A Hunger to See

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 89: Today, I am grateful for a hunger to see.

What or who do we "hunger to see?" There are many different answers, as we are all unique in our experiences. There might be far away places our hearts desire to visit or it might be a full night of sleep for those with new babies in the house. 

The Lent passage for today is long because I could not decide where to start and stop. It all fits together to show the fear mounting around Jesus. Raising Lazarus from the dead created quite a stir. Everyone was talking about it. Four days in the grave, and Lazarus comes out fully alive, whole, and with no stench of death on him. What a miracle! 

The chief priests plotting Jesus's death decided they should kill Lazarus, too... again. Jesus and Lazarus were a dangerous combination. Too many people were seeing and believing in Jesus. The church leaders had a hunger to see both Jesus and Lazarus eliminated. 

Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii[a day's wages for a laborer] and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

The Plot to Kill Lazarus

9 When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus. -John 12:1-11 

There it was. The real threat was the evidence of the power in Jesus's hands and commands. Lazarus was living proof. The people wanted to see Lazarus for themselves. Imagine the conversations! But, quietly in the whispers, others wanted to see Jesus dead and Lazarus dead again. 

Today, I am grateful for a hunger to see.

Signs of Rebirth

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 88: Today, I am grateful for signs of rebirth. 

There is something about dead things coming back to life that never ceases to amaze me. That from a hard, lifeless seed, life sprouts when living water is applied.  

This is Holy Week! It is all about the dead coming back to life. Sin causes shame. Shame leads to separation and loss of relationship. Jesus came to bring forgiveness, cleansing, healing, hope, and victory over death. New life is a miracle every time! 

It’s been a full day of waving palm, washing feet, and remembering Aunt Judy with family and friends. The drive was full of new life on the ground and in the trees. It was really a gorgeous day. With each ending comes new beginnings. 

Pause. Ponder. Pray  

Today, I am grateful for signs of rebirth. 

Third Times a Charm

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 87: Today, I am grateful that the "third time's a charm." 

Honestly, by the third attempt at something, we have a chance to tweak what is wrong and finally "get it right." Bakers rarely feel the first time they bake something that it is perfect. The saying is old, but still in our lexicon. French and Spanish have similar sayings, too. 

Communications 101 taught us that we must tell people something three times for it to be committed to memory. Somehow, things stick on the third telling. 

For today's Lent passage, Jesus is taking his third attempt at telling the disciples that his death is coming. They did not want to hear it. Was it selective hearing? In retrospect, it would all become clear, but at the time it did not sink in. 

"They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”-Mark 10:32-34

Not a pleasant prediction, so did the disciples close their ears to the possibility? It made no sense. Jesus was healing people. He raised Lazarus from the dead. He did not pick a fight, but he did not back down when the religious leaders poked at him, trying to catch him breaking a law. They were out to get him, and he was fully aware. 

Three times Jesus tried to tell them, but they were still surprised. At that moment, Jesus was being sought out and celebrated by many. The idea of everyone turning on him seemed unlikely at the height of his popularity with the common people as well as some of the powerful Roman citizens. 

Were they too caught up in the Passover festivities? Did the Palm Sunday triumphal entry make them overly confident? With Holy Week ahead, are we preparing our hearts? 

"Three days later he will rise.” Oh, that third day is coming! 

Today, I am grateful that the "third time's a charm." 

The Final Word

 

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 86: Today, I am grateful for the final word.

My verse for today is one of my favorites. It is Paul writing to he much loved brothers and sisters in Christ knowing that this time, they might really kill him for sharing the Good News of the gospel. He realized that live or die, he wins! Absolutely and with not a single doubt. 

"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!" -Philippians 1:21-22

Paul began his life as Saul. He was well-versed and a scholar of the scriptures. He was Jewish and a Roman citizen. He lived when Jesus lived, but he did not know him. He watched them stone Stephen for his faith. He had not encountered Jesus personally. 

His "come to Jesus moment" could be the origin of that phrase. Jesus showed up after his return to heaven with so much light Saul was struck down and blinded. He was a passionate coach, but he was playing on the wrong team. He needed a new jersey to wear. Everything changed that day. He had to be blinded for him to see. When his vision was restored, the world looked different. He required a name change to accompany his new sight and redirection. I love Paul's passion. I think it might have been a bit overwhelming in person. He was bold in word and in deed. 

