Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” I know what kind of flower this is because I watched the petals unfold over several days. With just this one image you won’t know for sure what this bud will become. You will only know when the bud is unfolded. The story of Nicodemus is a story of unfolding. He sees something in Jesus that is more than just a normal Rabbi. He comes to find out more by speaking directly to Jesus and what follows is one of the most oft-quoted scripture passages in the Bible. This is only the beginning of the story of Nicodemus. He is mentioned two more times in the gospel of John, once when he argued against arresting Jesus without a proper trial and then when he brings the spices to help in the burial of Jesus.
We don’t know for sure if he becomes a follower of Christ. We only know how his journey of understanding who Jesus is began to unfold. Our understanding of Jesus, like Nicodemus’, also unfolds. The more time we spend with Jesus and reading God’s word the more our understanding of Jesus grows. Prayer Jesus, Our Lord Open our hearts to hear your voice. Help our knowledge and understanding of who you are unfold a little more each day as we spend time with you and your word. Amen
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And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” I have no idea what kind of flower this is. It is about knee high and grows along the road to my house. It could be some kind of thistle or other kind of weed. If you drive by it you might not even notice it. I only noticed because I was on my daily walk.
After the disciples watched Jesus ascend into heaven they went back to Jerusalem as he instructed - and waited. They didn’t know exactly what they were waiting on. They would have days ahead where they would have to make hard decisions about the way to follow Jesus. They would have to listen and let the Holy Spirit lead them to discern if someone or some practice was a weed that needed to be pulled up or a flower that needed to be watered and fed. They would have to walk slow and seek the Holy Spirit’s direction. We must also look at the things that are growing in our lives. Are they weeds or flowers? Slow down and spend time in God’s word. Wait on the Lord and listen for the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Prayer Holy Father, Son and Spirit We wait for you to show us how best to serve you. Show us what things are weeds in our lives that need to be removed and what things are beautiful flowers that need to be nourished. Amen But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. This is one of my favorite spots along the lake trail. I always stop and rest here under these big, beautiful trees. They stand tall and strong and offer protection from the heat of the sun or a sudden rain storm. In my life I have known many people who stand tall and strong like these trees. I cherish the way that their love of God’s word has permeated their every day lives. They have taught me to take delight in the Lord and to make him a part of my life. While they are not wealthy as the world defines, they have prospered and developed rich, full, and happy lives.
Prayer Loving Lord, Thank you for the people in my life who have taught me to love your word. Plant my life by streams of water and grow my life into a strong tree that provides protection and rest for those that pass by. Amen Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things! What kind of flowers will these buds become? Right now I don’t really know since they are only buds. But based on the shape of the leaves and size of the plant, a flower expert could tell me what kind of flowers these will be. The flowers will be new blooms on an old plant.
Our songs of praise are like this, both old and new. We will sing new songs of praise to God, but those songs are based on the way he has cared for us in the past. Singing a new song isn’t easy. Even if it is a simple song you must learn words and melody. Singing a new song of praise to the Lord requires trusting him, for we know he has always been faithful in the past. Prayer Strong and Mighty Lord, Show us new ways to sing a song of praise for the marvelous things you have done in our lives. Amen But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. They are so small that if you are not looking for them you won’t see them, these tiny little flowers called Toothwort (They do kind of look like little teeth.) These were right along the trail, and I know I have walked by them many times on my hikes in the park. But I wasn’t really hiking that day, I was walking slowly in the rain looking for wildflowers. To see these tiny little flowers you have to pursue them.
Paul in this letter to his younger friend and minister, Timothy, first warns him about things that he would need to flee from - things like pride and the love of things. Then he gives him the traits he needs to develop. Just like seeing these small, gentle, white flowers requires slow and intentional looking, these traits or ways of being don’t come naturally, they must be pursed. Prayer Loving Father. Teach me your ways. Develop in me the desire to pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness. Amen And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? I found them again, the beautiful yellow lady slippers. There were in the same place they were last year. I can’t explain the feeling you get when you see them there, standing tall in the morning sun. Nothing can compare to the beauty in God’s world. Why do we worry about unimportant things like how we look or what other people think? The next time worry creeps into your thoughts, look at the flowers God made beautiful and know that he will take care of you, like he takes care of the yellow lady slippers.
Prayer Loving Father, Thank you for the beauty in your world. Help us to replace our worry with faith in your constant loving care. Amen For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end. The Blue Ridge Parkway is an amazing road that will take you high up into the mountains. There are look-offs and trails that give you the feeling of being on top of the world. Along the Parkway, there are mile maker posts each mile of the way and with a guide book you can know when you get to a place where there is a trail that will give you a special view.
