“The Light of God’s love shined within us when he sent his matchless Son into the world so that we might live through him.” 1 John 4:9 TPT

“God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him.” 1 John 4:9 NIV

It was the perfect plan. I had thought about it for days. I had imagined the moment in my mind and I knew there was nothing that could possibly go wrong. The note was written with my sharpened No. 2 pencil with a very simple yet powerful message. For good measure I had it edited by a writing expert, in this case, my kindergarten teacher. You see, I was a girl in love and on the day I would share this news with the man of my dreams – I needed everything to be perfect.

I was 5.

and the boy – his name was Scott.

I remember this day like it was yesterday. I remember what I was wearing. I remember the smell of my classroom. I remember when my teacher announced that it was time for Show and Tell and the class moved quickly to a circle formation on the carpeted spot of floor. I remember clutching the small note in my hand with the words “I LOVE YOU”, as I folded my legs into the designated criss cross applesauce formation. I remember breathing deep, leaning to my left when I whispered these words to the student next to me…

“Pass this to Scott.”

It was my first time ever illegally passing a note in class. It was a bold move for my little rule follower self but as I mentioned already – I was a girl in Love.

And love –

it can motivate one to do some crazy things.

Up until this year the only attention I gave to the 12 days of Christmas , or CHRISTMASTIDE, was when I would hear the words to the popular Christmas tune by the same name.

On the first day of Christmas my TRUE LOVE gave to me….

It’s a repeating song that can get a bit redundant and not necessarily fun to listen to or sing. ( Unless its the Muppets version – that’s my favorite.) It logs the gifts that one in love gave to his beloved.

A Partridge in a pear true, calling birds, french hens, golden rings…..Don’t you wonder where the recipient kept all these many gifts? Was she convinced by the end of the 12 days that this person really was her TRUE LOVE? There is something so delightful about knowing and living in the peace that comes from being truly loved.

Funny thing about my memories of the revelation of my first love. It stops at “Pass this to Scott.” I have no idea how he responded. I actually of zero memory of him past that day. Some of my kindergarten classmates and I stayed together through our high school graduation, but not Scott. He vanished, or transferred to private school or moved out of the country – who knows. Despite where he landed he played an important role in my life – he introduced the idea of love – outside of the love I knew strictly between family. It felt intriguing, and fun and mysterious.

As I grew up I continued to learn about love. I learned about the love of loyal friends. I learned about love of summer camp crushes. I learned about the love of high school sweethearts. I learned about love through breakups and betrayals. I learned about love through committing my life to someone with no plan B. I learned about love through the three gifts called children. I learned about love through trials and pain. The learning about love – a beautiful process that continues to unfold as life marches on.

On this 2nd day of CHRISTMASTIDE I rejoice in LOVE. I rejoice that the ultimate gift given in love came as a baby. This baby offered his life and his death for us. This baby that grew to a man modeled love in a way the world had never seen – unconditional, sacrificial, for all people.

No.

Matter.

What.

The Father that was willing to part with his one and only for the salvation of the world set the bar for the way we are to love each other. It is the blueprint for the relationships we enjoy on earth. He just couldn’t wait any longer to pass the news of this glorious love to all who would want to hear. It was such a bold, courageous move…

But Love….

It can motivate one to do some pretty crazy things.

And for this – I rejoice.

“Would you like a double – shot today, Beth?”

Why yes – yes I would. Yes I would like 2 doses of strong espresso in my simple almond milk latte.

2 shots….. yes, a double.

Indeed.

I love our towns little coffee shop. It’s open 3 days a week and serves breakfast, lunch, coffees and dessert. The limited availability keeps my appreciation up for what has come to be a weekly treat. A Simple Almond Milk Latte often with a muffin or danish on the side. Sometimes I pop in for a quick to – go order and other days I meet up with friends to linger with our coffees and good conversation. I love that the owner knows my name. I love that if I’m not visiting with her at the coffee shop I may see her at the Veterinarians offices on the other side of town where she works on the days when the coffee shop is closed. It’s one of the many treasures of small town life. The knowing of the people.

