Follow Me

It's sure a clear word in our reading today (John 21:16-25). And from the Lover of our souls at that. He says it once, then twice, then we remember that it was the word that started off this whole journey with His friends (John 1:43). 

The word is "Follow Me". And even though we read it and hear it, we are like Peter and say, "Lord, and what about......".   I believe Jesus has the same response now as then. He wants us to stop worrying about this or that or them. He repeats, "You follow Me!"

Isn't this a perfect way to wrap up in John or begin our life adventure with our Lord?  We heard yesterday that we've been reading these words "so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name."

Yes Lord. We want this life in you, following after you. We look to you for help.

Come and Have Breakfast!

What a neat story we have in the reading today (John 20:30- 21:15). Peter has had enough and says, "I'm going out to fish." And the other friends go along. But their night long efforts meet with nothing but disappointment. Jesus comes on the scene at dawn and calls from the shore to try the other side for a catch. Can you imagine their surprise as the catch is so big they can't budge it? Then probably it's John who declares, "It is the Lord." Good old Peter jumps in to swim as the others drag that enormous catch (153 big ones) to the shore. Jesus then says to bring some of the fish and "Come and have breakfast."

How we can delight in Jesus' gracious provision! And He wants them to come and just share a meal with Him. He has some important things to say,  especially to that impetuous Peter.

There is so much we can enjoy about this story (like did someone stop and count all those fish or did Jesus say with a wink to His excited friends, "Yeah there is 153 of them"). But the word that I appreciate is Jesus' call to "Come and have breakfast". He loves to spend time with His friends.

Lord help us enjoy spending time with You today.

Love Story

Have you ever in your life seen a better love story than that in our reading (John 20:11-29) today? Devastated Mary is crying outside the tomb. It is so heart wrenching that people keep asking her why she's crying. However, the second person that asks is her lost love, and when He says her name, she knows.

Doesn't this thrill you? Doesn't it give a glimpse of Him saying your name one day?

But Jesus goes on to give Mary a mission - to tell the others. Wouldn't you have relished seeing her announce to the guys, "I have seen the Lord!"?  I'm not sure how much they believed because they are still in locked door hiding when Jesus drops in for their personal experience that night. After showing them wounds and scars, they did believe and rejoiced - except for missing Thomas. He got his own revelation a week later. His response was, "My Lord and my God!"

However, this love story seems to end with an appeal to us who were also missing at those first disclosures. Jesus says, "Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing." (The Message)

Ladies, that is you and me!

Lord, help us to believe and revel in Your love story for us.

Mary's Love

I like to hope that my love for Jesus will grow to be something like Mary Magdalene's as seen in our reading today (John 19:31-20:10). Did you notice that at the first chance she is trying to get back close to Him? No darkness, agony (she was by the cross), death or huge impossible stone could get in her way. And when she discovered that He wasn't there, she ran to the friends most upset that they could not find Jesus.

Maybe having seven demons cast out of you ends up looking like total devotion. However I'm thinking that knowing Him and His grace to free us from an entire life of captivity to the Liar is enough to motivate great love.

Can you wait until tomorrow to read how this kind of love is rewarded? I can promise you that it is going to be good!

It is Finished!

Today in our reading (John 19:17-30) we have the privilege of considering the masterpiece of Jesus as a man. It is painted with bloody gruesome colors, but it is glazed with love so amazing that weeks of meditation could not assimilate the beauty.  As women we melt to hear Jesus' final, painfully uttered care for His mother: "When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple He loved standing there, He said to His mother, 'Woman, here is your son.' Then He said to the disciple, 'Here is your mother.' "

As children of the Father, we are touched by Jesus' attention to every detail of prophecy and also His childlike, very human request, "I am thirsty". 

But the last triumphant cry frames the whole picture in gold: "It is finished"! 

