In church one morning I was drawn to the cry of a baby some place in the congregation. I did not get upset or distressed by it. I seem to be naturally drawn to all babies everywhere. This baby spoke to my soul. Here is the verse that followed that hearing.
I recently purchased a note card from the Printery House as Conception Abbey in Missouri. The image is the Good Shepherd carrying a sheep. the back reads:
The image of Christ as Good Shepherd is deeply rooted in the Gospels: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? (Luke 15:4, cf. Matthew 18:13). The symbolism is of this icon hinges on Christ’s saving Passion. This image of a shepherd carrying a sheep on his shoulders, borrowed from secular art of the Greco-Roman world, is now combined with the imagery of the Paschal Mystery: the resurrected Christ, who bears the marks of the nails, brings back sinners who were lost and now are found. The cross is seen in the background as a sign of Christ’s victory over death. Jesus is not only the shepherd, but as the Passion symbolism indicates, he is also the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).
About the same time as the card arrived I was looking through a devotional called Forward Day by Day. For many years I used this as my morning devotional guide. The Scripture readings for each day are listed and a short meditation written by various different authors each month. This page read as follows.
John 10:14I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me.
At historic St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Chestertown, Maryland, where I served years back, someone installed an oversized window with an image of Jesus carrying a sheep around his neck. I never liked that window. It did not fit the space stylistically, historically, or size-wise, but also, I had never been a fan of the passive image of Jesus as Good Shepherd.
That was the case until I visited the sheep ranch of close friends. They invited me to watch the annual sheep branding, which you will be relieved to know is by spray paint. The sheep also receive oral inoculations for various diseases. The shepherds funnel the sheep from a holding pen through chutes, but because sheep are antsy, the shepherds sometimes must wrestle a few. The sheep will fight and buck and wriggle and strain.
The passive sheep around Jesus’s shoulders has surrendered, given himself over to a shepherd that he trusts will lead and guide and even carry when necessary.
MOVING FORWARD: Have you surrendered or do you still fight and buck and wiggle?
Rob Geizelman Forward day by Day Wednesday March 29, 2023
I really like the MOVING FORWARD question: Have you surrendered or do you still fight and buck and wiggle? What sort of sheep are you? Have you surrendered to Jesus? Do you ever allow Him to carry you?
Sometimes when I was growing up I got to go to sunrise service on Easter morning. I think my favorite one was held at French Park in Cincinnati. The weather was often chilly and even at times rainy, but we were determined to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord as the sun came up!
My mother worked for many years at a flower shop in Norwood, Ohio. One year she brought home some purple hyacinths and plucked each flower off, wrapped it in wet cotton, wired and taped it. Then she assembled them as an Easter corsage for me. To this day the fragrance of purple hyacinths remind me of her. Though she lived a troubled life I believe her faith in Christ took her to be with Him when her life on earth ended.
None of these things help my soul celebrate the life, death and resurrection of Jesus as much as my gratitude lists. When Ann Voskamp wrote One Thousand Gifts I wonder if she knew how the practice would revolutionize the American Christian church? Certainly it changed her life, but do we ever truly know the impact our writing will have upon others? I wonder.
Have you practiced writing down the gifts in your life that Christ Jesus has bestowed upon you? Have you given Him thanks this Easter? Here are some of my thanksgivings.
Sunshine
Rain in due season
Salvation for my soul
You give strength to hearts that are true to You
Your righteous shall live by faith
our home
the longevity of my marriage
Justice that rolls down and righteousness as an ever-flowing stream
God with us
You know the hairs upon our heads
The Convent of the Transfiguration
my sisters in Journey Together in Stitches
crochet and knit group at senior center
Your Spirit that gives me life
Your breath in our lives
My children
My grandchildren
Laundry now on first floor
small gardens to delight my soul
the bluebirds at the office window
rabbits in Angela’s yard
THE BEAGLE
Grogu to make me smile
Noodle the Corgi that makes me smile
music
music memories from over the years
The Holy Spirit speaking in my soul
My Bible and Bible Gateway tool
Rheude’s small group
Lucky learning to play with her toys
Cooking
Great Smoky Mountains and spring wildflowers there
Medical care
freedom of religion
clouds
spring peepers
gifts
dark chocolate
coconut!
