Tag: Janet Lenz

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Divine Encounter #6

New Parents,  Shepherds, Angels, foreign Wise Men, and a Perfect Holy Baby Boy

The Baby had arrived.  The setting was nothing that any young married couple would imagine as the place to begin their life together.  Nor the context into which they would have chosen to bring their first child.  

But the Baby was now cradled in human arms. . . the arms that would protect Him, shelter Him, care for Him, teach Him, and love Him.  

The setting was not what they had envisioned as their new married life had begun in Nazareth.  The dangerous travel to this little village of Bethlehem had not been in their dreams for their future.  The cruel oppression and violence that Rome’s military occupation forced into their daily lives was a constant danger that loomed for every Jewish person …man, woman and child of Israel.  Fear and violence filled the atmosphere.  

Yet, in the small village, a humble shelter for animals now sheltered the new father, mother and the tiny newborn baby boy.  The little family, in a setting of hay and surrounded with animals, cradled in their arms the Baby that God’s Angel had told them would be placed into their care. . . their hearts for the years to come.  They would be the primary ones to give Him human love . . . care . . . kisses . . . affection . . . snuggles, laughter, tenderness, human language, life skills, practical skills, and relational engagement.  They would model to Him human love, respect, humor, sadness,  gratitude, kindness, and joy.   Having been sent to Earth by God, the realities of human life on earth would become experiential through Joseph and Mary.  

Throughout the years his earthly  family experience, Jesus learned the human experience. . . at its best and at its worst.   He would use that experience as he walked through His Life in that Land. . . . the God/Man, sinless, but well experienced with the human realities of Earth.  The humanity that God loved and for whom He was moving forward in His Plan to redeem, now included God in a human form . . . One Whose Destiny was to make a Way for human life to experience  His Spirit living within us.   

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  Encounter #5

A Little Village, A Desperate Couple, A Shelter for Animal . . . and a Baby

“While they were in Bethlehem, 
The time came for Mary to have her child. 
She gave birth to her firstborn son.
She wrapped Him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger
because there was no room for them in the inn.”
                                                          Luke 2:6

The young couple were newly-weds.  But it had been a rough start.  The bride was pregnant.  Mary had been at risk of being publicly stoned to death.  And Joseph would have been the obvious culprit.  The unfolding Story  could have  cost Mary her life, and ended then and there.

But through God’s Divine Mercy and Love, God assured Joseph that the Child in Mary’s womb was of His Orchestration.  The Angel-Messenger told Joseph that God was orchestrating the Events through which he and Mary were being led.  God was unfolding a Plan that could change the eternal destinies of every person  who would choose to follow His Plan – through all time.   Mary and Joseph would be the first ones to hold, love, protect, and nurture the Son of God, now growing in Mary’s womb.  The Child would grow into a Man Who would provide the Way to Eternal Life.  

The Way would cost this Child everything.  

Before the young couple and the Baby in Mary’s womb could settle into their new life together in Nazareth, the Roman Empire sent out a decree to the people of Israel.  The Empire wanted a headcount of every person in Israel.  Taxes were to be assessed and required of each.  Every citizen had to go to the cities of their family’s heritage, be registered with the Empire, and taxes paid. Joseph’s family heritage was from Bethlehem.

This was certainly not a “honeymoon” trip for Joseph and Mary.  It would have been a nightmare trip for the young couple. Mary was now carrying her unborn Son through hot, rugged terraine with only the supplies they could carry. Hormonal changes, physical changes, and emotional impact of pregnancy is challenging in a “normal” situation.  But the stressful realities the young couple had to walk through must have caused questions and challenges at a far higher level than what they could have imagined. Fellow travelers would be physically spent and emotionally frustrated as their occupied nation was forced to even more merciless demands than had already been imposed under the brutal Roman occupation.  All of Israel shared  the same cruel treatment by the Roman military in their small nation.  The journey could easily be a trip that many would not survive.  Rugged, hot, hilly terraine, and  limited water would complicate their journey from Nazareth. . . most probably on foot. Then, at their destination, they would have to hand their hard-earned money to greedy, often cruel hands of their merciless, God-less  oppressors.  