Yes, yes, yes - it is done, completed, sealed forever - the gift of salvation to all. As Jesus gave His life (you notice nothing or no one took it but He gave of His own will), He bestowed on us the offer of life with Him forever. The rest of the work, raising up the masterpiece, would be thrillingly completed by the Father in a couple of days.  

So let us today stand amazed  at this wonderfully finished work of our Savior.

A Time to be Silent

Oh my!  Can you bear to look at the reading today (John 19:1-16)? We have walked right into the fulfillment of Isaiah 53:3: "Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem." The first sentence of John 19 graphically sets the scene as Our Lord is scourged bloody, then pierced with thorns and mockery, and even repeatedly slapped on His precious face.

So how do we "Behold the Man!" as Pilate urged? I submit to you that we do it with wonder. We do it in awe. Jesus is truly being revealed as "the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world." (Revelation 13:8)

In this reading we have the privilege of understanding more of God's amazing love for us as the prophecies are being fulfilled blow by blow. " He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth." (Isaiah 13:7) Jesus says only one sentence in this whole reading and that was to let Pilate and us know Who is really in charge.

The Father is allowing the unthinkable, and it is happening for me and for you. It is time for us all to be silent - lost in wonder and awe.

The King

The Creator of the Universe is led like a shackled dog in today's reading (John 18: 28-40) into the presence of the next interrogator, Pilate. So Pilate asks the question, "Are you the king of the Jews?"  What is Jesus to say? Our magnificent Savior in His own gentle way tries to explain to this ruler that He doesn't even have the question right. Along with some good logic, He describes His kingdom as different - really quite unique. 

I can't help but think what I might be saying in this "your life is on the line situation". I'm thinking it would probably be something that sounds good - something like a good defense. Something that would impress Pilate and help him see that the other guys are clearly at fault.

So why is Jesus off talking about this other worldly kingdom? Maybe one answer is in verse 37. Jesus says, "In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth."

The truth is Jesus is King. If it doesn't look so good in today's reading, skip over to Revelation 19 etc. to find out some of the rest of the story. And our King is coming in unimaginable glory one great day. So if we get in a place today where lies abound and Jesus doesn't look so good. Let's remember the truth: "Your eyes will see the King in His beauty; they will behold a far distant land." Isaiah 33:17

The Rock

What to say!  In our reading today (John 18:12-27) everything is falling apart. Desertions abound, denials triple, the Lord of Creation is tied up like a criminal, and the good friend huddles by a fire thinking of self-preservation. In this disaster fear is toppling the most committed and hatred seems to rule. But in the middle of this storm of evil is a Rock - immoveable, unshakeable, so full of grace and peace that His captors really don't know what to do with Him.

It began in the garden when the soldiers and officers confronted Him, He said His name, and they fell flat. Now the head religious guy is wanting answers, and Jesus calmly suggests a better method of securing truth. The nearby officer blows up and hits Jesus. Jesus' response is so pure and grace-filled that it seems childlike: "If I have spoken wrongly," Jesus answered him, "give evidence about the wrong; but if rightly, why do you hit Me?"  Then it becomes clear that Jesus' captors really don't know what to do with Him and so begin a train of shuffling Him back and forth among rulers until one finally hands Him over to the mob's demands.

As this serene, fearless, full of grace Man moves through the most unthinkable travesty that will ever be, He gives us a place, a person that we can cling to, stand on, no matter what happens to us.

Jesus is the rock.
Lord help us remember.

The Family of One

Can you believe what Jesus does at the end of this most intimate and final long prayer to His Father (John 17:20 - !8:11)?  He prays for you and me: "My prayer is not for them alone (the disciples around Him). I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message".

We must hear what His last prayer on earth for us is about. "That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you." Do you get these words? He is asking that we put away our petty feuds and divisions and become as one as He and the Father are one! Wow!

I believe we do see that in disasters and great needs. All parts of His body come together to help the hurting in urgent times and the labels are subordinate. And the great goal Jesus says is that " the world may believe that You have sent Me."

