Hallelujah! He is here!

 

‘This is he who made the heavens and the earth, and formed humanity in the beginning, who is announced by the law and prophets, who was enfleshed in a virgin, who was hanged on the tree, who was buried in the earth, who was raised from the dead, and went up to the heights of heaven, who is sitting on the right hand of the Father, who has authority to judge and save all things, through whom the Father made the things which exist, from the beginning to all the ages. 

This one is ‘the Alpha and Omega,’ this one is ‘the beginning and the end,’ – the beginning which cannot be explained and the end which cannot be grasped. This one is the Christ. This one is the King. This one is Jesus. This one is the Leader. This one is the Lord. This one is he who has risen from the dead. This one is he who sits at the right hand of the Father. He bears the Father and is borne by the Father. ‘To him be the glory and the power to the ends of the ages. Amen.’ *

* Bishop Melito of Sardis,   Homilia in Passionem Christi,  160–170 CE,   The Cambridge History of Christianity, Volume 1 Origins to Constantine , edited by Margaret M Mitchell and Frances M Young, (Cambridge University Press 2006)

… plus God equals…

Change is possible. Growth is possible. Developing into something greater… all possible. With Christ, all things are possible (Philippians 4:13) and can have great value. Even common, ignoble things (2 Timothy 2:20).

The first drawing is one of my earliest ones. I used pencil and paper back then. I loved the bright colors and of course the message. Jesus is my everything. 

But see how I have grown when you look at the more recent piece. How more developed the artwork is… 

Both bring joy and celebration and thankfulness in the Savior Jesus.

But God used the earliest underdeveloped attempt. He loved it. He used it. He touched people’s hearts with it. He didn’t wait for perfection. He rejoiced in the message. He was glad I did it. It turned people’s eyes to Jesus. He did that through my feeble attempt at artwork. 

So I tell you, don’t wait for perfection, in word or a skill, before you dare to share the love of God. God uses the most unremarkable to advance His kingdom. God will bless - because God always adds to it… people will see more into it than you do - because of God’s involvement; enhancement. Remember that God uses the weak to display His power. (1 Corinthians 1:27)

… for it is God Who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose. - Philippians 2:13

And don’t be intimidated by those who are older than you; simply be the example they need to see by being faithful and true in all that you do. - 1 Timothy 4:12

So I ask you, where are you afraid to step out in faith - withholding a blessing from God; keeping a display of God’s power held back? Choose this day to leap! And tell me if God showed up. 

the Bread of Life

  And Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’” - Luke 4:4

This bible verse came to me this morning, after I had partaken in Holy Communion the night before. And some wondering thoughts I have had…

Bread alone. It led me think of having Jesus as a Friend. And truly He is. There is nothing more wonderful than a warm friendship. Like bread. It makes me think of the comfort and security of being at a grandma’s house. 

But there is more. So much more.

The wine. The life giving blood of Jesus. The sacrifice of Jesus. In addition to the Friendship, there is a Savior. The Bread. And the Wine. Jesus truly all in all.

Psalm 104 says that bread and wine sustain and gladden the heart.

I think there is something very special going on here… this not by bread alone. What would Holy Communion be without the wine? Would we take of the bread - and then what? Think what? The wine - that gladdens the heart. Would we remember to rejoice in this Savior? Would we miss out on this? Don’t we need both to “remember Me”…  both Friend and Savior. Love and Lord. 

In John 6:35 Jesus joins hunger and thirst together. And again, in verses 53 through 57. Everyone who eats My flesh and drinks My blood is in Me, and I in him.

I welcome your thoughts on this. I feel like I’m supposed to go somewhere with this, but… can’t quite pull it together. It’s niggling at me and I can’t quite capture clarity or bring it full circle in my mind.

The Lord’s Strong Hold

 

Psalm 27

Of David.

¹ The Lord is my light and my salvation—
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
    of whom shall I be afraid?
² When the wicked advance against me
    to devour^[a] me,
it is my enemies and my foes
    who will stumble and fall.

 A PRAYER FOR ALL THOSE BATTLING CANCER OR SOME OTHER ON-GOING DEBILITATING CONDITION RIGHT NOW, THAT THE EVIL THAT IS TRYING TO DEVOUR THEIR FLESH. LORD, MAKE THOSE DANGEROUS CELLS STUMBLE AND FALL.

³ Though an army besiege me,
    my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
    even then I will be confident.

LORD, INCREASE THEIR HOPE IN YOU. MAY IT RISE UP WITHIN THEM AND GRANT THEM CONFIDENCE IN THE ALMIGHTY.

⁴ One thing I ask from the Lord,
    this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,

MAY THEY INDEED FEEL LIKE THEY ARE IN YOUR HOLY, INCOMPARABLE PRESENCE EVERY DAY.

to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
    and to seek him in his temple.

MAY THEIR EYES BE OPENED TO JUST HOW BEAUTIFUL YOU ARE.

⁵ For in the day of trouble
    he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
    and set me high upon a rock.

