AT NO COST TO YOU

 My weird sense of me--just loves to throw out skeptical remarks.  In truth I tend to be  a skeptic of the highest order -not proud--wish I could go around always thinking the glass is half full--not half empty.  The combination of life experiences and a little side dose of low self esteem have made me look at the world through the lens of doubtful.  My glasses are not rose colored, but perhaps a filmy gray.  I call myself a realist, but truthfully I lean more toward pessimist.  A perky optimist can absolutely send me up the wall, if I am not careful to hide my skepticism.

SO, when someone comes along with a "too good to be true offer", I ALWAYS think this is too good to be true.  I have zero chance of ever winning any contest.  I am convinced I will not win, so why try?  If it sounds too good to be true, it is too good to be true- is my mantra.  It is set in stone that I will never win any of these contests we see promoted, because my hard core doubt prevents me from bothering to enter them.  NOW---AGAIN--I am not proud.  BUT, that is who I am.

Recently I heard an offer that caught my ear.  An all expense paid trip to a paradise beyond your wildest imagination.  No strings attached--the trip is 100% paid for--at absolutely NO cost to me.  And all I have to do is pledge my allegiance and loyalty to the payer.  Do I once again roll my eyes or do I at least investigate the possibility?  For the sake of my eternal soul---I took the offer and started the trip.  

When you hear the offer, I hope you too will take it for truth--not only is it low cost--it is no cost to you.  Jesus is waiting to issue you a ticket--all you have to do is believe.

"I give them eternal life,

and they will never perish,

and no one will snatch them out of my hand."

John 10:28

THE BLESSING OF ETERNAL MOMENTS

My time of mentoring and tutoring is spent in a room with many other students and mentors.    I have developed a special relationship with one of these precious children and her mentor.  We often spend time together working on projects, sharing snacks, and developing community.

Recently this precious child told me her mother had passed.  A profound and life affecting occurrence for one so young.  What she did not realize was she had shared with someone who knew exactly what she was talking about and understood with great empathy her loss.  If I explained all the intricacies involved in the opportunity for her to share with me, you would like me--know God orchestrated the moment.  Her family was incomplete--one side of the two cords that kept her swing swinging had disappeared, exactly as my life had been.  It is a permanent life shaping occurrence.

I looked at her and told her how sorry I was and then explained my daddy had died when I was in school also.  I understood the loss of a parent and the day to day reminders.   I shared the assurance of how proud her mother was of her, I explained how her mother lived on through her.

When she asked, "Do you go visit your Daddy?", I must admit at first I was taken back.  I replied, "Do you mean at the cemetery?"  Her response was a silent nod of the head with her eyes downcast.

Taking a deep breath, I told her the cemetery where my daddy rested was a long way away and that I was unable to visit very often.  Pausing--I allowed time for her to slowly look back up. I smiled and said, "But I do visit him in my memories which are stored deep within my heart. He has a new home now and is no longer here---he lives in a beautiful heaven with our great God . "  She smiled as she gazed into my eyes and I squeezed her sweet hand as we continued down the path.  

God often gifts us with beautiful and eternal moments.  What a Blessing!

"My son, keep your father's commands and do not forsake your mother's teaching.  Bind them upon your heart forever; fasten them around your neck."

Proverbs 6:20-21

EXIT INTERVIEW

One of my mother's infamous sayings as I was growing up--"Pretty is as pretty does."  Perhaps she had given up on my physical appearance and moved on to what she thought she did have some control over.  That is a whole other post in fact that is an entire book!

We were talking over Satan--and who he is-at Bible Study recently and the role he plays in our lives-if we allow him to influence our lives.  Our leader reminded us that yes, we were indeed saved by grace and would be allowed to cross that threshold because of the blood that was shed, BUT we also are going to be judged.  When I began mulling this over, I thought---not unlike an exit interview.  Popular in the business world-exit interviews are the time when you get to expound upon the job you did and they get to tell you how well you performed.

One of the last exit interviews I had, the boss told me that I was not always easy to work with and I told him it was not always easy to work for him.  I suppose we saw eye to eye on that subject.  I came away with a lesson learned on passive aggressive behavior and I hope he came away with a lesson on organization.  There is always something to be learned.

