathites had been put in charge of moving the sacred equipment connected with the Tent of Meeting. The Ark of the Testimony, the table of the Bread of Presence, the lampstand, etc. However, these articles were first covered by Aaron's sons, and then poles were used to move them. The Kohathites were not to touch them, on pain of death. Further,
No wonder God was concerned! Not even a curious, passing glance could be made toward the holy things! How many of us would be able to resist... just a peek?
Curiosity isn't a sin. God gave us inquiring minds. Some more so than others. Let's not miss the deadly seriousness being taught here.
God is holy. So holy that we cannot even stand in the presence of, or touch those things that dwell in the same "house" where He dwells without being designated to do so. (Like Aaron's sons had been.)
God's holiness is not something to be curious about in the sense that we think we can fully understand or attain it. Rather, God is to be feared, with reverence and awe. He is to be worshipped and obeyed.
Yet, even these things, to be done correctly, must be done out of a deep sense of love for our Creator. Not to escape punishment or obtain a blessing.
I think we have all but lost this type of love for God. We have no concept of the power that lies just in His name. We think we can touch the stove and not get burned.
We think we can hide in our homes and closets, behind the high walls of our universities and our White House.
God will not be mocked. (Gal 6:7)
He sees and knows... everything. There is nowhere we can go to escape His presence. (Psalm 139) This truth is either comforting or terrifying.
You say that God is Love. And this is true.
It is because of the greatness of His love for us that He is determined that no sin, nothing blemished or unworthy, shall remain in us.
To the Israelites, He gave rules to follow and sacrifices to perform.
This side of the cross, we have a Savior to follow and commands to obey.
God knew that the Israelites would fail. And so will we. But we have something the Israelites didn't have. When we acknowledge Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, we are given a Helper.
The Holy Spirit.
He comes to dwell within us. Somehow, supernaturally, in a way, I don't understand. But you will know He is there, within you. Because you will be changed.
The Holy Spirit teaches us and guides us as we grow in our relationship with the Lord.
If you've lost your fear and reverence for the holy things, if you've deceived yourself into believing that God does not see, ask the Holy Spirit to help you.
He can reignite your spirit to the holy things of God. Then you can know, as Curdie* did, what it is like to be purged and purified in the sweet-smelling fire of the Rose.
Blessings,
*Reference: George MacDonald, The Princess and Curdie
"The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 'You must not let the families of Kohath be wiped out and lost to the tribe of Levi.'" Num 4:17
When numbered, the list of Kohathites by family, men between the ages of thirty and fifty, were two thousand, seven hundred and fifty.
So why was God so concerned that this family might be lost forever?
The Kohathites had been put in charge of moving the sacred equipment connected with the Tent of Meeting. The Ark of the Testimony, the table of the Bread of Presence, the lampstand, etc. However, these articles were first covered by Aaron's sons, and then poles were used to move them. The Kohathites were not to touch them, on pain of death. Further,
"If they are to live and not die when they approach the most holy things, this is what you must do; let Aaron and his sons come and set each man to his appointed task and to his load, but the Kohathites themselves must not enter to cast even a passing glance at the sanctuary, on pain of death." Num 4:19-20
No wonder God was concerned! Not even a curious, passing glance could be made toward the holy things! How many of us would be able to resist... just a peek?
Curiosity isn't a sin. God gave us inquiring minds. Some more so than others. Let's not miss the deadly seriousness being taught here.
God is holy. So holy that we cannot even stand in the presence of, or touch those things that dwell in the same "house" where He dwells without being designated to do so. (Like Aaron's sons had been.)
God's holiness is not something to be curious about in the sense that we think we can fully understand or attain it. Rather, God is to be feared, with reverence and awe. He is to be worshipped and obeyed.
Yet, even these things, to be done correctly, must be done out of a deep sense of love for our Creator. Not to escape punishment or obtain a blessing.
I think we have all but lost this type of love for God. We have no concept of the power that lies just in His name. We think we can touch the stove and not get burned.
We think we can hide in our homes and closets, behind the high walls of our universities and our White House.