The day Debbie asked me for a double , I hadn’t even considered that option. I had actually never had a double shot in a latte before. It always felt like it would be too much.

Too much caffeine.

Too much money. ( you pay for that shot- unless you’re a character in a Hallmark movie where it feels like the coffee is always “On the house.”)

Too much of a splurge. A latte was one thing but a double shot latte… just felt excessive.

But on that day, the day she offered… it sounded just right.

Perfect actually.

It was my way to take my weary soul and rejoice.

You see, the night before I had received more disheartening news. It came when it was too late for conversation and the only action I could take was attempt to sleep. The night was long and restless. The day ahead felt daunting as my body felt the effects of the rest – less night before. The weariness felt extra that day. I added the news to a long list of energy drainers from this year.

Weary…… from rule changes.

Weary…. from job loss or pay cuts.

Weary ….. from cancellations, re- schedules only to be cancelled again.

Weary…. from what feels like lots of talking but far to little listening.

Weary…. from all that 2020 has dished out.

But… on this day… the day of the double shot… I made a decision.

SO yes – double it up Debbie.

It was in the sipping of my delicious treat that the words to an old Christmas Hymn dropped into my soul. The tune is not one of my favorites so it was odd that was pulled from my memory. The words though… the words.. that describe the event that many of us will celebrate this week… the birth of Jesus – Our Savior… the words…

” A thrill of HOPE… a WEARY world…… REJOICES”

A

Weary

World

Rejoices.

God saw my sleepless night. He knew my Spirit, soul, body and mind were overwhelmed and he reminded me…

Beth…. You are Weary

AND

You can rejoice.

The weariness does not have to cancel your rejoicing.

The shifted holiday plans do not have to defer your hope

The questions that remain unanswered do not have to steal your energy, your focus, and the gifts of the present moment.

Yes – You are Weary.

and yes, You can Rejoice.

December 25 marks the beginning of the 12 days of Christmas or Christmas Tide. It is a segment of time in the Church calendar when we pause to celebrate the birth of Christ. We Rejoice that our Savior had been born, the Savior who has come offering…

HOPE for ALL people.

PEACE for ALL people.

JOY for ALL people.

LOVE for ALL people.

He came in to a Weary world and he invites us to REJOICE.

That day last week, the day of the double shot. It was important. It shifted me. It reminded me that my weariness is legit but my rejoicing can push through. I can say yes to simple pleasures that come my way. I can open my eyes to the gifts of this season. I can live, love, serve and celebrate.

Let’s do it. Let’s expectantly walk through these 12 days of Christmastide with eyes ready to see light in the darkness and let’s agree to be the light for those that just cannot see.

Oh my weary friends… Let’s rejoice. Shall we?

1 Peter 1:3-6

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us NEW BIRTH into a LIVING HOPE through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. You are being GUARDED by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. You REJOICE in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials…”

Join me over at http://www.justbeth.blog where I’ll walk through Christmastide – committed to finding a reason to rejoice each day.

Dear Mom,

Its your 50th Mothers day. I know. I can’t believe it either. 50 years of mothering. There should be an award for that.

50. Years.

On this annivesary of your life as a mom, I need you to know. I really need you to know.

I see you.

I.

See.

You.

I see you, my new mom, struggling to get me to eat. Switching from nursing to bottles to cutting the tips off of bottles so milk will pour down my throat. I see you praying I will swallow so nourishment can enter my system.

I see you, my new mom, handing me over to the surgeon on my first birthday with the words from the doctor, “She’ll be ok. And after this, she’ll be able to eat. Yes we know this first year has been hard. What a brave mom you have been.”

I see you, new mom, bringing me home from the hospital, with my arms tied to my sides to keep my fingers out of my mouth. I see you comforting me as I healed. I see you rejoicing when I took my bottle for the first time, without effort.

