I am so loving the arrival of this Easter season, it's been a wonderful opportunity to explain to my children what Easter is all about and I love the look of wonder and amazement in their eyes when I explain how awesome Jesus really is. According to Thomas, Jesus ranks higher than Superman. =)
These last couple of days as I've been considering the cross and the resurrection, something that has been a recurring thought is the servanthood of Jesus. When I look to the cross I'm reminded of the verse that says that "He who knew no sin, became sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.", "that Jesus took on the form of a bondservant and subjected Himself to death, even death on a cross". Those words are so familiar to me, I memorized them as a little girl, and yet sometimes the enormity of them are lost to me. Jesus, the Son of God, put aside glory and stepped down to humanity. The sin that He been separated from suddenly surrounded Him, the filthy grime of mankind brushed against Him. When I think of the holiness of my Saviour I am amazed at His grace. The grace to walk among us, to stoop down to our level and offer His hand to pick us up. When I consider Jesus, I am humbled by what I shrink back from. His love crosses infinity, my love often falls short of reaching out to the people right next to me. So often as people I think we stay where we are comfortable, we do those things that we feel familiar with and shrink away from those that may stretch our limits of personal tolerance. But Jesus girded Himself with a towel and washed his disciples feet, the night before He would die for their sins.
When I consider Jesus, His death and resurrection, i'm reminded that these are things that Jesus submitted Himself to, choices He made. As I live to make Him known does my life reflect the servanthood of Jesus? Am I willing to make myself "of no reputation"? Does my heart desire to demonstrate love towards people when they are at that moment sinning against me? I pray that the part of me that clings to my rights, seeks my own way and fights so hard against that notion of "servanthood" would indeed be crucified with Christ, and that the life that I live would be a better representation of my Savior's heart for those around me.
Happy Jesus Resurrection Day, may His life be real in ours!
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Friday, April 1, 2011
A romantic idea
I love when there is some tangible feeling of the changing of seasons, you know, when you glance outside and then realize that the sun is just now setting and it isn't even six o'clock yet, or the beginning of those tiny buds are starting to blossom in the apple trees. I think one of my earliest associations with spring have to be daffodils. Aren't they the quintessential spring flower? They're just so bright and cheerful, almost like they are daring the clouds to come out and rain on them. Anyway, they were always blooming at Easter time, and I love the memories of bringing home handfuls to put in a vase at home, though the vase usually turned out to be a mason jar.
I always get this springtime bug; this urge to go out and buy geraniums and petunias and fill my balcony with them. I usually end up only buying a few plants, mainly because there is a running joke in our home about my ability to keep plants alive, or would that be my lack of ability? I really want to make a trip to the "vrtni centar" or garden store, but I know any premature implementations will most likely get blown away. We have a wind here that has no respect of balcony items, whether it may be clothes hanging on the line, or pretty potted flowers or even our swing, all have been mercilessly upended by a howling wind at one time or another. So I'm spying on my more experienced neighbors, when they start adorning their balconies I will be happy to wander the aisles of flowers at the garden supply and dream of a what a magnificent balcony garden I could have if the romantic idea that I was a good gardener actually was true.
Romantic ideas are interesting things; I often get these thoughts of something I'd like to do, like exercising, or gardening or decorating, and the ideas are always perfect in my head. It's the execution of these things that I can get hung up on; sometimes I'd like to just throw in the towel when it doesn't look like things are going the way I thought they should. Sometimes, being a missionary can seem like a romantic idea. We can have expectations of what the response to our lives and ministry will be, and often times reality is much different. We can put seeds out, water and tend them, see the little signs of growth and then watch aghast when that wind blusters through decimating any progress that we had seen. It is hard too see those signs of life torn away, it's hard to watch the cares of this world to pluck away the seeds from someone's heart.
However there are also times when we get to see the Lord do a miracle in someone's life. There are times when we get to experience the Spirit's life changing work transform a life that has yielded over to Jesus. In our romantic ideals we would see this often, there would be overwhelming response to every endeavor to share the Gospel. But, something we've learned on this journey the Lord has lead us on, is that while the Lord cares deeply for each and every soul we share with, He also cares deeply for ours own. Our expectations often times omit the issues that are in our own lives, those lovely little details that the Lord wants us to surrender over to Him. I love that Jesus didn't save me to serve Him, He saved me to be with Him. And as I walk with Jesus, He gently shows me that if everything fit into the picture the way that I think it should I would often forget my desperate need for Him. I'm so thankful for those moments that initially seem to fall short of ideal, because in my lack He shows me His abundance.
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all we could ever ask or think, according to the power which works in us. To Him be the glory in the Church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever, Amen. Ephesians 3:20
I always get this springtime bug; this urge to go out and buy geraniums and petunias and fill my balcony with them. I usually end up only buying a few plants, mainly because there is a running joke in our home about my ability to keep plants alive, or would that be my lack of ability? I really want to make a trip to the "vrtni centar" or garden store, but I know any premature implementations will most likely get blown away. We have a wind here that has no respect of balcony items, whether it may be clothes hanging on the line, or pretty potted flowers or even our swing, all have been mercilessly upended by a howling wind at one time or another. So I'm spying on my more experienced neighbors, when they start adorning their balconies I will be happy to wander the aisles of flowers at the garden supply and dream of a what a magnificent balcony garden I could have if the romantic idea that I was a good gardener actually was true.
Romantic ideas are interesting things; I often get these thoughts of something I'd like to do, like exercising, or gardening or decorating, and the ideas are always perfect in my head. It's the execution of these things that I can get hung up on; sometimes I'd like to just throw in the towel when it doesn't look like things are going the way I thought they should. Sometimes, being a missionary can seem like a romantic idea. We can have expectations of what the response to our lives and ministry will be, and often times reality is much different. We can put seeds out, water and tend them, see the little signs of growth and then watch aghast when that wind blusters through decimating any progress that we had seen. It is hard too see those signs of life torn away, it's hard to watch the cares of this world to pluck away the seeds from someone's heart.
However there are also times when we get to see the Lord do a miracle in someone's life. There are times when we get to experience the Spirit's life changing work transform a life that has yielded over to Jesus. In our romantic ideals we would see this often, there would be overwhelming response to every endeavor to share the Gospel. But, something we've learned on this journey the Lord has lead us on, is that while the Lord cares deeply for each and every soul we share with, He also cares deeply for ours own. Our expectations often times omit the issues that are in our own lives, those lovely little details that the Lord wants us to surrender over to Him. I love that Jesus didn't save me to serve Him, He saved me to be with Him. And as I walk with Jesus, He gently shows me that if everything fit into the picture the way that I think it should I would often forget my desperate need for Him. I'm so thankful for those moments that initially seem to fall short of ideal, because in my lack He shows me His abundance.
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all we could ever ask or think, according to the power which works in us. To Him be the glory in the Church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever, Amen. Ephesians 3:20
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