God will not be mocked. (Gal 6:7)
He sees and knows... everything. There is nowhere we can go to escape His presence. (Psalm 139) This truth is either comforting or terrifying.
You say that God is Love. And this is true.
It is because of the greatness of His love for us that He is determined that no sin, nothing blemished or unworthy, shall remain in us.
To the Israelites, He gave rules to follow and sacrifices to perform.
This side of the cross, we have a Savior to follow and commands to obey.
God knew that the Israelites would fail. And so will we. But we have something the Israelites didn't have. When we acknowledge Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, we are given a Helper.
The Holy Spirit.
He comes to dwell within us. Somehow, supernaturally, in a way, I don't understand. But you will know He is there, within you. Because you will be changed.
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Cor 5:17
The Holy Spirit teaches us and guides us as we grow in our relationship with the Lord.
If you've lost your fear and reverence for the holy things, if you've deceived yourself into believing that God does not see, ask the Holy Spirit to help you.
He can reignite your spirit to the holy things of God. Then you can know, as Curdie* did, what it is like to be purged and purified in the sweet-smelling fire of the Rose.
Blessings,
*Reference: George MacDonald, The Princess and Curdie
April 13, 2021
Inspired by . . . what He was doing
Inspired by . . . what He was doing
Forty days is a long time when you're suffering or going without. But how quickly the time must have passed for the disciples those forty days after Jesus' resurrection!
Have you ever wondered what Jesus did during these forty days? I think He did exactly what Luke tells us in Acts 1:2-3:
He instructed the disciples. He provided ample proof that He was alive, and,He spoke to them about God's kingdom.
Of course, He had been doing the third one all along. But this time they were able to receive it with full knowledge and understanding. The sun broke through, the Son had risen from the dead, and they could finally see the forest for the trees; the true meaning of the scriptures fulfilled.
John alludes to many other signs and wonders in his account in John 20:30: "There were indeed many other signs that Jesus performed in the presence of the His disciples, which are not recorded in this book."
The important thing to remember is that God's revelation to us in His Word is complete. "Those written here have been recorded in order that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that through this faith you may have life by His name." (John 20:31)
God has given us everything we need to be wise for salvation.
We may wish that we could walk and talk with Christ as His disciples did, but in truth, we have Him now more fully than they did when He walked the earth. in fact, Jesus, Himself said that it was to our advantage that He leave and send the Comforter/Helper (Holy Spirit):
Why did Jesus say that it was better for us that He depart and the Spirit come? We can't imagine that such a thing could be true! And yet it is, because: "He [the Holy Spirit] will take what is Mine and make it known to you."
It is through the work of the Holy Spirit that we come to fully know our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It follows then, that being in touch with and listening to the Spirit is vital to deepening our relationship with Christ.
This isn't something to add to your To-Do list, Beloved.
Rather, it is an exciting, life-long journey to be enJOYed!
Blessings,
Forty days is a long time when you're suffering or going without. But how quickly the time must have passed for the disciples those forty days after Jesus' resurrection!
"This was after His death, but He showed them that He was alive, proving it to them in many ways. The apostles saw Jesus many times during the 40 days after He was raised from death. He spoke to them about God's kingdom." (Act 1:3)
Have you ever wondered what Jesus did during these forty days? I think He did exactly what Luke tells us in Acts 1:2-3:
He instructed the disciples. He provided ample proof that He was alive, and,He spoke to them about God's kingdom.
Of course, He had been doing the third one all along. But this time they were able to receive it with full knowledge and understanding. The sun broke through, the Son had risen from the dead, and they could finally see the forest for the trees; the true meaning of the scriptures fulfilled.
John alludes to many other signs and wonders in his account in John 20:30: "There were indeed many other signs that Jesus performed in the presence of the His disciples, which are not recorded in this book."
The important thing to remember is that God's revelation to us in His Word is complete. "Those written here have been recorded in order that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that through this faith you may have life by His name." (John 20:31)
God has given us everything we need to be wise for salvation.