I see you mom of 2 young girls. 2 young girls that were professional fighters. We could scream with the best of them.

I see you mom of 2 young girls, I see you baking birthday cakes and preparing dinners to make our special day just that… special. From the moment I woke up to the last breaths of my day. I see you mom… making sure I knew that my life meant something.

I see you mom of teenagers. I see you balancing, full time work, college night classes, social calendars of teens and full schedules of your pastor husband. I see you handling this season with peace and I marvel that in my Junior year of high school you have completed your college degree and I celebrate you walking across stage to receive your diploma. I see you staying up late but never complaining about lack of sleep and struggle to get through the day.

I see you mom of teenagers. I see you driving me to work, picking me up late… from ball games, and sleep overs. I see you lying in bed awake as you waited for me to come home. I was driving. I was with friends. I was on a first date. I see you waiting to know I was safely back in my bed. I see you sitting through an entire Saturday of cheer competitions – where we never. stopped. yelling. I see you sewing dresses for Christmas, and easter and dances.

I see you mom of young adults. I see you taking me to college visits. I see you sitting on my bed next to me as I sobbed over an ended high school relationship. I see you encouraging me when I changed my college major time and time again. I see you wanting to tell me what to do, but wisely kept silent, knowing some things were just best learned from experience.

I see you mom of a newly married. I see you answering questions about cooking, and how to divide jobs in a marriage. I see you eating the Thanksgiving meal I made for the first time. I see you affirming that it tasted just as good as the ones you always made. I wanted it to be just that.

Just.

Like.

Yours.

I see you mom of a new mom. I see you holding your grandchildren. I see you reading to them. I see you patiently teaching them things I would never have the patience to teach. I see you remembering their birthdays.

I see you mom of a mom with growing children. I see you showing up for the good and the very, very hard. I see you running my home while I moved into the hospital with one of my three. I see you buying a one way ticket to come… and all I had to do was say , ” Mom.” I see you never asking when I wouldn’t need you any more. I see you staying.

I see you mom of a mom with growing children. I see you patiently waiting for phone calls from your busy children and grandchildren. I see you driving hundreds of miles to sit hundreds of hours to watch volleyball tournaments and cross country meets. I see you modeling what a life long relationship with Jesus looks like as you invest in time in bible study and worship. I see you showing me I can never loose touch with my Savior. I see you running to him as you face new life challenges that come with older life seasons.

I see you mom. I see you.

I.

See.

You.

and on this anniversary of your 50th mothers day, I pray you now know…

I always have.

Love, Beth

47 days. It’s been 47 days since Ash Wednesday. We’re here. The day we’ve all anticipated ….being celebrated in a way none of us could have imagined. Not in our wildest dreams. Every conversation I have with friends and family revolve around the absolute awe at our present day circumstances. As much as we try to wrap our heads and hearts around todays current events we just cant seem to get a grip.

Oh… but God can. Our all powerful, all knowing, loving God who sent his one and only Son to die the death he did not deserve so we could have a life we don’t deserve…… He can and he does. So like the rest of the Sundays of Lent… I leave you today with the questions that you can bring straight to YOUR Father. YOUR redeemer. YOUR hope. YOUR life. YOUR everything. He wants to SPEAK TO YOU – he really does. May you experience his presence in YOUR LIFE, in a way you are clear that HE is real and HE is for you not against you. Yes –

CHRIST is REAL, He is RISEN, He is here…. INDEED!!!

God… what have you taught me during this Lenten season?

God… what am I still gripping that you want me to let go of?

God… where do you need me to trust you more?

God… what have you promised to forgive that I havn’t forgiven myself?

God… who can I share your love with today?

loving you where you are. pointing you forward to where He is.

justbeth:)

Luke 23:55-56. MSG The women who had been companions of Jesus from the beginning saw all this take place and watched as the body was laid in the tomb. Afterward they returned home and prepared fragrant spices and ointments and were planning to anoint his body after the Sabbath was completed, according to the commandments of the law.

