Waiting is painful at times, depending on the object of the wait.
A Disney line wait isn't so bad...happy people, line activities or distractions, food to munch in the meantime.
A Christmas morning wait is a full-heart wait, completely worthwhile and almost giggle-inducing.
But, even those two waits can change and become heart-laden depending on the circumstances for the individual.
My boy is sick, so I'm waiting it out...how sick is he? Doctor sick? Bed rest sick? Is Advil helping these relentless headaches? Eye doctor appointment is two weeks away...seems like forever when I'm waiting for answers.
And then in the midst of it all, I remember that even Jesus waited on God's timing in coming to earth, waited on Him in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before He stood trial, the night before bearing the weight of the world's sin while on the cross. And so, in light of that, I wait and remember:
"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."
Psalm 27:14
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
first little publication
http://burnsidewriters.com/2013/03/31/scarlet-redemption/
My goal in writing is to one day reach many, and when I do, to tirelessly point readers to the great Author, Jesus.
My goal in writing is to one day reach many, and when I do, to tirelessly point readers to the great Author, Jesus.
Friday, August 30, 2013
the ends of the spectrum
It was the best of times
it was the worst of times.
It was the age of hope
it was the age of despair.
It was the age of beginning
it was the age of finality.
It was the age of peace
it was the age of grief.
It was the age of joy
it was the age of sorrow.
It was the age of beauty
it was the age of pain.
It was the age of abundance
it was the age of isolation.
It was the age of fullness
it was the age of loneliness.
It was the age of abandon
it was the age of restraint.
It was the age of hope and salvation
it still is.
God is the same now as He was in Genesis, in the desert, on the cross, in the prophecies, with the martyrs.
God offers new beginnings, hope, peace, joy, beauty, abundance, fullness, salvation. In Him there is rest. Lay claim to Him. He is all we have, all we need; I believe that with all my heart.
it was the worst of times.
It was the age of hope
it was the age of despair.
It was the age of beginning
it was the age of finality.
It was the age of peace
it was the age of grief.
It was the age of joy
it was the age of sorrow.
It was the age of beauty
it was the age of pain.
It was the age of abundance
it was the age of isolation.
It was the age of fullness
it was the age of loneliness.
It was the age of abandon
it was the age of restraint.
It was the age of hope and salvation
it still is.
God is the same now as He was in Genesis, in the desert, on the cross, in the prophecies, with the martyrs.
God offers new beginnings, hope, peace, joy, beauty, abundance, fullness, salvation. In Him there is rest. Lay claim to Him. He is all we have, all we need; I believe that with all my heart.
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Undivided
Lord, please make my heart toward you undivided.
"...from Zebulun, experienced soldiers prepared for battle with every type of weapon, to help David with undivided loyalty—50,000..." I Chronicles 12:33
love the picture of soldiers fighting, yielding, giving with "undivided loyalty."
"Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name." Psalm 86:11
and, I'm pondering how the two - an undivided heart and fearing God go hand in hand...
"I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh." Ezekiel 11:19
lovely picture of God's people purging from their midst and their lives "detestable idols" and "vile images" - anything they might worship or love more than Him.
"I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord." 1 Corinthians 7:35
...Paul speaking to unmarried men and women, but it's a great reminder for me that undivided devotion to the Lord may require more intentionality because I have a husband and children...
Please, Lord, give me an undivided heart.
"...from Zebulun, experienced soldiers prepared for battle with every type of weapon, to help David with undivided loyalty—50,000..." I Chronicles 12:33
love the picture of soldiers fighting, yielding, giving with "undivided loyalty."
"Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name." Psalm 86:11
and, I'm pondering how the two - an undivided heart and fearing God go hand in hand...
"I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh." Ezekiel 11:19
lovely picture of God's people purging from their midst and their lives "detestable idols" and "vile images" - anything they might worship or love more than Him.
"I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord." 1 Corinthians 7:35
...Paul speaking to unmarried men and women, but it's a great reminder for me that undivided devotion to the Lord may require more intentionality because I have a husband and children...
Please, Lord, give me an undivided heart.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
2 small revelations
Revelation 1: I noticed tonight during the local youth baseball game that people were talking...a lot.
Really, they seemed to relish the very art of conversation.
There was a constant hum, an endless chatter.
