He Said His Name was John

He said his name was John the Baptist...

In a hospital wing filled with waiting families and faithful friends,



this “John” sits...alone...loudly declaring His appointment by God to be a voice crying in the wilderness...of 21st century Rome, Georgia...

Sideways glances and feet shuffled are the responses...as thoughts run the gamut of “is he crazy” to “what is he going to do?”


Louder cries and voices change as threats ring out to all nearby...



The men in blue arrive...and escort the prophet outside while clenched muscles relax and quiet chatter resumes...as the battle for John’s mind and soul rages on...

Never put down your sword

*********************

He said His name was Jesus...the name above all names...

In a small church filled with faithful saints and waiting sinners,



she sits in a pew...a battle raging...a decision to be made...


THE decision to be made...

Her heart beats louder with every second passed as the preacher urges ears to hear and feet to walk...so lips will confess as eternity gets closer and closer...

He said His name was Jesus...and with eyes closed she sees Him and knows that this Person...this Name...is the One she has been waiting to meet...

Down the aisle and at the foot of the cross, she places her heart on the wounds in His hands...and His heart’s blood washes her white...

Anyone can speak a name...

but not every name can speak

and

chains break

sickness heal

brokenness repair

sins erase

and death run...

The name of Jesus -


there’s not just something about that Name...

That Name is everything...

There is no way to be saved from the punishment of sin through anyone else. For there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we can be saved.

Acts 4:12 NLV

Because of this, God lifted Jesus high above everything else. He gave Him a name that is greater than any other name.

Philippians 2:9 NLV

His Name will be...Prince of Peace

The songwriter said this Peace would be ushered in on

fathomless billows of love...

Can you imagine such depth of Peace?

When your hands are clenched tightly

and your stomach is in knots...

Peace will loosen the grip of fear and despair

When turmoil and strife are swirling around

and you can’t see the shore

for the curtain of waves...

Peace will guide you to safety

When tears fall hot and prayers cry loud...

Peace brings a cloak of comfort

to swaddle trembling shoulders...

Peace transforms frowns of worry

into wrinkles of joy...

Can you imagine such perfect Peace?

If you are a child of God,

you can do more than just imagine this Peace...

You can experience it

Let His Peace roll over you in the New Year,

And celebrate with the  Prince of Peace

by accepting His wondrous gifts:

Forgiveness for the past

Peace for the right now

Hope for the future

You, Lord, give true peace 
to those who depend on you, 
because they trust you.

Isaiah 26:3 NCV

Emmanuel

Jesus

For unto us a child is born,

unto us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon His shoulder:

and His name shall be called

Wonderful,

Counselor,

Mighty God,

Everlasting Father,

Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6 ASV

Colors of Redemption

A splintered tree...the crossbeam stripped bare...

Afraid to raise my eyes, my knees buckle as I drop to the ground...arms crossed over a  

cold heart stained ebony...

  
and my tears of regret fall

BLACK

Shame filled and choked with despair, I can’t stop the trembling and the feeling of hopelessness...

But then -
 

a drop
 

and another...

Crimson pearls of pure love spill down...

and grace gushes as I hear...

“It is finished”...

”Help me, God! Forgive me!”

and the tears of redemption fall

RED

Sweet mercy and forgiveness...

I see J e s u s!

my Saviour...

my Deliverer...

the Living Water...

precious Lamb of God...

mighty Lion of Judah...

The tide of glory swells

as grace-filled tears of joy fall

WHITE

Death is vanquished...

and the Victor calls my name...

“I paid the price...your debt is settled...your account is cleared and you are

F R E E...

The tomb is empty...so you don’t have to be...”

Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this?” 

John 11:25-26 NLT

PS...This post was written for the theme Black, Red, White at my church for Easter 2011...if you would like to see the slide show with music on YouTube click here...

Linking with:

with Charlotte and Ginger

and

 

with my friend, Peggy

Thankful Thursday – The Right Key

While standing there with four key chains clutched in my hands, I glanced over at the box that held dozens more...big keys, little keys, gold keys, and silver ones...

