simplelife

Our canaries are singing this morning. They haven't sung for over a month. Their feathers have been scruffy and they've looked ruffled. And they haven't been singing. This morning, I watch them coming to life after a cycle of transformation. When they were weak, sat on their perches and waited. And then, suddenly, they have started to sing again. Several friends have recently finished their degrees. Some graduated with a Masters, a few have wrapped up doctorates. And they are tired. They're sitting on their perches with ruffled feathers. Worn out from the efforts, no matter how wonderful the learning has been. (I remember their exhaustion and the lack of creativity or vision from the year after my own graduation.) "What now?" they ask. "I'm waiting for the next thing but have no strength to pursue it yet." I look at the wisdom of the birds, who have sat still, hopped around gently, and eaten just enough to survive. I see how the plumage...

May the love and power of God, present in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, be yours this year. Read more: Acts  10:34 –43; Psalm 118:1–2,14–24; 1 Corinthians 15:1–11; Mark 16:1–8 *If you obey the Lord your God: Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. Deuteronomy 28:2-3 *But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. 1 Corinthians 15:20 *Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead. 2 Timothy 2:8 Moravian Prayer: Praise be to you, Christ Jesus, author of resurrected life. You who have overcome the fear and finality of death, keep us ever mindful that you walk with us this day. Make of us blessings in all we do. Amen.

Today we remember When they drag you away Spit on your holy face Beat your innocence Curse your righteousness And accuse you of things you did not do. Oh dreadful day When for us And those like us You endure the cross. Oh terrible day When the universe shudders at our blasphemy And God, turning from you, Turns toward us. Today we remember And pause to worship The bloody feet The beaten brow The torn back The face plucked of beard. Oh dreadful day When angels weep that God's wrath Must be satisfied By God's fierce and terrible love. Oh wonderful, awe-filled day. When we remember To breathe out our "Thanks be to God Who gives us the victory Through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Surely he took up our pain     and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God,     stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions,     he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him,     and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:4-5 NIV Day 34: Turbulence and noise Palm Sunday - acclaim before the cross Day 35: Birthdays: relinquishing our right to celebrate as we prefer Day 36: Meals with friends: leaving those we love in God's hands 37: Blank - relinquishing sins of omission So much happened in Jesus' life the week before Easter. Most of the book of John describes the Holy Week. (Read it for yourself this week?) Over the years, until today, the bloody cross has been despised.   Secularists have almost succeeded in eradicating the Christian commemoration from the American calendar. When I wished someone a "Happy Easter" ...

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ  laid down his life for us.  And we ought to lay  down our lives for our brothers and sisters.  1 John 3:16 NIV I'm staggered that someone died for me. Took my punishment after himself being an ideal person -  God-with-us. God-for-us. Now we get to reflect his extreme love to others. Consider setting a feast for someone today, refusing to take offense at what is done to you, or lay aside your own plans to help another person. SELF-ASSESSMENT:  In what ways am I willing to die so that others can live?  What practical way can I lay down my rights and my own agenda to bring life to someone else today?

Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion, Therefore I will wait for him" Lamentations 3:22-24 Jesus accepted what the Father had for him without imposing his own agenda or wants on the day. In contrast, we approach much of life, whether relationships, a book, or even a cup of tea with expectations. Based on what we know and have experienced, we make assumptions on what's coming. Sometimes we are happily surprised by "more than!" and sometimes we feel disappointed by what we find. These past days, I've been surprised and delighted by conversations, visits, and information that have nudged me in new directions. I've had to let go of some expectations as a result. Consistently and constantly, our God who knows everything, opens up the world to us in fresh ways. Whether people study medicine, scie...

God has no limits - and Jesus is the unlimited expression of God. The angel said Jesus' name would be Immanuel (God with us). And so when Christ comes to us as the Word of God, he tells and shows us about God. But we have trouble - even with a model - understanding how God works. Sometimes his ways are so wonderful and beautiful that we can't take it in. Sometimes he lets us interact with others in ways that are fantastic ... or uncomfortable. Sometimes, we don't have any idea what comes next. Thousands of years ago, Job and his friends discussed their discomfort with God's vastness and how they couldn't grasp his plans (even back then). They said: Can you fathom the mysteries of God?  Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?  They are higher than the heavens above-what can you do?  They are deeper than the depths below - what can you know?  Their measure is longer than the earth  and wider than the sea.  Job 11:7-9 NIV SELF-ASSESSMENT: ...