Happy Easter – an AMAZING MIRACLE of AMAZING GRACE!

We know Easter is a miracle of Heaven and Earth.

Here is an amazing recent certain earthly miracle that I remember – The Miracle on the Hudson – January 2009. I can see it – I can hear it – I just know it…  Others might not know because it was 15 years ago in the past but we saw that news footage of the plane landing on the water and we saw the people standing on the wing – and we know the collective amazement of everyone surviving – even those who jumped into the water and were helped into a rescue boat or back onto the wing. Ah the movies and documentaries never capture that actual moment – but isn’t it also interesting to see the people now – and one documentary, 15 years later, brings my own memories flooding back all while I am still learning new things…  I can’t even imagine those people who lived in once in the water and thousands of times in their minds since. Those people are all in certain stages of a post traumatic stress – and some have recovered and some have even triumphed to even a higher level of consciousness for their life mission and journey. The psychologist on the documentary states that may remember that day and those times as “the emotion of ELEVATION” – a feel good collective LIFT to the whole country – to at least those in this northeast neck of the woods – amazing – unreal – and beautiful as a miracle. Yes, a miracle. The psychologist explained it is a ‘[warm feeling in the chest when you see acts of moral virtue – which leads to inspiration].’ We survive better because of this emotion.

Sully, the Captain, spoke of the collective emotion of the passengers and crew who say they felt they were gifted this second change of life.  Sully’s Wife spoke of the amazing change in her husband having to deal not only with that post traumatic stress but also the media crush and the constant reminders. She wonders if he is still living in the thoughts of “have I done enough with this fame and story” – she reminds him that what he has done is enough.

Ah Easter – today – a gift – let me say that the Miracle on the Hudson is less than the fraction of a fraction of a fraction in the scheme of God’s miracles but it gives us some emotional connection to the WHO is the Miracle behind the Miracles…. And EASTER – celebration – for now we have a second chance of LIFE. 

Jesus in His Day and Now –  Miracles – God’s ultimate Sacrifice Miracle. Could you imagine the recounting of the stories? How about being Mary, first hearing the voice of Jesus – or imagine being one of those people walking to Emmaus where Jesus takes that time to explain, to answer questions, to listen, to teach, to open eyes?  What about now – what about seeing a friend of loved one change in a miracle of faith when they understand the Good News in themselves – that second birth. Their new life in Jesus. 

Yes, Jesus had/has many miracles then and today, and oh what a Miracle on the first Easter Day. Could we even begin to wrap our heads around this?  I am sure that the Gospels, written various years after Jesus ascended, were accompanied by a gazillion verbal “did you hear this good news?” moments. And now? The Miracle will never be forgotten – never lose its importance – and by the Spirit, will always be our most important memory to cling to. This IS the Emotion of Elevation – with a burning in our chests of the Spirit which then inspires. And this miracle of the Holy Spirit spurs us to burn brighter – move further – love immensely and Be His.

I can say that I believe in this Miracle of Jesus’s Resurrection even if I did not see it – nor really physically understand it – or understand why God allows me to now understand the change in me. I also know that I know it not simply because someone told me but because Jesus Himself was holding me when God opened the eyes of my heart. 

Here today on Easter and always in our lives, may we remember this love, and may we long to tell the Good News that Jesus rose from the dead to beat sin and death – to give us eternal life – to fill us with His Spirit – and to forgive us – again and again – once for all and once for all that we will continue to make.  It is a Miracle of the Heart and Hope and Heaven. And yet we never saw Jesus in the flesh – in the death – and in the resurrection. However we do know that someday we will also have that feeling of the resuscitation. We will always be alive because of Him. 

When we remember our Salvation – we are in stages of shock, tears, joy, and belief over disbelief – mostly we remember the time we committed our lives to Him. We remember that elevation – that emotion – that relief and that conviction of sin overturned plus now the conviction of sin reminding us that yes, we have a Savior. May we all remember to turn to Him continually. We now live in His Grace.

There is an Empty Tomb of Jesus (SEE JOHN 20), there is a process to the unveiling of our faith in our walk from Jesus (SEE LUKE 24), and then there is the Great Commission where we ourselves go out and tell the world by the help of Jesus (SEE MATTHEW 28). Jesus gives this LIFT.

If you know the LIFT – the Emotion of Elevation by Jesus – this is called JOY…

Please feel the JOY of today, Easter, and every day. For God so Loved the World He gave His Son – and victory is WON.

AMEN AND HAPPY EASTER

—

John 20:1-23 

The Empty Tomb

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. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put 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”).  Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”  Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

Jesus Appears to His Disciples
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.  Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

—-

Luke 24:13-49

On the Road to Emmaus

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.

He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

“What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him;  but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”

He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

Jesus Appears to the Disciples
While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence.

He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

—

Matthew 28:16-20 – The Great Commission

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Soak it in Saturday.

Jesus death and intent.

Intentions that we should absorb. 

Solemn 

Saturated 

Satisfied 

The Solution to Sin Separation is Salvation. 

Jesus didn’t just hang on the cross to suffer for suffering sake, He Satisfied the Scriptures.

The crowd soaked in the moment. The disciples scattered scared. The sky stumbled. 

The situation stopped. 

Soak it in Saturday. 

Amen

Good Friday, I’ve gotten into the routine of finding a new place for midday services. And this was beautiful, a retirement home for priests with a gorgeous huge 1970’s ‘modern’ sanctuary (who would think modern 1970 was 50 years ago), open not as a parish but a place of service, with daily services… It was an hour and a half service, singing, carrying the cross, incense, communion. I tried stifling my allergies cough, but that is so tough and I am so human.  My favorite song lyric was “Human Nature at the Father’s Throne” – that’s how I felt, human and flawed in a room of reverence and realness. 

I appreciated my childhood memories of the reading of the passion of Christ. Also 1970s era. I remember that all the priests came to participate. At this service, there were 12 priests or more in white and one lead senior in red robes. There were 3 singers and choir and orchestra. The back and forth conversations in the book of John 18-19 plus descriptions sung dramatically and with the echo it was extra beautiful. There was the classic crying rambunctious little one echoing louder than loud too. These were the hardest most uncomfortable pews ever. The kneeling was on the hard floor when the cross came to our section, but honestly that was a welcoming break from sitting with my ok but not perfect back. 

I took a side seat being 10 minutes late. I sat human. I felt human and flawed in awe of my knowledge of Jesus and His desire to sacrifice and save. And as I saw one priest take out a phone for video of the cross movement and unveiling, I felt OK stealing a couple snapshots. Human that I am…

One priest had a very poignant brief homily of remembering the cross as a green tree bearing the fruitfulness of Salvation… and the moment Jesus called out “I thirst” – that we are to remember that Jesus, God, thirsts for us. It was probably the best to the point homily. [it was a duplicate to the scripture gem I noticed yesterday – that Jesus said, Luke 23:31, “For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?”]

Then we had communion where nobody asked our denomination… “Lord, I am not worthy to receive You, but only say the Word and I shall be healed.” I’m very grateful that Jesus IS the WORD that heals, and that He said it all, and He lived/lives it all, and died for all, and He loves all.

All in all, Beautiful Blessings, and will I return another day for the friendly anonymity and self reflection.  I found the stations of the cross in a side chapel. beautiful ‘modern’ 70s. My phone camera was out of batteries, my heart however smiled at finding myself first at the LAST station. YES, I feel the salvation now, I can’t even imagine how blessed I will feel in heaven forever. 

Two last interactions on my way out. The first was a nun in her habit, smiling and gentle, who asked me if I thought she might have parked her car on one side or the other. I didn’t know but I enjoyed our speculation. She saw other sisters and found her way. I’m looking forward to a deeper conversation with her in heaven one day. The other interactions was on my way out and a retired priest,  I surmised, headed with his rolling walker back to the adjacent apartments. We spoke so briefly about the beauty of the service, the offerings all weekend, and the fine spring weather. I wished him a happy Easter even if it hasn’t yet come, because honestly it already has…

It’s these days we (I) must soak in the sun and the situation and reflection of salvation. See, we know the rest of the story and are not stuck in Saturday. But ah, it’s a moment today before Sunday’s rise, to soak it all in.

Soak it in Saturday. 

Amen 

---

Soak it in Saturday.

Jesus death and intent.

Intentions that we should absorb. 

Solemn 

Saturated 

Satisfied 

The Solution to Sin Separation is Salvation. 

Jesus didn’t just hang on the cross to suffer for suffering sake, He Satisfied the Scriptures.

The crowd soaked in the moment. The disciples scattered scared. The sky stumbled. 

The situation stopped. 

Soak it in Saturday. 

John 18-19 New King James Version

Betrayal and Arrest in Gethsemane

18 When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. ² And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples. ³ Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. ⁴ Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?”

⁵ They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

Jesus said to them, “I am He.” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. ⁶ Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

⁷ Then He asked them again, “Whom are you seeking?”

And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

⁸ Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,” ⁹ that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, “Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none.”

¹⁰ Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.

¹¹ So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?”

Before the High Priest

¹² Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him. ¹³ And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year. ¹⁴ Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

Peter Denies Jesus

¹⁵ And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. ¹⁶ But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in. ¹⁷ Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?”

He said, “I am not.”

¹⁸ Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself.

Jesus Questioned by the High Priest

¹⁹ The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine.

²⁰ Jesus answered him, “I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. ²¹ Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.”

²² And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, “Do You answer the high priest like that?”

