Seder

As servant of my Lord,
May I wash your feet?

I dip the bitter herb of sin
Into salty tears
Of regret
Of shame.

I taste sweet charoset
Of fruit
Of joys
Of blessings given.

Unleavened bread -
Your body
Bread from heaven,
Manna -
Is dipped in pungent spices
Of hate
Of curses
Of betrayal.

Forgiving wine,
Your blood,
Prepares a place for me
In Heaven -
Home
Jerusalem,
Where loved ones abide,
And wait.

The Crucifixion

The Crucifixion

I blithely go on and on about “but, I want MORE of God.” Then I am reminded of the crucifixion. How much “more” could I want?? My mind does not “like” being reminded of the horror of what Jesus went through, so my thoughts gloss over it. I’m 2,000 years removed from the event, and from such a distance can often view it dispassionately.

But, it was real, and Christ went through each moment of it willingly, step by step, even knowing in advance what would happen.

Fire fighters will willingly rush into a burning building to save another, but they believe they themselves will come through with little or no harm. They don’t stop and think it through, thinking they will have great pain and then die, before they rush inside. They rely on training, and go without thinking.

If given the option, many might step in front of their child and take a bullet or a car heading for their child. Very few would do that for a stranger. But again, the decision was not made in a quiet moment of thought, with purpose behind it.

But, Christ did. From childhood on, especially during the few years of public ministry, He always knew what was eventually coming. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He asked the Father to please, not need Him to go through with Plan A. However, knowing what was coming, He serenely walked out and accepted, doing the will of the Father.

Even while Christ was hanging on that cross, in agony, the soldier offered wine with gall to help deaden the pain. He accepted each drop of His pain, not softening it with a drug. People shouted and scoffed at Him. Only Christ would still willingly go through with it, for them, and say, “Father, forgive them.“ He could have said, “Game over. I’m done,” and leave. Knowing He could, He still remained there until death itself claimed Him.

He did it for each of us, knowing we would mess up;, and not appreciate it to its fullest. He knew we would shy away from truly seeing and realizing what it was that He did, in love. That’s how “personal” He meant it to be!

Each Sunday we take Holy Communion, “in remembrance” of the freely-given body and blood of Jesus Christ, we realize He did it for us. That’s how much He loves us, and wants us to live eternally with Him.

How could we not believe? How could we ever treat it so lightly?

“Love so amazing, so Devine, demands my soul, my life, my all.”

In This Season of Lent

In This Season of Lent

(Jeremiah 31:19)

I strayed, and finally repented, O Lord.
Understanding, I beat at my breast.
Ashamed, humbled, and penitent,
I bear disgrace from my youth.

In this season of Lent, please help us remember,
Not only the death of our Lord, Jesus Christ,
But His resurrection, and return to the throne room
To sit at the right hand of God.

I pray, I confess, I repent, O my Lord.
Daily, I sin against You.
Hour by hour? No, moment by moment,
I disappoint and offend.

My merciful Lord sacrificed His own Son.
My sin was a nail in His cross.
What was God’s purpose for passion and suff’ring?
He wanted His children restored!

In this season of Lent, please help us remember,
Not only the death of our Lord, Jesus Christ,
But His resurrection, and return to the throne room
To sit at the right hand of God.

Bloom Where You Are Planted

"God has put you exactly where He needs you.
"You are fulfilling His purpose every day."

Others may benefit from your actions,
but let God be the reason you acted!

God observes,
and appreciates
your efforts.

Isn't that enough?

Not Enough?

Not Enough?

I met my friends for caroling.
Music soaring, smiles beguiling,
We wove our way from room to room,
Ushering in the Christmas spirit.
Later, over our hot chocolate,
Friends exclaimed their satisfaction.
But, I found no joy ---
It was not enough.

Trimmed the house with silver tinsel.
Strung the lights with wild abandon.
Wrapped the gifts in bright red papers,
Then tagged, and placed the bows with care.
Sat, enjoying Christmas goodies,
Breathing Christmas-time aromas.
But, I found no joy ---
It was not enough.

Family came to share the season.
Children laughed, awaiting Santa.
In the morning, gifts all opened,
Papers strewn, and bows akimbo,
“Thank you, Santa,” the children shout.
Later, after Christmas dinner,
Together, there’s joy ---
But still, not enough.

Hollow hopes and fantasies are
Not enough to tide us over.
What is Christmas, without Jesus?
What is life, without the Christ Child?
Worship Jesus Christ forever,
Knowing that He came to save us,
What else could we need?
He’s more than enough!

Distractions!

My mind is a jumble, Lord.
I do not worship as I ought.
     A buzzing fly pulls my mind away,
     a tickle in the throat requires attention.
I need a pillow behind my back.
Oh! I've a cramp in my big toe!
A chill down the spine,
     the laughter of children outside ....
Distractions, Lord.
     Distractions have come between us.

Free my mind, Lord.
Help me concentrate, deeply,
     on You alone.
May my entire being
     be open only to Your presence.
Fill me with Your glory, Lord.
Let nothing else penetrate
     my absolute consciousness
     of You.

Then will I worship truly, Lord,
     my song rising like incense.
May the aroma of my love
     please You.
May I be ever-faithful
     to my ever-faithful King!

Thanksgiving Memories

Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 2012

(1954 photo of Mom, Dad, me, Mona, & Peter ... Beattie was in CA with her family.)

I have been preoccupied lately with thoughts of my parents and two sisters. Many people hate certain holidays because they mark the passing of loved ones, and the pain is too great. If that were true, I would despise Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year, and my birthday celebrations. However, I now mark these same holidays as special moments to remember. Dad died shortly after New Year’s Day of 1982. Mona died shortly before Thanksgiving of 1999, Mom died 9 days before Christmas of 2006, and Beattie died in August of 2007, about one month after my birthday. I miss each of them, regardless of how long ago they died. But I refuse to allow missing them mar my Giving Thanks for their influence in my life!

Thanksgiving was always Mona’s favorite holiday, which I recall each Thanksgiving. One year, Sunday, November 22 marked a special reading in Disciplines (Upper Room devotional). I had shared it with Mona because of two sentences: “You showed me that at the center of the universe is not blind fate but a heart of love.” and ending with, “Enable me to refer to you my every concern and to offer you my every action so that loving you will be my deepest motive and serving you the ultimate objective in all that I do.” Those statements personified her life then, and create joy in mine each year.

That was the week of Mona’s last Thanksgiving. Her funeral was just prior to the holiday, on Monday, Nov. 22, 1999. But that reading had so impacted me that I kept it, inserting it into each successive Disciplines book for the following year. Eacy November 22 I read it anew, and thank God for my sister. I re-read it this morning.

Thursday, November 22, 2007 marked the day of both Mom’s and Beattie’s first Thanksgiving in Heaven. Re-reading the Disciplines quote gave me yet another smile of memory.

This morning’s reading from the Disciplines for 2012, I find: “We give thanks for the double harvest” of both physical and spiritual food, plenteous to all.” I find my double harvest overflows in heart and mind, in life itself.

Happy Thanksgiving, no matter WHAT your circumstances may be!!

I thank my God for you, every time I think of you!