Luke 23:56 NIV But they RESTED on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment

The ladies were planning….hmmmm…

I love calendars. Love them….

The calendar, day planner industry is gigantic. There is no end to the choices, styles, colors, price ranges of these tools that promise to bring peace and productivity when we use them. I love seeing my life clearly marked out in the small squares representing days of the week in my preferred date book. Just yesterday I laid out my plans for next week. Tided up my desk and closed the door to my office. I had peace knowing I was prepared for the 7 days following Easter weekend. Having clarity on whats coming helps me stay present in the current moments – which is just what I want to do these next 2 days. In my life and business I create long term plans and then break them down into months, weeks, days and hours. I’ve spent a good deal of my life learning how to maximize time by being properly prepared. The reality is… I really love the feeling of control. Don’t we all.

There is only one verse (that I can find) in all of scripture that describes the events of today – Saturday. The day between the darkest night and the brightest day. It was the Jewish custom to spend one day resting as per the model of Creator God himself – called the Sabbath. Exodus 20:8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work” In order to properly recognize the Sabbath they needed to prepare in advance. In Luke 23 we see the women doing just that – they prepared spices so they could then rest on the Sabbath. They wanted to be fully ready to administer the rest of the spices to Jesus dead body after their rest day was complete.

It says in the study notes of my bible that “Yards of cloth and large quantities of spices were used in preparing a body for burial. Seventy five pounds of myrrh and aloes were already used on that first evening. More was purchased for the return of the women after the Sabbath.”

Wow – they had invested quite a bit – time, energy, money to prepare for what they thought would be their Sunday morning activities. Oh how surprised they would be ….. spices would be left untouched, time would be spent in celebration not continued mourning, oh their lives were about to be turned up side down for the 3rd day in a row. Their plans were not God’s plans and aren’t we all so glad about that.

We are all sitting in what feels like an endless Sabbath during this COVID crises. We want to make plans but have no answers about the ending. We look to school administrators and government officials for answers they can’t possibly give us. We feel frustrated because we have graduation announcements to order, caterers to book, vacations plans to complete. We may feel unproductive and lazy. We’re getting antsy and possibly increasingly anxious. Many parents are realizing school from home is now a real thing until fall. Many brides and grooms are shifting dates for their big day or cancelling the celebration all together – opting for a small ceremony with an officiant, 2 witnesses and a Zoom account so loved ones can gather round. This endless sabbath… oh its hard.

At the beginning of this lenten series I decided to focus on the life of Jesus. I wanted to discover how he made decisions in his short time on earth. I wanted to make a list of his yes’s and no’s. We learned that Jesus does nothing outside of his fathers will and ONLY did what his father told him… including today. Long before Jesus walked the earth we see God instituting this idea of rest. It is no coincidence that Jesus death happened on a Friday with the Sabbath happening on the next day. It forced his followers to slow down. To trust that they could get to what they were eager to do after they took time to rest. I’m guessing that even though this was a habit – they may have felt antsy and eager for the sabbath to pass. I’m guessing they wanted to continue to carry out THEIR plans.

But Jesus – he followed His fathers plans once again. He stayed silent in the tomb all that Sabbath. He would rise when God told him too. Can you imagine his excitement moments before the stone was rolled away?? The notes on his followers day planners were about to wiped clean. His plans would trump all.

As you and I sit today and wait. As we head into Easter Sunday – knowing the end of the story – I pray we can all offer our lives, our plans, our hopes and desires for our preferred outcomes to the altar of God’s will. I pray we can trust that whatever we think would be the best future for ourselves and our loved ones will never compare to the future God has prepared. May we experience the peace and hope that comes when we surrender ALL to him.

Loving you where you are. Pointing you forward to where he is.

justbeth:)

Matthew 27:24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, ” I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said, “It’s your responsibility.”