²³ Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?”

²⁴ Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

Peter Denies Twice More

²⁵ Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?”

He denied it and said, “I am not!”

²⁶ One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” ²⁷ Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed.

In Pilate’s Court

²⁸ Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover. ²⁹ Pilate then went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?”

³⁰ They answered and said to him, “If He were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you.”

³¹ Then Pilate said to them, “You take Him and judge Him according to your law.”

Therefore the Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,” ³² that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die.

³³ Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”

³⁴ Jesus answered him, “Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?”

³⁵ Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?”

³⁶ Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”

³⁷ Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?”

Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

³⁸ Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all.

Taking the Place of Barabbas

³⁹ “But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”

⁴⁰ Then they all cried again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.

The Soldiers Mock Jesus

19 So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. ² And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. ³ Then they said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck Him with their hands.

⁴ Pilate then went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.”

Pilate’s Decision

⁵ Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “Behold the Man!”

⁶ Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”

Pilate said to them, “You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.”

⁷ The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.”

⁸ Therefore, when Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid, ⁹ and went again into the Praetorium, and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.

¹⁰ Then Pilate said to Him, “Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?”

¹¹ Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”

¹² From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.”

¹³ When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. ¹⁴ Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold your King!”

¹⁵ But they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!”

Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?”

The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!”

¹⁶ Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. Then they took Jesus and led Him away.

The King on a Cross

¹⁷ And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, ¹⁸ where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center. ¹⁹ Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was:

JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

²⁰ Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.

²¹ Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘He said, “I am the King of the Jews.” ’ ”

²² Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

²³ Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece. ²⁴ They said therefore among themselves, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be,” that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says:

“They divided My garments among them,
And for My clothing they cast lots.”

Therefore the soldiers did these things.

Behold Your Mother

²⁵ Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶ When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” ²⁷ Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

It Is Finished

²⁸ After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” ²⁹ Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. ³⁰ So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

Jesus’ Side Is Pierced

³¹ Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. ³² Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. ³³ But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. ³⁴ But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. ³⁵ And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. ³⁶ For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.” ³⁷ And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”

Jesus Buried in Joseph’s Tomb

³⁸ After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus. ³⁹ And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. ⁴⁰ Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. ⁴¹ Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. ⁴² So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.

It’s three years this summer that my Dad passed and that time was one of those windows of opportunity where people got their vaccinations and also by natural spring/summer people got more outside and covid dropped off enough to be the first time the people in my hometown went back to big events. (their lockdown was really severe and they benefited by having so few deaths in comparison to communities closer).  So, those days was a blessed break in the suffering of timing for covid.  Lest we forget the freedoms we have – we should not complain now!!

Yet in those days my dad was suffering in decline and it was his time when the Lord called him. I made it up there visiting many times, even for just a half hour on the porch. We were blessed post vaccinations to stay IN the house for a good stretch of time both my kids and me – blessed to get up there to see him in decent shape still – a hug for my daughter and handshake for my son. My Dad never lost his ability to walk until the last 2 days and never lost his ability to communicate until that last day. 

I am always imagining my Dad in heaven regathering with his buddies – this I can picture the card games and fun – and I can’t even imagine the reunion with his Mom and Dad. His Dad passed away when he was 20. I had my Dad until I was 50, how can I complain! I still feel blessed to have my Dad in Heaven away from the body but close to the heart and mind,  and yes Dad I’ll get my brakes and tires checked soon… I will get them into compliance and better than that…

I could complain about not having my Dad now, but how could I complain? I can’t. I had him and have him mentally. I had and have the best Dad. 

Now, my Dad had knee problems all the time and back problems at times, once they moved a bed into the living room for him to recoup. I have been bad enough to have a whole week flat on my back on the floor of my apartment living room when in my 20s. I’ve known those times in gotcha pain and known recovery too. My own back is about 95% now from that recent incident, I consider, I don’t fear the gotcha grab of pain and move more freely. It still has a left lower side bulge type pain but as a pinch occasionally. It’s not cured but collected back. Now will be times to start strengthening and really bring it back. I can not equate back pain to suffering for the Lord, but it’s both times you have to work through the pain. Or re-work in resting and healing before redirecting your energies. One aspect is TIME, giving up precious time from YOUR PLANS. 

I RESTED after that back thing and I was blessed that first weekend with lots of help as I got myself back into compliance – both my back and my work for God’s work. And I scrolled through my head of what I was supposed to be redirected for in the Lord’s Work – oh yeah – my writings were 4 months behind in curating and printing- ummm – oh yeah the Lord WANTS you to keep promises and I DID promise (oops) to keep these up to date. So click click click I worked and now have printed 4 chapters.

I also redirected in fixing this and whatnot for the benefit of my health. And I read for the benefit of my soul. Read the Bible chapters I’m supposed to be getting back to. One BIG move now is into the book of Lamentations – and if you need a reminder of old testament God of compliance – Jeremiah and Lamentations is it.

I can not and will not compare present day suffering to these unbelievable old testament times of Babylon exile and the terrible scenes in Jerusalem and Judah – not for me – but I do remember there are many suffering these days in pockets of places known and unknown… I will read this next bible section of Lamentations – not as a God “I told you so” – but as a lament that bad times are bad – and isn’t that a reminder to look to God for His guidance and those good times WILL come – even if not in present….  And if we suffer but a fraction, we can never suffer that pain of Jesus who took it all upon Himself…  That is my Holy Week devotion – to listen to God Father as well as my Dad’s advice – get yourself back into compliance no matter how painful…  And yes – our biggest compliance rescue is from Jesus Himself.

Our worst non-compliance is turning our backs to God. Let us keep praising Him in us and us in Him and be back to listening to His Love.

AMEN

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Lamentations 1
How deserted lies the city, once so full of people! How like a widow is she, who once was great among the nations! She who was queen among the provinces has now become a slave. Bitterly she weeps at night, tears are on her cheeks. Among all her lovers there is no one to comfort her. All her friends have betrayed her; they have become her enemies. After affliction and harsh labor, Judah has gone into exile. She dwells among the nations; she finds no resting place. All who pursue her have overtaken her in the midst of her distress.

The roads to Zion mourn, for no one comes to her appointed festivals. All her gateways are desolate, her priests groan, her young women grieve, and she is in bitter anguish. Her foes have become her masters; her enemies are at ease. The Lord has brought her grief because of her many sins. Her children have gone into exile, captive before the foe. All the splendor has departed from Daughter Zion. Her princes are like deer that find no pasture; in weakness they have fled before the pursuer. In the days of her affliction and wandering Jerusalem remembers all the treasures that were hers in days of old. When her people fell into enemy hands, there was no one to help her. Her enemies looked at her and laughed at her destruction.

Jerusalem has sinned greatly and so has become unclean. All who honored her despise her, for they have all seen her naked; she herself groans and turns away. Her filthiness clung to her skirts; she did not consider her future. Her fall was astounding; there was none to comfort her. “Look, Lord, on my affliction, for the enemy has triumphed.” The enemy laid hands on all her treasures; she saw pagan nations  enter her sanctuary — those you had forbidden to enter your assembly.  All her people groan as they search for bread; they barter their treasures for food to keep themselves alive.“ Look, Lord, and consider, for I am despised.”

“Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look around and see. Is any suffering like my suffering that was inflicted on me, that the Lord brought on me in the day of his fierce anger? From on high he sent fire, sent it down into my bones. He spread a net for my feet and turned me back. He made me desolate, faint all the day long. “My sins have been bound into a yoke; by his hands they were woven together. They have been hung on my neck, and the Lord has sapped my strength. He has given me into the hands of those I cannot withstand. 

“The Lord has rejected all the warriors in my midst; he has summoned an army against me to crush my young men. In his winepress the Lord has trampled Virgin Daughter Judah. “This is why I weep and my eyes overflow with tears. No one is near to comfort me, no one to restore my spirit. My children are destitute because the enemy has prevailed.”  Zion stretches out her hands, but there is no one to comfort her. The Lord has decreed for Jacob that his neighbors become his foes; Jerusalem has become an unclean thing among them. 

“The Lord is righteous, yet I rebelled against his command. Listen, all you peoples; look on my suffering. My young men and young women have gone into exile. “I called to my allies but they betrayed me. My priests and my elders perished in the city while they searched for food to keep themselves alive. “See, Lord, how distressed I am! I am in torment within, and in my heart I am disturbed, for I have been most rebellious. Outside, the sword bereaves; inside, there is only death. “People have heard my groaning, but there is no one to comfort me. All my enemies have heard of my distress; they rejoice at what you have done. May you bring the day you have announced so they may become like me. “Let all their wickedness come before you; deal with them as you have dealt with me because of all my sins. My groans are many and my heart is faint.”

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For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him. Philippians 1:29

How fitting in this Holy Week that my Old Testament bible reading has brought me to Lamentations, chapter volumes of sorrowful PROCESSING the suffering reflecting the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians, which God prescribed for a certain time of exile.

It’s Holy Week. Jesus 500 plus years later has entered restored Jerusalem. His donkey-ridden entrance fulfilled prophecies with people yelling Hosanna, but they believed in him as an earthly king and they expected an overthrow of this government, which is yet another oppressing foreign rule, harkening back to memories of the Babylonians, but now, an Empire in Rome invading. Now, the Hosannas don’t last and of course, the people by Friday will scorn and mock Jesus,  the crowd mob scene already known by Jesus is coming.