My DH has every key to every lock that we ever opened since 1977...seriously!

Don’t ask me why...I don’t think even he knows for sure...

Are they organized?

No

Are they labeled?

No

Is this a sore spot?

YES

Yesterday, I needed a key to open a rarely used lock...and not just any key...

The right key...

I seized the MAIN box of miscellaneous keys and went to work...

Grappled with scores of oddball keys that never would work...

And...although I love my DH dearly...silently vowed to walk away from this fiasco...and just forget it...

One day, 37 years ago, I needed a key to open the door to eternal life...and not just any key...

The right Key...

So I grabbed the pew in front of me...stood up...

and went to an altar of prayer...

Grappled with scores of mistakes and regrets that He said “Give to Me”...

And...because He loves me dearly...tearfully accepted His promise of forgiveness and walked into new life...

Where do I keep this Key?

In my heart...

Today I give thanks for this Key...

During some seasons of my life, I have displaced my Key...tried other ones that seemed pretty and shiny on the outside...only to find...the only lock they opened was despair...

So I would look again for the right Key...and it was always exactly where I left it...waiting...

Where do you keep your key...the right Key?

You had better find it quickly...the door is closing soon...and without the right Key...the door will be locked forever....

with Lynn @ Spiritually Unequal Marriage

Word Filled Wednesday – Forgive

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Colossians 3:13 NIV

Thankful Thursday – Persistence

Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

Do you not know, child...

I love you with an everlasting love...

Have you not heard, my child...

My whispers in the wind...

Do you not know, daughter...

That I will never leave nor forsake you...

Have you not heard, my daughter...

I am calling you...

Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

Has it not been told you from the beginning?

Have you not understood since the earth was founded?

Isaiah 40:21

Have you not heard, children...

The sounds of My coming...

Do you not know, my children...

That time is soon...

Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

The LORD is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary,

and His understanding no one can fathom.

Isaiah 40:28

Today I am thankful for the persistent voice of the Lord. His unwavering calls...tender reminders...and cries to “come home”...were finally heeded by this prodigal daughter...

I heard...and now I know...my Saviour...

Please join Laurie at Women Taking a Stand for blessings galore!

That’s How I See My Bride

I’m from the deep south, ya’ll...Georgia born and bred. So when the weather forecasters predicted snow for this past Friday, I nodded my head...said "uh hum"...and kept right on working.

Southern snows are about 95% flurries...with slush and mess...and empty diary cases at the local grocery store...

Another 4% accounts for actual blizzards...with businesses shut down...power outages...and general mayhem...

The snow we had on Friday was from the remaining 1%...

Soft and pure...

Fresh and clean...

A wonder to behold...

Children were elated...and grownups became kids again...

This perfect snow was a rare and beautiful sight...

Saturday morning came and the freezing temperatures had kept the winter wonderland pristine for an early morning gaze out the window...

The snow was so white and so bright, that the reflection of the morning sun’s rays created a brilliance I had never seen before. My eyes actually ached from trying to focus on the radiant beauty...

The words to that old song “White as Snow” went through my mind...

White as snow, white as snow
Though my sins were as scarlet
Lord, I know, Lord, I know
That I'm clean and forgiven

Through the power of Your blood
Through the wonder of Your love
Through faith in You
I know that I can be
White as snow

Then the Lord spoke to my spirit...

“That is how I see my bride...that is how I see YOU...”

All the mistakes...

All the bad choices...

All the times I turned my back on Him...

All the black, ugly sin...

The slush and mess...

Covered by His precious blood...

Now a beautiful sight in my Jesus’ eyes...

Dear Lord...I thank You for Your perfect love...Your gentle mercy...and Your spotless sacrifice...You took my dirty, messed up life...and washed it white as snow...please fill me with true love and compassion, Lord...so when someone looks in my eyes...they see a reflection of You...in Your sweet, lovely Name...amen...

Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool.

Isaiah 1:18 (Amplified Bible)

I am still on hiatus for a few more weeks, and will be visiting your blogs soon. My journal is filled with scriptures that have been laid on my heart to share with you at some point.

