By the world’s standards, she was flourishing. Business was good, allowing her a home of her own. She was known by everyone in town. Yet, life was not as rosy as it appeared because along with all these worldly accolades came a title she would rather not possess: prostitute.

Her name was Rahab. Of the eight times she is mentioned in the Bible, she is specifically called “Rahab the prostitute” five of those times.

I imagine she wished things were different. Perhaps she dreamed about another life. Perhaps sometimes she even pictured herself as a wife and a mother. But to make a change required a complete turnaround in her life and circumstances which seemed impossible. So when there was a knock at her door, she couldn’t help but wonder if this could be her chance at a new beginning.

The Israelites were about to enter and take possession of Canaan, the land God had promised them over 700 years earlier. Their leader, Joshua, sent two spies to scout the area, especially the city of Jericho where Rahab lived.

She knew there were spies on the other side of the door. Should she answer it? What did she have to lose? What did she have to gain?

Everything Rahab had worked for now hung in the balance. But she was worn out from living a life of shame, disgrace and disappointment. She was ready to take the first step in changing her story. She hoped this one small action of opening her door just might be the answer to realizing her dreams for a different future.

So with a deep breath and great resolve…

She opened the door.

There are times when a simple act, like opening a door, can have a huge impact. Sometimes it is the smallest thing — the one thing that begins the journey — which requires the most faith. According to the Bible, this is what brings delight to the Lord.

“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin…”  Zechariah 4:10

Is it possible that all God is asking of you right now is to do something simple, like opening a door? Although it may seem unimportant, the small thing you do today could possibly have a huge impact on you or someone else tomorrow. In my opinion, this is the beauty of small things.

My friend Heidi and I were enjoying coffee and delicious raspberry pastries at my favorite bakery in Waverly, Alabama. Heidi said, “I love raspberries.”

“Me too!” I replied. “Raspberries are my guilty pleasure. They are expensive and they never last very long, and almost every grocery store trip, I grab a small container of my beloved fruit.”

I explained to her how I justify (in my mind) the expense of my raspberry passion. “I don’t spend a lot of money on hair and makeup, so I feel like it’s okay to buy raspberries even when they are not on sale for 3/$10.”

When I shared my rationale with Heidi, she laughed and said I need to write about raspberries. So, faithful reader, here it is. But, if you have been reading my posts for a while, you know this is not really about raspberries. It’s much more. Pondering about my raspberry passion made me realize we make choices all the time about what we value.

As I thought about what I choose to “splurge” on, it made me wonder: what does Jesus value? What one thing does Jesus choose over another? In other words, what is his raspberry obsession?

It is apparent in watching how he lived that Jesus most valued people. All sorts of people. The lost, the unlovely, children, disciples, the outcast, the rich, the poor… and you.

This is what Jesus says about choosing, “You did not choose me, but I chose you…” (John 15:16).

Of all the things in this world he could choose, Jesus chooses you. What a comforting and secure thought! He is a friend and a savior who would choose you every single time because you are what he values most.

Our crazy world — whose values seem to be turned upside down — can make you doubt your worth. If so, keep this in mind:

“Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes” (Ephesians 1:4).

You were loved and chosen even before the world was created. That’s how valuable you are!

I don’t know if Jesus loved raspberries, but I sure hope he did. I’m thanking him that a  raspberry pastry reminded me that he made a choice about what he values. And that that choice is us.

 

 

 

 

Thank you Bear and James for showing us through pictures what the love of Jesus looks like.

“…He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart…” Isaiah 40:11

A Holy Week reflection…

I am told it is darkest just before dawn.This might be why Jesus said to Judas, the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders who had come to arrest him, “This is your hour — when darkness reigns” (Luke 22:53b).

Hanging on a cross, his followers could not fathom how Jesus’ death could turn out for good. They could not know this horrible situation would soon become victory.

