For the Joy Set Before Him

He “…emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant and being made in the likeness of men.”(Philippians 2:7)

When Jesus took on flesh, He chose to empty Himself – to be just like you and me and to live with the resources He has made available to us. He lived in complete obedience to the will of His Father, walking faithfully the path that would ultimately lead to more suffering than anyone has every known.

As we approach Easter, I am riveted by the scenes that played out before His crucifixion. In imagination I see Him in immeasurable agony in the garden, pleading for the cup to pass yet surrendering His will time and time again....

For the rest of this devotional, please join me at Laced With Grace today. Thank you so much.

Blessings,
Linda

One Small Step

On Saturday I worked for an hour in my little flower garden. This is significant because I didn't get all the work done in an hour. I actually closed the gate, put away the tools and walked back up to the house without finishing the job. Contrary to what you may think, I was proud of myself. I had finally learned a little lesson I've been trying to learn for a very long time.

Every spring I put on my old tennis shoes, walk down to the garage and get out my little store of gardening tools. I have one fenced-in flower garden (the deer seem to be of the mistaken opinion that I plant flowers to give their diet a little variety from their usual fare)by the garage, a small one under the oak trees and a little bed along the front of the house. Armed with tools, gloves, bucket and kneeling pad I open the gate and begin.

The ground is littered with the oak leaves that have drifted down over the past couple of weeks. The plants need trimming and weeds need pulling. It is a job that takes a lot longer than an hour, but I am always determined to get it done in one session. It's the way I tend to do things. I just want to finish what I begin - now!

I begin with great care, pulling every weed and cleaning up every leaf. As the minutes and hours pass the quality of my work begins to suffer. My back aches and that silly hip just won't give me any peace, but I am determined to get the job done.

When I am finished, it all looks good, but I know that there are hidden roots that I was too weary to dig up and the trimming got rather sloppy. I ache all over (I do exercise, honest. But I seem to use muscles I didn't even know were there when I'm bent over or on my knees for hours.). All I want is a long soak in a tub full of hot water and fragrant bubbles.

This year I decided to put into practice what I've been trying so hard to learn - self-control. Surely a few one hour sessions of working in the garden would be far more sensible and productive than my usual method.

It wasn't easy. When the hour was up, I kept thinking "just one more load of leaves." But I made myself close the gate.

It was good. I wasn't sore; the garden looked pretty good - a nice start; I had done a thorough job. In a few days, I'll do some more until it is all neat and tidy.

I've been praying for help in balancing the different areas of my life. This felt like one little step in the right direction. Now about blogging....

I wonder....how do you balance blogging? Do you set limits? What about reading and commenting? I know this is one area that I must work on. Eager to hear your thoughts.

Blessings,
Linda

"Beneath the Cross of Jesus"

Elizabeth Cecelia Clephane did not live to see her fortieth birthday, but she a legacy that survives to this day. Born in a little town south of Edinburgh, Scotland in 1830, she was the youngest of three girls. Despite a frail frame and failing health she was called "The Sunbeam" by those who knew her best - evidence of a cheerful disposition and a giving heart.

She loved to write poetry and had several poems published in "The Family Treasury," a Scottish Presbyterian magazine. The major portion of her poetry, however, was published anonymously after her death in 1869.

"Beneath the Cross of Jesus" was written just one year before she died and published posthumously three years later. She also wrote "The Ninety and Nine" believed to have been written especially for children.

The words of this beautiful hymn, "Beneath the Cross of Jesus" touch my heart as we draw ever closer to Good Friday. They reflect a heart filled with love and gratitude for her Savior.

"Beneath the cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand,
The shadow of a mighty rock within a weary land;
A home within the wilderness, a rest upon the way,
From the burning of the noontide heat, and the burden of the day.

O safe and happy shelter, O refuge tried and sweet,
O trysting place where Heaven’s love and Heaven’s justice meet!
As to the holy patriarch that wondrous dream was given,
So seems my Savior’s cross to me, a ladder up to heaven.

There lies beneath its shadow but on the further side
The darkness of an awful grave that gapes both deep and wide
And there between us stands the cross two arms outstretched to save
A watchman set to guard the way from that eternal grave.

Upon that cross of Jesus mine eye at times can see
The very dying form of One Who suffered there for me;
And from my stricken heart with tears two wonders I confess;
The wonders of redeeming love and my unworthiness.

I take, O cross, thy shadow for my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of His face;
Content to let the world go by to know no gain or loss,
My sinful self my only shame, my glory all the cross."




