Heading West…..


This was the view on the way up the coast on Easter afternoon, overcast and rainy but with a profusion of bright yellow and purple wildflowers along each side of the green hills beside the freeway, announcing a resurrection of their own; then steady and promising off to the West it appeared, the grand Pacific….beckoning me with its steady peace and rest. It always takes my breath away each time I get the first magic glimpse. How can someone not gaze at those waves, hear that thundering surf and not know that God is behind it all?

I am so grateful for this time to get away, to reflect on what the Lord has done for us, for me. To think of how He loves us to create all this beauty for us to enjoy. It was a very different Easter on the road, but it was memorable. Listening to praise music driving down Highway 1 by the sea….Thank you God, for a generosity that I can only partially glimpse, partially guess…I am in awe again when I see your Word come to life in Your creation…..

“Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness, when I fixed limits for it and set its doors and bars in place, when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt’?” Job 38:8-11

The Suffering Servant


Turn playlist off, music is beautiful and haunting in this video…
“The Sovereign LORD has given me an instructed tongue,
to know the word that sustains the weary.
He wakens me morning by morning,
wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.
The Sovereign LORD has opened my ears,
and I have not been rebellious;
I have not drawn back.
I offered my back to those who beat me,
my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;
I did not hide my face
from mocking and spitting.
Because the Sovereign LORD helps me,
I will not be disgraced.
Therefore have I set my face like flint,
and I know I will not be put to shame.”
Isaiah 50:4-7

Night of sorrows


“One of you will betray me….”
An intimate celebration of Passover between close friends….the sharing of a meal, the singing of a hymn, the tenderness and humility demonstrated by Jesus during the foot-washing….and all that harmony is shattered when He says, “One of you will betray me….” and then horror and disbelief as each disciple no doubt begins to look inward, each to himself. “Surely not I, Lord.” There was a foreshadowing of doom that they were all afraid to address. It began when Jesus told them what had to happen once they got to Jerusalem.

The chaos starts when Judas dips his hand with Jesus……”Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?”
Jesus answered, “Yes, it is you.” Matthew 26:23-25

And then…”As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. “What you are about to do, do quickly,” Jesus told him,” John 13:27

I think of all the events of that sorrow filled night; I think of Peter, bold, courageous, outspoken. The one who jumped out into the storm tossed sea to run to Jesus. He wasn’t a timid man by any stretch, and yet the chaotic horror of that night was too much even for him. He caved in to fear, and yet….. “Peter followed at a distance.” Luke 22:54

I like this commentary by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson:

Peter is courageous and bold — he wants to be near his Lord in his hour of need. But Peter is terrified, also. He is in danger and knows it. And as he sits near the fire, he begins to wonder what might happen. As long shadows dance in the firelight, Peter’s fears continue to grow. What if I’m recognized? How can I hide when it becomes light. What should I do if I’m identified by someone who was there?

Jesus Looks Straight at Peter (22:60-61)
But then Jesus intervenes:
“Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: ‘Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.’ ” (22:60-61)

Peter strikes a cord with all of us because he is a part of us, really. We have the same fears, failings and weaknesses. But as Jesus completely restored and forgave Peter, he forgives us. That is the grace of Easter, fellowship restored! Each new day gives us a chance to start again with Jesus.

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” 1 John 3

It’s all about Jesus

image from: peterfultonministries.com

Is it just me or does it seems like every year around Holy week Satan tries to stir the pot all over again. He thought he succeeded the first time around but then came Sunday and the empty tomb. But make no mistake, he lost the epic battle but he is still waging war. Consider today’s headlines:

“Losing their religion? Catholicism in turmoil
Sex abuse scandal prompts soul-searching across the globe.”

“Christian militia plotted cops’ deaths, FBI says” Maybe I am being paranoid but it seems the media is taking every opportunity to use the word Christian describing these wackos. I don’t care what they call themselves, they have nothing to do with me, or my faith, or Jesus.

We don’t like to talk about Satan much anymore and he likes that. He would be very happy if we just pretended he didn’t exist. But Jesus didn’t hesitate to talk about him so neither should we. He was in a head to head struggle with him about 2000 years ago this particular week. From His 40 day duel in the desert, to the Garden of agony, to the cross…..but that my friends is where he lost for good.

Satan is still trying to do whatever he can to destroy the credibility of the church, but he won’t be able to harm it because it rests in those nail scarred hands perfectly intact. People can call themselves whatever they want, but the Lord knows those who are truly His.

And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou Simon Bar-jona, for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter. And upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matt. 16:13-18.

Christ our Passover…..

Photo taken at Canaan in the Desert, Phoenix
“Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” 1 Corinthians 5:7

On this Multitude Monday I am celebrating the little things of life…..sweeping the driveway on a beautiful morning#261, a new Easter wreathe on the door#262, the beautiful colors of my Easter flag#263, cleaning the windshield of my car#264, giving the plants a drink#265, listening to Pandora radio softly playing Fernando Ortega#266, fellowship with my Savior in prayer#267, mourning doves calling on the eaves nearby#268, getting ready for vacation, crossing things off my list#269, laughter yesterday#270, as I turned and found that somebody (she knows who she is!) in her haste had put the eyes on the chicks feet instead of the head! Had a good laugh over that one! I should also add here that she had surprised me yesterday by rolling out and baking my unfinished dough so I really didn’t care were she put the eyes!

