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In 2004 there was a movie about Jesus’ crucifixion that was produced by Mel Gibson called “The Passion”. It was a very emotional movie and depicted the brutal treatment our Lord and Savior endured for us. I cried when I saw it and for many months after when I took communion. I know what the Bible says about how Jesus was beaten, whipped, had a crown of thorns, and was nailed to the cross. To have this acted out graphically was heart-wrenching. Jesus loved us so much He endured the unthinkable.

The movie theatre was five minutes from the Christian Bookstore that I owned with my parents. It was a Saturday night when a young woman came in. She had jet black hair, clothes, tights, nails, lips, and eye make up with chains going everywhere. Everything was black, leather or chains. I had never seen so many piercings. My daughter later told me it was called “gothic”. Needless to say she was not my typical customer.

The girl crashed through the door and breathlessly stated “I just saw the movie and need a book on Jesus!” My mind whirled. I asked if she wanted “More than a Carpenter” or “Case for Christ”. “No. Not it. That’s not it either.” She answered, “No, lady, I don’t know what it’s called but everybody has one.” Now, I understood, “Ohh, Max Lucado’s ‘And the Angels were Silent.’ Great book and a best seller!” I handed it to her and she really started getting upset with me. “Look, lady, I don’t know the name of this book, but they use them in all of the churches.” Goosebumps. I understood now. “Do you want a Bible?”

She grabbed my arms and shook me. “Yes, yes! That’s the name of it. Do you have one?” Certainly, I replied before turning and requesting help from my Dad. This young woman only wanted one book. We needed to teach her how to read and use a Bible taking the word “book” out of our explanation. Not so easy.

Dad asked her name, Heather. We prayed with her and her Bible. Dad told her to get involved in a church with young adults her age, and he reminded her to read her Bible starting with the book of John. Wrong thing to say. “But I only want one book sir, not 66.” So we tried another explanation and it worked. Heather thanked us over and over. Dad told her not to be a stranger here. Leaving with her new purple Bible and mascara tear stains on her cheeks, she left waving goodbye and smiling brightly.

Three months later a cute brunette came in asked to see me and Dad. She was dressed in a stylish but modest summer dress and had very little make up. When she asked if we knew her we were stumped. It was Heather all cleaned up and wholesome. She had been baptized, accepted Jesus, and never missed church. It brought happy tears to our eyes. She even volunteered with the youth group.

Being raised in a Christian home I was surprised to see someone in a small town in Indiana that did not have a Bible let alone know its name. How fortunate I am. How blessed. Growing up did you have a Bible in your home? Think of the others out there like Heather that haven’t seen the movie or been moved to “buy a book on Jesus”. They need our help. We need to spread the Word and God’s love. Heather was passionate for Jesus. Let’s make sure we are.
“And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.’”
Mark 16:15 NKJV

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16 KJV

St. Patrick’s Day is March 17th. Do you celebrate? Are you Irish? Maybe you are a teeny, little percent Irish that is just enough to wear green and celebrate this holiday. Maybe not and you celebrate anyway. What began as an Irish holiday has now become a day to celebrate the Irish culture, whether or not you are Irish. At the very least a day to wear green or some same it gives others free reign to pinch you.

Supposedly it all began with a Scottish man believed to be named Maewyn Succat. He was a Christian missionary in the 400’s in Ireland. His story or legend is fascinating and I would recommend you google him. After becoming a priest he took the name Patrick. His ministry according to some lasted forty years. During that time he converted over 135,000 people to Christianity. He used the three leaf clover to teach about the Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. St. Patrick started around 300 churches. It is not known if he was born or died on March 17, but it was one and that’s why St. Patrick’s Day is on that date. Green symbolizes Spring and Irish, which is associated with that date.

When my kids were home I would celebrate all holidays, making heart shaped cakes for Valentines Day and decorating the house for Easter. St. Patrick’s Day was no exception. Not only did I wear green, I fixed Irish food for supper. I also dyed the milk green. Yes, that’s right, our pure white milk now looked like grass soup. One year my teenage son asked how I got the milk green every year. Without missing a beat I told him it was by soaking lima beans in it. Neither he nor his younger sister liked limas. His big gulp of milk was promptly spewed all over me and my kitchen. What a mess. See, I missed the point of St. Patrick’s Day (and lied because I used food coloring). It isn’t about having things green and being Irish. It is about celebrating the vast number of Druids, a pagan religion, that were saved. Thousands were Christians because of St. Patrick. That, my friend, is cause to celebrate.

“I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”
Luke 15:7. NIV

Valentines Day has come and gone.  Long Gone.  Presents have been given to the grandboys.  They live just a little closer to us.  The twin grandgirls live a bit farther and are super busy being in middle school, active in sports, music, and social butterflies.  Their gifts are awaiting them on the Hoosier cabinet.  It doesn’t matter when, they are for M&M.