My dad sent me some pictures of the snow that my cousin Melanie had taken that are breath taking...after watching her slide show entitled “God’s Artwork”, I knew now was the time to share this post.

Right Now!

Are you a dawdler or a dasher?

Do you lag behind or hurry forward?

For me, it depends on what I am needing to do...possibly where I need to do it...and sometimes even, who is asking...selfish, I know....

When my children were in elementary school, we lived about two blocks from the school in a close knit subdivision. On days when my oldest would walk home from school, I would watch for him from a window. Most of his friends that walked with him lived in the first block, so his journey home in the last block was mostly by himself.

I was always in a hurry for him to get home so I could ask typical Mom questions, and make sure he was okay. My son usually took his own sweet time. As I watched him waltz down the sidewalk, he would stop occasionally and inspect a crack in the pavement, or a bug in the grass.

Sometimes he would take a stick and duel with imaginary foes as he walked backwards towards home. Other times, I would see his mouth moving and his head bobbing and I knew he was singing along to the tunes in his head.

My little, “I am not in a rush”, son, always had his own agenda and amusements during the walk home and did not hurry along just because Mom was waiting.

Even though he knew his Momma was waiting with a hug and an after school snack, my sweet little boy still took his time coming home because other things caught his attention. He still got his hug, snack, and playtime, but these things were delayed because he did not come right away.

Sometimes I do this to the Lord.

I know He is waiting on me, with a hug, words to feed my soul, and blessings beyond compare. But my eyes get distracted by other things, and I dawdle in coming home.

Other times, God calls me to do a work for Him. Do I immediately rush forward and say, “Yes, Lord! I’ll do it right now...wherever and whatever You ask.”

Sometimes, I do...and then there are times I am too wrapped up in ME and MY stuff and I DILLY DALLY along and get there in my own sweet time. Or I may question God and say “But...” or ask “What if...”

Those are the moments the Spirit convicts my heart of waiting instead of obeying ....

Passing along the beach of Lake Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew net-fishing. Fishing was their regular work. Jesus said to them, "Come with me. I'll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I'll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass." They didn't ask questions. They dropped their nets and followed.

A dozen yards or so down the beach, he saw the brothers James and John, Zebedee's sons. They were in the boat, mending their fishnets. Right off, he made the same offer. Immediately, they left their father Zebedee, the boat, and the hired hands, and followed.

Mark 1: 16-20 The Message

Lord, forgive me for the many times I have lagged behind and moved slowly when I needed to do something right away...help me to have a “right now” attitude and be willing to immediately come when You call. Your timing is perfect, so I give You my hands and feet to direct them in the paths You decide...whenever and wherever. I give You my heart and soul to always be ready to answer obediently and respond immediately...because You alone know how much time we have left here on earth...and waiting until later...just may be too late....

The Proverbial Sunrise – From the Heart

Where is the heart of your home?

Is it in the kitchen around the family table or in stools pulled towards a bar or counter?

Is it in the family room or den, relaxing on couches, chairs , or stretched out on the floor?

Maybe it’s in a bedroom, where tranquility reigns and easy conversation flows effortlessly while stretched across a familiar quilt?

Wherever this heart may be in your home, it is the place where people can come together and feel love, hope, and security. It is where joy can be shared, problems solved, and heartaches comforted. It is HOME...

The heart of our physical bodies is the place where we feel love, hope and security, but it can also harbor feelings of distrust, bitterness, and hate. It can bring forth good things or it can release bad things.

When Jesus told the parable of the unmerciful servant in Matthew 18, he ended the story with a very important point.

“Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

Matthew 18:32-35 NIV

Sometimes we tend to forgive with our head and our lips...but not from our heart. That center of our life blood...where love grows and hate hides...the heart of our very being...

When forgiveness only comes from the head, our earthly reasoning sets in and starts analyzing the person or situation to death, and it becomes impossible to truly forgive. We try to “fix” people and convince ourselves we have the answer for everything. Our heart hardens...