Blessings,
Linda

Son of Man/Son of God

When You left heaven
You left so much behind-
Son of God.
All the glory, splendor,
holiness and perfect light;
One with the Father
all-powerful, all-knowing
Everywhere present-
Son of God.

You took to Yourself
humble circumstances, frail humanity,
rejection and scorn-
Son of Man.
Walking dusty earth,
surrendering Your will
to that of Your Father,
Living it out as You would one day
equip others to live-
Son of Man.

You sweat drops of blood,
facing a destiny
filled with more suffering
than anyone would ever know-
Son of Man
In Your humanity You cried out
and submitted once again,
Paying the price, saving, redeeming,
once for all.
Son of Man

You endured the cross and
separation from Your Father,
conquered death, and rose again-
Son of Man/Son of God.
Returning home, bearing scars
Forever changed,
for my sake-
Son of Man/Son of God

Blessings,
Linda

As You Have Been Forgiven

We forgive
As we have been forgiven.

He came into our lives
faceless, a shadow
that threatened a loved one
causing fear and worry.

Thoughts of grace and mercy
did not come,
Only the desire to punish
and seek justice.

The word came:
Pray for him.
Asking what seemed impossible
Yet knowing it was right.

Words formed out of obedience
from an unwilling heart
In time became sincere
pleas for blessing.

We never saw, never knew,
But something powerful happened
When we chose to forgive,
As we have been forgiven.

"and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us."
Matthew 6:12
"And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins" (Mark 11:25).
"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;"
Matthew 5:44

linking to High Calling Random Acts of Poetry and One Stop Poetry

Blessings,
Linda

Thanks: When Life Doesn't Go As Planned

I saw her start to pull out and knew there was no way my husband could get out of her way in time. The car shuddered as her car pushed the passenger side rear wheel out of alignment and mashed in its own front bumper. She and I got out of our cars at the same moment. She, so upset and full of apologies - taking responsibility before I could say a word.

Fortunately it was in a parking lot; we were stopped at a stop sign; she had just begun to pull out; no one was hurt. I was thankful for all of those things. I think I even said so, but then began to make a mental list of all the tedious paperwork and telephone calls that were going to be a part of our immediate future. It began at once, with endless phone calls to report the accident, call her parents, the police and the towing service. My well-laid plans for the evening were fast crumbling to dust.

It is my very selfish tendency to get all bent out of shape when life doesn't go according to plan. However, I have a friend who has written a treasure of a book about gratitude. These days I am looking for the gifts the Father pours into my life on a daily basis. Was this little accident, this dent in my plans, meant to be counted as one of those?

The answer is, of course, yes. It is up to me to view it through the prism of gratitude. When seen in that light, it is somehow transformed. So....with thanks:

151 - for keeping us all safe Father
152 - for the opportunity to show grace to a frightened young girl
153 - for her parents who were more than gracious
154 - for the kindness of strangers who stopped to see if all was well
155 - for insurance that covers the cost
156 - for a gracious, competent adjuster
157 - for a husband who called the adjuster's manager to tell him how much we appreciated his work (the manager nearly fell out of his chair, "No one ever calls to tell us we've done a GOOD job!")
158 - for a Father who is with us every moment of every day
159 - for a lesson in learning that my plans are not the most important thing
160 - knowing that people are far more important than things

and other things:
161 - great message from our Pastor - "Don't Worry!"
162 - a wedding gown for our beautiful girl
163 - children leading in worship, and a little girl who couldn't finish her solo for the tears; how I love her tender heart
164 - stars - and You know them by name

linking to the Gratitude Community at Ann's today (where you can print out your very own gratitude journal).

Blessings,
Linda

Jesus Keep Me Near The Cross

It is natural, as we approach Easter, to have our thinking centered on the cross and what it means to every believing heart. I have had this hymn playing in my head this week. I suppose it is no surprise that Fanny Crosby wrote this one too.

She collaborated with William Doane once again. This time it was his music that came first. Fanny wrote the lyrics after hearing the melody.

Jesus, keep me near the cross,
There a precious fountain,
Free to all, a healing stream
Flows from Calvary's mountain.

(Refrain)
In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever,
Till my ransomed soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.

Near the cross, a trembling soul,
Love and mercy found me;
There the Bright and Morning Star
Shed His beams around me.

Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day
With it's shadows o'er me.

Near the cross! I'll watch and wait,
Hoping, trusting ever,
Till I reach the golden strand,
Just beyond the river.

Galatians 6: 14
"But may it never be that I should boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world."




Blessings,
Linda