"And that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." (2Ti 3:15)
We may wish that we could walk and talk with Christ as His disciples did, but in truth, we have Him now more fully than they did when He walked the earth. in fact, Jesus, Himself said that it was to our advantage that He leave and send the Comforter/Helper (Holy Spirit):
"Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you." (John 16:7)
Why did Jesus say that it was better for us that He depart and the Spirit come? We can't imagine that such a thing could be true! And yet it is, because: "He [the Holy Spirit] will take what is Mine and make it known to you."
It is through the work of the Holy Spirit that we come to fully know our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It follows then, that being in touch with and listening to the Spirit is vital to deepening our relationship with Christ.
This isn't something to add to your To-Do list, Beloved.
Rather, it is an exciting, life-long journey to be enJOYed!
Blessings,
April 8, 2021
Inspired by . . . the life is in the blood
Inspired by . . . the life is in the blood
I have an aversion to killing things. Most creatures found in my home are relocated to the out-of-doors. I do make exceptions for scorpions, centipedes, and... snakes. Inside or out. Although I've never gotten close enough to a snake to kill one and I'm not sure I could. Get close enough, that is.
I do swat flies, they carry disease, and spiders are usually dead before I can think about it because they have a way of startling me into action. I always think of Charlotte after killing one, though.
I've been working my way through Leviticus and it's all a bit overwhelming. The weight of the Law is heavy. The number of sacrifices required, staggering.
From what I can tell, between the offerings and sacrifices, there would have been one or the other happening almost none stop in front of the Tent of Meeting.
Either the priest or the person making the offering would have had to place their hand on the head of the sacrifice (i.e. head of the lamb, goat, bull, etc) and then slit its throat. Blood would have to be thrown or sprinkled. Fat removed from entrails, the body kept whole or in some cases cut up, and so on. Chapter after chapter we read the details for atonement for one sin after another. It's all rather disturbing.
Obviously, we live in a very different world than the Israelites did during the time of Moses. As I read, I wondered if the sacrificing of these animals was disturbing to the Israelites. I think the answer is, yes.
Sacrifices wouldn't have been new to them. The Egyptians made all manner of sacrifices to appease the gods. But, for the Israelites, sacrificing their animals, that they lived closely with, for the atonement of sin was completely different.
I thought about this in my own life and realized that, while I'm okay with killing an animal for food, the thought of an innocent animal dying to pay for my sin is an entirely different matter.
I have to believe the Israelites felt this way, as well.
Leviticus 17:11 tells us that the life is in the blood and that it is the life, which is the blood, that makes expiation for sin.
Expiation = Atonement, Restitution, Payment.
Romans 6:23 - the wages of sin is death
Despite what our culture may tell us, death is not natural. It is the payment for sin.
The payment for sin is death. Either our own or something sacrificed in our place.
We see this all the way back in Genesis 3. The first animals were killed to cover the shame of Adam and Eve. God's word is consistent from beginning to end. And that is why Leviticus is relevant, in all its disturbing bloody details, to us today.
It gives us context for the tragedy of the cross.
Throughout Leviticus, it says that the sacrifice brought must be "without blemish." This is the foreshadow of Christ, Who, "was innocent of sin, and yet for our sake God made Him one with human sinfulness, so that in Him we might be made one with the righteousness of God." 2 Cor 5:21
The trial and crucifixion of Jesus breaks our hearts. And so it should. He was innocent and yet He was beaten, flogged, cursed, and mocked. The brutality and senselessness are shocking. It's hard to imagine that any good at all came out of this event. And yet, as Paul said, "If it is for this life only that Christ has given us hope, we of all people are most to be pitied." 1 Cor 15:19
There had to be something more. Some purpose. Some way to get beyond sacrifice after sacrifice. And there was.
Because Christ wasn't just another sacrifice. He was THE sacrifice. It was not His purpose to offer Himself again and again, as the high priest enters the sanctuary year after year with blood not his own. Rather, He has appeared once for all to abolish sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
By dying, He paid the price of our sin and by rising again He conquered death and the grave. He is Victor over all! He has done for us what we could not do for ourselves. For it is by grace we are saved through faith; it is not our own doing. It is God's gift to us, not a reward for work done. (Eph 2:8-9)
Faith is born when we believe the Truth of what God says about us and what He did for us. "If the confession, 'Jesus is Lord' is on your lips, and the faith that God raised Him from the dead is in your hearth, you will find salvation!" (Rom 10:9)
Leviticus stands as a reminder to us of the heavy demands of the Law, our inability to be righteous before God, and the blood that is required to wash away our sins.
