#TBT Throw-back Thursday -- Holy Thursday

It almost seems disrespectful to title my blog “Holy Thursday” AND “Throw-back Thursday” – but isn’t that what today is to us? It is remembering how Jesus shared a Passover meal with His disciples, and that meal invoked Holy Communion (Luke 22:19-20). We hear His words: "As often as you do this, you do it in memory of Me!" And, we do REMEMBER!

Getting new Easter clothes, expecting Easter surprises along with an Easter egg hunt that followed Easter Sunday church services is a sweet memory each year. As precious as those memories are, they pale in comparison to the memories of what Christ taught us during this Holy Week. Today is Holy Thursday of Holy Week when we recall the Last Supper – the night that Jesus set the greatest example of what it is to be a Servant Leader. Jesus -- the greatest of ALL, was the servant of ALL, as He washed His disciples’ feet. He, with the towel and basin, is KING of the universe. The same hands that shaped the earth, the stars, and the moon, washed away grime and filth. He wanted his disciples to know how much He loved them. Jesus knew they were about to betray and deny Him, yet He loved and SERVED them. Such extravagant love – such excessive SERVICE. "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." John 13:34. That's a tall order, isn't it? But that ORDER (Command) is one that can change everything in our own lives AND the world if we would take that COMMAND and act on it.

Christ certainly didn't just talk the TALK -- He walked the WALK. He led by example. Jesus prepared His disciples to carry on. I think that’s Jesus’ message to you and me, too. Surely there are those that cause irritation in our lives. In fact, like Jesus, they may have denied us, deceived us, rejected us, spoke evil against us, and completely disappointed us. Doesn’t it cause us to have a great sense of awareness that He Who was perfect and knew no sin, could set the example for us on how to deal with those honorary folks in our lives?

It certainly makes me pause to ask the question: "Am I a devoted follower of Christ, even to the cross to bear witness of Him and His love for me?" I pray the same words of Peter to Jesus: "Lord, wash me, cleanse me, purify me so that I too may be presented as a vessel of honor to You." What an incredible flow of mercy, love, forgiveness, servitude, and sacrifice that flowed from Jesus then, and continues to flow to us today. Oh Lord, may we be your servants today -- to follow, serve and love You, and others, as You served and loved.

You Are Loved, So Don’t You Dare Quit Now!

Some things just don't change.....but wouldn't it be great if they did? The first two kids, Cain and Abel, birthed from the first two parents, Adam and Eve, couldn't get along. In fact, their sibling rivalry led to the death of Abel. Fast forward to the dad, Jacob, and Joseph, his son (his favorite son -- okay, that's already screaming "TROUBLE"). Why would a dad ever favor one of his kids over the other? But he did, and little Joseph became the target of his 10 brothers -- to not just bully him but to kill him. Fortunately, their evil plot was thwarted.

Obviously, people issues -- judging, bullying, gossiping, jealousy, arguing, etc. have been a part of humanity from the beginning. It's unfortunate when we consider what all those "issues" do to people. That's why it's so important that we go to a higher level -- a place of love, concern, care, and compassion for each other. Jesus said, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Luke 6:31. And He reiterated, in John 13:34, “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other."

Maybe you're the one who is being judged and bullied or lied about. Maybe you feel like no one really cares about you and you think that you don't really matter. Here's the truth about MATTER:. YOU ARE LOVED! Don't let people get inside your head to make you think otherwise. You are loved. You are a one-of-a-kind original and no matter what you think and what others say about you, God loves you so much and you are His masterpiece. If you were the only person on earth, He would still have sent His one and only Son to pay the ultimate price for YOU. That's TRUE LOVE! He took the high road. It's time for us to take the high road, too.

The psalmist says that God formed you. Formed is defined as great care and special attention. It's the picture of a potter expertly crafting his art at the potter's wheel. You and I were formed by the Creator for a purpose. And everything God forms, He fills. He formed the seas and filled it with fish. He formed man and filled him with breath. God has filled you with unique gifts and talents. He filled your spirit with a longing for more. God has filled your life with a supernatural destiny. So don't believe for one more moment you have been overlooked or forgotten by God. Don't accept the deception that destiny and purpose are for other people and not you!