For the young family,  especially Mary being far along in her first pregnancy, the journey would have held risks, problems, and stress beyond imagining.  The trip was likely by foot, through rugged terrain for a distance of about 90 miles. The precious Baby in Mary’s womb would have added even more concern and sense of responsibility for the two first-time parents. 

Joseph was likely required to pay his taxes in Bethlehem, the city of his family’s heritage.  However, the small town was teeming with travelers from all over Israel who were now flooding the city because of the Roman mandate.  Their hoped-for  “inn” with no vacancies was likely in Jerusalem.   Bethlehem is within sight of Jerusalem’s walls, about 5 miles from the Temple.  But the small village would not be large enough to accommodate such a human overflow of visitors to Jerusalem.  

Whatever the logistical situation, Bethlehem was nearest to Jerusalem. The humble village was where David had been born, and where he had watched over the sheep of his father.  From the hills of Bethlehem, Jerusalem is clearly visible.  The lambs needed for Temple sacrifices were primarily raised in the rolling fields between the little town and the Temple in Jerusalem that glistened within sight.  Lambs raised for Temple sacrifices grazed those hills, with their shepherds keeping watch over them.  The Gate in Jerusalem’s wall used for the sacrifice lambs to be brought to the Temple was within a few miles’ walk of the humble village.  The hills between the village and the City were pleasant pastures for the flocks of the shepherds of Bethlehem.

Bethlehem’s small-town setting offered Joseph and Mary a possible “Plan B” urgent alternative to Jerusalem’s crush of frustrated, oppressed, (literally taxed visitors that had flooded the city.)  

Plan “B” was now in process. . .

Arriving in Bethlehem did not relieve the young couple’s desparate situation.  Mary and Joseph now faced a new reality of NO place to stay.  No water to wash the dust of the hot, rugged trip. Likely, no clean water to even quench their thirst.   Any shelter for travelers was no longer available.  Every available room in both Jerusalem and nearby Bethlehem was full of equally weary, frustrated, hungry and thirsty travelers who had been forced to make the journey.

And now, Mary was clearly in labor.  The Baby was coming.  In desperation, Joseph found space in a stable . . . inhabited by the animals.  There was no other option.

 . . . and the Baby was born.  

A young man helped his new wife as she gave birth to the Baby that God had intentionally placed into their lives . . . into their arms . . . into their hearts.  God had given His Own Son into their keeping.  Father to father.  Son,  now in human  form, was held within a young woman’s arms.  The Divine entrusting the Divine into human arms. . . . human hearts. .  .  for the sake of the World.

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ENCOUNTER #4

A Groom, an Unborn Child, an Angel, and a Rough Beginning

MATTHEW 1:18-25

“Joseph had this in mind when an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream.
The angel said to him, “Joseph, descendant of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary
as your wife. She is pregnant by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and
you will name him Jesus [He Saves], because he will save his people their sins.”

Joseph was in a crisis . . . emotional upheaval. . . considering a quiet escape. His
lovely fiance, Mary, was going to have a baby. But it was not his child. It was over. . . his plans, the house he was preparing for his bride, his heart of love for the girl with whom he planned to spend his life and establish his own family. He had been waiting to share that future with his Love . . .Mary.

But then came the shocking revelation that she was having a baby. A baby that was not
his.

A man in love has his own dreams for the future. A home he will prepare. . . a job that will provide for her. . . sons to carry on his name . . . sons to be taught and carry on his trade, children to carry on his family legacy. His good reputation in the village of his family’s significant history as a direct descendant of King David would now become the whispers of the whole town. Joseph had waited for Mary. She was worth the wait.

And then, it blew up.

Mary had gone away to visit with her Aunt Elizabeth. Joseph had stayed in his and Mary’s hometown of Nazareth. He had a big responsibility to build the home in which his bride and their future children would live after they married. But Mary had returned in a way that had devastated his hopes . . . his dreams . . . his dignity. Future family plans with his Bride shattered. The respect of his community, his reputation , his dignity. . . his future . . .crumbled before his eyes.

