Wednesday, April 27, 2011

MIXED EMOTIONS

Today was a day full of mixed emotions. I began by wishing my precious hubby a Happy Birthday. Then we dressed and headed off to the funeral for a friend/co-worker's wife. Her name was Susan Stratton and she corageously battled cancer for 11 long years. I regret I never met her personally. She sounded like a very special,talented, loving, giving, yet independent spirited woman. She started a week-day pre-school at her church and directed it. She also loved growing and arranging flowers. She was dedicated to her husband and daughters. When the Lord led her husband to go to work for the Va. Baptist Mission Bd., she was willing to leave her beloved church family and home and Her preschool because she felt that's where the Lord wanted them. She served faithfully in her new church home after that even though battling the cancer. She left this world on Good Friday and was able to bask in the glory of her beloved God on Easter Sunday. Her struggle was over. I feel relief and joy for her, yet I am saddened for her husband and children who are left to go on without the lady they loved so much. After we made the 3 hr. drive home we switched gears and went into celebration mode. We changed clothes as if this somehow helped shed the sadness and help us dress-up in new emotions. Then we went to one of our favorite restaurants for a lovely dinner and complementary Baked Alaska. The waiter even "attempted" to sing a shortened version of Happy Birthday. There were cards and lots of e-mails and messages when we got home. Cards and Presents were opened and a phone call from his "little brother" helped to top off the birthday celebration. As you might imagine, it was hard to celebrate a birthday when you've just witnessed a death. One thing Susan learned during her long struggle was to enjoy each day as if it were your last. She would have wanted us to celebrate her being with Jesus and she'd want us to celebrate Gary's birthday,too. As humans we face a myriad of emotions each day, some up, some down, some we're not even sure what they are. It's hard to flip a switch and go from sad to happy. However, we know the Lord wants us to celebrate the lives of his children-those who have just been born, those who have just grown a year older, and also those who have just gone to spend a pain-free, tear-free, glorious eternity with their Lord and King. It was hard to totally, mentally separate the two events today but I thank Jesus for giving me another year with my beloved husband and I thank God for letting me get to know Susan through her home-going celebration service. Please continue to pray for her husband, Eddie, and their two daughters in the days to come. Live each day to it's fullest!

Saturday, April 23, 2011

"Jesus offered Himself to His tormentors as His adversaries plotted and schemed to bring Him down. They wanted to put Jesus on display as a mad man. If He were truly God, they reasoned, He would not allow this injustice to occur. However, the Creator allowed His creation to beat and bludgeon His only Son. Christ’s back was bruised and beaten for your sake. His ribs were whipped with sharp bits of rock that dug into His flesh indiscriminately. These mob-motivated men inflicted inhumane lashes across His body; facial hair was torn from His flesh. He did not hide his face or scowl back.

Rather, with a gaze up to heaven, as if to say, “Father this is for your glory,” He displayed a grim face of grace. This face of forgiveness was baptized in the sick spit of sinful man. They desecrated His friendly face with determined drool. The frenzy of the crowd took over with verbal lashes. These ungrateful sinners beat Him down emotionally and mentally, as well as physically. It was a horrific sight, similar to a one man concentration camp. But Jesus submitted to this suffering only because He first submitted to God. Ironically, those committing these hideous crimes were the very ones who could benefit from its results. They could have embrace His atonement for sin and receive His resurrected life.

Jesus carried this burden on your behalf and that of all mankind. It was not an exercise in how much pain could be endured by one person. It was pure love, as Jesus loved you all the way to the cross. “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Without the love of God, the events at the cross would not have happened. The dreadful day’s activities would have culminated in the death of just another good man. Death would have been the end." (Boyd Bailey)

Let's all ponder these thoughts today as we prepare to celebrate tomorrow!

Friday, April 22, 2011

GOOD FRIDAY

"The greatest man in history, named Jesus, had no servants, yet they called him Master. Had no degree, yet they called him Teacher. Had no medicines, yet they called him Healer. He had no army, yet kings feared Him. He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world. He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him..... He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today!!" Good Friday seems like such an odd name for the day our Lord suffered so much for our sins yet we know it was good because if He had not died for us we would never be able to spend eternity with our Heavenly Father. However, we must concentrate on the pain and suffering of Jesus in order to really appreciate and understand what He did for us. Take time to visualize the torture and agony Christ endured for you today and give him thanks for it.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

COMFORTING WORDS

During this Holy Week as I read the accounts of what Jesus and his Disciples went through, different things "pop out" at me. In John 13, Jesus tells his Disciples that one of them will betray him. Then, he tells Peter he will deny knowing him.
They did not understand yet what was going to happen to Jesus or where he was going but they were confused and scared and wanted to go with him. What really touched me, though, was in John 14, where Jesus tries to comfort his Disciples. He says: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. 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, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." (John 14:1-4) Then He promises to send them the Holy Spirit to be with them and in them. In verse 27 he says "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." Jesus was about to be betrayed by one of his closest followers, denied by another then handed over to die a painful death. However, his concern was for his Disciples. Instead of seeking their comfort He is the one trying to encourage and comfort them. Would we do the same in this situation? What a wonderful Lord we have. Even when we face our own trials, let's follow Jesus' example and still try to be a comforter and encourager to others. May you feel His peace today!

