Thoughts of a Song-Writer

David had a little lamb, his fleece was white as snow;
And everywhere that David went, his lamb was sure to go.

The Rock Group has been studying David and the four basic parts of his life. The first two parts were David, the shepherd and David, the singer-songwriter. I don’t know too much about shepherds but I have a pretty good idea about songwriters. They have to write. When an emotion or idea knocks on their mind’s door, they just have to answer.

David spent his early life with his sheep—24/7. I’m sure he gave each sheep a name and knew each one personally. They knew his voice because they had to listen to him sing (the same song over and over as he sought to get it just right). I’m also pretty sure there was this one sheep that loved David completely. His name was probably “Fluffy” and every time David sat down, Fluffy was right there leaning up against him. Eventually, David had to write a song about the relationship he had with Fluffy, but as quirky song-writers do, decided to do it from Fluffy’s point of view.

“David is the best shepherd in the world. He gives me everything I need—he knows where the best pastures are and the creeks that are gentle. When brambles poke Fluffy, David pulls out the stickers and makes me feel better. He chooses the right paths for me and the others to take, even though I would have picked others. When we were in a valley and attacked by a lion and a bear which wanted to kill Fluffy, we didn’t have to be afraid. David took his shepherd weapons and drove them away so we felt better. He took Fluffy to a beautiful pasture right in the middle of a pack of wolves and let us eat there under his protection. Fluffy had more than he needed. Everything about David’s care of Fluffy is good. Fluffy’s going to stay with David forever.” Love, Fluffy

As David wrote down the lyrics and chuckled, he had an epiphany—he suddenly understood that the Lord was the real shepherd and he was the real sheep. He quickly changed some of the words, and it became David’s greatest hit. Would you like to read it? Turn to the middle of the bible in David’s songs and look at the twenty-third one.

A psalm of David: The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.” John 10:14

Is your name Fluffy?

Celebration Enjoyed

Today we celebrated! Our 7-year-old granddaughter wanted to postpone celebrating her birthday until her newborn cousin was out of the hospital and could celebrate with us. He is, and we did. It was a fun time—too short, but somehow comforting to gather our eaglets together back in the nest.

All in all, it was a good and packed weekend. Saturday morning started early as my husband was scheduled for a 7 o’clock assignment to pack up tables for the “noodle booth” at the Fall Festival in our town. For several years, his SS Class has sold chicken and noodles at a booth in the annual event. It is a huge hit every year. One of the couples has as a ministry to make bags and bags of homemade noodles from scratch. They dry them and freeze them until Festival day and then they start to cook—gallons and gallons. Many trips are made from the church kitchen to the City Park. Yum-O!

Following the Festival, we met some old friends for coffee and smoothies at the restaurant, picked up the grain-hauling truck up at our farm, and kept one granddaughter for an overnight. Today was fellowship time, Rock Group class, church service, lunch, WalMart, preparations for a cookout, and then “he” was here—he and his parents. Our darling grandbaby, out of the hospital and looking terrific!

Too soon, it was time for all to go their own way and prepare for a new and busy week. Still, what a wonderful little memory to add to our collection! It’s exciting to anticipate the birth of the other baby boy in a couple of months. I am so looking forward to a Christmas picture with both babies along with the rest of the family if the Lord is willing and will grant us that blessing. (Sometimes family pictures can be challenging)

The scriptures teach that “Children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. As arrows are in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. Happy, blessed, and fortunate is the man whose quiver is filled with them! They will not be put to shame when they speak with their adversaries at the city's gate.” Psalm 127:4-5

I think that goes for children and grandchildren. Celebration enjoyed!

Majors and Minors

Today I wrote a letter to a great friend—well, it was actually an email. No, it was a letter sent by email. It was much longer than I anticipated (shocker, huh?) but my heart wanted to talk. It addressed what I perceived to be pain in his heart.

I think having my grandson in intensive care for a couple of weeks brought into focus my need to major on majors and let the minors go. Also, next week I am scheduled to have surgery; and while it should not be a big deal(I hope), I find that the notion of general anesthetic and a knife in my body has caused me to further consider issues around me in a different light. Because of these two realities, the paradigm normally affecting my attitudes and responses is different.