Mary was carrying a baby . . . inside. And he was definitely not the father. This was not
his baby. Layers of devastation began to swirl in the young man’s heart and mind. He
had preserved her greatest gift to him. . . her virginity. What had Mary done!? Joseph loved Mary. He did not want her to “pay” . . . She could have been stoned to death by the villagers. It was the traditional, legal, just consequence for such behavior. Everybody knew punishment for such immoral behavior. Joseph must have been shaken to the core.

But God knew. God was Present. God understood Joseph’s shock . . . hurt . . . turmoil.
God knew the Truth. This was a significant part of His Plan. . . despite human realities.
Joseph still cared about the girl he had chosen to marry. He had built and prepared a
house for them and for their future children. That’s what a good man does for his family.

Joseph’s emotional and mental nightmare swirled in his mind and heart as he laid down
to sleep. It was a brief escape from the tragic disruption to the life he had been preparing. Mary would be at great risk of being stoned to death once the villagers began to see the evidence of a baby growing within the cover of her robes. He did not want that to happen. His heart and mind struggled with the implications of her “sin” becoming visible. But he did not want Mary to die. She had become part of his heart. . . more than a legal arrangement with her family. Joseph began making a plan of escape for Mary. . . one that would allow her to quietly “disappear” without the danger of usual punishment in such cases, . . . public stoning.

But in the quiet of the night, when Joseph’s new reality . . .a living nightmare, took a brief reprieve with sleep. Then Joseph had a Visitor. A Light penetrated his darkness, and radiated peace, love, compassion . . . hope. God had come near. He knew the agony in Joseph’s heart. He saw the pain. . . the fear . . . the turmoil of a young man’s shattered dreams.

God’s Light penetrated Joseph’s nightmare. A Voice spoke in the darkness. . . It called him by name. The Source of that Light was gentle. Loving. Personal. Understanding of the pain of his broken heart, The Voice held no condemnation . . . a tender disruption to the agonizing thoughts that were swirling about his tomorrow . . . his life . . . his love . . . his family. God’s Voice ended the turmoil in Joseph’s heart about his beloved Mary.

The Voice spoke to his fear . . . his hurt . . . A Voice called him by name.
“Joseph, descendant of David, take Mary as your wife . . . the Child within her is from Me . . .a Son, and you will name him Jesus [“He Saves”] because he will save His people from their sins. He will be a Gift for all of mankind. “ ~Matthew 1:20-21

When a man sees his world falling apart, a relationship dissolving. . .feels his heart breaking . . . his dreams crumbling, God draws near. Joseph’s heart was tuned in to God. Even in the midst of emotional pain and turmoil, he had not shut his heart towards God. Joseph experienced God’s Presence, His gentleness, His guidance, His assurance, Hope, and His Heart of Love for a fallen world that needs forgiveness and salvation . . . soon to be offered through his son . . . His Son.

God saw the emotional and mental anguish of a young man. He cared for the internal turmoil in Joseph’s heart. But God’s Plan included this young man. He was part of His plan. He would be the key male figure in His Son’s earthly life. Provider, protector, role model, teacher. . . the most influential man from God’s Son’s birth until He would step into His Eternal Destiny . . .a carpenter . . . Teacher . . . Healer . . . Friend . . . Savior. . .

Messiah.

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Encounter #3

An Old Auntie, A Young Niece, And 2 Pre-born Cousins

“Soon afterwards, Mary hurried to a city in the mountain region of Judah. She
entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.”
Luke 1:39-40 (-56)

As Mary saw her beloved cousin’s home come into view, her mixture of emotions and thoughts must have become intense. The “Moment of Truth” was in sight. Mary was focused on Elizabeth’s home. Elizabeth would be surprised to see her young niece getting out of the cart. . . no phone message. . . no postcard . . . likely no forewarning whatsoever.

But as Elizabeth comes out of her house and Mary walks toward her, Elizabeth pauses as she experiences a strange sensation from deep inside. Her unborn baby reacts to the young girl’s approach. . . with a “leap” inside his mother. Pre-born Spirit connected to Pre-born Spirit. There was Joy. . . Joy that the old mother recognized in the baby she carried so near to her own heart. Two baby boys. . . with the Spirit of God already in them . . .had words.

Spirit to Spirit needed no words.