So, Lord, we agree. Help us as believers to become one and perfectly united as You and the Father are. Then we will be the family that outsiders find attractive and believable.

Want Life?

Oh, tiptoe gratefully into the reading today (John 17: 1-19). It is the most intimate crown of conversation between the Son and His Father and reveals Their whole purpose in this "loving Ouida or your name" project. Jesus begins what is truly "the Lord's prayer" by saying, "Father, it's time." (The Message). I am hearing, "Listen up. This is it!"

Characteristic of our Lord is His desire that the Father be glorified and honored in what is coming. Then He says that this "loving us" project was so that He could give the big gift: "For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him."

The great thing is that He goes on to spell out clearly what the big gift is. "Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." In other words, "[it means] to know (to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with, and understand) You, the only true and real God, and [likewise] to know Him, Jesus [as the] Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), Whom You have sent." (Amplified Bible)

Ladies, this is living - real life because to know Christ is to love Him. I'm hoping that our readings through these gospels has just fanned the flame of your desire to know Him better. Let us press on toward that goal. (Philippians 3:14)

A New Address

What a journey we go on in the reading today (John 16:16-33). Jesus' friends are confused, frustrated, warned, encouraged, faith filled, warned again, and finally given that life sustaining address for peace. And it is a short address - two little words - "in Me".

In fact Jesus says that all this talk has been so that they could get to this new place: "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace." And what a wonderful experience we can enjoy at this new place:  "you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I've conquered the world." (The Message)

So the key seems to be to stay at "in Me", continuing to look to, be at home with and trust in Jesus. After all He did win and can take care of anything out there.

So let's stop running out to fix all those difficulties ourselves. Come back to "in Me", get His agenda, work with His grace and power, and enjoy deep deep peace.

A New Name

I was happy to get a new identity this morning. All this time we've been calling Jesus' disciples around Him friends, but in our reading today (John 15:10-16:15), that is what He calls us! The deal is that as we seek to do what He tells us, we stick close to Him like those around Him. "If you keep my commands, you'll remain intimately at home in my love." (The Message)

The great thing about being Jesus' friend is that He reveals to His friends secrets from the Father that not everybody knows. "I've named you friends because I've let you in on everything I've heard from the Father." (The Message)  There are really a lot of awesome things to learn in the kingdom of God. I think we just might be getting to the bottom of page one. The best is yet to come.

Also friends have a special bond and look forward to getting together and enjoying each other. They really delight in hearing from each other. How great is it to have a Friend named Jesus!

At Home in the Vine

Jesus is all into fruit. And who does not like the yummy strawberries and pineapple available now. But the kind He likes is mentioned in our reading today (John 15:1-17 -  I got a little ahead of the real schedule). Verse nine mentions love and verse eleven describes delightful joy (can you imagine complete joy?).

So how do we have this wonderful fruit - filled life? It's obvious that we have got to stay connected to, remain with, live in, be at home in the Vine - our precious Lord. He is the source of all wisdom, motivation, grace, inspiration and help needed to be faithful fruit producers. I noticed that even when the Gardener (the Father) takes away or prunes a branch, the rest of the vine (including Jesus) must feel it. We are all connected.

Fruit bearing is our purpose. Jesus said, ' You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last..."

Lord, help us to live in You and bear delicious fruit.

Love you,

Ouida

P.S. I have been about to pop writing this because we just got a text that Michael and Sarah's new little one, Kate Elizabeth, was born this morning at 2:00 A.M.!! All seems to be doing well.

Talk about wonderful fruit!

Help, Please

It is still Christmas. We can hear in the reading today (John 14:15-31) that Jesus is continuing to affirm that He is coming back to get us, that He has more promise - gifts for us, and that He is sending Help.  " I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;  that is the Spirit of truth". This Helper will be our valuable aid in living out the promise - gifts from our Lord. Jesus said, " He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you."

I don't know about you, but this "bring to remembrance" part is a wonderful relief. As we look to Jesus we can trust that He will remind of us of His truth through His Holy Spirit.