And, I began to wonder at our desire and ability at communication.
Why do we like it so much, and what does that have to do with God?
I like to remember how He says we're made in His image (Genesis 1:26), which means we reflect Him....in most everything we do. Our very essence breathes His own.
So, if we're made in the image of God, and we love communicating, talking, sharing, laughing, listening, then, we can be certain that God is the master Communicator. He, after all, authored the Bible.
Revelation 2: This is our 14th wedding anniversary, which always causes me to be more ponderous and reflective...thinking over the years, mulling over trials, suffering, good days.
Those reflections led to a mini revelation in my heart today. I've bemoaned past trials and challenges, wishing at times that things would have been pieced together differently, within a perhaps tidier and neater package.
In the middle of those mind meanderings, it dawned on me that nothing can enter my domain without it first having passed through the okay of Christ Himself. As He is owner of all, and as all (including the Evil One) must yield and submit to Him, He has the final word on what befalls me. I remembered how Joseph told his brothers, " You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." (Genesis 50:20)
God's desire for me is good, His good, which may be defined differently than my good. God's intention is to refine me, to grow me, to discipline me, to use whatever means He chooses to effect the changes He desires. He purposes to conform me to Himself, and if that requires some high waters, tumultuous storms, terrifying fires, or dry wastelands, He will do it. His desire is good for me, good for me. Not just good like a tasty ice-cream but good as in character-shaping, identity-defining, readiness-equipping, Christ-conforming good.
I have fought it, resisted, mourned over what was lost, tasted bitter roots of days gone, wept for life changed; but today, God showed me in this mini revelation that He is truly working all things together for my good. And, now I'm understanding that this does not simply mean lining things up to make my day a good one, or to bring good from a bad situation; rather, He issues troubles, trials in order to obtain the good He has in store. These sufferings are His means to His end.
Please give me arms to embrace the thorny memories and trials to come, a mind that trusts that You know what You're doing, and a heart that welcomes these refineries with hospitality and thanksgiving.
I need You.
Really, they seemed to relish the very art of conversation.
There was a constant hum, an endless chatter.
And, I began to wonder at our desire and ability at communication.
Why do we like it so much, and what does that have to do with God?
I like to remember how He says we're made in His image (Genesis 1:26), which means we reflect Him....in most everything we do. Our very essence breathes His own.
So, if we're made in the image of God, and we love communicating, talking, sharing, laughing, listening, then, we can be certain that God is the master Communicator. He, after all, authored the Bible.
Revelation 2: This is our 14th wedding anniversary, which always causes me to be more ponderous and reflective...thinking over the years, mulling over trials, suffering, good days.
Those reflections led to a mini revelation in my heart today. I've bemoaned past trials and challenges, wishing at times that things would have been pieced together differently, within a perhaps tidier and neater package.
In the middle of those mind meanderings, it dawned on me that nothing can enter my domain without it first having passed through the okay of Christ Himself. As He is owner of all, and as all (including the Evil One) must yield and submit to Him, He has the final word on what befalls me. I remembered how Joseph told his brothers, " You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." (Genesis 50:20)
God's desire for me is good, His good, which may be defined differently than my good. God's intention is to refine me, to grow me, to discipline me, to use whatever means He chooses to effect the changes He desires. He purposes to conform me to Himself, and if that requires some high waters, tumultuous storms, terrifying fires, or dry wastelands, He will do it. His desire is good for me, good for me. Not just good like a tasty ice-cream but good as in character-shaping, identity-defining, readiness-equipping, Christ-conforming good.
I have fought it, resisted, mourned over what was lost, tasted bitter roots of days gone, wept for life changed; but today, God showed me in this mini revelation that He is truly working all things together for my good. And, now I'm understanding that this does not simply mean lining things up to make my day a good one, or to bring good from a bad situation; rather, He issues troubles, trials in order to obtain the good He has in store. These sufferings are His means to His end.
Please give me arms to embrace the thorny memories and trials to come, a mind that trusts that You know what You're doing, and a heart that welcomes these refineries with hospitality and thanksgiving.
I need You.
Monday, June 3, 2013
a morning with the Lord in Jeremiah 29
It is a dark day for the Israelites. They are in the land of Babylon as exiles. God commanded them to go, to be subjugated by King Nebuchadnezzar, promising consequences and punishment if they did not obey.