I wore a mask to the grocery store for the first time this week. I strapped it around my ears as I was walking into the store and I wanted to burst into tears. Before grabbing a cart, I was instructed to add plastic gloves to my new shopping attire. I felt like I was more appropriately prepared for surgery rather than just a quick trip to pick up supplies for Easter dinner. As I pushed my cart down the isles I wondered , “Can people tell If I’m smiling at them? – Should I even try?” I completed my task, drove my quick route home, removed my mask and promptly…

washed my hands.

Washing our hands – its one of our top defenses against contracting and spreading COVID-19. Hot water, soap, 20 seconds. It has become a common comment between friends, parents to children, podcasters sign offs “Have a good day – and go wash your hands.” This one simple act has become one of the most powerful contributors to stopping this crazy and returning our lives to what once was. The stakes are high. If I contract the virus and don’t stop to take the time to wash it from my skin- I become a carrier of a disease that if spread to a vulnerable person – could lead to their death. Its a big deal – this hand washing thing.

In todays readings we see this same simple act having even greater ramifications. We join the scene in Matthew 27. Jesus has been arrested and has an audience with Pilate the governor. It was Pilates responsibility to determine his guilt and his future. He was amazed at Jesus calm demeanor and his unwillingness to engage in his defense. His decision to offer Jesus as one of the two choices the gathered crowd could set free ( a common practice during the Passover feast) still brings chills to my spine. His wife confirmed his decision to remove himself from the process by warning him, “Don’t have anything to do with this innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.” We see the familiar scene – Pilate offering the murderer Barabbas and the innocent, perfect Jesus. Upon hearing the shouts of the crowd choice “JESUS – CRUCIFY HIM.” – he made a public demonstration of his attempt to separate himself from the responsibility of the death of Jesus.

v. 24 “When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and WASHED HIS HANDS in front of the crowd, “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. ” It is your responsibility!” Probably one of the most famous accounts of hand washing in history – which ushered in the most important, effective, disease ending acts ever.

V. 26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

The death of Jesus – brought the death of effects of sin in the lives of the people 2000 years ago and to us today. The end. It was the great vaccine that solved our biggest problem. Pilate thought his act of hand washing would confirm his innocence when it actuality it magnifies his sin. There is no amount of scrubbing that can take away the truth that each of us is in desperate need of this remedy that came through the shedding of Jesus innocent blood.

Today, this Friday we call “Good”, we will all wash our hands for what will feel like at least 1000 times. We will work hard to not touch our face. We will make something creative for dinner so we don’t have to venture out to the store for missing ingredients from our pantry. We will remember that famous hand washing so long ago, the unfairness of it all, the pain that followed for Jesus and his followers, the very darkest day in the history of the world.

And we will wait… in anticipation of the healing, the victory celebration to come, that has absolutely no connection with our attempts to clean ourselves up and everything to do with a Savior that loves us …

right where we are. and points us forward to where HE is.

justbeth:)

Matthew 26:20-21. When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the the table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, ” I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.” Matthew 26: 31 Then Jesus told them, ” This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: ” ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.”

I love a good dinner party. Good friends gathered around good food. Lingering around a candle lit table for hours… laughing, talking enjoying being together. It really is one of my favorite things. Eating with friends builds bonds, solidifies relationships, creates community. A special dinner out at a restaurant together is often the first step in a romantic relationship and often how a couple celebrates their love year after year. This last week my son face timed with a friend that he would normally enjoy breakfast with in his college cafeteria. They “met” in the morning, the time they would have had a meal together if their campus was still open. You may already have plans to eat Easter dinner together with family via ZOOM this Sunday- because lets face it – meals and extra special meals are important for many more reasons then getting nutrients into our bodies. And today’s account of one of Jesus last gatherings with his closest friends, a dinner party, is no different.

The disciples had made preparations, per Jesus request, for a special celebration of the Passover meal. It was happening all over the city of Jerusalem that Thursday night. He had instructed them on who to talk to and what to say to secure the location. The disciples “did as Jesus directed them” and by evening they were ready to celebrate. The next scene that is revealed in this story seems to fall toward the middle maybe even the end of the meal – the time when dinner party conversation moves from the highlights of the day, surface level stuff to deeper sometimes more challenging topics. This dinner party is no different and Jesus makes sure of that.