But, of course we need to want His Help and can even ask for Him. Jesus said, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?" (Luke 11:12-14)

Help, please.

The Believing Key

Jesus is trying to help His friends in today's reading (John 13:36-14:14). He is going to be leaving (with a pretty horrendous exit), and He knows it is going to be hard for them. Especially Peter is right now wanting to go with Him, even to death. So Jesus says, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me." Right there He gives them the key to walking through this awe-full door of change for them. Believing - faith.

And He tries to encourage their faith by telling them that He is going on to get some of the many rooms at His Father's place ready for them. Then He will come and get them, and they can then stay with Him ("that you also may be where I am"). My what good news!   But the key is believing.

However, Jesus is not through. We are not being left here to twiddle our thumbs while He is away. At the end of the reading, we hear the great announcement.  Drum roll......

"Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."

Wow, have you ever gotten a blank check like that before? And for greater works than Jesus did!  Ladies, we are not left here for a ho-hum, wait it out existence. Let's pick up our believing key that will enable us to walk through doors that no one can open - but Jesus.

Jesus, thank you that You are the key.

Who Am I?

Who do you think you are? I think of myself as Gerry's wife, the mother of many, a cook, sometimes cleaning woman, etc. etc. However, today we are so honored to get a glimpse of who John thinks he is. It is right in the middle of our reading (John 13:12-35), in amongst the dreadful news pouring out about the coming betrayal.

The friends are quite at a loss to understand this betrayal idea and ask the probably youngest guy who is leaning against Jesus to find out who He's talking about. If we are not careful we might skip over John's intimate revelation: "One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him."

What difference would it make for me to think of myself as the one who Jesus loves? "It doesn't really matter about anyone else. I know that I am the one He loves." It seemed to make all the difference to John. He felt so close and accepted that he was actually "leaning back against Jesus". Head on His shoulder or however you can picture it.

It seems like knowing - really knowing - that I am the loved one would put a spring in my step, color my day with rainbows, and start a symphony of praise that doesn't stop.

Lord, thank you that each of us are "the one" that you love. Help us to know it.

Love Washes

What would you be doing tonight if you knew it was your last one on this earth? I imagine that I might be going around trying to make sure those close knew that I loved them, probably with tears. I can't forget my almost 97 year old Daddy turning his sky blue eyes to me whenever we would leave and saying, "Remember, I love you."

In our reading today (John 12:44-13:11), Jesus knew that His "hour had come". He may have had some of those "this is it" thoughts. "Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end." But what He does reveals He is ever the Master Teacher, wonderful communicator, and Love in flesh. He takes off His robe, puts on a towel and begins to wash His friends' feet. It is so touching and humbling to have the Creator of the universe and your friend cleaning your crusty brown, grime imbedded, life damaged feet, that Peter first says, No!"

But Jesus' word to him is the same to all of us: "Unless I wash you, you can't share life with me."

Oh Lord, come and wash. We do want life with you!

Love Talk

Walk into the reading today (John 12:27-43) quietly because we are getting a glimpse of the intimate relationship between this Son and His Father. Here Jesus is becoming troubled about the awe-full work He is about to do. Instead of crying out to the Father for help and covering every fear and possibility (can I get out of it?) with prayer like I would have done, He ends up saying simply, "Father, glorify your name!"

Do you see that in the greatest trial of His life, He is not centered on "Me" but His wonder-full Father?  Man, this is love. This is how Love talks and is so beautiful and powerful that the Father couldn't keep quiet. He actually replied back from the throne in something like thunder. I think we could safely say He was pleased - very pleased with His precious son - again.

But, wait a minute. Jesus answers, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine." Does that mean that He wants the people there and us to believe and learn how to love talk? Can we learn how to desire that God be honored - no matter what? Evidently we can because the word is there and here for us.

Lord, thank you for Your beautiful examples and lessons on love. May You be honored in how I speak and act today.

