Taking A Journey

I AM THE EMPTY TOMB

Just a few days ago, I was charged with the job to hold and cradle the body of the Son of God!

Today he is no longer with us! You see, he awoke and the stone was rolled away!

I no longer hold him, for he has

RISEN FROM THE DEAD!!!

 

Taking A Journey

I AM THE TOMB

I have been purchased by a wealthy gentleman for his last resting place. But now I find myself being used for a common criminal. I cannot imagine what this rich man was thinking to use me in this way.

I am to be a place of honor, a place of respect and a place for the wealthy, not for a person who was disgraced by dying on a cross where thieves dye.

Yet, when this man’s family brought his body to be laid inside of this tomb, I realized that this man was someone who was great; he was gentle, he was kind and there was something that spoke to me about him.

I am so proud to be the place chosen to hold the body of this great man; The Son of God!

I now become dark as the soldiers are sealing the doorway with a huge rock, because if they don’t in a day of two this earthly shell will begin to smell and those who come to pay homage to this man will not want to have a vivid memory of such a smell.

It is cold in here, dark and hard; but I will wrap my smooth shape around his body, just like a cradle!

Trust me, I will hold him softly as long as he remains!

Taking A Journey

I Am The Wood

I once was a small seed that grew into a tree, full of leaves and branches. I had strong roots to secure me in the soil that fed me; so that a I could become this massive tree strong and beautiful. Dark and rich in the colors of woodland greens and browns of all hues and colors

Now that I have grown to the point of becoming something more that just taking from the earth, I am now to the point in time where I am being called upon to give. SoI freely give myself over to be cut and hewn into something that will be remembered for all of eternity.

I am being cut in such a way that I am being made into the cross that will carry the Savior of the world. You see I will carry the body of the man that was cast out by his own kind to be killed for something he did not do. Many of his followers just turned their backs on him for the frenzie of the moment; which caught them off guard.

I remember being in the area close to his home and watching him grow into the strong man he is today, the day that I, the tree, was chosen for. Yes, I am heavy and I will be difficult for him to maneuver, but I am honored to give my life for the sake of holding the Son of God. This man named Jesus will never be forgotten. I know I have rough edges and carrying me will cause even more pain for him. I will try very hard to be gentle! When he falls under my weight I will continue to be as gentle as I can.

You see I am the wood of the cross. I am the last thing this man called Jesus will touch. I will become the symbol for all of his followers, not only his followers now, but in the generations to come!

Taking A Journey

I AM THE NAILS

The blacksmith was very fastidious when making me, he heated the metal and shaped it just perfectly, then would cool it quickly so the ore would set very hard. The 2 other nails were also made with the same precision and work. So again I wonder what great thing we are going to hold together?


I hear the master blacksmith speaking with a Roman soldier, he is demanding 3 strong nails! I was then given to the soldier and carried in his pocket for quite some time. I see I am going to be used at the death of another criminal on the hill of Golgatha. WAIT, this is not just some ordinary criminal this is Jesus, the one who has spoken about the kingdom of God. I wonder why he is going to be crucified?

The soldiers are hammering me into the hands of this man they call Jesus, and lifting him on the cross in between two other men. I hear one ask Jesus to be with him when he dies. This man must be who he claims to be.

I know I am just metal that has been made into nails, the nails that held the savior of the world to the cross where he died. After they remove his body, I wonder what they will do with me, will they keep me or just discard them like all the others. No, someone is putting the nails in their cloak's pocket.

I know now that I am not just ordinary nail. I am the nail that pierced the hands and feet of Jesus the Christ. I am the nail that people will remember into eternity.

                                              

Taking a Journey

Once again we take this journey called Lent. You see it comes around each year, just 40 days before Easter. This year we will journey each week on a reflection from a narrative perspective, so let's begin!

I AM THE PATH

     As I lay here being made of dust and earth, I wonder if people even notice that I even exist? You see I have been here since the beginning of time. Many feet have left their shape here on this hard and dusty pathway. I get so weary of people using me daily and never even allow themselves to have a passing thought of what happens at the end to where I lead.

    You see I am the path that leads from the great city of Jerusalem to the hill of Golgotha. The place called the skull. The only people that are fearful of me are those that know that at the end comes death. I have had many people walk through my dust and earth to get to the top of this hill and it is not an easy journey; but I must tell you for at least one person it was a necessary journey.

     For my dust and earth you will remember each Ash Wednesday, that I must be just what I was created to be, a path! I am the path that led the greatest man to ever walk this earth to his death. A death that was decided long before the world was made. You see I am the dust and earth that carry the footsteps of this man called Jesus.

     Jesus left Jerusalem that day to carry a very heavy cross upon his shoulder along this dust and earth to a hill which he would freely die for all of humankind. He openly and freely died for the sake of all the sin of the world.

     I am so proud to be that dust and earth that was used to carry the Son of God and his cross to become the redemption for all. You see, as you remember each year as you journey this path called Lent, never forget that it began with me, the dust and earth... from ashes to ashes and dust to dust! 

     So today take a walk on this earth that was created for all and remember the greatness of why this journey is so very important. Because another path just like me will take you to the empty tomb!

Merry Christmas

Greeting in the name of the Savior,

         Merry Christmas everyone! I pray that this season will be a blessing to you and your family and friends. It is a time that comes upon us each year as we remember and celebrate the birth of Jesus. He was born in an obscure village, alone with just Mary and Joseph to welcome him into the world that he would eventually die for. However, he was never truly alone, because his heavenly Father was with him every moment of the day and night that he lived and breathed on earth as a human.

         Jesus was greeted by a host of angels, shepherds, animals and eventually the wise men from far off nations. Jesus came to us to be born amongst us, born to a little unknown teenage girl who was very afraid when she was told she would be the mother of God. I don’t know about you, but I would be terrified if an angel showed up and told me I was going to be a very important person in the world today. Someone that would change the course of history.

         As the Christmas season goes  again this year into another memory, let us carry the Christmas story in our hearts and daily lives, so that others can see the Glory in the Highest!

Revive Us Again

When we think about the Holy Spirit, what comes to your mind? For me, I think about gentleness, quiet breezes, then I also think about fire and red glows of light shining forth.

The better question might be what do you know about the Holy Spirit and how the Holy Spirit works in the world today?

Many years ago I learned that God is the same yesterday, today and forever. If this is true then why do we not see the miracles and edification of the third person of theatre its awe did in New Testament times?

All of these questions are vital to our understanding and belief in the presence of God in our lives today! You see, for me the Holy Spirit is real and on the move. The Holy Spirit is active even when we do not realize that things are happening. Take for example revival; revival has been a huge part of the history of our church. We had the First Great Awakening, then came the Second Great Awakening. Now we have a time in the church where the Holy Spirit needs to come alive to us again. We need to all experience a revival in our own hearts and souls, so that God can do what God does best; which is bring the hearts of the people back to  a place of repentance for our sin.

In the church today we don’t like to talk to much about sin, but sin is with us, it has not gone away; for our hearts were made sinful as a result of the first sin. Now we have all sinned and come short of God ‘s glory.

So my prayer for this time of reflection is: Holy Spirit come to us again, bring us into a new and deeper relationship with you, so that we can grow stronger in our understanding of your Word, your forgiveness and grace. Revive our hearts so that well can be cleansed from our sin and become a new person in our walk as a follower of Jesus. Just like you did for all the saints that have gone on before us. Make us new this day! Amen