His is Risen
Luke 24 & Mark 16


For the past few months we have been practicing a cantata for presentation at Easter entitled “Easter Song” by John W. Paterson. As we come to the end of the song, there is a triumphant refrain that states, “Alleluia, Christ is risen, Christ is risen, Christ is risen from the dead. Alleluia.”

As I thought on these life-changing words, I recalled an article that was titled “The Empty Tomb”. In this article the writer presents a list of well-known places that are revered because of those buried there -- historical places such as the Pyramids of Egypt, where the ancient mummified bodies of the rulers of Egypt were laid to rest. There are places visited by millions as part of sacred pilgrimages, such as the burial place of Mohammad, and the less-than-sacred such as Graceland, the burial place of Elvis Presley. Westmininster Abbey in London is the final resting place of many noble Englishmen and women (including Handel – 14th April 1796). There are the many final resting places of those who gave their lives for their countries, including those tombs of the “Unknown Soldier”.

All these famous graves have one thing in common -- that one common denominator being that the bodies of those that were buried there remain where they were buried, (except in cases such as the Pyramids where the bodies were removed by archaeologists for study).

There is one great important difference between these tombs and the tomb of Jesus. His tomb is empty, and has been empty for over two thousand years. There is no epitaph of Jesus inscribed in stone or in gold which says, “Here lies Jesus.” Rather we find that Jesus’ epitaph was spoken by the mouth of the angel to those who went to the tomb very early in the morning on the third day, when he said, “ He is NOT here … He is Risen!”

Today we have no sealed tomb that denotes the burial place of Jesus for He is alive. He is alive and available for all who will accept this truth and believe that He not only died but God raised him from the dead. He is the Son of God and has now ascended to heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father to intercede for us. We who believe have joy and assurance that He not only lives but that He reigns in our hearts.

Praise God the tomb is empty – Jesus is alive and He lives forever more.

Hallelujah – Jesus is alive !

The Invisible Mother

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response,the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?' Obviously, not. No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor,or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this?Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer,'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.' I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going; she's going; she is gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England... Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe.I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.' In the days ahead I would read - no, devour the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man,'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.' And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.' I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.'

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not adisease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on.The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree. When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'you're going to love it there.' As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women. Great Job, MOM! Hope this encourages you when the going gets tough as it sometimes does.

Today as I thought about this New Year and all the fresh challenges of this coming year I was reminded that these challenges are NOT new to God. Nothing catches Him by surprise. God has already provided the Grace I need to meet those challenges and to grow in Christ. Now is not the time to fear and doubt but to trust God's Promises and cling more tightly to His unchanging hand. He has been faithful in the past and I am determined to trust Him with all my tomorrows. His Word assures me that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever more. Knowing that there are challenges and changes coming provides me with new opportunities to allow the Holy Spirit to guide and direct my path as I submit to His leadership. How silly of the creation to tell the Creator I will not be useful for the purpose you have designed for me. Why not offer ourselves as a living sacrifice and follow where ever He leads.....even if that means over some rocky uncharted terrain. God has trod the path before us and He desires the challenges to be helpful not harmful to us. May we all be Challenges to follow where He leads us!

This is what Christmas is all about...

(Better bundle up - the goose bumps will freeze you!! I think I need to read this every year at Christmas. )