I’m starting this book of Lamentations this week by watching ‘The Bible Project’s’ video on YouTube which I highly recommend. It’s just enough of an explanation to get started, telling us that these chapters are poems lamenting the fall of Jerusalem. There are some acrostics too (which seems to be the theme of my month for me and friends who like to make poems starting with first letters). And the bible project video has a fitting image of stones to explain the building of history into history.

It’s at these building stones that I pause and remember the scripture of Jesus walking through the temple, and the apostle’s marveling at the building and Jesus’s marveling that it will all be fallen again, one day as Jerusalem falls again.  

Jesus sees the whole of time as well as the intricacies of the moment of the journey. Jesus, fully God, shares in seeing everything from beginning (and before the world) to the New Jerusalem rolling in (book of Revelation to apostle John).  Likewise to knowing BIG PICTURE, Jesus God knows us – knowing each hair of our heads as Jesus knows us intimately – and Jesus knows where we fit in time – just like each hair has a root and place. God sees the whole body of Christ even when we see and feel only part.

That’s how Jesus rolls into Holy Week. It’s a completion but it’s a whole new beginning. It’s pain but it’s recovery. It’s walking and then being still. It’s Alpha and Omega showing up to secure the middle.

I will pause here after learning about the beginning of lamentations to process my own. And as a pastor friend mentioned to one of my small groups over the weekend, we hope people don’t skip from Palm Sunday to Easter without processing the middle of the week. Yes. We need to see Jesus as the Alpha and Omega but also see how He is present for every little moment in between. Let us walk with Jesus this week as He walks with us.

Amen

I watched only the first minute so far, for the general gist of lamentations. 

A set of scriptures speak to the fall of Jerusalem (thanks Google for the list and Bible Gateway for the text): Matthew 23:37-24:51,Mark 13,Luke 21:5-36

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2023%3A37-24%3A51%2CMark%2013%2CLuke%2021%3A5-36&version=NIV

Yeah this is exciting and funny – and yet I am reminded that God does REAL and just go with it…. GOD DOES HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR – AND ALSO A WAY TO GET US ON OUR WAY!

A most recent blog post number is full of 52s and 25s – 52 for God and 25 for me… this is the code number for the post I got so excited about, my work faith blog, is 12525….  I think that 2525 is God inside of me whereas 5252 would be me inside God…  I know numbers are of the world but even God did math and counted and measured in addition to being immeasurable. 

I just love numbers just to love them – but I LOVE GOD BECAUSE HE LOVED ME FIRST! “You are in Me – and I am in you”

COOL FUN !!!

BLESSED LIVING!!!

AMEN

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Jesus in John 14:16-21 speaking to the disciples (and us): 

“If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever–the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”

This phrase has helped me immensely this week. It’s an acronym repeated to me from my friend Deacon Don: P.U.S.H. =  Pray Until Something Happens.  Ah… yeah!!!!

When I got frustrated with some things this week – I PUSHED – but not pushing me but pushing the agenda (not too much but just enough and in God’s timing) – and bringing forth convincing hard evidence rather than angry steam. (taking the time to know the audience.)

I pushed my agenda yes, and I pushed my self to not collapse in frustration but to stand strong. and I P/U/S/H-ed, I Prayed Until Something Happened – and I PRAISED until I understood. Not praising idle nor idol but ideal – Pray without ceasing.

Seriously we have ALL had times to turn to God and actively ask: ‘How do I overcome this?’ – ‘How do I keep working around this?’ – ‘How do I (most importantly) not get MORE frustrated here?’ – Well, when we look for the bread of life, we often find it is God on a roll, and in motion, and so with that I kept rolling. 

GOOD outlets were(are) being still and waiting where there was no emergency yet – for wading in the water until Jesus called(calls) me – for channeling pain into productive writing – if anything, God got more work out of me in positive ways than in frustration. God PUSHED me His Way when the world pushed my wrong buttons. God paused me for looking and thinking and acting BIG PICTURE!  

Yes, at first my frustrations found the right trusted ears to release some steam and minimize explosions -not to make implosions but to make new excavations – and new understandings of where I was to wait – and work in other ways – what I was to do in that waiting – and yet still make progress. And isn’t it MORE effective to PUSH with a SMILE than fight with a back-bite.  In all, one stoppage became several new streams of encouragement and like rays from the sun, I looked and found God’s SHINE. There is too much LIGHT here to accept any work in darkness. QUENCH NOT THE SPIRIT !!!

PUSH – PRAY UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS – time and time again keep praying – not praying in idle ways but in active hope – in fueling fire – and in redirecting flow.

Prayers, you know, redirect our flow.

F/L/O/W/I/N/G – For Love of Waiting I N God.

P.R.A.Y.  I.T. – Pray Righteousness Against Your Indignation TODAY.

Amen

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Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:14-24

Jeremiah 52 – is not just a repeat of 2nd Kings 25 – but a story of a wash into the wash of mercy. Like experiencing the Living Water of Jesus – it is an H2O of HOPE.

I love these ‘Bible Project’ videos, like for Jeremiah, as they help me like cliffnotes in reading these prophet chapters – and Babylon is destroyed yes – but what about the much much verbiage of the whole scene?! Oh there is so much good stuff to learn (and relearn) – and the video helps! The reading too – when you listen to it read, like on Bible Gateway, allows your brain to process it differently and directly – especially the parts of the description of the temple of Jerusalem and of it’s treasures taken. Especially I also remember the uniqueness of the stories of Nebuchadnezzar (for which we will learn more in the book of Daniel coming up in a few chapters) and we learn more of Jeremiah who employed a scribe in Baruch to capture the work of writing prophecy. And after prophecy there is the actual newspaper -story-like tale of how it all went down – the capture of Jerusalem and the people.

THEN –  there is one little story at the very very end which tells of prisoned king, Jehoiachin of Judah, getting a reprieve from the prison life and sitting and eating bread and living out his days in less anguish – a reprieve – oh yeah – Judah’s king – and isn’t  it amazing how it relates to the HOPE of the people held captive (those who did wrong and repented as well as those who kept God’s commands) – and of the scattered people – and of those lost in the world now – that Jesus is the true KING – Who came out of Judah many years later. Yes – in addition to the stories – it is the commentaries that help – and in addition to the life of king Jehoachin getting bread in captivity – the captive bread comes out from Judah – the LIVING BREAD – Living Hope – of Jesus – and conquers all captivity of sin and death.

God said to the israelites to wait out those years in Babylon – we can too – we can wait until He comes again.

May we all remember – ESPECIALLY AS WE ENTER HOLY WEEK NEXT WEEK – we are gifted the bread of life – Jesus – even in our broken captive world look for the bread – keep eating my friends – keep taking in Jesus

Awesome and Amen

Here is the video I recommend: 

Here are the scriptures from Jeremiah 52 and 2nd Kings 25 – I love the numbers here – 52 is special between me and God – be still and be quiet and be knowing that God’s got this – and so is the number 25 as I was born on the 25th – I love that they are number order swap twins AND you can flip one upside down and see the other number – cool….  

Also cool is going to a Biblical tool for School – via Jeremiah… blessed to read!

Jeremiah 52 NKJV – The Fall of Jerusalem Reviewed
Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. He also did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that Jehoiakim had done. For because of the anger of the Lord this happened in Jerusalem and Judah, till He finally cast them out from His presence. Then Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

Now it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army came against Jerusalem and encamped against it; and they built a siege wall against it all around. So the city was besieged until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah. By the fourth month, on the ninth day of the month, the famine had become so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land. Then the city wall was broken through, and all the men of war fled and went out of the city at night by way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king’s garden, even though the Chaldeans were near the city all around. And they went by way of the plain.

But the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king, and they overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. All his army was scattered from him. So they took the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, and he pronounced judgment on him. 10 Then the king of Babylon killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes. And he killed all the princes of Judah in Riblah. He also put out the eyes of Zedekiah; and the king of Babylon bound him in bronze fetters, took him to Babylon, and put him in prison till the day of his death.

The Temple and City Plundered and Burned
Now in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month (which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon), Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, who served the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. He burned the house of the Lord and the king’s house; all the houses of Jerusalem, that is, all the houses of the great, he burned with fire. And all the army of the Chaldeans who were with the captain of the guard broke down all the walls of Jerusalem all around. Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive some of the poor people, the rest of the people who remained in the city, the defectors who had deserted to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the craftsmen. But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left some of the poor of the land as vinedressers and farmers.

The bronze pillars that were in the house of the Lord, and the carts and the bronze Sea that were in the house of the Lord, the Chaldeans broke in pieces, and carried all their bronze to Babylon. They also took away the pots, the shovels, the trimmers, the bowls, the spoons, and all the bronze utensils with which the priests ministered. The basins, the firepans, the bowls, the pots, the lampstands, the spoons, and the cups, whatever was solid gold and whatever was solid silver, the captain of the guard took away. The two pillars, one Sea, the twelve bronze bulls which were under it, and the carts, which King Solomon had made for the house of the Lord—the bronze of all these articles was beyond measure. Now concerning the pillars: the height of one pillar was eighteen cubits, a measuring line of twelve cubits could measure its circumference, and its thickness was four fingers; it was hollow. A capital of bronze was on it; and the height of one capital was five cubits, with a network and pomegranates all around the capital, all of bronze. The second pillar, with pomegranates was the same. There were ninety-six pomegranates on the sides; all the pomegranates, all around on the network, were one hundred.

