He Is Risen!

Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 91: Today, I am grateful He is risen! He is risen, indeed!

What a declaration of victory and surrender!

"He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying." -Matthew 28:6

Jesus did what he said he would do. He paid our fees. He defeated the grave. He lives!

It is still overwhelming to think about all He endured for us. His obedience to the Father always humbles me. I complain about the slightest discomforts at times. Jesus took the weight of our sin and suffered in our place. 

His work on the cross overcame our sins and failures. He did it out of love. He did it by choice. He did it in obedience to the Father. 

Today, I am grateful He is risen! He is risen, indeed!

Sunday's On The Way!

 Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 90: Today, I am grateful Sunday is on the way!

There are not many songs that focus on Easter Saturday. I loved seeing Carmen in concert as a young adult. He was funny and focused on sharing the Good News of the Gospel. His dress is so 80's.. but the message is still relevant and powerful. 

Enjoy! "Sunday's On The Way!"

Today, I am grateful Sunday is on the way!

Good Friday...Silent Saturday

Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 89: Today, I am grateful for Good Friday and Silent Saturday.

Jesus knew. He knew what was coming. He knew the scriptures well. 

This passage from the prophet Isaiah reads like someone who witnessed the  events of the crucifixion. It was written long before Jesus was born, but it somehow captures some of the tiniest details of what Jesus would experience. 

Isaiah 53 

Who has believed our message?  To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm?

2 My servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance,  nothing to attract us to him.

3 He was despised and rejected—  a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.

4 Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows[a] that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins!

5 But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.

6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.

7 He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers,  he did not open his mouth. 

8 Unjustly condemned, he was led away. No one cared that he died without descendants, that his life was cut short in midstream. But he was struck down for the rebellion of my people.

9 He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man’s grave.

10 But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him  and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life,  and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands.

11 When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish,  he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins.

12 I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier,  because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.

What's good about Good Friday? And Silent Saturday is hard to swallow. 

The agony of knowing He took my sins and my punishment troubled me as a child. I felt the depth of my shame and my guilt. 

I do not think I really understood it until I read "He Chose the Nails" by Max Lucado. Lucado explains that Jesus took the nails and the cross so I would only experience "the shadow of death." Shadows can be scary, because of the unknown, but they don't hurt us. 

Jesus wore our sins like a coat that didn't really fit him. He wore it in obedience to the Father and because with full understanding of our our human condition. That understanding came from living in human skin. He was willing to die to save us. 

His love stretched deep and wide... and then he stretched out his arms and died. He faced down the enemy of our souls and built the bridge that would bring us home. That is the "good" in Good Friday. 

Saturday may have been silent, but unseen work was being done by the Master Bridge Builder. 

Today, I am grateful for Good Friday and Silent Saturday.

The Last Supper

 

Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 88: Today, I am grateful for "The Last Supper."

Years ago, I attended a dramatic presentation called "The Living Last Supper" at the Manteno Church of the Nazarene... if my memory serves me correctly. It was an awesome experience. 13 men stood frozen in place in the position of the famous painting on the stage until it was their turn to "come to life" to offer their perspective on that night. Powerful is an understatement. 

It was Passover. The celebration of the night the death angel passed by the houses marked with the blood of the lamb... at the head of the door and on each side. It created a triangle, in the same way the blood marked the cross Jesus died on when he became The Lamb. The timing was no accident. "When it was time" is full of mystery, moments, and miracles. 

On Maundy Thursday... he had washed their feet, broke the bread and shared the wine and completely confused them all. Except, Judas. Judas knew a little more because of his betrayal. 

"For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time. -1 Timothy 2:5-6 (NLT)

The time was right. Psalm 22, written by King David centuries before, reads like an account of the crucifixion. Here are verses 15-18:

"My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay.
    My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.
    You have laid me in the dust and left me for dead.
 My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs;
    an evil gang closes in on me.
    They have pierced my hands and feet.
 I can count all my bones.
    My enemies stare at me and gloat.
They divide my garments among themselves
    and throw dice for my clothing."

