Tuesday With Teri

Devotions from lessons I'm learning from God

Are We There Yet? May 18, 2010

Filed under: devotionals — tlmiller82 @ 6:15 am

          “Are we there yet?”  While you might expect these words to be uttered by a young passenger on a long trip, they are in fact my very words to my heavenly Father just two days ago.

           A friend and I were on our way to our first ever writers conference.  Located in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, the conference center was approximately six hours from our home in Virginia.  Notebooks, pens, books, laptops, back packs and suitcases filled the nooks and crannies of my VW bug.  On the road by 7am we were duly pleased with our timely departure, fully expecting to be at the center by 2PM.

          In our defense, my archaic bug lacks a GPS.  We relied on old fashioned printed directions to complete our journey.  Two glitches impacted our plans.   1. We seemed unable to decode the difference between BUS 40 and regular old 40West. 2. I managed to throw away our only copy of the directions not long after glitch number one.

          After 8 hours on the road I was definitely asking, “Are we there yet?”   My eagerness to be where I was going was causing anxiety.   My “co-pilot” on the other hand had no such worries.  “It’ll be okay, I refuse to let myself worry about it” she said, before tipping her head back and falling asleep.  As I watched her peaceful slumber I tried to imitate her attitude.  The passing exit signs did little to remove my concern as the numbers did not seem to be drawing close to our designated exit at all.

          “Lord, are we there yet?” I prayed in a pleading voice.   Hoping His response would arrive in the form of a sign proclaiming, “Ridgecrest, next exit”.   The more I prayed the more I realized I had the same question regarding other things in my life.

  • Working toward initiating a new aspect of discipleship with our church, “Are we there yet?”
  • Raising our children, now young adults, “Are we there yet?”
  • Becoming a writer,“Are we there yet”

          These last few days it has become quite clear that God is not working within my time frame concerning these things.  I wonder if He wearies of my constant questioning of His pans for me just as I once did when my kids asked me “Are we there yet?”

          The sign for our destination popped up on the horizon and relief and delight flooded my heart.  I know it is time to stop asking “Are we there yet?” and experience the peace of knowing a sovereign God will bring us to where we need to be in His perfect time.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts you’re your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)

 

 

Raindrop Races May 11, 2010

Filed under: devotionals — tlmiller82 @ 4:47 pm

          It’s raining today, and it seems so very right.  Some days are just meant for rain.  It is gray, chilly and a very dreary sort of day.  It’s the kind of day that makes it easy to work because there are no outdoor activities tempting you away.  It’s the kind of day that seems to demand you drink hot tea, even if you’re not a tea drinker.  It’s the kind of day that compels one to spend a few minutes staring out the window in quiet contemplation.  Maybe it was a car window, maybe an office window or the window in your home, but admit it, you stared at the rain drizzled glass separating you from the outside world. 

          I was in the car with my son, who was driving me to get my car from the shop.   As we waited at a traffic light I found myself focusing on the numerous raindrops littering my car door window.  I was soon transported back in time.

          I remember staring out the window from the back seat of the car as a little girl.  I especially loved it when it rained.  The little droplets would pile up across the window like transparent polka dots on a crystal sky.  “Back in the day”, as they say, we didn’t have DVD players or IPODs in our cars so I would entertain myself with the raindrops on the window.

            I liked to look at the different sizes and would often count them to help pass time.  My favorite activity though, was to watch them race!  Yep, maybe you’ve never noticed, but raindrops race down windows and across car windows.  When the air passed  the car window it would cause each sticky drop of rain to jiggle in anticipation of the race.  I would pick two or three such “jiggling” drops and wait for them to move.  Eventually each would begin to crawl across the window.  I would watch as the littlest one might slide out of the race or be pulled to the air.  The thin ones would stretch out into slithering worms pushing past other drops.  The best, and usually the winners of my imaginary races, were always the thick miniature puddles that adhered to the farthest edge of the window.

          As the raindrop began to slide across the window it would roll into other drops.  Each time it bumped into another dollop of rain it would swallow it up.  With each gulp the droplet would quicken its pace, as it gained in size and momentum.  Eventually this monster of a raindrop would soak up an entire path of droplets and end in a small river at the base of the window edge.

          Today as I caught myself watching the raindrops jiggle on the car window, I thought of how much we are like these drops….