O LORD, PROTECT THEM AS ONLY YOU CAN. MAY THEIR THOUGHTS RISE ABOVE THE CALAMITY THAT SEEMS TO SURROUND THEM.

⁶ Then my head will be exalted
    above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
    I will sing and make music to the Lord.

MAY THEY TRULY SEE AND ENVISION A LIFE HELD IN YOUR HANDS. AND MAY THEY BE SO GLAD THAT YOU ARE REAL, ALIVE, INVOLVED AND AT WORK, RISEN LORD.

⁷ Hear my voice when I call, Lord;
    be merciful to me and answer me.
⁸ My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
    Your face, Lord, I will seek.

LORD, NO ONE ELSE HOLDS SUCH PROMISE.

⁹ Do not hide your face from me,
    do not turn your servant away in anger;
    you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
    God my Savior.
¹⁰ Though my father and mother forsake me,
    the Lord will receive me.

THANK YOU, GRACIOUS GOD, THAT DESPITE WHAT PEOPLE SAY, WHAT DOCTORS SAY, YOU, ALMIGHTY GOD, HAVE THE LAST WORD.

¹¹ Teach me your way, Lord;
    lead me in a straight path
    because of my oppressors.

I PRAY THEY ARE ABLE TO HOLD STEADY IN THE FAITH YOU HAVE GIVEN THEM.

¹² Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
    for false witnesses rise up against me,
 spouting malicious accusations.

THAT THEY WILL REMAIN STRONG AND NOT CAVE IN TO HOPELESSNESS OR NEGATIVE THINKING.

¹³ I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living.

MAY THEY WAKE UP EVERY MORNING KNOWING THE LORD HAS A HOLD ON THEM AND SECURE IN YOUR LOVING ARMS.

¹⁴ Wait for the Lord;
    be strong and take heart
    and wait for the Lord.

WATCHING FOR YOU, LORD, WATCHING AND WAITING FOR YOU – ALL WISE, ALL POWERFUL, ALL WONDERFUL ONE.

My Sentiments Exactly

 Be ready to share the good news! Get your Easter cards now. (You know how the time seems to slip right on by! - is it really the middle of March already?)

Send one to your pastor - a note of appreciation for all the extra mid-week Lenten services and those during Holy Week

Distant friends and family

Sunday school /bible study leaders

Anyone you know in charge of an outreach ministry in your town - who are tirelessly helping those in need and you may be involved in too (think food pantry, clothing drive, any helping hands organization)

Youth directors

Church secretary

New neighbor? Perhaps use as an invitation to your Easter service

Mom

There are other card designs suitable for Easter… bunnies, flowers, etc. Come and take a look in the card shop!

https://intermissionsforhope.blogspot.com/p/new-card-catalog-1123.html

Also available at this time, a collection of 12 cards called SPRING MIX. $10.00. (Pictured below) Just request SPRING MIX when ordering.

As always, thank you for joining me in loving others, both near and far, with expressions of God’s love through notes and cards. God bless you in loving others in this way!

God of all comfort

“Mom, life is so messed up! I really messed things up!”

Maybe I made a bad choice. Or someone else did that affected me. But life was falling apart all around me. Whatever it was, as a child or a teen and even as a grown woman, I could go to mom… kneel next to her in her rocking chair, lay my head in her lap and weep over it all. She would stroke my hair and rub my back. Say something gentle and kind. Somehow understanding. She could make the whole world go away.

I really, really miss that.

But I don’t have to. For she was responding to my needs as I think Jesus would. I believe she took her cue from God, the Father:

So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. (Luke 15:20)

What was true in Luke 15 was true when my mom was alive and available - and still is true to this very day. Jesus is the living Lord. The God Who holds me. Carries me.

He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gather the lambs in his arm and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. (Luke 13:34)

I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them. (Hosea 11:4)

All those times, mom was representing the love and care of Christ to me. And now I know, the Lord is near - reminding me of that same love and care given by my mom.

You’ve got a friend - Carole King

Do not weep

 

I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. - Revelation 5:4

My throat tightens and my chest aches every time I read this passage. Because I have been there. That place with no hope. Where forgiveness and cleansing can not possibly be possible. When shame, guilt, and sin consumed me and felt there would never be enough forgiveness or healing… that I had gone too far. There was no amount of cleansing sufficient… so I wept and wept.

It is hard to imagine, now, not having the saving grace of Jesus; that certain hope. To have knowledge of what the Bible says about the wondrous beauty of heaven, and having no more pain, no more tears - just love for everything and everybody. Just happy, glowing delight praising in His presence with not a worry or care. 

To stand on the edge of all that, as John did in his Revelation writings, looking in, and to think that I couldn’t get to it - because I didn’t have what was needed. There was no one. No way…

Yes, this tears me up.

Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”  - Revelation 5:5

This! This is the certain hope we have! The promise from God that there is rescue, there is sufficient cleansing. Complete forgiveness. Jesus made a way. Jesus victorious on our behalf! Hopelessness turned into certainty. What we couldn’t possibly do for ourselves - God did in love for each one of us. The joys of heaven are in our future. So do not weep. Just believe.