You can imagine the camera taking in a shot of the entire table, you can hear the buzz of conversation but not anything clearly. The camera lens narrows to the face and body of Jesus “reclining at the table”, his words become louder than the rest of the conversation and he changes the tone of the night completely. v. 21 – “And while they were eating, he said “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.” The happy mood has shifted instantly to sadness – each disciple wondering if he is talking about them. We see Jesus explaining that the one who dips their bread in the cup at the same time as he would be the one. We see Judas acting and Jesus confirming it would indeed be him. Was there a collective sigh around the table? Did the disciples have any idea how Jesus would be betrayed? I can imagine them thinking.. ” well at least it’s not me!”

Oh but wait, remaining 11 lounging around the dinner table, Jesus has a word for you. And friends reading this, he has a word for us too. Judas wasn’t the only one that would need the saving grace of Jesus death and resurrection…we all would… ALL.

After Jesus shares the bread and the wine of the passover meal. After he has clearly identified his betrayer – he drops the next conversation stopping sentence…

“This very night you will ALL fall away on account of me.”

All… no one left out of this one. Not only would Judas betray Jesus , but his closest friends would desert him. And we see just that …. 25 verses later in chapter 26 after Jesus is arrested in the garden… these words….

“Then ALL the disciples deserted him and fled.”

Not one person, Not one faith full follower stuck around. They had JUST spent a beautiful evening celebrating a meal, enjoying one another’s company – bonds of friendship forged over several years of learning with and loving their friend and soon to be Savior Jesus.

Imagine hosting a dinner party for your closest friends. You laugh you enjoy the food. In your mind – its a really good night. They leave with heartfelt hugs and goodbyes. Later that night you happily snuggle in to bed and decide to take a quick peak at social media. As you scroll you notice your self tagged in post after post from these same friends… that had just been at your dining room table….

berating your cooking.

criticizing your home decor.

revealing comments you made that were meant for those ears only.

Ouch. betrayal of friends – its just about one of the hardest things in life. And Jesus knows it better then we ever will.

What simply amazes me is that the story doesn’t end here. Jesus choose to keep walking out the plan of his father despite the actions of his closest friends. His friends may now feel like enemies but the will of his father trumps all. His darkest night would be spent… alone. Oh what love… what amazing, beautiful, unthinkable love he showed his disciples and he shows us today.

I’ve been at the table with Jesus and darn it I’ve sometimes knowingly and unknowingly been the one to desert him. It shows up in the way I allow self centeredness to control my actions. It shows up when I allow fear to control my thoughts. It shows up when I judge others around me. It’s my ugly, sin filled self that sometimes pulls itself right up to the table with Jesus and dives into my meal thinking “surely not I Lord.” And he says ” yes, you.” But he doesn’t leave me. He doesn’t reply to my after dinner nasty facebook post in anger, or bitterness, or rage. He just obediently walks to the cross to die for the ugliness I’ve revealed. His one time death covers my lifetime of sin. Oh what love.

As you sit with Jesus today. As you reflect on that last meal…. allow yourself to be a part of the “ALL”. because those are the ones he died for.

Oh what love.

Loving you where you are. Pointing you forward to where he is.

justbeth:)

Matthew 21:18. Early in the morning, as he was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, ” May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.

Maybe its because its 5 pm and I’m ready for dinner. (And I really wish someone else would show up to cook it) – that this verse from Holy Week is striking a chord. It’s a beautiful afternoon in our little town – sunny, blue sky, 77 glorious degrees ….and I’m hungry… and possibly a bit irritable. I really wish someone else would show up and I could ask them “What’s for dinner?” and they would have an answer.

