Life's Little Frustrations

I love my dog, but I despair

Of cleaning up all her hair.

I see it here and see it there.

I declare--it's everywhere!

Journey to the Cross

Philippians 2:8b, ".....he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross."

Many times when we think of going on a journey, making a trip, we do so with excitement and anticipation. We look forward to vacations, to visiting with friends or family members, to seeing beautiful scenery and new places, and to doing new and different things. But there are other journeys we face with sadness and dread--going into a hospital for surgery, attending the funeral of someone we love very much. We embark upon some of these unhappy journeys because life really doesn't give us a choice. If we could choose, we would certainly shrink back from expected pain and sorrow and avoid it at all costs.

Holy Week is the time when we focus on the journey of Christ to the cross, to an excruciating and humiliating death. This was always the plan, put into place in the board room of heaven between the members of the Trinity before the foundation of the world. When Jesus embarked on His journey to earth He knew how it would end.

Our journey on earth will end in death, also, but there is a major difference between Jesus' death and ours. We have no choice. When the day God has appointed for us to die arrives, we will be taken into eternity. But Jesus didn't have to die on a cross. Imagine how tremendous the temptation was for Him to wipe out all those leering, jeering onlookers and free Himself from the agony He was enduring. He hung there by choice. It wasn't the nails in His hands and feet that kept Him on the cross. It was His love for us.

Precious Lord Jesus, how can we ever thank You enough for dying for us poor sinner so we could be forgiven and become heirs of salvation.

Heavenly Father, how hard it must have been to watch Your Son undergo such an agonizing death. Thank You for allowing it so we could become Your children. Amen.

Life's Little Frustations

Have you ever taught a teenager to drive?

You're always grateful to arrive alive!

Journeying Together

When we become Christians, God places us in His forever family, and other Christians become our brothers and sisters and our fellow travelers along life's journey. God puts us together because He knows how much we need each other.

What do we have to give to each other that is so important? First of all, there's love. We all have a deep need to be loved, accepted, and appreciated. That is why Jesus said, John 15:12, "My command is this: love each other as I have loved you."

We go through some tough times in this old world. I don't know of a single person who doesn't need encouragement along the way. That's why we are told in I Thessalonians 5:11a, "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up...."

We need instruction to know how to get on the path of life that God has designed for us in His Word. We need to be rebuked when we stray from that path. And we need correction to help us get back on the right path again. II Timothy 4:2b says, "Correct, rebuke, and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction."

People can become sharper as they rub against each other and trade thoughts and ideas. Ecclesiastes 4:9, "Two are better than one because they have a good return for their work." This verse must be the origin of the adage, "Two heads are better than one." Proverbs 27:17 tells us, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

When one person falls, others can pick him up and restore him. Ecclesiastes 4:10, "If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up."

We are stronger together. Ecclesiastes 4:12, "Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."

God puts us together so we can help each other grow spiritually. Ephesians 4:16, "From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."

God has given us a network of support, and He has also made us part of that network to support others. Sometimes we are the helpers, and sometimes we are the needy ones.

How grateful I am for my fellow travelers. Thank You, Father.

Life's Little Frustrations

I dial the phone, and in answer these are the words I hear,

"Press one for _____, press two for _____,"

and I just think, "Oh, dear!"

I don't want option one or two or even three or four.

I need a different alternative, but they don't offer any more.

Now what to do? Somehow I need to make some kind of choice.