The Road to Calvary

I wonder if Jesus were to think about that awful night when he was to die for the sins of all men, would He have had these memories?  Would these thoughts have run through His mind?

The night that Satan thought he had me, the night he planned his victory,

the night his servant Judas kissed me, began my walk to Calvary.

The rough arms came, reached out, and seized me.

My dear friend drew his sword to fight.

“Put back your sword”, I said to Peter,

“it has to be this way tonight."

"Oh, don't you think I could withstand them without your help if I should try.

Oh, don't you know ten thousand angels would be at hand with just a cry?”

And then I asked of those who seized me,

“Why did you come with clubs and swords

while every day I sat among you

teaching in the temple courts?"

"On those days did you arrest me? 

No, now you come in evening’s hour. 

For Satan's way is always darkness

and you -  by hating, give him power"

"Oh, don't you think I could withstand you at any time if I should try.

Oh, don't you know ten thousand angels would be at hand with just a cry."

"But lead me on the way to Calvary.

We'll take the road together now.

I'll walk along - no need to drag me

for I won't use my heavenly power."

"Oh, I could call ten thousand angels

if I wanted to be free.

But my love for you will keep me silent, until I die upon that tree."

"My love for you is what will hold me 

on that cursed redemption tree."

Diane Gruchow

The Road

I’ve traveled a long twisty road for almost 80 years now, most of it hand in hand with my darling, Ron.  The long road has left bumps and bruises.  It’s been full of rough and slippery spots, times of falling and standing, of skinned knees and broken noses, of rising and sitting, and of stumbling and running.  On this road I’ve met smiles and tears, pain and pleasure, hate and love, struggle and rest, sin and goodness, and sunshine and rain.

But we’ve always been traveling, never knowing what was around the next bend.  We planned, we hoped, we waited for the next clear view ahead, the next signpost that would tell us what to expect.  It hasn’t happened that way, and I certainly didn’t always walk on the easiest route.  Sometimes the road was rougher because of my own bad decisions.  Sometimes because of choices other people made, and sometimes, yes, because God determined that I should travel a different, a harder, piece of land.   

It could be that God wants us to build muscles for something that He knows we will face later.  Or because there were gifts He’d given us that we weren’t using, or there was someone along that rougher route - someone He knew we could help.   Or just maybe God wanted us to remember that we do always need Him.

But the beauty of the trek down this road is that we haven’t had to do it alone.  Even if we didn’t know it, we’ve always had a companion - the one companion who would provide all we needed to make the journey, to keep on going, to give us direction, comfort, healing and the assurance that there would be something beautiful at the end.

This companion directed our eyes to the beauty of our surroundings, the beauty of His creation, of His creatures.  He helped us to see those children who were walking without Him.  He reminded us that they were also His children, and they were there for us to love and care for as well.

This companion comforted us when we despaired, wondering if the pain and trouble would ever end, and assured us that - Yes, He knew what we were feeling.  And, always, one morning when our eyes opened, we would see the love in His eyes, the sympathy and care of His heart, and we would be able to get out of bed.  He was all we needed to heal our skinned knees - our skinned and broken hearts.

Now we’re traveling what we believe will be the last few miles of that road.  Our eyes are open, hungering still to see the beauty of this old world, but even more than that, to see our companion.

We want to look on his face, to absorb it, to mirror it, to know it!  We study his features, we listen to his voice, we try to inhale his words.  We wait!  We desire to know Him, and we’re not disappointed. 

He comes to us in the peace of the evening of our lives.  He greets us in the morning of each new day.  He speaks in the sunshine and the rain.  He sings a love song to us, and as we listen, we walk the road, turning another corner, moving on to what lies ahead.

I think we’ll just keep on walking straight into the arms of that companion who has been with us all along.  And then…..

May God grant me as many days as He has use for me on this old road, and may I continue in my quest to know more of the one who made me, who knew me better than I knew myself, and forgave me all my sins – OH Yes!  I’m forgiven and loved!

Happy New Year

My husband and I stopped doing the New Year’s Eve party thing long ago.  We generally make it an early evening – No silly hats or parties to greet the New Year – we get tired too early (and, funny thing, each new year has come in without us greeting it – it didn’t need our help.)

But, if we were celebrating anything on New Year’s Eve – these are the things I’d think about – things I’d remember – things I’d want to celebrate. 

I’d remember and celebrate certain things about last year.

·         Each day I was loved by our almighty Father God

·         There wasn’t a day when I really needed to worry - because I found that God was walking in each one of those days with me.

·         I had 365 days to use for his glory

·         And I discovered that, even with all the trials of the year, God was working things out for good.