But the heaviness of Law and the images of the blood-soaked alter fade away when the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead moves within us and we are reminded that we are God's children and He Is Alive!
Easter morning wasn't the end, Beloved. It was just the beginning.
Because He lives, sin is no longer our master.
Because He lives, we are free from the fear of death.
Because He lives, we have direct access to the throne of grace.
Because He lives, we receive new mercies every morning.
Because He lives, we have proof of God's great love for us.
Because He lives, we will never die.
Blessings on your Eastertide, friends.
I have an aversion to killing things. Most creatures found in my home are relocated to the out-of-doors. I do make exceptions for scorpions, centipedes, and... snakes. Inside or out. Although I've never gotten close enough to a snake to kill one and I'm not sure I could. Get close enough, that is.
I do swat flies, they carry disease, and spiders are usually dead before I can think about it because they have a way of startling me into action. I always think of Charlotte after killing one, though.
I've been working my way through Leviticus and it's all a bit overwhelming. The weight of the Law is heavy. The number of sacrifices required, staggering.
From what I can tell, between the offerings and sacrifices, there would have been one or the other happening almost none stop in front of the Tent of Meeting.
Either the priest or the person making the offering would have had to place their hand on the head of the sacrifice (i.e. head of the lamb, goat, bull, etc) and then slit its throat. Blood would have to be thrown or sprinkled. Fat removed from entrails, the body kept whole or in some cases cut up, and so on. Chapter after chapter we read the details for atonement for one sin after another. It's all rather disturbing.
Obviously, we live in a very different world than the Israelites did during the time of Moses. As I read, I wondered if the sacrificing of these animals was disturbing to the Israelites. I think the answer is, yes.
Sacrifices wouldn't have been new to them. The Egyptians made all manner of sacrifices to appease the gods. But, for the Israelites, sacrificing their animals, that they lived closely with, for the atonement of sin was completely different.
I thought about this in my own life and realized that, while I'm okay with killing an animal for food, the thought of an innocent animal dying to pay for my sin is an entirely different matter.
I have to believe the Israelites felt this way, as well.
Leviticus 17:11 tells us that the life is in the blood and that it is the life, which is the blood, that makes expiation for sin.
Expiation = Atonement, Restitution, Payment.
Romans 6:23 - the wages of sin is death
Despite what our culture may tell us, death is not natural. It is the payment for sin.
The payment for sin is death. Either our own or something sacrificed in our place.
We see this all the way back in Genesis 3. The first animals were killed to cover the shame of Adam and Eve. God's word is consistent from beginning to end. And that is why Leviticus is relevant, in all its disturbing bloody details, to us today.
It gives us context for the tragedy of the cross.
Throughout Leviticus, it says that the sacrifice brought must be "without blemish." This is the foreshadow of Christ, Who, "was innocent of sin, and yet for our sake God made Him one with human sinfulness, so that in Him we might be made one with the righteousness of God." 2 Cor 5:21
The trial and crucifixion of Jesus breaks our hearts. And so it should. He was innocent and yet He was beaten, flogged, cursed, and mocked. The brutality and senselessness are shocking. It's hard to imagine that any good at all came out of this event. And yet, as Paul said, "If it is for this life only that Christ has given us hope, we of all people are most to be pitied." 1 Cor 15:19
There had to be something more. Some purpose. Some way to get beyond sacrifice after sacrifice. And there was.