The People Taken Captive to Babylonia
The captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the second priest, and the three doorkeepers. He also took out of the city an [f]officer who had charge of the men of war, seven men of the king’s close associates who were found in the city, the principal scribe of the army who mustered the people of the land, and sixty men of the people of the land who were found in the midst of the city. And Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took these and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah. Then the king of Babylon struck them and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. Thus Judah was carried away captive from its own land.

These are the people whom Nebuchadnezzar carried away captive: in the seventh year, three thousand and twenty-three Jews; in the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar he carried away captive from Jerusalem eight hundred and thirty-two persons; in the twenty-third year of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive of the Jews seven hundred and forty-five persons. All the persons were four thousand six hundred.

Jehoiachin Released from Prison
Now it came to pass in the thirty-seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-fifth day of the month, that [g]Evil-Merodach king of Babylon, in the first year of his reign, lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah and brought him out of prison. And he spoke kindly to him and gave him a more prominent seat than those of the kings who were with him in Babylon. 33 So [i]Jehoiachin changed from his prison garments, and he ate bread regularly before the king all the days of his life. 34 And as for his provisions, there was a regular ration given him by the king of Babylon, a portion for each day until the day of his death, all the days of his life.

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2nd Kings Chapter 25

And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he, and all his host, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it; and they built forts against it round about.

And the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah. And on the ninth day of the fourth month the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land. And the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between two walls, which is by the king’s garden: (now the Chaldees were against the city round about:) and the king went the way toward the plain. And the army of the Chaldees pursued after the king, and overtook him in the plains of Jericho: and all his army were scattered from him. So they took the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon to Riblah; and they gave judgment upon him. And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass, and carried him to Babylon.

And in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, which is the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, came Nebuzar-adan, captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, unto Jerusalem: And he burnt the house of the LORD, and the king’s house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and every great man’s house burnt he with fire. And all the army of the Chaldees, that were with the captain of the guard, brake down the walls of Jerusalem round about. Now the rest of the people that were left in the city, and the fugitives that fell away to the king of Babylon, with the remnant of the multitude, did Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard carry away.

But the captain of the guard left of the poor of the land to be vinedressers and husbandmen. And the pillars of brass that were in the house of the LORD, and the bases, and the brasen sea that was in the house of the LORD, did the Chaldees break in pieces, and carried the brass of them to Babylon. And the pots, and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the spoons, and all the vessels of brass wherewith they ministered, took they away. And the firepans, and the bowls, and such things as were of gold, in gold, and of silver, in silver, the captain of the guard took away. The two pillars, one sea, and the bases which Solomon had made for the house of the LORD; the brass of all these vessels was without weight. The height of the one pillar was eighteen cubits, and the chapiter upon it was brass: and the height of the chapiter three cubits; and the wreathen work, and pomegranates upon the chapiter round about, all of brass: and like unto these had the second pillar with wreathen work.

And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the door: And out of the city he took an officer that was set over the men of war, and five men of them that were in the king’s presence, which were found in the city, and the principal scribe of the host, which mustered the people of the land, and threescore men of the people of the land that were found in the city: And Nebuzar-adan captain of the guard took these, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah: And the king of Babylon smote them, and slew them at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was carried away out of their land. And as for the people that remained in the land of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, even over them he made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, ruler.

And when all the captains of the armies, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governor, there came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan the son of Careah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men. And Gedaliah sware to them, and to their men, and said unto them, Fear not to be the servants of the Chaldees: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon; and it shall be well with you. But it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the seed royal, came, and ten men with him, and smote Gedaliah, that he died, and the Jews and the Chaldees that were with him at Mizpah. And all the people, both small and great, and the captains of the armies, arose, and came to Egypt: for they were afraid of the Chaldees.

And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evil-merodach king of Babylon in the year that he began to reign did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison; And he spake kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon; And changed his prison garments: and he did eat bread continually before him all the days of his life. And his allowance was a continual allowance given him of the king, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his life.

The most interesting but necessary part of sharing my faith is to sometimes (often) take myself out of it – meaning taking the “it’s MY faith’ – “the faith that is MINE” out of the expression of my faith walk and “get myself out of the way” – out of God’s Way for me. Out of the Way of the Holy Spirit to work THRU me.

And what an amazing thing to do this AT WORK! Yes! To both express faith and to remember faith doesn’t stop with you – but work THRU you. Cool. And the encouragement to walk away from my fear of sharing.

My faith blog – FOR WORK – the encouragement to be more open has come from our CEO – bring your authentic self to work. And so they/we started a Multi-Faith employee resource group ERG.

Before posting on the local share-group for our Multi-Faith ERG. I sent it to our team leader – a woman in the HR department who is growing in her faith – who recently posted her own writings of the Lenten season and Ash Wednesday. She made some really good edits and pointed out where I had lost my way in the middle of the piece by trying to explain ALL of Christianity in less than a page – ah yeah… I was in the way of my own writing – EXCITED YES – but in the way of the Way. And so cohesive editing – best for the audience of TEACHING – all while getting the opportunity for REACHING – and STRENGTHENING others.

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE LOVE! The Holy Spirit lead – and a blessing indeed! – and simply to witness at work – the Lord allows us boldness – and to be an authentic Christian means to allow the Lord to bring us to the challenges as well as the easy streets. BUT IN LOVE!!!

We work at our witness and witness in our work – we work in our work and we witness that we have something to witness about. Wonderful.

Here is my writing (BELOW) remembering that often we do need to take ourselves out of the way to make a way… 

Thank you for letting me share!

AMEN

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Sharing about Easter.

By Faith, I would like to take a moment within our new Multi-Faith ERG site, to share about this Lenten Season, Holy Week and Easter, to write about and explain my understanding of Christian faith – of which I could say is known ‘by Faith’ – by the actual faith coming into and from us divinely rather than simply to us and stopping. In other words, we are gifted this ability to share and to encourage. I am not a pastor or scholar, but a learning soul in discipleship mode, continuing to walk, to be eager, and be willing to learn as well as share. I will not be able to explain ALL Christian beliefs, as there are thousands of denominations (a good reference is the book, “Handbook of Denominations in the United States,” by Mead and Hill), but I can speak to the understanding that Christian faith is to be truly understood and practiced as a RELATIONSHIP over only performing rites in a ritualistic religion. Where does one learn this? Christians are asked to read the Holy Bible – both Old and New Testaments – and are asked to look for individual relationships with Jesus, who is identified as “the Word”. 

A definition of ‘deity’ for Christians would certainly be that Christians follow Christ, Jesus Christ, as the word derives from Greek speaking of ‘The Christ’, or ‘the Anointed One’ as a savior from the sin that separates people from God. It is the faith in forgiveness that we share. Now certain faiths, but not all, respect and understand a divine Trinity of God the Father, God in Jesus Christ the Son, and God in an advocate in the Holy Spirit, three in one. For the Trinity, the Holy Spirit is mentioned in the scriptures of the Bible as the advocate who was sent by God after Jesus’s ascension after Easter on Pentecost and continually. The Holy Spirit is sent to help be inside each person, and this is called ‘to be moved by the Spirit’ and important to note is that the Holy Spirit is always pointing back to Jesus as Lord. The Trinity is said to be represented in the favorite Easter flower, the Lily, which has parts in whorls of 3’s. 

At a time approximately 2000 years ago, now celebrated in the holiday called Christmas, the word suffix ‘mas’ means ‘celebration’, Jesus came into the world as ‘God in the flesh’, referred to as Emmanuel, meaning ‘God with us’. Scripture tells us that Jesus was present from the beginning with God, and then came down to earth. Jesus walked the earth for approximately 33 years as is recorded in the New Testament, containing teachings and merciful miracles. As we are approaching Easter (31MAR2024, or 05MAY2024 for Orthodox observations), Christians experience the culmination of Lent in the pondering of Holy Week. This one-week observance starts with Palm Sunday as Jesus enters Jerusalem in both joy and sorrow as the people think that he is an earthly Jewish king rather than God, then the Last Supper, Jesus’s arrest, and Good Friday, the day of crucifixion and death. Jesus always stated that He came to do His Father’s Will, which would fulfill the prophecies resurrection on Easter Sunday, removing sin and death. Two more holidays after Easter celebrate Jesus’s ascension to Heaven as well as Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples of Jesus. This moment is also referred to as, “the birth of the church,” as the event opened the opportunity to share the knowledge of Christ’s Good News of forgiveness into the world. 

‘By Faith’, a known aspect of Christianity is that Christians are ‘not of this world’ but ‘of Heaven’ and are temporarily placed into this world, thus the, “from dust you came and to dust you will return’ aspect of Ash Wednesday. Jesus came to allow covering of sins by covering all ‘with His blood’ as forgiveness. A key aspect of Christianity is to understand that with man it is impossible, but with God, all things are possible. And thus his journey is of sacrifice. Easter, the resurrection of Jesus, connects to the Old Testament and the brokenness of the people from their ‘covenant’ with God, starting with Adam and Eve who experienced ‘original sin’ separation by breaking God’s commands. Continuing into Moses’s time with the Ten Commandments, the people also broke adherence, thus distancing themselves from God’s companionship. Although a system of sacrifice for the people to attend to the rift was put in place, the plan from the beginning was that God was making a ‘New Covenant’ – defined and achieved as ‘redemption’ by Jesus entering the world to be slain as the ultimate sacrificial lamb – a ransom for all sins of all people – restoring the relationship that restores God and man. The Bible states that God is Love – and we love because He first loved us, experiencing Jesus’s calling as a Shepherd, to hear and understand His Voice. When Christians say ‘Amen’ it indicates agreement, acceptance, and hope. We all know that the world has so many conflicting noisy distractions clamoring for our attention. By faith, we also know in Christianity that the world experiences brokenness, and that the evil in the world is created and fostered by the opposite of the Love of God – by a fallen angel named Satan. By faith, we know from the first readings in the book of Genesis, that Jesus as Messiah would come to crush the power of the devil, and this win over sin and death is already accomplished by the Easter miracle. Christians also know that Jesus will come again into the world, at any time, to complete the purpose of silencing the devil in all ways, and Christians are awaiting a second coming at any moment. With a second coming of Christ, a new Millennium begins on Earth and then a forever future in Heaven, with a New Jerusalem yet to come. 