This is not totally new to me. I had three babies in fall months (some decades ago), and there was an impulse inside me that determined before I went into the hospital, my other children each would have a winter coat. That may sound silly, but it was true. I don’t have kids who need a winter coat now, but that desire to pursue significance is the same. A winter coat was important to me; personality clashes or inconvenient schedules, not so much.

We had two big issues in our house last night about kitchen cabinets—not mine, but just some cabinets somewhere. I couldn’t really join the fray. Those cabinets were nothing like a winter coat. In one case, the cabinets represented another individual’s desire for control and was deeper than the obvious, but in the scheme of my life, still unimportant. In the other case, it was just a minor difference of opinion.

You know, I think that often words reflect a deeper condition than what is apparent on the surface. On the other hand, some words are just air, spoken absent-mindedly with no mysterious thoughts or motives. Perhaps the secret to real communication is discerning the difference. Note to self, let the flighty words go but strive to be aware of deeper conditions. Then, perhaps a more appropriate response will be forthcoming.

“…for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts.” I Chronicles 28:9

Strength Will Rise...

Today over lunch period, I was listening to a radio program about I Samuel and was particularly interested as we are studying that OT book. Chuck Swindoll was teaching a terrific series about David and King Saul. It has been on for several days during the time when I pick up my granddaughter to take her to pre-school.

I don’t get to listen to much because as soon as TaterTot gets into the car, she asks could we please turn on “Strength will Rise” so she can sing? As a grandmother, how can I not turn on the song? Her sweet, high voice bursts into singing and Grandma Dear is very happy.

In our lives, there is so much time spent in our car that I have made a habit of having CD’s ready for singing along. The granddaughters’ favorites are from a Bible School program some years ago about light. Two songs are big hits:

“From the inside out, there’s no doubt,
I’m shining for the Lord.
I’m a little twinkle in God’s big eye
Shining with a light that will never die” and

“I’m not afraid of the darkness falling,
I can hear a voice gently calling,
Even in the middle of the darkest night,
Filling my world with a beautiful light.
The Lord is my light and my salvation,
The Lord is my light, of whom shall I be afraid…”

We three love to sing along. My grandson rides more often now with the girls and is beginning to pick up on singing in the car. In their own cars, they have portable DVD players and watch Backyardigans or Hannah Montana as they go here and there. But, in Grandma Dear’s car, we sing!

Some of my fondest memories of my kids being young are of times traveling in the car singing at the top of our lungs and making an attempt to sing harmonies. Some were even good at it. I particularly remember a favorite being “Seven Bridges Road” with the Eagles. We sounded not too bad (if the radio was loud), but we were no threat to the Osmond family.

I have wondered if all humans have the same interior parts in our mouth, throat, and lungs, why can some sing so much more beautifully than the rest of us—a gift from the creator, I suppose. The rest of us can certainly make a joyful noise and enjoy the gifted ones.

♫ Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
Wait upon the Lord,
We will wait upon the Lord
Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
Wait upon the Lord,
We will wait upon the Lord
Our God You reign forever
Our Hope our strong Deliverer

You are the everlasting God,
The everlasting God
You do not faint You won't grow weary.
You're the defender of the weak;
You comfort those in need;
You lift us up on wings like eagles

Lincoln Brewster - Everlasting God

For Future Generations

Yesterday, the Rock Group met in the Fellowship Hall because the paint mess and smell were too much. We have at least one pregnant woman so better to be safe. We stayed after church, ate a light lunch, and then finished the painting. It looks great! We even traded for some different-colored chairs as the orange ones were undeniably not complimentary to our steel gray and burgundy room.

Also, we were thrilled to have new people visit our class—a young couple that is new to town. I don’t know if they found in us what they were looking for, but it was so nice to meet them. I want young twenties and thirties-aged people to find their way to (or back to) the church. It seems like many churches are filled with senior citizens without a vision for the need for meaningful worship, study, and a family life center for the younger generations. The olders like what they grew up with, and I understand that.

This is a different time though. It is my experience that many young people that grew up in church have not continued in that earlier walk. College years and early careers have pulled them toward a different paradigm of living. As one of our Rock Group says, he took an 18-year vacation from church.

Moreover, many in that age group did not grow up in church and know little about the Lord, His word, His goodness, and His plan for them. They may have a vague awareness that there is more to life than play and work but aren’t sure what. Also, often when they become parents, they think it would be good for their children to go to church.