Because Christ wasn't just another sacrifice. He was THE sacrifice. It was not His purpose to offer Himself again and again, as the high priest enters the sanctuary year after year with blood not his own. Rather, He has appeared once for all to abolish sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
By dying, He paid the price of our sin and by rising again He conquered death and the grave. He is Victor over all! He has done for us what we could not do for ourselves. For it is by grace we are saved through faith; it is not our own doing. It is God's gift to us, not a reward for work done. (Eph 2:8-9)
Faith is born when we believe the Truth of what God says about us and what He did for us. "If the confession, 'Jesus is Lord' is on your lips, and the faith that God raised Him from the dead is in your hearth, you will find salvation!" (Rom 10:9)
Leviticus stands as a reminder to us of the heavy demands of the Law, our inability to be righteous before God, and the blood that is required to wash away our sins.
But the heaviness of Law and the images of the blood-soaked alter fade away when the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead moves within us and we are reminded that we are God's children and He Is Alive!
Easter morning wasn't the end, Beloved. It was just the beginning.
Because He lives, sin is no longer our master.
Because He lives, we are free from the fear of death.
Because He lives, we have direct access to the throne of grace.
Because He lives, we receive new mercies every morning.
Because He lives, we have proof of God's great love for us.
Because He lives, we will never die.
Blessings on your Eastertide, friends.
April 1, 2021
Inspired by . . . the posture of Christ
Inspired by . . . the posture of Christ
Jesus washing the disciple's feet, as witnessed in John 13, is a passage worthy of deep meditation and study. The fact that our Lord laid aside His glory to become a man is incomprehensible enough. Yet, here we see Him laying aside even more.
In our world, toes are things to be painted and put on display. In the time when Jesus walked the earth, feet were likely the dirtiest and least washed part of the human body.
Our Lord, pausing in the midst of eating a meal, to stoop down and wash the disciple's feet would have definitely gotten their attention!
There are many beautiful layers here, and I urge you to peel them back slowly and savor each one.
What I want to impress on you in this moment, that I pray you will take to heart and carry forward beyond the JOY of Sunday's victory is this:
He loved Judas to the end.
Judas Iscariot, a man who walked with our Lord and knew Him intimately. Jesus' friend, who betrayed Him with a kiss, for a paltry 30 pieces of silver.
I can't even begin to understand a love like that. And yet, we must try. We must do more than try. We must love like He loved.
We must learn to accept, first, that this great love is bestowed upon us. You and me. For, it is only in receiving His love that we can give love to others.
Yes, even our enemies. "As I have loved you..."
Because it is not our love that we give, but His. God alone is love and we must learn to reside in that love.
We must learn to see with the eyes of Christ.
When we look upon those who live in opposition to Christ, may we remember His posture in front of Judas on the very night he betrayed Him, the Father having already revealed everything to Him, and allow Him to love through us.
Blessings,
Jesus washing the disciple's feet, as witnessed in John 13, is a passage worthy of deep meditation and study. The fact that our Lord laid aside His glory to become a man is incomprehensible enough. Yet, here we see Him laying aside even more.
"He laid aside His outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around His waist."
In our world, toes are things to be painted and put on display. In the time when Jesus walked the earth, feet were likely the dirtiest and least washed part of the human body.
Our Lord, pausing in the midst of eating a meal, to stoop down and wash the disciple's feet would have definitely gotten their attention!
There are many beautiful layers here, and I urge you to peel them back slowly and savor each one.
What I want to impress on you in this moment, that I pray you will take to heart and carry forward beyond the JOY of Sunday's victory is this:
He loved Judas to the end.
Judas Iscariot, a man who walked with our Lord and knew Him intimately. Jesus' friend, who betrayed Him with a kiss, for a paltry 30 pieces of silver.
I can't even begin to understand a love like that. And yet, we must try. We must do more than try. We must love like He loved.
"I give you a new commandment: love one another; as I have loved you, so you are to love one another." John 13:34
We must learn to accept, first, that this great love is bestowed upon us. You and me. For, it is only in receiving His love that we can give love to others.
Yes, even our enemies. "As I have loved you..."
Because it is not our love that we give, but His. God alone is love and we must learn to reside in that love.
We must learn to see with the eyes of Christ.
"If there is this love among you then everyone will know that you are My disciples." John 13:35
When we look upon those who live in opposition to Christ, may we remember His posture in front of Judas on the very night he betrayed Him, the Father having already revealed everything to Him, and allow Him to love through us.