Pa never had much compassion for the lazy or those who squandered their means and then never had enough for the necessities. But for those who were genuinely in need, his heart was as big as all outdoors. It was from him that I learned the greatest joy in life comes from giving, not from receiving.
It was Christmas Eve 1881. I was fifteen years old and feeling like the world had caved in on me because there just hadn't been enough money to buy me the rifle that I'd wanted for Christmas. We did the chores early that night for some reason. I just figured Pa wanted a little extra time so we could read in the Bible.
After supper was over I took my boots off and stretched out in front of the fireplace and waited for Pa to get down the old Bible. I was still feeling sorry for myself and, to be honest, I wasn't in much of a mood to read Scriptures. But Pa didn't get the Bible, instead he bundled up again and went outside. I couldn't figure it out because we had already done all the chores. I didn't worry about it long though, I was too busy wallowing in self-pity. Soon Pa came back in. It was a cold clear night out and there was ice in his beard. "Come on, Matt," he said. "Bundle up good, it's cold out tonight." I was really upset then. Not only wasn't I getting the rifle for Christmas, now Pa was dragging me out in the cold, and for no earthly reason that I could see. We'd already done all the chores, and I couldn't think of anything else that needed doing, especially not on a night like this. But I knew Pa was not very patient at one dragging one's feet when he'd told them to do something, so I got up and put my boots back on and got my cap, coat, and mittens. Ma gave me a mysterious smile as I opened the door to leave the house. Something was up, but I didn't know what..
Outside, I became even more dismayed. There in front of the house was the work team, already hitched to the big sled. Whatever it was we were going to do wasn't going to be a short, quick, little job. I could tell. We never hitched up this sled unless we were going to haul a big load. Pa was already up on the seat, reins in hand. I reluctantly climbed up beside him. The cold was already biting at me. I wasn't happy. When I was on, Pa pulled the sled around the house and stopped in front of the woodshed. He got off and I followed. "I think we'll put on the high sideboards," he said. "Here, help me." The high sideboards! It had been a bigger job than I wanted to do with just the low sideboards on, but whatever it was we were going to do would be a lot bigger with the high side boards on.
After we had exchanged the sideboards, Pa went into the woodshed and came out with an armload of wood - the wood I'd spent all summer hauling down from the mountain, and then all Fall sawing into blocks and splitting. What was he doing? Finally I said something. "Pa," I asked, "what are you doing?" You been by the Widow Jensen's lately?" he asked. The Widow Jensen lived about two miles down the road. Her husband had died a year or so before and left her with three children, the oldest being eight. Sure, I'd been by, but so what?
Yeah," I said, "Why?"
"I rode by just today," Pa said. "Little Jakey was out digging around in the woodpile trying to find a few chips. They're out of wood, Matt." That was all he said and then he turned and went back into the woodshed for another armload of wood. I followed him. We loaded the sled so high that I began to wonder if the horses would be able to pull it. Finally, Pa called a halt to our loading, then we went to the smoke house and Pa took down a big ham and a side of bacon. He handed them to me and told me to put them in the sled and wait. When he returned he was carrying a sack of flour over his right shoulder and a smaller sack of something in his left hand. "What's in the little sack?" I asked. Shoes, they're out of shoes. Little Jakey just had gunny sacks wrapped around his feet when he was out in the woodpile this morning. I got the children a little candy too. It just wouldn't be Christmas without a little candy."
We rode the two miles to Widow Jensen's pretty much in silence. I tried to think through what Pa was doing. We didn't have much by worldly standards. Of course, we did have a big woodpile, though most of what was left now was still in the form of logs that I would have to saw into blocks and split before we could use it. We also had meat and flour, some we could spare that, but I knew we didn't have any money, so why was Pa buying them shoes and candy? Really, why was he doing any of this? Widow Jensen had closer neighbors than us; it shouldn't have been our concern.
We came in from the blind side of the Jensen house and unloaded the wood as quietly as possible, then we took the meat and flour and shoes to the door. We knocked. The door opened a crack and a timid voice said, "Who is it?" "Lucas Miles, Ma'am, and my son, Matt, could we come in for a bit?"
Widow Jensen opened the door and let us in. She had a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. The children were wrapped in another and were sitting in front of the fireplace by a very small fire that hardly gave off any heat at all. Widow Jensen fumbled with a match and finally lit the lamp.
"We brought you a few things, Ma'am," Pa said and set down the sack of flour. I put the meat on the table. Then Pa handed her the sack that had the shoes in it. She opened it hesitantly and took the shoes out one pair at a time. There was a pair for her and one for each of the children - sturdy shoes, the best, shoes that would last. I watched her carefully. She bit her lower lip to keep it from trembling and then tears filled her eyes and started running down her cheeks. She looked up at Pa like she wanted to say something, but it wouldn't come out.
"We brought a load of wood too, Ma'am," Pa said. He turned to me and said, "Matt, go bring in enough to last awhile. Let's get that fire up to size and heat this place up." I wasn't the same person when I went back out to bring in the wood. I had a big lump in my throat and as much as I hate to admit it, there were tears in my eyes too. In my mind I kept seeing those three kids huddled around the fireplace and their mother standing there with tears running down her cheeks with so much gratitude in her heart that she couldn't speak.
My heart swelled within me and a joy that I'd never known before, filled my soul. I had given at Christmas many times before, but never when it had made so much difference. I could see we were literally saving the lives of these people.
I soon had the fire blazing and everyone's spirits soared. The kids started giggling when Pa handed them each a piece of candy and Widow Jensen looked on with a smile that probably hadn't crossed her face for a long time. She finally turned to us. "God bless you," she said. "I know the Lord has sent you. The children and I have been praying that he would send one of his angels to spare us."
In spite of myself, the lump returned to my throat and the tears welled up in my eyes again. I'd never thought of Pa in those exact terms before, but after Widow Jensen mentioned it I could see that it was probably true. I was sure that a better man than Pa had never walked the earth. I started remembering all the times he had gone out of his way for Ma and me, and many others. The list seemed endless as I thought on it.
Pa insisted that everyone try on the shoes before we left. I was amazed when they all fit and I wondered how he had known what sizes to get. Then I guessed that if he was on an errand for the Lord that the Lord would make sure he got the right sizes.
Tears were running down Widow Jensen's face again when we stood up to leave. Pa took each of the kids in his big arms and gave them a hug. They clung to him and didn't want us to go. I could see that they missed their Pa, and I was glad that I still had mine.
At the door Pa turned to Widow Jensen and said, "The Mrs. wanted me to invite you and the children over for Christmas dinner tomorrow. The turkey will be more than the three of us can eat, and a man can get cantankerous if he has to eat turkey for too many meals. We'll be by to get you about eleven. It'll be nice to have some little ones around again. Matt, here, hasn't been little for quite a spell." I was the youngest. My two brothers and two sisters had all married and had moved away.
Widow Jensen nodded and said, "Thank you, Brother Miles. I don't have to say, May the Lord bless you, I know for certain that He will."
Out on the sled I felt a warmth that came from deep within and I didn't even notice the cold. When we had gone a ways, Pa turned to me and said, "Matt, I want you to know something. Your ma and me have been tucking a little money away here and there all year so we could buy that rifle for you, but we didn't have quite enough. Then yesterday a man who owed me a little money from years back came by to make things square. Your ma and me were real excited, thinking that now we could get you that rifle, and I started into town this morning to do just that,but on the way I saw little Jakey out scratching in the woodpile with his feet wrapped in those gunny sacks and I knew what I had to do. Son, I spent the money for shoes and a little candy for those children. I hope you understand."
I understood, and my eyes became wet with tears again. I understood very well, and I was so glad Pa had done it. Now the rifle seemed very low on my list of priorities. Pa had given me a lot more. He had given me the look on Widow Jensen's face and the radiant smiles of her three children.
For the rest of my life, whenever I saw any of the Jensens, or split a block of wood, I remembered, and remembering brought back that same joy I felt riding home beside Pa that night. Pa had given me much more than a rifle that night, he had given me the best Christmas of my life.
Share this inspiring message. God bless you!