In conclusion – which is always a new beginning – Christianity can be explained by sharing the best of us in this world with others, to bring God’s best to others by sharing His Love and forgiveness. ‘Love Wins’ may be a catchy phrase, but it is a scriptural quote: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” By faith – the world is to know we are Christians by our Love. 

Sending hopes of many blessings to you and your family now and throughout all the holidays this spring. 

Thank you for the opportunity to share. 

Debbie

That warning is for us too.

Jeremiah wasn’t joking when he warned that Babylon was going down. And as we know of real Babylon in this moment that took away Israelites for a 70 year captivity (sanctioned by God), we also know of Babylon’s demise. And often scholars will suggest that ALL nations eventually become corrupted into Babylon-like demise brought on by its own folly. A broken world plays like a broken record. Just skip from one era to another. 

God’s people survive however. In this era, Israel is taken by Nebuchadnezzar who himself will go into the Lord’s correction. Another one of those times the Lord says: I’m handling this! “for I will forgive the remnant I spare.” And the Lord tells His people this too, for fortifying them, comforting them and allowing them to wait upon God.

That’s us too, wait upon God. I often think we need to both listen for Jesus calling but ALSO read the transcription records that He has been dictating FOR YEARS. Just like those secretarial spiral dictation copy pads for phone messages from the days past, we are to reread the recorded records of God’s Action Plans and whom He’s messaging. (AND WE GET TO READ AHEAD IN HIS WORD TOO)

There are two BIG messages here: Babylon and Babylon-like situations (where people oppose the Lord) are going down like to rock tied to Jeremiah’s scroll message (isn’t God good at demonstrations) – AND – the Lord is setting up His people for forever forgiveness and life (isn’t God good at restorations!).

Those going down: “I set a trap for you, Babylon, and you were caught before you knew it; you were found and captured because you opposed the Lord. –  …The arrogant one will stumble and fall and no one will help her up…”

Those being rescued: “their Redeemer is strong; the Lord Almighty is his name. He will vigorously defend their cause so that he may bring rest to their land…”

The Lord God says: “Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this? Who is like me and who can challenge me? And what shepherd can stand against me?”

No one, especially not Babylon, nor any evil in this world. 

If God is for us, who can be against us? Stick with Saving Grace. 

Amen 

—

Jeremiah 50:17-46 and 51:58-64

“Israel is a scattered flock that lions have chased away. The first to devour them was the king of Assyria; the last to crush their bones was Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.”

Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “I will punish the king of Babylon and his land as I punished the king of Assyria. But I will bring Israel back to their own pasture, and they will graze on Carmel and Bashan; their appetite will be satisfied on the hills of Ephraim and Gilead. In those days, at that time,” declares the Lord, “search will be made for Israel’s guilt, but there will be none, and for the sins of Judah, but none will be found, for I will forgive the remnant I spare.

“Attack the land of Merathaim and those who live in Pekod. Pursue, kill and completely destroy them,” declares the Lord. “Do everything I have commanded you. The noise of battle is in the land, the noise of great destruction! How broken and shattered is the hammer of the whole earth! How desolate is Babylon among the nations! I set a trap for you, Babylon, and you were caught before you knew it; you were found and captured because you opposed the Lord. The Lord has opened his arsenal and brought out the weapons of his wrath, for the Sovereign Lord Almighty has work to do in the land of the Babylonians. Come against her from afar. Break open her granaries; pile her up like heaps of grain. Completely destroy her and leave her no remnant. Kill all her young bulls; let them go down to the slaughter! Woe to them! For their day has come, the time for them to be punished.

Listen to the fugitives and refugees from Babylon declaring in Zion how the Lord our God has taken vengeance, vengeance for his temple. “Summon archers against Babylon, all those who draw the bow. Encamp all around her; let no one escape. Repay her for her deeds; do to her as she has done. For she has defied the Lord, the Holy One of Israel. Therefore, her young men will fall in the streets; all her soldiers will be silenced in that day,” declares the Lord.

“See, I am against you, you arrogant one,” declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty, “for your day has come, the time for you to be punished. The arrogant one will stumble and fall and no one will help her up; I will kindle a fire in her towns that will consume all who are around her.”

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “The people of Israel are oppressed, and the people of Judah as well. All their captors hold them fast, refusing to let them go. Yet their Redeemer is strong; the Lord Almighty is his name. He will vigorously defend their cause so that he may bring rest to their land, but unrest to those who live in Babylon.

“A sword against the Babylonians!” declares the Lord — “against those who live in Babylon and against her officials and wise men! A sword against her false prophets! They will become fools. A sword against her warriors! They will be filled with terror. A sword against her horses and chariots and all the foreigners in her ranks! They will become weaklings. A sword against her treasures! They will be plundered. A drought on her waters! They will dry up. For it is a land of idols, idols that will go mad with terror.

“So desert creatures and hyenas will live there, and there the owl will dwell. It will never again be inhabited or lived in from generation to generation. As I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah along with their neighboring towns,” declares the Lord, “so no one will live there; no people will dwell in it.

“Look! An army is coming from the north; a great nation and many kings are being stirred up from the ends of the earth. They are armed with bows and spears; they are cruel and without mercy. They sound like the roaring sea as they ride on their horses; they come like men in battle formation to attack you, Daughter Babylon. The king of Babylon has heard reports about them, and his hands hang limp. Anguish has gripped him, pain like that of a woman in labor. Like a lion coming up from Jordan’s thickets to a rich pastureland, I will chase Babylon from its land in an instant.
    

Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this? Who is like me and who can challenge me? And what shepherd can stand against me?”

Therefore, hear what the Lord has planned against Babylon, what he has purposed against the land of the Babylonians: The young of the flock will be dragged away; their pasture will be appalled at their fate. At the sound of Babylon’s capture the earth will tremble; its cry will resound among the nations.

…

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Babylon’s thick wall will be leveled and her high gates set on fire; the peoples exhaust themselves for nothing, the nations’ labor is only fuel for the flames.”

This is the message Jeremiah the prophet gave to the staff officer Seraiah son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, when he went to Babylon with Zedekiah king of Judah in the fourth year of his reign. Jeremiah had written on a scroll about all the disasters that would come upon Babylon—all that had been recorded concerning Babylon. He said to Seraiah, “When you get to Babylon, see that you read all these words aloud. Then say, ‘Lord, you have said you will destroy this place, so that neither people nor animals will live in it; it will be desolate forever.’ When you finish reading this scroll, tie a stone to it and throw it into the Euphrates. Then say, ‘So will Babylon sink to rise no more because of the disaster I will bring on her. And her people will fall.’”

The words of Jeremiah end here.

I had a weekend full of distractions.

Because when you live in a broken world (and we are in one), we become broken too – we become judgmental – and we are seeing things that distract us from seeing the attractions of the good.

Gratefully we also see lots of GOOD!

Prime example was Friday night, a beautiful concert, beautiful acoustics, and a beautiful church. – The attraction of sitting down, ahh. But the distraction of my bad (but improving) back and those harsh unforgiving shaped 1800s church pews which kept you awake in the day. ouch. – The attraction of heat at my feet, wow, the pipe placed under these pews? Cool I mean HOT, as I tested it with my foot and it burned for a second, oops. An attraction plus a distraction, just don’t get too close to the heat. – The attraction of beautiful music, a tough to absorb contemporary piece about the Little Match Girl, a sad tale from folklore writing, so the distraction of desolations and death, wow, tough. – The distractions in this hour-long event helped me through, I counted the piece numbers from my pew until we were through. I watched the distractions of an energetic singer’s hair, captivated myself with the bells and unique instruments, and heard the occasional cough of some guests, all while trying to prevent mine… and the cough drops in my pocket for these allergies distracting me from spring.  I also watched the woman in front of me on her phone reading the lyrics, and I couldn’t read them but I could see how long the song was and be thankful for short ones. Distractions were commonplace here (and some even I appreciated) – but all in all it was tough getting through.

The ATTRACTION of the last musical piece, representing HEAVEN and Salvation for the Match Girl, a beautiful song with beautiful singing – it was the freedom from the cruel world. Freedom from forgottenness by those more rich than she and freedom from the unforgiving reality of freezing to death, such harsh ignorance of human needs. And the finality of it all with a Heavenly tune consoled us in the pain of watching it all (watching the match girl’s plight) and not being able to help. Distraction.  

