Month: February 2021

For Our Good and Mr Turtle

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A few folks might have wondered why I haven’t been posting and suffice it to say that the last 4-5 days have been filled with everything I own is breaking. The dryer only works if you shake it, the older of our two cars has an incurable disease that Suzuki doesn’t make the parts for anymore and my new lap top is on its way back to Dell. When God says that all things work together for my good I always wish I got to pick which things. But since that is obviously not the plan of my loving invisible Father I have decided that must mean I need to stop complaining and wishing for what I think of as better times and start doing what I can with what He does give.

One great thing God allowed was that on Saturday we were given permission for the first time to meet indoors with the Seniors from Sunshine Christian Village. Even in Florida, Winter can mean some chilly days for folks coming in on Jazzy scooters and wheel chairs. With the indoor venue it was heart warming to see a larger group come. We were all with masks and spaced about 10′ apart so it was as safe and far more blessed than a trip to Walmart. Unfortunately I can’t show the video yet so I’m posting a classic from a few years back that I pray will be a blessing to you.

Mr. Turtle and Life From the Dead

Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. Mark 8:31 ESV

Long ago I brought home a little turtle I had found crawling across the road. As I walked in the door that afternoon our two young sons rushed over to see what I was holding. They were so excited to see this curious new pet and they quickly made up a box for him complete with water and grass. But Mr. Turtle wanted nothing to do with his cardboard home. He wouldn’t eat or drink anything. In fact each day he grew weaker until finally he barely moved. We sadly explained to our boys that Mr. Turtle was sick and needed to be set free.  Our car was filled with an atmosphere of mourning as we drove out of town, to find a spot to release him. Finding a quiet wooded area we pulled over then took him gently out of his box and put him on the ground. At first Mr. Turtle remained motionless, but after a minute he slowly eased one foot out of his shell and then the other. Finally he poked out his head, stood up and raced away as fast as his stubby legs could carry him!  Mr. Turtle’s surprising ending reminded me of another story. It made me remember the day that they buried Jesus and walked sadly away. But just three days later He placed first one foot, then the other on the ground; sat up, ran out of the grave and into the light!

Before the Dawn

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After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.

Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them. Mark 6:46-48 NIV

Have you ever wondered why Jesus let’s us get ourselves in a fix to begin with? Why do we find ourselves over and over in the middle of a sea of circumstances which we did not choose and wish we had never encountered? I know from the Bible that it is for my own good, but when I rowing hard in the middle of a pitch black night, I’m not liking a lot what He says is good for me!

But what I am learning is that in the middle of things that are deeper than I can understand and more powerful than I can control, Jesus is watching and Jesus is praying, and even better yet – Jesus is coming to meet us – just before dawn! When Jesus comes and gets in the boat, I am at rest – even if I still do not understand -and suddenly it becomes true in my complicated real life – that He comes just before the dawn!!

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV

Here is a song written by Bella Thompson, one of the residents at a nursing home where I visited last year before the virus hit. I pray that it will bless you as it has blessed me.

Three Short Days

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Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb John 20:1 ESV

With snow seemingly falling everywhere except Florida this year, I am reminded of the year before we moved here and Scranton was buried under twenty four inches of snow. Cars were completely covered, our street was closed for two days and everyone’s schedule came to a screeching halt! But then just three weeks later, with the temperatures reaching almost 80 degrees, the snow vanished. What a difference those three short weeks made!

Yup that’s my car (I think!)

One Sunday morning 2000 years ago just think what a difference three short days made. On Friday the disciples fled in fear. When Joseph and Nicodemus put Jesus into the tomb it seemed that all their hopes lay cold and dead in the grave. But on that dark morning of the third day, when Mary came she discovered in astonishment that the stone had been rolled back and the grave stood empty!  Then Jesus Himself drew near. Mary mistook Him for a simple gardener, until He called her name and then she was filled with joy. Not much has changed in 2000 years. We may think of Jesus as a great teacher, a loving healer or a simple carpenter, but we only know Him when He comes and calls our name! What a difference those three short days have made!