“IS THE BABE STILL IN THE MANGER?”
Luke 2

At this time of the year all over the world there is a commercial emphasis on Christmas tempting people to buy a lot of useless and unnecessary things. As far as Christmas decorations are concerned, one trade magazine says that nativity scenes are the popular choice of decoration, outselling those of Santa Claus.

As I read that article I could not help but ask, " Why is this so?” When you read the statistics of the number who attend church and see that more and more churches are closing because of lack of support and attendance, why then this sudden interest in the nativity ornaments?

The question that keeps coming to my mind concerning these people caught up in this trend, "Is it the appeal of the babe in the manger and nothing more?" For them is the Babe still in the manger? Is this all that Christmas means to them?

We sing ‘Away in a Manger’, but so many do not go much further in their thought processes than the manger. There are those who, because of the turmoil in the world, grasp at this small fragment of the angels' message when they sang about ‘peace on earth’. They just see the Babe as a symbol of that peace -- peace they desire to be established in the world -- missing the fact that peace can only come through accepting the complete message -- a Savior, not a military leader. No ordinary man – no matter how he tries -- can bring peace to the world. The only One who can bring true peace on earth is the Babe – the Christ Child. By His coming, His life, death and resurrection, He is the only One who can forgive sin and give His peace as a result of a right relationship with God.

When we continue to keep the Babe in the manger and fail to allow Him to grow and accomplish the task for which He came, we will never know His peace in our hearts and lives.

A couple of years ago people were saying, ‘Put Christ back into Christmas’. I wonder if this sudden desire to purchase nativity scenes is not an outcome of that slogan. Perhaps they see this as a means of doing just that, yet missing the whole point. In reality those who began the saying, ‘let us celebrate the true meaning of Christmas' - did not want us to forget why He was born in Bethlehem and laid in a manger so long ago.

Do we only think of the manger scene for just one month of the year and as soon as the Christmas season is over, pack it up and put it away for another year along with all thoughts of the real meaning of Christmas?

Let me ask you, “Is the Babe still in the manger”? Do we only think of the Christ Child as a Babe in the manger and leave the thought of Him there? Or in our hearts and minds do we allow Him to grow into manhood so that He can accomplish the task that God the Father had planned for our Salvation?

When Mary was first visited by the angel Gabriel, he said unto her, “You shall have a Son, and shall call His name Jesus…He…shall be called the Son of the Highest". Later when the angel appeared to Joseph in a dream concerning Mary and the child she was carrying said that he was not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife. The angel said, “Thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins”.

God never intended that His Son, the Babe, should remain in the manger. Unfortunately too many are continuing to do just that.

As we approach this Christmas, it is my prayer that each one will think afresh on the true significance of the coming of the Christ Child.

Do we truly believe in our hearts that He was born as the angel said to Joseph, “to save His people from their sins’, or as told by the angels to the shepherds, “For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord”?