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

PLOTTING AND BETRAYAL


Have you ever been in a situation where others were plotting against you in some way?
Perhaps it was your husband they were plotting against. We were in a church situation where a new preacher had arrived and immediately began criticizing everything the large, long-term staff (which included my husband)had been doing.
Everyone in the church had been so pleased and encouraging to the staff during the time they kept the church going after our long-term pastor has retired. For two years they continued to move forward as much as possible and we even had people joining the church, even without a pastor. Suddenly, with the arrival of this new preacher, things began to change. He began to surround himself with a corp of followers (mostly from the search committee who had recommended him). It was almost like he had some kind of strange power over them. People who had been so supportive of the staff and the vision of the long-range planning committee, suddenly were willing to believe whatever this "stranger" said even if it was not the same as what he had said to a staff member. They would do whateve he wanted them to do. He was deceitful behind closed doors and had members basically blackballed if they questioned him. He was not the person some in the congregation thought he was. He was cruel to the staff and when it finally got so bad that some of them spoke to church leaders they trusted regarding some of the "plotting" going on against them and to change certain things and make it look like some of these changes came from the staff and not from him we got a mixed response. Some were very upset and approached him. He denied it or just stared at them or said the staff member misunderstood. Then they were treated badly by him and others of his followers. Some were upset but didn't want to get involved. Others were totally oblivious to it all. Eventually staff and their families began to feel they were the enemy by his followers and so did anyone who disagreed with him or his treatment of the staff. Close friends no longer spoke or trusted each other. It was one of the most painful times of our lives. We felt betrayed and "stabbed in the back" by some of those who had been closest to us for over 12 years. One by one the staff all left and so did large numbers of church members. A few years later, the preacher who caused all this pain and division was advised he needed to resign or he was soon going to be asked to leave. Some had come to see him for what he really was. Others just saw how the church had declined. Many Ministers' families were hurt and many friendships destroyed and have not been restored years later. This experience gives me an inkling of how Jesus must have felt during his last week on earth. There were those plotting against him. One of his own disciples betrayed him. The crowds that cheered Hosanna as he entered Jerusalem quickly changed to chanting Crucify Him and even chose to let a convicted murderer go and have Jesus killed. I hope you never have to experience the pain we did in that church but if you ever go through something similar, know that your Lord and Savior went through something worse and later gave his life for you because of his Love for you. He knows any pain or suffering or trial you may have gone through or are going through and He will see you through it. Let's all remember the great love that Jesus showed to us by allowing them to crucify him that we may be forgiven. Hosanna to our King!

Friday, April 8, 2011

OVERWHELMING NEEDS VS. YOUR WELL-BEING

As a minister's wife, it is easy to get overwhelmed and depressed by all the sicknesses, deaths, marital problems, job losses, surgeries and other needs in your church family. You hear of all the prayer requests on Sun. and Wed. and also get them through e-mails or calls to your home. Plus, you know of many concerns and needs in your own family or those of your own friends who are not in your church.
Prayer is wonderful and we should spend as much time as we can praying for the needs of others. However, don't let it drag you down. I often find myself praying when I lay down to go to sleep at night. I have to make myself limit this time of prayer and then force myself to think of more pleasant things or I can't go to sleep. I read somewhere that you should never watch the 11:00 news then try to go to sleep.
It is hard to fall asleep when you have troubling or sad thoughts on your mind.
Do your serious praying at another time during the day. If you find yourself being drug down by all the needs, take time to do something to help lift your spirits.
Watch some cartoons or a funny movie. Read an uplifting inspirational book or listen to upbeat, cheerful music. Take a walk or get some exercise. With warm weather coming, you can get outside and plant some flowers. Going to a garden center and just looking at all the gorgeous flowers lifts my spirits. Invite a fun friend to lunch or for coffee. Keep on praying but take care of yourself,too.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

HAPPY SUNDAY!


Happy Sunday! We had a good day of worship with communion at our church today. It was a beautiful, sunny and fairly warm day. I am so thankful to live in a country where we are free to worship and not have to worry about being persecuted for our faith. We may be harrassed or ridiculed but we don't have to worry about being tortured or killed for our faith. Remember to pray for those believers who worship our Lord at risk to their own lives. I tend to take for granted the freedom to just get up and drive to church on Sunday and worship with my church family. When you are tired or hurried and rushed or trying to get kids dressed and out the door on Sunday morning, think about the blessing of our freedom. Here is a quote from Pope John Paul II that I saw today that I really liked and thought I'd share with you.
"Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and Hallelujah is our song". Have a great week!