Forgiveness from the heart comes from a place that runs deep...a place that has been broken into pieces so that unconditional love flows freely...a place where the Saviour has placed His healing hands and covered with His precious blood.

The heart is the place where Jesus wants our forgiveness to come from...just as our Heavenly Father gifts us with divine grace and forgiveness, after all we have done...so should we extend forgiveness to others.

Heavenly Father, In your Son’s name, we thank you for forgiveness. Your unconditional love that runs so wide and so deep...let it flow into our broken hearts and fill all the cracks...soften the hard edges until it seeps into the very center of our hearts...so we can be vessels of Your love that spill over onto everyone we meet...let that overflowing love show true mercy so our hearts will be filled with forgiveness for others.

Please visit Amanda at The Proverbial Sunrise to be inspired and touched by reading more about forgiveness.

The Proverbial Sunrise – Forgiveness in Jesus’ Name

Amanda has chosen the theme of forgiveness for September’s Proverbial Sunrise. Please listen to this song about sweet forgiveness and then visit Sweet Blessings at her website here...

If you're lost, no where to go,
If you're sure somewhere you've lost your soul;
If you're hurt or you've caused pain,
There's a way to become whole again.

In Jesus’ name you'll find sweet forgiveness;
In Jesus’ name there's peace and love and rest;
And in His hands that healed the sick and wounded,
You can finally leave behind your grief and shame in Jesus’ name.

If you ship has not come in,
There's a way that you can sail again.
If you doubt you can be saved,
Talk to One who gave His life away.

If your time is almost up,
He is asking you to take his cup;
If your heart is breaking down,
Come to Jesus, do it now!

The Proverbial Sunrise – Forgiveness…and Weeds

Do you despise weeds as much as I do?

Nasty little things...popping up overnight in a nicely trimmed Bermuda lawn...standing tall and drawing attention to themselves...the beauty of the grass is often overlooked because of the aggravating weeds...

When I am slow to forgive someone, those nasty little weeds of unforgiveness spring up out of seemingly nowhere...my unforgiving nature draws attention away from the Christian light that is supposed to be shining...the beauty of Christ in me is overlooked because of the weeds of unforgiveness....

As I attack the weeds in my yard, I make sure as the weed is pulled out of the ground, the root is taken as well...so no more weeds (from that spot at least) will grow again....

Heavenly Father, in Jesus’ name, I ask that you weed the garden of my heart...please pull out any weeds of unforgiveness...roots and all...so my heart may be pure and shine forth the love of my Saviour to others...remind me of Your most divine forgiveness You have given me...so many times...so I will be quicker about forgiving others...

And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop.

Mark 11:25 AMP

Please visit Amanda at The Proverbial Sunrise to read more about this month’s topic of Forgiveness.

The Proverbial Sunrise – Forgiveness

September’s theme for The Proverbial Sunrise is the “Forgiveness” attribute of God. Be sure to visit Amanda and share your thoughts on this topic.

Forgiveness is such an important factor in our relationship with the Lord. Faith tells me that I am forgiven or I can allow doubt to come in and question that forgiveness.

God’s forgiveness is so different than man’s forgiveness...

Man’s forgiveness says...

“Why of course, I forgive you”...but I will never forget...

God’s forgiveness says...

“Why of course, I forgive you...it will be remembered no more...”

Man’s forgiveness...

“I know she is sorry about what she did...and I have not brought it up in a long time”...but just let her cross me again...and...well...she just may need to be reminded of what she has already done...

God’s forgiveness...

“My child, as far as the east is from the west, is how far I have removed your sins.”

Man...

“I know he said he forgave me and he hasn’t ever mentioned it again, but I still can’t help but feel that the thought is just hiding at the back of his head and one day it will explode and that will be the end of it.”

God...

“Daughter, your sins are covered by my Son’s precious blood. His sacrifice made atonement for all and you are set free! So if the Son sets you free, you are free in deed!”

But if we confess our sins to God,

he can always be trusted to

forgive us and take our sins away.

1 John 1:9 CEV