So, let’s talk about each of these

We – each one of us, everyone is loved by the almighty God, and because He loves us, it doesn’t matter if anyone else does.  Sometimes we really don’t feel loved, do we?  Or sometimes the people who loved us deeply are on longer there.  But there is one who is there, who has always been there, one who does love us with a perfect love.

Because God is perfect, His love is perfect.  If you think of people in your past who have spoken words of love and that love was nothing but words, then you can see the difference in the love that comes from God. 

It’s a true love, a faithful love, a love that never fails. It never ends with just words. 

The Bible tells us in Lamentations 3:22 (ESV) – “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;”

That’s a beautiful thing to think about at the beginning of the year, isn’t it?

Next, let’s think about worry.  Well to begin with, worry is just a waste of time.

Do you remember the times when you’ve worried in the past and it did nothing to change the situation?  If you do, you’ll realize that worry is fruitless. – it does no good.  I’ll bet you can’t think of a single time that worrying helped 😊

Do you remember the times in the past that you’ve worried, and because of that worry you made yourself and your loved ones unhappy?  If you do, you know that worry is also destructive. 

Do you remember the times that you’ve worried, and that worrying caused you to lose sleep?  If you do, then you’ll know that worry is unhealthy. 

So why would we do something that is fruitless, destructive and unhealthy?  Especially when we don’t have to; especially when there is someone who can actually do something about the things we worry about.

That someone is God.  If we have faith in Him and His love, we can be sure that He has our worries in His almighty hand. 

Okey, next let’s think about all the days God has given us?  How have we used them?  Well - let’s not worry about how we used them last year because -

We have today. God has given us today.  The sun has risen.  Our eyes have opened.  We have breath and life.  That’s something to celebrate.  Now, how will we celebrate this gift - this day. 

What would it look like if we decided to give this day over to glorifying God?  Let’s think about what that could mean.   

The Bible tells us this in 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)

 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

So, giving this day over to glorifying God could mean that a bunch of the old useless stuff filling our lives, our thoughts, and our hearts would be thrown out and filled with something wonderful – righteousness.

And lastly, today let’s celebrate by remembering that God is able – He continues to prove it.

That’s huge!  It wouldn’t be much use to depend upon a God who wasn’t any bigger or more able than we are, would it? 

Sometimes, we question whether God cares when things don’t go as we wish.  We question whether he is in control when our world seems out of control.  We question whether He is near when we don’t bother to even look for Him. And we question whether He is able, when we don’t understand His ways.

2 Timothy 1:12 (KJV) tells us. . .  for I know in whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Have you ever heard the song – He is able.  It goes this way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhJlCJ8jkec

The New Year is just beginning – it’s a good time to remember that -

·         Our Almighty God loves us
·         There’s no need to worry – because God has those worries in his hands.
·         God has given us this day to use for His glory
·         God is able to do far more than we could ever ask or think.

It's been a long time.  I'll get back to blogging soon

There's a room in my heart

In Luke 22:11, Jesus is talking to Peter and John about the Passover.  He told them to go into the city and find a man carrying a water jug.  They were to ask the man, "Where is the guest room in which the Master could eat the Passover with his disciples?"..  Jesus said that the man would show them an upper room, all furnished, and that they were to make preparations there.  

I wonder if Jesus is wanting to meet us in a guest room - the guest room of our hearts. 

There's a room in my heart God is wanting to use

for daily communion with me.

He is waiting, for I have to open the door

to the pleasure of His company.

But before I can open the door to my heart

I will sweep out the thoughts that keep us apart.

God will brush down the cobwebs of worldly care

and banish the worries that want to live there.

Then we’ll cover the speaker that brings in the words of the world that surrounds,

and demands to be heard.

Now I’ll rest, as I wait.  Preparations are made.

and the hour is at hand, and the supper is laid.

In the stillness He comes,

Awesome God, gentle friend

to the room in my heart –

still small voice in the wind.    

Diane Gruchow 2018

The Hope Chest

Do you remember “hope chests?”  In our family they were an important part of preparing for marriage. 

When I was young, little girls were often told that they needed to grow up and marry a good man, have children, and live happily ever after – and we know now that it doesn’t always work that way.  Especially the “happily ever after” part.  

I’m grateful to God that, with His help, ours did work.

But let’s talk a little bit about hope chests.  Mine was a blond cedar chest.  It was where I put everything I was sure I would need to have a wonderful “ever after.” 

It contained an eight-place setting of china, the silverware that my folks gave me as a gift, crystal goblets that I bought, one at a time to add to the beauty of my future table. 

I worked to fill that hope chest with things that I believed would add beauty to my marriage – to my home.  For instance, there were pillowcases with crocheted edges that my grandma helped me with.  There were kitchen towels embroidered with the days of the week and some with flowers or cute little gardeners in bright colors (as if I would use each towel on the specified day.)

