How Interruptions Can Be Defining Moments--All the Way to Golgotha into Life Eternal

 

In The Church of the Most Holy Trinity, Augusta, GA

We really never know what God has in store for us each day.  We make our to-do lists, plot our best-laid plans.  I’ve been thrown off my game, time and again, because my plans were disrupted, only later to see how masterfully God wove people, places, times, and events together.  He has the master plan.  What I need to do is ask Him to lead the way; I will take up my cross, and follow Him. (See Matthew 16:20)

Today I want us to think about someone—Simon the Cyrenian—whose day was disrupted by a most defining moment of history.  He indeed followed Jesus all the way to Golgotha.

There isn’t much recorded about this man in the Scriptures, and I am not a theologian, but this is what I’ve found.  Simon, from Cyrene, a city in Libya, had come into Jerusalem from out of the country possibly  to celebrate the Passover.  Maybe he had his sons with him (I don’t know).  He had two sons, Alexander and Rufus.  Rufus is referred to by Paul in his letter to the Romans as one “chosen of the Lord”.  (See Romans 16:13)  Since the Apostles had spoken to people from his region telling of  the wonderful works of God  (See Acts 2:11), it’s possible Simon was a believer.  But I don’t know if he was or not.  This is what we know.

And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the  country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.  Mark 15:21

And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it for Jesus.  Luke 23:26

I can imagine the soldiers snatching Simon by the shoulders, pulling him out of that crowd which lined the streets, and making him bear the cross on which Jesus would be crucified.  I imagine he was terrified,  little knowing that he had been overtaken by a divine assignment. 

He carried THE CROSS all the way with Jesus to Golgotha.  And I believe he stayed with Jesus, witnessing his crucifixion, and the crucifixion of the two thieves, and the agony, and the darkness and our Lord’s death.  I believe Simon carried that cross all the way to Life Eternal, and his family too with him.

And today, knowing what we know, we all might say, “Let me, let me, let me bear the Savior’s cross!”  We would volunteer gladly to help carry that burden for our Lord Jesus Christ. 

We should shout for joy because Jesus has told us how we can do just that. 

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.  Matthew 25:40

Don’t be surprised if God gives you an unexpected opportunity to do an act of mercy and kindness and by so doing lets you help bear the Lord’s cross.  We all need a Simon, and we all can be one.

One of my favorite photos ever courtesy of Aaron Barton

 

Thank you for visiting Write Moments with God.  Please consider leaving a comment below or writing me at writemoments@gmail.com.  I love to hear from you.  God be with you always.

What's in your heart? by Lou Ann Keiser guest blogger

Roses in Paris -- photo courtesy of Collage of Life

It’s Valentine's Day.  Everywhere--hearts, flowers, cards, and chocolates.

Everyone is in romance mode. 

Prince Charming is at the door. 

His heart is in his smile. He has a huge bouquet of red roses in one hand and a several-pound heart-shaped box of chocolates in the other. 

Or not. 

I don’t know about you, but this whole scenario smacks of too-good-to-be-true. It’s more than a little bit fairytale. 

Let’s see what the Bible has to say about hearts. 

See Ecclesiastes3:11.  He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. Interesting: the Hebrew word for world means “everlasting, evermore, perpetual.” So, we could read this phrase, “he hath set eternity in their heart.”  

Everyone, male and female, was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). We obviously aren’t made physically in His image, since God is a Spirit. This has to mean that we have a soul. In contrast with plants, animals, rocks, and seas, we have a soul. It’s our heart. 

By the sixth chapter of Genesis, God was already displeased with man’s heart. 

And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart (verses 5-6). God’s heart was grieved because of man’s heart. 

A bleak commentary indeed regarding man's heart. 

The good news is:  

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:15).

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8). 

Did you notice the Valentine words?  Love.  Gift. 

It doesn’t stop there.  

God promises to cleanse believers when we confess our sins to Him (1 John1:8-9). The

psalmist David put it this way: Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit

within me (Psalm 51:10). 

As much as we might romantically desire the flowers and chocolates, isn’t the real condition

of our heart much more important? 

The Truth says: 

 

God loves us. 

He loved us so much that He sent His only Son to die for our sins.  This love is free and available to everyone.  God’s forgiveness is eternal.  God’s love is so much higher than human love.

 

David said, talking about God’s care, Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I

cannot attain unto it (Psalm139:6).