Blessings,
March 28, 2021
Inspired by . . . Hosanna!
Inspired by . . . Hosanna!
Today is a day of adoration. The pilgrims, who had come from Galilee and other outlying areas, knew Jesus and loved Him. "Hosanna!" they cried. A far cry from the angry political and religious mob we hear just five short days later, shouting, "Crucify!"
Just the day before, Mary had anointed Jesus, pouring the costly pure oil of nard over His feet, and wiping it lovingly with her hair. Now, without understanding what they were doing, the pilgrims were choosing their Passover lamb. (Rev 7:9)
This lamb, traditionally chosen four days before the feast, was brought into their homes and hearts. Who hasn't looked into the sweet face of a baby lamb and felt their heart melt with tenderness? Imagine slaughtering this animal after it lived with you in your house, even for four short days, and we might get just a hint, a mere whiff of the agony of Christ's sacrifice.
It should break our hearts in two.
But those are meditations for Good Friday. Today we celebrate the coming of our King, as He enters His beloved city. The palm branches signify victory and on this side of the cross, we know Christ, victorious over death and the grave! (1 Cor 15:57)
The palm branches also reflect back to the Feast of the Tabernacles (Lev 23:40), which points forward... to Christ.
skēnoō - tabernacle
"And the Word became flesh and dwelt (tabernacled) among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14)
He came that we might know the Father and get a glimpse of heaven on earth. The pilgrims had a glimpse of the Divine and believed, declaring Him blessed and Israel's true King. Those in authority believed but refused to acknowledge Him because they valued their reputation rather than the honor which comes from God. (John 12:43)
Today, when you catch that glimpse of the divine, may your soul cry out, "Hosanna, oh, save!" and may you receive the blessing of salvation.
Blessings,
"The next day the great crowd of pilgrims who had come for the festival, hearing that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem, went out to meet Him with palm branches in their hands, shouting, 'Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!' "
Today is a day of adoration. The pilgrims, who had come from Galilee and other outlying areas, knew Jesus and loved Him. "Hosanna!" they cried. A far cry from the angry political and religious mob we hear just five short days later, shouting, "Crucify!"
Just the day before, Mary had anointed Jesus, pouring the costly pure oil of nard over His feet, and wiping it lovingly with her hair. Now, without understanding what they were doing, the pilgrims were choosing their Passover lamb. (Rev 7:9)
This lamb, traditionally chosen four days before the feast, was brought into their homes and hearts. Who hasn't looked into the sweet face of a baby lamb and felt their heart melt with tenderness? Imagine slaughtering this animal after it lived with you in your house, even for four short days, and we might get just a hint, a mere whiff of the agony of Christ's sacrifice.
It should break our hearts in two.
But those are meditations for Good Friday. Today we celebrate the coming of our King, as He enters His beloved city. The palm branches signify victory and on this side of the cross, we know Christ, victorious over death and the grave! (1 Cor 15:57)
The palm branches also reflect back to the Feast of the Tabernacles (Lev 23:40), which points forward... to Christ.
skēnoō - tabernacle
"And the Word became flesh and dwelt (tabernacled) among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14)
He came that we might know the Father and get a glimpse of heaven on earth. The pilgrims had a glimpse of the Divine and believed, declaring Him blessed and Israel's true King. Those in authority believed but refused to acknowledge Him because they valued their reputation rather than the honor which comes from God. (John 12:43)
Today, when you catch that glimpse of the divine, may your soul cry out, "Hosanna, oh, save!" and may you receive the blessing of salvation.
Blessings,
March 23, 2021
Inspired by . . . through suffering
Inspired by . . . through suffering
Every year as I contemplate Lent, I am struck anew at just how long 40 days can be. In every other season, time seems to move at warp speed, but when you are sitting at the edge of a desert that you know will take forty, 24-hour days to cross, the time seems very long indeed.
Most years, and for most people, Lent is carried out amidst the regular hum of normal day-to-day life. There may be something given up or added to and more focused attention to the Bread of Life. But otherwise, things are relatively normal.
This year has been different.
To paraphrase something Henri Nouwen said: Lent is about trusting that God's love for us is stronger than death and that death, therefore, does not have the last word.