Despite his floggings and beatings, they could count all of his bones and not one was broken. They gambled for his clothing. They pierced his hands and feet. His enemies gloat. It all points to Jesus... to Yeshua. He was, is, and will always be the perfect Passover lamb. 

Ray Boltz wrote a song many years ago that sticks in my head when I think of my hand in his crucifixion. Yes, mine... and yours. "Does he still feel the nails? Every time I fail, does He hear the crowd cry, "Crucify!", again?" Am I causing him pain? Then I know I've got to change, 'cause I just can't stand the thought of hurting Him." 

The magnitude of his choice is hard to fathom. He took every step with intention. From the foot washing bowl, to the Passover feast, and then to The Garden of Gethsemane. He knew what was ahead. He prayed for the "cup to pass," but accepted "Thy will be done." 

From the dinner table to the pits of Hell... in just a few days. He did it all for us. 

Today, I am grateful for "The Last Supper."

Unreachable

Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 87: Today, I am grateful we can be unreachable.

Our fur-baby, Daisy Mae, is so brave when the mailman comes by everyday. She sounds ferocious from the window. Without the protective barrier of the window(or a fence), she is more chicken than fierce. She is much braver when something is between her and the danger. Aren't we all? 

"My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me." -Psalm 62:7

This passage is humbling and comforting all at the same time. Our victories, big and small, come from God. Pride sneaks in and creeps up so quietly at times. Few knew that better than King David. 

David knew what was to be favored. He knew what it was to be on the run from someone who wanted him dead. He knew victories, betrayal, and temptation. He knew the unreachable refuge of a God who saw his every need. 

If we choose to "go to The Rock '' of our Salvation, we are untouchable and give him all the glory, we will find comfort, peace, and the ultimate safety for our souls. Live or die, we are His. 

Today, I am grateful we can be unreachable.

Protection

 

Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 86: Today, I am grateful for protection.

"Just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.: -John 10:15

The image is one that sticks with me. 

I am so easily distracted and caught up in my own little world. How often to I miss the very real dangers and threats? He doesn't miss them. Sometimes, the rescue happens before I even know I am in trouble. 

Jesus knew what was ahead of him. He knew it would not be easy. Still, He submitted to the will of the Father. "Not thy will but thine be done." A pure example of practicing what He preached. 

He lay down his life for "the sheep"... like you and me. 

Today, I am grateful for protection.

7 Days

 

Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 85: Today, I am grateful for reminders of what can change in seven days. 

Palm Sunday is a powerful reminder of how quickly popular opinion can change. Jesus entered Jerusalem with the people crying, "Hosanna" as they waved palm leaves. 

Popular with the people who were in awe of his miracles and teachings, the religious leaders were equally unhappy. Jesus upset the proverbial apple cart. His ways were different. His teachings seemed upside-down, but somehow they rang true. Truer than true. They had the power to change everything. And... they did. 

He did. He changed everything.

Holy Week is a time to pause, ponder, pray, and praise.

"Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’" -Mark 11:9

Today, I am grateful for reminders of what can change in seven days. 

Forgive the "Not Sorry"

 

Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 84: Today, I am grateful for the power in forgiveness. 

We humans can be fairly fickle. We can and do change our minds and our opinions. Sometimes, we need to change. Other times, there is no compromise. Still, we are called to kindness, foot washing, humility, and turning the other cheek. 

"Forgive them, even if they're not sorry." 

That is a tough prescription to hand out and fill. We all make mistakes. Jesus taught us to pray in a way that says, "forgive us our sins, as (in the same way that) we forgive those who sin against us."

Our portion of mercy and grace is reflected in our own ability to forgive? That is how it sounds to me. 

I went to Matthew 6:12 to look at the original Greek. The original Greek suggests "in the same manner as, in the same way." 

"Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.  And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one." -Matthew 6:11-13

It feels like a huge commandment, and it is, but when practiced, forgiveness is often more freeing to the one who forgives, than to the one who is forgiven. No one can make us forgive... it is always a choice. Some are easy. Some we battle for many years until we finally surrender.

Yes, there is a unique freedom that comes from surrendering to forgiveness. 

