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After Jesus arrived in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday did you ever wonder how he spent His week? What did He do until His crucifixion? On Monday He taught His disciples a parable about faith when He cursed a fig tree that did not produce fruit. Do you remember that one? They were hungry and saw a fig tree with many leaves. When they looked for the fruit, none could be found. It was barren. Many believe the tree being cursed represents God’s judgment on those that are spiritually dead. Jesus also went into the temple and cleared it out of the dishonest money changers. Jesus went through overturning tables and saying: “Scripture says ‘My Temple will be a house of prayer’, but you have turned it into a den of thieves.” He drove the money changers and their animals out of the temple.

What stayed with me about this is that Jesus stopped and braided a whip so that He could think about what He was going to do. He didn’t fly off the handle but took time to think about the situation. Maybe He prayed? Could you do this? I can’t tell you how many times I have flown off the handle in anger. Acted quickly without thinking things through. No so with Jesus. His righteous indignation toward what was happening in the temple was just. It needed to be done. How many times have I done things that didn’t need to be? I went off on my own without asking Abba to guide me.

Tuesday the disciples walked back by the fig tree. It was now withered and dead. Jesus used that to teach them about faith, true faith. A person or nation that does not produce fruit for God, do His work, will wither and die all the way down to its roots. The tree had leaves so by first sight it looked like it was producing. A closer look revealed no fruit. Then Jesus cursed it.

Are you producing fruit? Are you leading people to God? Helping them find salvation? Does the light of Jesus shine through you? Do you help others? Are you loving, kind, selfless, good, joyful, and have the fruits of the spirit? Don’t wither away. Grow tall and produce fruit. Increase in your faith. Flourish in your faith. You will be amazed at the things that will happen when you believe and have faith!

“Seeing a fig tree by the road, He went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then He said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.” Mt. 21:19

“Jesus replied, ‘Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” My. 21:21-22

“So He made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; He scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.” John 2:15

 

Yesterday was Palm Sunday. It celebrates the day Jesus triumphantly enters the city of Jerusalem. Also, it is one week before Easter. Here in Southern Indiana it was a beautiful day. The sun was shining, the blue sky had a few puffy white clouds, and the wind would have been perfect for a kite. The weather seemed to be celebrating, too.

Scripture tells us that Jesus rode into the city on a young donkey. The streets were lined with people who threw clothes and palms or small branches, in front of him as a sign of homage and respect. This was what people did for kings. They were treating Jesus like royalty. Using palm branches symbolized peace and victory. Jesus was coming in peace, triumphantly. The crowd of people shouted “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”
Can you imagine what it was like to be in that crowd? Jesus had come to save the lost, to secure their eternal life and salvation. He was the Messiah. Hearts must have been beating wildly at the anticipation of seeing him. Thoughts must have been running all over wondering what to do – stand, bow, wave, kneel. Tears surely filled many eyes. How amazing it must have been to see Jesus. He was the one that raised the dead back to life and healed the sick. He was the teacher everyone spoke of so highly. Jesus changed lives. Jesus was God’s Son. What would we have done in that crowd?

It makes me think of Heaven and what we will do when we see Jesus. Like the Mercy Me song:

I can only imagine what it will be like
When I walk, by Your side
I can only imagine what my eyes will see
When Your face is before me
I can only imagine, I can only imagine
Surrounded by Your glory
What will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus
Or in awe of You be still
Will I stand in Your presence
Or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah
Will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine, I can only imagine
I can only imagine when that day comes
When I find myself standing in the Son
I can only imagine when all I would do is forever
Forever worship You
I can only imagine, I can only imagine

What will you do? Can you imagine seeing Him face to face?

“The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branchesand went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel!” John 12:12-13

There is a saying that says nothing in this world is certain except death and taxes. I disagree, but that is beside the point. It is almost time for the tax deadline. So, what about the other one? Let’s talk about death. Are you still with me? Thinking about death makes many people very uncomfortable so talking about is even worse. I used to be terrified of death. No more.

My maternal grandmother was a great Christian woman. Standing about five feet tall, Mammaw was a giant in her faith. After Pappaw died, she lived with family, including ours. She always knew her family and read her Bible daily. Her physical heath had deteriorated and it was difficult for her to walk and care for herself. My Aunt Marilyn was the primary caregiver of Mammaw after that, since Mammaw needed daily help and assistance walking. Basically Mammaw spent her days in a recliner in the living room after getting settled in. One morning before dawn my aunt and uncle were awaken by talking. It was Mammaw. She wasn’t in bed but had somehow managed to go to the living room. Her Bible was in her lap, her arms were lifted high over her head, face looking up, smiling widely, and she was loudly saying “I’m coming. I’m coming!” She was so excited. Before my aunt reached her Mammaw collapsed back in her chair and had met Jesus. Wow. Doesn’t that give you goosebumps?