 

This Valentine’s Day, let’s look for more than flowers, chocolates, and romance.

 

Let’s let God take care of our hearts!
 

Lou Ann Keiser

 

Lou Ann Keiser is a missionary pastor's wife with over thirty years of ministry experience.  She loves teaching the Bible. She is a mother of two married children and a grandmother.  She and her husband live in a quaint town in Europe.  I'd like to thank her for being my first guest blog writer.  To read more about her, visit her blog at In the Way.

 

 

Thank you so much for visiting Write Moments with God.  I will return with one of my own devotions for the next blog post.  May God be with you.





The Life Giving Power of Words -- PLUS the Winner of This Month's Book-Give-Away

Sardis Methodist Church -- where I went to church as a little girl and sang in the children's choir

The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.  John 6:63

One of the benefits of my Southern Protestant heritage is that I know all the words of all the songs in the hymnal by heart.  I’ve sung them hundreds of times—heard them pounded out loud on the piano every line and verse.  I remember walking down a dirt road as a child singing hymns at the top of my lungs without a care in the world.

Sing them over again to me,

Wonderful words of Life;

Let me more of their beauty see,

Wonderful words of Life. ~Philip P. Bliss

We learned the absolute life-giving value of the Word of God  incorporated into the songs we sung and found in the Holy Bible (also learned verses by heart, weekly, from colored index cards).

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. Matthew 24:35

There’s much recorded in the Scripture about words—not only God’s Word, but the words we speak and the power of the tongue.

Think about it for a second and you will remember kind words spoken to you that ministered peace as sweet as a sip of iced tea.  Likewise, you will remember harsh words spoken that struck your heart like fiery darts.  You might even recall hurtful things you've said to others.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.  Proverbs 18:21

We’ve all experienced the consequences of  idle chatter—backbiting, gossip—our own as well as that of others.  It’s hurtful.  It tears a person down.

 Jesus condemned it.

But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak they will give account of it in the Day of Judgment.  Matthew 12:36

I tried to speak some life-giving words this week to  someone  who was crying because of careless words that had been spoken to her—words that had hurt her heart, making her feel good-for-nothing and unloved. 

I took my time before I spoke, carefully choosing the few words that I thought might offer her hope, build her up, and minister God’s grace like a healing balm to her open wound. 

 I know I must resolve to always be so careful with my words.  They are powerful.

 

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.  Ephesians 4:29

Please consider leaving a comment on today's blog.  I love to hear from you.

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Now to announce the winner of Alice Wisler's devotional Getting Out of Bed in the Morning: Reflections of Comfort in Heartache.  Congratulations to Kathleen Belongia who is our winner.  Thanks to all of you who participated.  Alice and I both were thrilled to read all your kind and encouraging comments. May God's grace be with you all. 

 

 

Alice Wisler, featured author, plus monthly book give-away

Alice J. Wisler's new devotional and a picture of her son Daniel
 

It's my pleasure to introduce Alice Wisler as our guest author today.  Alice Wisler has written a devotional for those who need comfort in heartache. Having lost her son Daniel to cancer, Alice has the sensitivity and empathy to speak right to the heart of those who hurt. This devotional is relevant and encouraging, and leaves the reader with the confident hope that God will sustain them and help them face each new day.  It's for anyone struggling with heartache from any kind of loss--of a loved one, a career, health or finances, hopes and dreams, divorce.  As I read this lovely book, I thought of friends with whom I want to share it. So I invited her to be our guest today.  I hope you enjoy the interview which follows.

You have had a heartbreaking experience with grief; could you talk a little bit about that?

My son Daniel died after cancer treatments in 1997.  He was three when he was diagnosed with a malignant tumor in his neck.  He was four when he died in my arms after a staph infection entered his compromised body. The day was Groundhog Day, so every year when the little rascal is looking for his shadow to predict the onset of spring, I am remembering my little rascal—a beautiful blond-haired boy who loved his mama and had a great sense of humor.

 

What is one of the greatest hurdles when it comes to dealing with grief?

I think we are surprised at how long grief takes (how long the journey through it is) and what an impact grief has on each aspect of our lives. The loss of Daniel challenged my faith, my beliefs—my very core.

 

How does service to others help overcome grief?

Doing for others means getting out of yourself, so to speak, and letting others enter your life.  You begin to see that others have sorrow, too.  Others are hurt and need understanding.   By helping to meet the needs of others, you help yourself (a remarkable truth from God’s economy).