          Sometimes we are barely holding on to the surface as life blows past us like wind on a car window.  The passing of time propels us forward.  As we journey some of us let go and allow ourselves to be taken out of the race.  Sometimes in our rush to finish we spread ourselves too thin.  We weave in and out of life’s journey never growing, never gaining, and ultimately find we are lonely and tired.  But sometimes we find along our path others who join us in our efforts, people who add to our lives and make us better.  Sure, the journey may seem long at times, but the extra passage affords more opportunity to gain strength, wisdom, understanding and grace each time we “bump” into others.

“Let us hold fast to the  confession of our hope without wavering…let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our assembling together…encouraging one another all the more..” Hebrews 10:23-25

 

Fish Pull May 4, 2010

Filed under: devotionals — tlmiller82 @ 9:47 pm

          So the other day I had my first Kayak fishing adventure!   A few years ago my wonderful hubby got me a kayak for mother’s day….best gift EVER.  I love tooling around the river inlets and coves…just exploring.  Scott also set up a special fishing pole holder thing on it this last year so I could fish from it. Of course I had visions of a wild, wiggling fish flopping around in my kayak and me panicking and falling into the water…so I sort of put off using it for a while. Last week I decided to try it out for the first time.

          I gathered my gear…tackle box, lures, hooks, clamp, pliers, pepperoni(catfish favorite in these parts), sun block, life vest, knife, pole, my favorite pink  “Fishin Chix” hat courtesy of my  sister–in-law Stephanie, hand held emergency radio, and a bottle of water.  I was a force to be reckoned with…at least that’s how I must have looked.

          My husband dutifully helped me get set and shove off.  Actually, I think I saw a bit of a smile eek out his mouth as if he was a little TOO happy to be getting me out of his hair for a bit.  No matter, I was happy to be on the water, and ready for some fishing!  I paddled out like Pocahontas and found my place along with the burly men folk buzzing along in their bass boats.

          It was early in the day and the water was calm and quiet, except for the nerve jarring splashing of nearby fish.  Honestly, for two hours numerous large fish erupted out of the water at various intervals.  Each time my line was in the opposite direction of the jumping fish.  I thought a few times one was just going to plop into my kayak.  Alas, I got a few nibbles and several clumps of Hydrilla(river water plant). 

          I was certain I had snagged on plants again, then I felt the tell tale vibration of life on the other end of my line!  I was so excited!  Upon reeling I discovered a problem I had not anticipated.   As my fish began to swim away from me I found my kayak being pulled along.  Yep, with no anchor and my hands too occupied with my rod and reel to paddle, it soon became unclear as to who actually had who in this game of tug of war.   I was immediately happy I had not landed a REALLY BIG fish!

          Eventually I overcame the rascal.  I was especially pleased that I was able to pull him up and remove the hook with minimal damage and release him back into the river without creating total chaos in my kayak!  I even managed to snap a photo or two!

          The lesson here is pretty hard to miss and has played over in my mind these last days:  You may not anticipate being “pulled” along in life a direction opposite of your own choosing, but sometimes the thing you think you have control over actually is controlling you.  It is not always the big things that tug us away from our calling or path, sometimes it is little things and we are just not anchored.

          Since we plan on going after big fish in life, maybe we should re-examine our anchorage.  Let us set our anchor firmly in the knowledge of our God and His love and grace.

“….so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses all knowledge, that you may filled up to all fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:17-19

 

“Mighty Yard Lady” April 27, 2010

Filed under: devotionals — tlmiller82 @ 5:06 pm

          Every now and again I get bit by the “can do” spirit bug.  This affliction allows me to take on tasks normally well beyond my skill set or interests.  For example, earlier this month I decided I could take care of our yard’s mulch needs all on my own.  Yep, I morphed into “mighty yard lady” and attacked this endeavor with adrenalin filled enthusiasm.

          I drove to Lowes and strode into the lawn area like I knew what I was doing.  I surveyed the various mulch choices, who knew there were so many?  I lugged 8 large bags onto a cart and out to my car.  I put the top of my little convertible VW bug in the down position and loaded the back and front seats, the trunk would hold 1 to 2 bags.  Once home, I began to fill the mulch beds and soon realized I would need more, a lot more.  The day would eventually result in 3 total trips to the store, a max capacity of 12 bags stuffed in my VW bug at a time, and numerous hours of pushing, raking and spreading the mulch. As the sun began to set I barely noticed the ache in my muscles.   I was so invigorated with my achievement; I was determined to repeat this day’s effort the following day.  But, as is often the case, my “can do” spirit did not last as long as the project.

