Signs of spring

The sweet smell of spring is in the air and I couldn't be happier! It has been a long Ohio winter and the sights of tulips and butterflies is a welcoming sight, isn't it? (Notice I did not mention the sight of bugs? More on that in a later post...)

If I had to identify three things in our home that tell us spring is here to stay, they would be:

1. Freshly brewed iced tea and lemonade are readily available every day.
2. Trips to the baseball fields almost every night.
3. The cover on our pool comes off. (This happened a little earlier than usual this year, as we had a little assistance from a horrible wind storm a few weeks ago!)

How about you? What things happen in your home annually in the springtime that are sure signs that spring is here to stay and summer is on the way?

"I've Got A Golden Ticket!"

The last time I posted on this blog it was Palm Sunday and I was home with my sick little one. One week later and the flu bug has successfully bit every one of us! It has been a long week, and we are on the eighth day of an uninterrupted series of throw up. Hopefully we will all be able to go to church together tomorrow, but I have serious doubts... Especially since Chris returned home from baseball practice telling me that he threw up on the street! I could go on and on with throw up stories from this week, but I'll spare you the details. Did I mention that it's been a long week?

Jacob was sick today. (He threw up this morning around 5:00 or so. Sorry - no more references to throw up, I promise!) I have been feeling under the weather also, so he and I laid on the couch together this afternoon and watched the original version of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. This is one movie I can watch over and over again. If you've seen it, you'll recall that there were five golden tickets wrapped inside Wonka chocolate bars that were distributed worldwide, and the recipient of those tickets won the prize of going inside the mysterious Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory. Charlie Bucket wanted one of those tickets more than anything, and he never lost hope that he would get one.

I think my favorite scene of the movie is when Charlie opened a Wonka bar that has one of the golden tickets inside. He runs home fast as his little legs will carry him and cannot wait to show his Grandpa Joe, who has been bed ridden for twenty years. Charlie tells his grandpa that he would like him to accompany him to the Chocolate factory. This was just the incentive Grandpa Joe needed to stretch his legs, rise to his feet, and try to walk. Initially his gait was unsteady, but before you know it Grandpa Joe busted out in song and began to dance around their one room home! I never really listened to the lyrics of this song before, but today they grabbed my attention.

"I never thought my life could be anything but catastrophe, but suddenly I begin to see a bit of good luck for me, cause I've got a golden ticket! I've got a golden twinkle in my eye, I never had a chance to shine, never a happy song to sing, but suddenly half the world is mine what an amazing thing Cause I've got a golden ticket. It's ours Charlie! I've got a golden sun up in the sky. I never thought I'd see the day when I would face the world and say, "Good morning. Look at the sun."

Charlie and Grandpa Joe danced their hearts out in response to their golden ticket - something they saw as a life changing opportunity. As I listened to the lyrics and watched them dance, my thoughts began to drift. Maybe it was the first sentence that grabbed my attention, as I can personally relate so well to them, "I never thought my life could be anything but catastrophe..." Before I came to know Christ as my Lord, this is exactly how I felt. Unlike the characters in the movie, my change of life direction had nothing to do with luck, and everything to do with my Lord. It had nothing to do with anything I did, my timing, or my plan, but it did have everything to do with the grace and mercy of my God - none of which I deserve. And I did not just stumble upon a golden ticket by chance, nor did I buy it myself. A ticket has been extended to me, and though it came with a tremendous cost, it was paid in full by the one who extended it - my Savior, King Jesus.

Charlie and Grandpa Joe continued to sing, "I never had a chance to shine, never a happy song to sing..." I wonder if you are like me and identified with these feelings at some point in your life? Thoughts that your life could never be anything but catastrophe. Feeling as though you never had a chance to shine, never a happy song to sing? Perhaps you resonate with these statements today?

Grandpa Joe continues, "I never thought I'd see the day when I would face the world and say, "Good Morning. Look at the Sun". For those of us who know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior in a personal way, we can wake up tomorrow on Easter morning with a joy, peace, and hope in our hearts that this world cannot give. We can wake up and say, "Good Morning. Look to The SON!" And we can even dance my friend! Dance in response to the lavish love Jesus has for you, "who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Heb. 12:2). Our golden ticket will allow us entrance through gates of pearls where the streets will be made of gold, and we will see our Savior that died that we may live.

And for those that have not accepted Christ as your Lord in a personal way, know that the price of your golden ticket has been paid, and it is extended to you. There is nothing you can do to earn your ticket, nor can you create your own. It is one thing to recognize that God exists, and quite another to belong to Him... You must repent in humble recognition that you are a sinner and that you are in need of a Savior. Jesus Christ died on a cross for your sins, and He rose from the dead. Ask Him to reign in your life as King, and tell Him you desire to live to serve Him. Part of the joy in this ticket is the joy of the journey to our destination, for we can have sweet fellowship with our God this side of heaven. We can KNOW Him. Not know about Him - we can KNOW Him and have sweet fellowship with Him.

There is no better reason to sing. No better reason to dance.

He is risen my friend! Hallelujah to the King of Kings!

Jesus on a donkey

Today is Palm Sunday. Our seven year old has a fever, so I stayed home with him while Joe and the other two kids went to church. Chris was sad because he couldn't "wave the leaf" in church today, so we decided to make a homemade palm out of paper and have our own celebration. It wasn't a real leaf, and it wasn't even green, but I reassured him that God is much more concerned about the praises from our hearts rather than the kind of leaf we're waving. Our voices were way off tune, and I'm not even sure I even got the lyrics to Hosanna right, but there was genuine praise being lifted in my humble kitchen from the two of us! There have been many times I missed precious moments like this with our children because I've been too tired or busy, but I thank God for His grace to recognize and seize this one today.

This morning during my devotional time I read the account of Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. I feel compelled to share with you one detail from Dr. Luke's account that was not mentioned by the other three gospel writers that really stood out to me today. I don't remember noticing this detail before... How I just love when God breathes a fresh revelation over me through His living Word! Never ceases to amaze me how God's people can reread familiar portions of Scripture and have a personal encounter with its Author every single time.

Just to give you a little context here, Jesus was riding on the donkey and fulfilling the prophecy from Zech. 9:9. As Jesus walked along, people threw their cloaks on the ground before him, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road all the while exclaiming praises to Him. The crowd would have been large that day, as Jews were traveling to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover, which was only days away. There are so many incredible details to draw out and expound upon from this text, but I want to draw your attention to Lk. 19:41-42, "As he (Jesus) approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it and said, 'If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace - but now it is hidden from your eyes." Amidst all the cheers and excitement Jesus saw into the hearts of the lost - and He wept.

Jesus knew that from the same mouths shouting Hosanna would five days later scream "Crucify Him!" Jesus would lay down His life for those who lie down their cloaks before Him. Knowing all of these things Jesus was not moved to anger or judgement - The Word made flesh was moved to tears as He walked forward on a journey that He knew would lead to the cross. His love for His people pressed Him forward - one deliberate step at a time toward the cross. His love for you pressed Him forward my friend.

Amidst an excited crowd, tears graced the cheeks of our Savior. This is the image that is tucked into my heart as we begin Holy Week. "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us" (1 Jn. 3:16). May you and I be enthralled with the love of Jesus this week.