I certainly believe that “This is My Father’s World” and that Jesus Christ is as relevant today as the days he walked this planet. While the message has never changed, the methods of communicating that message must change.

This is a visual generation who grew up with Sesame Street. They live a fast-paced life with laptops, blackberries, and iPods. They grew up with music with guitars rather than saxophones (the really cool instruments). Gregorian chants and pipe organs will not usher them into a worshipful relationship with God. The gospel message certainly has never and will never be entertainment, but we do need to offer in our church relevance to them. I’m sure many hymns like Amazing Grace was daring in its day.

I have an example from Scripture: I Samuel 2:19 “Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went up with her husband...” Hannah knew that God created boys to grow and that what fits a 5-year-old will not fit the next year. We each need a robe that fits and a method of hearing God’s truth that fits what our minds can grasp. May we all consider and reach out to future generations.

For Future Generations by 4 Him
♫ I won’t bend and I won’t break.
I won’t water down my faith.
I won’t compromise in a world of desperation.
What has been I cannot change,
But for tomorrow and today,
I must be a light for future generations.

An Unfair Trade

We are in I Samuel 18 in our studies in the Rock Group, and last week we read what I think is one of the greatest pictures of Jesus and us in the Old Testament. It is my opinion that the OT is a fuzzy picture album that God gave us to help us understand the New Testament where the pictures become clearer.

We can expect to see even more clearly someday as we are told, “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face.” How would we understand why Jesus is described as a lamb in Revelation if we never knew about the Passover Lamb that provided salvation for the Hebrews in Egypt?

Anyway; I Samuel 18:3-4, “And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.”

Jonathan is the crown prince, the son of King Saul and next in line for the throne of Israel. David is a smelly shepherd that has become an overnight “rock star” after he killed Goliath (with a rock). But David had nothing to offer the crown prince. To the natural mind, David was an enormous threat to Jonathan’s future political position, wealth, and fame.

Yet, the crown prince made a covenant with the smelly shepherd “because he loved him as himself.” Do you see us in the picture? Which character are we—the smelly shepherd, of course, with nothing to offer. However, the crown prince of heaven (Jesus) loves us (smelly shepherds) so much that he was willing to endure torture and death because he loved us as much as he loved himself.

Look what happened next. Jonathan took off his robe and tunic (the very things that identified him as the crown prince) and covered the smelly shepherd so that David then looked like the crown prince. Isaiah 61:10 explains, “For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness.”

The crown prince then gave the smelly shepherd his weapons—his sword and his bow. Ephesians 6:13 tells how the armor of God is available to us. The next verse describes the belt of truth. As I think about Jonathan’s belt, I picture a WWF wrestler on TV raising an enormous gaudy belt high in the air to proclaim that he is the champion.

That’s a picture of us—a smelly shepherd dressed in the robes of the Crown Prince Jesus, brandishing his weapons and raising His victory belt high in the air. Wow!

♫ I am covered over
With the robe of righteousness
That Jesus gives to me.
I am covered over
With the precious blood of Jesus
And He lives in me.
What a joy it is to know
My Heavenly Father loves me so
And gives to me, my Jesus.
And when He looks at me
He sees not what I used to be,
But He sees Jesus.

First, Middle, and Last

For most of three decades, 4 kids grew up in our home. We did not change our personalities, values, or child rearing practices; yet, the differences in the 4 of them have always intrigued us. They lived in the same house with the same parents; they ate the same food, had the same rules, etc. Yet, they were definitely individuals. Most likely, there are many reasons in genetics, right brain/left brain, mental/physical make-up, and ingredients too numerous to even consider.

However, some years ago we heard the theory of “birth order” leading to different personalities, traits, strengths, and weaknesses. Since that time, we have discussed it, blamed it, doubted it, believed it, and are still fascinated by it. I look at my grown children and wonder whether their order of appearance is related to their personhood. Here are some of the suggestions one researcher has made.

Firstborns, got the most attention and are often either compliant or aggressive. The first kind, it is suggested, are often caregivers, cooperative, and team players. (Hmmm?) The second kind are natural leaders, perfectionists, driven, seek control, and want things their way. The researcher indicates that both kinds have the following common traits: energetic, ambitious, and enterprising.