Sometimes our journey in life is like traveling on the Blue Ridge Parkway. We know where to stop and which trails to take to get the best mountain top views. Sometimes in our lives we can’t seem to find a mile marker and we have no idea where we are going. At those times we can look to our God who made the mountains and trust him to guide us to the mountain top where we can see his beauty. Prayer God My Guide, When I seem to not know which way to go, show me your way. Guide my feet to where I can see your beauty and show me how to follow you. Amen The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. Isaiah 61:1-3, ESV The bright colors of the fall leaves signal the coming of the cold and darkness of winter, but the muted colors of trees in spring signal new live. The buds come on the barren branches and the trees put on their summer garments like garments of praise after times of darkness.
In the days and weeks after the resurrection the disciples' understanding of what Jesus meant when he talked about the kingdom of God grew. I wonder when the disciples remembered that day in the synagogue in Nazareth when Jesus said that these words from the prophet Isaiah had been fulfilled in him. Now they were to spread they word that Jesus came bring freedom to the captive and to give us garments of praise instead of faint spirits. Prayer Jesus, Giver of New Life, When I face difficult times, help me to look to you and remember your promise to replace my faint spirit with a garment of praise. Amen The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. If you have read my blog before you will have seen several pictures of this ancient oak tree in the cove. When I go to the cove, I always stop at the Lawson place to see it. God has taught me a lot of things through this tree and it has become a special place of worship for me.
We all have people in our lives who are like this oak tree; people who have taken the time to show us God’s love; people who have served the Lord and weathered strong storms for many years. They stand now as oaks of righteousness. Though probably never famous, they have bound up the brokenhearted, comforted those who mourn, proclaimed liberty to the captives, and lived lives that have glorified the Lord they serve. Be grateful for those people in you life and realize that in your everyday life you may be one of those oaks of righteousness for someone who is looking at the way you life your life. Prayer Lord God, Bind up our wounds so we can bind the wounds of others. Free us from our bondage of sin so we can proclaim liberty to the captive. Comfort us so that we can comfort those who mourn. Plant us in your love so that we may glorify you. Amen Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” It is a beautiful thing to watch a sunrise - to watch the world move from darkness to light. I have come to see sunrise as more of a process than an instantaneous event that happens at the exact hour and minute given on the weather app. When you purposefully watch a sunrise you see the sky gradually become lighter until the moment the sun comes over the horizon. Then comes the golden hour, the time when the sun is low in the sky and the light is more golden then the blaring white of midday.
The disciples came to understand and accept Christ’s resurrection much like sunrise happens. It wasn’t an instantaneous process. They began in darkness and fear in locked rooms. Most of them that is. For some reason Thomas wasn’t in that locked room the first night. Even a week later when Thomas was with them, they were still cowering in fear in a locked room. They all were still doubting. When Jesus appeared to the disciples this time, note that he didn’t reprimand them for not believing, even Thomas who had the courage to say he would only believe if he saw Jesus with his own eyes. Instead he gave them peace and spoke directly to Thomas. I think maybe this was because Thomas was brave enough to speak his doubt. We all face doubt, not just once but again and again. We all have to see Jesus with our own eyes. Our belief in Jesus can not be based on what someone else believes. We must all come to a time of believing who Christ is for ourselves. We must speak our doubts and Jesus will show us who he is, just like he did to Thomas and the disciples. It may not be in a miraculous physical appearance but he will come in just the way we need to see him, to dissolve our doubt. Then, like Thomas, we will bow and acknowledge Jesus as, “My Lord and my God.” And like the golden light after sunrise, we will find the peace only Jesus can give. Prayer My Lord and King, I kneel before so great a love. Thank you for coming to me when I doubt you and revealing yourself to me in unexpected ways that bring peace. Amen And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them. Looking in one direction you see the clear blue skies and the promise of a joy-filled day in the the mountains. Looking the other direction you see the dark clouds and a possible storm that will send you running for cover. For the disciples, the days after the resurrection were like this. They had lost their Messiah on a Roman cross and they marveled at the stories of a risen Jesus. They thought they knew Jesus after three years of being with him every day. They thought he was the Messiah that would release them from the bondage of Roman captivity and set up an earthly kingdom. He wasn’t that Messiah, but he was the Messiah that would release them from the bondage of sin in a kingdom that would last forever. Now they had to come to know Jesus in a totally different way.
Who is Jesus to you? Do you sometimes disbelieve with joy like the disciples? Have the stories of Easter become too familiar? Do you need to know Jesus in a new and deeper way? Speak your disbelief to him and just like he did with the disciples, Jesus will make himself real to you again and will turn your disbelief into joy. Prayer Risen Lord, Forgive us when we forget to marvel at who you are and try to keep you safely tucked away as just a story to tell on Easter. Show us your wounds, walk with us, and bring us joy in serving a risen Lord. Amen And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread. Luke 24:31-35, ESV I have been on this road many times but would you know where I took this picture if you didn’t read the caption? Where does the road go? What is around the curve?
