Anointed!

He said this and then spit in the dust, made a clay with his saliva, rubbed the paste on the blind man’s eyes and said, “Go wash in the pool of Siloam”. The man did, and he saw. John 9:6 from The Message

All I could see from where I stood, was three long mountains and a wood; I turned and looked another way, and saw three islands in a bay. Edna St. Vincent Millay from the poem Renascence

Randy and I were walking the other day around the lake behind the Field of Dreams at the church. We love the beauty of the property and the view it affords. While we were sitting on the bench, two friends walked by and remarked on the beauty of the setting. Then, he said, “You know, I was against the church buying this property, but I had no idea it was this beautiful.” Randy remarked, “I never knew that. Did you ever walk back here to see it?” When he shook his head, no, Randy said, “Aren’t you glad the church saw what you didn’t?” He needed to see it to appreciate it!

Our friend only looked at one aspect of the acquisition of the acres of land, but the committee who bought the land had the vision of what it could become! Now it’s filled with ball fields, children’s laughter and learning, and people around the lake all the time!

People see things in different ways, and that can have its advantages and its disadvantages. If two people tell the same story, it will probably be different. Different people have differing accounts on the Civil War, WWII, government, politics, etc. it depends on who is telling the story and their perception of the event.

I happen to love crime and mystery books and movies, and it seems that in each, the authorities always place their witnesses in different rooms, listen to the account of each, and compare the similarities and discrepancies.

The word anoint means “to pour on and rub in”. Jesus anointed the man in this verse and caused his eyes to become sighted. Then the man could see Jesus as he was, not only, as a prophet, a teacher, a man, but as Lord and Savior.

It makes all the difference when we can see things for ourselves rather than taking another’s word for it. Florence Chadwick, a long distance swimmer, attempted to swim 21 miles across the Catalina Channel and become the first woman to do so. The fog was so think, she couldn’t see land and despite the encouragement from her crew that land was near, after 15 hours and 55 minutes, she gave up and came on board the boat. In an interview later she said, “If I could have only seen the land for myself, I know I could have made it.”

When we can see things for ourselves, we are anointed and it changes things. It can change the way we see others. In the last months, I’ve begun to learn so many new things about our neighbors. Now, I see beyond any annoyances or differences and see the best in each of them. My eyes have been anointed.

It also changes the way we see ourselves. We’ve all done things during this virus that we never thought possible. We’ve embraced the lonely, called the sick, zoomed with relatives and friends, and visited in driveways and yards. We have seen others in a different light and we’ve been amazed at ourselves -our eyes have been anointed.

It changes the way we see our needs. During this time, we’ve seen people less concerned with what we don’t have and more thankful for things we do have. We have compassion and want to help the hungry, the imprisoned, and the homeless. Years ago when Randy and I served a circuit in the Covington area, which I thought was at the end of the world, one of the churches was so small that it was facing a financial crisis when we arrived. The people were panicking and began to turn their focus inward to save themselves. Once they were led to turn their focus outward and help the community, the church began to flourish. The people began to look beyond their own needs, and their eyes were anointed.

It also changes the way we see Jesus. We begin to realize that Jesus is worthy of our praise and worthy of our heart, mind and strength. He is in charge, and if we only let Him, he will anoint us with a new vision and a new strength. We can see Jesus for ourselves!

Jesus says there will be a test at the end where we are accountable for how we see Him, ourselves, others and the world.

One of my favorite hymns says it best. Open my eyes that I may see, glimpses of truth thou hast for me; Place in my hand the wonderful key, that shall unclasp and set me free. Silently now, I wait for Thee; ready, my God, they will to see; open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine. Clara H. Scott

The Last Full Measure of Devotion!

In his Gettysburg Address, Abraham Lincoln used the phrase the last full measure of devotion to honor the soldiers who gave their lives in this bloody battle. The phrase has become one that is used to honor American soldiers, firefighters, first responders, and others who sacrificially give or have given their lives for their country, their community or their home.