What is the main takeaway of you new devotional, Getting Out of Bed in the Morning?

Life is tough and grief is real.  Being human isn’t easy.  God provides for us as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, sustaining us so that we can carry on.  He is full of compassion, love, forgiveness, mercy and grace.

You have a lot of writing exercises in your book.  How important is writing through heartache?

If you ask me, it is vital.  Writing saved me.  When Daniel died, I needed to pour my pain onto paper and have my journal share in holding it.  I wrote all the time. Now I teach online writing courses (Writing the Heartache) and speak at conferences on the value and benefits of putting pen to paper. Writing is inexpensive therapy, a great gift from God. I hope you’ll visit my website to learn more about my workshops.

Besides this devotional, what else have you written?

I have written five novels and two self-published cookbooks in memory of kids. 

Rain Song (Christy Finalist)

 How Sweet It Is (Christy Finalist)

 Hatteras Girl

A Wedding Invitation

Still Life in Shadows

All my novels take place in the South.  Even though I was born and raised in Japan, now that I live in North Carolina, I have learned the beauty of sweet tea and grits.

How does your family handle having a mom and wife who is behind her laptop most of the day?

My three kids are used to seeing me spend the majority of my time writing or heading out the door to speak.  My oldest, Rachel, who is now 22, drew a picture of me years ago when Elizabeth, my youngest (now 15), was a baby.  The drawing had Elizabeth in the baby seat/carrier on the carpet and me at my computer with my foot rocking the carrier.  My hands, of course, were on the keyboard, eyes glued to the screen.  My husband Carl likes me to quit work each day by 5 pm and spend time with him so I honor that request.

Read more about Alice at http://www.alicewisler.com

I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. Psalm 40:1

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Now, for an opportunity to receive a copy of Alice's devotional, Getting Out of Bed in the Morning: Reflections of Comfort in Heartache.

At least ten readers must comment and share in order for there to be a book give-away. So come on everyone. Join in. Follow these easy steps to qualify for the random drawing.

1. Leave a comment on this blog which includes your name and email address if you want to be included in the drawing. You can comment without leaving it if you want to as usual.  I will use your address to contact you if you win.  To leave a comment, click on the pencil icon or the word comment at the end of this blog post.

2. Share this blog post on Facebook so your friends will read about it and visit too, tweet it if you have twitter, and mention the book give-away on your own blog if you have one. It would be great as well and an extra perk for me if  you would become a follower of this site, so you won't miss a single post.

Complete these steps by 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 9th. A winner will be announced here on Monday, February 11th, so be sure to check back to see if you've won.  Thank you so much for participating in the monthly give-away.

May God be with you.

Why Did the Apostle Paul Give Us a List of 8 Things to Think About

Granddaughter Mya reading Who Is God? by Kathleen Ruckman

 

 You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you Isaiah 26:3a (NKJV).

I visited the home improvement store last week. I enjoyed the background music as I browsed the aisles. The cashier was listening, too, because as I checked out, she actually started singing the lyrics of the catchy tune that filled the airwaves.

Maybe that's when it got stuck in my head. I first noticed it as I waited at the traffic light. I was singing it in my mind. By the time I got to the grocery store, I was belting it outloud. It wasn't even a song I liked. That wasn't the end of it. It happened the next day, and the next. When I started writing this, it happened again.

Do you know what I mean? Haven't we all had songs stuck in our heads. We hear it on the radio in the car, or in church, or in the home improvement store, and at the most unexpected time, it plays over and over like a broken record. Unfortunately, negative thoughts, self-doubts, painful memories, and worry can get stuck in our heads as well. And like that song I was singing even though I didn't like it, those negative thoughts can play over and over again in our minds causing us to lose our peace.

For our mental and spiritual health, it's important that we control those negative thoughts. The apostle Paul has given us a simple list.

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things...and the God of peace shall be with you" Philippians 4:8-9 (KJV).

Could he have been any more direct? Paul said "think on these things". I like the promise he gives. The God of peace shall be with you.


Do you have a favorite Scripture that helps you overcome negative thinking?

Melanie's rescued kittens in a box

 

Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you," John 14:27a.

Those of you who read Write Moments with God regularly will remember this is a devotion I wrote last summer.  It's been a favorite with readers. Feel free to leave your comments below.  I'd like to hear from you.  Be sure to visit this upcoming Monday when I will have the featured author of the month and book give away.