A similar thing happened to my oldest aunt, a different one. She was in a nursing home and needed assistance to stand and walk. As an aide walked by her room, she found Aunt Kathleen standing straight up, looking up smiling brightly, holding both arms up over her head. The aide stepped into the room as Aunt Kathleen crumbled to the floor. She too was with Jesus. Awesome.

Of all the family stories about Jesus, I think this is the most touching. Setting up my Christian bookstore was a family affair. Even my five year old niece helped. We were shelving cards and I asked her “which card is your favorite?” She took my question seriously. Hopping up she went up and down the aisle of cards slowly. I expected a card with puppies, a rainbow, or perhaps little cherubs. No, even at five my niece was much deeper than that. She brought me a blue card with clouds featuring Jesus in the center. Intrigued I asked her why she picked that. “Because, Aunt Sissy, that’s how my Jesus will look in Heaven waiting for me.” She simply said. Out of the mouths of babes! “My Jesus waiting for me.”

So true. My young niece gets death. At five years old she knows about Jesus, death, and Heaven. We should all remember that death is not the ending. It is to be embraced with arms opened wide. We should be smiling and excited. It shouldn’t be rushed. We all have our appointed time. Make sure you know and serve Jesus. You definitely want Jesus waiting for you in Heaven like my sweet young niece said. Do you think He is?

“Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling…..come home, come home, he who are weary come home……”

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 “So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”

Philippians 3:20 “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ”

 

Spring has come early in Southern Indiana arriving weeks ago. We have many trees in bloom. The dogwood is one of the most beautiful that we have. Either with white or pink blooms, these trees have the prettiest shapes. I love them. Don’t you?

There are many details about the crucifixion of Jesus. How He was beaten, stumbled and fell as He carried the cross, and was between two thieves are just some of the things the Bible tells. However, it does not tell us what type of wood the cross was made of that Jesus was nailed to and crucified. Legend and some Roman history states that the cross was made of dogwood.

Because of its firmness and strength it was chosen as the wood for the cross, but to be put to such a cruel use greatly sorrowed the tree. Knowing this, the crucified Christ in His gentle pity for the distress and suffering of all said to the tree: “Because of your sorrow and pity for My sufferings, never again will the dogwood tree grow large enough to be used as a gibbet. Henceforth it will be slender, bent and twisted and its blossoms will be in the form of a cross — two long and two short petals. In the center of the outer edge of each petal there will be nail prints — brown with rust and stained with red — and in the center of the flower will be a crown of thorns, and all who see this will remember My crucifixion.”

This is yet another sign in nature to remind us of the great love and gift from Jesus. I don’t know about the legend but that aside, the flowers have four petals that form a cross. Each petal looks like it has a nail print stained with blood. The center of every blossom looks like a crown of thorns. All of this is a lovely reminder of God’s wondrous love and Jesus sacrifice for our eternal life. Abba has left reminders all around. We just need to open our eyes and hearts.  We need to keep remembering.

“They wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head, and they placed a reed stick in his right hand as a scepter. Then they knelt before him in mockery and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!”
Matt. 27:29 NLT

“…He went out to a place called The Skull. In the Aramaic language it was called Golgotha. There they nailed Jesus to the cross…”. John 19:17-18 NIRV

I love flowers. Grown in pots, in the ground, cut and placed in vases, they are all beautiful to me. At Easter churches often have lilies given in honor or memory of loved ones. Their unique scent fills the sanctuary and their beauty puts smiles on faces. Do you know why white lilies are called Easter Lilies? No? Let me share their tale with you.

The plant grows from a bulb, which symbolizes the tomb Jesus was placed in after his crucification. These bulbs are planted in the ground the cool of Autumn. They seem to miraculously come to life after having survived the dead of winter. The lush green stalk grows tall and blooms form. The blooms are white, the color of purity, and shaped like the angel Gabriel’s horn, which represents the resurrection or coming of the Lord. Gabriel is the herald of good news.

These sweet smelling, fragrant flowers represent life and hope, new birth after death, victory, and all good things. Our Heavenly Father has left us another message. This time in a flower. There is life after death. We have hope. Jesus is pure, holy, and our sweet, Divine Savior. While we already know this, Jehovah doesn’t want us to lose sight of it, especially on Easter.

