Behold! .
Revelation 21:1-5

1. Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband; 3. and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them; 4. he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away." 5. And he who sat upon the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true."

I woke up knowing which scripture to share this morning! Actually, “Behold, I make all things new” is what was on my mind, and I honestly couldn’t remember where it was, so I had to do a database search. Anyway . . . And I also focused on the word “behold.” Don’t know for sure what Webster’s says, but I think of words like, “look,” “pay attention,” “don’t miss seeing this.” All this talk about newness and the sense of excitement and anticipation these verses summon up are due to a “newness” in our lives. We closed on a house yesterday, so we are beginning a new stage of our lives!

We’re very excited and I’m pretty amused with myself and my family, because we’ve made innumerable comments along the lines of, “when we get in the new house. . . “ You know, like a New Year’s resolution! And practically, realistically . . . we know that a lot of the talk is wishful thinking, borne of good intention. But we are hopeful that a few minor changes will help us stay more organized and keep things running a bit more smoothly.

Isn’t that how it is with God?! He allows us to make 365 “New Year’s Resolutions” a year! Each day is “new day!” He has an inexhaustible, unfathomable well of forgiveness and love and he allows us to dip into that well each new day! We don’t need to shed tears of remorse or regret, because we know and believe that Christ already paid the price for those past wrongs and misdeeds. Remember what he told the Samaritan at the well? That He was the living water, and we will never thirst after drinking that water.

What an amazing God we worship! How incredible that at every moment of the day, he is ready for us to turn back to Him, to drink from the well of life, and to resolve again to live rightly.

This is very un-devotion-like and bit personal, but the movers just called and they’re on their way! I guess it really is going to happen! So I must cut my time short with morning. But trust me, I have prayed, full of hope, gratitude, and joy, thanking God, not only for our new house, and our new adventure, but for the unbelievable well of love and forgiveness from which he allows me drink every day.

I hope today your thirst is quenched by the well of living water. And that you offer a cool cup of that water to anyone in need of hearing the good news!

Mary  ¶ 7:36 AM

  An Everlasting Sign .
Isaiah 55:6-13

6. "Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; 7. let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord. 9. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10. "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and return not thither but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11. so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it. 12. "For you shall go out in joy, and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 13. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial, for an everlasting sign which shall not be cut off."

“For you shall go out in joy, and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” What a vivid, wonderful image! My husband and I toured Yellowstone Park a long, long time ago. Those images are what come to mind when I read the verses from Isaiah. In Yellowstone, the mountains are big, the trees are big, and you can hike for miles and miles and never see another human being. Being surrounded by the beauty and majesty of nature in that broad a scope is almost overwhelming!

Isaiah had a “personal” relationship with God. He conversed with him, and sought his presence along the path of his life. He understood that God’s plans are so much greater than man’s. We couldn’t even begin to enter the mind of a God who made mountains, and oceans and the sky! Isaiah took God at his word because he believed that the same God capable of creating the universe would love, protect, guide and uphold him throughout his life. He accepted and rejoiced in the truth that God could and would bring good from evil, rejoicing out of sorrow, justice from tyranny, abundance from scarcity.

Do you think God created all the wondrous things in nature to give us tangible reminders, concrete proof, undeniable evidence that he is great, that he is control, and he holds us close in heart?! Do you think that because he made us, he knows that we need constant prodding, reminding, urging (like my 17-year old son on a school morning!)? God gave us such unfathomable promises! And I think of those promises every time I see a red-hued sky at sunset, or see the moon in the sky as the sun rises, or pass an outcropping of wild flowers, or hear the birds singing at dawn. And sometimes I think of God and his promises even in the midst of my hum-drum, day-in-day-out existence! But not nearly often enough!

What an unspeakable, indefinable, glorious, thundering, loving and powerful God we have! He made tall trees and strong mountains as monuments to himself! He established a universe for us designed specifically to sustain life. He searches the earth, ever ready to swoop down and rescue us from ourselves—if we will only call out to him. "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and return not thither but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11. so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it”

I hope today you broadcast God’s word, knowing that his promises are true, his word is life, his promised future is sure and bright. And that you will return to your Lord any time your mind wanders to the trifles of this life in this world.

Mary  ¶ 7:37 AM

  Immediately . . . Immediately! .
Matthew 14:22-30

22. Then he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24. but the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. 25. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 26. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. 27. But immediately he spoke to them, saying, "Take heart, it is I; have no fear." 28. And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water." 29. He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; 30. but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me."

“Lord, save me.” These words resonate with me; how about you? We profess our faith. We do good deeds. We try to live the way we are supposed to. We believe, we pray, we go to church, we teach our children what they need to know. But when we hit a bump in the road, don’t we forget it all and call out, “Lord, save me”? Oh, we get out of the boat . . . and we even start walking across that water . . . but eventually it just gets to be more that we can handle. And we falter. We sink. We cry out.

People at this time believed ghosts or spirits that appeared at night foretold bad luck. That’s why they were so terrified. My bible notes explain that if these men had understood the “Feeding of the 5000” they would not have been afraid in this situation. I imagine they would have been amazed, but not surprised. They would have had a fleeting moment of panic, but then the relief of recognition and elation at receiving confirmation that yes, this man is really who he said he was. And we might ask ourselves how they could be so slow to grasp the truth. But when we look into ourselves and we begin to understand them.

How many times in our lives do we throw our leg over the side of that boat, and then change our minds? How often do we take those first few tentative steps, keeping our eye on the goal, but then look down, or look around—seeing all the scoffers and the doubters—and lose our nerve? Too often! With too much regularity! Of course, I’m speaking for myself! But we are so fortunate! Because when we read the next verse, verse 31, we find tremendous comfort: Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. Immediately. Not after he sank up to his knees, not when he was waist deep and sure it was all over . . . Immediately.