If you have any doubts concerning what the Christ Child means to you, come, bow down and worship Him. He will reveal Himself, not just as the Babe of Bethlehem, but as the Saviour for all who will truly believe that He is Immanuel – God with us -- the Savior of the world.

May the Christ of Christmas rule and reign in your heart, filling it anew with the glory and wonder of His coming.

Our Civic Duty

Romans 13:1-7

1LET EVERY person be loyally subject to the governing (civil) authorities. For there is no authority except from God [by His permission, His sanction], and those that exist do so by God's appointment.(A)

2Therefore he who resists and sets himself up against the authorities resists what God has appointed and arranged [in divine order]. And those who resist will bring down judgment upon themselves [receiving the penalty due them].

3For civil authorities are not a terror to [people of] good conduct, but to [those of] bad behavior. Would you have no dread of him who is in authority? Then do what is right and you will receive his approval and commendation.

4For he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, [you should dread him and] be afraid, for he does not bear and wear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant to execute His wrath (punishment, vengeance) on the wrongdoer.

5Therefore one must be subject, not only to avoid God's wrath and escape punishment, but also as a matter of principle and for the sake of conscience.

6For this same reason you pay taxes, for [the civil authorities] are official servants under God, devoting themselves to attending to this very service.

7Render to all men their dues. [Pay] taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, and honor to whom honor is due.

I thought the Amplified Bible spoke so plainly about our duties as citizens. Is it easy to submit to a ruler who opposes what we believe ? No, not easy but it is possible when we consider that it is ONLY with God's sanction and permission that this person rules. So as much as we are able we must give what is due to those over us. If we can not respect the man we must respect the position he holds.

Romans 12:18
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

Paul in his letter to Titus put it this way:

Titus 3:1-2
The Message
Remind the people to respect the government and be law-abiding, always ready to lend a helping hand. No insults, no fights. God's people should be bighearted and courteous.

A Gentle Reminder

Today started as usually.. having more things to do than time to do it in.. I was so behind in work.. I was trying top rush and get it all in... You make mistakes when you do that.. I am 5 hours behind and need to rush!!I have several items to mail and thought I would mail them tomorrow. I decided I had to get the items out now. We have a storm headed our way.. I really didn't have time to go, but I went anyway..I arrived and there were 12 people in line.. Oh my, I will be here for awhile... People were in line and you could sense their restlessness.. toes were tapping on the floor, fingers on the counter.. no one was a happy camper.. An elderly man wasin the line.. I would find later he is 97!Finally the moment arrives and I place all the packages on the counter. The Postal Lady starts doing my packages.. out of the corner of my eye, I see the elderly man start to shuffle back in... he goes to the back of the line to start over..As soon as I finish, I head out the door.. but, something inside tells me to stop and ask this man how old he is.. I tap him in the shoulder and ask.. He replies "97" ... I leave and as I start to put my key in the car.. Something inside.. says.. STOP!!!! I know it was God, but I didn't have time to stop, I had places to be.. I am in a rush!! I am 5 hours behind!!!!I listened to God... I went back inside the post office and the same man is waiting patiently in line..now there is 14 people in front of him. I can sense that he is blessed just to take another breath.. He is not in a rush.. he is taking each breath of God in patience! I gently tap him on the shoulder and say "Sir, I will wait in the line for you and pay for your package" He turns and his gentle old gray eyes.. say "Thank you"... Suddenly, the postal worker behind the counter said: "Ma'am... that's o.k... have him come to the counter..".... Everyone started clapping for this man and this elderly man turned and smiled at all..(Yes, I am in tears as is everyone in the line" .. )Suddenly the Post Office Changed.. Everyone turned to the person next to them and said: "Have A God Blessed Day"... Frowns turned to smiles and the kindness in the room was more than most people could take.. Doors were being opened... Gentle whispers of happiness were being shared... At that moment.. "Not having enough time to wait" turned into a lesson of life and what awaits!As I left, I saw the elderly man in his car.. He had left several moments before I.. Why was he taking so long to leave.. .. Oh yes God.. I see...Because he is not in a rush... He is taking each moment with a single breath...Take time today to show kindness and remember that life is not to be a race.. it is to be taken with a single breath.... Who knows, by slowing down, you may feel the presence of God working within you...May you all have a very blessed day.....

HAIRBRUSH EXPERIENCE OF BETH MOORE AT THE AIRPORT

For those of you who do not know Beth Moore, she is an outstanding
speaker and Bible teacher, and the author of several excellent Bible
studies. She and her husband of a number of year live in Texas and have two grown daughters. This is one of her experiences:

April 20, 2005, at the Airport in Knoxville , waiting to board the
plane, I had the Bible on my lap and was very intent upon what I was
doing. I'd had a marvelous morning with the Lord. I say this because I
want to tell you it is a scary thing to have the Spirit of God really
working in you. You could end up doing some things you never would have done otherwise. Life in the Spirit can be dangerous for a thousand reasons not the least of which is your ego.