Most obeyed the Lord and entered into exile in the land of Babylon; however, some Israelites remained behind, setting up a king and listening to false prophets.
While God promised consequences to those who remained behind their fellow Israelites, He also promised hope, a future, and restoration to those who yielded to Babylonian captivity: ‘They will be taken to Babylon and there they will remain until the day I come for them,’ declares the Lord. ‘Then I will bring them back and restore them to this place.’” Jeremiah 27:22
He reinstates His promise and plan in Jeremiah 29 via a letter written from Jeremiah to King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon, reminding the Israelites that there is hope. When seventy years of captivity in Babylon have been completed, they will return to Jerusalem. He instructs them, “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 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. 7 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.” Jeremiah 29:5-7
The Lord then reminds those in Jeremiah 29:16-19 who remained behind in Jerusalem the very promise He made in Jeremiah 27:8 if they were disobedient to His will: "...but this is what the Lord says about the king who sits on David’s throne and all the people who remain in this city, your fellow citizens who did not go with you into exile— 17 yes, this is what the Lord Almighty says: “I will send the sword, famine and plague against them and I will make them like figs that are so bad they cannot be eaten. 18 I will pursue them with the sword, famine and plague and will make them abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth, a curse and an object of horror, of scorn and reproach, among all the nations where I drive them. 19 For they have not listened to my words,” declares the Lord, “words that I sent to them again and again by my servants the prophets."
He reminds my heart this morning that my sin will not go unnoticed, that disobedience is abhorrent to Him, and that He desires a pure heart and clean hands. He requires obedience, and He, in His way, will bless the obedient. Obedience is a beautiful response; it is a bending of my will to His, yielding myself to His directive, humbling my heart to enter into sweet harmony with His. Make it so in my life, Lord.
Most obeyed the Lord and entered into exile in the land of Babylon; however, some Israelites remained behind, setting up a king and listening to false prophets.
While God promised consequences to those who remained behind their fellow Israelites, He also promised hope, a future, and restoration to those who yielded to Babylonian captivity: ‘They will be taken to Babylon and there they will remain until the day I come for them,’ declares the Lord. ‘Then I will bring them back and restore them to this place.’” Jeremiah 27:22
He reinstates His promise and plan in Jeremiah 29 via a letter written from Jeremiah to King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon, reminding the Israelites that there is hope. When seventy years of captivity in Babylon have been completed, they will return to Jerusalem. He instructs them, “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 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. 7 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.” Jeremiah 29:5-7
The Lord then reminds those in Jeremiah 29:16-19 who remained behind in Jerusalem the very promise He made in Jeremiah 27:8 if they were disobedient to His will: "...but this is what the Lord says about the king who sits on David’s throne and all the people who remain in this city, your fellow citizens who did not go with you into exile— 17 yes, this is what the Lord Almighty says: “I will send the sword, famine and plague against them and I will make them like figs that are so bad they cannot be eaten. 18 I will pursue them with the sword, famine and plague and will make them abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth, a curse and an object of horror, of scorn and reproach, among all the nations where I drive them. 19 For they have not listened to my words,” declares the Lord, “words that I sent to them again and again by my servants the prophets."
He reminds my heart this morning that my sin will not go unnoticed, that disobedience is abhorrent to Him, and that He desires a pure heart and clean hands. He requires obedience, and He, in His way, will bless the obedient. Obedience is a beautiful response; it is a bending of my will to His, yielding myself to His directive, humbling my heart to enter into sweet harmony with His. Make it so in my life, Lord.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
we're all pointing somewhere
i'd like to be a real girl,
a down-to-earth, honest, genuine girl.
i'd like to shower folks with love,
kindness, listening, camaraderie, truth.
i'd like to do this without pointing to me;
i want to be the real deal with people and love them without being the focus.
i'd like to live in such a way that others receive good fruit from me,
but they all realize its source is not my own heart,
it's Christ.
We are all pointing to something, someone, somewhere.
I have the option of pointing to my circumstances, whether happy or dire.
I have the option of pointing to myself, to what I think I've accomplished,
to the cookies I bake, the blankets I crochet, the children I teach, blah blah blah.
Or, I have the option every time of pointing to Christ.