Today, I am grateful for the power in forgiveness. 

As The Deer Pants

Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 83: Today, I am grateful for a lesson from the deer.

This scripture has been set to music and the tune runs through my head. Truth be told, it was originally given to the choir director, so it was likely intended to be sung from its origin. The phrasing is certainly melodic and worshipful.

If you read the entire Psalm, you will find very human struggles. Not so different from some of the songs written today. Life has sad and hard times. When we find ourselves sitting in the mess of it all, does our soul crave time with Him?

"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God." -Psalm 42:1

Such a beautiful image. Let our souls crave Him like the thirsty deer craves water. Water is life. He is our Living Water.

Today, I am grateful for a lesson from the deer.

Sun With Water

 

Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 82: Today, I am grateful we can thrive with sun and water.

This one made me giggle. It is kind of true. Having just returned from some fun in the sun and water, I am reminded basic water and sun are to life. They are crucial.

"Don't forget to drink water and get sun. You're basically a houseplant with complicated emotions."

We were made to crave the water and the sun.

I love the conversation Jesus had with the Woman at the Well. It is one of my favorites in the entire Bible. To know Him is to experience the "Living Water."

“If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water” -John 4:10

Jesus in another conversation refers to himself as "The Light of the World."

"Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” -John 8:12

There is no darkness for those who walk in Him. We were made to crave the water and the Son.

Today, I am grateful we can thrive with sun and water.

Trust the Captain

Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 81: Today, I am grateful we can trust the "Captain."

We just had a big, magical adventure on a boat. This is a picture of our Captain. Her name was Valerie, too. We called her Captain Val. She was amazing. Her attention to every detail made the day go flawlessly. She is small but mighty. She could cast an anchor and get it safely set. She could swiftly pull anchor and move when we needed to move. She was impressive.

I knew it would be a good day while watching her complete the safety checks and listening to the way she prepped us. She gave clear directions for our safety... and to protect the boat. Let me tell you, the girl knows how to park a boat!

It was fun to watch her work and even more fun to listen to what she had to say. We quickly knew that she could be trusted. Never once did the vastness of the sea seem "too much" with her at the helm.

She was constantly looking for potential trouble and found some. There was a group that had rented a Catamaran that they were captaining themselves. They had abandoned their boat to eat and play on White Beach.

The Catamaran was drifting toward where we were anchored with two other vessels. There was not enough room for any of us to escape the drifting boat. The three captains worked together to resolve the problem. Captain Val was in a good spot to see what was going on with the drifting ship. The other two Captains boarded a dingy and headed to the catamaran. They boarded it, ready to take action and move it.

Eventually, the crew of the abandoned Catamaran saw them and came back to the boat. They did not seem happy. They did not understand the problem. They were clueless. They were not following the established rules and protocol. They didn't seem to have a real captain who was trustworthy. They only thought they knew what they were doing.

We were grateful for the three captains who knew trouble when they saw it. And, they were willing to jump in, work together, and do what needed to be done.

I am so grateful we have Jesus who is the Captain of our ship. The Holy Spirit guides us like GPS and we have an anchor that holds.

“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence." -Jeremiah 17:7

Today, I am grateful we can trust the "Captain."

Things That Glow

 

Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 80: Today, I am grateful for things that glow.

There is something fascinating about something that glows. Children of all ages love glow sticks. Fireflies are fascinating. City lights and even kayaks can glow.

A bright light disperses the darkness and cuts through the night. Sometimes a bright light is too much.

A glow is a softer kind of light. Remember the children's toy called a "glow worm?" It would glow when it was squeezed. It was designed to comfort children at bedtime.

"All around him was a glowing halo, like a rainbow shining in the clouds on a rainy day. This is what the glory of the Lord looked like to me." -Ezekiel 1:28

The glory of the Lord is described like a "glow." We can only imagine.

Today, I am grateful for things that glow.

Garden Tips

 

Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 79: Today, I am grateful for garden tips.

I do not think Mama loved gardening. She did it, but it felt more like work than fun. We helped. Not always with joyful spirits. She did love the produce that came from the garden and we enjoyed the canned vegetables until the next season. Dad loved things made with homemade canned tomatoes.