God was at work. . . in the hearts and minds of two women. . . one old and one young. Two women who had lived their lives choosing to follow God, no matter what it might require of them. And God was at work in the spirits of two tiny, unborn “miracle” boys. . . ordained by God Himself to carry out their individual, ordained roles in the Story God was unfolding for the sake of the world.

God provided a Moment in Time for two mothers-in-waiting. Relatives. . . two women, one old, one young, who needed a safe place to talk, share their hearts, fears, joys. . .

Two mothers, each carrying her tiny, pre-born, miracle baby boy. Each tiny boy was sent by God to carry out his specific Mission. Both mothers would experience unspeakable joy and heartbreak as they watched the Paths each son would follow as God had ordained. Each son would die horrible deaths at the hands of wicked leaders. But each son would impact their world for God’s Kingdom. John pointed the way to eternal life. Jesus made the way for eternal life through forgiveness of sin. An elderly auntie . . . a young girl . . . both with a
Divine Calling to birth sons who would impact and change the world. Both sons’ life sacrifices would bring people to the knowledge of God’s reality and His provision for humanity to have eternal life.

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Encounter #2

A Teenage Girl and a Messenger of God

Luke 1:26-38

Mary, a young teenage girl, lived in Nazareth, a region near the sea of Galilee. It was some distance from Jerusalem, where the Temple was the Centerpiece of Israel. But Nazareth was a quieter area, where fishing, farming and flocks of sheep were common. Mary was engaged to marry a young man named Joseph, a local carpenter whose family had a respected lineage in Israel’s history.

One day, an unexpected Visitor came to Mary’s family home. But the Visitor greeted young Mary first, with these words: “You are favored by the Lord! The Lord is with you!”

Mary was startled. This was not the usual way that visitors began a greeting in a family home. He addressed Mary specifically . . . a young, teenage girl. Normally the parents were the first to be addressed. But He spoke her name.

The Visitor continued. . . He said, “You are favored by the Lord. The Lord is with you.”

Mary was startled by these words, and was trying to figure out what this greeting meant.
Normally, guests first spoke with the head of the family. . . not a young daughter. Little
did Mary know that God’s #1 Angel was the had ever carried such a Message since the
Earth was Created.

The Visitor (Angel) continued. . .“Don’t be afraid, Mary. You have found favor with God.

You will become pregnant,
Give birth to a son,
And name him Jesus.
He will be a great man
And will be called
‘The Son of the Most High.’

The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.
Your son will be king of Jacob’s people forever,
And His kingdom will never end.”

Mary was startled . . . and confused. . . with good reason! She was not married, and she was a virgin. The Visitor (Angel) continued, with care and more clarity for this young girl whose life would never be the same again, nor like that of anyone else in all of history. But young Mary knew God. She knew Him as her Savior.

The Visitor provided more details of what was soon to take place in Mary’s life:
● The tiny baby she would carry within her was a boy
● The Baby’s name: Jesus
● He would be the greatest Man of all
● His Title would be “Son of the Most High
● He would inherit the Throne of King Daivd (his ancestor)
● His Kingship would be over all the people within the ancestry of Jacob
forever

● His Kingdom will never end.

In that quiet, Sacred Moment, alone with God’s Angel. . . the young girl spoke the words that were in her mind and tender heart. No questions. In what was perhaps one of the weightiest Moments in all of human history, a young girl opened her heart, her future, her total being. . . and spoke the words that would impact all of History from that Holy, deeply personal Moment on. “I will do what You have Said.”

How does a young, sheltered teenage girl begin to understand such a message? Who is this Stranger in the room? A young virgin being told she will begin to carry a baby in her body. . . a baby who is the Messiah that her ancestors through centuries had been awaiting to become their Perfect, Just King Who would at last change their world into the future World that God had Promised so long ago. She knew the stories. They had been passed down throughout centuries to her own people, to her own time, and for her people’s future for all Time.

The Angel had said that her fiance Joseph would be the one walking through this unimaginable future with her. She would not face this alone. There was a Plan. The Prophecies that her people had held in their minds and hearts for centuries were
beginning to unfold in her time. In her and Joseph’s family line. . . and into their own home . . . into their own lives . . . into her own body…her own arms. It was to begin now.

