Tag: Reconciliation

The Crazy Lady in the Woods

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Have you heard about the Crazy Lady who lives in the woods at the edge of the school playground in northern Illinois? She has wild hair and blazing eyes and she screams about wanting to kill people. She walks fast and slings her hands beside her. She’s a scary sight.

It was near the end of the school year, just a few years ago when the children first saw her.  During morning recess on a sunny day the kids were playing outside when they heard her shouting in the woods. Alarmed, the children stopped running and playing and stood still as they stared toward the woods.

Suddenly, she burst through the clearing on the path that snaked through the woods. The children didn’t move; were they continue reading here

The Spotlight of Self-Focus

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In the third verse of the Bible God said, “Let there be light.” In the 27th verse, God created mankind, and ever since we’ve been turning the light away from God and onto ourselves.

Well, I have, anyway. This morning was no different. Brian and I had a disagreement, I let my anger explode, said things I shouldn’t have, put on my walking shoes and headed out the door.

Hmmm, what light was shining then? Well, let’s just say I had a choice; I could continue right here

When The Most Wonderful Time of the Year Isn’t

There was nothing unusual about her, she wasn’t much older than my own children and we exchanged smiles as Brian and I moved into the empty seats next to her. She didn’t sing during worship, but not everyone does. She shook my hand when we exchanged “Merry Christmas” greetings with our neighbors.

Then, the pastor started his sermon, “Christmas! The most wonderful time of the year… except when it isn’t” and she started to cry. Things weren’t wonderful continue here

Clinging to the Cross!

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Easter: When we celebrate Jesus death on the cross, His burial, and His resurrection. The empty tomb is foundational to the Christian faith. The empty tomb is Easter. But oh, how we love the cross! continue reading here

Was It All For Me?

crown-of-thorns2Jesus, when you stumbled under the weight of the cross, was that the moment you felt the weight of my sin? Did you question the Father: “Her?”

Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. – Isaiah 53:4

Jesus, when they cracked the whip and the metal shards pulled the skin off your back did you feel the pain of my hand as it spanked my child in anger.

He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. – Isaiah 53:5

Jesus, when the soldiers yelled and taunted you, did hear the sharp sting of my words as I talked down to my co-workers, siblings, parents, grandparents, husband and children?

He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. – Isaiah 53: 7

Jesus, when the crowd called out “Barabbas!” did you hear me go along with them rather than be identified with you?

He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. – John 1:0-11

Jesus, when they thrust the thorns into your brow, were you repulsed by the number of times I thought I deserved more, or better, or different than the things you had given me?

All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. – Isaiah 53:6

Jesus, when they drove the stake into your feet, did you experience the pain of my disobedience? Did you hear me defiantly say, “No, I won’t go there!”?

He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross. – 1 Peter 2:24

Jesus, when they nailed your hands to the cross, did you think about the times I refused to serve your children because I had other, better, things to do?

He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels. – Isaiah 53:12

Jesus, when the sky was dark, was it my shame that blocked the sun?

God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light. – John 3:19

Jesus, when you heard the scoffers, was it my voice you heard yelling out of control as I demanded obedience from my children?

He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. This includes you who were once far away from God. – Colossians 1: 20-21

Jesus, when you said, “It is finished!” were you revolted by my thoughts that I didn’t need a Savior?

No one is righteous – not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away… – Romans 3:10-12

Jesus, when you died, and they laid your body on the cold slab in the darkness of the tomb, did the weight of my guilt press down upon you?

“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” – Romans 5:8

Jesus, what can wash away my sin?

Nothing, but the blood of Jesus!

For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.” – Hebrews 10:10

(All Scriptures are from the New Living Translation)

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