travels we have done
travel planned to Hawaii
blogging friends
New Mexico friends
Neighbors who are friends
running water in our home
crocheting
sewing for our home and others
museums of art
Cincinnati Nature Center
red winged blackbirds
butterflies
armor of God
Abraham’s example of faith and obedience
Andrew Peterson’s music
Learning to be a living sacrifice
loving husband
forgiveness
the Great I am
firemen
police officers
electronic books from the library
my sister
pinwheels
soap bubbles
even to old age He will keep me
black licorice
Spirit of God who raised Christ from the dead LIVES in us
I can entrust my soul to my faithful creator
iPad with keyboard
ear buds for listening while walking the dog
Living Water
Seashells
heating pad
ocean sounds
He walks with me and talks with me
rainbow in the sky reminds me of rainbow around the throne
the Psalms
friends serving in Nepal
New Covenant in my mind and on my heart
Jesus is made unto me wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption
“Pajama church” when you can’t make it to service
His still small voice
Bob’s sense of humor
a good fresh salad
piano music
people I know I can ask to pray – knowing they will do it
cellos
live drama performances
good ham salad
music by Brandon Lake
writing poetry
Mizithra cheese sauce on angel hair spaghetti
broccoli slaw, just yum
Spirit of God helps me write
That is my partial list. How about you? Get a little notebook and begin to list your praises and things you are grateful for! It will work wonders for you 🙂
This day is another time for reflection before the Resurrection Celebration. According to Britannica “The observance commemorates the final day of Christ’s death, which is traditionally associated with his triumphant descent into hell.”
The Apostles Creed says”He descended into hell and on the third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven.”
He rested on the seventh – God rested.
The video below linked with Andrew Peterson’s music really touches my spirit.
Many churches celebrate an Easter Vigil with prayers and baptisms, lighting of a fire, etc. I think I prefer Peterson’s reflection. I am unaware of anyone making music about what Jesus did when He descended into hell. We know from Scripture He set the captives free.
Whatever you believe about His death, what He did before He resurrected, how His ascension takes place, I pray you will put your trust in Him. He is able to prove Himself to you, even you.
Here is an animation of one person’s idea of Holy Saturday. Yes, it is six minutes long, but I think they captured the ideas wonderfully. Hope you will watch it.
May this last day of Holy Week provide time and quiet for you as you prepare to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus!
Jesus promises the Spirit in John 14 and 16. How did we get stuck on Friday? How do we move beyond it?
The movie was supposed to be true to how things likely happened when Jesus was crucified. It was gory and grotesque and certainly showed man’s inhumanity to the Son of God and Son of Man. And to think this was done frequently throughout the ages. Worse yet, it is still done today.
ISIS militants have been known to crucify those who attempt to resist them.
However, there is also another place where crucifixion is known to occur. Yep, you guessed it, Saudi Arabia. Under the Saudi penal code, crucifixion is a legal form of punishment and execution. In one case that has drawn international attention, the Saudi government sentenced a 17-year-old boy named Ali al-Nimr to crucifixion for his participation in anti-government protests. In Saudi Arabia, crucifixion takes place after death with the dead body being crucified in a public place to serve as a warning to others. Amnesty International has condemned the act as “the ultimate form of cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment.”
So why would God the Father allow this to happen to His Son? Hebrews says of Jesus
… fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2 NIV
What joy? The prophecy in Isaiah 53: 10-12 might help our understanding.
10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him with affliction. When you make his life an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring and shall prolong his days; through him the will of the Lord shall prosper. 11 Out of his anguish he shall see; he shall find satisfaction through his knowledge. The righteous one, my servant, shall make many righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will allot him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out himself to death and was numbered with the transgressors, yet he bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.
Isaiah 53:10-12 NRSVUE
Jesus loves you that much. All He is asking is that you surrender to Him. Let Him live through you by the power of His Holy Spirit. This has nothing to do with chocolate or bunnies, eggs or candy.
Read that quote from Isaiah again. I think if you read it slowly and ponder the meaning you will have a glorious Easter Season!
If you remain at the cross and the blood, ask yourself if that is what Jesus would want? Yes, He is holy and righteous and to be adored. What about the promises He gave us? Did He die so that we could sit at His grave forever? Are you willing to move beyond the blood, brutality and death?
I think the Father had more in mind than that, much more. His ways are truly higher than our ways and His thoughts than our thoughts. Father help us to move into the truth You desire for us.
The LORD has come to earth to build His Kingdom in and through us. It is almost impossible to comprehend the power and the glory He has put forth on our behalf and within us. How can this be?
Even Mary asked in Luke 1:34 “How can this be?”as she pondered God moving in her through the Holy Spirit.
In Cinderella the lyrics between the Fairy Godmother and Cinderella are a back and forth of things sensible people would never believe. Pumpkin becomes a carriage and four white mice are four white horses, etc. They go from Impossible to Possible.