Now that’s instant gratification! Put that on television and sell that! What do you need? What do you want? What is it worth to you? Throw your leg over the side! Take a walk! Don’t look down! Don’t look around! Keep your eye on the prize! And Jesus will be there, right next to you, ready to immediately reach out and grab you the minute you begin to falter.

It’s hard to have a bad day when we keep this one word in mind! Jesus will immediately come to our aid. And he will consistently, faithfully, unfailingly, without condition or clause, immediately offer us his love, support, encouragement and strength. All we need to do is take that first step.

I hope today, you take a walk across the water. And that you keep your eye on Jesus, believing he will save you if you falter.

Mary  ¶ 7:30 AM

  Rejoice, Be Patient . . . Pray .
Romans 12:9-21

9. Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 10. love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor. 11. Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord. 12. Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13. Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality. 14. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; never be conceited. 17. Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 18. If possible, so far as it depends upon you, live peaceably with all. 19. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." 20. No, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head." 21. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

These verses might almost cause one to think that a life lived in this way would be impossible! It brings to mind perfection and even Christ himself. How could we possibly approach being this Christ-like? And yet these verses also offer us hope, comfort, reassurance, joy, even an affirmation for how we chose to live our lives. It is, after all, a choice. The hope, comfort, reassurance and joy are possible because of Christ! We have Him and his resurrection as the compass of our lives!

“Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Those three phrases alone could be the basis of a long dissertation! Rejoice in our hope—not a pie-in-the-sky hope like a child hoping for a birthday gift. Rather a hope based on certainty and a longed-for future promise. Be patient in tribulation—not just “taking it” when things are difficult or challenging, but rather “getting through it” because we know that each trial and test is refining us, making us more like Christ. Be constant in prayer—really no elaboration is necessary! Prayer is the first, last, and middle step of a live well-lived. It is the essential element!

“Outdo one another in showing honor” certainly doesn’t refer to “showing off” to see who can be the best or do the most! Rather it directs us to be the most humble while being the most enthusiastic servant – as if you were serving Christ himself. The honor then goes to God—and we demonstrate servanthood to others. “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them” doesn’t mean just stand there and take the abuse another directs at you! It means disregard it—ignore it—act as if it never happened and don’t let it deter you from doing the right thing. No need to defend yourself when you’ve done nothing wrong.

Responding to evil with evil gives evil power and an entryway into relationships. Ignoring it is more than pretending to doesn’t exist. Rather it is acknowledging its existence and countering it with living in love, peace, service, and through constant prayer. Revenge is a waste of time and energy that is better spent caring for and ministering to God’s people. Leave the “big picture” stuff to God, and you do what needs to be done now. Don’t pass up an opportunity to be of service! “Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord.”

Sometimes we may feel worn out, just spent, and like there’s just too much to do, too little time, and certainly too few resources! But each of us, aglow with the power of the Holy Spirit can do much! By serving each other and others, we testify to the source of our power. By living joyfully, prayerfully, we stay connected to the Holy Spirit and allow the power to be continually renewed.

I often think of my Grandmother—my Gammy--and how she prayed the rosary every day and went to mass every morning that she could. My mom told us more than once that she believed our family was protected by Gammy’s prayers! And overall, we have been a very healthy family – now to the fourth generation! And now that she’s in heaven—WOW—those prayers have even more power! She was my first role model on unwavering faith. If my life is half as prayer-filled and faith-filled as hers was, I will consider myself blessed. And I think she exemplified these verses.

I hope you have a model for a live well-lived in your memory-or in your current life! And that you think of how they live when you make a decision about how you will live.

Mary  ¶ 7:47 AM

  Thou Hast Made the Moon .
Psalm 104:1-4, 19-25, 31-34

1. Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, thou art very great! Thou art clothed with honor and majesty, 2. who coverest thyself with light as with a garment, who hast stretched out the heavens like a tent, 3. who hast laid the beams of thy chambers on the waters, who makest the clouds thy chariot, who ridest on the wings of the wind, 4. who makest the winds thy messengers, fire and flame thy ministers. 19. Thou hast made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting. 20. Thou makest darkness, and it is night, when all the beasts of the forest creep forth. 21. The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God. 22. When the sun rises, they get them away and lie down in their dens. 23. Man goes forth to his work and to his labor until the evening. 24. O Lord, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom hast thou made them all; the earth is full of thy creatures. 25. Yonder is the sea, great and wide, which teems with things innumerable, living things both small and great. 31. May the glory of the Lord endure for ever, may the Lord rejoice in his works, 32. who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke! 33. I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. 34. May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord.

This is a very long psalm so I extracted bits and pieces this morning. I was mainly drawn to the verse about the moon. Did you notice there was a full moon last night? And this morning when I met my walking buddy, the moon was so bright we really didn’t need our flashlight to see the way! The sky was so clear – it was obvious which lights were planets and which were stars, and the moon . . . it was so very beautiful! The moon and I have a special relationship, too! I don’t sleep on full-moon nights. I don’t look it up or even keep track most of the time, but I should have known about 1:30 this morning that the moon was full because I was unable to really sleep after that time! I was in a state not conscious, but not asleep—that state your brain goes into right before you wake up—not a dream, but not really grasping reality yet!

Granted, I was physically exhausted as we spent from Friday night through Sunday night moving, stripping wallpaper, cleaning, shelf-lining, moving some more, etc., etc., in preparation for our move the end of the week. And of course there’s the rest of life and its varying and unending issues! But I mean every inch of my body ached, and my mind—which usually is in high-gear anyway—went into hyper-drive last night! God uses those nights to work in me. He has trouble getting my attention very often, so he gives me a little nudge in the wee hours to have my undivided attention!