Oh, but the ATTRACTION of Heaven in music, especially because I closed my eyes and absorbed the goodness of it all. The high notes were higher than any darkness of the dungeon, the harmony sweeter than any sour note of sorrow, the Heaven higher than any hurts.  Heaven MUST be like that – above all – above distractions – above judgement. Above human failings and even allergies. No sour notes or stark seats – I think Heaven-focusing is glorious to appreciate living for the best attraction – amid the worst days of distraction. I think closing one’s eyes, like I did in the music, helps us in this world when wanting to be feeling Heaven – BUT opening up our eyes is BEST for us getting to Heaven and watching where Jesus steps us.

Open eyes and Open ears and Open hearts:

Jesus steps us forward by stepping up to see and help Match Girls and those like her in the crushed world. 

Jesus calls us awake by calling us to hear lonely voices and help healing tones where we can add a harmony. 

Jesus is in us, and we in Him, when we act in Him, look up with Him, and not be distracted by worldly down views. Jesus sees through the worldly view.

The ATTRACTION of Heaven is also in creating Heaven on earth. Let’s not get distracted from doing that. 

Amen 

Remember one thing of us in a broken world, DON’T let the brokenness break you. Focus on things above. 

Amen

This post was from a couple years ago – a reminder of God’s faithfulness that day, 17MAR

I Heard the Lord – Stop being afraid, for I AM with you. 

They called upon me to go to the work audit – not just any audit but the BIG audit – that had the whole building all abuzz…  whew…  I knew it was a possibility to go speak, I even kinda wanted the opportunity. 

I didn’t have extra time to prep, we’ve been preparing for weeks, years. I had 30 minutes warning, I knew the ins and outs and loose ends and such of my small part of the big puzzle, but did not know what they specifically wanted to hear, but I really COULD talk for hours on the subject at hand. Obviously the best advice for me and everyone was/is: ‘Just ONLY answer what they ask. Make it SHORT and SWEET and SAIL OUT of there.’

I felt the nerves but not the fear. I KNEW I KNEW WHAT I KNEW. So joyous and smiling, decked out in St Patty’s GREEN. I went in, of course, to be SMART, the SME, Subject Matter Expert, with a SMILE.

The St Patrick’s prayer populated my palm, it really did land in my hand, in the form of a STICKER. Yes in handing out a pack of stickers with shamrocks and secular St Pats sayings, whoda thunk there WAS one in there for me. God did. A sticker to stick to me. I needed that prayer JUST THEN…

Let’s say there’s no luck but the blessed HOPE when the Holy Spirit hits like a Mack Truck.

Jesus says No Fear, Only Faith. 

I read the St Patrick’s Prayer as I walked toward the audit, read it over again and my step slowed, as it calmed me. I walked out of my ego, while reading it, the first lines, the middle lines, the last 2 lines are what really humbling, a chance to be whatever God needs me to be at that moment. This is God’s walk that allows me to NOT trip up when I take a trip WITH Him.

Let us show Christ Himself, by walking in to SERVE. It’s better to NOT stand out as unknowing then be a standout for knowing. 

God saved me today in the God way. By taking my way out of His way.

Yay.

Amen

…

The sticker:

Christ with me, 

Christ before me, 

Christ behind me,

Christ in me, 

Christ beneath me, 

Christ above me,

Christ on my right, 

Christ on my left,

Christ when I lie down, 

Christ when I sit down,

Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,

Christ in the eye that sees me,

Christ in the ear that hears me.

…

---

Amen and here’s the whole prayer:

St Patrick’s Prayer,  5th century 

I arise today

Through a mighty strength, 

the invocation of the Trinity,

Through a belief in the Threeness,

Through confession of the Oneness

Of the Creator of creation.

---

I arise today

Through the strength of Christ’s birth and His baptism,

Through the strength of His crucifixion and His burial,

Through the strength of His resurrection and His ascension,

Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.

---

I arise today

Through the strength of the love of cherubim,

In obedience of angels,

In service of archangels,

In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,

In the prayers of patriarchs,

In preachings of the apostles,

In faiths of confessors,

In innocence of virgins,

In deeds of righteous men.

---

I arise today

Through the strength of heaven;

Light of the sun,

Splendor of fire,

Speed of lightning,

Swiftness of the wind,

Depth of the sea,

Stability of the earth,

Firmness of the rock.

---

I arise today

Through God’s strength to pilot me;

God’s might to uphold me,

God’s wisdom to guide me,

God’s eye to look before me,

God’s ear to hear me,

God’s word to speak for me,

God’s hand to guard me,

God’s way to lie before me,

God’s shield to protect me,

God’s hosts to save me

From snares of the devil,

From temptations of vices,

From every one who desires me ill,

Afar and anear,

Alone or in a multitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and evil,

Against every cruel merciless power that opposes my body and soul,

Against incantations of false prophets,

Against black laws of pagandom,

Against false laws of heretics,

Against craft of idolatry,

Against spells of women and smiths and wizards,

Against every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul.

Christ shield me today

Against poison, against burning,

Against drowning, against wounding,

So that reward may come to me in abundance.

---

Christ with me, 

Christ before me, 

Christ behind me,

Christ in me, 

Christ beneath me, 

Christ above me,

Christ on my right, 

Christ on my left,

Christ when I lie down, 

Christ when I sit down,

Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,

Christ in the eye that sees me,

Christ in the ear that hears me.

I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,

Through a belief in the Threeness,

Through a confession of the Oneness Of the Creator of creation

---

My Condensed Story for a presentation to our ladies at the women’s group – republished for this amazing season of Easter.

My Conversation from Soda Bread to Yeast-Leavened, 10MAR2015

While preparing for Communion this evening at UMW – I remembered back to a couple of years ago when I forgot to purchase the bread – oops – well luckily I had made Irish soda bread for the snack that night (was a recipe from my non-Irish but east European-heritage mom) – luckily we still were able to break bread with Pastor. So, yesterday, preparing for today I thought – I wonder if I should make Irish soda bread?  I checked with Pastor and he said sure – if there was enough time to make it  – well I never have enough time for anything – but I have learned how to make time – so I made some bread this morning – couldn’t find the recipe – but I got one off the web that said  “on St. Patrick’s Day, save a spot on the table for Irish soda bread to remember how far the Irish have come from the days when it was the only thing on the table to today when our tables are filled with good things to eat and thoughts of the Famine years (An Gorta Mor) are long forgotten.”

Yes – we shouldn’t forget how far we have all come from our famine years – but for me that meant something different – it also means I forgot that yeast bread is traditional for communion

Yes – I remembered that I taught a Sunday school class – years prior – that used yeast as an example – used it for the living organism used to make bread and wine – and that Jesus was living and he was the one we are to remember when we break the communion bread –

The act of communion is to remember the last supper and the time just before Jesus was crucified, died and was risen – all for us – for each and every one of us…  see Jesus was sent by God to show us the way to Heaven and to show us the way to Peace here on Earth – by LOVE – the greatest commandment is LOVE

Well, I knew that – but I forgot that – and I forgot that until I was thinking about Irish soda bread… I forgot that  Sunday school lesson of using yeast bread as an example of Jesus.  and baking soda is man-made – not alive…  Irish soda bread represents man-made leavening… not God-made leavening…

Well, I also taught you a bible timeline and used yeast as an example of Jesus as a catalyst – where the addition of yeast to hydrogen peroxide and dish soap caused it to foam and overflow – and that this related to the spread of Christianity – that God sent Jesus to be the catalyst for change – to make the reaction go faster…  and now I am going to tell you that when I taught that experiment about a year or more ago – that that experiment changed me – not just the chemicals – but it actually changed me –

Yes – that experiment is how I became a Christian…  now, please believe me that I always loved God – and I even believed in the Holy Spirit – but I had a mental hang-up on whether Jesus was real – yeah I know, your president of UMW – a Sunday school teacher – person in charge of vacation bible school – I didn’t know if Jesus was really real – I didn’t know if he existed – if he was just another prophet with a good publicist…  none of this cast doubt on God – but I doubted man-made stories – how could I really trust the new testament to be real..

Well – that yeast experiment opened my brain and I said – hmm…  maybe God did send Jesus to be the catalyst of change – and I meditated on that – I prayed – I started to ask questions of my own belief system – you see – I had most everything in my head – but I didn’t’ accept it – I had it in my heart – but I didn’t allow my brain to believe it – and I was stuck – I needed help – I questioned myself – and I questioned a few trusted souls…  and one day – three months ago today – Dec 10th – I wrote a 5 page diatribe out – I only shared it with one person (now a blessed and trusted friend) – for whom I asked to be non-judgmental – someone from whom I listened to guest sermons – in the safe sanctuary of my car – sermons that touched my heart AND my head – and made me think. And he always said at the end – “Don’t let this opportunity pass you by, to be changed by the Holy Spirit” – and offered at the end of the sermons to pray with you if you had any questions and movement in your heart…. so well, I took him up on that offer – and I sent him my 5 page diatribe – carried it out of embarrassment for a week hidden in my car and then I got up the nerve and sent it as well as two other pieces, Christmas Flood (Dec 17^th) and Lego Christianity (Dec 18^th), to him – and soon he replied that it was “very honest and intense in a good way” and that we would talk soon – and guess what? – literally the NEXT morning I pulled out of my section from a completely different entrance onto the main road and guess who was right across the street at the car repair shop – outside? Yup, our cars recognized each other -there he was… God placed him there I am sure… And in our 10 minute conversation, and in one a few days later…in those conversations I was able to be so honest about how I did not question God but I questioned what man may have made up… questioned what I believed in… that started a month of continued conversations with so many people from all sides of my life… including both scholars who showed me the data and the writings of the new testament…this led me down and up the narrow path…right into Jesus.