More laughter, tears and joy when about 50 children in all types of dress waved bedraggled palm branches and blew very off key little horns while leading an adorable little burro who I was very glad to see nobody was riding. I know Jesus was beaming down from Heaven, how could He not? It was priceless.

Contemplative wandering through Canaan in the Desert#271 Contemplation turned to something else when we rounded a corner and saw someone dressed as resurrected Jesus, and an angel in sneakers trying to get dressed on an incline, (an older gentleman who exclaimed aloud that he was not fond of heights and that he was apprehensive about slipping down the hill.) Unbeknownst to us, North Phoenix Baptist Church was having a presentation there. I think it added something special to the day. We certainly won’t forget it.

Most of all, I am grateful today that I can celebrate the little things because of the big thing that we celebrate this week! For it is against the backdrop of the cross, we have life, we have victory, we have joy. In the cross we find Him! Because of the cross our life is colored with meaning and purpose. So that is the wondrous big thing I celebrate today! Celebrate with me today as we enter into our remembrance of Holy week. I am thankful that with Him, every week is Holy.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. John 5:24

Be a part of the Gratitude Community, join Ann, me and others here:
holy experience

Wishing a Blessed Passover to our Jewish friends today…

Are you prepared?


Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!” Matthew 20:17-19

The most dramatic event that would ever take place on the world’s stage is about to happen and who really knew? I don’t think the disciples had any clue about what was really going to happen. As I reflect on all those long ago events I get caught up in the drama myself, and yet life continues all around me, much as it did then. I can imagine how the disciples must have felt, their lives temporarily suspended in time as Jesus took them aside….no doubt dread and sadness filling their hearts as the gravity of the situation took hold.

Sometime later, Jesus and his disciples were at the home of Simon the leper and a woman came in with a jar of costly perfume and proceeded to pour it on Jesus head as he was reclining at the table. The disciples were indignant…..
“Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” Matthew 26:10-13
A woman crashes into the world of men, and does something incredibly bold, and Jesus sees her heart, honors her act. Did she know what was going to happen?

So much drama in this week, against the backdrop of a world that largely goes on just as before….I wonder who really knew besides Jesus what was about to happen? At what point did Judas go from dipping into the treasury to fleeing out into the night to betray Jesus? When did Satan first start whispering darkness into his heart and when did he start to listen? How could he have listened day after day, seen the miracles, the love and still turned away?

His closest friends, the twelve, then eleven…..I feel for them. I can’t imagine the depth of their sadness, and yet today, on Palm Sunday I feel their joy!

“Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

Reflections on Palm Sunday


Triumphal Entry #1
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”
This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
“Say to the Daughter of Zion,
‘See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ “
The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna in the highest!”
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”
The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” Matthew 21:1-11
Triumphal Entry #2
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

“Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.
“’I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,’ says the Lord, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelations 1:7

Crumbs under the table…..


Today on the way to work I was trying to pray but my brain was scrambled. I couldn’t seem to take one thought and hold it captive for even a moment. My mind felt like a superhighway…..it humbled me, I felt bad for not being able to clear my mind enough to talk to God. I thought of my petty worries. I thought of all the other people who are carrying unbelievable loads, of missionaries endangering their lives to share the Gospel. I felt unworthy to bring Him my pitiful load. I thought of the Greek woman who came to Jesus asking for healing for her daughter.

“Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.
“First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.” Mark 7:24-29

“Yes, Lord,” she replied, “but even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”

Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.”

Because of her tenacious faith He answered her prayer, even though she wasn’t one of the “chosen.” Though Jesus seems at first to be brushing her off, even admonishing her for her boldness, He really isn’t; and she ends up being rewarded for her bold move. He looked in her heart and saw humility. She knew she wasn’t worthy, but she knew that He had something she needed and she had faith enough to ask for it.

I was rewarded this morning too. He took my scrap offerings of faith and blessed them. God lifted the clouds from my mind and I was able to pray…..It started with honesty. To the One who knows all my weaknesses and blesses me anyway.

An Orderly Quietness


Prayer begins, not in asking, but in a silent self-preparation. We should not rush into the Presence; the church of private devotion should be entered through the vestibule in an orderly quietness. This comes best as a by-product of a mind focused on God. We say to ourselves, “His light fill the world. It fills this room.” Thus we meditate.

The next step is an act of faith, on which Jesus laid the constant stress: “All things, whatsoever ye ask in prayer, believing, ye shall recieve.” In this initial silence of prayer we say to ourselves that whatever we ask “in the nature of Christ” is ours, granted only our earnestness in prayer and life. Always prayer is prefaced by an act of faith. We take counsel with our certitudes, not with our doubts and fears. George A. Buttrick “Prayer”

As with any muscle faith has to be exercised. What am I believing God for today? Have peace, safety, security become my idols–things that have to some degree replaced God in my life? How much faith do I really need when I know exactly how much money will show up in my bank account every 2 weeks like clockwork? The early church depended on God and each other for their every need.

And yet, I have known times of stress and heartache when each day started on my knees in desperation. And God heard everytime…..When times are good, I thank Him, always keeping in my heart a remembrance of those other times when He got me though, will get me through again.

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” Philippians 4:12