And though I’m tired, I’m at the same time very alert and in tune with my maker at 3 am! And that’s when I get a big infusion of His energy and His wisdom and His love! I know that He’s in heaven without a doubt! When I look up at that bright, glowing orb and feel the cool morning air, I can’t imagine anywhere else I’d rather be, or anything else I’d rather see! That moon brings it all into focus for me. God is in charge—not just of me and my little life, but of you and your life—and of the oceans, and the skies, and the mountains, and every living being. And even the ants and the algae tremble at His voice!

Could it be that even they know how great their maker is? Could we take a cue from them? Shouldn’t we sing to the Lord as long as we live? Should be sing praise to our God while we have being? I don’t know about you, but I need those reminders, more often than I care to admit. Reminders about what matters. Reminders about who is in charge. Reminders about God and his purpose, and his plan—which is perfect. Rather than worry, and turn things over in my mind a hundred times, and ponder all the small, insignificant issues (in the big scheme of things), I thank God for caring enough to meet me where I am—even if I really do need the sleep (in fact LOVE to sleep!)

My meditations today will be on my God, who is so big he can spare a few hours with me, to get me back on track and keep me coming back for more.

I hope today rejoice at all the wonderful signs in nature that God made to remind us of himself. And that your meditations are pleasing to the Lord.

Mary  ¶ 6:09 AM

  Try God, Again . . . Always .
Psalms 116:1-2

I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my supplications. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.

I didn’t realize God would use a theme for my devotions! These two short verses are another way of saying, “Try God!” from yesterday’s devotion. When I experience instances like this, it confirms for me that God is behind the devotions each morning. So many people have asked me, how do you know which scripture to focus on, and how I know what to say every morning? My answer is, “I don’t!” But somehow, I know when I read it—and believe me, I am so prone to distraction, that some mornings I fear I’ll be late for work! But as I sit down at the computer and begin to type, the words flow out of me. Sometimes I stop to read what I’ve typed—really! That’s how I know it’s God—I could never articulate, examine, dissect and teach God’s word to and for others with any degree of eloquence and depth of wisdom and clarity of vision, without God using my mind and my heart and my hands!

But God is so faithful! He uses me to channel his words into the world. And I believe he specifically uses me to touch the lives of those who work and live “dual lives”—those who work and volunteer “in the world” and have a full life with their families and friends, who attend church and are seeking a way to make their faith life more prominent, more of the focus of their lives. But I also think–at least I hope and pray—that my words reach anyone who is seeking a direction, a meaning for their existence, no matter at which point they are in their faith journey.

“Try God” sounds a bit like the anti-drug theme that I thought just made the issue too simplistic: Just Say No. But in this case, it is that cut and dried: Try God. Turn to him in times of need, despair, grief, hopelessness, and turn to him in times of joy and celebration! He is so steadfast and true, he is the one real and true thing in our lives. He will never lie to us, hurt us, betray us, disappoint us, or abandon us. He loves us without question, without condition, and frankly, beyond all reason! Do we deserve it? No. But he doesn’t care! He just can’t help himself!

God’s love is deeper than any ocean he ever created, vaster than the night sky full of stars and planets, more mighty than any mountain range ever scaled, and truer than any truth ever heard or spoken. He is the beginning and the end. Alpha. Omega. He is, I AM. Life begins and ends in him and through him. So I will join this psalmist in calling upon my God as long as I live. I will invite him in and rely upon his strength, his wisdom, his courage, his truth as the compass for my life’s journey.

Try God. And I’ll join you! Together, we can change the world!

I hope today you Try God in some new and exciting ways! And that you allow him to reveal to you and others in the world how very much he loves us!

Mary  ¶ 7:36 AM

  Think, “God!” .
Proverbs 3:13-20

13. Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gets understanding, 14. for the gain from it is better than gain from silver and its profit better than gold. 15. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. 16. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. 17. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. 18. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called happy. 19. The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; 20. by his knowledge the deeps broke forth, and the clouds drop down the dew.

Does the world ever seem way too big? Do you ever feel like the throngs are crushing in on you? Are there issues in your life that you just turn over and over in your mind? Is it just tough to be alive some days, because you want to live rightly, but you’re just not sure what that means? Proverbs brings it all down to a pretty one-on-one level. God is the source of happiness, pleasantness, peace.

Not that we won’t have struggles. Not that we won’t experience pain, suffering, grief, death. But that we will never be alone—in our joy, in our rejoicing, in our suffering, in our grief. If we strive to live a godly life, we will be rewarded. The knowledge that the same God who founded the earth and the heavens, also created you, is comfort beyond imagining! But it can also make us feel small—when we lay on our back and look up into the night sky. The vastness of it all can make us feel insignificant and puny.

But Proverbs tells us to rejoice that a God “that big” could think “that small” and create you and me! And God’s word, seeking His way, His direction and understanding, is the way we thank Him for the gift of our existence. How we spend our life is the way we worship Him and show our gratitude—and testify to others. When others see how we live, they will surely want to know, “How do you do it?” And we can tell them, “I have a possession more precious than jewels, more wonderful than anything in this world you could desire: I am a child of God.”

There are so many big issues and big problems in this big world. And it’s so easy to be overwhelmed and discouraged. I find myself shaking my head in dismay and feeling rather helpless sometimes. I can’t feed all the hungry people in the world. I can’t cure AIDS or MS or any other devastating, crippling illness. I can’t extrapolate the number of stars in the sky, or design a space station capable of sustaining human life for years at a time. But I can spread the Good News!

I am a branch of the tree of life. I can do God’s work in his world with my words. I can be kind and loving to others. I can pray and ask for discernment about how I am to live my life. It is daunting to be human! We have so much power and yet we fail to use it! In his book, The Power of Intention, Wayne Dyer states that one positive act can counter 90,000 negative thoughts/acts. One. Now that’s power! That’s might! That’s mind-boggling!

