Heart Ache

Sometimes I just ache.
I feel sad.
I wish that I didn't hurt other people's feelings.
I worry that I hurt other people's feelings.
I worry that I'm misunderstood.
I worry that I might seem mean or unkind when that's not my intention.
I worry that I'm too selfish.
I know that I am too selfish.
I worry that I know that and don't do enough to change it.

But comfort comes.
There is freedom to make things right.
I can ask forgiveness if I have caused offense.
I can move on.
I can take a risk of rejection and reach out in love.
I can live authentically and transparently so that if I am misunderstood or on those occasions when I really screwed it up big time, I can be approachable enough that people that really love me will confront me and help me make things right with them.

I can get my eyes off my self and do kind things for others.

Today I pray that my eyes will be open to opportunities...
to love
to serve
to reconcile
to pray
to be me and know that it's OK
There is always room to grow
And improve...

Isn't that what this journey called life is all about?

Feeling Thankful

Today is one of those great days.

I can almost feel people praying for me. Not that I am deserving but by God's grace, He has given me people in my life who pray for me. What a gift and privilege that is!

The freshly snow-capped mountains glisten against the blue sky. Mount Baker is clearly visible in all its glory today.

Just one of those days that makes my heart shout Hallelujah--thank You, God!

Jesus' Death- Luke 23:44-49 (NIV)

It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last.

The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, "Surely this was a righteous man." When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

This passage has been on my mind for weeks now.

The centurion praised God....he realized who Jesus truly was at that moment.

All the people gathered to witness the Crucifixion of Jesus grieved and left.

And those who knew him stood at a distance and watched.

It reminds me of when we learned about "tableaus" in school--you know, a scene that depicts the story, kind of a snapshot.

It seems ironic to imagine someone praising God at such a sad moment and yet the centurion realized Jesus truly as the King of the Jews..the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords.

Others were curious and present and sad but needed to step back. Understandable.

And those who knew him stood at a distance and watched.

Who can imagine the grief of Jesus' closest friends and family? Who can fathom the confusion and disappointment they experienced?

But thank God! He rose again. The stone was rolled away. The tomb was empty so that our lives can be full.

The glory of Easter. Jesus, my hope for Heaven!