This image was posted as a suggestion for a win-win garden tip. Plant marigolds between rows of vegetables to keep the critters from the veggies and it good for the at risk bee population.

It reminded me of the tricks the Native people taught the settlers when they came. Corn, squash, and beans were called the three sisters. They grew better together.

This scripture is a perfect reminder that some things compliment each other.

"But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!" -Galatians 5:22-23

They grow better together!

Today, I am grateful for garden tips.

Homecomings

Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 78: Today, I am grateful for homecomings.

There is something wonderful about homecomings.

 I've never been able to watch soldier homecomings without choking up. There was a commercial showing a soldier being reunited with her big, gray dog. The affection is deep and real. 

Videos showing soldiers who show up at their children's schools when they get home always make me cry. 

Young adults surprising parents with an unexpected homecoming from college is always sweet, too. 

I could not help but think of Joseph being reunited with his father, Jacob, and brothers. The story has some really ugly parts, but the reunions, forgiveness, and redemption in the story are unforgettable. Joseph didn't go home. Home came to Joseph. God redeemed the ugly and turned for their good. He has a way of doing that. 

"When Joseph arrived, he embraced his father and wept, holding him for a long time. " Genesis 46:28b

Today, I am grateful for homecomings.

A Good Night's Sleep

 

Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 77: Today, I am grateful for a good night’s sleep.

Rest is so important to well being. It is easy to neglect. I am not good at protecting my sleep hours. I feel better when I do.

Yesterday was full of physical activity. I could hear the bed calling me to sleep. So, I answered the call. A good sleep is the best way to recharge.

Today, I am grateful for a good night’s sleep.

Caribbean Blues

 Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 76: Today, I am grateful for Caribbean blues.

They are my favorite blues. They were Mama Ina Mae's, too. From the color of a robin's egg and sea glass to the blue ink of deeper waters. They are beautiful. beyond compare.

My favorite is the color of Caribbean waters when the water is shallow. It is a clear and truly magnificent. I never tire of the color.

The majesty of His creation never ceases to awe and amaze. How many colors are there on the spectrum?

Today, I am grateful for Caribbean blues.

Sunscreen

Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 75: Today, I am grateful for sunscreen.

I love the sun. I do not like being sunburned. In this chapter of my life, I do not want to speed the aging process. Sunscreen is my friend.

Back around 1997, Mary Schmich wrote a book called, Wear Sunscreen (A Primer for Real Life). If I recall, it was a graduation address. Someone was smart enough to encourage her to put it in a book. It is full of advice for the young just starting out. Wear sunscreen is the last tidbit of advice given.

Sunscreen should be common sense, but it is sometimes an afterthought. I don't like how it feels. I do appreciate the benefits.

Love the sun, but respect it, too. And don't forget the sunscreen. There are times we all need shelter.

"For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock." -Psalm 27:5

That passage reminds me to be grateful for shelter and protection. 

Today, I am grateful for sunscreen.

Play

Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 74: Today, I am grateful for play.

"Play is the highest form of research." -Albert Einstein

What a wonderful quote! It is full of truth. So many of the greatest discoveries in the world have been accidental or a result of play. While attempting to create or solve one problem, another fun discovery was made.

They say that play is a child's work. Grown-ups need play, too. Play increases our sense of well-being.

What is your favorite form of play? For some it is art or dancing. For others, they sculpt beautiful gardens and carve from wood. A simple card game or crochet are different kinds of play. Write a song or a poem. It is all play.

"Sing a new song of praise to him; play skillfully on the harp, and sing with joy." -Psalm 33:3

Today, I am grateful for play.

Puzzles

Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 73: Today, I am grateful for puzzles.

I enjoy puzzles and mysteries. I like to figure things out before the solution is revealed. It is a good way to keep our brains active. Wordle is the latest word puzzle I use to relax. Some find it frustrating. I find it a way to unwind.

I have a fun memory of playing puzzles with Randy's side of the family a few years ago at our Craig and Monica's house (our nephew, niece, and great-niece, Addy, too). It is not something we get to do often, but we were gathered to grieve and had some extra time. It was a perfect way to hang out together with all ages.

