Question for Bloggers

If you have recently had a death in your family are you having a hard time blogging?

Do you feel empty?

Do you feel you have nothing to write about?

Are you avoiding blogging because you don’t want to bring others down because you can’t think of anything to write about but how awful you feel?

 

My mother passed away in September from Alzheimer's. I spent the last year and a half being her 24/7 caregiver in her home in Illinois.

I seem to be in a fog.

 



The only writing I am able to do is journaling and trust me, you wouldn't want to see what is written there.

 

I could use some help in getting over this hump so any input would be appreciated.

The Tomb is Empty

The tomb is empty and my heart is full.

Jesus, you have changed my life, I give you all of me.

Take this broken, humbled person, who desires to give back some of what you have bestowed on me, and hold me in your nail pierced arms. Let me lay my head on your shoulder and breathe in your fragrance, the fragrance of a life poured out for my sins.

My tears dampen your tunic and you wipe them away with your gentle touch. You whisper to me, “I love you my daughter,” my tears come harder. All the longings of my life: acceptance, purpose, forgiveness, love are wrapped up in you.

Death could not hold you in the grave. I sing hallelujah to the King of kings and my Lord.

The one and only, the great

I AM.

Love and Betrayal

Day 4 of Passion Week

Passover, the reminder to the Israelites of their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. On that day each Israelite family killed a lamb and placed the blood on the door posts and lintel so that the death angel would pass over them and not slay their first born.

Now Jesus was one day away from His final Passover celebration on earth. He would change the world forever in a few days.

On this Wednesday He spent time at the home of Simon the leper having dinner with his friends. A woman entered the room carrying a box made of alabaster. She broke the box and poured the contents of spikenard on Jesus’ head. The room was filled with the fragrance. Did the conversation stop? Some were indignant that this costly perfume was wasted. Jesus, touched by her actions, rebuked them. He let all those in attendance know this was in preparation for His burial. What she did would not be forgotten but included in the preaching of the gospel.

A small thing, this anointing? Maybe to some, but to Jesus it was an act of love.

While this loving act was being talked about another act was about to take place.

Judas Iscariot was walking into his destiny. A destiny of betrayal.  

The chief priests were excited to have this disciple, one of the chosen twelve, coming to them with a plan to turn Jesus over to them. They gladly accepted and agreed on a payment of thirty pieces of silver.


As Jesus was being pressed to be seen by certain Greeks He spoke again about dying.

“Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” John 12:24

He was beginning to feel the weight of what was to come and He cried out:

“Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say?

Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.” John 12:27

His hour was very close at hand.

So Little Time...

Day three of Passion Week


A few days left. So much to do… so little time…

Jesus once again resorted to speaking in parables to teach his followers. Stories are easy to remember and remembering was important because He would no longer be with them.

Religious leaders came at Him, one group after another asking Him questions, trying to trap him so they might be able to condemn Him. But being who He was His answers amazed them so much that they quit asking the questions.

His words were meant to shake up the religious and they hit its mark. The leaders were furious with Him and their talk of finding a way to have Him executed became desperate.

Encouraging His disciples to be always prepared and to use the gifts that had been given to them came through in stories that showed the consequences if they ignored His warnings.

With the pressing weight of His death He took time to notice a woman and drew His disciples’ attention to her. They would have certainly overlooked her; she was a poor widow, why would she garner their consideration. As she dropped her two mites into the treasury Jesus spoke some powerful words about what she had done, “Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury; …but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.” Her head hung low as she dropped in all she had, wishing she had more to give to her God. Jesus was smiling, He knew her heart; He knew His Father would take care of her. She would not go without.

We don’t know how old she was, what color eyes she had or even her name, all we know is that she was a widow who gave all she had to show her love to God.

She was demonstrating what Jesus would walk out in a few days.

He would give all He had to show His love for His Father and for all of sinful mankind.

"As you know, the Passover celebration begins in two days, and I shall be betrayed and crucified."

Matthew 26:2

Words Aren't Enough

Day 23 of 40 days of Lenten Posts

Yesterday I blogged about our life being like a race, we will all cross the finish line at some point.

I have a heavy heart today. Three of our church families are suffering pain from deaths that occurred this week and another family from the loss of their husband/father that happened last month. A very dear friend lost her sixty-four-year-old sister, another member’s eight-year-old son died of pneumonia and another family lost their four-month-old daughter to SIDS.

All those who crossed the finish line this week, were sudden, there were no prolonged illnesses. Death can make its appearance that way. It is not required to send us notice that it is showing up.

The pain they are experiencing is their pain; we can’t compare ours to theirs.

We are at a loss for words when we see these families but that is okay. Hugging and sharing tears can be better than a fountain of words that wound more than heal.

We have the comfort that each of these are in their eternal home in heaven and we who have chosen to believe Acts 16:30-31 “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They relied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved…  will be reunited with them for eternity.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life.

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 4:7 NLT

In the Tomb

Saturday: darkness, hopelessness, sorrow.
Jesus’ body occupied the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. His disciples were devastated. They did not understand what he had been trying to tell them, it would not be a permanent death.

Holy one,
Humble one,
Loving one,
Merciful one

Wounded for my transgressions
Bruised for my guilt
Bearing my iniquities
That I might be free

Death on a cross
Buried in a carved out tomb
Three days of despair
In exchange for eternity
Diane Shaw 2009

Tomorrow we sing.