So the next time you feel like you’re in this all alone, like you are powerless and weak and too insignificant to make a difference in the world: think God!

I hope today you spend your energy on living a life of wisdom, more precious thaN silver or gold. And that you think “God!” any time an obstacle is thrown up in your path.

Mary  ¶ 7:30 AM

  What Goes Around, Comes Around .
1 Peter 3:8-16

8. Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love of the brethren, a tender heart and a humble mind. 9. Do not return evil for evil or reviling for reviling; but on the contrary bless, for to this you have been called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10. For "He that would love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile; 11. let him turn away from evil and do right; let him seek peace and pursue it. 12. For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those that do evil." 13. Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is right? 14. But even if you do suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15. but in your hearts reverence Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence; 16. and keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are abused, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

Everything listed in verses 8 and 9 sounds pretty much counter to modern society, doesn’t it? We are encouraged, more expected to be individuals, self-sufficient; have a “take no prisoners” attitude, have a sharp wit and a hard heart. That’s how you “make it.” Right? If you look around at the modern world, that’s what you might think. TV shows and advertisers want you to think that. Winning is everything—at any cost! The losers can “eat my dust!”

But when we become Christians, we’re not to live “of the world.” We’re to adhere to a higher set of values and standards. We’re to measure success by different instruments. We’re to be counter-cultural. Victory is now determined by how many souls we’ve brought to Christ. Winning is standing firm in our convictions, even when others sneer at our naivety. When they ask us, “How in the world can you be happy, when the whole world is falling apart around us?” You are able to tell them, “Jesus.” But we’re to explain that we know what’s going on in the world, we watch the evening news, we read the paper, and we listen to the radio. But we’re not concerned because we trust and believe that God is in charge—not man. And that even if the world ends tomorrow, we know our future.

Oh, we’ll be made fun of probably. Others may even think we’ve lost our minds! But if we keep it up, if we’re consistent in our attitude and behavior, they will take notice! We can’t be smug about it, though. We must portray Christ to them. When they see us, they are to see Jesus in their midst. That takes a lot of practice! It takes intention and focus. It takes prayer and conviction. But it is our natural response to the gift of eternal life in heaven. So how can we be sad? How can we mourn? If we are doing absolutely everything we can do to make this world a better place, giving God the glory for any good we do, and modeling the love and inner peace of our Lord and Savior, then we can rest assured we will rejoice in heaven at the end of time.

I can remember my mom telling me as a child, “What goes around, comes around.” I can’t think of a better way to sum up my thoughts this morning!

I hope today that love, peace and humility reign in your hearts. And that what comes around to you is that same love, peace and humility!

Mary  ¶ 7:32 AM

  Jesus Cried Out .
John 12:44-50

44. And Jesus cried out and said, "He who believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45. And he who sees me sees him who sent me. 46. I have come as light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. 47. If any one hears my sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48. He who rejects me and does not receive my sayings has a judge; the word that I have spoken will be his judge on the last day. 49. For I have not spoken on my own authority; the Father who sent me has himself given me commandment what to say and what to speak. 50. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has bidden me."

Jesus cried out. We don’t read that often. He felt these words were crucial for the listeners, and he wanted to be sure they heard every word and understood clearly what he was telling them. He wanted no question to remain in our minds who he was and why he came, from where he came, and upon whose authority he was preaching this message.

And we are to “be Jesus” to this world now, in the year 2005. We are to cry out to the lost and the hurting and tell them they are not alone. They may have hope in the one who is the source of all hope. The one who came to earth solely to die on the cross—so that we would no without doubt or question, the God in heaven loves us more than his own existence. Jesus lived so that we would know that he understands what it feels like to be human. He experienced pain, suffering, joy, delight, loneliness, love, all the other emotions and feelings that make us who we are. He understood all of it—not just because he was part of God who made us—but because he was one of us.

And Jesus wants to be very clear: hear and believe or perish. It’s that plain and simple. Believe and end up in heaven with him and with his heavenly father—our heavenly father, or turn away; go your own way, do your own thing, and miss out on the future glory.

And we are not to judge others. We are only to tell them the Good News. And we are to pray for them. God will judge them. We are to speak a message of salvation – and let God deal with the details. We are to offer salvation to as many people as we can—by introducing them to Jesus and His message. Beyond that, we may never know the outcome—except that we have done what Jesus cried out to us to do.

I hope today you cry out the Good News to the lost and lonely in your life. And that you speak with the authority of the one who announced the Good News first – 2000 years ago.

Mary  ¶ 8:34 AM

  Keep It Simple .
Colossians 1:24-29

24. Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25. of which I became a minister according to the divine office which was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26. the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now made manifest to his saints. 27. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28. Him we proclaim, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man mature in Christ. 29. For this I toil, striving with all the energy which he mightily inspires within me.

During the time Paul wrote this letter, the Gnostics were pretty prominent. They believed that one needed to acquire a “secret knowledge” in order to be saved. And that knowledge was only granted to a select few. This is, in part, what Paul is addressing when he talks about the “mystery.” For Christians, God reveals his purpose through divine revelation. The information is available to everyone – Jews, Gentiles, everyone! And this truth is to be widely proclaimed – shared with everyone and anyone who will listen and believe!

I was brought up in the Catholic Church. There will always be a part of me that remains Catholic. I love the ritual and the traditions and the beauty of the religion. Watching all the masses and ceremonies on television as the Bishops prepare to appoint a new Pope has been wonderful! But Paul cautions us not to get hung up on the pomp and circumstance. Don’t be distracted by the rituals. Don’t make your purpose for worshipping, to recite the creeds and go through the familiar prayers and actions that make up a “worship service.”