Here's how I am today, and here is where I am with Jesus,
what He's teaching, how He showed His faithfulness and mercies again this morning,
how He is loving me through this dark valley.
If I want to worship Jesus, I focus on Him;
if I want those around me to worship Him, my role is to do what I can to point to Him, not me.
It's one thing for me to be honest about how I'm doing; it's another thing to distract people from God while talking about myself.
Our circumstances are not for us to glean sympathy or pity from others but to glorify Christ and show Him as faithful to others in the midst of our circumstances.
We are commanded to face our difficulties and trials with joy...
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4
O, Lord, do this through me; I need You desperately.
a down-to-earth, honest, genuine girl.
i'd like to shower folks with love,
kindness, listening, camaraderie, truth.
i'd like to do this without pointing to me;
i want to be the real deal with people and love them without being the focus.
i'd like to live in such a way that others receive good fruit from me,
but they all realize its source is not my own heart,
it's Christ.
We are all pointing to something, someone, somewhere.
I have the option of pointing to my circumstances, whether happy or dire.
I have the option of pointing to myself, to what I think I've accomplished,
to the cookies I bake, the blankets I crochet, the children I teach, blah blah blah.
Or, I have the option every time of pointing to Christ.
Here's how I am today, and here is where I am with Jesus,
what He's teaching, how He showed His faithfulness and mercies again this morning,
how He is loving me through this dark valley.
If I want to worship Jesus, I focus on Him;
if I want those around me to worship Him, my role is to do what I can to point to Him, not me.
It's one thing for me to be honest about how I'm doing; it's another thing to distract people from God while talking about myself.
Our circumstances are not for us to glean sympathy or pity from others but to glorify Christ and show Him as faithful to others in the midst of our circumstances.
We are commanded to face our difficulties and trials with joy...
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4
O, Lord, do this through me; I need You desperately.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
is there a difference?
What's the difference between "being real" in sharing how I'm doing and in complaining about how I'm doing?
How can we answer honestly without dishonoring God, sounding whining, or coming across as self-centered?
How does that work?
I just don't know.
thinking on it...
How can we answer honestly without dishonoring God, sounding whining, or coming across as self-centered?
How does that work?
I just don't know.
thinking on it...
Friday, May 10, 2013
dwelling
On what do we dwell?
What do we think about?
What do we ponder, consider, mentally chew?
What do we retrieve over and over in our minds?
Do we dwell on our pasts...
its memories, events, wrongs inflicted upon us?
Do we repeat these things to others, regurgitate them in conversations, chew on them, retrieve them to play on repeat in our minds?
Do we dwell on ourselves...
who hurt us, how we were hurt, when we were hurt, how it still follows and troubles us?
Do we repeat these hurts and painful memories to others, regurgitate them in conversations, chew on them, retrieve them to play on repeat in our minds?
Or, do we remove the focus from ourselves and place it on Another?...
Do we dwell on Jesus...
His sacrifice, His life, His death, His power, His forgiveness, His Spirit, His cross, His resurrection, His ascension?
Do we repeat these truths and promises to others, regurgitating them in conversations, chewing on them, retrieving them to play on repeat in our minds?
Do we realize that that on which we dwell becomes that which doth define us?
Either we are defined by our problems, our pain, our methods and routines for dealing with our stuff, or....
We are defined by Jesus, His solution, His pain on our behalf, His forgiveness and hope, His Truth, His Word, His power.
What defines you?
What do people think of when they think of you?
Are others' thoughts pivoting around your sorrows, around you?
Or are the thoughts of others fixed on Christ as a result of your focus?
When we fix our gaze down on our circumstances, our history, ourselves, vaunting our own merits and works, Christ is diminished, ignored.
When we look up to the cross, remembering Jesus and His work on our behalf, His love, His hope, then He is exalted, honored, rejoiced over, worshiped.
Look up and live!
On what are you dwelling today?
What do we think about?
What do we ponder, consider, mentally chew?
What do we retrieve over and over in our minds?
Do we dwell on our pasts...
its memories, events, wrongs inflicted upon us?
Do we repeat these things to others, regurgitate them in conversations, chew on them, retrieve them to play on repeat in our minds?
Do we dwell on ourselves...
who hurt us, how we were hurt, when we were hurt, how it still follows and troubles us?
