THAT Saturday

It's the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter Sunday... 

I can only imagine what the disciples were thinking.  The Lord is gone. Dead.  Killed by the rulers and the will of the crowd who would choose a murderer named Barabbas over their Lord:  The Holy One of God.

We do get some insight from two of the disciples on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24. This account takes place after the resurrection, but explains how they were feeling since the crucifixion.  We are told that Jesus came up and walked along with them, but they didn't know it was Him.  They tell Him all that happened:

  
13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.

17 He asked them, “ What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

19 “What things?” he asked.

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”

It's easy in hindsight to scoff at the disciples inability to believe, now that we have the full and complete canon of scripture and know what happens on that amazing third day.  But what about when things don't go the way we think they should in our own life?  When it seems so very dark, like that Sabbath day between Christ's death and resurrection?  How do we react then?  When someone we love dies before (what we consider to be) their time?  When someone we love is battling a sickness we don't think they should have to face?  When someone loses their job and livelihood? Their home?

Can we say that we believe even in the midst of hard times?  I pray so!


My favorite songwriting/singing couple, Andy Gullahorn and Jill Phillips have a song that speaks to this...  I'm so happy that they've each released it on their own individual albums, because there's something special about hearing it in both of their voices.  I highly recommend both of these albums!



Album: The Good Things (2008), Jill Phillips 
            The Law of Gravity (2009), Andy Gullahorn 
 
Resurrection 

My good friend Paul was lying in the backseat of a station wagon
Headed to New Mexico
Somewhere in the middle of the night the driver fell asleep
And hit the wall beside the road
My friend went through the window like a bullet through the glass
Dead before he ever hit the ground

Oh I believe though its hard sometimes
You are the resurrection and the life

Jody is a queen reigning prone upon a couch
For the past few years of numbered days
Because the virus in her body and the cancer in her brain
Are buying up the real estate
The medicine they give her trades nightmares for her dreams
Of memories too tragic to describe

Oh I believe though its hard sometimes
You are the resurrection and the life

I know the words of life to come are true
But sometimes they feel like salt upon the wound
When I’m asking in these moments where are you
Where are you?

Sometimes its like Lazarus,
You come to roll the stone away
And watch him walk back out alive
Sometimes its like my good friend Paul, breathless on the interstate
Mother weeping at his side
Either way its something I will never understand
But I trust enough to take you at your word

So I believe though its hard sometimes
You are the resurrection and the life
 
written by Andy Gullahorn 
©2008 The Gullahorns Music (ASCAP)

Wow... kleenex required!

Saw this this morning and have to share:

Five-Minute Friday: The Hard Love

Joining up with Lisa-Jo at The Gypsy Mama

Let’s just write and not worry if it’s just right or not. Here’s how we do it:

1. Write for 5 minutes flat with no editing or tweaking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in {you can grab the button code in my right side bar}
3. Go and tell the person who linked up before you what their words meant to you. Every writer longs to feel heard. {And if you love us, consider turning off word verification for the day to make it easier for folks to leave you some encouragement}


Start:

The Hard Love

Today is good Friday and epitomizes the Hard Love.  God sending His only Son to die for us.  What love could be harder than that... to lay your life down for a friend, and even for enemies...

Love is a decision, not just a feeling (Paraphrasing Andy Gullahorn/Jill Phillips here).  God loved us so much that He provided us the only way to come to Him, through His very Son.  He had to decide before the dawn of time, before that first sin was committed to have the Way to save His creation, us.  Hard, hard, hard...  But such love!

He is perfect, holy, just, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent and if there was any other way He would have found it.  But...  there was no other way.  His Son was The Way.  The Truth.  The Life.  Praise God.

Stop

Five-Minute Friday: On Distance...

From Lisa-Jo's The Gypsy Mama, it's five minute Friday time again :)

Got five minutes? Let’s write. Let’s finger paint with words
Let’s just write and not worry if it’s just right or not. Here’s how to play along:

1. Write for 5 minutes flat for pure unedited love of the written word.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in {you can grab the button in my right side bar}
3. Go leave some comment props for the five minute artist who linked up before you {and if you love us, consider turning off word verification for the day to make it easier for folks to say howdy}
It’s a great way to catch your breath at the end of a long week.

OK, are you ready? Give me your best five minutes for the prompt:

On Distance

Start:

I have a number of ways in which I'm impacted by distance.

First, we've moved about 12 hours away from our home and native land and those with whom we were familiar, comfortable, and related.  Our hearts are fonder and our times together are more special, but it is still hard sometimes.

Homes in Kingston, Ottawa, & Buckingham. (all featured on this map)

Second, distance is something I feel when I look at my sponsor kids photos.  I may never get to "go" to where they are physically.  But I do go there in my letters and get to visit them with theirs.

 

Third and last as time is running down... distance is something I feel from heaven.  It seems like this sin-ridden body will be mine forever, and I want to be free, free, free...  I know that God has my days planned and they will go faster than I can fathom, but right now it seems very distant.  Even so come, Lord Jesus.  I want to be close to You physically as well as spiritually.

stop 

The Final First Letter!!!

Hmm??  You must be wondering... "Has she finally lost it?"

How can there be a final first letter?

Well here, as in Bible study, context is extremely important.