            Early the next day I surveyed my handiwork with a reduced sense of pride and an increased sense of hopelessness.  The strong nightly wind had scattered tons of plant debris over my yard.  The once clean, dark mulch looked as if someone had tossed buckets of popcorn all over it.  In the brighter light of the morning I looked closer at the remaining area to be filled with mulch.  It will require AT LEAST the same 3 trips to Lowes and maybe twice as many bags.  Sigh…I could feel my enthusiasm slipping.  The impending rain shower was enough to wash any remaining “mighty yard Lady” resolve away.   

         So…for the last week and a half my yard has taunted me with its unfinished mulch beds.  As I walked to the mailbox today I couldn’t help but notice the tiny weeds already trying to win back the mulched areas. 

          I wish I could say my recent yard work effort was the only example I had of times when my “can do” spirit did not last as long as a project, but that would not be true.  In so many ways and areas of my life I tackle goals or relationships with a  relatively short lived “can do” spirit.  I may be quick to throw my energy, emotions, and effort into a project or relationship, but eventually I become less enthusiastic or inattentive. 

        I must admit my unfinished landscape has me thinking about other things in my life I have left undone.  House and yard projects abound and I am without excuse for not giving them attention.  More importantly, I have a long list of phone calls to be made.  There are family members I meant to keep in touch with, new people I’ve met but have not spent time getting to know, reconnecting with friends, hurting hearts I meant to encourage, apologies I have put off and opportunities to serve I need to accept.

       I know I can never accomplish anything set before me if I rely on my own, fleeting, “can do” spirit, but I have a God, who through the Holy Spirit, can sustain my efforts.  When I am weak and lacking ability, it will be His strength that accomplishes all and brings glory to Him!

“…My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in weakness, so that Christ’s power may rest on me…for when I am weak, then I am strong.” (II Cor. 12:9-10)

This is my prayer, that God will grant me the wisdom to know which tasks He has set before me, and the “can do” spirit needed to accomplish them.

 

A Grumpy Goose Encounter April 20, 2010

Filed under: Christianity,devotionals,humor,life — tlmiller82 @ 3:39 pm

          So, let me begin by confessing a slightly embarrassing endeavor…I have decided to learn how to run.  For those who do not know me personally you may ask yourself, “Learn how to run? What’s there to learn?”  For those of you who know me you are probably thinking, “Is she crazy?”  Even I wonder what I am thinking.  I am out of shape, weight challenged, and have never been able to jog for longer than a minute at a time.

         Inspired by the efforts of some of my much younger friends, I set about alternating walking with jogging.  Let’s just say that it has been a very long, unattractive process.  Imagine the panting, wheezing, plodding and whining that accompanied my jogs.  I have finally managed to jog one mile without stopping, although it takes me much longer to do so than if I WALKED one mile.

All that just to give context to my most recent adventure.

         I have found a great way to run in my neighborhood AND avoid running up hill…not an easy feat given where we live.  I walk up hill to a small church at the end of our street.  The church parking area is an oval loop, five times around it equals one mile, and it is a fairly level running area!  When I’m done I walk back down the hill toward home as I cool down. 

          The last few days I had struggled to maintain my pace and practice my mile.  I trudged along barely getting through all five laps.  I knew I needed to pick up my pace or make a change to my pattern.  I thought this would be much more difficult to do than it actually turned out to be.  All I needed was a little extra incentive. 

          I was on lap two of my five lap routine, breathing hard and glad no one was around to witness my less than graceful running style, when I was joined by a very grumpy goose.

        He flapped his wings furiously in a braking fashion, lowered his landing gear and skidded to a halt in the middle of the parking lot and my makeshift running track.  I was surprised to see a lone goose far from the local watering hole.  He seemed equally surprised to see me running around his landing area.

          I have learned that I am not good at getting started again if I stop before my mile is done, so I continued plopping my feet on the pavement in spite of the new onlooker.  I had three more laps to go and I was not going to let a goose stop me. 

Lap three, he honked and hissed as I passed him. 

 Lap four; my passing triggered an energetic head bobbing and even louder honks and squawks. 