Do we repeat these hurts and painful memories to others, regurgitate them in conversations, chew on them, retrieve them to play on repeat in our minds?
Or, do we remove the focus from ourselves and place it on Another?...
Do we dwell on Jesus...
His sacrifice, His life, His death, His power, His forgiveness, His Spirit, His cross, His resurrection, His ascension?
Do we repeat these truths and promises to others, regurgitating them in conversations, chewing on them, retrieving them to play on repeat in our minds?
Do we realize that that on which we dwell becomes that which doth define us?
Either we are defined by our problems, our pain, our methods and routines for dealing with our stuff, or....
We are defined by Jesus, His solution, His pain on our behalf, His forgiveness and hope, His Truth, His Word, His power.
What defines you?
What do people think of when they think of you?
Are others' thoughts pivoting around your sorrows, around you?
Or are the thoughts of others fixed on Christ as a result of your focus?
When we fix our gaze down on our circumstances, our history, ourselves, vaunting our own merits and works, Christ is diminished, ignored.
When we look up to the cross, remembering Jesus and His work on our behalf, His love, His hope, then He is exalted, honored, rejoiced over, worshiped.
Look up and live!
On what are you dwelling today?
Monday, April 8, 2013
carrying
we sat across the table at Starbuck's
we caught up,
talked work, life, family, church
her coffee order was different than i remember
simpler
decaf with water
there was more she needed to tell
there was a burden in her i didn't remember
conversation dissipated
she told a story,
she had been sick
the doctors misdiagnosed
she wasn't getting better
she returned to the hospital
it was right around Christmas
she sat straight
her eyes locked with mine
and said "I have stage 4 colon cancer;
there is no stage 5."
then her shoulders fell,
she wept
i left my chair to move to her side
i hugged her, and i wept
i remembered meeting her in college
acting out shakespeare together for our lit class
getting coffee
watching the blues brothers and Jesus Christ superstar together
meeting her sister's pet pig
many of our challenging conversations
chewing on Scripture together
studying Mao
seeing history fresh through her passionate eyes
staying connected after marriage
her visiting over hot cocoa to meet my daughter
how can this be that my friend, my age, has cancer?
my heart aches for her,
and i love her dearly
more importantly, God loves her,
eternally important, she loves Him
i'm thankful, Lord, that You bore our sins on the cross
i'm thankful that You daily bear our burdens (Psalm 68:19)
help me to bear this with her,
to carry...that she would not bear this alone
we caught up,
talked work, life, family, church
her coffee order was different than i remember
simpler
decaf with water
there was more she needed to tell
there was a burden in her i didn't remember
conversation dissipated
she told a story,
she had been sick
the doctors misdiagnosed
she wasn't getting better
she returned to the hospital
it was right around Christmas
she sat straight
her eyes locked with mine
and said "I have stage 4 colon cancer;
there is no stage 5."
then her shoulders fell,
she wept
i left my chair to move to her side
i hugged her, and i wept
i remembered meeting her in college
acting out shakespeare together for our lit class
getting coffee
watching the blues brothers and Jesus Christ superstar together
meeting her sister's pet pig
many of our challenging conversations
chewing on Scripture together
studying Mao
seeing history fresh through her passionate eyes
staying connected after marriage
her visiting over hot cocoa to meet my daughter
how can this be that my friend, my age, has cancer?
my heart aches for her,
and i love her dearly
more importantly, God loves her,
eternally important, she loves Him
i'm thankful, Lord, that You bore our sins on the cross
i'm thankful that You daily bear our burdens (Psalm 68:19)
help me to bear this with her,
to carry...that she would not bear this alone
Friday, March 29, 2013
It's Friday, but Sunday's comin'
S.M. Lockridge:
It’s Friday
Jesus is praying
Peter’s a sleeping
Judas is betraying
But Sunday’s comin’
It’s Friday
Pilate’s struggling
The council is conspiring
The crowd is vilifying
They don’t even know
That Sunday’s comin’
It’s Friday
The disciples are running
Like sheep without a shepherd
Mary’s crying
Peter is denying
But they don’t know
That Sunday’s a comin’
It’s Friday
The Romans beat my Jesus
They robe him in scarlet
They crown him with thorns
But they don’t know
That Sunday’s comin’
It’s Friday
See Jesus walking to Calvary
His blood dripping
His body stumbling
And his spirit’s burdened
But you see, it’s only Friday
Sunday’s comin’
It’s Friday
The world’s winning
People are sinning
And evil’s grinning
It’s Friday
The soldiers nail my Savior’s hands
To the cross
They nail my Savior’s feet
To the cross
And then they raise him up
Next to criminals
It’s Friday
But let me tell you something
Sunday’s comin’
It’s Friday
The disciples are questioning
What has happened to their King
And the Pharisees are celebrating
That their scheming
Has been achieved
But they don’t know
It’s only Friday
Sunday’s comin’
It’s Friday
He’s hanging on the cross
Feeling forsaken by his Father
Left alone and dying
Can nobody save him?