But Jesus knew. Like any human, he preferred not to suffer, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me” (Luke 22:42a). Yet, he trusted his Father with his very life, “Not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42b).

Jesus’ words on the cross demonstrate to us that even in the darkest of times, he still forgave his enemies and loved sinners:

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).

“Today you will be with me in paradise” Luke 23:43)

Often it looks like darkness is winning. But it can never reign when the light of Jesus lives in you.

Friend, I pray the sorrow and the sadness of the cross reminds you — especially this week — that Jesus is willing to do for you what he did for those while he was dying. He forgives you sacrificially and loves you endlessly.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it” (John 1:5).

I was a sixteen year-old high school girl on the beginning of my Jesus journey. She was an elderly woman at the end of herlife, dying in a hospital bed. Her name was Mary, but we called her Diddy.

I had barely known her until she and her husband, Jack, moved from California to Missouri so our family could enjoy and care for these two elderly people. Aunt Diddy and Uncle Jack had been like parents to my father when he was in his early adulthood.

Her health was failing so I was only able to spend a short time getting to know her. But the connection was instant and we loved each other dearly and immediately. She was crusty, a smoker and had a raspy voice. But she was funny too. We did stuff together. Mostly though, we stayed near her home and simply talked since she required constant oxygen and her energy level was often low.

She had lived a worldly life and I was pretty sure she didn’t know Jesus. So on this particular day, as I sat in the hospital room holding her hand, the one thing I wanted was for Aunt Diddy to know Jesus.

“Aunt Diddy, would you like to see Jesus in heaven?”

“Yes,” she said laboriously.

The room was quiet. The only sound came from a machine helping her breathe. We prayed. And then the impossible happened. Jesus came and took residence in Aunt Diddy’s heart.

I wish I could recall the exact words we prayed. I’m sure they were simple. But in this quiet, sacred space, my aunt asked Jesus to be her Savior. In that moment, Jesus came. I felt his presence and she experienced his promise. Heaven and earth collided in that hospital room.

Not long after that, my Aunt Diddy was in the forever presence of Jesus. It was not the result of anything she did in her lifetime. It was because Aunt Diddy asked and Jesus did the impossible. He saved her.

Regardless if you are just starting this journey with Jesus or you have known him for a very long time, you can be assured of this one thing: Jesus is a Savior and a Friend who wants to do the impossible in your life.

While an entire world was passing by a quiet hospital room, Jesus welcomed a dying woman who wanted to be loved eternally by a Savior. To me, this is what a wild and wonderful life looks like — when Jesus makes the impossible possible.

 

While traveling through India this past week, our tour group was led by the most wonderful guide named Bhawani.

A highlight of the trip was a visit to the Taj Mahal. The weather was dicey, and there was fog and bad visibility. The afternoon we arrived, as if on cue, the clouds parted and the sun came out. It was only the second day of sun the area had seen in the past thirty days. The sight was beyond description. Our visit to this historic place was a memorable and exhilarating experience.

By contrast, the following day included a train and bus ride making it somewhat tiresome travel. Somewhere along the way of the bumpy bus ride, Bhawani, in his typical calm manner, suggested that on this day, we enjoy the “little” happy of the day. Certainly, this day didn’t compare to the inspiration of the previous one but could we still be happy even with the little? So, I pondered:

Could I be a little happy at the unique sights of India countryside from a bus window?

Would I be a little happy the following day as I experienced the most glorious sights and sounds in my hotel in Panna National Forest while lying in bed due to stomach sickness?

Thanks to Bhawani, the answer to both was yes.

In past travels home, a layover for seven hours in the London Heathrow Airport might tempt me to be a little sad. But I’m a little happy instead. The time gave me opportunity to reflect on our trip, write this blog, and squeeze in a few more quiet, uninterrupted hours with my husband before we resume our busy life in Alabama.

Thank you Bhawani for reminding me that in life, “little” happy can be just as meaningful as “big” happy.