Life's Little Frustrations

If, a few days after Easter, I notice a smell

I won't have to guess--I'll know all too well

That something from Easter has been left behind—

An Easter egg or two that no one could find.

Finishing Well

From John 19:30, ".....Jesus said, 'It is finished...."

The hardest two parts of any project are the beginning--it's hard to make yourself get started--and the end. How many unfinished projects do you have at your house? I have quite a few at mine. Once we have pushed ourselves to get going and have used the momentum to do parts of our task, it's very important to finish well. The work we have already done may be in vain, may be wasted, if we don't finish what we started. Jesus finished well. He carried out to the fullest every assignment His Father gave Him. He did not leave any of His appointed deeds undone.

Once we have made the first step of faith and begun the journey of the Christian life, usually our excitement will create momentum that will carry us along the way for awhile, a bit like coasting downhill.

But there are uphill stretches in our lives, and sometimes we have to push with all the might we have to find level ground again. After awhile we may grow weary, may lose our enthusiasm, may drag behind.

But it's so important for us to finish well, to complete every assignment God gives us, to fulfill every purpose He has for our lives, to complete our journey just as Jesus completed His and was victorious.

Then we can say with Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." II Timothy 4:7

Father, may I fully complete everything You have planned for me to do. May I fulfill every purpose for which You created me. May I end well. Amen.

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!