I spent a good chunk of my day checking in on people, intentionally and unintentionally. I checked on my business team – a good bit that is located in Michigan – Detroit to be exact. The area that holds 64% of the COVID cases in Michigan. I learned of a hospital that is entirely dedicated to COVID-19 patients. I checked on friends that I hadn’t heard from in awhile but they had been on my mind. One friends husband is being laid off after 20 years of service. I checked on my kids – the ones living under the same roof as me but we spend the days in separate rooms working and completing school assignments. I went for a walk with my daughter and we saw more friends that we spent time visiting with ( 6 feet apart of course) that were wrestling with their own set of challenges. It was good to check in , to take the pulse of people I love, to see into their struggles. And now I’m home… its 5:00 p.m and I’m hungry.. and possibly a bit irritable.

So right now. In this very moment. I need a Savior that got hungry too.

In todays passage we see Jesus shortly after his triumphant entrance into Jerusalem, just after he had the conversation regarding the religious leaders challenge with children. ( see HOLY WEEK: tuesday – post) and just after he passionately cleared out the temple of money changers. He was in a FIESTY mood to be sure. And he was hungry.

As he and his disciples were walking along, he and possibly them in a hungry state – they see a fig tree – with no figs. Jesus – sees the tree , curses it because it is not bearing fruit and it immediately withers and dies. Now, if you are looking for an in depth look at the theological significance of this event – you are looking in the wrong place. Today – today I need Jesus in all his humanness. I need him in his 100% flesh and blood manhood. One that got irritated when he was hungry and cursed fig trees. I just need to know that he gets me, us, in our possibly slightly irritated state. A place where we wish this Corona crazy would go away. A time when kids went to school and we didn’t question our every move wondering if we were following ” the rules” correctly.

Friends – Jesus – our Savior that overcame death and the grave….

he got hungry.

He felt the pangs in his stomach and his emotions.

And he 100% understands when you do too.

Loving you where you are. Pointing your forward to where He is.

Justbeth:)

Matthew 21:14-16. The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, ” Have you never read, ” ‘From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise’?” And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.

I never got it. It actually surprised me the first time it happened. The emotion that rose up unexpectedly. From out of nowhere. I just didn’t get it – until now. Or until yesterday when I re-read, in my opinion, one of the most powerful passages in scripture. It’s one of the many events that occur between Palm Sunday and Easter and I bet, like me, you may be surprised at its significance.

Allow me a moment to back up. When Tom and I were first married we served on staff at a large congregation in Lafayette, IN. We hoped to have children someday but had no immediate plans. We loved our life and ministry – Tom as an assistant pastor and me as the Director of Christian Education. One of my main responsibilities was Youth Ministry so I spent a good deal of time with kids. It was amazing.

One Friday evening the elementary school our church supported held a music program featuring both choral and instrumental talents of children in grades Pre-K-8. It was at this event where the above mentioned unexpected emotion made its debut. It was the littlest of the bunch – the Pre- K that made the impact. They were each dressed in their finest all lined up on risers in front of the crowd of proud parents. In the middle of their sweet melody sung at the top of their lungs – I started to tear up. I was crying and I did not have my own child that moved to me to it in a proud mom moment. It wasn’t just a single tear that wanted to escape down my cheek but I was ready to sob. What in the world? I just kept thinking, “We’re getting a glimpse in to heaven.” I believed that the voices of children was a blessings sent straight from our God above. And yesterday I found out – I was exactly right.

In the above verse we see Jesus, shortly after his triumphant entrance into Jerusalem the Sunday of Passover week. The day we now refer to as Palm Sunday. People of all ages had lined the streets. We see specific mention of the CHILDREN and the shouts of Hosanna that rang through the air. And this just ticked the teachers of the law right off. The NIV translation describes them as ‘indignant.’ The ERV – ‘ Angry.’ TLB – ‘disturbed.’ TPT – ‘furious.’ WOW. Doesn’t that just seem odd? Children – causing such an emotional response out of the religious leaders. These grown men moved to anger, fury, indignation… because of the praise of little children?

This….