As we celebrate this Memorial Day in this COVID-19 era, it’s especially fitting that we pause to remember those who laid down their lives for family, friends, country, and freedom. The virus itself is a war and there are many on the front lines in the medical fields just as on the battlefields of war. This has awakened a sense of patriotism in many Americans and the fight against a common enemy has hopefully brought many of us together.

Although this battle and others are ongoing, the biggest battle we, as Americans, fight today is for the soul of our nation. In so many ways, we have fallen away from the America which honored God unashamedly and openly. We’ve seen federal courts restricting religious symbols and removing the ten commandments from the walls. A nation which honored God unashamedly and openly seems to have lost that freedom or right.

There was a time when we credited God for our blessings and our successes, and we turned to Him during times of trials and losses, but today, we seem to have lost that sense of remembrance. Woodrow Wilson said, “A nation that does not remember what it was yesterday does not know what it is today or what it is trying to do.’

There are very few nations with a history like America. For over two hundred years we have been a shining light to the world around us. We have been a launching pad that has taken the gospel to literally the very ends of the earth. People from other countries risk their lives to come here and enjoy the freedoms we enjoy each day.

On this Memorial Day, as we remember those who gave so much for the freedoms we enjoy, may we humble ourselves before God and offer him thanks and may God Bless America.

But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate – we cannot consecrate-we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it far above our poor power to to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it will never forget what they did here. It is for us, the living, rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us – that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion – that we here resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain-that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom – and that government, of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from this earth. Abraham Lincoln

Can You Help Me?

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7

Recently, I had the chance to watch the movie, Good Morning, Miss Dove, a classic movie about a spinster teacher in a small community. She sacrificed her life’s dreams in order to stay in this community to repay her father’s debt upon his death. The movie is a study of a life well lived helping to raise the students in this community. Miss Dove knows each and every student, their weaknesses, their strengths, and has prepared each one for their life. She has helped them all. Suddenly, she is in need of help, but she has a hard time asking anyone for it. Why is asking for help so hard for us?

For months, we had been in the midst of a quandary. Randy’s only remaining original joint, his left hip, was causing him excruciating pain. Elective surgery had been suspended, and the doctor had told him that surgery would happen as soon as the hospital opened again. We tried dealing with this situation on our own not wanting to bother God for help – He has a lot going on! Finally, we found ourselves saying, “Oh, God, can you help us? We need relief!”

Explaining the sequence of events after that plea is nothing short of a miracle! Randy called the doctor to request pain meds, the doctor petitioned the hospital for surgery, the next day Randy was in the operating room! The surgery was at 9, and he was home by 2!! God was telling us that indeed He can help!

We are so like Miss Dove. We try to do everything all on our own. Finally, we get to that point where we realize we can’t do it on our own! We’ve tried everything except asking for His help. What does it take to get us to ask for help?

First, it takes humility. We have to get over the idea that we can do it on our own, and humble ourselves before God to ask Him for help.

Next, it takes the ability to trust Him. We know we aren’t in control and that Jesus can get us through this, but sometimes it takes just saying “I need Your help, and I trust You to give it” and say it out loud. Jesus can get us through it. Can you help me?

Finally, it takes the power given to us when we ask God for help. We can have the power to make a change in our situation and allow God to lead us in doing this. It’s not enough to think these things in our head and heart, we need the power to say the words, Jesus, can you help me?

The question is not, Can you help me, Jesus – that’s a given. The questions are, “Are we willing to humble ourselves to ask for that help? Are we willing to trust Him to give the help? Are we willing to use the power he gives to change the situation.?”

We can keep trying to do it all on our own in trying times, or we can just say out loud, Jesus, help me.

So, what do we say to those of us who have said out loud, Can you help me, Jesus, and not received the answer we expected? No human can answer, that, but Psalm 27:14 has the answer, “Wait for the Lord, be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord.”

Jesus can get us through.

Disruptions

At the same moment, Jesus felt energy discharging from Him. He turned around to the crowd and asked, “Who touched my robe?” Luke 8:45

There is a river that runs through time and the universe, vast and inexplicable, a flow of spirit that is at the heart of all existence and every molecule of our being is a part of it. And what is God but the whole of that river? William Kent Krueger

In the pre-COVID-19 era, we pretty much all had our daily routines. We knew what we were doing each day of the week, kept a calendar of activities, and we probably had a list of all the things that needed to be done. In our daily routine, many times we are faced with disruptions that interfere with that routine, but nothing like this virus. Since COVID-19, every day is a disruption, but if we are smart enough to learn from them, those disruptions can provide opportunities.