By lap five I was fully aware of impending danger.  Mr. Grumpy Goose was now honking, squawking, bobbing his head AND following behind me!

          Let me just say, unlike other days when lap five is my slowest and most difficult to complete, I finished my jog in a full run.  Yep, goose inspired adrenalin helped me shave 2 minutes off my time!

           I walked away unscathed and feeling victorious.  I still smile when I picture that goose trying to bully me off the parking lot.  I could have let Mr. Grumpy Goose stop me moving forward.  I could have let the squawking, bobbing bird change my course.   I chose instead to keep moving forward and focused on finishing my run, even if it meant changing how I finished it.  The end result was positive.  The challenge of Mr. Grumpy Goose helped push me the little bit I needed. 

          I know God allows challenges in our lives much like Mr. Grumpy Goose.  Unfortunately I tend to think a challenge is a sign that I should stop or change.  Sometimes a challenge is there to propel us forward, quicken our pace or solidify our determination. 

As we face each grumpy goose God allows along the way, may we be encouraged and not discouraged in our journey.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love and sound judgment.” 1Timothy 1:7

Lord, help us to overcome our challenges so we may finish our race and hear You say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

 

The Exploding Fire Pit April 13, 2010

Filed under: Christianity,devotionals,life — tlmiller82 @ 10:21 pm

          We just had a nice stone patio, complete with stone fire pit, added to our home.  The other night our son and a few of his friends were gathering for the maiden voyage of the fire pit. 

         Scott and I were in the house watching television, contently thinking how nice it was to have Steven’s friends over.   What happened next rocked my world, literally.   BoooooooM!  We rushed out to our back deck and looked down to the patio. 

          The patio and surrounding lawn area were covered in what looked like glowing rubies.  Red hot embers littered the ground.   If it were not so terrifying it would have been beautiful.  The fire in the pit was extinguished and a tower of smoke snaked upwards, lit only by the remaining shards of logs as they radiated neon red heat.  Once the vision made it to our brains we scrambled to comprehend what occurred, “What happened!?” and “Is everyone okay?!” 

          We grabbed fire extinguishers and joined the stunned group on the patio.  Quick assessments were made of everyone…astonishingly no one was hurt badly.  A few had small burns or scratches from flying concrete and firewood, no doubt all of them will carry emotional scars from such an unexpected and frightening event. 

          Apparently as they had just settled around the pit, and were close enough to warm their hands by the fire, without warning they felt, saw and experienced a large explosion.  The percussive force blew them back a bit and it is by God’s mercy and grace that none of them were seriously harmed.  Chunks of concrete, which formed the base of the fire pit, flew in every direction.  The once burning logs were propelled upwards and shattered into large embers before settling to the ground around the pit and patio. 

           Though Steven and his friends were considerably shook up, it could have been much, much worse.  We walked among the aftermath thanking God for His protection and looking for clues as to what caused the explosion.  Our amateur sleuthing formed a conclusion which would later be supported by our contractor and various other professionals. 

            Unlike most fire pits, ours had been built with a concrete flooring and drain.  Apparently the heat from the burning logs had cause a buildup of pressure below the concrete layer.  There was no way to tell what actually caused the pressure below the concrete slab, but the most likely culprit was trapped water or moisture.  Normally any expansion of gases or steam would vent through gravel grating.  Our fire pit base had no ventilation points.

          The events of that night continue to play through my mind when I try to sleep.  It is both comforting to realize God’s provision on that night, and yet disturbingly clear how out of my control life can be.

          The fire pit looked great.  It looked solid and strong.  The foundation of the pit gave no hint of hidden danger. It looked like it could handle the heat.  But looks were deceiving. 

          Oh, the pit was strong.  Matter of fact when all was said and done the walls of the pit and patio remained unmoved.  It was the FOUNDATION that mattered, and it mattered a lot!

          We can be like this pit.  We sometimes present a strong outer image.  We look like we can handle the demands of the world or hold fast under pressure.  We diligently try to build our lives with good deeds and works, but neglect our personal relationship with our savior.  But when we are tested, put under fire, it will be our foundation, and not the things we surround ourselves with, that will determine our ability to stand.

          Just as I will diligently check the foundation of the fire pit in the future and always consider if it is able to sustain the heat and flame before EVER trusting it to do so…I will also need to check my spiritual foundation. 