Jesus could go to the cross because, as a man, He trusted that God's love was stronger than death and, as God, He knew He was the proof of that strength.
Nouwen says, "The core message of Jesus is that real joy and peace can never be reached while bypassing suffering and death, but only by going right through them."
Yet, going through suffering does not guarantee joy and peace. The difference, I think, is trust. We are afraid that there is something other than love in God. We equate suffering with punishment. But this just shows how very little we know the mind of God. I admit I know Him very little. But more, I hope, today, than yesterday.
It goes back to what Nouwen said above about trusting God's love. It isn't until we believe, even in our incomplete understanding of His love, that He truly does love us, completely and without limits or conditions, that we will receive joy and peace in the midst of our suffering.
That is what is different about this year. What I gave up, thinking to replace with more of Him, has been all but lost in the overwhelming noise of silence. As He teaches me to listen for His loving presence in the midst of suffering.
Some of you are much farther along in this journey than I.
In the coming weeks, we will all see again just how much He loves us.
Blessings,
Every year as I contemplate Lent, I am struck anew at just how long 40 days can be. In every other season, time seems to move at warp speed, but when you are sitting at the edge of a desert that you know will take forty, 24-hour days to cross, the time seems very long indeed.
Most years, and for most people, Lent is carried out amidst the regular hum of normal day-to-day life. There may be something given up or added to and more focused attention to the Bread of Life. But otherwise, things are relatively normal.
This year has been different.
To paraphrase something Henri Nouwen said: Lent is about trusting that God's love for us is stronger than death and that death, therefore, does not have the last word.
Jesus could go to the cross because, as a man, He trusted that God's love was stronger than death and, as God, He knew He was the proof of that strength.
Nouwen says, "The core message of Jesus is that real joy and peace can never be reached while bypassing suffering and death, but only by going right through them."
Yet, going through suffering does not guarantee joy and peace. The difference, I think, is trust. We are afraid that there is something other than love in God. We equate suffering with punishment. But this just shows how very little we know the mind of God. I admit I know Him very little. But more, I hope, today, than yesterday.
It goes back to what Nouwen said above about trusting God's love. It isn't until we believe, even in our incomplete understanding of His love, that He truly does love us, completely and without limits or conditions, that we will receive joy and peace in the midst of our suffering.
That is what is different about this year. What I gave up, thinking to replace with more of Him, has been all but lost in the overwhelming noise of silence. As He teaches me to listen for His loving presence in the midst of suffering.
Some of you are much farther along in this journey than I.
In the coming weeks, we will all see again just how much He loves us.
Blessings,
February 23, 2021
Inspired by . . . sacrifice
Inspired by . . . sacrifice
The rising sun and the warmth it brings is my personal benediction and feels a lot like resurrection after a week of sacrifice.
Freezing cold temps, no power, no water. Sleeping on couches, not being able to flush toilets, buy groceries, or wash dishes. Dealing with illness when everything is closed, and it seems like there is no one to help.
The suffering has felt like sacrifice.
But none of this has been by choice. The weather descended in layers of beauty that left tragedy in its wake.
We haven't chosen to go without. To be ill.
Don't get me wrong. The suffering is real and God is there with us in it. Protecting, growing, healing. Because God is both just and merciful, all suffering will be redeemed. But as much as I would like to, I can't count the suffering of the past week, the going without, as sacrifice.
True sacrifice involves choice.
Lent dawned with frigid temperatures and the realization that we faced at least four more days of cold. It was hard to focus on Christ's journey to the cross when we were harvesting snow for water and trying to control a 103.8° fever without the help of a doctor. I was thankful for @briannashowalter 's devotional A Field Guide to the Beatitudes, which reminded me right at the beginning that "humility ushers God's kingdom directly into our lives."
If we're not careful, suffering can make us prideful.
Over the next few days the lack of those things we take for granted; utilities, our favorite foods, good health, kept reminding me of the importance of the liturgy of Lent.
And here is where I stumble with my words. Because I don't believe that there is one way or a right way to "do" Lent.