As you can see by the right side of my page, we sponsor a number of children in developing countries.  We've gotten first letters from all but one of our "new" Compassion children and finally, on Saturday, we got our final first letter :)

Now, really and truly, it was a very short time in transit and translation.  Just slightly over a month.  The date on the letter from Denisse was March 3 and we received it on April 9!  That is possibly the fastest...  Camilo's also came very quickly for the first one.  I'll have to double check, but it was around 1 month too.  Often it can be 2-4 months.  All of our children are in Central and South America and the average so far is around 2 months. 

Of course, said letter is upstairs in my binder, and I'm sleepy, warm, and snuggled into my rocker recliner...  so quotes will have to wait till next time :)

Denisse is young, 5, so it is written by her tutor, but it's still such a blessing to get an letter with her thoughts, even if written by another.

Praise the Lord!

Five-Minute Friday: If You Met Me...

Welcome to Friday!  The pizza's on the stovetop waiting for the phone call from Super-Awesome to say he's on his way home and I have at least 5 minutes to type.  I'm joining up with others for 5 minute Friday, something I haven't done for several weeks.  Trying to get back into the swing of things.

Here are the rules:  Got five minutes? Let’s write. Let’s write in shades of real and true and unscripted.
Let’s just write and not worry if it’s just right or not.

1. Write for 5 minutes flat for pure unedited love of the written word.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. Go leave some comment props for the five minuter who linked up before you.

If you met me...

Go:

If you met me, you'd probably notice my dark framed glasses first.  I'd hope you'd notice my smile second.  But some days the smiles don't come as quick as usual.  I feel grumpier than usual lately and I'm not sure why.  Probably a number of things...  Yesterday was my dad's birthday and he died over a year ago...  that's probably part of it.  But not all of it.  I'm in a different country and have been for about a year and a half and although I feel more acclimatized, there are still days that I miss good ol' Canada.  I don't really feel like I fit anywhere perfectly.  This is probably a good thing, since I'm to have an eternal perspective and am to simply be a sojourner here on this earth...  this move has made this more real to me.  I have to remember who I am in Christ and then I can smile more easily...  and find my joy in Him.

Stop.

That didn't come as quickly as some other posts, but there it's out... out... out...

Less faces & an egg hunt!

Praise the Lord!

2 more families requested sponsor children at the Egg hunt today.

Iris & Satrio have found a place in the hearts of two dear MOPS sisters and their families.

So right now I only have 3 packets left with me! 

Here's who's I still have with me:

Ana from Mexico, Nov. 17, 2002

Kelvin from Honduras,  Feb. 1, 2003

Upendo from Tanzania, March 18, 2003

A great time was had at the MOPS Easter Egg Hunt this morning.  Special thanks to Emily for hosting, it was great fun!

I don't have extensive photos of the event but I do have a few:

Pre-Egg Hunt playing.

Super-Map, the rule-breaker, heading out to get his eggs....  have I mentioned he's obsessed with eggs.... yes, there's a whole post!

The other law-abiding children waiting for the word to go.

And they're off!

So we just have to add an Easter Egg hunt to soccer games to get Super-Beautiful to run ;)

"A Egg, A Egg!" 

Eggs hidden in with the tractors,  cool!

An armful!!!

Jelly beans, skittles, starburst, stickers, bubbles and toys!

Checking out the loot!

A wonderful morning, followed by a picnic lunch.  Delightful!

Look at these faces!

I seem to be very sporadic in my blog posting lately.  I apologize, but life has been crazy the last little while.  As I am not making a living from this blog, it is the first thing to go :)

The focal point of my week was a presentation for Compassion International.  I presented at my MOPS (Mothers Of PreSchoolers) group.  This was my first presentation for Compassion and I am so thankful to the Lord that it went well.
Compassion Sunday is a national event whose purpose is "to draw the attention of the Church to the needs of the world's poorest children. It's a powerful opportunity for God to use you to share with the members of your family His deep love for children – and show how each of us can intervene in the life of at least one child in poverty through sponsorship."  Clearly my event was on a Thursday, but it was still a Compassion Sunday event.  They have prepared all the materials for sponsors like me to present the needs of these precious children to our brothers and sisters in Christ.

I am so pleased to say that 2 of the children were sponsored at the event and a few others are in discussions with their spouses about sponsoring a child.

I do have 5 packets left, and was able to request the photos so that I may show you these dear children in the hopes that someone would be able to sponsor them, or be in prayer that sponsors would be found.

This is Ana from Mexico.  Her birthday is November 17th, 2002.  Singing, bicycling and reading are her favorite activities.

This is Iris from Ecuador.  Her birthday is January 14, 2002.  She lives with her mother and there are 10 children in her family.  Playing house and playing with dolls are her favorite activities.

This is Kelvin from Honduras.  His birthday is February 1, 2003.  Art, bicycling and playing group games are his favorite activities.

This is Satrio from Indonesia.  His birthday is February 3, 2006.  Playing with cars is Satrio's favorite activity.

This is Upendo from Tanzania.  Her birthday is March 18, 2003.  She lives with her grandmother and there are 3 children in her family.  Ping pong, telling stories and art are her favorite activities.

 If you are interested in sponsoring one of these children please send me a message or leave a comment and I'll give you the instructions on how to sponsor them.  All of these children's packets expire on April 29th.  At that point they will be re-entered into the system and will be available to others again, or maybe sent to another Compassion event.

Thank you for your prayers on behalf of these sweet children.