God Is!

He is the First and Last, the Beginning and the End!

He is the Keeper of creation and the Creator of all!

He is the Architect of the universe and the Manager of all times!

He always was, He always is, and He always will be . . .

Unmoved, unchanged, undefeated, and never undone!

He was bruised and brought healing!

He was pierced and eased pain!

He was persecuted and brought freedom!

He was dead and brought life!

He is risen and brings power!

He reigns and brings Peace!

The world cannot understand Him,

The armies cannot defeat Him,

The schools cannot explain Him, and

The leaders cannot ignore Him!

Herod could not kill Him,

The Pharisees could not confuse Him, and

The people could not hold Him!

Nero could not crush Him,

Hitler could not silence Him,

The New Age cannot replace Him, and

Talk show hosts cannot explain Him away!

He is light, love, longevity and Lord!

He is goodness, kindness, gentleness and joy!

He is holy, righteous, mighty, powerful and pure!

His ways are right,

His word is eternal,

His will is unchanging, and

His mind is on me!

He is my Redeemer,

He is my Savior,

He is my Guide, and

He is my Peace!

He is my Joy,

He is my Comfort,

He is my Lord, and

He rules my life!

I serve Him because His bond is love,

His burden is light, and

His goal for me is abundant life!

I follow Him because He is the wisdom of the wise,

The power of the powerful,

The ancient of days,

The ruler of rulers,

The leader of leaders,

The overseer of the overcomers, and

The sovereign Lord of all that was and is and is to come!

And if that seems impressive to you, try this for size—

His goal is a relationship with ME!

He will never leave me,

Never forsake me,

Never mislead me,

Never forget me,

Never overlook me, and

Ever cancel my appointment in His appointment book!

When I fall, He lifts me up!

When I fail, He forgives!

When I am weak, He is strong!

When I am lost, He is the way!

When I am afraid, He is my courage!

When I stumble, He steadies me!

When I am hurt, He heals me!

When I am broken, He mends me!

When I am blind, He leads me!

When I am hungry, He feeds me!

When I face trials, He is with me!

When I face persecution, He shields me!

When I face problems, He comforts me!

When I face loss, He provides for me!

When I face death, He carries me Home!

He is everything for everybody, everywhere,

Every time, and every way!

He is God,

He is faithful!

I am His, and He is mine!

My Father in heaven can whip the father of this world.

God is in control, I am on His side, and

That means all is well with my soul!

Everyday is a blessing . . . for GOD is!

{I adapted this from something I received in 2001.  I do not know the author.  10 years later, I believe more fully in every statement made here!  Only by His grace, His mercy and His love!}

Joy Comes In The Morning!

Joy has come in the redemption of sins!  
In the seeker being found!  
In the lost being directed.  
In the broken-hearted being loved!

“O death, where is your victory?  O death, where is your sting?” 1 Cor. 15:55

Death could not hold redemptive Love in the grave!

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.’” John 14:6

For the unloved one—
He is the personal and intimate, unconditional and thoughtful agape love.

For the depressed, the rejected, the grieving one—
He is the deep joy not understood nor sustained by this broken world.

For the weary, restless, worried one—
He is peace; sweet, deep, all encompassing and thoroughly sufficient, restful peace!

For the hurt, bitter, sinful one—
He is far reaching forgiveness that frees from living in hell; both eternally and while here on earth.

For the broken and empty one—
He completes the design originally intended and the freedom that comes in living within it.

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” John 14:27

Resurrection morning is God’s love realized to the world.  He cannot make us choose Him, but He woos us with His love.

Resurrection morning is His matchless joy shouting out to all the generations, all the Kingdoms and all the worlds.

Resurrection morning is His peace deeply realized as death no longer has the final say in any life.

Resurrection morning is absolute forgiveness of sins and all deceit of the evil one conquered.

Resurrection morning is completion of the work of the Son for the Father.  

"It is finished!"