Paul wants us to extend our “worship” to every aspect of our lives! We participate in communal worship, with others “in community” when we go to services at church. And it is important to maintain and strengthen that communal sharing of our faith and our faith traditions. But the “secret” now revealed must be broadcast outside the walls of our churches. We must spread the Good News to everyone. And we shouldn’t complicate things with too many flowery words, or try to “show off” what we know. Keep it simple: Jesus! That’s it. No big mysterious truth that is incapable of being grasped. No secret society, members of the elect, who know, but will not impart their knowledge to others.

We are all the body of Christ. Just as we care for our entire bodies, we must care for each other. The best way to do that is to share the truth of the risen Christ. And when we think we’ve done all we can to advance the gospel in the world, we are to go one step further, strive for one more hour, work to save one more soul – relying not upon our own limited strength and stamina, but upon our Lord and Savior—the source of all strength.

Keep it Simple. Say it plain. Jesus is Lord. When you are in a crisis, or need to make a quick decision, fall back on the perhaps trite, but oh so true, question: What Would Jesus Do?

My prayer today is that you keep it simple and say it plain to all who will hear your voice. And that you’ll find the strength only available through Christ, to speak the truth one more time, to one more person in need of hearing the Truth.

Mary  ¶ 7:13 AM

  Battle for our Souls .
Ephesians 6:10-20

10. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13. Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14. Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15. and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; 16. besides all these, taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one. 17. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18. Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19. and also for me, that utterance may be given me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20. for which I am an ambassador in chains; that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Notice Paul tells the Ephesians to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.” This life we’re living is not a practice run—this is the real deal and we only have one chance to get it right! Knowing that, shouldn’t we call out the “big guns?” Everything is at stake here! If you want to haul a heavy load somewhere, you don’t put the load in the trunk of your Honda! You get a truck, with power! OK, I probably shouldn’t use vehicles in an example, as this is about the extent of my knowledge about them!

Satan was in heaven with God a long, long, time ago. He and his followers know the secrets of the human heart, and of God’s mind! That makes for a formidable enemy! He wants our hearts and minds—more—our very souls! And he is well-equipped to acquire them—to steal them away! So we have to use every single weapon at our disposal to fend off Satan’s attacks! God is the only one in all of creation who is more powerful than that fallen angel! So that’s who we must turn to and call upon!

I’m a very visual person, so I really can picture a soldier dressing out for battle. And when my children were small, I literally envisioned them being dressed in the Full Armor of God before they left the house each morning. I don’t know when I stopped doing that, but I believe I’ll start again—and include my husband and myself!

Prayer is really the most powerful of all the weapons, because it allows us to communicate directly with God. Continual, ardent prayer is so powerful that Satan puts any distraction at his disposal to prevent us from praying!

The noise of the world can drown out God’s plans for us—how could we possibly hear him over the evening news and the video games, and cell phones, traffic, and all the other noise!? We must clothe ourselves in the love of Christ, fortify ourselves with the protection of God’s power, and call upon the Holy Spirit to guide and direct our path. Life is just impossible without this protection, guidance and direction. And prayer is a direct channel from the mind of God to our hearts.

I hope today you call upon the Triune God to guard, protect and direct your path. And that you’ll be impenetrable to Satan because you’re clothed in the Full Armor of God.

Mary  ¶ 7:20 AM

  For This Reason .
Ephesians 3:14-21

14. For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15. from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16. that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with might through his Spirit in the inner man, 17. and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18. may have power to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19. and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fulness of God. 20. Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, 21. to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.

That’s a long sentence! But it is almost impossible to contain the good and wonderful qualities of and benefits of believing in and following Christ! Paul wants us to invite Christ in and allow him to dwell—to be comfortable and feel completely at home—in our hearts. So we don’t treat him like company, but rather like family. We are completely ourselves with him—especially since he already knows everything about us! We are open and honest and vulnerable and humble in his presence, knowing that his love for us will never change, will never falter, will never end.

Of course we will never have the power to comprehend the breadth, length, height, and depth of Christ’s love. It is virtually impossible for us to grasp divinity! But when we reflect upon the wonder and awe of it all—of God sending himself/his son to earth to walk among us—we can gain a faint glimmer of comprehension! We can almost imagine a love that great—but of course, we’re not capable of even approaching that kind of love, so almost will have to do until we get to heaven, when all will be revealed.

Paul urges us to work hard to advance the cause of Christ. We are to labor for the good of the body, the family of God. And above all we are to give Him the glory as the motivation and power behind our labor. We are to glorify God by our lives, out of reverence and gratitude for his unspeakable gift of grace. And we are to share that blessing with others, wherever and whenever we can.

So as we struggle in our faith, Christ is with us, patiently waiting for the “aha!” As we falter, Christ is there to offer a helping hand to steady us. As we question, He is there to direct us toward an answer. And always, always we know and trust and believe that He has suffered not only with us, but for us. And he suffers still, as he waits for us to find Him and know Him and love Him as completely as He loves us.

Heaven awaits! Until then, we can only imagine being in the presence of God’s glory. And we can only try, as best we can, to imitate the love of Christ, taught to us through the Word, demonstrated for us on the Cross, and sealed for us on Easter morning.

I hope today you’ll pause to reflect upon the immense and intense love of Jesus. And that you’ll savor being loved that much.

Mary  ¶ 7:29 AM

  Go Over the Story Again .
Hebrews 12:1-3 (MSG)

Do you see what this means—all the pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

This is just what I needed this morning! No spiritual fat! Just the basics! Look to Jesus and compare any hardships in your life. Do they really measure up? Have you ever read a medical account of crucifixion? It’s horrific. I couldn’t even finish reading it! And some people thought the scene in The Passion of the Christ where Jesus was beaten by the Romans was too gory and graphic. But I still remember the first time I watched it: I was transfixed. As much as I wanted to turn away and hide my eyes, I couldn’t.