Jesus chose to die for us. He wasn't a victim of circumstances or of the will of men. He willingly laid down His life.
In a similar way, we make a choice to enter into His suffering. We can't truly enter without repentance: acknowledging that our sin separates us from God, being regretful of our sin, and commiting to change by turning away from our sin into the arms of a loving and forgiving God.
But how we do this is as unique as our personal walk with Him is unique.
It can look like intentionally doing meditative or creative things that bring us into His presence. It can look like intentionally not doing certain things to free up time for prayer, reading scripture, and Lenten devotionals.
Whatever you believe God is leading you to do, or not do, during this season the reward and goal is greater intimacy with Him!
God can and does bless us through worldly suffering. But there is a special blessing that comes from sacrifice.
Seven days into this year's Lenten journey the sun is high and the temps are climbing back into the 70°s. Even so, I realize I am a long way from the resurrection. Even though I'm physically and emotionally tired and still fighting a head cold, my spirit needs to be reminded of its poverty. I need to experience the liturgy of Lent so that I can fully embrace the JOY of resurrection.
The rhythms of the Church calendar dance in harmony with nature. As life begins again in the darkness and slowly reaches upward toward the warmth and the light, so we move slowly and hesitantly through the days of Lent, up toward Jerusalem, and the final death which gives life eternal.
Shalom,
The rising sun and the warmth it brings is my personal benediction and feels a lot like resurrection after a week of sacrifice.
Freezing cold temps, no power, no water. Sleeping on couches, not being able to flush toilets, buy groceries, or wash dishes. Dealing with illness when everything is closed, and it seems like there is no one to help.
The suffering has felt like sacrifice.
But none of this has been by choice. The weather descended in layers of beauty that left tragedy in its wake.
We haven't chosen to go without. To be ill.
Don't get me wrong. The suffering is real and God is there with us in it. Protecting, growing, healing. Because God is both just and merciful, all suffering will be redeemed. But as much as I would like to, I can't count the suffering of the past week, the going without, as sacrifice.
True sacrifice involves choice.
Lent dawned with frigid temperatures and the realization that we faced at least four more days of cold. It was hard to focus on Christ's journey to the cross when we were harvesting snow for water and trying to control a 103.8° fever without the help of a doctor. I was thankful for @briannashowalter 's devotional A Field Guide to the Beatitudes, which reminded me right at the beginning that "humility ushers God's kingdom directly into our lives."
If we're not careful, suffering can make us prideful.
Over the next few days the lack of those things we take for granted; utilities, our favorite foods, good health, kept reminding me of the importance of the liturgy of Lent.
And here is where I stumble with my words. Because I don't believe that there is one way or a right way to "do" Lent.
Jesus chose to die for us. He wasn't a victim of circumstances or of the will of men. He willingly laid down His life.
"Therefore doth My Father love Me, because I lay down My life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of My Father." (John 10:17-18 KJV)
In a similar way, we make a choice to enter into His suffering. We can't truly enter without repentance: acknowledging that our sin separates us from God, being regretful of our sin, and commiting to change by turning away from our sin into the arms of a loving and forgiving God.
But how we do this is as unique as our personal walk with Him is unique.
It can look like intentionally doing meditative or creative things that bring us into His presence. It can look like intentionally not doing certain things to free up time for prayer, reading scripture, and Lenten devotionals.
Whatever you believe God is leading you to do, or not do, during this season the reward and goal is greater intimacy with Him!
God can and does bless us through worldly suffering. But there is a special blessing that comes from sacrifice.
"But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed."(1Pet 3:14)
Seven days into this year's Lenten journey the sun is high and the temps are climbing back into the 70°s. Even so, I realize I am a long way from the resurrection. Even though I'm physically and emotionally tired and still fighting a head cold, my spirit needs to be reminded of its poverty. I need to experience the liturgy of Lent so that I can fully embrace the JOY of resurrection.
The rhythms of the Church calendar dance in harmony with nature. As life begins again in the darkness and slowly reaches upward toward the warmth and the light, so we move slowly and hesitantly through the days of Lent, up toward Jerusalem, and the final death which gives life eternal.
Shalom,