Yeah – that started a series of God-sightings, unexplained interventions in my spiritual life – Christmas – a flood of good things – I had so much going on that i had to figure out how to process this all – and I started to write – and guess what? I haven’t stopped writing since – I have written and written – I have over 150 pages – Dec/Jan is all processing and Feb is all praise…  March is more processing and praise.

I have listened in my car to so many sermons (both from our guest sermonist and from Pastor (whose sermons do speak to me now – so differnt than before because my ears were CLOSED) and now I listen to others sermons, and of course praise songs in my car – my Subaru, that is my temple – I have read and studied the bible in it – especially when a verse of a song points me there… I listen to all the clues God places in my path. I am in a feeding frenzy – I have shared with first one person and then three and then a dozen – and now 100. I must say that my biggest vocal pep band leader-cheerleader – you name it …to reply to EVERY single one of my early essays – all 150 pages – was/is Pastor S…she has encouraged me like no other. And “K”, my pocket counselor, had been the most carefully conscious and concerned for me…truly a great friend…

and then, finally, on Jan 25th- I finally got a quiet moment to talk to Pastor – and he said “I KNEW!!”  – you cannot imagine how blown away I was…  what a joy for both of us! And that joy continues … New conversations, about faith, science, relationships,  I am, we are, so blessed with an amazing Pastor!

With an original admission that was embarrassment and questioning – I grew into a sincere seeker – and GOD IS GOOD – He is so good – he has blessed me beyond my wildest dreams ever since – the small miracles and god-sightings i have seen – I have been a part of – well, I don’t’ have time to tell you everything now – but Praise the Lord, I have been writing them!

Yes, over 150 pages for this story. I would be glad to send the whole packet to anyone. I am not embarrassed now to tell my story…I have been empowered to tell it- I have been put here for a reason – and I don’t know why this was God’s timing – – I am 45 years old… God said now is your time to shine, so let’s fix this, let’s throw so many God sightings your way that you have no choice but to believe, and no choice but to tell your story, which is really God’s story, not mine.

When God put a mountain right in front of me and told me it was time to climb – well I had no choice to go anywhere else – I had to start climbing – I had to accept that this is where God was taking me -from skeptical cynic to sincere seeker in just over 50 days…I got to 99.44% pure, like ivory soap.

Then, I FINALLY GOT IT – and Feb 1, – Superbowl Sunday – after I had lunch with the women’s retreat planning women – which was immediately after I was blessed to hear from a wonderful friend part of their story of becoming a Christian. So, after lunch (where we saw an American Bald Eagle in flight), “K” offered for me to come for a cup of hot cocoa and decompression at her house…  But I got lost and found my car near the 911 reflection garden – never been – that’s where I stopped and I went to hold the trade center steel beams – I held them and prayed for the 3000 lost, prayed they were found – and prayed for the evil doers in the world- I then went from 99.44% believer in Jesus to 100%. There were coins filling the inside of the beans and I flipped over a plastic gold coin that had John 3:16 on it – God so loved the world that he sent his only son – on superbowl Sunday – a scripture always tied to athletic events because of the signs people hold up – and for the first time ever – I KNEW I believed it – 100% . I was filled with warmth – I really believed it… first time ever…I became Christian 100%.

So – back to the soda bread story – I realized that I WAS the soda bread – leavened by man-made means and not risen to the level that GOD wanted me to be – I was not there – I am SO there now –

See I am half Irish but my other side is from a place I’m going to journey home to in only 2 weeks, over to Europe.  My mother’s maiden name is xxxxxx which means CROSS… this speaks to me that I am not complete without Jesus… BOTH  sides I need  to be myself.. I need the cross of Jesus to make me whole.

I am so humbled to have God work on me and send the Holy Spirit to me. I am now the yeast bread…leavened by Jesus as the yeast…created by God’s will…filled with the Holy Spirit…And ready to share wherever and whenever God’s good news.
I ask that we have communion with both breads…Have two pieces….yeast for those accepting, and soda bread for those who were like me, a few short month ago, pray that they become sincere seekers…Please pray for them to find their way.

I am in Pentecost – I am in thanksgiving – Christmas – a new year – Valentines – St. Patrick’s – lent – Easter and most definitely in Pentecost – the Holy Spirit is coming strong and sure – and blowing me to places unknown – and sending his energy and fire through me and into whomever I can see – I can talk to – and I can inspire – and yet – this is not any of my doing – I just let it happen – and all this is due to GOD… and if anyone is getting any ripple effect from this it is because they are just witnessing my witness, and then they themselves are allowing God’s Holy Spirit to work in them. It is not my doing….and I take no credit.

Praise God and may Jesus receive the honor He is due!!!

Amen

I used to be superstitious a little about Friday the 13th, full moons (except I truly once was in an emergency room once on a crazy full moon night), and just the phrase “Beware the Ides of March” – for March 15th – because the phrase itself I could say in deep foreboding tones…  funny or fun or fundamentally wrong? Back luck is not a thing but certainly feels like a thing. Good luck is thought to a thing if you think of it as blessings. but luck is no luck at all – and the Ides of March only pertains to you if you are Greek, named Caesar, and have pre-meditating friends – yeah I fail at that in all 3 categories…

There is ONE thing that DOES pertain to the Ides of March – it is the birthday of our dear friend Miss Bonnie – crafter, glitter gem and Jesus lover extraordinaire. I remember distinctly when she was so proud to be bewared because she was born on the ides of March. Yeah she beware her bewonderful scarriness. Glitter everywhere…

I must say I miss her greatly, but am so glad she didn’t have to live through covid fear times… just no AC with her uncontrolled asthma was bad enough…

So a memory of sweetness… She loved the Lord and often wore a Jesus Reese’s peanut butter cup orange shirt… She visited elderly just as much as the kiddos… She KNEW Jesus was the Way through – through to Heaven – and Heaven she went to – sleeping from a diabetic coma but now dancing with Jesus. 

Amen. Love you my Miss Bonnie!

Here is my glitter devotion: https://debbieupper.blog/2022/09/02/glitter-and-gods-glue/

Be at PEACE 

Peace 

Ease

A-OK

Calm

Enveloped

…

Be HIS 

Hopeful

In

Salvation 

…

BE STILL 

Best

Effort

Sit

Tight

In

Long

Love

…

LOVE

Life

Of

Valuing

Everyone

…

Amen

For with God all things are possible – specifically salvation YES – and life – and even finding interesting ways to correct my oops-es! And I am guessing that me seeing the elephant (an actual image) in the room (over and over) was probably a sign that I completely missed the meaning of something small and yet BIG – yeah – yeah I did. Yeah – elephants AND camels are big.  So – I had just finished my sermon writing for that Sunday – printed, closed the laptop, and turned around to see this cute elephant figurine in my house – well cute because I have an elephant theme going this day – I thought – and even later I saw an elephant photo on a store wall – hmmm…  WELL, my elephant in the room was that I wrote the scripture of Mark 10:25 as an elephant not a camel – oops… It is easier for a camel [not elephant] to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. Yeah.

Where did I learn this? That I had mis-spoke and even mis-posted? Not in the sermon or parishioners, but later in a car with me recounting my sermon scripture to my wienermobile-travelling friends who certainly knew best on this one. Oh how we laughed – because the reason I have such a wienermobile connection with my friend is that I messed up previously and gave her a candy dish that I was so excited to give her and it was a peanut not a hot dog – OH! my brain switched the peanutmobile and wienermobile, oops… maybe someday we can ride in the peanutmobile for me, LOL. My mistake made a better more fun history of our hot diggity doggedness of friendship. Well, my switch of an elephant for a camel was just my brain being, you guessed it, HUMAN!

This connection with others, others who know their scriptures, is one of those great opportunities for iron to sharpen iron as I was simply wrong, and I (we) do need correction and polishing – and it is no big deal and the elephant in the room for me is that probably I was too distracted by worldly things anyway. Now, here is some folklore not in the bible: some say that the “eye of the needle” is a passageway or gate to Jerusalem and camels had to be unloaded to enter – thus a rich man would have to unload his wealth too… Hmmm… yet there are just as many credible sources that say the opposite – that there is no proof of a gate or passageway like that…  Oh well – I guess we will have to ask the Lord when we see Him…

Three of the four gospels carry this story – and in Luke, Jesus says: “Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches…” TRUTH – it is not just a warning against riches – it is a warning about trusting any money over trusting HIM. We get focused upon the money aspects of that story but really it is all about TRUST – it is if we TRUST the Lord with directing our days – pointing the Way – and having His say. 

One more BIG elephant in the room is me needing to get back to my Jeremiah scriptures – and in one chapter I find 2 BIG elephants – one is that Babylon is going to fall – such strong language by the Lord’s prophesy to Jeremiah in chapter 50 – and the OTHER BIG blessed elephant, in the room of my scripture immersion, is that the Lord is sending a Savior – verse 34 “Yet their Redeemer is strong; the Lord Almighty is his name.”  It would have been such a comfort to those in Jeremiah’s time that the Lord had this under control. And it should be for us today too. Where are we in believing that too? I pray we all do see the Lord’s control and gifts and promises. 