I tried to keep from staring, but he was such a strange sight. Humped
over in a wheelchair, he was skin and bones, dressed in clothes that
obviously fit when he was at least twenty pounds heavier. His knees
protruded from his trousers, and his shoulders looked like the coat
hanger was still in his shirt. His hands looked like tangled masses of veins and bones.

The strangest part of him was his hair and nails. Stringy, gray hair
hung well over his shoulders and down part of his back. His fingernails
were long, clean but strangely out of place on an old man.

I looked down at my Bible as fast as I could, discomfort burning my face. As I tried to imagine what his story might have been, I found myself wondering if I'd just had a Howard Hughes sighting. Then, I remembered that he was dead. So this man in the airport....an impersonator maybe? Was a camera on us somewhere? There I sat; trying to concentrate on the Word to keep from being concerned about a thin slice of humanity served on a wheelchair only a few seats from me. All the while, my heart was growing more and more overwhelmed with a feeling for him.

Let's admit it. Curiosity is a heap more comfortable than true concern, and suddenly I was awash with aching emotion for this bizarre-looking old man. I had walked with God long enough to see the handwriting on the wall. I've learned that when I begin to feel what God feels, something so contrary to my natural feelings, something dramatic is bound to happen. And it may be embarrassing.

I immediately began to resist because I could feel God working on my spirit and I started arguing with God in my mind. "Oh, no, God, please, no." I looked up at the ceiling as if I could stare straight through it into heaven and said, "Don't make me witness to this man. Not right here and now. Please. I'll do anything. Put me on the same plane, but don't make me get up here and witness to this man in front of this gawking audience. Please, Lord!"

There I sat in the blue vinyl chair begging His Highness, "Please don't make me witness to this man. Not now. I'll do it on the plane." Then I heard it... "I don't want you to witness to him. I want you to brush his hair." The words were so clear, my heart leapt into my throat, and my thoughts spun like a top. Do I witness to the man or brush his hair? No-brainier. I looked straight back up at the ceiling and said, "God, as I live and breathe, I want you to know I am ready to witness to this man.

I'm on this Lord. I'm your girl! You've never seen a woman witness to a man faster in your life. What difference does it make if his hair is a mess if he is not redeemed? I am going to witness to this man." Again as clearly as I've ever heard an audible word, God seemed to write this statement across the wall of my mind. "That is not what I said, Beth. I don't want you to witness to him. I want you to go brush his hair."

I looked up at God and quipped, "I don't have a hairbrush. It's in my suitcase on the plane. How am I supposed to brush his hair without a hairbrush?" God was so insistent that I almost involuntarily began to walk toward him as these thoughts came to me from God's word: "I will thoroughly furnish you unto all good works." (2 Timothy 3:17)

I stumbled over to the wheelchair thinking I could use one myself. Even as I retell this story, my pulse quickens and I feel those same butterflies. I knelt down in front of the man and asked as demurely as possible, "Sir, may I have the pleasure of brushing your hair?"

He looked back at me and said, "What did you say?" "May I have the pleasure of brushing your hair?" To which he responded in volume ten, "Little lady, if you expect me to hear you, you're going to have to talk louder than that." At this point, I took a deep breath and blurted out, "SIR, MAY I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF BRUSHING YOUR HAIR?"

At which point every eye in the place darted right at me. I was the only thing in the room looking more peculiar than old Mr. Longlocks. Face crimson and forehead breaking out in a sweat, I watched him look up at me with absolute shock on his face, and say, "If you really want to." Are you kidding? Of course I didn't want to. But God didn't seem interested in my personal preference right about then. He pressed on my heart until I could utter the words, "Yes, sir, I would be pleased. But I have one little problem. I don't have a hairbrush." "I have one in my bag, "he responded.

I went around to the back of that wheelchair, and I got on my hands and knees and unzipped the stranger's old carry-on, hardly believing what I was doing. I stood up and started brushing the old man's hair. It was perfectly clean, but it was tangled and matted. I don't do many things well, but must admit I've had notable experience untangling knotted hair mothering two little girls. Like I'd done with either Amanda or Melissa in such a condition, I began brushing at the very bottom of the strands, remembering to take my time not to pull.

A miraculous thing happened to me as I started brushing that old man's hair. Everybody else in the room disappeared. There was no one alive for those moments except that old man and me. I brushed and I brushed and I brushed until every tangle was out of that hair I know this sounds so strange, but I've never felt that kind of love for another soul in my entire life. I believe with all my heart, I - for that few minutes - felt a portion of the very love of God. That He had overtaken my heart for a little while like someone renting a room and making Himself at home for a short while.

