You Are Mine

 "But now, this is what the Lord says - He who created you, Jacob, He who formed you, Israel: 'Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine." Isaiah 43:1

    Yesterday, I joined the throngs at the grocery store and, what began as a mundane task, soon became a celebration, the likes of which only God can do.

    At first glance, the cashier who rang my order appeared weary. I can relate to that since I work on my feet; my legs were still aching from the previous day. I inquired about her welfare and she, with a sigh, acknowledged the increased shoppers due to Easter.

    "How will you be spending the holiday?" I asked. 

    "I'll be going to church," she replied, "then cooking for my family."

    Aha! The door had opened just a bit, enough for me to venture, "He is risen! We've much to celebrate, don't we?"

    The fatigue fled from her face as she shared with me her testimony. "Have you heard of the show, 'The Chosen'?"

    "You bet," came my enthusiastic response. "I love that show because it has helped the Bible to come alive for so many."

    She showed me her coffee mug which bore the name of the series and I showed her my tee shirt that proclaims, "Jesus is King!" The celebration had begun as I bagged the items she was scanning. 

    "Do you recall the first episode, the one where Jesus quotes that verse to Mary Magdalene saying, 'I have called you by name, you are mine'?" asked the cashier. "That's the scene that changed my life!"

    As her words worked in my heart, it dawned on me what she was saying, but to clarify, I asked, "Do you mean, you became a Christian that moment as you watched the show?"

    Yes! With joy, she is celebrating Resurrection Sunday as a redeemed daughter of the King this year! Jesus summoned her by name; she is now His. 

    As I drove away from the store, my heart was soaring with gratitude for the Living Savior who loves us and knows us personally. 

    I implore you to read John 20:1-18 and put yourself in the sandals of Mary Magdalene. In her deep sorrow, she came looking for a dead body, but even that was taken away along with her hope. (Aren't we glad she didn't find what she was looking for?) Inconsolable, she asked whom she believed to be the gardener, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."

    "Jesus said to her, 'Mary.'" That's all He had to say for the Light of the world to break through her clouds.

    Insert your own name there. If you are wandering amid brokenness, looking for some semblance of hope, turn your eyes upon Jesus, the Author of your life. He knows you by name.

    Won't you join the cashier and me in the celebration? 

Big Shoes to Fill

 "How then can we be saved? All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags." Isaiah 64: 5, 6

    Kids like to play dress-up. I have a photo of myself in my dad's coat, hat and shoes when I was just a child, too inadequate to fill them. My father had some big shoes to fill, and though I wanted to be like him, I didn't have what it took. 

    George Jones sang a song entitled, "Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes?" He sang about the greats of country music, those irreplaceable legends who had made their mark in the world before they left it. Part of the chorus has this to say: "Who's gonna give their heart and soul to get to me and you? Lord, I wonder who's gonna fill their shoes?"

    Many centuries ago, when God made his covenant with Abram, he listed promises which He had committed to fulfill. All Abram had to do was to "walk before me faithfully and be blameless." (see Genesis 17: 1, 2) How could he, a sinner, (or any of his descendants, like us), fill those shoes? Of course, God already knew we were in need of rescuing.

    What we needed was Someone who could do just that. Someone blameless. That's when God sent his perfect Son to fill the shoes. He intervened on our behalf.

    "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear...The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice. He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm achieved salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him. He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak...The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins." (Isaiah 59: 2, 15-17, 20, emphasis mine)

    As a child of God, I am no longer inadequate. When I put on the righteous garments of Jesus, I am covered by his grace. The requirements have been fulfilled in Him, and the shoes fit Him perfectly. 

    Now I am dressed like my Father.

"He has sent me to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels." Isaiah 61: 1-3, 10

It's About Time

 "And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over, the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light." Romans 13: 11, 12

    As I went through the house changing clocks to daylight savings time, I thought about the wisdom of the Creator of time. God, who has no beginning or end, arranged it so that our lives are governed by the passage of time. 

    Think about how much of our lives revolve around the clock and calendar. From the time the alarm goes off, it's a race against time as we strive to get to work on time. Then it's watching the clock until lunch time before punching out and heading home for dinnertime. It's all about time.

    Time flies! (can I get a witness?) At age 62, I do not feel old but the mirror tells a different story. One of my dear friends from childhood was lamenting the unbelievable fact that her granddaughter was turning seventeen this year. Seventeen! Seems just yesterday we were seventeen. 

    There are only so many hours in a day, so it's imperative not to squander time since it's the stuff life is made of. Benjamin Franklin said, "Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today." Procrastination is a colossal waste of time, and the worst thing you can ever do is to drag your feet about eternal life.    

    The Bible says, "I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:2)  This means time is of the essence. We are not guaranteed tomorrow. Even the next moment is an unknown. You are running out of time! If you have not accepted the free gift of eternal life in Christ, don't waste time in doing so. Once you do, Jesus takes you by the hand and assures you, "Surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:20) 

    I can think of no better way to spend my time.

"But I trust in you, Lord; I say, 'You are my God.' My times are in your hands." Psalm 31: 14, 15

The Proprietor

 "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." Colossians 3: 23, 24

    Recently, I tootled south to the neighboring county to visit my dear friend and sister-in-Christ, Suzi. We lingered over lunch at the Rise and Dine before shopping at a few clothing boutiques. 

    Like hens in a coop, we clucked with the clerk over fashion and merchandise as I tried on a few things. Then we drove over to a second shop, one we'd not seen before. Like seasoned pros, Suzi and I examined their offerings, warming to the savvy selections and the affordable prices. After I noticed a few candles with some Christian buzz words on them, I rounded the rack of cozy sweaters to spy a round table laden with devotionals of many topics, surrounding a stack of free Bibles in the center.

    Calling Suzi over to see, our eyes glittered like two girls in a candy store. With glee, my friend said, "I think I've just found a new favorite store!" 

    Suddenly, it was like the Son shone into that storefront, casting a crisper meaning over our excursion. As we made our purchases, we spoke with the proprietor, a young woman wearing a winter-white stocking cap. We commented on her goody table and asked for her testimony.

    Her deep brown eyes conveyed the compassionate love of Christ as she told us her story. Gesturing 'round the shop with her hands, she spoke this truth: "Fashion is fun and all, but it fades away. The true and lasting purchase was made at the cross." In conclusion, she said, "Some patrons come in, see the table, and leave in a huff." Sadly, they have turned on their heels away from redemption and peace, but maybe enough of a seed had been planted just by seeing the offerings of this one, young proprietor.

    As Suzi and I drove away, I pondered the importance of using whatever we have for God's glory. For Moses, it was a staff. For David, a stone. For this gal, a store. For me, it's the written word. 

"Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable that silver and yields better return than gold." Proverbs 3: 9, 10, 13, 14