Love never dies. What an amazing, crazy, wonderful truth. As I look around me, at my own experience and the experiences of others that I've become a part of or even just aware of, it looks like sometimes Love is all there is to hold onto. Cling to. It is enough. It has to be enough. For me it must be more than enough because I can't even wrap my head around it.
So friends, we have 3 things to do: "Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love".
-Candice
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Moving Forward
Today’s prayer journal question and my scripture reading for the day seemed to line up nicely.
Today's journal question: Jesus, what is drawing my gaze to you, and keeps me moving forward? To this I felt the Lord speaking to me about the soil of my heart. With fertilizers such as grace, acceptance, and forgiveness for self and others, it seems I am better equipped to keep moving forward.
“Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.”
Proverbs 4:25
-Andrea
Today's journal question: Jesus, what is drawing my gaze to you, and keeps me moving forward? To this I felt the Lord speaking to me about the soil of my heart. With fertilizers such as grace, acceptance, and forgiveness for self and others, it seems I am better equipped to keep moving forward.
“Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.”
Proverbs 4:25
-Andrea
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Memories of a Foot Washing
Reading this week's scripture of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples brought back a memory of another time when I read this story. As it sometimes happens to me, I had opened my Bible to look something else up and was instead brought to this story.
I read the story of Jesus washing the disciples' feet. I remember reading it slowly, and feeling as if all my senses were awakened. I got a clear picture of what the room might have looked like, right down to the lighting, the smell of the food and the feel of the air. I saw Jesus put on the apron and pour the water, and begin moving from one person to the next. I felt the questions, confusion and discomfort of the disciples. Then I realized he was at my feet. I was not an outsider looking in, I was there.
I felt every protest rise up in me, as voiced by Peter in the story. But as Jesus looked into my face the only thing I wanted was for my unworthiness to be washed away. To surrender to all that he was offering me.
Reading Andrea's post and what she discovered in her commentary brought it all back. Pride rebuked. Love offered. The most humbling act of service provided. My Lord washing my feet.
-Candice
I read the story of Jesus washing the disciples' feet. I remember reading it slowly, and feeling as if all my senses were awakened. I got a clear picture of what the room might have looked like, right down to the lighting, the smell of the food and the feel of the air. I saw Jesus put on the apron and pour the water, and begin moving from one person to the next. I felt the questions, confusion and discomfort of the disciples. Then I realized he was at my feet. I was not an outsider looking in, I was there.
I felt every protest rise up in me, as voiced by Peter in the story. But as Jesus looked into my face the only thing I wanted was for my unworthiness to be washed away. To surrender to all that he was offering me.
Reading Andrea's post and what she discovered in her commentary brought it all back. Pride rebuked. Love offered. The most humbling act of service provided. My Lord washing my feet.
-Candice
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
The Great Foot Soak
Possible Scenario:
As the disciples gather together for a meal, several of them are arguing who will be the greatest among them in heaven. As they sit down for supper, perhaps their minds are mulling over whose score is higher.
Peter is thinking, “at least I tried to walk on water, none of the others had the guts to!”.
Andrew is musing , “I did heal three dudes today, that’s gotta get me somewhere!”
Suddenly, their thoughts are interrupted as Jesus disrobes his outer coat, wraps a towel around himself and grabs a water basin.
What is this guy up to?
He’s….he’s…washing our feet?
What??!!
[insert feeling like a real winner (*note sarcasm)]
My commentary states that this act of footwashing “was a voluntary humiliation that rebuked the pride of the disciples.”
Another part states “It took [the disciples] a long time to begin to comprehend the intensity of Jesus’ love for them and the nature of his humility in dealing with them.” It blows me away that those who experienced Jesus day after day in the flesh found his love tough to comprehend!
BUT I do know he is revealing this love to us AND we are starting to GET IT!
Prayer that Jesus is answering: And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! (Eph 3)
-Andrea
p.s. any other “possible scenarios” or testimonies?
As the disciples gather together for a meal, several of them are arguing who will be the greatest among them in heaven. As they sit down for supper, perhaps their minds are mulling over whose score is higher.
Peter is thinking, “at least I tried to walk on water, none of the others had the guts to!”.
Andrew is musing , “I did heal three dudes today, that’s gotta get me somewhere!”
Suddenly, their thoughts are interrupted as Jesus disrobes his outer coat, wraps a towel around himself and grabs a water basin.
What is this guy up to?
He’s….he’s…washing our feet?
What??!!
[insert feeling like a real winner (*note sarcasm)]
My commentary states that this act of footwashing “was a voluntary humiliation that rebuked the pride of the disciples.”
Another part states “It took [the disciples] a long time to begin to comprehend the intensity of Jesus’ love for them and the nature of his humility in dealing with them.” It blows me away that those who experienced Jesus day after day in the flesh found his love tough to comprehend!
BUT I do know he is revealing this love to us AND we are starting to GET IT!
Prayer that Jesus is answering: And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! (Eph 3)
-Andrea
p.s. any other “possible scenarios” or testimonies?
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
The Writing in the Dirt
I read the story of the adulterous woman again today. Nervously I asked the question, "who am I in this story?" Then I squeezed my eyes shut and waited. And I heard "You are Forgiven". Big exhale. I read the story again. Being named Forgiven seems to align me with the adulterous woman. How often have I stood and waited to be condemned by people? Expected it? Only to be forgiven by the One who does not keep score.
Something that intrigues me whenever I read or hear this story is what Jesus is writing in the dirt. One time I heard speculation that perhaps he was listing the sins of the Pharisees. But if Love does not keep score, then that does not seem to fit. Was it a prayer to the Father? Was it his love song to the woman? To the Pharisees? I wonder what he would reveal if we asked him what he was writing in the dirt?
-Candice
Something that intrigues me whenever I read or hear this story is what Jesus is writing in the dirt. One time I heard speculation that perhaps he was listing the sins of the Pharisees. But if Love does not keep score, then that does not seem to fit. Was it a prayer to the Father? Was it his love song to the woman? To the Pharisees? I wonder what he would reveal if we asked him what he was writing in the dirt?
-Candice
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