Mary’s heart and mind was swirling . . . she was so young. She had to talk to someone.
Who in the world could possibly understand any of this. Who could hold her, care for
her, help her step through this one-time-in-global-history experience? She could only
imagine the probable reactions of the people she loved most, not to mention the
probable reactions of the people of her sheltered world. . . her mother. . . her father . .
girlfriends, neighbors, cousins, . . . all of the circle of relationships that made up her
small world in Nazareth.

Who could ever believe her? Where could she feel safe? Elizabeth. Her sweet, wise, loving “favorite cousin.” The angel knew her, and knew that Mary would desperately need someone in this life-changing Moment. Elizabeth would understand. She would be safe . . . wise . . . caring. . .and experiencing her own miracle pregnancy. Perfect.

The young girl gathered her things and with her parent’s blessing (of course!) and
began her journey to dear Elizabeth’s home. She would be safe in Elizabeth and Zechariah’s home. She would be welcomed, and loved. It would be the perfect place to begin thinking and talking through the realities that she was only beginning to imagine. She was so young. Aunt Elizabeth had never had a baby, but she was so wise. . . she would know what to do.

God would have to handle the overwhelming realities to come. But in that Moment, Mary knew she needed a safe place, a caring face, a loving heart, and the words of wisdom from a dear one she could trust. Both Wise Aunt Elizabeth and young Mary were in for a Delightful, Divine Surprise!

God knows the emotional needs that arise throughout the seasons of our lives. Cross-
generational relational connections are a sweet way to share experiences, struggles,
perspectives, advice and care throughout our years and seasons of life. Mentors who have lived through struggles, heartaches, and loss have gems of truth that can shed light on our present realities. A rocky relationship . . . a challenging pregnancy, hurtful whispers and judgements. . .life dreams that seem to crumble. . . insecurity about the future. . . God’s ancient people experienced those realities. Their stories and ancient words of Wisdom can bring light for our own hearts and struggles.

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A Season of Human (and Divine!) Encounters. . .

That old, familiar Story . . . told and retold throughout the centuries. That Story of a Baby Who changed the state of the world by His Coming. He changed the status of the realities of our earthly life forever. And most impossible of all . . . He provided the Way to change the human heart, mind, and eternal Destination of every man, woman and child of this Earth.

It is a story of Divine Encounters that are woven throughout the season that we call “Christmas.” Does God speak to young children? Does He speak to teenagers? Does God speak to hearts in the midst of serious life choices and crises? Stories of God’s personal Engagement with humanity cross all barriers of age, gender, social status, ethnicity and religious affiliations.

Holidays can often be settings for interactions that bring hurt, disappointment, tension, and emotional distancing. The Bible is full of stories of those human realities, including one of the most beautiful stories in all of history. . . the coming of the Messiah as an innocent baby, to be born and live in a world that would widely reject Him . . . then and now.

Yet, He walked through our world embodying Perfect Love. The only One Who ever did. He is our Example, and offers His Presence in our lives as we move through our days and our relationships every day.

May this short series of Stories of His First Coming touch your heart and mind as you walk through this Christmas season and all of the Divine Encounters that await. . .the unique sense of Wonder . . . Hope . . . Time with family and friends . . . sights and Signs of Beauty and Light . . .May you know He is near.

ENCOUNTER #1

An Old Priest, His Wife, and an Angel

Luke 1

The old Priest in the Temple in Jerusalem had been given the honor of serving there at a special time of year, and his very special assignment was to burn the sacred incense in the most holy place. He had this rare privilege through his heritage of coming from the priestly lineage of Aaron, and his lifetime of faithful service to God within the walls of the beautiful Temple . . . the Centerpiece of Israel. It may have been his only “Shining Moment” to enter that sacred space in his lifetime. Every detail of this Moment must be perfect. He was literally “in the Presence of God.”

Zechariah carried out each detail of this sacred experience . . . focused, memorized, exact, prepared. He was an old man, and it was likely that he would never experience this again. Was he memorizing every moment? Did he wish that his dear Elizabeth could see this? Did he wish that there had been a child . . . a son who could have shared this amazing Moment with his daddy? A son who would carry on his legacy of serving in God’s Presence in the Holy Temple . . . the Focal Point of his city . . . his nation. . . his people Israel.

