Mary, the Good Girl

~ Barbara ~ 1 Comment

In preparing for Easter, three Marys have captured my thoughts. Their unique roles inspire me to search my heart and emulate their beauty. The first is Mary, the good girl.

Mary’s family (brother Lazarus and sister Martha) loved Jesus and He often visited their home in Bethany. Yearning for truth, Mary drew to Jesus’ side, shutting out distractions and even duties. She seemed to have an unquenchable thirst for more, a desire to go deeper, a heart hungry for truth. She sat and listened and her devotion grew. I see her as a persistent woman, not deterred in her quest for God. She was so focused on Him, she became radical.

Not caring about those crowded around the dinner table, she entered the room and poured a jar of expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet. It was strange, it was costly, it was extreme. It was Mary demonstrating the epitome of her devotion.

I admire her—her hunger for God, her single-mindedness, her selflessness.

Lord, I want you to be preeminent in my thoughts, my hours, my days, as you were in Mary’s. Give me her tenacious desire to learn from you. Let me ignore the call of comfort or lure of distractions and devote myself fully to you. Like Mary, I want to fill my space with the fragrance of worship.

Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

John 12:3

I Love Cs

~ Barbara ~ Leave a comment

I love chocolate, coffee, and caramel—separately or in any combination.

I love the Cs in my family—Corey & Cole—both have clever wit and creative talent.

Which brings me to creativity—I love discovering new words to write, arranging displays to welcome a new season, watching artists turn colors and shapes into masterpieces, hearing words blend with notes to make a melody I can only hum off-key—all reflections of Creator God.

I love the Creator and His limitless imagination. I love His generous heart that sprinkles this earth with wonders that reflect His goodness and beauty.

I love coats giving way to cardigans; coats of paint coloring a room; coats of snow, crystalized and cold… and now banished by the coming spring.

I love confections—crumbly crumb cake, cones filed with ice cream, chocolate chip cookies, cupcakes, and coconut enhancing any sweet treat.

I love camping memories, campfires, cooking on coals outdoors… and the fact that they’re memories & I will never again sleep in a tent.

I love caterpillars and chipmunks, cats and camels, cougars and chimpanzees, but not crocodiles and centipedes.

I love the contrast of city and country—both crowds and cows that stimulate my senses.

I love the current conveniences of cold air conditioning and comfortable cars.

I love the coming of seasons—already I’m anticipating corn on the cob, cabbage in coleslaw, cucumber salad, and chicken on the grill.

I love cantaloupe and cherries, cashews and cheese, calzones and clam chowder.

I love Christmas—Christmas cookies and carols, candles and colored lights, candy canes and pine cones.

I love community and connection, calls of Hello! How are you? Can I sit with you?

I love the qualities of contentment and courage and a crusader spirit.

I love Christ—crucified and coming—conqueror of all I hate and commander of all I love.

What Cs do you love?

Stand… At Attention

~ Barbara ~ 4 Comments

Stand, #9, final

Be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. 
James 5:8

In this final post about standing, we find our motivation, satisfaction, and reason for standing firm. Patience as we stand indicates expectancy—we wait for what we know is coming.

We stand, we endure, we anticipate. We are stretched, we suffer, we tire. But we stand, not for today’s reward but for the one that awaits us. We stand firm because life is more than what we see today, more than our highest highs and lowest lows, more than all we imagine or hope for. We stand, watching and waiting, knowing that the heavens will part and our Redeemer will come and we will begin living our lives as they were designed to be lived.

The eternity that resides in our hearts will be attained and every tomorrow will be untainted, unburdened, unrestricted. Gone will be our deficits and disappointments. The constraints of our humanity will fall away. The freedom to love flawlessly, create perfectly, and live fully will be ours. We will have no pain in our bodies or hearts, no bitterness or injured feelings, no attitude except one of worship. Every part of us will be healed and whole.

So stand—at attention—and watch, “because the Lord’s coming is near.”

Fight the good fight of the faith.
Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called.
1 Timothy 6:12a