Path to Real Honor

 The battle is on in our reading today (John 12:9-26). The crowd is beside themselves hearing about the new superhero who is raising the dead. The parade as He comes into town reminds me of those old newsreels of ticker-tape and cheers welcoming the hero to be honored. Of course this one has palm branches, and what is that He is riding on? Oh well, a donkey might not be Cadillac convertible, but Jesus always does things different. It is quite a great parade with the truth being shouted, "Hosanna!  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!  Blessed is the king of Israel!"

But then there is the other side. The Pharisees or "powers that be" are crazy with fear and anger that all believing in Jesus will result in them losing their place (John 11:48). There is nothing to do but to kill Him. So when some Greeks request to see Jesus, He replies that is is time for Him to receive real honor and glory. He explains it so that we can hear. "Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.  Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me."

Can we get the message? He knows He is about to give His life for all of us. Can we give up all to serve Him and let Him be in charge? Can we give up cheap honor and praise of men to do the humble hard things of true value? That is the path of real honor (from the Father).

Wasted Perfume?

Jesus is a hunted man in our reading today (John 11:4-12:8). And He knows His time is short (it is six days before the Lamb's death). So He goes to His friends' house in Bethany where He can relax. They make Him a supper and of course Martha serves it. So Mary gets out this wonderful perfume, pours it on Jesus' feet, and fills the house with deliciousness.

The only problem is that the thieving traitorous friend can't keep quiet about the unreasonableness of wasting almost a year's income on someone's feet. Think how many poor people could have been fed with that much money! They probably all thought Jesus' answer was strange.  "Leave her alone," Jesus replied. "It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.  You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."

What? It was Lazarus that got buried. Jesus has more life than He needs - enough to give it away....... But, they did not know He was about to lay that power down for them and us. That He was about to die and be buried. I thrill at the truth that this Mary was in fact the only one who got to anoint Jesus for burial. The other ladies were too late when they came on Sunday.     He is alive!

Oh ladies, let us purpose to waste our stuff and ourselves on the Lover of our Soul. He is so worth it all.

Shocking Love

How shocking is Jesus' demonstration of love in our reading for yesterday and today (John 11:1-45)! It all happened to Mary, the one known for her crazy love as she poured out that unreal expense on Jesus feet, and to Lazarus, known as the one Jesus loved, and to the sister Martha, specifically mentioned as loved by Jesus in verse 5.

So what does Love do? When the sisters send word that Lazarus is very sick (implying please come!), He purposely waits two days longer before going. By the time He arrives, Lazarus is four days in the grave. Can you believe this love?

Well, actually I'm thinking that is the whole point. We so underestimate the need in our lives for wholehearted belief (not only believing in Him but also believing Him). He said to His companions a reason He had waited was "so that you may believe". He straight out said to Martha, "if you believe....".He spoke loudly so the crowd could hear, "so that they may believe..."

And "Lazarus, come out!" was worth it all. It was worth the obvious pain for those Jesus loved. It was worth His own suffering, "Jesus wept." It was worth the shared pain of the friends in attendance ("many of the Jews believed in Him").

Belief in Jesus is life and health and peace and joy and really the foundation for our whole existence. It is worth even shocking love. Lord, help us to believe.

It's You!

Our world is so full of noise (from media, from others) and so much is fear colored. How can we relax and trust and know the way to go? A key is in our reading today (John 10:19-42).
Jesus says again to the Jews,  "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." Ah, it is that word on listening. (Lord help me hear it this time!).

In Proverbs 1:33 the wise man says," Whoever listens to Me will dwell safely, and will be secure without fear of evil."  What a comfort! You remember that earlier in Chapter 10 (verses 4-5) Jesus says that His sheep would run from a stranger's voice and not follow, but they know His voice. We know someone's voice by being attentive as we are repeatedly in their presence.

Lord, attune our ears to Your truth and words of life. Thank you that You never give up on us. Thank you for calling us to you today.