Jesus had disruptions daily in his ministry, and He was so sensitive to the people and events, that He stopped what He was doing to care and take care of them. We’ve got a choice during this disruptive time, we can keep doing what we are doing, grumble and groan, or we can take the disruption and turn it into something positive.

We can take courage from these disruptions and know that every disruption can offer opportunities if our attitude is positive. C. S. Lewis says. It comes the moment you wake up every morning. All your wishes and hopes for the day come rushing at you like wild animals. Your first job each morning consists of simply shoving them all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in. And so on all day. Standing back from all your natural fussings and frettings; coming in out of the wind. Don’t let disruptions ruin the day.

During these disruptions, we can take faith, make it our core of confidence and trust Jesus. Remember the hymn, What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear; what a privilege to carry everything to Him in prayer. We must remember that on the cross, he took away all that would crush us – all fear, all shame, all doubt. He used the disruptions for good.

It’s also a time to begin to take action and follow Christ through these disruptions. We can take this time to realize that the living Christ is alive and working now! All you need to do is take action just as you would if your car was headed for a ditch. You wouldn’t sit there and do nothing, you’d take action and steer away from trouble. That’s what’s needed now to turn these disruptions into positive experiences.

I think this hymn by Civillia D. Martin says it best. Be not dismayed whate’er betide; God will take care of you. Beneath his wings of love abide, God will take care of you. God will take care of you; through every day, o’er all the way. He will take care of you…God will take care of you.

Inheritance

This signet from God is the first installment of what’s coming, a reminder that we will get all our inheritance God has planned for us, a praising and glorious life. Ephesians 1:14

It’s not what you leave for your children, it’s what you leave in your children. copied

On this Mother’s Day, it’s hard to believe that our Mama has been gone for almost four years. We still miss her everyday, but time has given us a chance to think back on the inheritance she left for us. Although she did leave us material possessions, it is the inheritance she left in our hearts, minds, and memories that are important to us.

The poem is true, “Mirror, mirror, on the wall; I am my Mother after all.” I find myself doing things the way Mama did them, using expressions she used, and following her rules and idiosyncrasies without even realizing that I do it. For example, when I make a pound cake, I always pound the pan three times on the cabinet before I put it in the oven. Why? I never knew until lately that pounding the pan gets all the air bubbles out and helps the cake to rise. I do it because Mama always did it. One of the things I inherited from her.

It doesn’t matter if a Mother is biological, foster, or adopted, they teach us so many life lessons, bestow so much love, and teach us such an appreciation for life and faith. The sad thing is that most of us don’t take time to appreciate all they do and have done for us while we have them! During this COVID-19 era, my prayer is that Mothers and children can take this chance to make some sweet memories.

I’ve had a chance to clean out a lot of junk during this pandemic, but among the junk, I found almost every letter my Mama and I had written to each other during my first year of college. She always saved everything! It was such a sweet treat to go back in time and remember all the ways she was there for me then and always.

Our Mama and Daddy lived through World War II, the depression, and scary times. Mama’s family was poor, but they always worked hard. Mama could have said, “Well, my family never amounted to much, so I won’t either,” but she was always looking for bigger and better things for her parents, her husband, and her children. She claimed God’s promises and always trusted Him to provide. I can see her inheritance in my sisters, all our children, and all our grandchildren.

God said, I will pour my spirit into your descendants and my blessing on your children. It’s a mother’s job to instill a foundation into their children so that those children don’t merely follow her path, but rather build something greater upon that foundation. The decisions mothers make today not only affect them, but also their children.