Ooooh
It’s Friday
But Sunday’s comin’
It’s Friday
The earth trembles
The sky grows dark
My King yields his spirit
It’s Friday
Hope is lost
Death has won
Sin has conquered
and Satan’s just a laughin’
It’s Friday
Jesus is buried
A soldier stands guard
And a rock is rolled into place
But it’s Friday
It is only Friday
Sunday is a comin’!
It’s Friday
Jesus is praying
Peter’s a sleeping
Judas is betraying
But Sunday’s comin’
It’s Friday
Pilate’s struggling
The council is conspiring
The crowd is vilifying
They don’t even know
That Sunday’s comin’
It’s Friday
The disciples are running
Like sheep without a shepherd
Mary’s crying
Peter is denying
But they don’t know
That Sunday’s a comin’
It’s Friday
The Romans beat my Jesus
They robe him in scarlet
They crown him with thorns
But they don’t know
That Sunday’s comin’
It’s Friday
See Jesus walking to Calvary
His blood dripping
His body stumbling
And his spirit’s burdened
But you see, it’s only Friday
Sunday’s comin’
It’s Friday
The world’s winning
People are sinning
And evil’s grinning
It’s Friday
The soldiers nail my Savior’s hands
To the cross
They nail my Savior’s feet
To the cross
And then they raise him up
Next to criminals
It’s Friday
But let me tell you something
Sunday’s comin’
It’s Friday
The disciples are questioning
What has happened to their King
And the Pharisees are celebrating
That their scheming
Has been achieved
But they don’t know
It’s only Friday
Sunday’s comin’
It’s Friday
He’s hanging on the cross
Feeling forsaken by his Father
Left alone and dying
Can nobody save him?
Ooooh
It’s Friday
But Sunday’s comin’
It’s Friday
The earth trembles
The sky grows dark
My King yields his spirit
It’s Friday
Hope is lost
Death has won
Sin has conquered
and Satan’s just a laughin’
It’s Friday
Jesus is buried
A soldier stands guard
And a rock is rolled into place
But it’s Friday
It is only Friday
Sunday is a comin’!
Monday, March 11, 2013
wise queen or faithful God
it was the best of times
it was the worst of times
Esther was safe in the king's palace;
her people were just handed a death edict...