The emotions were so strong and so pure that I knew they had to be God's. His hair was finally as soft and smooth as an infant's. I slipped the brush back in the bag and went around the chair to face him. I got back down on my knees, put my hands on his knees and said, "Sir, do you know my Jesus?" He said, "Yes, I do." Well, that figures, I thought. He explained, "I've known Him since I married my bride. She wouldn't marry me until I got to know the Savior." He said, "You see, the problem is, I haven't seen my bride in months. I've had open-heart surgery, and she's been too ill to come see me. I was sitting here thinking to myself, what a mess I must be for my bride."

Only God knows how often He allows us to be part of a divine moment when we're completely unaware of the significance. This, on the other hand, was one of those rare encounters when I knew God had intervened in details only He could have known. It was a God moment, and I'll never forget it. Our time came to board, and we were not on the same plane. I was deeply ashamed of how I'd acted earlier and would have been so proud to have accompanied him on that aircraft. I still had a few minutes, and as I gathered my things to board, the airline hostess returned from the corridor, tears streaming down her cheeks. She said, "That old man's sitting on the plane, sobbing. Why did you do that? What made you do that?" I said, "Do you know Jesus? He can be the bossiest thing!" And we got to share.

I learned something about God that day. He knows if you're exhausted, you're hungry, you're serving in the wrong place or it is time to move on but you feel too responsible to budge. He knows if you're hurting or feeling rejected. He knows if you're sick or drowning under a wave of temptation. Or He knows if you just need your hair brushed. He sees you as an individual. Tell Him your need!

I got on my own flight, sobs choking my throat, wondering how many opportunities just like that one had I missed along the way. . . all because I didn't want people to think I was strange. God didn't send me to that old man. He sent that old man to me.

John 1:14 "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We Have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

Life shouldn't be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather, to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly shouting, "Wow! What a ride! Thank You, Lord!" Don't tell God how big your troubles are - tell your troubles HOW BIG your GOD is!

Man plans......God Laughs!

Well if you read my previous post you know that I had plans for traveling. I arrived at my mother's home and Phil unloaded my luggage. Luggage enough for 2 1/2 weeks. We had just decided to retire for the night and the phone rang. My sister had just been informed by the news that SKYBUS had gone bankrupt, which happened to be the plane I held 8 tickets on. This was their announcement: Dear Skybus Customer:We regret to inform you that Skybus Airlines will cease all operations effective 12:00 a.m. Saturday, April 5. As a result, your Skybus flight has been cancelled.Skybus will not be processing refunds directly. To arrange for a refund on your reservation, please contact your credit card company directly. If you purchased flight insurance for your reservation, please refer to your insurance confirmation from AIG for information on filing a claim.Skybus struggled to overcome the combination of rising jet fuel costs and a slowing economic environment. These two issues proved to be insurmountable for a new carrier.We deeply regret the impact this decision will have on our customers, as well as our employees and their families, vendors, suppliers, airport officials and others in the cities in which we have operated. Our financial condition is such that our Board of Directors felt it had no choice but to cease operations.

So I returned home to Michigan to begin the process of having my reservation refunded. God has given me a Heavenly peace in the midst of this sudden change of plans. I can only credit Him and those who prayed. Knowing that God's Way is the Best Way has kept my Spirits buoyed. It is not my place to grumbled or complain about how He directs my path. If the Lord allows my son to be able to get the entire week off work during the time that Jason and Steven are on Spring Break then we trust they will be driving to Ohio instead of flying. We are trusting God for the details for He knows Best!

Spring

New Beginnings

Look what I found today!

When I see tender new sprouts poking up through the soil of my flower beds my first musing is of new beginnings. A new opportunity to see God's handiwork. That leads me to the thought of Easter and the benefits of the Cross. It was there of the Cross that God provided mankind the opportunity to have a new beginning by the redeeming blood of Christ Jesus. Old things have passed away and all things are made new. Christ removes the old dry deadness that was once in our lives and brings beauty in it's place. The Cross is the "sprout" that graces our life and as we walk with the Saviour daily we grow and develop then show others the Handiwork of God with our example. Soon flowers will take the place of those tiny sprouts and a fragrance will fill the air. May each of our lives be a sweet smelling fragrance that pleases our Heavenly Father and blesses our world. Jesus thank you for the reminder each Spring of the New Beginnings which You offer "whosoever will" accept the Gift of Salvation. May we each bloom for your Honor and Glory. Amen

The Concert

When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat and discovered that her child was missing. Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway on stage.To her horror, the mother saw her little boy

Sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out"Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and