Our exit interview on that day of judgement will probably not be a two sided conversation or if it is our justification for our failures will ring shallow and hollow.  We will stand before the GREAT JUDGE---the HIGH AND RIGHTEOUS JUDGE and He is going to critique our lives.  An intimidating thought--depending upon the day even horrifying!  The part of our lives where we lived for the temporal--the fleshly--that which is of this world--will crumble to dust-no dirt--and all that will stand for eternal will be left to convert into jewels.

Jewels for our crown---which we will lay at His feet--- After all what crown would we ever get--without first His opening the gate to the kingdom?

BECAUSE I am thankful for the precious gift of children,
the child I tutored received a special blessing from me today.

"Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."

II Timothy 4:8

PASS THE FISH

It was a day like so many others---beautiful blue sky—a shy breeze blowing with a slight nip in the air.  The sunshine was beckoning me out my door and away from the four walls that leads to claustrophobic tearing out of my hair.  The city is always filled with throngs and if I stand in the front yard, under the pretense of cleaning flower beds, I can witness all forms and shapes of the humanity marching by.  I find it quite amazing as they pass by on the time broken sidewalk, the spirit of disconnect of almost all.  Holding unto their phones or reading their notes or staring straight ahead-the masses march by with never a glance or a nod—as if I do not exist.

On this beautiful day, as I stand and sheepishly observe, I notice something new—why something quite different.  In the beginning I see groups of people all headed in the same direction, but excitedly talking as they swiftly walk past.  Then the crowd begins to thicken and their voices are raised into a roar of thrilled chatter.

 My curiosity gets the best and I pick out a kind face and shout---“Where are you all going—what is happening?”  She turns and swiftly answers without missing a step, “He is here—just ahead—in the field just over the hill!”  I cry after her as her back disappears among the throng, “WHO?”  It now seems this has grown into a parade, and who am I to pass up a parade?  So I slip into the midst of the group with no thought except to see what there is to see.

Just over the hill turns into five miles.  A long walk –without being prepared—only following the crowd and pulled along by the throng.  There is much laughter and chatter, and they all seem carried away by what is in store.  We finally arrive and as I glance around I see a beautiful grassy hillside with thousands gathered round.  On top standing on a rock is one lone man –and all are stopping and quietening to listen with rapt attention as he speaks.

As I look at the man, I think he is just a man—an ordinary man.  Then I notice the sun shimmering off his garment and a rainbow like haze all around him.  While listening to his voice, I hear a melodic rhythm that is also as powerful as the largest symphony—and all are still and quiet leaning in to hear every word.

The morning passes in a flash as we all listen to his words.  I soon discover he is talking just to me and seems to know all about me—my wants, needs and desires.  Everyone surrounding me thinks the same—that he is speaking directly to them.  It is difficult to understand how a speech made to a huge throng can really be meant for only one.

        Noon is upon us and how foolish we appear.  We have all just joined the parade to hear this great man without a thought of noon and the need to eat.  The crowds begin to murmur as it becomes apparent there will be no noon repast without the long walk back.  All at once one of the men with him tells us all to sit down.  Slowly we settle on the grass and look from side to side, wondering what is next from this great teacher.

        Has he sent for food for all of us?  Is there hope for a meal?  Will a caterer soon arrive or is their pizza on the way?  Then to my great surprise, they take five loaves of bread and two small sardines from a small-ordinary child who offers to share it all.  I laugh to myself---why we all know this will never feed more than three. 

        They begin to pass the fish and the bread---it goes from person to person and wonder of all wonders---it feeds the vast number.  After we have eaten—why even stuffed ourselves—his men walk among us and collect what is left.  There is more left than we started with-why much more—how can this be—what wonder is this?

        How did a man that appeared to be ordinary---take this ordinary meal—and feed a crowd of thousands?  How did this man who seemed to be just like all other men---know all about me?  How did this man speak directly to me in the midst of a crowd?  If he can make all this happen, surely he can be trusted for more---why perhaps even with my life. 

        A day that started with watching the world go by, led to joining the parade and following the crowd, and then being fed by food for not only my belly but also words for my heart.  What a day when I decided to follow, hear, and obey as he said, “Pass the fish, please.”

Today I relish in the joy and am thankful for the

blessing of being fed from the Master's Table.

"Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee

and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick."

John 6: 1-2

COMPLETE TEXT JOHN 6:1-14