What is Grace?  The dictionary says it is the “free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessing”.  It is something that’s free and not earned.  God’s grace of salvation is a Gift.  Like an Easter or Christmas gift.  Parents or grandparents buy gifts days or weeks ahead and wrap them up.  Then they wait, like with the Valentine gifts.  The gifts are there whenever the children choose to receive them.  They didn’t do anything to earn them.  These are gifts, plain and simple.

Salvation is like that in a way.  It is God’s gift to us.  Jesus is the gift.  The sacrificial Lamb that died on the cross so that our sins would become His sins.  He paid the price himself.  The Bible explains that you cannot earn salvation.  You do not receive it by good works or deeds.  There isn’t anything you have to do or be to obtain it.  It comes from accepting and believing Jesus Christ is God’s son and that He died for you and me to have life eternal. He was resurrected and ascended into Heaven.  That’s all there is to it.  Just accept and believe.  After accepting Jesus you will want to be a better person.  The Holy Spirit will live inside you and help.  You desire to read His Word and study it.  The Bible will be His letter, His love letter, to you.  Slowly you will notice yourself changing for the better.  Your future looks better, happier, full of hope.

Grace isn’t just for us to receive from God.  We need to show grace to others.  Share grace.  Think about when you become testy in traffic when someone cuts you off.  Show grace.  Don’t yell, honk your horn or make gestures.  Show grace.  Hubby forget to put the ice cream back in the freezer and it made a big mess melting everywhere?  You’ve got it.  Show grace.  Shouldn’t he get grace from the love of his life?   How about the slowest check out person in the store just switched to your lane.  Show grace.  We have no idea what a difference Grace would make in their life.  Think before reacting.  Spread some grace and watch what happens.  There will be less stress and more Jesus in your life.

” For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.”  Eph. 2: 8-9 NIV

What is in a name? Does a name mean anything? Certainly. My name is Nyla Kay Wilkerson. Nyla means Princess or Champion. Kay means Rejoice. Growing up I didn’t like my name because I could never find anything personalized. No hair barretts, necklaces, or ornaments had my name on them. As I aged, I decided my name wasn’t so bad and now that I read its meaning, I especially love it. Thanks, Mom!

My mother calls me Nyla Kay. (Double names are another Southern thing). My hubby calls me the usual endearments of hon, honey, little lady, baby, or my favorite – wife of many years. He also calls me Katie as do many friends and family. My daughter calls me Mom. Some friends and family call me NK or Nyla. My granddaughters call me Gram while the grandboys call me Nina. My sister calls me Sissy and her kids call me Aunt Sis. My husband’s nieces and nephew call me Aunt Katie. My (step)brother’s kids call me Aunt Nyla Kay. Neighborhood kids called me Aunt Wilkerson. People that do not know me address me as Mrs. Wilkerson. One of my best friends call me SIC (Sister In Christ) and PWP (Prayer Warrior Partner). Our relationship is Christ centered. The best kind of relationship. Wouldn’t you think one name would be enough?  No.  I answer to many different names for many different reasons. I am a daughter, wife, mother, friend, cousin, niece, grandmother, sister, aunt, neighbor, Sister in Christ, and Prayer Warrior Partner. Most important, I am a child of God and called His Prayer Warrior Princess.

God has many names for many reasons, too. Do you know any? Here are a few:

He is Abba – our Father
Jehovah or Yahweh – our Lord God
Jehovah Rapha – the Lord Who Heals
Jehovah Jireh – the Lord Who Provides
Elohim – God of Power and Might
Adonai – Lord, Master
El Elyon – The Most High God
El Shadda – The Lord God Almighty
El Olam – The Everlasting God

So does Jesus. He is:

Emmanuel – God with us
Redeemer – our Deliverer
Lamb of God – Sacrifice for our sins
The Way, The Truth, and The Life – the Only Way to God
The Word – Who defined, explained, and expressed God to us
Christ – the Anointed One
Savior – One who saves us from eternal death
Alpha and Omega -the Beginning and the End
Lord – God or Master

What about you? Do you have more than one name like I do? Like God doe or Jesus?  I am only one person, but many names define me. The same with Him. He has many more than I listed, too. Are you Thomas, Tom, Tommy or T? Or maybe Suzanne, Suzie, Sue, Aunt S, Mom, and Mammaw? Among your list of names do you include child of God? Don’t you want to be the child of a Father that Heals, Provides, is Powerful, Mighty, Most High, Everlasting, and so much more?   I’m glad I am.

“But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God” 1 John 12

“Therefore, God elevated Him to the place of highest honor and gave Him the name above all other names,” Phil. 2:9

I have heard that when we pray God says yes, no, or wait. The Bible says to pray without ceasing. Pray that things will be done according to God’s will and not ours. I can’t remember not praying. Even as a young child my Mother knelt beside me at night and prayed “Now I lay me down to sleep…..”