Mama left an inheritance of generosity, faith, hope, joy, love, talent, kindness, ethics, responsibility, understanding, compassion, and countless other qualities. She prayed that she had raised three girls who could take up where she left off . She gave us roots and wings. I see that inheritance in each of her family’s children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Thank heavens for Mothers not only just on Mother’s Day but rather every day. My prayer is that God will help all mothers to make the right decisions and leave a powerful inheritance for those who follow them.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Stretch Yourself

There is nothing too hard for you. Jeremiah 32:17

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy. Job 8:21

One of the things I have missed most in these last few weeks is the ability to be in the pool and to stretch all my muscles. Research confirms that stretching is good for your flexibility, blood flow, posture, stress relief, and mood. It also increases your energy and calms your mind. We could all do with a good stretch right now. The more you stretch, the stronger you become.

Faith is like a muscle; trouble may strain it, but in the end it grows stronger. When we are being stretched spiritually, our faith in God grows. I can bet that there are more people praying, more people invoking God’s will, and more people turning to faith than we have ever seen in our lifetime. We are being stretched!

We are being stretched mentally as well. How many of us are playing board games, doing crossword puzzles, putting puzzles together, and even reading books! We are also discovering that our old ideas about life, faith, and even religion are being challenged, and they are either being replaced with new ideas or our old ideas are being reinforced. God is stretching us!

Our relations with others are also being stretched. Selfishness is dying and being replaced with love and caring. We are learning not to take anything for granted but rather to stretch those relationships and fill each day with appreciation for those we love.

Every now and then God allows us to have stretching experiences that prepare us for the races He has called us to run in this life. Even with the stretching, sometimes our soul just “hits the wall” and no amount of strength or pressing ahead will move the problem. This is a soul stretch!

These stretches are just warm ups for the real tests and races that will come. God’s never going to allow us to run a race for Him or without Him, but we’ve got to make sure we are stretched in our thinking, our faith, and our relationships.

During this time when nothing we do seems to move this problem called COVID-19, just remember to take a deep breath and let God work on stretching us. It’s the soul stretching that allows us to face situations we think might kill us, but don’t; and to endure times when we think we won’t make it, but we do.

Sooner or later we all face difficult times, but they are just deep knee bend stretches of life. So when we feel like we are being stretched to the breaking point, don’t quit, keep letting God stretch us!

Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be broken. copied

Chapter Books

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end says the Lord God. I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come, the Almighty One. Rev. 1:8

One of the great joys of life is being able to read books and draw meaning and entertainment from them. In the kindergarten years, it was rewarding for us teachers to see the joy on the faces of the children as they sat while listening to a book and looking at the pictures as we went through a story together. Later, as we began to move on to chapter books, they began to mature enough to enjoy the story with only infrequent pictures. The thing I love about chapter books is that when we read our chapter for the day, the children knew we weren’t finished. They knew we would continue the story the next time we were together.

The best chapter book of all time is the Bible. The story begins with creation, takes us through good and evil, suffering, hardship, disasters, rebellion, wars, shows us how humans tend to reject their God, comforts us, and finally gives us hope for salvation, forgiveness and love.

Chapter books remind me of the Bible and in particular the resurrection. God has said it is not finished here on this earth, but rather the journey and the story continues.

We all feel like our daily lives are a chapter book right now. We awake and never know what the day will bring, but we do know that through it all, we are learning some powerful coping skills.

Right now, we are all learning how to develop patience. Each day we think maybe the solution will come, the apex will be reached, the curve will flatten, a vaccine will be found, school will start again, businesses will reopen, vacation plans will be realized, and things will begin to return to normal, but while we wait, we are writing a chapter in the book of patience.

We are increasing our vocabulary daily with new words and phrases such as “shelter in place”, “social distancing”, “zoom”, ” pandemic”, “home schooling”, “essential”, “sequestering”, and “quarantine”. We are writing a whole new vocabulary in the chapter book of life during and after the COVID-19 era.

We are using visualization methods to get through the days and nights without human contact and touch. We see friends and loved ones through Zoom, FaceTime, Facebook, and drive by visits. We remember what it was like to hug our friends and loved ones, and we add the chapter of not taking things for granted to our book.

We are also writing lessons on giving as we are learning how we can each reach out to others to offer encouragement, joy, faith, hope and love. We are learning thankfulness for all those who give of themselves each day.