the king needed a new queen
a search began
from hundreds of women
Esther was chosen as the best
special attention was given her
time and efforts bestowed upon her
words and directives equipped her
she was the most beautiful
the one set apart
the one crowned queen
she knew what to do
when to do
how to do
and where
she knew her place
not to see the king's face
unless he requested her
her cousin was vigilant
there at the king's gate
watching
ready
advising
caring
he was Mordecai, a Jew
unashamed
owning his heritage
his heritage enraged a certain fellow
a king's noble
elevated and honored above all his other nobles
his name was Haman
son of Hammedatha the Agagite
he loathed Jews
one in particular
named Mordecai
the very same Mordecai
who maintained his station at the king's gate
remaining vigilant and ready
the very same cousin of Esther
queen
and Jew
though no one knew
she was a Jew
Mordecai advised her to hold that national treasure
near her own heart
for her own protection
a secret
no one knew
she was a Jew
and it was a Jew who enraged Haman
who refused to kneel before him
when he passed by
the Jew Mordecai would kneel to no one
but his God
this infuriated Haman
he demanded homage
he demanded laud and honor
he demanded kneeling
particularly from a Jew
Haman decided to alleviate his fury
by not only killing Mordecai
but by annihilating the entire race from the kingdom of King Xerxes
his plan took on form
grew bigger
better
stronger
more terrifying
became public knowledge
the Jews were educated
told of their future demise
close at hand
the Jews mourned
grieved
wept
prayed
Mordecai had one trump card
her name was Esther
queen
the king's favorite
"approach the throne"
she was told
by her cousin Mordecai
"be our advocate
we need you now
you are also a Jew
and are neither safe from this deathly edict"
"you are there, Esther, in the king's palace
for such a time as this"
"you must fight for life"
Esther acted
prayed
fasted
enlisted the Jews
to pray
fast
wait on her behalf
God heard
He moved
He had set Esther in that place
for such a time as this
it is He who turns the hearts of kings
who hardens
or softens
who moves
and directs
He determines their steps
and uses them as means to protect
or save
or rescue His people
God is the hero of Esther
always and forever
He just used a lovely woman as His vessel
to effect the change of the coming peril and judgment
from one nation to one man
He saved
He rescued
He protected
He avenged
God is to be worshiped here
emulated
lauded
praised
honored
feared
loved
elevated
it is He who brought salvation
it was His hand behind Mordecai's
behind Esther's
behind the very hand of Xerxes
God is in it all
behind it all
before it all
through it all
and all is for Him
may the faithful God be remembered in Esther
His wisdom
His timing
His protection
His victory
it was the worst of times
Esther was safe in the king's palace;
her people were just handed a death edict...
the king needed a new queen
a search began
from hundreds of women
Esther was chosen as the best
special attention was given her
time and efforts bestowed upon her
words and directives equipped her
she was the most beautiful
the one set apart
the one crowned queen
she knew what to do
when to do
how to do
and where
she knew her place
not to see the king's face
unless he requested her
her cousin was vigilant
there at the king's gate
watching
ready
advising
caring
he was Mordecai, a Jew
unashamed
owning his heritage
his heritage enraged a certain fellow
a king's noble
elevated and honored above all his other nobles
his name was Haman
son of Hammedatha the Agagite
he loathed Jews
one in particular
named Mordecai
the very same Mordecai
who maintained his station at the king's gate
remaining vigilant and ready
the very same cousin of Esther
queen
and Jew
though no one knew
she was a Jew
Mordecai advised her to hold that national treasure
near her own heart
for her own protection
a secret
no one knew
she was a Jew
and it was a Jew who enraged Haman
who refused to kneel before him
when he passed by
the Jew Mordecai would kneel to no one
but his God
this infuriated Haman
he demanded homage
he demanded laud and honor
he demanded kneeling
particularly from a Jew
Haman decided to alleviate his fury
by not only killing Mordecai
but by annihilating the entire race from the kingdom of King Xerxes
his plan took on form
grew bigger
better
stronger
more terrifying
became public knowledge
the Jews were educated
told of their future demise
close at hand
the Jews mourned
grieved
wept
prayed
Mordecai had one trump card
her name was Esther
queen
the king's favorite
"approach the throne"
she was told
by her cousin Mordecai
"be our advocate
we need you now
you are also a Jew
and are neither safe from this deathly edict"
"you are there, Esther, in the king's palace
for such a time as this"
"you must fight for life"
Esther acted
prayed
fasted
enlisted the Jews
to pray
fast
wait on her behalf
God heard
He moved
He had set Esther in that place
for such a time as this
it is He who turns the hearts of kings
who hardens
or softens
who moves
and directs
He determines their steps
and uses them as means to protect
or save
or rescue His people
God is the hero of Esther
always and forever
He just used a lovely woman as His vessel
to effect the change of the coming peril and judgment
from one nation to one man
He saved
He rescued
He protected
He avenged
God is to be worshiped here
emulated
lauded
praised
honored
feared
loved
elevated
it is He who brought salvation
it was His hand behind Mordecai's
behind Esther's
behind the very hand of Xerxes
God is in it all
behind it all
before it all
through it all
and all is for Him
may the faithful God be remembered in Esther
His wisdom
His timing
His protection
His victory
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
the predicted turn and the needed comfort
"Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?”
Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”
37 Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”
38 Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!" John 13:36-38
heart-strong Peter is ready to follow...now.