Whispered in the boy's ear," Don 't quit . . . Keep playing."Then, leaning over , Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached Around to the other side of the child, And he added a running obbligato.Together, the old master and the young novice

Transformed what could have been a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative

experience.The audience was so mesmerized that they couldn't recall what else the great master played. Only the classic," Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."Perhaps that's the way it is with God. What we can accomplish on
our own is hardly noteworthy.We try our best, but the results aren't always

Graceful flowing music.However, with the

Hand of the Master, our life's Work can truly be beautiful.The next time you set out to accomplish great feats, Listen carefully. You may hear the voice of the Master, whispering in your Ear," Don 't quit . . . Keep playing."May you feel His arms around you and know that His hands are there, helping you turn your feeble attempts into true masterpieces.

Remember, God doesn't seem to Call the equipped, rather, He equips the 'called.'Life is more accurately measured by the lives you touch than by the things you acquire. So touch someone by passing this little message along.May God bless you and be with You always! And Remember ,……" Don 't quit . . . Keep playing."

I've been Tagged!

I was tagged to do a "Meme" by Cheryl Watters. The rules are as follows:Pick up the nearest book of 123 pages or more. No cheating!Find Page 123.Read the first 5 sentences.Post the next 3 sentences.Then tag 5 people.

The book nearest to me is "Portraits of Praise." A devotional for women. On page 123 is a devotional by Kandi Boardman....Reflecting the Son's Love.

However, cut and polished, kept free of dust and hung up to the light, it received the sun's rays and reflected them in beautiful, rainbow colors throughout the room. Lord, I am not worth much all by myself. I ask You to keep me free from the dust of this world.

I'll tag:

1. Sarah Watters

2.Hannah Avery

3.Ruth Anne Arnold

4.Becky Arnold

5. Sue Arnold

God's Holding Pattern

By Pastor Cornelius F. Warren

Many times God will allow a painful situation or a painful circumstance in

our life to "swallow us up." This season in our spiritual growth is a holding

pattern. We can't move to the left or the right. All we can do is sit, like

Jonah sat in the belly of that great fish, so God can have our undivided

attention and speak to us.

God put Jonah in a holding pattern because He needed to speak to his heart.

Jonah was alone. There were no friends to call; no colleagues to drop by, no

books to read; no food to eat, no interference, and no interruptions. He had

plenty of time to sit, meditate, and pray.

When we're deep down in the midst of a difficult situation, God can talk to

us. When He has our undivided attention, He can show us things about

ourselves that we might not otherwise have seen.

A Few of God's Holding Patterns:

1.When you are sick in your physical body and you have prayed but God has not

healed you yet, you are in a holding pattern.

2. When you are having problems with your children and you have put them on

the altar but God has not delivered them yet, you are in a holding pattern.

3. When you have been praying for the salvation of a loved one and they have

not been saved yet, you are in a holding pattern.

4. When you are in a broken relationship and you have given it over to God

but it has not been restored yet, you are in a holding pattern.

5. When the doors slam shut before you can knock on them, you are in a

holding pattern.

When we are deep in the belly of a difficult situation, there are no

interruptions. Hence, God has our undivided attention. All we can do is sit,

meditate, and pray.

We cannot run from God, because there are no mountains that are high enough,

valleys that are low enough, rivers that are wide enough, rooms that are dark

enough, or secret places that are hidden enough from Him.

We must remember to praise Him while we're waiting and remember three things:

1. The pattern has a purpose.

2. The pattern has a plan.

3. The pattern has a process.

So stop struggling and start listening, praying, and trusting. He'll keep you

right where you are until you can hear Him clearly say, "I love you."

Prayer:

Father, heal my unbelief. I know you love me and will turn everything around

to benefit me. You have planned nothing for me but victories, and I am ready

to receive them regardless of how difficult the path. Amen

Today's Thought:

When God measures a man, He puts the tape around the heart instead of the

head.

A New Year Prayer
Holy Father,
God of our yesterdays, our today, and our tomorrows.
We praise You for Your unequaled greatness.
Thank You for the year behind us and for the year ahead.
Help us in Your new year, Father, to fret less and laugh more.
To teach our children to laugh by laughing with them.
To teach others to love by loving them.
Knowing, when Love came to the stable in Bethlehem, He came for us.
So that Love could be with us, and we could know You.
That we could share Love with others.
Help us, Father, to hear Your love song in every sunrise,
in the chriping of sparrows in our backyards,
in the stories of our old folks, and the fantasies of our children.
Help us to stop and listen to Your love songs,
so that we may know You better and better.
We rejoice in the world You loved into being.
Thank You for another new year and for new chances every day.
We pray for peace, for light, and for hope, that we might spread them to others.
Forgive us for falling short this past year.
We leave the irreparable past in your hands, and step out into the unknown new year knowing You will go with us.
We accept Your gift of a new year and we rejoice in what's ahead, depending on You to help us do exactly what You want..
I say it again, we rejoice!
In Jesus name,
Amen.