“If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9

Easter is God’s love triumphing once for all—forever—over evil!

What love—what joy—what peace...in forgiveness & completeness.  

All because of the cross, the tomb and the resurrection power 

of God through Christ Jesus. 

“To the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever.  Amen.” Romans 16:27

~artwork by Ron DiCianni~

Get blog updates to your inbox or news reader by clicking here...

Black Saturday

The day after Good Friday . . .

The day before Resurrection Sunday . . .

HOPE . . . a simple word and yet not simply earned.

The words to a song state, “All our hope is in you, Lord, the light of the world.”

Without God’s light, 

no thing could penetrate the darkness of that Saturday.  

Without the darkness of that Saturday, 

the light would not be so transforming on Sunday!

We rejoice!  For victory belongs to the Lord!  
Victory over sin
Victory over the grave
Victory over death of life and death of living purposeless and estranged from God!

Victory is His!  Victory is sure!

Victory has been accomplished—

at the cross and at the cross roads of each heart 

seeking and responding to His call 

upon their soul to repent and be saved!

Victory is God’s in His precious Son, Jesus!

I weep much today over His death, the brutality of His lashings, the heaviness of the cross He bore and later was bound to.  The nails did not, could not hold Him there—but love...

Love bore the stripes that now heal.

Love walked Him down the road to Golgotha.

Love carried the weight of the beams across His weakened body.

Love laid Himself out—arms open wide—the sacrificial Lamb.

Love kept Him on the cross when mocked and jeered.

Love took on the weight of the sins of the world for all and for all of time.

Love carried the deceptions of the evil one embedded in the minds of captives.

Love freed the captives from sin’s slavery and from the chains of death!

As Love was lifted up, so was the salvation of any lost soul who has or will someday bow their knee in confession and repentance—in need and recognition of that Love.

Death could not be victorious because God’s perfect Love penetrated the darkness of death and won!  Victory is His because Love is His!  He is the Creator and Sustainer of all things good, holy and righteous.  His love casts out all fear.  

There is no fear—there is no darkness where His Love abounds.  

There is no death where His Love prevails.

Victory is God’s!  The captives are His!  Because Love is His!
He loves willingly and unconditionally and equally.  
His love is complete. 

His Jesus is His love given over for many.
His Jesus is His love poured out for all mankind.
His Jesus is His love sacrificially, once for all, perfectly given to all who would recognize God as Lord of their lives and over their world.

Love is defined by Jesus!  If we want to love well, we need to study Jesus—reflect Jesus—live as Jesus lived amongst those living around us. 

Victory is in Jesus!  Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection completed God’s love.  From the beginning of time this was His plan; to love the world from darkness to light in the hope of His perfect Son, Jesus.

All victory is Theirs!  All victory will ever be—God’s in Christ Jesus!

Death, burial, grief, struggle, sin and hardship all have their day in this sinful world.  The darkness will have its day.  But joy comes in the morning!  Joy unspeakable and full of glory!  God’s glory!  The glory bore on the cross of Love.  Nothing can and nothing will conquer either one.

The victory is already God’s!  
The victory is God’s until the end!  
The victory is God’s for all eternity! 

Sunday’s a comin’...O happy day!

Get blog updates to your inbox or news reader by clicking here...

It was a Friday then. 

It is a Friday now. 

The deed is done. 

The debt is paid. 

As my thoughts attend your burial, 

tears of sorrow fall in gratitude 

at your death. 

That though I can only cry for yours, 

O my Savior,

you rescue me from mine!

The Silence

In contrast to The Shouts, is His silence.

“He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth.” 
Isaiah 53:7

As it was foretold in Isaiah, so it was.

The Lamb was silent.


