Rescue

 

Why Jesus?

 

All I know is this.

I once was lost, rudderless, without direction, with no purpose. Is this it? Go to college, I was in college, get a job, a good job, buy new dishes, put them in a house. I had a growing sense of dissatisfaction. Though I did not want to face it, my sins were calling out from the ground. A million tiny shards of shouldn't-have-done-that. No one really gets away with anything. 

Who prays a prayer like this, humble words asking Jesus to be Lord of their life? In our modern over-uneducated world where I roar and you roar, where we are our own gods, who bows the knee like that and asks for the leading of a man dead 2,000 years?

Ah, He is alive. He died for our sins and rose again. He defeated death.

He answered me. He came to me. The veil parted. I can see now. And what do I see?

I see you and me standing before a great chasm. Was once and now is  not. That's the name of it. I am different. I have been transformed. I am forgiven. I am loved. You are too. Do you know it?

He is real. That's why. Try it and see.

Resurrection

 

Restoration

 

Rest

 

Do you like to get letters?

 

“The proper definition of a man is an animal that writes letters.” 

Lewis Carroll

I write to a college friend in Northern Ireland, though it's been a while, and my sister-in-law in the Netherlands. I write to a friend way up where it snows 6 months out of the year. We were in 8th grade together. I have a friend in Japan who sent me the Blessing of Aaron in Japanese. 

I write to you.

Blogging is writing letters, don't you think?

 We become penpals here. I am watching Pamela's grand-cranes grow up. They recently hatched. Baili taught me to wash wheat. I had no idea that was a thing. Mrs. Marmelade (not her real name) posts pictures of my old home state of Michigan. Nice. Nana sets tables. Victor writes books. Ottawa is blooming with tulips and cathedrals. And you. What's going on with you?

Sandra asked for eclipse photos. Here they are:

My techie son blurred our messy garage from the background!

How to make this contraption: click here.

A storm blew through here last night and made everything beautiful:

Can you see the spider web?

One More One for Israel

 

Ransom Captive Israel

 

Do you have 8 minutes?

Will you take a walk with me?

 

It's a hot day close to the end of Pollen Season. The yellow has cleared a bit, now the invisible floats through the air. We saw baby ducklings or maybe they were goslings. Let them be, so no photos. Here are a few stops along the way:

Claude Monet's geese. 

In this focus they look like an Impressionist painting. Do you think so too?

Purple flowers. These sprang up like weeds, but I think they were on purpose:

Tree:

Tiny, yellow and purple:

Hope your day is sweet.

King of the Jews

 

Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, 

“This is the King of the Jews.”

Luke 23:32-38

God Leads

 

Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, 

and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 

And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up. 

For the cloud of the LORD was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys. 

Exodus 40:34-38

Ask. It's not a secret.

Listen. He longs for you to hear Him.

Gifts of Others

 

Tune by Aryeh

Couch by Dad

Roof by hubby, sons too

Quilts by nieces now grown

Story by Brannon, NX-01

Picture of pitcher by Grandma

Sunshine by...Who?

Apples too.

How much of your day is made up of the gifts of others?

Dearly loved.

 

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Colossians 3:12

Good

 

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those 

who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 

Romans 8:28

Here We Go

 

All the people of Israel did just as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron. And on that very day the LORD brought the people of Israel 

out of the land of Egypt by their hosts. Exodus 12:50-51

Purpose and Grace

 

He has saved us and called us to a holy life—

not because of anything we have done 

but because of his own purpose and grace. 

This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 

2 Timothy 1:9

Why?

 

"God orchestrates human history according to the purposes of His grace.”

Rick Renner, 

from the book 

"How to Keep Your Head on Straight in a World Gone Crazy"