April 17, 2022 Home

#M returned from a high school retreat last night.  In her new school for less than two weeks yet invited to attend the annual trip to Switzerland.  Talk about impeccable timing.  Can you imagine?  The closest I came to any type of high school retreat was called detention, but I digress.  What I'd like to focus on is her return.  The apartment was quiet, with each of its occupants doing their best to embrace a Saturday evening chill.  All of a sudden, the door burst open, picture a swat team carrying out a no-knock warrant.  I'M HOME EVERYONE!  I'M HOME!  After the initial, heart-clutching shock wore off, it was long welcome-back hugs with enthusiastic squeezing and tender, authentic, I missed you kisses.  #M had thoroughly, like thoroughly!, enjoyed the weekend (an answer to prayers for sure) but she surely and truly missed home.  

As we focus on the empty tomb today, last night's episode has me thinking.  One component of the Holy Week I've never really thought about was Jesus' homecoming.  He endured so much, obedient to the point of death, death on a cross, a Sabbath of rest, quiet and calm and then came Sunday, resurrected, death conquered.  All the hurt, all the grief, all the tears, colliding atomically with the release, the relief, the joy.  His mission on earth completed victoriously.  He endured all those things with this in mind, giving God the glory and returning to the Father....Home!  Jesus had missed home.  

Thank You Jesus for entering into our dirty, sin-filled, broken world, for leaving Your home to redeem us and for going to prepare a place for us, in the Father's house.  Home.  

April 16, 2022 What about Saturday?

 These words from Max Lucado!  So perfect for today.

Jesus is silent on Saturday. The women have anointed his body and placed it in Joseph’s tomb. The cadaver of Christ is as mute as the stone which guards it. He spoke much on Friday. He will liberate the slaves of death on Sunday. But on Saturday, Jesus is silent.

So is God. He made himself heard on Friday. He tore the curtains of the temple, opened the graves of the dead, rocked the earth, blocked the sun of the sky, and sacrificed the Son of Heaven. Earth heard much of God on Friday.

Nothing on Saturday. Jesus is silent. God is silent. Saturday is silent.

Easter weekend discussions tend to skip Saturday. Friday and Sunday get the press. The crucifixion and resurrection command our thoughts. But don’t ignore Saturday. You have them, too.

Silent Saturdays. The day between the struggle and the solution; the question and the answer; the offered prayer and the answer thereof.

Saturday’s silence torments us. Is God angry? Did I disappoint him? God knows Jesus is in the tomb, why doesn’t He do something? Or, in your case God knows your career is in the tank, your finances are in the pit, your marriage is in a mess. Why doesn’t He act? What are you supposed to do until He does?

You do what Jesus did. Lie still. Stay silent. Trust God. Jesus died with this conviction: “You will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay” (Acts 2:27 NIV).

Jesus knew God would not leave him alone in the grave. You need to know, God will not leave you alone with your struggles. His silence is not his absence, inactivity is never apathy. Saturdays have their purpose. They let us feel the full force of God’s strength. Had God raised Jesus fifteen minutes after the death of His son, would we have appreciated the act? Were He to solve your problems the second they appear, would you appreciate His strength?

For His reasons, God inserts a Saturday between our Fridays and Sundays. If today is one for you, be patient. As one who endured the silent Saturday wrote: “Be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord” (James 5:7 NKJV).

April 2, 2022 5th Time's the Charm?

After living in five countries since leaving the States in August, we're hopeful this wonderful, amazing, beautiful truck signifies an opportunity to lay down some roots, at least shallow ones.  Of course it started snowing this morning but our wonderful, amazing, beautiful movers were not deterred.  

We're exhausted but praising God for move-in day!