Next time you look at an Easter Lily, think of your Heavenly Father and His message to you. He cares enough about each of us to leave subtle reminders all around nature about the birth and resurrection of His only Son and our Savior, Jesus. More love letters from Abba to us. Don’t you feel the joy and hope? Don’t you feel loved? I do.

John 11:25-26 “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the l ife. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

Everyone has a different way of seeing things. My perspective is not the same as anyone else for multiple reasons. One of the main reasons is thatq I am short, very short. All my life I have had to look up when speaking to people. I have to tiptoe to reach thing and sometimes to touch the floor when sitting in a chair. My car seat needs to be all the way up so that I can reach the pedals. Yep, I am short.

My sweet hubby, Den, is a little over a foot taller than I am. He has the opposite issues. Over the years he has learned to scrunch down so that in pictures he looks closer to my five feet than his six plus. The difference in our height comes in handy when we are looking for something we’ve lost or for me when I cannot reach something. If we are mushroom hunting we both have very different views even if he is crawling around. That man loves morels! What he sees and what I see are two different views of the same woods. Together we work well and usually find some of those little delicacies.

Den never realized what my eyes took in on a daily until during a slightly heated conversation I grabbed him by the ear and yanked his eyes level with mine. “There, that is what I see.” I bluntly stated. “I cannot see over the railing.” His response was “Wow. I had no idea you were so short.” Really? After all these years together he was just noticing. I was speechless. Later he went on to explain that to him I would always be as tall as he was. His equal. To him, my husband says, I am the love of his life, his other half, better half, the woman that raised his children. Actually he said, he saw me as ten feet tall. Now who was saying “wow”? I was and adding a lot more. My husband humbled me. He saw me as much more than a five foot short woman, like I saw myself.

It is hard to see anything from someone else’s perspective. Maybe we need to try harder to see what the person is like on the inside and not just the outside packaging.
Jesus does that. He looks at our heart not our height. Jesus is more interested in if we are loving and helping people than if we are using a ladder to reach something or stooping down in pictures. He is interested in the real person.

What about you? Do you see people on how they look or act? Do you just see scruffy hair, dirty clothes, or their size? Do you see a short person or maybe someone that is tall in their church or community. We need to look through eyes like Jesus. We need to look with eyes of love.

“Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.” John 7:24 NIV

Heaven Help Us was the perfect name for our bookstore. The things that happened there often made us want to say that. Sometimes in a laughing way and other times in a prayer. We had been opened less than six months when a senior citizen came in for a Bible. I took him back to that section and began to help him.

The man perused the different types and translations. All of a sudden he squinted his eyes, frowned, pointed at me and said “I have some friends from church that wouldn’t think twice about burning your store down and these heretical bibles with it. You just need the 1611. What do you say to that?!”

I said what I normally did in a crisis…….”Dad!!!”

Fortunately Dad was at the store and up front.  When he came to the Bible section I asked the man to repeat what he had said to me. He did. I was so fired up, and Dad could see it in my eyes. He caught my eye and discretely shook his head.  What?!   I was prepared to jump in with Dad. This “Christian” had come in to our store to buy a Bible and threatened to have friends burn it and all of the Bibles except the King James Versions. What kind of Christian does that? Did he realize what Jesus would say?  Did he realize what I had to say?!

Dad’s reply as a simple “Well, sir, I certainly hope they don’t.” Dad patted the man on the shoulder and told him that I would take good care of him and “hope you have a good one.”

Well, that wasn’t what I expected nor the man. He expected confrontation. He expected to be disrespected not treated cordially. He expected Dad to go Old Testament on him, an eye for an eye.  Nope.  Dad went the other way.  He went New Testament and turned the other cheek.  Dad treated him like a friend. He showed the love of Jesus to a man that came into the store to argue, intimidate, and fight. Dad immediately forgave the man and taught me to do the same.  I could feel Jesus among us.  There was an instant calming and peace.

The transformation in that customer was phenomenal. He decided on a Bible, a plain black, King James Version with Christ’s words in red. No bells or whistles.  Just a plain Bible.  He bought mints at the check out, too. As he left he told me to “have a nice rest of your day and say the same to your father.”

If I had spewed the words of hatred or admonition that I wanted, this encounter would have ended very differently. Very badly. Dad was the calm voice of reason.  The unconditional love of Jesus ebbed from him to the customer.  Being nice always has its benefits even if you are being offended. Try it next time and see what the results are for you.

“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
Proverbs 15:1