My family consists of three branches: my Mother, my Daddy, and my Dad. You see, when I was twelve my life changed in the blink of an eye. We’d had a great family weekend. Daddy’s parents had come in from Lexington to spend time with us. I remember them playing game after game of Canasta and talking nonstop. My Grandmother waved goodbye with tears in her eyes. Me, too. I hated to see them go.

Then came Monday. My parents were at work. Mammaw lived with us and was beginning to cook dinner in the afternoon when Daddy’s boss and secretary brought him home. A few minutes later he had a fatal heart attack on our couch in front of me.  As the ambulance sped by I ran down the street trying to get their attention. I did.  Just as they were putting Daddy, covered with a sheet, in the ambulance my sweet Mother was dropped off from work.  Wow. Can you imagine?  She is an amazing woman. So strong in all ways, especially her faith. The quintessential Proverbs 31 woman.

While my family all prayed for God to heal Daddy, He had other plans for him. He also had other plans for us. Mother remained strong in her faith, never missing church and making sure we went, too.  Over a decade later she met and married Dad. He is one of our greatest gifts from Abba. Dad is a loving, strong, Christian man. A leader in the community and church, he is a retired mathematics teacher and college instructor as well as the official grandchildren tutor.  Playing high school basketball earned him a scholarship to LSU  and a place at the NCAA finals where his Tigers were beaten by the Hoosiers! His gruffness comes from being retired military but don’t let that fool you.  Dad’s a big old soft teddy bear.  He is a sweetheart.

He loves my sister and me abundantly and has taken the word “step” out of our vocabulary. The love he has for my dear Mother shines through his eyes as he gazes upon her, and that love is returned, too.  Not only does he speak words of love, but his actions show it. He has taken care of us longer now than Daddy. Dad is generous, funny, conservative, and not soft spoken. He has a heart of gold and always speaks the truth. We love him. As an added bonus he brought with him a huge, loving Christian family that immediately adopted us.  Not to mention his son and daughter so now I have many nieces and nephews, too.

It is hard when we pray and God says no. Really hard. Especially when it comes to health, life, and death we want God to say yes. Most people, me included, have a tendency to think we know better. How crazy is that? God is supreme. He has plans for us and they are always good. He will make something good out of a tragedy. He doesn’t make the tragedy but will use it. Keep praying even if His answer is no. Pray for God’s will to be done. That’s what Jesus did. Trust Abba. Something good is coming. It may take just a day or perhaps a decade, but pray for God’s Will. Things will get better.  Have faith.

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.”
Luke 22:42 NIV

Spring has come early in Southern Indiana. My jonquils are blooming. Dogwood trees and Bradford pears are in beautiful bloom. It is early March. Early March! Already the animals and birds are scurrying around and loving the sunny days. As I watched out my kitchen window I saw a majestic pair of red tail hawks. They were gliding and sailing so effortlessly across the sky almost weaving in a dance together in and out. It was so graceful. Obviously they we courting. One bird landed on the highest branch in the tallest Sycamore tree by our creek. After a minute the mate, I’m guessing the male, flew down and bopped her on the top of her head nearly toppling her out of the tree. Okay, maybe they weren’t courting. She flapped her wings and shrieked at him. He didn’t want to argue so he left. Back she went to her regal perch and fluffed her ruffled feathers.

Back to my dishes I kept an eye on her, and bingo, her repentant mate was back. Bearing a gift.  Smart man.  I thankfully couldn’t see from the window what poor creature was being ripped apart and lovingly fed to the Queen hawk that a minute ago was a pecking board. She graciously accepted and they cuddled and sat close like two teenagers at the movies.  True love.  It wasn’t long before something happened, and she was back to shrieking and flapping her wings. He flew off again. Later in the day I spotted them gliding over my yard on the way to their tree.

Forgiveness. It goes both ways. Who is to bless or blame? The rowdy male or hurt female? Had she not forgiven him for knocking her out of the tree and playing tough the story would have a different ending. He would come back and maybe she would be gone. Maybe she would chase him off again. Forgiveness. Had he not forgiven her over reaction and tantrum that would have been the end of the story. Maybe he would have kept flying. Forgiveness happened more than once in the same day for them.  They were both blessed and no one was to blame.  They were forgiven.

Forgiven is for both people in a situation. It frees each party and in most cases both share the blame.  After forgiveness, both are blessed.  Are you holding back from forgiving someone? Has it been so long that you don’t even know why now? What is more important? Holding that bitterness or pleasing God. We are humans, flawed and prone to make mistakes. It is more than unfortunate when a mistake or word causes hurt feelings. Even worse is when they fester into an unforgivable grudge. It’s like leaving a splinter into your toe for days rather than getting it out right away. Pretty soon it has gotten bigger, messier, and hurts a lot more. Forgiveness helps you, too.  Do you want to be blessed or blamed or forgiven?

“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:14-15 NIV