I remember when the movie ended and the lights began to come up that the group of three in front of us who had fooled around and were rather loud and annoying as the movie began, were speechless and unable to get up from their seats. One of them was sobbing, quietly, head in her hands. I was numb. No one was chatting. There was a somber, silent procession out of the theater.

What else could be said except Christ crucified? How can the hardships I view as monumental obstacles in my life be compared to what he endured? He never lost sight of his goal. His message never changed. He never promised it would be easy – just worth it! And he proved that he really meant it on a hilltop 2000 years ago.

I hope today you find your faith renewed and refreshed as you remember the reward that awaits you in heaven. And that you call upon the example set by Jesus, our Precious Lord and Savior.

Mary  ¶ 7:22 AM

  Be Radiant .
Psalm 34:1-7

1. I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and be glad. 3. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! 4. I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. 5. Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed. 6. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. 7. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

It may have been gleaned from a few references lately in my postings: I am very busy! And I am very stressed! And at various points throughout these past days I have reverted to a time before I was as spiritually aware and mature as I sometimes convince myself that I am. The past couple of weeks have been especially challenging for me – not to mention others in my life! The thing is: everything that is causing this elevated level of self-involvement and self-centeredness is good! Great! Exciting! Cause for rejoicing! So what’s up?

Yesterday I had just finished a 5-minute “download” to a trusted “griping buddy” at work when I opened an e-mail from a dear friend that reminded me to ASAP: Always Say A Prayer. This morning I woke up pretty worked up about everything that needed to be done, knowing that all of it will not be accomplished! I paused before opening my bible and prayed that God would lead me (quickly, please!) to the scripture upon which to reflect this morning. And I opened to Psalm 34. I may get self-involved and self-centered, but I know when God has put his hand on my shoulder and reminded me to give it all to Him.

David is pretty hard to top! Not too much one could say that would be more eloquent. What about you? Do you ever get to the point where you think you’re ready to “blow a gasket”? Work is stressful, allergies kick in, nobody appreciates you, everybody making demands on you? I don’t have any advice for you other than to follow David’s lead!

1. I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and be glad. 3. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together! 4. I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. 5. Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed. 6. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. 7. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.

I hope today God’s praise shall continually be in your mouth. And that you are radiant with the love and peace available only through giving all our troubles to God.

Mary  ¶ 7:23 AM

  In This You Rejoice .
1 Peter 1:3-9

3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4. and to an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5. who by God's power are guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer various trials, 7. so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold which though perishable is tested by fire, may redound to praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8. Without having seen him you love him; though you do not now see him you believe in him and rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy. 9. As the outcome of your faith you obtain the salvation of your souls.

We’ve been saved! We’ve been re-born! We are the heirs of perfection; of eternity! No matter what we do, God will not write us out of the will! Oh, there is one thing we must do: repent! God holds the treasure of eternal life in heaven for us. It’s being kept safe and protected and perfect for us. God wants us to want our inheritance. Not earn it – that’s already been done by our big brother! He paid the price for us! He already earned the prize! Now that’s what I call a good big brother! And so, no matter what we have endured in life, no matter what stumbling blocks may be put before us, no matter how far off track we roam, no matter how many times we fall short, it just doesn’t change the outcome! Rejoice indeed! Have you really thought about this? Have you really pondered all the implications? Has it really sunk in, deep within you? Have you ever in your life felt that worthy?

So, what about our suffering? Why does it happen? If God loves us so much, and wants us to love him back, why does he allow hurtful experiences into our lives? Michael Card, on one of his live cd’s, recalls for the audience a painful experience from his childhood, and about how it shaped him and influenced him to become the man he is today. He tells the audience that God uses every experience—good, bad, sad, painful—to make us more like Him. That really hit me! And it kind of put things in perspective! I once read part of an interview with Arthur Ashe – the famous tennis player who died of AIDS, which he contracted from a blood transfusion. I paraphrase the conversation between Ashe and an interviewer. He asked Ashe if he ever asked God, “Why me?” And Ashe replied, “No. But I never asked him ‘why me?’ when I was winning at Wimbledon, either.”

That’s a pretty profound statement. And an amazing perspective on life. God gave us a big brother who never asked our father, “Why me?” He knew why and he knew his purpose. And in obedience, he fulfilled that purpose on earth. Arthur Ashe clearly grasped this! He was “made” to play tennis! And he did so brilliantly! But God used his life, his fame, and his afflictions, in powerful ways to minister to the world. “. . . though now for a little while you may have to suffer various trials, 7. so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold which though perishable is tested by fire, may redound to praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

So today I pray you’ll rejoice in the rich inheritance won for us by our big brother, Jesus. And that you’ll thank God for the both the bitter and the sweet things in your life today.

Mary  ¶ 7:39 AM

  Power to the Faint .
Isaiah 40:28-31

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary, his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

This belief, this absolute trust in God is the only way so many great people have endured unspeakable pain and suffering. I think of those in concentration camps. Their faith is all they had—literally all. They had stripped from them every possession, every family member, every shred of human dignity—every ounce of humanity itself. And yet they survived. And I refer again to Mother Theresa who worked tirelessly ministering to the least and the lost of India. She never faltered, never turned away anyone. She walked with them and lived with them, and ministered not only to their spiritual needs but to their physical needs as well.

And how about Pope John Paul II? No matter what you think of his theology, he was an amazing man! He kept going even as his health declined. The Parkinson’s surely made it a struggle just to get up in the morning, let alone to travel and maintain a busy schedule until the very end of his life. This great man – though leader of the Catholic Church – embraced those of every faith! I heard one interview by a man who became the maestro to the Pope and lead musical performances at the Vatican for many years. He was a Jew. He shared that when he met John Paul, he didn’t practice his religion. But over the years, he became more and more devout, eventually becoming an Orthodox Jew. When asked if the Pope ever tried to convert him, he said no. He believed that what mattered to him was that one have “faith.” And that one practiced that faith, and lived a live worthy of God. There are countless other tales like this, and even some of spontaneous healings just from being in his presence.