1Cor. 3:10-13  “…I laid a foundation and another is building upon it.  But let each man be careful how he builds upon it.  For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which was laid, which is Jesus Christ.  Now if any man builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay or straw, each man’s work will become evident; ….because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work.”

 

The Outlet Battle April 6, 2010

Filed under: Christianity,devotionals,life — tlmiller82 @ 4:34 pm

          When our son Steven was only a toddler he had a fascination with outlets.   Although we had them covered with safety plugs we still did not want him to touching them.    Since not all the outlets in his life would be protected, we wanted to instill a fear of touching them into him.  I have a very vivid memory of one particular day when Steven would test me and ultimately teach me a life lesson.

         He always looked so innocent, big brown eyes like puddles of mud and bright blonde hair that practically glowed.  I watched him as he crawled over to the outlet in our living room. 

           As his pudgy little fingers rose to touch the forbidden outlet I  pounced upon him with a stern, “no no Steven”.   He looked at me with a kind of bemused smile and slowly raised his hand back to the outlet once more.   Again I uttered the words, “no no Steven!”  this time using as gruff a tone as possible.  He was startled into submission for an entire two seconds before he once agin lifted his fingers toward the outlet.  As if my sweet little baby boy could comprehend my words I proclaimed, “Oh, it’s on little man!”

           I knew I had a few options in this battle over the outlet.

           Option one was not really an option as it involved letting him “learn the hard way” and allowing him to  touch the unprotected outlet.  While some may argue that he would probably only make that mistake once, I would not risk him incurring a permanent negative consequence to his choice to touch it. Option two was probably the most parent friendly of the three and involved simply redirecting his attention to something else and removing him from the source of danger.   Option three involved giving Steven a quick, consistent consequence for choosing to touch the outlet.   If he associated touching the outlet with a negative result, surely he would no longer seek to touch it!

            Option three would require time and patience, but I assumed the resulting lesson learned would be worth my effort so I went with this option. I settled onto the floor beside the outlet and waited for his next attempt.  I did not need to wait long.  As his hand approached the outlet I took it in my own and administered a tiny slap and repeated, “no touch Steven ”.  He looked at his hand, then at me, then at the outlet….there was only a slight bewildered pause before he tried to touch the outlet right then and there again.  Each time he tried to touch the outlet I gave his hand a tiny slap and scolded him.  Each time he looked up at me both hurt and confused just seconds before reaching for the outlet.  I thought for sure I could outlast him in this battle over the outlet, but he was tireless in his determination to touch it. 

          At first I started counting the number of times he would try, and then I lost count.  It amazed me how he could keep doing the same thing even when the result of his effort was negative.  He kept doing the same thing over and over fully expecting a different result.  Eventually I gave up and turned his attention away from the temptation and toward something safer to play.

         Over 20 years later that day is still etched n my mind.  First because it was an accurate indicator of the strong will we would struggle against later in his life, but mostly because the sin nature we all strive with was never more clearly portrayed to me than on that day.

         I think I am not alone in that there are many things I continue to do the same way, truly expecting different results.  Is God in heaven wondering, as I did for Steven, “Is she ever going to figure out that is not good for her?”

         Over and over again I attempt to “handle” situations and temptations on my own.  Over and over again I make the same choices expecting different outcomes. 

         Steven’s victory over the temptation of touching the outlet involved turning him away from the temptation.  The word “repent” is associated with turning away from something bad and turning toward something good.

          Let that be our challenge today, to turn from something not good and toward something pleasing to God…and most of all remember that Jesus said Himself…. “with men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

 

Big Enough? March 30, 2010

Filed under: Christianity,devotionals,Easter,life — tlmiller82 @ 2:24 pm

          “We’re gonna need a bigger boat.”  Who could forget this infamous line from the movie Jaws?  As the lead character gets his first real look at the large shark he is trying to capture/kill, he comes to a quick conclusion that they are less than adequately prepared to take on the oversized Great White.  

  His need was bigger than his boat.

          I drive a VW Bug.  Although the rest of my family does not think my car is cool, I love my Bug!  The only problem I have with my Bug is a lack of sufficient trunk space.  It does have a surprisingly roomy little trunk, but it is definitely not intended to hold two week’s worth of groceries.   There have been several occasions upon which I found myself in the grocery store to, “pick up a few things” only to get caught up in a sort of buying frenzy.    After spending a significant amount of time in the store, I totally forgot which vehicle I had driven.   When I rolled my overflowing grocery cart out to the parking lot it became obvious that I was not adequately prepared.  I could almost hear the line in the back of mind…”We’re gonna need a bigger trunk.” 