May we not see the elephant in the room but instead focus on the Lord in our view – Let Him lead us – Salvation is His to give. May we ever be faithful enough to TRUST. Trust is the key to this scripture – trust not in riches nor your own understanding – trust in the Lord.

With the Lord it IS Possible.

Amen

Amen

—

Luke 18:22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved? And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.

—

Mark 10:21-27 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

—

Matthew 19:21-26 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

—-

Jeremiah 50:1-34 A Message About Babylon
This is the word the Lord spoke through Jeremiah the prophet concerning Babylon and the land of the Babylonians: “Announce and proclaim among the nations, lift up a banner and proclaim it; keep nothing back, but say, ‘Babylon will be captured; Bel will be put to shame, Marduk filled with terror. Her images will be put to shame and her idols filled with terror.’  A nation from the north will attack her and lay waste her land. No one will live in it; both people and animals will flee away. “In those days, at that time,” declares the Lord, “the people of Israel and the people of Judah together will go in tears to seek the Lord their God. They will ask the way to Zion and turn their faces toward it. They will come and bind themselves to the Lord in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten.  “My people have been lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray and caused them to roam on the mountains. They wandered over mountain and hill and forgot their own resting place. Whoever found them devoured them; their enemies said, ‘We are not guilty, for they sinned against the Lord, their verdant pasture, the Lord, the hope of their ancestors.’

“Flee out of Babylon; leave the land of the Babylonians, and be like the goats that lead the flock. For I will stir up and bring against Babylon an alliance of great nations from the land of the north. They will take up their positions against her, and from the north she will be captured. Their arrows will be like skilled warriors who do not return empty-handed.  So Babylonia will be plundered; all who plunder her will have their fill,” declares the Lord. “Because you rejoice and are glad, you who pillage my inheritance, because you frolic like a heifer threshing grain and neigh like stallions, your mother will be greatly ashamed; she who gave you birth will be disgraced. She will be the least of the nations— a wilderness, a dry land, a desert. Because of the Lord’s anger she will not be inhabited but will be completely desolate. All who pass Babylon will be appalled; they will scoff because of all her wounds.

“Take up your positions around Babylon, all you who draw the bow. Shoot at her! Spare no arrows, for she has sinned against the Lord. Shout against her on every side! She surrenders, her towers fall, her walls are torn down. Since this is the vengeance of the Lord, take vengeance on her; do to her as she has done to others. Cut off from Babylon the sower, and the reaper with his sickle at harvest. Because of the sword of the oppressor let everyone return to their own people, let everyone flee to their own land.

“Israel is a scattered flock that lions have chased away. The first to devour them was the king of Assyria; the last to crush their bones was Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.” Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “I will punish the king of Babylon and his land as I punished the king of Assyria. But I will bring Israel back to their own pasture, and they will graze on Carmel and Bashan; their appetite will be satisfied on the hills of Ephraim and Gilead. In those days, at that time,” declares the Lord, “search will be made for Israel’s guilt, but there will be none, and for the sins of Judah, but none will be found, for I will forgive the remnant I spare. “Attack the land of Merathaim and those who live in Pekod. Pursue, kill and completely destroy them,” declares the Lord. “Do everything I have commanded you. The noise of battle is in the land, the noise of great destruction! How broken and shattered is the hammer of the whole earth! How desolate is Babylon among the nations!  I set a trap for you, Babylon, and you were caught before you knew it; you were found and captured because you opposed the Lord. The Lord has opened his arsenal and brought out the weapons of his wrath, for the Sovereign Lord Almighty has work to do in the land of the Babylonians. Come against her from afar. Break open her granaries; pile her up like heaps of grain. Completely destroy her and leave her no remnant. Kill all her young bulls; let them go down to the slaughter! Woe to them! For their day has come, the time for them to be punished. Listen to the fugitives and refugees from Babylon declaring in Zion how the Lord our God has taken vengeance, vengeance for his temple.

“Summon archers against Babylon, all those who draw the bow. Encamp all around her; let no one escape. Repay her for her deeds; do to her as she has done. For she has defied the Lord, the Holy One of Israel. Therefore, her young men will fall in the streets; all her soldiers will be silenced in that day,” declares the Lord.  “See, I am against you, you arrogant one,” declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty,
“for your day has come, the time for you to be punished. The arrogant one will stumble and fall and no one will help her up; I will kindle a fire in her towns that will consume all who are around her.”

This is what the Lord Almighty says: “The people of Israel are oppressed, and the people of Judah as well. All their captors hold them fast, refusing to let them go.  Yet their Redeemer is strong; the Lord Almighty is his name. He will vigorously defend their cause so that he may bring rest to their land, but unrest to those who live in Babylon. 

A Poem for my Prayerful Pal who loves “P”

P

A Pause

A Parking Car

A Prayer

A Pursuit

A Pointing out: PBTG Praise Be to God

A Pause against panic

A Point

A Post

A Perhaps

A Petition

A Prompting

A Powerful Push

An aPPropriating

A Plan

A Pastoring

A Proposing

A Purpose

A Plea.

I don’t know how the Lord did it, but ONCE AGAIN, He processed me through a day FULL with many OVERLAPPING activities that I didn’t know how it would all fall in place. Well, they did. He did. And I even had extra time. Weird. Wonder. Weird. Wow. Not that strange a set of circumstance, sure, so even less a problem for the Lord to lead. But I couldn’t see it. (He could.)

There’s a song with the lyrics that essentially says ‘I am lost exactly where I should be’. Yup. It actually says: “maybe aimless, maybe lost, right where I need to be”… Yup…

May I always have days that He pieces together, even if it’s just in the timing… May I start with Him first. 

If I’m lost – may I look for the Lord.

If I’m confused – how about I ask the Lord. 

If I just don’t know – let me pray to remember that the Lord knows. 

If I boast, let me boast in the Lord. 

The Lord is wise.

The Lord is strong. 

The Lord is rich.

The Lord is kind.

The Lord is just. 

The Lord has righteousness. 

I don’t have own any of these attributes except to understand (and may I always understand) that being lost in the moment brings the hope and hammering out of life, which comes from the Lord. 

The Lord IS.

We delight in His Insight. 

Amen

This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord. Jeremiah 9:23-24

We love the scripture encouragement from Jeremiah 29 – where God states: He knows the plans for us – keep us and give us hope and a future. REALLY, I could and should READ this everyday!  And especially because He is talking about knowing where we are supposed to be: today, tomorrow, and ALWAYS.   

I’m reading about the RAPTURE in David Jeremiah’s book “The Great Disappearance” AND isn’t his last name cool “coincidence” because I am also in the Book of Jeremiah. It is fitting as I ponder that we are technically exiled here on Earth – not yet in God’s full Kingdom come – but that we WILL be – we will return to be with Him as Jesus returns to be with us totally in forever. Yes, due to our blessed REDEMPTION in Jesus. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 

So – I sat down into a wonderful situation – a welcoming of friends at a dinner – and I saw their amazing welcoming faces, great view from my end of the table – it was SO INVITING that I had to take a photo of these friends.  I knew as I thought about it later, that God was setting me up for the best. Not just for the best dinner and it was really good, not just because it had been paid for and it had, but because it reminded me that He has plans for me. Plans that are refreshing and rapturous to be back with Him.

I will tell you that I recognized just in that dinner and in the faces of friends, that it was how I thought I would sit down at HIS TABLE in Heaven – welcomed, paid for, well-fed. Yes, just in one dinner I could tell you that we are all blessed to be the guest of the Lord – oh just at that moment how God was rescuing me from the worry of the world, the worry of work, the worry of wanting. Just like I knew at dinner that the Lord gives me (us) people to take care of me in friendship, He gives us foster-ing care when we find ourselves in failing places too.  Yes, we are to be led to see that we have been in this place before, realizing that the Lord sets us up again and again for great RECOVERY.

SO – dinner and a show? Will it be rapturous for us in these times of the Lord – I am sure it will be – so then since we are refreshed with this look at our futures – let us get back to inviting the others to dinner and speaking how the Lord is making a place setting appealing for them. We know that God doesn’t want anyone to be left behind – keep preaching, teaching and reaching

Listen to our Jesus’s speech (one of 3 main scriptures starting the David Jeremiah book): Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. John 14:1-3

AMEN

Jeremiah 29:1-14 NIV 

This is the text of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets and all the other people Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. (This was after King Jehoiachin[a] and the queen mother, the court officials and the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the skilled workers and the artisans had gone into exile from Jerusalem.) He entrusted the letter to Elasah son of Shaphan and to Gemariah son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon. It said: 

This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the Lord.

This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

—

(from the book: 2 more scripture references)

1 Corinthians 15:51-58

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.  When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”  – “Where, O death, is your victory?  Where, O death, is your sting?” – The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

1 Thessalonians 4:14-18

For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.  According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Well, Whom am I to whine – I can read and write just fine.

But Jeremiah is SO LONG – I am whining and that is WRONG.

And truly I am excited to finish soon – like the number of chapters is making me swoon.

I see in just a few verses, that I should not be spouting out my terses.

Jeremiah dies in the end, for that I can not make any amend.

And what is the last chapter number when my reading will be through? Ah, it’s 52.

Hush, quiet, calm down and think of our reading mission. Yes Lord, my bad – I will shut up and listen.

Ok – more chapters today and into next week – and now Lord, I approach them not mighty but meek.

Jeremiah, what do you have to say? OH – that God always gets HIS WAY!

Amen