Servant of All

Have you heard hurtful words from someone you love? Have you said the hurtful words? I've done both. The last time my mom was in my house I said terrible things to her. As soon as I said them, I wanted to take them back. It was too late. The damage was done. The pain was real. Time and again I called her on the phone. "Hi Mom. It's me. I called to say I love you."

She responded with, "I love you too," but hardly said another word.

One day my sister, Montie, called to tell me our mother was dying. She said, "Mama asked where her Susie was."

Tears welled up in my soul. The woman who didn't seem to forgive me wanted to see me? I left my home in California to go to her bedside in a South Texas hospital. When Mama saw me her face brightened. "I'm glad you came," she smiled.

I spent a few days with her. She, Montie, and I read our favorite Bible stories and sang the old hymns. "We've come a long way," Mama said. I knew she spoke of her visit to my home. Tears trailed down my cheeks.

"I'm sorry I was disrespectful to you. Will you forgive me?"

"Of course I forgive you. I love you." The wall of conflict fell between us. What joy! What peace!

Another time my husband and I received the hurtful words. Resentment filled John's heart. I prayed for forgiveness and reconciliation. "I don't want to forgive. I don't want it fixed," he said. Still I prayed. I prayed for five years.

Easter is all about forgiveness, and today I am thankful that God answered the prayer for  reconciliation of a family relationship. The wall between John and his daughter fell down. Yesterday the woman who is a top executive where she works cooked the most delicious ham dinner I've ever tasted for her dad and brought it from the bay area to our home in Sacramento. She served us like we were royalty. Reflections of yesterday remind me of what Jesus did when He washed the disciples' feet.  He told His friends, "If I, your Lord, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet." John 13:14.

Foot washing is an example of service. In Mark 9:35 Jesus said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all." Jesus, in His humility, was servant of all, and as we believe and trust Him,  we become more like Him. We become His hands and feet, His light and life in a dark world.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for what you did on the cross to bring us forgiveness and peace. Thank you for answered prayer and restored relationships. Thank you for your love that penetrates resentment and pain. We love you. Amen.

What if You're Wrong?

The trouble around the world today made me think of this song by Nichole Nordeman. Why take a chance? Jesus is standing at the door of your heart, waiting for you to invite Him into your life. If you already have, would you share in a few words under comments what that means to you?

What if you're right?
And he was just another nice guy?
What if you're right?
What if it's true?
They say the cross will only make a fool of you
And what if it's true?

What if he takes his place in history
With all the prophets and the kings
Who taught us love and came in peace
But then the story ends
What then?

But what if you're wrong?
What if there's more?
What if there's hope you never dreamed
of hoping for?
What if you jump?
And just close your eyes?
What if the arms that catch you, catch you by surprise?
What if He's more than enough?
What if it's love?

What if you dig
Way down deeper than your simple-minded friends?
What if you dig?
What if you find thousand more unanswered questions down inside
That's all you find?

What if you pick apart the logic
And begin to poke the holes
What if the crown of thorns is no more
Than folklore that must be told and retold?

You've been running as fast as you can
You've been looking for a place you can land for so long
But what if you're wrong?

Highway to Heaven

John and I spent a lot of time at Lake Almanor this summer. A walk on wooded trail or drive through Lassen National Forest is a heavenly experience. It makes me feel close to God, but it also makes me think of the hope we have in Christ.

Since the first day we believed in Jesus as our Savior, that the precious blood He shed was for the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life with God, we have been on a highway to heaven. While I'd like to think of it as a jeweled staircase or a treelined path, Jesus gives another perspective. He said, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me," Luke 9:23, and "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world," John 16:33.

Jesus showed us what the highway to heaven looks like. He went by the name that even today brings rejection and persecution, but He gives us this encouragement: "Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. ¹³ And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it," John 14:12-14, and "If you love me, keep my commands. I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever," John 14:15-16.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus is always with us, for comfort, counsel, peace, and strength. We have nothing to fear for greater is He who is in us than He who is in the world.

The highway to heaven is not the popular way that leads to destruction, but it is the narrow way that leads to eternity with our Lord. And surely His mercy and love will follow us all the days of our lives, on earth and in heaven.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for the hope of heaven. Thank you for showing us the way, even being the way (John 14:6). Thank you for the peace and supernatural strength to follow you. Amen.