The puzzle was a Florida map. Many conversations grew out of the places on the map of Florida. We shared memories and laughter. We made more memories. I can hear Lola and Sheryl saying, "Randy!" in a way that only sisters can.

There are times puzzles are hard to figure out. It often seems the pieces do not fit together as they should. There are times when a piece does not seem right, but it fits perfectly in the end.

It is a perfect metaphor of God's hand in the plan of our world and or lives. We tend to think we our the center of the universe. In our own families, we have to adjust if a family member has special needs or is simply struggling. Imagine being the Creator of the Universe and trying to balance one treasured child's needs against the other?

"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." - Romans 8:28

I am grateful for the promise that even in the hard days, our God is working things out. I am grateful he designed us with a sense of curiosity and the desire to solve puzzles and mysteries.

Today, I am grateful for puzzles.

Plants That Repel Mosquitoes

Gratitude Year 12 - Day 72: Today, I am grateful for plants that repel mosquitoes.

Warmer weather has me thinking about evenings on the patio. If it is nice, Randy and I eat out there most evenings. We love sitting under the pergola at the end of the day. Food tastes better outdoors. The only downside is the mosquitoes.

We grow mosquitoes fairly large in Illinois. They drive me crazy. I seem to be more susceptible than Randy. Did you know there are plants you can add to your landscape to ward off the unwanted mosquitoes?

Last year I planted lemongrass and citronella to deter the pesky bugs. There was a bit of basil too. I think this year I will be more intentional and add in some lavender, rosemary and lemon thyme to the mix.

Spring plantings are just around the corner. The ambitious will start from seeds. I will make my way the local garden centers to capture my favorites.

The land produced vegetation—all sorts of seed-bearing plants, and trees with seed-bearing fruit. Their seeds produced plants and trees of the same kind. And God saw that it was good. -Genesis 1:12

Some plants are really good!

Today, I am grateful for plants that repel mosquitoes.

Great Expectations

Gratitude Year 12 - Day 71: Today, I am grateful for great expectations.

What an amazing description of March.

"It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the winds blow cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade." -Charles Dickens, Great Expectations

I believe we read the book, "Great Expectations," in the 8th Grade with Miss Rosie Chalfant. Some of my Nash Jr. High/ CHS classmates may be able to confirm or deny that memory. Perhaps Dickens was an early influence on my love of descriptive language. Miss Evelyn Schlie led us through a "Tale of Two Cities" in high school.

Miss Margaret Mills was our leader through Shakespeare, and she would have had it no other way. "MacBeth" was so witty, once we started to understand the language. And "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, I have reread parts of it as an adult. It is classic literature and points to the fact that people do not really change that much over the centuries. The clothing and language may change, but choices driven by love, deception, power struggles, family feuds, economic challenges, and bribery are the same.

I am grateful my English teachers had great expectations for us. Many from my days at Central High School have gone on to use the power of their words for good, for entertainment, and to research and record history, to interpret the law, and to write well because our Language Arts teachers would not let us be defeated by difficult language.

I failed to mention two very special teachers. My 6th grade teacher, Ms. Pat Braun-Schroeder, was the first to encourage me to write and embrace my love of words. She knew me. I baby-sat for her children and loved being with her. She gave me one of my most treasured books... a Thesaurus with a warning that words could be powerful and I should choose and use them wisely. I am so grateful we have stayed connected over these many years. She was my first real mentor and today I count her as a friend.

Last but not least, forget Mrs. Clara Schroeder, who taught Language Arts to a class of squirrely seventh graders at tables in the Library. I remember assignments where she turned us loose in the midst of the books. I think she longed to instill a love of reading in us and she did. She sparked our curiosity, too. She had great expectations.

Great teachers see our potential. They walk with us through the learning curves. They encourage us to learn and grow from our struggles. They expect it.

We can cling to the great expectation we have because of our hope in Jesus. He conquered death so we might be redeemed. We have a priceless inheritance.

"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay " -1 Peter 1:3

Today, I am grateful for great expectations.

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