“The high priest stood up and said to Him, ‘Do You make no answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?’ But Jesus kept silent.” Matthew 26:62-63

“And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He made no answer. Then Pilate said to Him, ‘Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?’ And He did not answer him with regard to even a single charge, so that the governor was quite amazed.” Matthew 27:12-14

Jesus came before Herod and “he questioned Him at some length, but without getting any reply.” Luke 23:9


Mocked, insulted, stripped, beaten, scourged, spat upon

—yet He remained silent.

Jesus . . . with torn, punctured skin . . .

blood caked with dirt on body

crowned halo of piercing spikes

beaten, spent body taking wooden beams upon wearied shoulders

human frailty failing, struggling up Hill

pushed, thrown, tied, nailed, lifted up, falling, until jolted into place

continued mocking, casting of lots, offer of vinegar

pierced side, flowing blood.

Silence


The only exceptions. . .

to show compassion for a thief

concern for a mother

to call upon God—“Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?”

(My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?)

and final cry—"It is finished!"

Jesus made His last appeal for relief His final night of freedom. Before the shouts of the people had turned from those of “hosanna” to “crucify”, He met with God in the garden. With excruciating emotion, Jesus sought for a change in plans. Asking “if it is possible, let this cup pass me by. Nevertheless, let it be as you, not I, would have it.” (Matthew 26:39)

Three times He asked. Three times He stated “Thy will be done”.

No change was made.
The Father’s will remained.
The Son’s sacrifice complete

—willfully and silently for there were no more words to be offered. 

No requests, appeals or defense on His behalf.

He sacrificed Himself to His Father, for us, in silence.

My words, my heart desires to be lifted up to Him sacrificially. I trust that the will of God for my life is “good and well-pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:1-2)

But oh, how I can whine and complain. 

I struggle to hold on to my rights.

Jesus did not resist the will of the Father. He surrendered to it. (John 6:38)


To be like Jesus.

To surrender to humility, meekness, gentleness and kindness. 
To remain silent and allow brokenness to come. 
To trust Him enough to rest quietly in the midst of any storm.  
To not pick up offense when unjustly treated.

That is what God desires.
That is what Jesus exampled.
That is why brokenness is necessary.

Silence is not the way of the world. It is the way of the Lamb.

1 Peter 2:20-24
For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.


So grateful, beyond words, for this Easter season. For the Spirit directing my attention to the shouts of the people. For eyes opened to the silence of the Lamb. Heart is illumined, desiring not only this awareness of these truths but change as a result. Small snippets of revelation. Thank you, Father God, for these irreplaceable encounters with You! Amen...








{edited from the archives, as I spend my week quiet with Jesus}

Get blog updates to your inbox or news reader by clicking here...

The Shouts ~ Part 3

My thoughts wonder now if it was difficult for the chief priests and elders to persuade the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas. I wonder now if it was difficult at all for these same leaders to stir up the crowd to “shout all the louder, ‘Let Him be crucified!’” (Matthew 27:23b).

What a difference in the shouts! 

On Sunday they shouted “Hosanna”! 

On Friday they shouted “crucify”!

And there was one final shout to be made . . .

“Pilate saw that he was making no impression, that in fact a riot was imminent. So he took some water, washed his hands in front of the crowds and said, ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood. It is your concern.’ And the people, every one of them, shouted back, ‘Let his blood be on us and on our children!’ Then he released Barabbas for them. After having Jesus scourged he handed him over to be crucified.” (Matthew 27:24-26)

What a difference in shouts!

They had the right man, but they stopped believing in Him and angrily turned on Him when He failed to live up to their expectations!

What about us?  What about the crowds who follow Him today?

What happens when He fails to live up to our expectations?

Do we only praise God when we see Him at work in our lives?
When He relieves our oppressions and all is well in our world?

We shout “Hosanna’s” when needs are provided for, when things are nice, neat, orderly and relationships give no grief. But what happens when life gets hard, unpredictable and even messy? What happens when a job is lost, the creditors won’t stop calling, a bad medical report is received, a loved one dies, a spouse breaks a promise, or a child breaks a heart?

Do we stop believing and turn from Him?