He says firstborns have the strengths of: self-confidence, a belief that they should be taken seriously, being organized, and expecting respect for what they do. Their weaknesses may be: fear of being dethroned, selfish with possessions, bossy, and not like being told what to do. They often choose careers that require precision rather than creative-type careers. More than half of the U.S. Presidents, 21 of the first 23 astronauts, and 2/3 of entrepreneurs are firstborns.

Middle Children, says this researcher, are often the most difficult to read and are the mysterious ones. They are often: loners, quiet, shy, impatient, and uptight yet flexible, diplomatic, secretly competitive, and peacemakers.

Strengths of middles are listed as: mediators, able to keep secrets, read people well, loyal, and imaginative. Weaknesses may be: hating confrontation, stubborn, suspicious, disliking strict rules, wanting to work at own pace, and often making things more creative than needed. They usually have the most friends and get along best with others. They often choose careers that call for creativity, management, negotiating, and level-headedness.

Lastborns may be the easiest to spot. They are often: risk takers, idealists, hard working, immature, secretive, sensitive, attention seeking, with a good sense of humor. They may have difficulty finding their place in the family since the spots seem to be taken.

It is suggested that lastborns’ strengths are being: outgoing, sociable, affectionate, caring, creative, empathetic, and know no boundaries. Weaknesses may find them spoiled, manipulative, or capricious. Often they do not like to be tied to commitments, march to a different drum in life, and may seem to be odd man out. They may do well in careers like sales or creative avenues because of their ability to sell things or themselves. They work well alone and want to do their own thing at their own pace.

Obviously, not everyone would fit into this researcher’s findings, but overall, my 4 do have many of the characteristics. We, for the most part, have two firstborns; a firstborn girl and then a first born boy. We also have a middle and a lastborn. Regardless of when they appeared in the family, I love each one of them individually and with my whole heart. Still, it’s fun to observe and consider. . .

Synergism

I have often mentioned that I love the Sunday School Class I teach—the Rock Group (Ps 18:2 “The LORD is my rock”). It is a diverse group of young adults—some married, some single; some with kids, some with dogs; one with a Harley, one an avid toy tractor collector, one a jeepster, one a classic car buff, some are coaches; some talented singers, some make joyful noises; some work indoor jobs, some outdoor, some both; some are tall, some are vertically challenged; some are slim, some are horizontally expansive. You get the picture; we are all different.

Watching the group come together, however, is thrilling. A few weeks ago, it was mentioned that our classroom was somewhat antiquated and needed a facelift. We have fairly new carpet, but the walls and furniture definitely need updating. Can you imagine getting a whole group to agree on paint colors? One class member brought several paint chips for the group to choose. Another member, showing Solomon-like wisdom, suggested that only those who loved decorating should meet in the corner while the rest moved on to other topics. Two or three went to the corner while the others let them pick colors. They did.

Yesterday evening, it was Rock Group’s turn to serve dinner to the church at Feed Your Faith, a regular Wednesday night activity that precedes the mid-week classes for kids, youth, and adults. It’s a great endeavor allowing families to come to church with no concern for an evening meal. It is a huge convenience for those eating, and it is a wonderful opportunity to practice serving and working together. While my class all has full-time jobs and must rush frantically to get there in time to cook, we have much fun preparing, eating, and even cleaning up (being particularly adept at using every dish and pan, there’s lots of clean-up).

Last night while some cleaned, others gave our classroom a primer coat to prepare for the paint to come. The primer was tinted with the appropriate colors, so the room completely changed in appearance. It’s going to look fabulous (as soon as we trade for some different chairs). May it long be used for God’s purposes!

Looking back over the evening’s events, I think what a wonderful opportunity for each to be able to contribute talents, strengths, or abilities even if they seem limited. Bonds are strengthened by working shoulder-to-shoulder (literally).

Eph. 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.”

We Don't Do No!

In the midst of the emotional roller coaster we have been riding for almost two weeks, there have been some funny times. Maybe God created laughter to help us breathe when things are tough. I think the proper term is “comic relief” that is thrown into some movies or stories when the story line gets so heavy.