Jesus tells him he is not
"Peter, you're going to turn away from me..."
"No way, Jesus! I'm ready to die for you!"
"Not yet, Peter.
Your heart is going to be tried,
put through the fires,
attacked in every way,
but it will be redeemed,
restored,
refined."
Jesus offers comfort after this difficult exchange...
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 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. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” John 14:1-4
He teaches and comforts and challenges all in one sitting.
I love Him.
He is to be trusted.
He is worthy.
Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.”
37 Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”
38 Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!" John 13:36-38
heart-strong Peter is ready to follow...now.
Jesus tells him he is not
"Peter, you're going to turn away from me..."
"No way, Jesus! I'm ready to die for you!"
"Not yet, Peter.
Your heart is going to be tried,
put through the fires,
attacked in every way,
but it will be redeemed,
restored,
refined."
Jesus offers comfort after this difficult exchange...
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 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. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” John 14:1-4
He teaches and comforts and challenges all in one sitting.
I love Him.
He is to be trusted.
He is worthy.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
some trust
Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. Proverbs 20:7
But I trust in you, O Lord;
I say, “You are my God.” Psalm 31:14
my heart longs to rest in You, to trust in You
my soul desires quiet there in Your midst...
please keep me from trusting in man
from seeking others in whom i might place my trust
maintain my trust in You
let my heart hold fast to You
clinging to You
anchored to You
holding to You
stayed with You
satisfied in You
resting in You
trusting in You
sure of You
yielded to You
following You
certain in You
i love You, Lord.
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. Proverbs 20:7
But I trust in you, O Lord;
I say, “You are my God.” Psalm 31:14
my heart longs to rest in You, to trust in You
my soul desires quiet there in Your midst...
please keep me from trusting in man
from seeking others in whom i might place my trust
maintain my trust in You
let my heart hold fast to You
clinging to You
anchored to You
holding to You
stayed with You
satisfied in You
resting in You
trusting in You
sure of You
yielded to You
following You
certain in You
i love You, Lord.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Valentine's Day
I love love.
I love that there is an entire day devoted to love.
I love that one of the things most easily set aside and replaced by selfish ambition and vain conceit is placed at the forefront for a day.
It is lovely, this love.
It is what the world needs more of.
It is embodied and taught and detailed and illustrated in the most perfect way by the most perfect One.
What a lovely picture, that of God loving so much that He would send Jesus to not just love us with life, but love us so much He would die in our place and rise from that death.
Death could not keep Him down; Love claimed the greatest victory in life.
Love continues to trump any cards that may be played against it.
I love that.
I do love love.
I love that God loved first.
What a love.
What a Savior.
What a beautiful day.
I love that there is an entire day devoted to love.
I love that one of the things most easily set aside and replaced by selfish ambition and vain conceit is placed at the forefront for a day.
It is lovely, this love.
It is what the world needs more of.
It is embodied and taught and detailed and illustrated in the most perfect way by the most perfect One.
What a lovely picture, that of God loving so much that He would send Jesus to not just love us with life, but love us so much He would die in our place and rise from that death.
Death could not keep Him down; Love claimed the greatest victory in life.
Love continues to trump any cards that may be played against it.
I love that.
I do love love.
I love that God loved first.
What a love.
What a Savior.
What a beautiful day.
Monday, February 4, 2013
Advocates, Proponents, Supporters
I may die with a sunburn, with no political ties, having
never voted for the right president, without having been part of a club or
organization, without fighting for rights of animals, or without
being heard at a city hall meeting in my counter against a store with a concern
for the number of bushes being planted around it.
Lord, when I come to die, let me die with no regrets. Live Yourself through me that when my end
comes, I welcome it with great joy, knowing all was expended on my behalf to
draw souls to You. All was expended on
my behalf yearning for more of You. All
was expended by You for me on the cross.
Let me die with a heart empty of regrets but rejoicing in the sheep
You’ve drawn into Your fold.
Let us not be a Christian people of distractions, large and
small. Let us not be a Christian people
distracted by our advocating for all the things so closely tied to this
world. Let us cut the ties to worldly living so that we may live for Christ lives that spread His aroma to those near and
far from us, that they might be drawn near to the Savior.
Oh, Lord, that we might be called worthy and faithful as we
advocate Christ alone.
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