But the world is full of zanies and fools
Who don’t believe in sensible rules
And won’t believe what sensible people say,
And because these daft and dewy- eyed dopes
Keep building up impossible hopes,
Impossible things are happ’ning every day!
Such fol-de-rol and fiddledy dee of course is
Quite possible!
For the world is full of zanies and fools—
Who don’t believe in sensible rules
And won’t believe what sensible people say.
And because these daft and dewy-eyed dopes
Keep building up impossible hopes,
Impossible things are happ’ning every day!
It’s possible! It’s possible!
Impossible by Rogers and Hammerstein II
Our seemingly impossible hope of redemption through Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit are often scoffed at by 'sensible' people, especially 'worldly' people. But God knows better than they do!
At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and revealed them to infants. 26 Yes, Father, because this was your good pleasure.
The world says Impossible. God says Perfect! I pray this Lent you have drawn closer to the Father through the power of His Holy Spirit. The changes He can bring to you are more stupendous than a pumpkin becoming a carriage!
Waterford creation
I pray you are willing to be yielded to His power at work in and through you. May you let Him have His way in your life. Ask the Holy Spirit to rise up within you and do the works of Jesus through you. May 2023 be your best Easter Season ever!
It is almost impossible to comprehend the power and the glory He has put forth on our behalf and within us. And yet our Father says this is His plan. Unlike the Fairy Godmother, His transformations are eternal. Yield to being remade in the likeness of His dear Son.
How has your Lenten discipline been going? I awoke one morning with an interesting insight I want to share with you. During Lent we try to become aware of our weaknesses and God’s strength to aid us. We choose disciplines to help us move consciously towards the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as our Paschal lamb and the subsequent celebration of His mighty resurrection on our behalf. Up from the grave He arose! And we rejoice.
Throughout the year we sing about the Power in His blood. Good Friday we reflect upon His blood shed for us. The water and the blood from His pierced side. His sacrifice compared to the blood of goats and bulls (Hebrews 9-10).
The blood of Christ is important and we need to understand the excruciating death He suffered and why. Too many of us have gotten stuck right there. I think God wants us to think beyond the Blood of Christ. Why did He die for us? What was His promise about His death. God’s version of “There is more to the story.”
In John 16:5 Jesus begins to explain to the disciples about the Holy Spirit by saying ” I am going to him who sent me.”
But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
John 16:7 NIV
Jesus knew that the presence of the Advocate with us is better than His walk alongside us on earth.
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.
John 16:13-14
We might never understand the full significance of these three verses. We do know from the discourse in John 16 that Jesus is teaching beyond His suffering, crucifixion and resurrection. He is teaching about the Holy Spirit, Advocate, Spirit of Truth dwelling within us. This is a consequence of Him shedding His blood for us.
The disciples did not grasp the meaning when He first taught this. He was beaten, crucified, died and was buried on our behalf. He rose again and was seen by the disciples and many others. He bestows His Holy Spirit on those who believe in Him and love Him. Many of us to this day do not grasp the meaning of His words.
There was a song in the 1980s that told of the battle between Jesus and satan, God the Father being the mediator of that battle. Satan is surprised about the outcome. You see, Jesus went to heaven, but by indwelling His disciples, He walks that earth in millions through the centuries.
Now the final blow saved for the final round.
Prophetically Christ's hands came down
And Satan struck in vengeance!
The blow of death felled Jesus to the ground.
The devils roared in victory!
The saints shocked and perplexed as wounds appeared upon His hands and feet.
Then Satan kicked Him in His side, and blood and water flowed.
And they waited for the 10 count of defeat.
God the Father turned His head,
His tears announcing Christ was dead!
The 10 count would proclaim the battle's end.
Then Satan trembled through his sweat in unexpected horror, yet...
As God started to count by saying,
"...10..."
"Hey wait a minute, God..." "...9..." "Stop! You're counting wrong..."
"...8..."
His eyes are moving...
"...7..."
His fingers are twitching...
"...6..."
"Where's all this Light coming from?"
"...5..."
"He's alive!"
"...4..."
"Oh - nooooo!"
"...3..."
"And yet,"
"...2..."
"Oh... Yessssss!
"...1..."
He has won!
He has won!
He's alive forevermore!
He is risen, He is Lord,
He has won!
He has won!
He's alive forevermore,
He is risen!
He is Lord!