Let me tell you a comic relief that goes along with a blog post I made a couple of weeks ago about what our restaurant does not serve. First, I must explain that my youngest has a very quirky sense of being as well as humor. I have not seen many big smiles since his baby has gone the hospital route, but last Friday evening after the baby was put into intensive care, he and his wife for the first time in a week left the room together. Baby has a nurse practically to himself and is watched over very scrupulously. Oh, the young couple didn’t go far—just down the hall to the cafeteria with baby’s grandpa and me.

The cafeteria in that hospital is very nice with several stations of food choices. There is a hot meal station, a salad station, a dessert station, a sandwich station, etc. We all chose the sandwich station where these two young gentlemen with limited English were preparing food as ordered. I ordered first—grilled ham and cheese.

“Do you want French fries?” asked one of the young men.

“No, thank you” I replied.

“We don’t do ‘No’” he said. So I meekly said “Okay, I’ll have fries.” (I’m going to remember that line)

My son went next in his own style. “Now work with me here,” he started.

The cook who ‘doesn’t do no’ answered, “Work for you? How much you pay?”

My son quickly retorted, “No, no, I’ll explain what I want. I want a horseshoe.”

The young man turned to the other and asked, “What is horseshoe?” The other shrugged his shoulders and mumbled something about not having horseshoes in his language.

“I’ll describe what I want! First, I want a piece of Texas Toast. Then, on top of that, I want a hamburger. All over the top of the hamburger, I want French fries. Then, I want cheese sauce poured all over the top of the whole thing.”

“No, no! French fries go in this,” he shouted and held up a small rectangular paper container. “This is where we put French fries.”

I could hear the wheels turning in my son’s mind, thinking how far do I want to push this? “Okay,” he finally said and sighed, “Let me have the Texas Toast with a hamburger, an order of French fries, and a cup of cheese sauce.”

“Yes, yes. We do that!” the smiling young man said with great relief.

We all knew what was going to happen when we got to the table. The French fries in the rectangular paper container were immediately poured over the hamburger on the Texas Toast. Then, the cheese sauce was carefully poured over the whole plate of food. A huge smile was on my son’s face. Grandpa and I with my daughter-in-law just shook our heads and laughed.

Proverbs 17:22 “A cheerful heart is good medicine.”

Roller Coaster

Life is an interesting process. Days, weeks, months, even years pass with some degree of sameness. Perhaps that’s why people can get so uninterested in their circumstances and the people around them. The alarm goes off, shower, dress, swallow something convenient, and off to work. Do your job, see the same people, go home, eat something convenient, try to catch up on home chores that are never really caught up, stay up later than intended, set the alarm, and sleep so you can do it all again tomorrow. Sound a bit boring?

I’m thinking it sounds pretty good if, during those days of sameness, the family is healthy, employed, reasonably happy, and for sure serving the Lord. I say that because we have been on a roller coaster of emotions for the last two weeks with one of the above four conditions not being a reality—the family being healthy.

I have mentioned before that our newborn grandson was hospitalized with some serious health issues. One day he would seem better and the next brought a new problem. Two hospitals and three patient rooms later, we are still praying, still believing, and still seizing every bit of good news as though it were a drink of cool water to a parched tongue.

Several times before, in the lives of our family, we have made trips to near and distant intensive care units, and they never become routine or easy. Each trip burns itself into our memory containers, a memory made of elusive faith, apprehensions, tears, yet assurances of a greater power. In those times, each day wears away at the strength, the stamina, the resilience of our minds and bodies.

Yet, out of those times come wonderful testimonies—not of effortlessness nor of personal fortitude, but of God’s care during times of challenge. (I do have some good stories so far. Hint: horseshoe.)

Psalm 56:3 “When I am afraid, I will trust in you.”

Wordless Wednesday - Preparing for a Role

"Close every door to me,
Keep those I love from me.
Children of Israel are never alone.
For I know I shall find
my own peace of mind
For I have been promised a land of my own."

Watch the Sea Level Rise

Just a short blog to let you know why I have been absent from carolssong. My new baby (3-week-old grandson) has been in the hospital for several days. On Sunday, he was sent off to St. Louis in an ambulance with specially trained people from the hospital there. Needless to say, we ran out of church, packed a bag, and headed for St. Louis.