Do shouts of praise turn silent

—or worse—

do they turn to words of 

anger and dejection?

God cannot be boxed. There is much we can know by knowing His word. We can trust Him explicitly. But His ways of doing things, His sovereign will, will not always make sense to us. It will not always be what we expect.

Oh Father God, may my shouts consistently be of love and praise to You and to the One who saves me! Regardless of my hopes, my dreams and my expectations of how my life should live, I pray that you would hear only my words of adoration and gratitude falling on Your ear! As I grapple with my thoughts this week—this Holy Week—as I struggle to understand how the shouts could change so significantly from Sunday to Friday, Father don’t let me forget the truth of it all. They did change THAT fast! They can change that fast today, with me, if I allow myself to take my eyes off of You. If I stop trusting in Your good intent for my life! If I stop looking for Your sovereign will to be done and not my own. My life has great purpose. You would not have taken the time to form me in the womb. You would not continue to mold and make me, if that were not the case. I am deeply desired and loved by You! The beginning, middle and ends of my life may not always look—be—the way I envision or even desire. Father, I lay down all of my expectations of You at the foot of the cross of Christ! Father, I lay down all of my perceived rights to have the life I envision for myself at the foot of the cross of Christ! Your ways are not my ways, Your thoughts are not my thoughts—Your ways are higher, wiser, more complete and more completely for my good and for Your glory. I choose this day to trust You completely with the direction in which you take this life of mine. I give it to you completely and willingly, with all my heart! I pray that all of my shouts, from today and into eternity, only be shouts of Hosanna—Holy is the Lord God Almighty! Amen!






The Shouts ~ Part 1
The Shouts ~ Part 2






{edited from the archives, as I spend my week quiet with Jesus}

Get blog updates to your inbox or news reader by clicking here...

The Shouts ~ Part 2

Continuing on from where we left off yesterday, let's take a look at those chapters in Matthew. What happened in those 5 days—from Sunday to Friday? What happened in chapters 21-27 that would have brought about such a drastic change in the shouts of the people?



“But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David,’ they became indignant.”
(Matthew 21:15)
No surprise here. The priests are indignant and the children are still shouting Hosanna.

“When they sought to seize Him, they feared the people, because they considered Him to be a prophet.”
(Matthew 21:46)
Again, priests not happy—they fear the response of the crowds because the people believe He could be the Messiah.

“They plotted together to seize Jesus by stealth and kill Him. But they were saying, ‘Not during the festival, otherwise a riot might occur among the people.’"
(Matthew 26:4, 5)
Okay, we are into chapter 26 and still no angry people. Angry scribes and Pharisees, yes! Angry crowds, no!

Chapters 22, 23, 24 and 25 all contain teachings and parables of Jesus. He continues to stir up the religious leaders with His words, but from what we see in the verses from chapter 26 above, the people continue to follow Jesus.



Nothing changes; the people do not change . . . 

until Jesus is arrested.

From this point on, accusations fly.

In Matthew 26, Jesus stands before the illegally gathered Sanhedrin.
“The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus, however false, on which they might have him executed.”
(Matthew 26:59)

In Matthew 26:73, Peter is accused by bystanders outside the temple courtyard of being a follower of Jesus. They are not in awe of this man who is so close to “The Man”. Peter, so full of fear, denies his Master three times.

Jesus is then led before Pilate, Herod and then once more returned to Pilate. Neither man wants anything to do with Jesus, the priests and their accusations.  It is festival time. The governor’s practice is to release one prisoner for the people during this time. Anyone the crowd chose. Pilate believes they will choose Jesus.


And just that quickly we are at Friday—the shouts of Friday.


The religious leaders had their own idea of who the Messiah would be.

Jesus did not come even close to qualifying.

The people had ideas of their own of what the Messiah would do.

Jesus did not free them from the oppression they were under.

When Jesus was arrested, 

with the extensive list of charges made against Him, 

the people lost faith in who they believed to be their Deliverer.