Then, He appeared. Right there. Standing right there in that Most Holy Place. The Angel . . . Gabriel!! Standing with him to the right of that sacred space at the Altar of God. Zechariah was stunned. No one else was in the place. . . all the people who had come to worship were
praying outside while Zechariah carried out his most sacred responsibility and privilege to light the incense that God wanted to fill all the air around Him. But there were no instructions for this situation! Zechariah was shaken to his core!

Was he about to die? Had he made a mistake? He had never heard of anything like this before. There was no one else in this holiest place in the Temple. All the people were outside. . . worshiping . . . praying . . . waiting. He was alone. With an Angel. He was “overcome with fear”….AKA freaking out!!! Literally speechless.

The Angel spoke. “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah. (The Angel knew his name!) God has heard your prayer. Your wife Elizabeth will have a son… (He knew her name!)… And you will name him ‘John.’ He will be your pride and joy, and many people will be glad that he was born.

“As far as the Lord is concerned, he will be a great man. He will never drink wine or any other liquor. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. He will bring many people in Israel back to the Lord their God. He will go ahead of the Lord with the Spirit and Power that Elijah had. He will change parents’ attitudes toward their children. He will change disobedient people so that they will accept the wisdom of those who have God’s approval. In this way, he will prepare the people for their Lord.”

WHAT??? Hello??? This makes NO sense. This is impossible! I am an old man. Elizabeth is far too old to get pregnant!

The glowing Stranger introduced himself. “I am Gabriel. I stand in God’s Presence. This is all going to happen. Now you will just have to think about what I have told you. You won’t be able to say a thing until it all happens. It will all come true at the right time.” And he was gone.

Old Zechariah finally stumbled out to the crowd waiting outside the Temple. This was not the normal way this special event was supposed to go. What happened in there? The old guy couldn’t walk. He couldn’t speak! All he could do was try to tell his experience through pantomime. He looked crazy!

His time in Temple service was not finished. He had to go back into the Temple until his obligation was ended. He couldn’t even see Elizabeth. Did she have any idea of what was going to happen. . . an elderly couple was going to have a baby. Impossible.

But God. . .

Old age is rarely a season of life to which anyone looks forward. Although wisdom and
experience are a resource that the coming generations can draw from, the opportunities
or intentional pursuit may not be the reality. But God’s Word is filled with history and
stories of His value and engagement with a lot of very old people, women and men, who
played significant roles in their own and future generations. God uses old people, with
their life experiences, wisdom, and perspective of what truly matters in life.

Little did this elderly couple realize that Elizabeth’s young relative, Mary, was about to
go through her own experience of a Miracle Baby. . . as a virgin. There would be the “looks” …“whispers”… “questions.” Auntie Elizabeth would provide a safe shelter to the
young girl whose life would be turned upside-down, as her own miracle pregnancy
became noticeable to her friends and neighbors. Two “impossibly” expectant mothers
would have a safe place in one another to share their joys, fears, questions, and time.
Poised together on the threshold of the arrival of two baby boys who would impact the
world for Eternity, the two women, old and young, would walk through the eternally
singular Experience of carrying Miracle Baby Boys within their own bodies . . . so near
to their hearts.

And God orchestrated the faithful, childless couple to play a significant role in the life of
a beloved niece, whose Child would change the World forever. Zachariah and Elizabeth’s miracle baby, for whom they had hoped and prayed was now nearing birth. John. And the One. . . the Messiah. . . for Whom they had waited and watched throughout their lives was now nearing His Own entrance into the world, through their own niece, Mary. God rewarded their faithfulness with a miracle son, and the experience of a “front row seat” to see the physical signs of the unborn Messiah, for Whom they had prayed throughout their lives.

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The Loveliness of the Commonplace

Part 3

“Come to Me. I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28

Rest.

Such a simple, common word. Such a common human need. Such a common, human
experience. . . but not always within our grasp.

Remember an experience when you were utterly exhausted. You could hardly put one foot infront of the other, because your strength was gone. There was nothing left in you to give.