What about us? Do we allow the world to wear us out and wear us down? I must admit it happens to me! We may not have the same scope of influence as these individuals, but we can have the same depth of faith. And we can have the same impact on the lives of others by how we live our lives. When we draw upon and seek the power of the Holy Spirit, that power pours out of us to others in our world. That’s the power that allows us to be like these notables. And just as these “famous” people impacted the world, so can we when we rely upon God’s power and might and strength.

Alone we can do very little. With God’s power, with the grace granted us through His Son, and the fortitude and energy afforded us through the Holy Spirit, we can set this world on fire! We can mount up with wings like eagles. What a glorious vision! To soar above the pain and sin and suffering of this world and to know that we are God’s ambassadors in the world and the channel of hope through the message of the Risen Savior—I can think of nothing more humbling and also exciting!

When we have reached our end, God is just beginning! When we think we can'r go on one more minute, we only need look to the Cross. When we feel our lives are meaningless and ineffectual, we only need to summon the Holy Spirit, and this Trinity will bolster us, empower us, and energize us to assume our mission in the world.

I hope today you call upon the Triune God as you minister to your world. And that you renew your strength as you wait on the Lord.

Mary  ¶ 7:37 AM

  Your Perfection or Mine? .
1 Corinthians 15:35-44

35. But some one will ask, "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?" 36. You foolish man! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37. And what you sow is not the body which is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. 38. But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. 39. For not all flesh is alike, but there is one kind for men, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. 40. There are celestial bodies and there are terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. 42. So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable. 43. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44. It is sown a physical body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual body.

This scripture addresses two of the many, many questions I hope to have answered at the resurrection! First: If we’re all created in His image and likeness, why are we all so different than one another? The second: What will our “resurrection bodies” look like? Paul is saying that these are kind of silly questions! We can’t know until it happens, but we won’t even resemble our current shape and form, I’m sure! Will I be beautiful? Tall? Slim? Will I be tan and lean and athletic? Or will I even have a literal, physical form? (I guess you can tell what I long to look like and be like!)

Wayne Dyer, in his book “The Power of Intention” addresses this topic in a round-about way. He believes that we are, indeed all part of the cosmic “eternity” that contains God. Each of us is an eternal being, in a temporary human form. Our time in this form is intended to teach us what we need to know for the next stage of our existence. Christ became flesh and blood to help us understand that. He is God, yet man. He walked the earth as a human, but constantly and deliberately sought out His Father in Heaven—he tapped into eternity in order to live rightly as a human being.

In His resurrection body, Christ still bore the scars of this world—not only physical, but emotional. I don’t know if the memory of our hurts and pain will be eliminated, or if God will have us keep the physical, emotional reminder, but they will not be a burden any more, more like a badge of courage, or a medal of honor. We’ll draw on the experiences to make us “more perfect” for the next stage of our life in heaven.

I really get so excited when I think about heaven! I just cannot imagine how wonderful it will be! One of my friends recently shared how disappointed she was when she read in “The Purpose Driven Life” that, according to Rick Warren, God would reward us for our hard work on earth by giving us even more responsibility when we get to heaven. She said she had always hoped she could just lie around on a cloud all day, and enjoy not having any responsibility! She was quite put out at the thought of working even harder in heaven!

Bottom line is, we don’t really know what to expect! But I do believe it will be so amazing, so much better than anything we can imagine. It will be better than any human experience. It will be perfect and pure and full of a warm, glowing peace. It will be perfection. Will it be the perfection you imagine? Or the perfection I imagine? Will my friend actually be able to lie around on a cloud? Or will she really be put to work the minute she arrives at the “pearly gates?” Who knows! I really want to find out though, so I’m going to try to do and be everything possible to get there!

I hope today you’ll join me is striving to deserve a “resurrection body.” And that you’ll do all you can to deserve eternity in perfection.

Mary  ¶ 7:39 AM

  The End of All Things .
Proverbs 19:20-21

Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom for the future. Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established.

Revelation 22:7-9

7. And behold, I am coming soon." Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. 8. I John am he who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me; 9. but he said to me, "You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brethren the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God."

1 Peter 4:7-11

7. The end of all things is at hand; therefore keep sane and sober for your prayers. 8. Above all hold unfailing your love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9. Practice hospitality ungrudgingly to one another. 10. As each has received a gift, employ it for one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11. whoever speaks, as one who utters oracles of God; whoever renders service, as one who renders it by the strength which God supplies; in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Had a conversation with my walking buddy this morning about being called and what that means. She was at a conference and one of the speakers said that the most important call—more important that what we do as a career or hobby, or volunteer project—is our call to follow Jesus. That got me to thinking . . . God made us to worship him. So what does a life planned, designed, lived around and for that purpose look like? Probably pretty different from the one I’m living!

And I wonder sometimes at “the end of all things” if I’ll be able to look into the face of God—or more likely bow at his feet, unable to see the glory of his face—and say, “Yes, I lived my life on purpose, for your purpose, as you made me to do.” I will certainly be able to say I tried! OK . . . I tried most of the time. OK . . . I tried when I wasn’t too tired or too busy to figure out if the next thing I planned to do was part of God’s purpose for me . . . OK . . . honestly, most of the time . . . my answer would have to be “Nope.”

I’ve been pretty crabby the past couple of days, and I know it’s because I’m letting the world “run my life.” So with this new realization/recognition, I’m going to recommit to make my to-do list and do the best I can to complete it, and as the day progresses, I’ll just have to make adjustments and decisions about what must be done for my job, what must be done for my life, what must be done for my God. Everything else will be moved to the next day’s list! I’m sure I’ll be letting you know how that works out!