The Messiah was to replace the Roman kingdom, not be held by it.
The Messiah was to conquer Roman rule, not be subject to it.
The Messiah was to free them, not lose His own freedom.


Surely, they must have been wrong.
They had been duped.
He was not the coming Messiah.
They put their faith in the wrong guy.
They put their hope in a failure.

Their dejected hope was the abrupt turn from believing Him to be the coming King to turning on Him and offering Him up by their own words.


Jesus told the people He would be lifted up (John 3:14).

The people’s shouts on Friday did the lifting.

Tomorrow, we will look at one final shout the people made that Friday.










{edited from the archives, as I spend my week quiet with Jesus}

Get blog updates to your inbox or news reader by clicking here...

The Shouts

Picking up the girls from Sunday School, I noticed something green and familiar in Faith’s hand.


"What’s that, honey?”

That was all the prompting needed as she launched into the full, Palm Sunday, 4–6 year old Sunday School class, long version of Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. She showed me the palm branch she had made and went on to tell how the girls waved their branches and shouted “Hosanna!” while the boys all pretended to be Jesus riding on the donkey.

Jelena had to point out that Cindy Jo tried to join the boys because she wanted to be Jesus, but teacher quickly reminded her that she was not a boy so she could not be Jesus.

Eventually, we were able to get back to the point of the story.

They finished telling about their exciting morning with the exciting story with all the excited people who were excited to see Jesus—so excited that they grabbed branches off of trees and waved them in the air and laid them on the ground in celebration as they offered up shouts of praise!

Quite possibly, this is the 14th Easter I have had a child come to me with some form of a palm branch in hand. I’ve listened to numerous retellings of this same beloved Bible story from 5 different perspectives and every time the story captivates them, fueling their excitement for the Sunday to follow—Easter Sunday!

Later that afternoon while I was smiling on Faith smiling so happily with the retelling of her morning, a heart wrenching reflection entered my thoughts. The imagery was so stark and powerful I am positive I will be unable to capture the intensity with which I felt it.

What a difference in shouts!

First came the cries, "Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD; Hosanna in the highest!" (Matthew 21:9)

Imagine the joy that accompanied. The excitement. The grabbing of palm branches and the throwing down of cloaks upon the dirt pathway for a donkey to step on. The laughter, the tears, the delight . . . the shouts of praise to Jesus as they called out, “Son of David”,  identifying Him as the Messiah!


The crowds shouted “Hosanna”!

This was Sunday. Then came Friday.



“The chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death. But the governor said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" And they said, "Barabbas." Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said, "Crucify Him!" And he said, "Why, what evil has He done?" But they kept shouting all the more, saying, "Crucify Him!" (Matthew 27:20-23)

Imagine once more the excitement, the impassioned frenzy, the air-pumping fists. Except this time, there is no joy . . . no laughter. There is anger, malice, and contempt while ugly tones spill ugly words.

The crowds are the same. The people haven’t changed. Only their shouts are different.


Sunday the crowds stir with joy. Friday those crowds stir into a riot.
Sunday they shout praise. Friday they shout condemnation.
Sunday they hail Him King—Messiah. Friday He is an outcast—criminal.
Sunday they bid Him, “come”. Friday they curse Him, “die”.



Why? What happened between Sunday and Friday? Jesus had to have done something, said something to have turned the crowd against Him so.

The “Hosannas” are lifted in the 21st chapter of Matthew. The “crucify’s” in chapter 27. What happened between chapter 21 and chapter 27? What could possibly have been said or done in that short period of time that would have brought such a drastic, fully encompassed, change?


This week I have been reflecting on those questions. I am pausing my heart to quietly ponder the difference in these shouts, the difference of 5 days.






{edited from the archives, as I spend my week quiet with Jesus}

Get blog updates to your inbox or news reader by clicking here...