My need was bigger than my Bug.

          The other night as I was leaving the church I encountered an elderly woman in the foyer.   It was pouring rain and she commented that she had left her umbrella in her car on the other side of the parking lot.  I offered to walk her to her car and share my umbrella.  She graciously accepted my offer.   As we exited the church arm in arm I popped opened my umbrella and discovered that I had forgotten which umbrella I had with me.  I have several tote size umbrellas at home, but apparently I placed the extremely miniature version in my purse that night.  The circumference of the umbrella was barely large enough to cover one person.  I held it over her as best I could, but as we hurried across the parking lot it seemed only to funnel large amounts of water down our backs. 

 My need was bigger than my umbrella.

          There will continue to be times in all our lives when our needs may be bigger than what we have at hand…but my earthly needs pale in comparison to my spiritual need.

          This week I am reminded, again, of my need for forgiveness and grace.   In his Passover sermon our pastor went so far as to proclaim what “great sinners” we all were.  OUCH!  I wanted to be offended, but the reality was that not only was he speaking the truth, he was actually understating it.  I know my heart, my struggles, my faith, my temptations and my falling downs.  I know that even in an attempt to live a life that is pleasing to God, I still struggle in my flesh.  I know that I am not alone… “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” Romans 3:23 

          Easter is the time of year when Christians celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of our Christ.  It is because of His sacrifice, His defeat over death, and His resurrection that we can ask to be forgiven of our sins. “For if while we were yet sinners, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled we shall be saved by His life.” Romans 5:10

This Easter I celebrate the sufficient covering of my sins by a God whose love, forgiveness and grace is “big enough”!

My need is NOT bigger than my God!

“…if anyone sins, we have this Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the world.” 1 John 2:1-2

 

Hosanna March 23, 2010

Filed under: Christianity,devotionals,Easter — tlmiller82 @ 11:09 am

          Woohooo! We have daffodils!   Yes indeed, SPRING is trying desperately to reclaim my yard.  The emergence of these bright yellow flowers, amid the muddy mush of a lawn hit hard by long lasting snow piles and rain, gives me hope.  I love this time of year.

           Palm Sunday is around the corner.  I don’t know about you, but I have very vivid images in my head of this particular Sunday.  As a young girl I remember being given a palm branch to hold and wave as the story was told in Sunday school.  I cannot count the number of times I fashioned palm branches from construction paper as part of a craft during this time of year, first as a child then as a Sunday school teacher myself.  Even now Sunday school teachers around the United States are no doubt planning to incorporate this bright green leaf into some aspect of their lesson.

           As a Christian this is a very exciting time of celebration and remembrance.  It marks the beginning of the end and then the beginning again.  Palm Sunday commemorates the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem at the end of His earthly ministry.  Crowds gathered and laid coats and palms on the ground before Him as He rode past on the back of a donkey. 

  “…Hosanna!  Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David; Hosanna in the highest!” Mark 11:9-10

                  In a few days this same crowd would cry out  “Crucify Him!”.

         In all my years of observing Sunday school posters and Easter plays the scene is always the same…celebratory, exciting and exuberant.    According to every visual image I have ever seen of this event, Christ smiles and waves like someone in a parade, perhaps enjoying what He knows to be His final moment of popularity.  But now this image has changed for me.

          Oddly, though I had heard this story throughout my entire life, it was not until I was well into my twenties that I discovered a small tidbit of information that changed how I forever recall this pivotal event in the life of my Christ.

         I had sung “Hosanna” in numerous songs in church and even yelled it out as part of Palm Sunday reenactments for plays…but here is the life impacting tidbit I learned…Hosanna is not a term of praise or glorification, which I think I always believed.  Hosanna translates to “save now” or “save us”. 

          That, my friends, changes everything. 

          The crowd that gathered that day to greet our Christ and usher Him into their city did not hail Him for WHO He was, but rather for who they hoped He was and what He would do.

