The Donkey

The wild (?) donkeys of Oatman, Arizona

Read Matthew 21:1-11

On that triumphant day, Jesus, the Prince of Peace rode into Jerusalem, the City of Peace, to establish his Kingdom of Peace.  He rode in, not on a war horse in glorious pomp and pageantry, but he road in gently and humbly on a donkey's colt. 

The donkey, in contrast to the proud horse, is a plain, humble creature, industrious and sturdy, the servant of humankind.  How fitting that Jesus, the humble servant, should ride into Jerusalem upon that lowly beast of burden.  Jesus emptied himself of all privilege and pretense and willingly took on human form so that he might bear all of our burdens and lay down his life for us. 

May our hearts be full of joy and our lips with shouts of praise as we contemplate our humble servant king upon that lowly beast.  He gave his all that we might live.

 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.

Phil 2:7 (NLT)

Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey’s colt.Zech 9:9 (NLT)

The Beginning & The End

Another descriptive name for Jesus is Alpha and Omega - Alpha, the first letter of the Greek alphabet and Omega the last.  He is the A to Z, the beginning and the end, the first and the last, the author and the finisher.

The beginning and ending of our lives are often the most dramatic, but it is in the middle where the beginning is played out and the ending is determined that we grow and learn the lessons of endurance.  The wedding is a beautiful and exciting beginning, but the day to day middle is where the loving relationship is established through thick and thin and, hopefully, is carried through to a beautiful ending.  Sometimes, I am concerned that here in the middle of my life, in the day to day, I am not becoming what I should be.  I am falling short in my loving and caring, in my attitude and in my usefulness.

When the Apostle Paul wrote to his fellow Christians he didn't put his hope in their ability to endure, instead, he expressed confidence in God himself, saying, "I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished (Phil 1:6 NIV).  We are exhorted to keep our eyes on Jesus who is the author and the finisher of our faith.  God is not only the initiator and the completer, he is also the executor of all that happens in between.

We can trust with confidence that God who began the good work in us will bring it to completion. He never stops working with us even though we sometimes don't recognize the progress.  He never gives up on his project and will continue until he makes us all that he wants us to be. 

May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him.

Heb 13:21 (NLT)

 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, 

the author and perfecter of our faith.

Heb 12:2 (NIV)

Water of Life

At the crystal clear waters of Lake Mojave

On our recent trip to Nevada and Southern Utah we encountered the Colorado River at different locations.  Near Moab, Utah the river was muddy but at Davis Dam in Nevada it was clean and clear.  There at the dam the silt and impurities settle out in Lake Mojave before the river continues through the power plant and on down to Mexico. 

We, as jars of clay, are vessels made to be filled with the pure water of life that Jesus gives.  Sometimes, the water in us gets a little muddy.  Attitudes of resentment, fear, self pity or pride can cause us to turn in on ourselves causing the water to become cloudy and stagnant.  Jesus calls us back to drink of that crystal clear stream that washes away all of the debris and lets that pure water flow through us again.  

Lord, thank you for that crystal clear water of life that flows from you.  As we open ourselves to you let that water flow through us washing away all the impurities that hinder the flow of your life. 

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life,
as clear as crystal,
flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.

Rev 22:1 (NIV)

 The water I give him will become in him

a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

John 4:13 (NIV)

Quiet Water

He leads me beside quiet waters.

      Psalms 23:2 (NIV)

Colorado River near Moab, Utah

When Jesus disciples were distressed by so much activity and so many people coming and going he told them "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." (Mark 6:31). Jesus knows about the stresses of life and knows about our need for a quiet place to rest.  He calls us aside to rest in him.  Even in the midst of activity he leads us along a still, quiet stream.  By that quiet stream we rest our minds from anxiety, letting him take control of the worrisome elements of our lives. Our internal being can be at rest and undisturbed because of our confident trust in him. There we find a constant supply of new strength. 

Lord, let us be undisturbed no matter what we face today.  Your paths are paths of peace. Soothe our troubled souls. Let our minds be at rest, knowing that everything is in your hands and give us wisdom to turn aside to you when the stress is great.

In returning to me and resting in me you shall be saved;

in quietness and in trusting confidence shall be your strength.

Isaiah 30:15 (AMP)

Plans

 Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow.

They don’t work or make their clothing

 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 

And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers

that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow,

he will certainly care for you.

Matt 6:28-30 (NLT)

God knows the plans he has for us. In times of transition, when my future is uncertain, my mind begins to spin round and round trying to figure things out. Where do we want to live? What life style do we want?  Do we want to be traveling nomads with a small home base somewhere or settled in a large home?  By spinning and worrying I accomplish nothing. 

Jesus told us to consider carefully how the beautiful wildflowers grow.  They don't toil, spin or worry and yet magically appear each spring producing a beautiful display.  Since God cares so wonderfully for flowers, we can trust that he will care for us. 

As I acknowledge him in all of my plans, simply mentioning them to him, I know he will direct my steps into the good plans he has for me.  I can be released from the toiling and spinning.  I can go on in peace, my mind at rest, trusting him.  What a comfort to know he has the future in his hands. 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

  in all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

Don’t worry about anything;

instead, pray about everything.

Tell God what you need,

and thank him for all he has done.

Then you will experience God’s peace,

which exceeds anything we can understand.

His peace will guard your hearts and minds

as you live in Christ Jesus.

Phil 4:6-7 (NLT)

Best Friends

Every good and perfect gift is from above,

coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights

James 1:17 (NIV)

Today I am writing in honor of 2 wonderful pets – Corki & Solis.  How blessed we were to have such great dogs for 14 years a piece.  What gifts to us.

Corki & Solis grew up together.  Corki came first and then Solis as a tiny pup whose legs and tail kept growing until he surpassed Corki who had the stub legs and just a nub of a tail.  Solis’ tail could knock dishes off a coffee table.  He was so friendly and cheerful and so genuinely happy to see you that his whole hind end would wiggle and waggle.

And then there was Corki, smart and in charge, the Little Commander, bossy, cranky, jealous, curling his lips if Solis got more attention.  He liked it quiet. If there was ever too much noise, Corki would just give you a dirty look and leave the room.

They had such fun together play fighting and wrestling in the back yard.  They loved to run and chase up the hill, Corki, the pursuer, nipping the heels as a good corgi should and Solis, the pursued, bobbing and weaving to avoid the little guy.

Lord, thank you for the wonderful gift you gave us in the friendship of Corki and Solis. What joy they brought us.  It is so sad when we lose them. We will miss them.

           

Solis - April 15, 1997 - March 22, 2011

Corki  - May 16, 1996 - March 12, 2010

       

                                                                       

                                                                   

Friends & Family

So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. 

That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.

Heb 2:11 (NLT)

It's amazing to think about the close personal relationship God desires to have with us.  He is not a distant relative, but a close personal family member and friend.  

I no longer call you slaves,

because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves.

Now you are my friends, 

since I have told you everything the Father told me.

John 15:15 (NLT)

It gave Jesus great joy to communicate with his disciples as friends telling them everything he had heard from the father.  And now he desires that same relationship with us, a relationship of open communication. It is not just a one way conversation, but a sharing of our lives as we would with a close friend or  family member.

We need not be afraid of drawing close and sharing our lives with him. It gives him great joy.

And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.

1 John 1:3-4 (NLT)