Holy Week Scriptures

I pray that the time you spend drawing closer to the Christ of the Cross be impactful, life-changing and deeply blessed!

Below are some suggested verses to read together and reflect on as a family—perhaps before or after a meal together. 


PALM SUNDAY:
Preparation for Jerusalem entry—Matthew 21:1-9
Protest by the Pharisees—Luke 19:37-40
Triumphal entry into Jerusalem—Matthew 21:10-16
Return to Bethany—Matthew 21:17

MONDAY:
The fig tree cursed—Mark 11:13-14
Cleansing of the Temple—Mark 11:15-17
The plot against Jesus—Luke 19:47-48
Jesus outside the city—Luke 21:37-38

TUESDAY: 
The withered fig tree—Mark 11:20-22
Jesus and John the Baptist—Luke 7:19-29
The widow’s mite—Luke 21:1-4
A Resurrection question—Mark 12:18-27
The Great Commandment—Matthew 22:34-40

WEDNESDAY: 
The chief priests—Matthew 26:1-5
The alabaster box—Matthew 26:6-13
Judas’s Betrayal, three accounts—
Matthew 26:14-16
Mark 14:10-11
John 13:1-2

THURSDAY: 
Preparation for Passover, three accounts—
Matthew 26:17-19
Mark 14:12-16
Luke 22:7-13

FRIDAY: 
The Disciples—Matthew 26:20-35
The Garden—Matthew 26:36-56
Religious Trial—Matthew 26:57-27:2
Roman Trial—Matthew 27:11-31
Peter’s Denial—John 18:15-27

SATURDAY:
The Crucifixion, four accounts—
Matthew 27:32-66
Mark 15:15-47
Luke 23:27-56
John 19:23-42

EASTER SUNDAY: 
The Resurrection, four accounts—
Matthew 28:1-20
Mark 16:1-18
Luke 24:1-51
John 20:1-19


Here is another list of verses for Passion Week—

PALM SUNDAY:
Prepare a Way for God—Isaiah 40

MONDAY: 
Clearing the Way for Prayer—reflections on Jesus’ Cleansing of the Temple
Matthew 21:12-17

TUESDAY:
Controversy with Jesus—reflections on Jesus’ conflict with loveless religion
Mark 12

WEDNESDAY: 
Remembering the Miracles of Jesus—reflections on Jesus’ ministry of healing
Mark 1:21-2:21

THURSDAY: 
Not My Will, But Your Will—reflections upon the prayer of Jesus with Holy Communion
Luke 22:39-46

FRIDAY: 
Costly Mercy—reflections upon the death of Jesus
Matthew 27:27-66

SATURDAY:
Day of Quiet—reflection and prayer together remembering Jesus

EASTER SUNDAY:
Resurrection Celebration—reflections upon the Resurrection of Jesus
Read any or all of the four accounts as listed above

Get blog updates to your inbox or news reader by clicking here...

Your Name ~ by Paul Baloche

Spending time just thinking on Jesus!
All He did!
All He does!
All He means!
And does my life reflect Him?


My life is going to reflect 
some thing...
some one...
some belief...
some mind-set...
I want my life to shine Jesus and all He is!


Because He is all His name bestows upon Him!
I want Him...and all that is Him...in my life!


His Healing
His Salvation
His Comfort
His Joy
His Tender-mercies
His Power
His Protection
His Glory


All that IS Jesus I want in all my life!

Safe While Being Saved

I walk down the aisle of the darkened room to the same spot as always—front pew, just left of the platform.  This place has been my heart’s home since I was 9.  I breathe the air in deep as I wonder aloud, “How did you ever keep me here, Father?  How you have kept me!” 

My times alone in our church sanctuary are few.  It’s a home to many.  And there are many in my own home.  To be anywhere, by myself, is rare.  To find this place empty of others is also.  But, oh . . . how grateful I am when He plans these rendezvous’!