May His peace be with you.



What Does the Lord Require of Us?

Beautiful blue doors by Jeanne Henriques --  Collage of Life

“He has shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God” Micah 6:8 (KJV)?

 

           My angry teenager yelled at me as she stormed into her room. “You would be happy
 
if I stayed in my room all the time and had no friends at all!” 

          That was definitely not what I wanted from her or for her. (Parenting teenagers is a

most challenging profession, but that's another story.)

Her accusation reminded me of the children of Israel’s to Micah.  They wanted to know if the Lord would be pleased with sacrifices of thousands of rams, rivers of oil, and their first born children. (See Micah 6)  Of course that was not what God wanted.  Micah stated that God had shown them what was good.

God brought the children of Israel out of slavery in Egypt, parting the Red Sea for their safe passage, and took care of them in the barren desert.  You would think they would have always remembered these mighty acts and His gracious acts of mercy.  Such was not the case.  God called for the mountains to be His witnesses against the people of Israel, and asked the people to testify to explain their disobedience to Him.  Had they forgotten all He had done for them?

We might ask ourselves the same question.  Have we forgotten all that He has done for us?

Sometimes I think we make serving God more mysterious and difficult than it actually is.  God doesn’t want extravagant sacrifices.  He wants obedience.  In my opinion, obedience greatly simplifies our lives.  He wants us to do justly (do the right thing), to love mercy (be kind), and to walk humbly with Him (aware that He is our God).  God does not ask for impossible sacrifices. Obedience is doable. 
And He never asks us to do anything that He hasn't equipped us to do. (See Timothy 3:16-17)

 

Do you think God's children today are sometimes as obstinate and histrionic as teenagers can be?

Delightful photo by Eileen DeCamp

Jesus said, “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Mt.11:30).

Help us LORD to do all you require of us and give us opportunities to testify of the wonderful things you have done.

I'd love to read your thoughts on today devotion.  Consider leaving a comment below by clicking on the pencil icon or the word comment.  Thank you so much for visiting Write Moments with God.  God bless you.   

Will You Accept Your Portion of Inheritance from the Lord?

One of my coffee cups
 

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. . . my cup runneth over.  Psalm 23: 1, 5a

The 23^rd Psalm is one of my favorite passages of Scripture for comfort and encouragement. I
read it in its entirety almost every day.  My cup runneth over makes me think of blessings
running over in abundance. 

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23:6 

I love the affirmation expressed by these words of confident hope.

This week, the word cup captured my attention and spurred me on a search. I'll share some of my questions with you.

What exactly is our cup?

I learned in the Psalms that the cup can be one of wrath and suffering, and then again one of salvation.  (See Psalm 116:13)  And it comes from the hand of the Lord.

In the hand of the Lord there is a cup . . . Psalm 75:8

Jeremiah 16:7 talks about a cup of consolation.

Is our cup then, our portion that we need from the Lord for a particular time?

As Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, he said . . .

O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me:  nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. Matthew 26:39.

Jesus was exceedingly sorrowful, and praying on His face.  So that cup was a cup of suffering. He knew what he had to do, and He accepted it as the will of God.

When the band of officers came to get Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, Simon Peter drew his sword and slashed off the high priest’s servant’s ear. (See John 18:10-11).  Consider the words of our Lord to Peter.

Put up thy sword into the sheath:  the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?

The cup then I perceive comes from the hands of God the Father, and it is His will.

Jesus said Shall I not drink it?  

Then who am I to question the portion that is given to me?

Whatever comes to us from His hand is our portion.  Be it salvation, abundant blessings, consolations, or suffering, it is His will for us at that moment in time.

And there is yet another cup I read of in the Scriptures—the cup of the new covenant.

We have Jesus’ words at the Last Supper.

In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”  For wherever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.  1 Corinthians 11: 26-27

He offers us the new covenant in His blood.

Will we accept the cup from His hand?

Jesus trusted God the Father and took the cup.  Will we not do the same?  Accept our portion that comes from the hand of God?  Knowing that He satisfies the deepest needs of our soul.

The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup. . .  Psalm 16:5a

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23:6 
 

Thank you so much for visiting Write Moments with God today.  Might you consider leaving a comment?  I'd love to read what you have to say.  God's peace be with you. 

 Beautiful picture by Eileen DeCamp