That hope chest was full of things I wanted to bring into my marriage as well as my hopes and dreams.

Well this young lady did grow up, marry a good man, have children, and lived happily ever after – well happily most of the time.

Marriage to a “good man” is not the guarantee of happiness in every part of a person’s life.  But there is one person who is a guarantee of hope and a beautiful future.

That’s our Savior.  He is the only one who is able to promise a life of “happily ever after.”  He is the only one who did fulfill that promise. 

Jesus, the eternal Son of God, is (as the Bible puts it) the Bridegroom.  He is the one who paid with His life for the Church – the Bride of Christ.  That’s us!  All Christians – we make up the Church.  Of course, we’re not talking buildings or denominations – we’re talking about those people have accepted Jesus as their Savior.  We’re the Church, the Bride of Christ.

Just like my hope chest, there is a place for us to put those things that will, and do, make our lives with Christ beautiful.  That place is our heart.  In our hearts we store memories of the times God has walked with us, helped us, and held us.  In our hearts we store the words of God written in the Bible.  Words that God has made sure we could read and learn. 

In our hearts.  In our hearts - we store the knowledge of God that was written there from the beginning of time.  The Bible tells us that God puts into our hearts, His Joy, His love, His spirit, His light and His peace.  So, I’d like to talk about those things.

• He fills our hearts with joy – you’ll find that in Acts 14:17.
• He poured out His love into our hearts -  Romans 5:5
• He sent His Spirit to dwell in us – 1 Cor 3:16
• He made His light shine in our hearts - 2 Corinthians 4:6
• He gave us His peace to rule our hearts. - Colossians 3:15

So, God’s Joy, His love, His spirit, His light and His peace are placed in the hope chests of our hearts.  Unlike the things in my hope chest, these are meant to be used and shared, not put away, waiting for a special day.

If we read the scriptures we find that, when Christ comes again, He is coming to collect His bride – the church (Christians.)  And it would sure be a good idea if we were to prepare for His coming with what will last.  It would be a good idea to hold and to share and use those beautiful things that God has given us – and if we do, they will be beautiful still when He comes again.

I wrote this little poem as I was figuring out what to say today.  I hope it will mean something to you.

I open the chest and gently place there

another fair treasure with infinite care.

I touch each small piece, each work of my hands

and treasure each moment, each part of the plan.

Earthly treasures, earthly riches,

gathered, stored and placed inside,

will they last into the future,

or die with hopes unsatisfied?

Heavenly treasures, Heavenly riches,

Never earned by earthly right.

His Joy, His peace, will last forever

with His Spirit, love and light.

They’ll last forever set apart,

In the hope chest of my heart.

My Cup Overflowing

God fills the cups of our lives – we’ve all had different lives, haven’t we, just like cups – they have different purposes, different styles, and they are different sizes.  (You might notice that mine is broken but then I suppose we all are in a way.)

There are a lot of references to cups in the Bible.  Some of them refer to cups of sorrow, or wrath.  But many of them refer to cups of blessing.  I’d like to talk about those cups.

There’s a song that Ron and I love – it speaks of a cup that is overflowing with God’s blessing.  One of the lines is “I'm drinking from my saucer ‘cause my cup has overflowed.”

What is in your cup, if you're a follower of God?  In the fourth chapter of John, we find this reference to something overflowing – the water of life.  Jesus promised living water, and He said that this living water would flow - welling up to eternal life.  He said that if we ask Him, and if we drink from the water He gives us, we’ll never be thirsty again.  

The things that this world holds are not satisfying.  But things don’t last, do they?  In this world, there are never enough things to fill the cups in our lives – but there’s always enough of God.  He doesn’t hold back His love, His presence, or His promises. 

 John 15:9 (NIV)  If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 

If we love God and keep close to Him, we will have joy – overflowing.  Our prayers, in Jesus’ name, will yield more joy than our lives, our cups, can hold. 

God will give us love overflowing.  The earth is filled with God’s love.

Psalm 119:64 (NIV) The earth is filled with your love, Lord, teach me your decrees.

God gave the children of Israel joy and laughter.  They were on filled with it.

Psalm 126:2  (NIV) Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”

And God has done great things for us.  He will give us joy as well, to the point where our cups overflow. 

I expect there are days when you wonder where that joy is – it’s no different with any Christian.  There are days when we don’t feel happy on the surface, but we can have happiness or joy deep within our hearts.  We can have satisfaction, knowing that God is in control of whatever is making us unhappy.  So I guess I’d have to say we can be happy and unhappy at the same time.  He fills our hearts, He fills our cups with joy – we just need to decide to drink of that joy.   

1 Thessalonians 5:16 (NIV) -  Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.