Before I talk and listen, I look—with physical eyes at now; memory’s eyes on then.  I see the pastor of my childhood fall off the platform’s edge in his excitement sharing the Scriptures.  I sing the songs and speak the lines from our musicals, this time without the butterflies!  I witness my own baptism.  Going under the waters understanding more fully than I could at the time what it means to “die with Christ so that I can be raised with Him.”  My peach and teal wedding colors—how horribly they clashed with the red carpet and gold pews.  And yet, never has this room looked more beautiful.  Our children’s dedications, musicals and baptisms.  Brianne playing her harp in the orchestra, Jesse on drums for worship, Jacob’s group sharing their interpretive dance, Faith singing and motioning her heart out for Jesus, while Nate and Jelena play on the risers with friends.

This place is my history.  This place is my present.  

This place holds my story!

My eyes close as I picture the old church kitchen—left of the sanctuary, next to the choir room.  Churches are always short a classroom or two, aren’t they?  This kitchen was my classroom as I transitioned out of childhood.  A classroom my innocence was not prepared for as a young, naïve, hurting 13.  He stands in front, fresh in my mind, yet elusive—like memories are.  Always to be part of my story.  As inescapable as the pit he threw me in. 

I think of Joseph and his pit.  His first thoughts were not of forgiveness.  They were not of God being good.  I am sure they were much like my own; desperation to be saved, to be free again—unscathed and unaltered for having been selfishly and carelessly trampled down low and deep.

Joseph’s pit-pushers were his own brothers, living with him and knowing him, looking for revenge.  Mine was my Sunday School teacher, living with us and manipulating kindness, looking for opportunity.  For both of us, the master-mind was our enemy, Satan—out to destroy his own enemy’s plans.

I think of all my pit friend became.  How he trusted . . . believing God’s good intent towards him.  How the glory of God was revealed through his life.  My pit experience created overwhelming confusion in Who the I AM truly was.  Was He love?  Was He for me?  Or was He the One responsible for the twisted shards of innocence and trust lay entangled with anger, fear and shame within me.  So long I lay wrecked.

This place may hold my story, but it is the Story Maker who holds me! 

The aisle I have walked to this day has been painfully freeing.  The Savior’s pit removal process also came from this place, from within this Body.  The place undeniably bound to my wounds now comes alongside as the healing balm in restoration.  Healing has happened. 

As I sit in my spot with joy-filled tears flowing free, I ask the I AM for a word—a word to linger on as I focus my thoughts on Easter and all that is the Messiah, my Jesus.

Salvage

I admit I am not impressed. J
Is that it?  Are You sure?  Did I hear You right? 

Three times I asked.  Three times I heard.

Salvage

I let it rest until dark morning hours come offering time to look this over deep.  My given word comes from the same root word as “salvation” . . . meaning safe, healthy.  My heart races as I dive in deeper. 

Salvage is . . .

• the rescue of a vessel
• to make fit for use
• the act of saving that which is saved
• something saved from destruction or waste & put to further use
• to save from loss or destruction

That’s when I hear the Shepherds Voice I’ve learned to know so well...

“I AM salvaging you!”

I want to share more with you about this, so please come back tomorrow!  Many of us are wrecks!  We are damaged vessels.  By our own doing and by the acts of others, but ALL is salvageable by the loving hands of I AM!

All is redeemable!

One of the most powerful thoughts He left with me, I leave with you today—

Part of being salvaged is being safe in the being saved. 

Take that to heart and believe it for yourself . . .

You are safe as you are being saved!

Click here, for Part 2 ~ Safe While Being Saved

Gracious Ann along with She Speaks offers the opportunity for one shy writer to learn from others how to better minister, lead, write, and speak for God’s glory.  The She Speaks Conference is about women connecting the hearts of women to the heart of our Father God.  My heart truly is to serve Him as He leads.  How I would love to learn to serve you better here in this place! 

Get blog updates to your inbox or news reader by clicking here...

Linked up with A Steady Rain and {In}Courage