Many in our world have lost the experience of true “rest.” Stress, pressure, emotional turmoil . . . so much a part of our lives in a world that is full of activity, effort, fear, insecurity.

Jesus certainly faced that common human reality while He walked in our world. He would not have experienced our earthly, human limitations in Heaven’s Realm before He chose to come in human form and live the human experience. He spoke of rest. He took rest. Even in a boat during a violent storm, His human body needed to sleep.

But “sleep” is not necessarily “rest.” We may be able to sleep. . . but wake up with the same
emotional turmoil, mental anguish, heart-aches, and spiritual emptiness that drains Life from our very beings. We carry emotional and mental weights that are too heavy to bear.We take on burdens that slow our walk to a crawl. Or to a halt.

Jesus’ simple, open Invitation is exactly what our exhausted, empty souls need. Rest. Not just a physical “rest”. Not just a mental “rest.” Not just an emotional “rest.” But a rest that only He can give. An all-encompassing rest that touches far beyond the physical need. It touches our very soul.

I will never forget an experience I had in the Sahara Desert, in the refugee camps in July one summer. Temperatures were +120 degrees Fahrenheit, with no breeze. I dragged myself into a tent and laid on a thin rug covering the sand. Completely exhausted, dehydrated, hot, and fully wrapped in my traditional covering, I fell asleep. A few hours later, I slowly began to awaken, with a soft awareness of gentle hands holding one foot, and then the other, tenderly wiping each with a soft, wet cloth. Without opening my eyes, the gentle care brought me back to awareness and the sensation of tender hands and a soft, wet cloth tenderly removing the dusty, gritty sand that coated my cracked, sore feet. First one. Then the other. I was having a little taste of Heaven on that desert floor! My senses were being awakened. . . my thoughts began to engage, . . . my exhausted mind sensed “life” returning, and my heart was aware of God’s gentle love and care . . . through the hands of a loving friend.

That simple, tender act of kindness . . . to the most unseemly, battered part of my body, brought an unmatched sense of love, care, soothing, and comfort like nothing I had experienced before. It continues to be one of those moments that I will never forget.

A worn basin, cool water, a humble cloth, and gentle hands. When offered into God’s Hands,
they bring healing that goes deeper than our eyes can see.

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The Loveliness of the Commonplace

Part 2

“Blessed are those who recognize they are spiritually helpless.
The Kingdom of Heaven belongs to these.”
Matthew 5:3

Jesus knew more than any human being that has ever walked the earth what spiritual
helplessness looked like. Whether we recognize it or not, it is the reality we all share. God
knows it. Jesus-in-human-form knew it. We are the ones who find it difficult to admit that truth of how helpless we truly are regarding our own spirits.

I grew up in the “church world.” I was rarely exposed to the realities of the “fallen world” all
around me. However, the “church world” was quite full of “fallen world” people. Often, despite best efforts, it was difficult to differentiate between the two worlds.

When I (a “Pastor’s Kid” aka “PK”) grew up and fell in love, it was with a man whose life
experience was in a traditional faith that was quite foreign to my experience. I grew up with an attitude toward his faith tradition as a faith that was “missing the Boat.” Although I very
personally had asked Jesus to come into my life when I was a little girl, I saw in my husband a genuine kind of faith that was borne out of his very genuine realization of the “lost-ness” of his life before coming to know Jesus. He knew what it was to be truly “lost” . . . and then truly “found” by his Savior. As our lives became established together in following Christ, I began to realize very personally witness the transformation that Jesus could create in any human heart opened to invite Him into their life. I could see transformations of lives, as these new Believers asked Him to give them a new heart and His Spirit.

It changed my whole perspective of my world. I was watching real people, who had never
known the Forgiveness and New Life that Jesus made possible, come into a very real
experience of Life-Change. . . Heart Change . . . Mind Change . . . and Eternal Destiny Change.

Those Truths and Promises I had always been taught took on living, breathing Life as I watched people walking away from “what was” and into a new Life. They were experiencing new thoughts, new spirits, and new Eternal Destinies now in their life’s reality.

