Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”Jesus said to her, “Mary.”She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).John 20:11-16Jesus said to her, “Mary.”Oh Lord, how I would have loved to be there – that morning of Your resurrection.To be by the tomb watching You smile at Mary, saying her name.What was it like for Mary? I can only imagine:                “Was it only three days … [Read more...]

The people gave him a wonderful welcome, some throwing their coats on the street, others spreading out rushes they had cut in the fields. Running ahead and following after, they were calling out, 

   Hosanna! 
Blessed is he who comes in God's name! 
Blessed the coming kingdom of our father David! 
Hosanna in highest heaven!He entered Jerusalem, then entered the Temple. He looked around, taking it all in.  Mark 11: 8-11a (The Message)He looked around, taking it all in. Lord, I hear once again about Your triumphant entry into Jerusalem.We hold our palms in church and wave them as we enter with the first hymn.I listen to the words from Mark, joining the multitude with a loud Hosanna!But when I reread these words later – I notice one person not saying anything – You.No comment.No grand speech to match the cheering crowd.No memorable lines to put on a plaque or copy to Pinterest.You were silent.He entered Jerusalem, then entered the Temple. He looked around, taking it all in.  You looked … [Read more...]

“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord.“I will put my law in their mindsand write it on their hearts.I will be their God,and they will be my people. Jeremiah 31:33 (NIV)Write it on their hearts.Alpha, Omega and Lord of all the letters, write your commandments on my heart.Take your divine pen with permanent ink, compose a message planted deep within me that I will never lose nor forget.Scribble Your thoughts and dreams for me.Engrave Your blueprints.Inscribe Your name.You said You will be my God and I will be one of Your people.I cling to that promise and bare my heart to Your fountain pen.My heart is empty, blank, void without You.I long to connect with You through Your words and Your grace.Once Your ink penetrates me I will be forever changed.Your word so close inside me I will never forget You again.A eternal reminder of who I belong to and who I follow. … [Read more...]

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)God’s handiworkCreator God, I marvel at the work of Your hands.I gazed at Your twinkling Venus and bright Saturn in perfect alignment this week in the nighttime sky. Your ongoing design work amazes me.You wave Your hand and the purple and yellow crocuses emerge. I feel renewed with Spring’s resurrection.I hear of friend’s granddaughter’s birth and know You and I both celebrate new life.When I dare to ask, “Who am I, Lord?” This astonishing verse responds:“You are My handiwork. My masterpiece.”Why do I continue to dismiss that belief? Doubt You really mean it? Shrug off this wonderful news?My true identify remains in Your hands, carefully and lovingly created by the Sacred Sculptor.God Himself, the Divine Designer, carved His name in my heart and left His fingerprints all over my soul.God marks me with a permanent label clearly stating:  Created by the … [Read more...]

For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. 1 Corinthians 1: 25Foolishness of God The foolishness of God? Lord what does that mean?  Is it irreverent to think of You, as foolish?Yet the verse tells me Your foolishness is wiser than any human wisdom.How many times in my life have I asked You for answers? For guidance? For wisdom?I should have been asking You to shower me with Your foolishness!Pour out upon us Your upside-down view of how we should live.I marvel at the strange idea of God coming to earth as a baby, the lessons and messages Jesus, Your son, modeled for us with His life, and the incredible feat of Easter morning conquering death forever.Ages ago nothing existed until You exploded creation and set Your plan in motion. Did the angels dance with glee, celebrating Your foolishness that day, Lord? I know I am not strong enough, even on my best days, to follow You completely.  I need You, Lord.Your foolishness … [Read more...]

Purify me with hyssop and I will be clean; wash me and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and celebration again; let the bones you crushed rejoice once more. 
Hide your face from my sins; wipe away all my guilty deeds! 
Create a clean heart for me, God; put a new, faithful spirit deep inside me!Psalm 51:7-10Common English BiblePut a new, faithful spirit deep inside me!My simple prayer this week, Lord:Put a new, faithful spirit deep inside me.I turn to greet You.You are the One to send Your Spirit to embrace my heart.I can’t do it on my own.My old spirit is broken, weak and mired in the mud of life.Your spirit is new, whole and sparkles in Your light.I am unfaithful and distracted by worldly and ego driven wants.But my true hunger is for Your gift of faithfulness, one that only You can give.Plant Your spirit deep inside me.With roots so deep, nothing can remove it.Your spirit is a wellspring of bottomless depth.A rich deposit of Love.Nothing can take You away from me, Lord.Your … [Read more...]

Words of Christ - 6/52 (Photo credit: Roger's Wife)“When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen. When you come looking for me, you’ll find me. Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you’re not disappointed” (Jeremiah 29:12-14 MSG).I’ll listen. You’ll find me. I’ll make sure you’re not disappointedThank You Lord for listening. When I call on You, You hear me.To know You hang onto my every word – the whining, the tearful moans, the times I can’t find how to express myself – You know and You listen.Thank You Lord for letting me find You.When I come looking for You – You are there.When I can’t find You and wonder if You left – You stay with me.When I turn my back on You and drift into ego driven pleasures – You watch over me.Thank You Lord for forgiving me and patiently waiting for my heart to turn back to You.When I once again intentionally seek You and realize You are the true desire of my heart, I find you … [Read more...]