Finally, we are getting practice in the skill of predicting the ending of the book. Students usually know how they want the book to end, the character they want to be the hero, the right way to end the story, but only the author knows the ending. As in kindergarten chapter books, we can all predict how we’d like to see this end, but no human really knows. God is the author of this story, and only He can write the ending .

Through this time, we must remember not to despair. God is the author and preserver of it all and the author of this chapter book. He’s writing a great ending to this chapter book that will show His power and His love.

Stay strong and faithful, and add a chapter every day!

I love to tell the story of unseen things above; Of Jesus and His glory, Of Jesus and His love. I love to tell the story because I know tis true. It satisfies my longing as nothing else can do. I love to tell the story, wilt be my theme in glory to tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love. I Love To Tell The Story by Alan Jackson

Rise to the Occasion

I have chosen the faithful way; I have placed Your ordinances before me. Psalm 119:30

He is not here; he has risen, as he said. Matthew 28:6

The first year Randy and I were married, I ended up in the hospital for surgery on my thyroid. It was a couple of weeks before Easter, and the movie The Ten Commandments was on television. Randy and I sat in my hospital bed together and watched the movie which we’ve done almost every year since.

At that time, the scene where the Hebrew slaves cross the Red Sea was a cinematographic wonder! God parted the Seas for them, got them safely through, and closed the waters over the Egyptians. He was there to rise to the occasion every time they needed Him.

Easter has come again and with it brought so many different ways of worshiping during this COVID 19. No matter how we are worshiping or what we are doing, the truth remains that on this day Jesus arose from the dead and is alive and among us. He is alive – His body is warm! The tomb is empty! He is not the Great I “Was”, but He is the Great I “Am.” He has risen to the occasion.

Now, as we go back to the reality of our lives, our question becomes, “Is Jesus alive or dead for us personally?” Many times we testify with our mouths that He is alive, but then we live as if He’s dead. If He is alive, then we should act like it, but sometimes after the moment is gone, we forget to rise to the occasion every day.

In the middle 1980’s when we served the First Methodist Church in Calhoun, Randy was searching for a visible way to show that Jesus was alive, that He had risen to the occasion. He came up with the idea of having each person bring a live flower to place on the cross. It was a beautiful morning, and the cross ended up being a beautiful concrete way of celebrating the resurrection.

The tradition of placing flowers on the cross remained during our time there, and when we came to Mt. Bethel in 1988, Randy and the worship team (thank you Susan, Phyllis, and others) expanded on the idea and made it more spectacular each year. Now, almost every church around has picked up on the idea and crosses are alive every Easter.

This year, yet again, the church and individuals has found a way to keep that spectacular vision which symbolizes the resurrection alive. It just proves to me that not even COVID-19 can keep the resurrection, God’s church, or His people from rising to the occasion of Easter!

During the weeks to come, remember this quote, “My child, you can trust the Man who died for you. If you cannot trust Him, then whom can you trust?” Unknown author

Happy Easter!

I serve a risen savior, He‘s in the world today. I know that He is living whatever men may say. I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer; And just the time I need Him, He’s always near. He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today. He walks with me, and talks with me along life’s narrow way. He lives? He lives within my heart. He Lives by A.H. Ackley

(The picture is of our front yard cross. After seeing some beautifully crafted crosses in neighborhoods, we made our own from two limbs. Not the most spectacular, but still symbolic.)

Scars

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds (scars) you have been healed. I Peter 2:24

In early 1973 about 8 months after Randy and I married, a doctor found a lump on my thyroid gland. Testing was limited at that time, so the decision was made to surgically remove the nodule or part of the gland. It involved a hospital stay, and the whole situation had me very upset. The crowning blow; however, came when the doctor came in for a pre-op check and with a black marker drew a line all the way across my throat. He made the mistake of handing me a mirror so I could see where the incision was planned. I dissolved into tears, and it so unnerved him, that he apologized and tried to explain that the line was only so the scar would be straight!! (That was not helpful.)

My fear wasn’t the surgery itself (although that was scary), but rather my fear was the scar that was left behind. I kept thinking that scar would change my appearance, make a negative impact on my students, my co workers, my husband, and maybe even change me. Although the surgery would save me, was it worth the scar left behind?