Proclaim the news in every tongue,
Through endless ages and beyond
Let it be voiced from mountains loud and strong
Captivity has been set free, salvation bought for you and me
'Cause Satan is defeated,
And Jesus is The Champion
Written by: Thomas Allan Flowers, Richard C. Ivanisevich, Douglas James Eldridge
Album: The Champion Released: 1987
Andrew Peterson captured the same miracle with the song “His Heart Beats.” Part of those lyrics are:
He rises, glorified in flesh
Clothed in immortality, the firstborn from the dead
He rises, and His work's already done
So He's resting as He rises to reclaim the Bride He won
And His heart beats
So crown Him the Lord of Life
Crown Him the Lord of Love
Crown Him the Lord of All
He took one breath
And put death to death
Where is your sting, O grave?
How grave is your defeat
I know, I know His heart beats
Are you willing to embrace His sacrifice and let Him live in and through you? I pray your disciplines have led you to a point of surrender to Jesus in every way, shape and form.
Bob’s Aunts lived in New York City. The last time I saw Aunt Ra alive she was in the hospital suffering from cancer. I wrote this as we were leaving New York to return home to Cincinnati.
Anxiety that would never name itself fear, yet it usually is just that!
The experts, both travel agents and psychologists agree that planning a trip is the most exciting thing. Experiencing the trip can be delightful unless one gets too stressed. Having completed a vacation can leave you with many pleasant memories. Our upcoming trip to Hawaii has been filled with anticipation, will be filled with enjoyment and then we will have many happy memories. Unless of course, my fears come true!
My mother always wanted to go to Hawaii to see the many flowers. She never had the funds to get there before she died. We have been planning a trip since 2020, the year of our 50th wedding anniversary. During the pandemic Hawaii said you could travel there, but had to be in quarantine for 2 weeks. We could not afford a month in Hawaii! So we put it off and all but stopped planning. Except we talk to Dan and Betty often about sights and experiences they have enjoyed in Hawaii. We most often add their ideas to what we want to do!
We have been meeting with a travel agent for this trip. That has not been delightful. We talk about things we want. She looks up the item and prices. Later she sends us an itinerary and often parts of it are wrong. She is seriously keeping Bob on his toes!
Our health has challenged us as this trip draws closer. Bob needs a medical test that he is considering putting off until after the trip. When I question him about that he tells me, “So what if it indicates something should be done?” He would rather not know. I want certainty that he will be okay traveling. He quips, “Hawaii might be a cool place to die.” That does not comfort or sooth me. Think about that. If it happens do I just bring his ashes back or arrange transport for his whole body. What a logistical nightmare! Not to mention ruining the trip. Just yesterday, come to find out, they cannot take him for the test until we return!
I have had pain in my shoulder since Thanksgiving. Doctor’s assistant sent me to physical therapy. PT made it worse. Doctor said I need an MRI to find out what is going on in there. It seems worse with certain movements. This has become pain that cannot be ignored when I move a certain way. That breath-taking kind of pain that makes one gasp and see stars. I dread lying down in bed at night. MRI is scheduled for Tuesday evening, March 28, but return appointment with doc is not until mid-April. He said I might require an injection of steroid or surgery. NO SURGERY at least until after Hawaii. Surgery now would interfere with Hawaii. Oh, I get Bob’s reasoning now. Departure date is early May.
False
Evidence
Appearing
Real
So there it is. The fears laid out in the open. What do they require? That I trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean not to my own understanding. In all my ways I must acknowledge Him and He will make my paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6) Oh.
Oh. That “T” word. It begins with a cross – t. It ends with a cross – t. And the letters in the middle ask, “R us?” Or better English, are we? Or Are U? (skip the ‘s’)
T r u s t
At one season in my life I set Psalm 56:3-4 to a melody. I would sing, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in You, O Lord. When I am afraid, I put my trust in You, O Lord. In God whose word I praise, In God whose word I praise, in God I trust without a fear.” I am starting to sing it today, through the travel to Hawaii, and back home.
Shoulder, medical test, all of it can likely be something to be classified as false evidence of impending doom, appearing real, to ruin my anticipation of this trip of a lifetime. I refuse to let the devil steal my joy.
Instead of 50 years of marriage celebrated as we visit our 50th state, we will be celebrating almost 53 years of marriage as we visit our 50th state. Pray for us please! Especially scaredy cat, worrywart, Molly. Put it down Molly. You cannot receive His full blessing if your hands are full of fretting.
During the pandemic many choirs picked up this song by Andrew Peterson and created videos on YouTube. I just have to share it with you again to bring honor to our Christ! I just love Andrew’s smile in the top video. There is more than one person shedding tears during this song. Yes, there are 3 versions! Why not? Review the lyrics and confirm your heart in the truth! So many Scriptures in this song!!
Treasures in Plain Sight, A Christian Blog 