This next part…

This is the part that if we were together – I would make you sit down so I knew I had your FULL, 100% attention. I would make you put your phone away and I may even take your face in my hands. So listen in….

When Jesus calmly responds to the leaders question “Do you hear what these children are saying?” he quotes Psalm 8:2...’O Lord, O Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. From the LIPS OF CHILDREN and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies to silence the foe of the avenger.’ Jesus is using the voices of children to …

SILENCE THE FOE and the AVENGER. The darnkess is being pushed away by THE VOICES OF CHILDREN.

Look at the note from the Concordia Study bible on the meaning of Psalm 8:2. “The mighty God, whose glory is displayed across the face of the heavens, appoints and evokes the praise of LITTLE CHILDREN to silence the dark powers arrayed against him.

The emotion that rose up in me in the cafeteria almost 30 years ago and the emotions of the religious leaders ….hundreds of years ago…. finds its root in the same place. The incredible power of God coming through a most unexpected source – the voices of little children. When it hit me it was comforting and encouraging and up lifting. When it hit the teachers of the law hardend hearts it was condemning and irritating. The truth and power of God’s love is like that – it won’t, it can’t leave you neutral. As Jesus walked through the darkest week of his earthly life, a light was going before him… fueled by the voice of the littles.

As we continue to seek places of peace and comfort in our ever changing world we may be overlooking one simple yet powerful source – the voices of children. The voices that rang out on the streets of Jerusalem. The voices that now fill the homes of families 24 hours a day. The voices that at moments may be the source of irritation or fear. These beautiful voices, when raised in praise, push back the darkness. It’s spiritual warfare at its finest. Such a brilliant yet surprising plan. But isn’t that just like God – bringing strategies against the darkness we would least expect? It’s his theme all through scripture and one we would be wise to remember – using the weak to defeat the strong. The foolish to silence the wise. David, Gideon, Moses, Paul…. Jesus.

When our circumstances point to apparent defeat. When our plans melt into nothing – we trust our creator God, the one who is always right, who is always on time, who will never leave us or forsake us. Listen…

Listen close…

His Victory cry is being raised….. from a most beautiful place…

the mouths of children.

Loving you where you are. Pointing you forward to where He is.

justbeth:)

Matthew 21- 28. Yep that’s chapters folks.

Parades. Children’s Choir Concerts. Corporate Temple Clean outs. Teaching engagements. Dinner parties. Spa experiences. Night time prayer vigils. Betrayal of friends over and over and over. The darkest night. The longest day. The brightest morning.

Jesus’ last week on earth in human form was no joke. From the moment Palm Sunday starts we see a focused, not messing around, fierce yet compassionate man with one goal in mind – following the instructions of his heavenly father. The end of his earthly journey is in site and each moment of this week held importance. Jesus had a packed schedule and filled every encounter with teachable moments. We don’t see him checking off items on his personal bucket list, “Last things I want to do as a human” but living out the calling he was sent to fulfill all along.

I am realizing as I prepare to write these last devotions of what has felt like an extra long Lenten season… that I could have spent all 47 days on just the events of this week. I have never stopped to pay attention to the details from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday – until this year. My husband tells me that 1/3 of the gospel messages from Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are the retelling of the events of this week. 1/3. That’s a big piece of the pie. And one we would do well to spend some time processing.

so…. I’m stopping here today and my bossy, cheerleader, extroverted self…. is going to direct you to the WORD. As we head into this week… the greatest gift I can give you is an invitation to read it for yourself. Matthew: Chapters 21-28. Yep – all of it. You’ll start with Palm Sunday and move through the resurrection. Read it in several versions. Take a pause from the scrolling, the game playing, the baking, the posting…. and settle in to begin your own personal journey to the cross.

Oh… I’ll be back tomorrow. Jesus has shown me so much I want to share. I just want us all to be starting in the same place. May God bless your time with him in his story for you… today.

Loving you where you are. Pointing you forward to where he is.

justbeth:)