THIS UNSPEAKABLE GIFT
2 Corinthians 9: 15

I do not know of anyone who does not like to receive a gift, whether it is for birthday, Christmas or for any other special occasion. I know that I love to receive them. I find joy and excitement in the sense of wonder as to what is contained in that gift regardless of its size.Christmas is the time when most people are thinking about the giving and receiving of gifts. One verse has kept coming to my mind these last few days, which says. "Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift" (2 Corinthians 9: 15). In Chapters 8 and 9, Paul has been speaking to the Corinthian Christians concerning giving, not just the giving of money but the giving of themselves to the Lord. He also reminds them (and us) of the wonderful gift that God has given -- His marvelous grace. As I think of this verse, I cannot help but think of God's wonderful, unspeakable gift of love so freely given to all mankind -- the gift of the Christ Child born in a lowly stable in Bethlehem so many years ago. What amazing love that God should give the gift of His only Son wrapped in the human form of a baby. This One who had known, and could by rights claim, all the glory and majesty that heaven had to offer was willing to yield to His Father's will and come to earth, be born as a babe in a stable in a manger -- an animal feed trough as His bed. This is amazing love -- a gift unspeakable to man. John 3: 16 reminds us, "For God so loved the world that He gave -- He gave the gift of His beloved Son. What gift are we willing to bring to the One who was born -- born to be King?The wise men journeyed from afar to offer Him their worship and their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. They did not just happen to be nearby and decide to just drop in and give their gifts. To them there was much more involved. They had to journey from a far country that they might worship and give their gifts. Thus they came seeking to find the One they knew in their hearts was to be the King of the Jews. When they found Him, they worshipped and laid their gifts before Him.How do we respond to this wonderful gift that God has so freely given to us? Has Christmas time become so common place that we only think of celebrating with friends and families, wondering what we will be given with little or no thought as to what God has provided in the giving of His Son for our salvation?God has given us so much. All that He desires in return is that we love Him and accept the salvation that He offers to all who believe and allow Him to indwell their hearts and lives. We, like the wise men, need to come seeking the One who was born to be King, humbly bow before Him and give Him everything we possess. This is the greatest gift that we can offer to Him.When wise men come seeking for Jesus from far,With rich gifts to greet Him and led by a star,They found in a stable the Savior of men, A manger His cradle, so poor was He then.Though laid in a manger, He came from a throne,On earth though a stranger, in Heaven He was known.How lowly, how gracious His coming to earth! His love, my love kindles to joy in His birth.

(Richard Slater)

What gift do you bring this Christmas season? Can you say, "I bring Him my heart? That is the most wonderful gift that we can give for His unspeakable gift of love given on that first Christmas day in Bethlehem

Harvest Time

1I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

Sunday our Pastor, Rev. Michael Arnold, shared a message which spoke to me. The text is the Scripture above. Some of the thoughts that stood out to me was how Jesus used the phrase in verse 2 "taketh away" interpreted lifted up. I have a tomato plant that my Mom gave me Mother's Day weekend. I remember planting this small sprout, thinking of the future harvest of tomatoes for cheeseburgers and bacon/tomato sandwiches (hold the lettuce). I was so excited when the plant grew and seemed much to heavy to stand alone. My husband, more of a farmer than I, carefully tied it to a stake.....lifted it up so the fruit wouldn't grow on the ground and spoil. God spoke to me, reminding me of the times He has lifted me up so the leaves of my Spiritual plant would not turn brown and whither thus preventing me from bearing good fruit.

Another thought that Rev. Arnold refreshed in my mind concerns the abundance of the harvest. John spoke in our text, of NO fruit, SOME fruit, MORE fruit, and MUCH fruit. The question that lingered in my mind was: What size fruit basket would you need to contain your Spiritual fruit? Getting back to my tomato plant, It continued to grow, nice and tall. Each time I spoke with my mother I asked if she had tomatoes in her garden. Finally she broke the news to me ....I should have tomatoes by now. I didn't even have a bloom. The appearance was good but there was no fruit. Does this convict your heart as it did mine? Lord, help me not to just appear as a Christian but, help me bear fruit. Not just some fruit but please, let me have an abundant harvest of MUCH fruit so that I may bring Glory to you.

My worthless tomato plant is good for nothing. It will be pulled up and thrown into the burning barrel. In conclusion, may I ask what kind of plant are you? Are you fruitful? How is your harvest? Father, God help each of us to have much fruit to lay at your feet some glad harvest day. Let us not be ashamed, knowing as we sow, so shall we reap. In Jesus name, Amen.