• Devotions

    In the Blink of an Eye

    Pictures from Timehop on Facebook always delight me.

    I love when images of my 6 foot plus boys pop up from when they were playing Little League or outside in the snow with friends.

    Especially at this time of year, shots of Easter egg hunts and family dinners make my heart full.

    It all seems to change in the blink of an eye.

    I believe that those closest to Jesus felt the same during His last week on earth.

    There was no Timehop back then, but scripture gives us a snapshot of the days leading up to Jesus’s crucifixion.

    It all seemed to change on the blink of an eye.

    On what we know as Palm Sunday, the crowds welcome Jesus as He rides into Jerusalem on a donkey, waving palms and cheering.

    “Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around Him were shouting, 

     “Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!  Blessings on the coming Kingdom of our ancestor David! Praise God in the highest heaven!”  Mark 11: 9-10 NLT

    On Thursday, Jesus sits down to eat for the last time with His disciples, whom He calls friends.

    Jesus knows that one among them will betray Him.

    “When it was evening, Jesus sat down at the table with the Twelve.  While they were eating, He said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.” Greatly distressed, each one asked in turn, “Am I the one, Lord?” He replied, “One of you who has just eaten from this bowl with me will betray me.  For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago.  But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays Him.  It would be better for that man if he had not been born.”  Matthew 25:20-24 NLT

    It all seemed to change in the blink of an eye.

    After being betrayed by one of His own, Jesus is brought before the crowds, the same crowds shortly before that had welcomed and praised Him.

    But there was no more cheering for our King.

    “Then a mighty roar rose among the crowd, and with one voice they shouted, “Kill Him, and release Barabbas to us!” (Barabbas was in prison for taking part in an insurrection in Jerusalem against the government, and for murder). Pilate argued with them, because he wanted to release Jesus,  But they kept shouting, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” Luke 23: 18-21 NLT

    One minute, welcomed with open arms.

    The next minute being sent to death, by the same crowd that embraced Him.

    This image strikes me at my very core.

    Because I know in my heart that there are days that I welcome Him with open arms, and others that I am distracted by the world and want to go with the crowd.

    Where do you find yourself this Holy Thursday, friends?

    We do not need TImehop to remind us how quickly things can change.

    Remember that our heavenly Father sent His Son to take our place on that cross.

    Each of us is given unexplainable grace because Jesus came to earth in human form to understand our joys and our sorrows.

    He knew what it was like to be the center of attention one moment and betrayed the next.

    Knowing that He would suffer greatly, He chose the cross anyway.

    “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross.”  Phillipians 2:8 NLT

    He did that for you and for me.

    May that be the image you return to as you remember the gift of His love this Easter and always.

  • Devotions

    Trusting When We Don’t Understand

    It’s unusual for me to get a call from my friend this early.

    Or at all to be honest.

    She is more of a texter.

    But when I saw her name pop up on my phone screen, I took a chance that it wasn’t a pocket 

    dial and answered.

    Much to my surprise, I heard her voice on the other end.

    And before even saying hello, she asked this question:

    Did that just happen?

    In an instant, I knew what she meant.

    For the next few minutes, we talked about the events that unfolded in our nation’s Capitol the day before.

    Disbelief, fear, sadness, horror.

    So many emotions brim to the surface of our souls.

    Then another call from a friend experiencing an incredible loss.

    And another question.

    How do you move forward when you feel so much pain?

    A pain that penetrates us to our core and rocks our foundation.

    On these days, I struggle with what I can offer those around me who are hurting.

    So I listen, offering what Dharius Daniels calls “the ministry of presence.”

    “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.  Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone?  A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”  Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NLT

    When I cannot find the words, I can go to His Word to find comfort.

    “Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. This is what He wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace He has poured out on us who belong to His dear Son.

     He is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins.  He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding..” Ephesians 1: 4-8 NLT

    When I cannot trust in the things of this world, I can trust in His plan.

    “God has now revealed to us His mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill His own good plan. And this is the plan: At the right time He will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for He chose us in advance, and He makes everything work out according to His plan.” Ephesians 1: 9-11 NLT

    There seems to be so much pain and confusion in our world right now.

    Some days it may feel difficult to take the next step.

    Friends, on those days remember the Creator of the Universe loved you before the world began.

    That is something you can trust even when you don’t understand the plan.

  • Devotions

    Today Is the Day

    Today was the day.

    The day that my son was supposed to finally take his SATS.

    But they were cancelled for the third time.

    Today was the day.

    The day that we were to continue with our yearly family tradition.

    Going to Beck’s Tree Farm to cut down our Christmas tree together and then to Hot Dog Johnny’s to grab lunch is something we look forward to every year.

    But instead we are waiting for test results to see if my husband is positive for Covid.

    As I write this, I am watching him sleep on the couch (socially distanced of course).

    If I am being honest, it is hard not to feel discouraged.

    And not because we can’t go for our tree or my son cannot take his exam.

    It’s because there is just so much brokenness everywhere.

    My heart is heavy for my brothers and sisters who are suffering.

    For those who are separated from or have lost loved ones.

    For those who are struggling with finances.

    For those who are not certain if their business will survive or if their jobs will still be there in the new year.

    For those who are battling the dark days that accompany mental health and addiction.

    For those who feel isolated and alone.

    For those who have lost hope.

    So I go to the place where hope lives.

    In His Word.

    A place where I find encouragement and comfort as I wait.

    “Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.” 

    Romans 15:4 NLT

    A place where I am reminded of His promises.

    “And in another place Isaiah said,

    “The heir to David’s throne will come,

        and he will rule over the Gentiles.

    They will place their hope on him.” Romans 15: 12 NLT

    I remind myself that today is the day that we have hope.

    Hope that came in the form of an infant who would become the Savior of all.

    The day that despite the struggles belongs to Him.

    Friends, it is hard even in this season to not feel discouraged.

    Take heart.

    The source of our hope is always available to His children.

    Today and every day.

    “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15: 13 NLT

    Today is the day to embrace that hope.