We found wonderful medical personnel with terrific bedside manners. Sometime I will chronicle our experiences and send you to his daddy’s blog for even more praises to God. For now, let me say that our family is so grateful for the prayers and good wishes that have poured out toward this little guy that weighs less than a 10-lb sack of sugar (but is twice as sweet).

It is times like these when the family and the family of God pulls together and personal challenges fade in comparison to the desire to see, not their own mountain move, but the mountain of a loved one be cast down and fall into the sea. Mark 11:23"I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him."

Psalm 46:1-2 “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.”

There is a mountain that needs to come down.

Mother Hen

Today should be a terrific day—it’s Friday, it’s beautiful, it starts a 3-day weekend, and it’s payday. It is mostly terrific, but my new baby is in the hospital. He was admitted yesterday, and he is to see a specialist today. I, of course, being the paragon of patience, want them to find the problem, fix the problem, pronounce him in perfect health, and send him home. The little guy does have many people praying for him which is the very best thing to do for him.

I love that little boy so much! I am in awe of how the creator created humankind--He put in us the ability to have that strong love for family—“family bonding” they call it (my kids always called it “family bondage”).

If that bonding (or bondage) wasn’t there, we would merely be individual creatures living lonely lives. But Psalm 68 says that, “God sets the lonely in families” and He has created in us a hunger for belonging.

Perhaps the generation approaching adulthood seems so lost because many have missed that bonding and belonging—either from absent (physical or emotional) parents or from parents who busily substituted stuff for relationships, spending money instead of spending time. In 2007, 32% of U.S. children lived in single parent families. At http://datacenter.kidscount.org the following table is presented:

Non-Hispanic White 23%
Black or African American 65%
American Indian 49%
Asian and Pacific Islander 17%
Hispanic or Latino 37%
Total 32%

I was interested in this chart because a week or so ago I heard about the ACT college prep scores this year compared to years past. The group most notably raising their test scores was the Asian/Pacific Islander group who has about half the U.S. average rate of single parents? Oh, that's not the only factor, but belonging is a big factor in determining who influences our attitudes and choices.

I was one of those kids growing up in a single parent family, and that is why I treasure my family so much. Everything in me has to fight against being mother hen gathering her chicks under her wings (my chicks are grown and don’t like being smothered). I do still take and display family pictures frequently so my grandkids will see that they belong. Since they can’t be under my wings, I’m thrilled they can be in the shelter of the Almighty who, “will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge.” Psalm 91:4

I said all that to say, I am so eager for my grandson to be radiantly healthy!

Wordless Wednesday Happy Birthday

The Prize

This is a crazy planet we live on. When Isaiah and Jesus talked about the kingdom of darkness falling to the earth, I believe it! “How you have fallen from heaven…You have been cast down to the earth” and "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” However, he did not come alone. “The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.” Rev. 12:7-9 He and his helpers found a new home—planet earth.

I have long thought that life would be far different if he and we had not ended up on the same little part of the universe. That could not have been an accident or a coincidence. The Father must have such an important plan for his children to resist fiery darts and missiles and nuclear bombs of the serpent. I am pretty sure life on earth is a battleground where we are trained in the trenches to learn, love, obey, and trust the great king of the kingdom of light. Still, there is the ugliness of what mankind can do to his fellow man.

There is a story in the news about a girl who was held as a captive for 18 years. Even the local papers in small town America often carry dreadful tales of child pornography and abuse, let alone the world news. I am so grateful for wonderful people who are God’s hands that seek to temporarily soothe the horrors of ungodliness.

I cannot imagine the pain God must have felt as he watched his own Son suffer the horrendous torture of the scourge, the hideous walk to Golgotha, the nails piercing his human flesh, and hanging from those nails while his lungs burned within his chest as he sought to gasp for breath. I cannot imagine seeing that torment to a son. I can’t even bring myself to watch an actor pretend as I’ve never made it all the way through the Passion of the Christ movie.

How could Jesus endure that monstrous ugliness of mankind’s inhumanity? I’ve heard the answer described as “He kept his eyes on the prize.”

Prior to the great flood, “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.” He was not content to leave His creation in that condition, just as we can be sure that he is not willing to leave our world in that condition. Instead, He has given us wonderful promises, like ”…The dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain..."

What about that prize for the cross? “I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand…In a loud voice they sang: ‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!’"

Indeed, worthy is the Lamb!