I’m going to try to reconnect to God’s purpose(s) for my life and be true to them today—because, after all . . . Today could be the day!

I hope you’ll join me in re-establishing God’s purpose as the purpose behind everything we do today. And that you will be able to say “Yes, Lord” when he asks if you lived on His terms, according to His plans.

Mary  ¶ 7:25 AM

  The Third Day .
Luke 24:1-12

1. But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices which they had prepared. 2. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3. but when they went in they did not find the body. 4. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel; 5. and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7. that the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise." 8. And they remembered his words, 9. and returning from the tomb they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. 10. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told this to the apostles; 11. but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

Wondering what had happened?! My son would say, “Hellllooo!” Had Peter not been paying attention? Did he forget how the story was supposed to end? Or actually how it was to begin? But we must keep in mind that Peter wanted not only his feet washed at the Last Supper, but his whole body! He wasn’t dumb, he just adored Jesus so much, that he hung on his every word, and wanted to understand! I think that he just didn’t always carry a thought to its logical conclusion! He was one of those “shoot from the hip types.” I think that’s why I relate to him so readily! And he loved Jesus beyond reason. At this point in the story, he has denied knowing Jesus three times. And the apostles and most of the followers of “this Jesus” were in hiding, probably fearing for their own lives.

How in the world could these women be accurate in their accounting? They must have gone to the wrong tomb. There’s no way one person could have rolled away that stone! It took three or four strong men to roll it into place on Friday. These women are so overcome with grief, they’ve convinced themselves that their Lord is not really dead! No on can rise from the dead! It’s crazy! It’s impossible! But . . . wait . . . and off he runs—frantic . . . hoping against hope. And when his deepest desire is realized, he just can’t believe it! He can’t wrap his head around it! (Remember he needs time to “process.”)

Aren’t we so often like Peter? Don’t we “pick and choose” when and what we really believe and live by? Yes, we believe Jesus rose from the dead – but we never put our hand in his side, we never saw the nail scars. We never had our minds opened to the scripture in some cosmic way that imparted a deep and transcendent knowledge – a spiritual understanding and belief in everything the prophets has foretold, and in everything Christ had promised would come. We’ve never heard the words from His mouth. We’ve never looked into His eyes and seen so much love it made us hurt; and so much pain it made us fall to our knees in humble inexpressible gratitude.

But we have the luxury and benefit of history. We can “start” at the resurrection and work our way backwards! We have the New Testament to continue the story that started so very long ago—before man could speak in sentences and while Adam and Eve were still “in His image and likeness.” And we have 2000+ years of history since the resurrection! And great people like Pope John Paul II, and Mother Theresa, and Nelson Mandella, and Desmond Tutu, Jimmy Carter, and Billy Graham, and so many other guides, leaders, and modern-day prophets and disciples to learn from and look to for how to live our lives.

I pray today that you live your life in the joy and wonder of the Third Day! And that you spread the Good News of the Resurrection to everyone you meet.

Mary  ¶ 7:33 AM

  Bring It On! .
Luke 21:1-4

1. He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury; 2. and he saw a poor widow put in two copper coins. 3. And he said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; 4. for they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all the living that she had."

Romans 12:1-2

1. I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

It may not seem as if these two passages are related, but the more I read over them, the more closely the connection in my mind developed. In Luke, we see the wealthy doing what is required. The poor woman would certainly be excused from offering the last of her money in order to provide for herself. But reading through Paul’s letter to the Romans, we see that he clearly feels we are to do more than the minimum. In fact, we are to step out in faith and do more—give everything.

Perhaps because I’ve begun leading a spiritual gifts class that I view these two passages from that perspective. Society has many pre-determined ideas about what the prestigious occupations are. Notice that attorneys and doctors are referred to as “professionals” and plumbers and those in the construction business are referred to as “workers?” It’s a subtle distinction, but it exists nonetheless. We do tend to respect those with more education and training, and hold in lower regard one who is a skilled laborer.

But I ask you, who do you respect more when your septic tank backs up, or you who would rather have building a cabinet or a piece of furniture for you? Sure, we need attorneys and doctors, stock brokers and bankers, politicians and judges, and many other “prestigious” individuals. But Paul is chiding us to not get too hung up on a title or a “place in society.” Especially if we are one of the “more respectable” ones!

Each of us is gifted, skilled, in specific ways. And each of us serves everyone else. My service is just as important as yours. Without one of us, the other would be lacking. Without attorneys, our laws could not be upheld or tested. Without plumbers, we wouldn’t be able to live very comfortably or conveniently. More than that, though, we are implored to give our “all.” Be like the widow—and give the best, the most, the last of what we have to give—whatever that might be. Make our service an act of worship.

Offer yourself as a living sacrifice. Dig down deep and look for the next thing you can do, the more challenging, the more generous, the absolute limit. Because, after all, everything you have, everything you are, everything you will ever become, is because of God’s grand design, the gift of His Son, and the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit! Trust that God will use you to serve his world. Believe that God’s will for you is abundance and you will have it! Perhaps you won’t have wealth, but you’ll have love, and generosity of friends, and peace of mind, and gratitude for those blessings.

I think I’m really leading myself down a path this morning that I’ve been avoiding. I’m at a point where I know I need to “kick it up a notch” in terms of my obedience to God. And I’m struggling with taking that next step. It will require that I give up some of the activities I participate in now, and rearrange how I spend my time, and certainly expenditure of energy and effort. But I know God is leading me to take this next step—go deeper, discover more so I can give more. Find answers so I can share wisdom. Trust in him that he will continue to bless me with abundance of love, encouragement, friendship, and peace of mind.

I hope today you listen as God calls you to take the next step. And that you’ll jubilantly respond, “Yes, bring it on!”

Mary  ¶ 7:38 AM