Jesus’ Presence in our lives . . . our hearts . . . our minds . . . changes everything. It is real. It is
visible. It comes out in practical, tangible ways that others notice. It is seen in the simple acts of daily life. It shows up in thoughts and actions and motivations and attitudes that had not been part of our lives before He came to us. . . into us. The Common becomes something Lovely.

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The Loveliness of the Commonplace

(Part 1)

“I have told you this so that
My Peace will be with you.
In the world you will have trouble.
But don’t be sad!
I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33

They had spent the evening together. They had shared a meal, spent time together in a
comfortable setting, and had enjoyed uninterrupted time relaxing and simply enjoying each
other’s company without the frequent demands that came to Jesus from people who wanted His attention and help. Jesus had washed their feet before the meal, taking personal time in that simple, kind, practical act with each of His dearest followers. They had been through so much together in the past few years.

They did not realize what was so soon to come as they sat with Him, relaxing that evening. He showed no signs of worry, or fear, or sadness as they spent that time together. Jesus was focused on His friends, giving them encouragement. They were not aware of how frightening and difficult the coming hours and days would be. . . not only for them, but for Him.

In those hours spent together, Jesus gave His full attention to them. He was not focused on the horrors that He knew were to take place later that night and the coming days. His full attention was on them. He was focused on them. . . these friends with whom He had shared Life and ministry for the past three years.

I cannot imagine spending the final hours of my life, knowing of horrific events that would soon begin to unfold, focused on a roomful of friends, sharing a meal, being the “Perfect Host,” and being fully Present with them throughout that final evening. What Love! What selfless attention He focused on them. Simple. Practical. Needful. Care for His friends. Serving them, with the full knowledge of what was to come for Him.

May my focus . . . my priorities . . . my energies reflect to the people who matter most in my life, the selflessness that Jesus lived and breathed each day. May my eyes be focused on serving and loving well throughout my days. Even when my own heart may be troubled and broken, may I reflect the One Who has loved me so well, even when it was not deserved. May those simple, practical ways of caring for the people in my life be a reflection of Jesus. . . and allow Him to use it in ways that I never could.

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Looking UP . . . from the Valley


“Jesus said, ‘Let’s go up to Jerusalem.’”

Sounds exciting, doesn’t it?! Jesus Himself inviting His followers to go with Him to Jerusalem! Such a special place! Such a “Crown Jewel” focal point for all of Israel.

But in order to go “up” to Jerusalem, you have to go down through the Kidron Valley that
surrounds the “up” of Jerusalem. It’s not glamorous. It would not have been an easy trek for
Jesus and His friends. It’s hot. It’s quite a steep hike up to Jerusalem. Not many shady spots
along the way on that steep slope. On foot. In sandals. BYO water. Etc.

But Jerusalem is worth the trek. All of Israel felt that. Even to this day, there is truly something very unique . . . VERY special about the first glimpse of Jerusalem from a distance. But winding through the heights/mountains around Jerusalem is not an easy trek on foot.

What a visual and experiential Picture God had designed as the Main Stage for His Greatest
Work to unfold in History! And through ages of turmoil and violence surrounding that Special Place, it still stands. Although the “Temple” now lives in our own hearts. . . where His Spirit resides when He has been invited . . . the Land remains.

It strikes me as SO relevant today, as Jesus continues to say to each of His Own followers now, “Let’s go up to Jerusalem.” The “City of God.” ‘Come with Me, . . . let’s Go together.’

Whatever “Valley” has been the setting of your present reality, His invitation continues. And I think that the sweetest part of the invitation is that He intends to be on the Journey with us! He could have said, “Hey! Buddy! You need to go up to Jerusalem! I have a good reason to tell you to do it. Just Trust Me!” But that’s not what He does. He is making the trek with us. No map provided. No travel coupons included. No shade even offered. . . nor Kwik Trips along the way. Basically, We’re gonna hike it together. We can do this! Let’s go! (My personal
translation, here.)

We’re all in our own “valley” spots. We’ve been following Him. Sometimes He seems “missing-in-action,’ . . . but He never is. And when those times come and He asks us to do something outside of the ‘usual,’ we might hesitate . . . question . . . start making our list of plans. That’s only human, right?

But His Response is usually quite simple. “Let’s go.” And that is enough.