At the end of his life, Paul could not lose. To live was to preach the gospel another day; to die was to be with the Lord he came to know and love more than life. Either way, it is a win! 

When the final word on our lives is spoken, I am so grateful that we have "an advocate before the Father" who walked this earth and lived in our skin when the final word is spoken. "Well done, good and faithful servant." 

Today, I am grateful for the final word.

Intercessions

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 85: Today, I am grateful for intercessions.

This is my Lent scripture for today: 

“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” -Romans 8:26

It is absolutely the right verse for the right time. When our hearts ache and break, we have the Holy Spirit to intervene on our behalf. Jesus promised the comforter would come and he did. 

The Holy Spirit is part of the Holy Trinity. He is a constant companion for those who believe and receive. In any and every trial and loss that comes our way. We are never abandoned or forsaken. From the time Jesus cried out from the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" to the promise of the Holy Spirit to the disciples after His resurrection, Jesus knew the reality of feeling abandoned. He did not want that for us. 

From the garden, to the cross, to the grave, and from His first heartbeat in resurrection... Jesus experienced it all. He did what we could not do in conquering sin and death. For forty days He was with them, but knew he was returning to Heaven. In His leaving, he would not abandon us. The Holy Spirit is with us, for us, and interceding in our prayers when human words fail. 

His faithfulness endures. His promises are true. His Spirit is with us always so we are never abandoned and alone. 

Today, I am grateful for intercessions.

A Good Cleaning

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 84: Today, I am grateful for a good cleaning. 

I love a good cleaning. My nose is very sensitive to bad smells. I am good at detecting gas leaks, I can often name fragrances I am familiar with, I love clean sheet smells, and the clean smell of rain. I adore the smell of clean floors. Clean is one of my favorite scents.  What about cleaning our hearts? 

We are four days from Palm Sunday. It is a Sunday of celebration remembering Jesus's triumphal entry on the back of a donkey... not a horse. The people understood that the king who comes on a donkey comes in peace; the king who comes on a horse comes for war. He was about to fight the biggest battle of all time from a place of humility, but on the Sunday before the Friday, they celebrated the one who had healed so many and just raised Lazarus from the dead. No wonder there was excitement. 

Many did not understand that He was about to "clean house" in a different way. Things were about to change. Many could recite Isaiah, Psalm 22 and Psalm 23, but missed the prophecies being fulfilled before their eyes. I do not judge them. I fear that I would have missed Him, too, had I been present. 

The scripture for today: 

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." -1 John 1:9 

To know that we can acknowledge our sins honestly to God is something new and different. They had grown up with priests. They learned how to shepherd a flock from the Good Shepherd, Jesus.  They confessed their sins directly to Him, realizing he already knew them. He told Judas to do what he had to do. The Centurion and the Woman at the Well both experienced the "truth"-ometer that was a part of Jesus. He knew before they confessed, but confession is good for our souls. 

We are challenged to trust in God's faithfulness and justice, even when absolutely nothing makes sense in today's trials, illness, loss or brokenness. We can never be "good enough" to earn salvation. It is a gift. We need only to believe and receive. A clean slate and the debt paid in full! What a gift! 

He purifies us from all unrighteousness. He makes our sins white as snow. We can embrace the assurance of His grace and mercy.

Today, I am grateful for a good cleaning. 

Gifts Received

Daily Gratitude- Year 14 - Day 83: Today, I am grateful for gifts received. 

Have you ever ordered a gift from Amazon or been promised a gift that was never received? If you are a giver there is frustration because you did the work of ordering, sending and paying for the gift. If you are an expecting recipient, there is disappointment. 

Have you ever been given a gift that was never opened for whatever reason that might be? 

It is 12 days until Easter. This passage is perfect. 

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." -Romans 6:3

Jesus was the gift on Christmas morning. He gave us the gift of mercy and grace when he took our place on the cross. I've always loved the idea that love held him to the cross, not nails. The love was the power, but the nails were real. The pain and suffering was man's brutality pour out on an innocent man. He paid our sin debt as a gift. 

With only twelve days until Easter, the gift is still available. Many have knowledge of the gift, but have never opened it. Others have opened it and walked ways. Some are discovering the freedom in unwrapping the gift for the first time. 

How will we approach Easter this year? Does the best gift ever remain unopened?

Today, I am grateful for gifts received.