          Picture the scene now…..The reputation of Jesus went before Him.  The streets were filled with people longing for a leader who would come and make everything perfect in their city, their families, and their lives.  People who suffered, grieved, ached for someone to rescue them, called out to Him in desparation…each having a personal expectation for how this “Jesus” would help them. “Hosanna!…Save now!”

                  I cannot fathom the depth of sorrow Christ endured on this day.  The voices crying out, “save us, save now…Hosanna!” filling His ears and breaking His heart.  With each agonizing step His donkey took past the throng of people the weight of their disparity heaped on His shoulders.  With all their expectations as they cried out “Hosanna”, asking to be saved…asking for salvation…they failed to realize the cost of such a request. 

 Jesus knew. 

          As the palm branches are waved, songs are sung and “Hosanna” echoes through our churches, let us remember that the expression of Christ’s love for us did not begin with the weight of the cross…it began with the weight of the cries of Hosanna…the cries of a people in need of salvation…the cry of our hearts today…HOSANNA! HOSANNA! HOSANNA!

 

 

Talking to Televisions March 16, 2010

Filed under: Christianity,devotionals,life — tlmiller82 @ 4:58 pm

          I talk to TVs.  There, I said it.  I am not ashamed to admit to the world that I am that person in the room who feels compelled to talk back to the television characters. It is just too difficult to sit there and not state the obvious.   Perhaps the most difficult time I have is when I am watching a scary scene unfold.

          Why is it that when the victim enters the darkened room they never notice the “bad guy” lurking behind them?  Why does it take so long for the heroine to realize she needs to scream for help…doesn’t she notice there is danger right around the corner? Of course not, that is why I need to tell them, so I shout… “Look behind you dummy!!!!!”, “Turn around!”, or “Don’t open that door!!!”, and my favorite, “There’s a shark fin!  Swim for your life!”

          So often the predicament these characters get into are the result of them not being aware of their dire circumstances.  It may look obvious to others, but they refuse to see the eminent harm no matter how loudly I shout at them.  They need to be rescued, helped, or saved and yet they have no idea of such a need until it is too late.

          I think it is just as easy for us to become unaware of our spiritual need to be rescued, helped or saved.

          I had a dear friend who had a challenging life.  She had fallen into a dark and dangerous lifestyle before she discovered Jesus.  She learned of a God who loved her no matter what and desired to give her forgiveness for her sins.  She knew she did not deserve His love or forgiveness, but she asked God to forgive her through His son Jesus Christ.  She never stopped being aware of how much grace she was given, or how much she continued to need it.  She exuded a constant love for our Lord.   

          Her sins were no greater than my own.  The world might judge our lives differently, but to a Holy God, “sin” is anything that separates us from Him….and in that, all sins are equal and all need equal forgiveness and grace.  Sadly I forget at times just how forgiven I am and the great amount of grace bestowed on me each day.  I needed saving from my sins.  I needed to be rescued and I need His help in all things.

          In Luke 8:37-38 we read the account of a woman who truly understood her need.  No one had to shout to her and alert her to her need to be saved or rescued.  NO one else needed to convince, or convict her of her need…she already understood.

“And behold there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He(Jesus) was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet, and anointing them with perfume.”

          Stop and try to picture this carefully….in the image you have of this event, how long is this woman’s hair?  I have had long hair before, but even when I picture this woman with luxuriously long tresses, the reality is that in order for her to wipe the feet of Jesus with the “hair of her head” she would have to have her face disturbingly close to the feet as well.  Our Christ did not wear closed toed shoes, nor was He a regular partaker in pedicures.  No doubt the last place you would want to put your face was near anyone’s feet at that time.   

          I encourage you to close your eyes and picture this moment once more.  This time notice a broken hearted woman, lowering herself as low as she possibly can while drawing as close as she could to the one she knew could save her….the weight of her sins pressing down on her and a torrent of unstoppable tears of grief pouring forth. …surely our Christ could feel her breath on his feet as she feverishly wiped them with her hair.

         The room was full of people who unbeknownst to them carried a sin burden no less than her own.  Yet because she recognized her need for salvation, she would be the only one that day to hear, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

         Today you may be challenged to remember the debt of sin for which you have been forgiven and to live your life as a recipient of amazing grace and therefore a giver of grace to others.

          Perhaps you have never acknowledged sin in your life, sin that separates you from God.  God’s word tells us that we “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 1:23, “God demonstrated His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” Romans 5:8 ……and best of all… “Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans10:13!!!!!