A Long Journey

      In 1994, 73 year old WWII vet. Alvin Straight drove his lawnmower with trailer from Laurens, Iowa to Mount Zion, Wisconsin (390 km) to reconcile with his brother Lyle whom he hadn’t spoken to in a decade.  If it seems extreme, it is only because he could not legally drive, had very limited funds, no family to help and did not feel it was his place to ask others.  But his heart was set on reconciling since his brother had a stroke and he was concerned their time to reconcile was coming to an end.  At a maximum speed of 8 to 10.5 km/hr, Alvin would have abundant time to think about life, relationships and forgiveness.

       There were many setbacks on his journey, equipment breakdowns, and a lack of supplies on the trip, but his determination lent to the completion of his journey.  Along the way he was able to help people he met to understand the importance of relationships, forgiveness, and family.  There is actually a movie made about this man called ‘The Straight Story’ (1999) that was good to watch, plus it had one of my favorite older actors in the lead.  Did he reconcile?  You’ll have to research or watch to see, but this man KNEW the importance of reconciliation.

       How far would we go to reconcile to a loved one?  There was One who went the farthest anyone would go…  We were separated or estranged from God because of sin, and that sin came down from Adam to all of humankind (Rom. 5:12-21) and brought the penalty of death for all of us, “For the wages of sin is death…” (Rom. 6:23) but continue reading that verse because that penalty paid was gifted to us in Jesus Christ our Lord, “…but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” 

       Jehovah God loved man so much (Jh. 3:16) He sent part of Himself down (1Jh. 4:14) to live and die for our sins (1Cor. 15:3).  He died that we could be reconciled to the Father, no longer to remain out of His presence, but to have His Spirit live within our very beings (Rom. 5:5).  What an incredible gift we’ve been given: undeserved reconciliation through Jesus Christ.

For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the reconciliation.  Rom. 5:10,11

       Once, before Jesus came, we were all enemies (Col. 1:21; Jm. 4:4) of God because our filthiness (Is. 64:6) could not dwell with His holiness.  Those who remain His enemies (ungodly, sinners Rom. 5:6,8) will not inherit the kingdom of Heaven (1Cor. 6:9).  Those who choose to repent, surrender their lives to God and live repentant lives relying on Him (can we say faith) have been reconciled to God, have His peace, access to Him and can rejoice in our eternal hope of Heaven with Him.

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we also have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice on the hope of the glory of God.  Rom. 5:1,2

Thank You Lord God that You made a way for us to be reconciled with You.  Thank You that You loved us enough to follow through with those plans even when it was painful.  Thank You for coming to live in us.

We are forever grateful.

Shopping for Prom Dresses

       Anyone who knows me knows I am not a shopping for clothes type of girl.  In fact, I’d rather be up to my arms in grease fixing something than clothes shopping, but it is the season for prom dress shopping for graduating teenagers this year, and that means my daughter.  So I put on my big girl pants, begged my sister to join us, and off we went to stores we knew would have better selections.  It was in the very first store we went to that we found ‘the dress’.  How do you know it’s ‘the dress’?  Because everything up to it is quickly forgotten when you see her in it, and nothing found after is good enough.

       She stood there, so beautiful, so elegant and looking grown up, that tears flooded my eyes and I had to leave the room to get back in control.  My little girl is all grown up!  The richness of the dress led me to imagine a date (hopefully several years from now) when Amy will be wearing that special wedding dress and Albert and I will have to share her with her husband to be.  He will watch as she walks toward him with love in his eyes and excitement in his face because he has been waiting for her and he knows they will be together forever.

…as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it, that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, that He might present it to Himself as the glorious church, without spot or wrinkle or any such things, but that it should be holy and without blemish.  Eph. 5:25-27 (also 2Cor. 11:2)

Let us be glad and rejoice and we will give glory to Him. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has prepared herself. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white. For the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints.  Rev. 19:7,8

       One day soon, Jesus will return for His bride, a bride washed by His blood, cleansed by His act of selflessness and love, for she is the one He has been waiting for since the beginning of time that He might be with her forever.  She is all the believers from the beginning, both Jewish and Gentile, who will live in the New Jerusalem, the place He is preparing for her (Rev. 21:9,10; Jh. 14:2,3). 

       On that day, I imagine He will have open arms to receive us and the love in His eyes will captivate us as we ‘walk’ towards Him.  The peace and joy in our hearts will burst forth as we move to His waiting arms, and we will rejoice to be with Him forever and delight in His presence.  It will be the final triumph of our Savior, and it will be a glorious day for all of us, unsurpassed by any other. 

       Now we just need to make ourselves ready…

                                 (see Rev. 7 above)

Another Year for Me

        Since this is my first opportunity to write today and I don't want to miss another post, I decided to repost this from 2011 (guests arrive shortly).  Just this week I turned 46 and it gave me lots to think about: God's grace and mercy that got me through this far, how much He really loves me, how blessed I am with an incredibly diverse and awesome family, wonderful friends, the ability to worship where and how I please and much more. I might be one year older, but God and His Word never get old!!!

 

 Getting Old

       A few minutes ago I had to return a call to my Mom.  You would think it was a Laurel and Hardy routine as I tried verbally to figure out what she was saying and not saying.  Phone calls to her these days tend to be very frustrating now that she is in her late 70’s.  She is getting old, but then, so am I.  The other day my sister and I were talking about our physical maladies so much we sounded like a couple of seniors though I am 44 and she is in her 50’s.  It seems like a lot of middle aged people are feeling physically old these days.

       All things tend to get old and when they do, they wear out (like jeans), wear down (like a car) or go bad (like the green looking meat in the container in my fridge).  Sometimes we grow bored of movies we’ve seen too often or books we’ve read too much (can anyone say ‘The Cat in the Hat?’).    Yet there is one thing that NEVER gets old- the Word of God.

       Back when I was a child people found comfort in the scriptures.  We still find comfort in those same scriptures today- as did the people of God 4000 years ago right up until now.  How can words written so long ago have relevance and value in our lives today?  Because the words in the Bible are unlike any other book out there.

For the word of God is quick (to live/ alive), and powerful (active), and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing (penetrating) even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Heb. 4:12 

All scripture is given by inspiration (divinely breathed) of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 2Tim. 3:16 

(Jesus said) Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. Mat. 24:35 

…word, which is able to save (save/ deliver/ protect) your souls (spirit). Jas. 1:21

       If you want the abundant life that Jesus came to give, you’ve got to spend lots of time reading the living words in the Bible and getting to know the living (John 6:69) God of the Bible.  Then the living words will cut and divide, heal and restore and actively transform your life and mind. (Rom. 12:2; 2Cor. 3:18)  I’ll bet the authors, from Moses through to the apostles, never considered a young girl in 1983 being transformed by the words of the scriptures, but here I am a much different person than I was even in ’83.

The Lord has continually changed me through and by His living and powerful Word!

He can change you too!

So all of us who have had that veil removed

can see and reflect the glory of the Lord

And the Lord--who is the Spirit--

makes us more and more like him as we are changed 

into his glorious image.

2Cor. 3:18 NLT