Everyone of us have scars and stories of our scars. Sometimes our stories are filled with pain, sometimes they can be funny, sometimes prideful, sometimes sacrificial, or perhaps life changing. Nevertheless, each scar represents a wound whether physical or emotional.

As we remember the scars that Jesus had to show the disciples after his resurrection, I know that scars can be evidence of hope and grace. It was the scars on his hands, his feet, his sides that identified his sacrifice for each of us.

Jesus tells us through these scars that although the crown of thorns wasn’t the easy thing, it was the best thing. Although the cross wasn’t the easy way, it was the best way. Although grace doesn’t always do the easy thing, it always does the best thing.

Jesus took our suffering, shame, guilt and sins, and nailed all of it to the cross to kill it. He has the scars to prove it!

In this act of selflessness, He offers us courage to face the scars that we acquire during our life. We should take the courage.

He offers us a chance to obediently serve Him. We should take the offer and be obedient.

He offers us grace to meet each challenge. We should take His grace and meet every challenge.

On this Good Friday, may we all remember the scars of our lives and have the courage, obedience and grace to handle each one. The good news is that His scars are evidence of our salvation.

When I survey the wondrous cross, on which the Prince of Glory died; My richest gain, I count but loss; and pour contempt on all my pride. Forbid it Lord that I should boast, save in the death of Christ my God ; All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood. See from His head, His hands, His feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down! Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown? Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all. When I Survey the Wondrous Cross by Isaac Watts

Reserved

And when the hour had come, He sat down and the twelve apostles with Him. Luke 22:14

In July of 1972, Randy and I were married and began what is now, forty eight years together. Isn’t it amazing how two people from entirely different families can come together and thrive? I am from a family where planning was key in a vacation, trip, or short get away. We always had reservations either at a hotel, a campground, or a friend’s house. I learned that Randy was not of this same mind.

As we left that fateful July day on our honeymoon, I was so excited on many levels, but especially because I just knew Randy had reserved a special room for our honeymoon! As we entered Tallahassee and he seemed to be looking for the hotel, I asked excitedly, “Where are we staying?” Not missing a beat, he said, “Well, I think there’s a Ramada Inn here where my Dad used to stay on business, but I’m not sure.” I can’t even describe the “Say what?” feeling at that point, but as a new bride, I patiently said, “So, no reservations?” Randy just looked at me, smiled and said, “No, I think finding a place to stay is part of the adventure, don’t you?” We drove around to five hotels before a manager took pity on us and rented us a room! Who needs reservations?

That event was a precursor to our life. There were many road trips, vacations, and other events where we had no reservations, but Randy was right, in most cases, it was the adventure that made the memories.

As I began to think of the disciples on the night of The Last Supper, I realized that none of them had reservations at the Lord’s Table on that fateful night. They just came knowing that there were would be a place for them if Jesus was in charge. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. (Psalm 23:5)

It’s significant to me that the communion took place at a table much like a kitchen table is for us today. He introduced the bread and the wine as the symbols of His body and His blood as He invited each to “Take, Eat, in remembrance of Me.” They communed with Him, and then in the end, they deserted Him. The important thing here is that He knew they would desert Him, but He forgave them. Sometimes, we do the same thing, yet He forgives us.

There’s a reservation at Jesus’ table for all of us. Look who sat with Him at the table of Maundy Thursday. There was Peter who denied him, Judas who betrayed him, and the disciples who ran away on that night. If there is forgiveness for them around His table, then surely there is forgiveness for us. Take, Eat.

During this Holy Week, we need to remember that we have our reservation at the Lord’s Table and in His kingdom. All we have to do is accept it.

Fill my cup Lord, I lift it up, Lord; come and quench this thirsting of my soul; Bread of heaven feed me til I want no more; Fill my cup, Fill it up, and make me whole. Fill my Cup by Richard Blanchard

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters; He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yeah though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me. Thy rod and thy staff , they comfort me. Thou preparest a table for me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the House of the Lord forever. Psalm 23