You really do matter! Don’t you dare think about giving up! YOU ARE LOVED. Now, get out there and own YOU and your place on this earth, at this time, to stand out and be the best YOU, you can possibly be!

You Are Loved.....Don't Give Up

Day 309 of Photo Inspirations -- You Are Loved.....Don't Give Up

Some things just don't change.....but wouldn't it be great if they did? The first two kids, Cain and Abel, birthed from the first two parents, couldn't get along.  In fact their sibling rivalry led to the death of Abel.  Fast forward to Jacob, the dad, and Joseph, his son (his favorite son -- okay, that's already screaming "TROUBLE").  Why would a dad ever favor one of his kids over the other?  But he did, and little Joseph became the target of his 10 brothers -- to not just bully him, but to kill him. Fortunately, their evil plot was thwarted.

But people issues -- judging, bullying, gossiping, jealousy, arguing, etc. have been a part of humanity from the very beginning.  It's so unfortunate when we consider what all those "issues" do to people. That's why it's so important that we go to a higher level -- a place of love, concern, care and compassion for each other.

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Luke 6:31
"So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other."  John 13:34

Maybe you're the one who is being judged and bullied, or lied about.  Here's the truth of the matter. YOU are loved!!    Don't let people get inside your head to make you think otherwise. You are loved and you are special!  God loves you so much and you are His masterpiece.  If you were the only person on earth, He would still have sent His one and only Son to pay the ultimate price for YOU. That's TRUE LOVE!  He took the high road.  It's time for us to take the high road, too.

Now, don't give up.....YOU ARE LOVED.  Watch this video of this beautiful song by Josh Groban...."You Are Loved.....Don't Give Up"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-G8IfjPAII

The Way We Were

#TBT – Day 91 of Photo Inspirations – The Way We Were – Easter 1980
Thank you, Facebook, for the joys you’ve given me…..in so many ways – especially the opportunity to remember -- OUT LOUD!   Getting to go through archives of the past, is both a hoot and a sweet way to recall some really precious times.

This photo was taken at our church in Shawnee, OK.  It was a big deal, big enough to dress up for the big celebration of Easter.  Had to get those new Easter outfits and an Easter bonnet.  I had enough hair back then, that unmistakably served as all the hat I needed.  ;-)  And after church, it was all about the Easter egg hunts.  Every family would bring a dozen colored eggs and some appointed folks would hide them in a nearby field.  Then we’d have a spirited time of finding them all.  I remember being one of those kids – doing my best to load up my basket.

But remembering the new clothes and Easter bunnies and baskets and egg hunts, as sweet as those times are, nothing compares to the true meaning of this victorious time of celebration.   Today is Holy Thursday – the day of Holy Week, that we recall the Last Supper – the night that Jesus set the greatest example of what it is to be a Servant Leader.   Jesus -- the greatest of ALL, was servant of ALL, as He washed His disciples’ feet.   He, with the towel and basin, is KING of the universe. The same hands that shaped the earth, the stars and the moon, washed away grime and filth. He wanted his disciples to know how much He loved them. Jesus knew they were about to betray and deny Him, yet He loved and SERVED them. Such extravagant love – such excessive SERVICE. "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." John 13:34.  That's a tall order order, isn't?  Love as He loved us.

Christ certainly didn't just talk the TALK -- He walked the WALK. He led by example. Such love -- such service!   And, what an example He was for us.  Surely there are those in our world that cause irritation in our lives.  In fact, like Jesus, they may have denied us, deceived us, rejected us, spoke evil against us, and completely disappointed us.   Doesn’t it cause us to have a great sense of awareness that He Who was perfect and knew no sin, could set the example for us on how to deal with those honorary folks in our lives?  To be like Him, we SERVE.  We serve by loving, sharing and giving, for in that serving, we become like Him.