Cleopas and another unnamed follower of Jesus were on a familiar road that Sunday after Passover. It had been a difficult time seeing the one they thought was to be the Messiah crucified. Now on top of all the grief, they had heard stories of Jesus being risen from the dead. What were they to think? As they walked the 7 miles on the road to Emmaus, Jesus came beside them and opened their mind to understand the scriptures about him. He tells them that what was written about him has come true; things he had not taught them before. Jesus came to these two followers just when they needed him, just when they needed to understand who he was and the road ahead. They rushed back to Jerusalem to tell their story to the disciples in the upper room - another 7 miles and mostly in the dark. Here Jesus appeared to them along with the disciples and taught them the scriptures. This was just the beginning of their journey from doubt to understanding, from heart-broken followers of a crucified Christ to witnesses of the risen Christ. In a few weeks at Pentecost they would need to understand all these things as they proclaimed to the world who Jesus was. Look for Jesus to join you on the road you walk. And just like he did to the followers on the road to Emmaus, he will give you what you need for the journey he has planned for you. Know that he will teach you everything you need to share the Gospel with all those you meet on the road ahead. Prayer Risen Savior, Open our minds to understand who you are like you did for your followers on the road to Emmaus that day. Give us the knowledge and courage to share the wonderful joy we have in following a living Christ. Amen Scripture:
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7 About This Image: Highway 11E goes right through our town and I drive on it almost every day. It wasn't until I started taking pictures that I noticed this tree in a field close to the road. I don't really know how old the tree is but I suspect many years. It has withstood many storms as it stands alone in the field, strong and tall. When you walk close to it you see many of its roots growing above ground. When we walk with Jesus along the ordinary roads of our life we will build our roots in him and we will grow strong and tall like this tree. Scripture:
For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light. Psalm 36: 9 About This Image: I had just started to learn photography when I took this image of Spruce Flat Falls in the Tremont area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Looking at the picture now I can tell you so many things I would change about how I captured the light in the waterfall. Just like I have learned to see the properties of light as I have studied photography, we can learn to see God's light by studying his word. As we walk in God's light he will become the fountain and sustainer of our life. Scripture:
Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. Psalm 25: 4-5 About This Image: It was the second day of our recent road trip to the west and the interstate in Iowa was like driving the Daytona 500 with transfer trucks. So we got out the map and headed for Highway 30, this 2-lane road also called the Lincoln Highway. It was one of the best decisions that we made on the trip because we got to see so much more with much less stressful driving. These two lane roads are not the way most people want to travel today. We are in a hurry to get to our destination. We sometimes want our relationship with God to be like this, quick answers to hard questions. When we truly ask God to lead us and teach us, it will take time. We will have to learn to wait, to be silent. Faith develops over time. I like these words from Brian Erickson from Feasting on the Word Year B Commentary: "Our identity will not be defined by what we claim to believe, but by the road we take. Faith is more than mountaintop moments; it also encompasses times of solitude and struggle. The right road will not always look like the right road." During this season of Lent may we take time to let God teach and lead us down the right road that he has for us. Scripture:
Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.' So God said to Noah, 'This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.' Genesis 9:16-17 About This Image: Noah's ark is depicted in many children's toys and on the walls of church nurseries. In most images the day is sunny with brightly colored rainbows and smiling animals, but real rainbows come only when there are clouds and rain. On our recent road trip out west I was very much looking forward to driving on the Big Horn Scenic Highway, but as we got closer to the highway storm clouds appeared on the horizon. I was so disappointed that I wasn't going to see the beautiful blue skies and mountain canyons that I had pictured. But as we drove on the highway, I happened to look out my rear view mirror and saw this amazing rainbow. Now I was grateful for the stormy day for without the storm I would not have seen the rainbow. In the story of Noah, the rainbow comes only after the devastation of a flood. God sets the rainbow as a sign of a new covenant that he makes with all creation to bring order out of chaos and destruction. God cares for his world and its people. The story of the rainbow is the story of a new beginning. As we begin the season of Lent this week, may we take time to think about the clouds and storms of sin in our lives and look forward to the new life we have in Jesus Christ who redeemed us with his death on the cross. Scripture:
The Mighty One, God the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth. The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!” Psalm 50:1-2, 23 About This Image: This image is not one of a spectacular view from a mountain top but the level valley in Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In the cove, the mountains surround you as you walk or drive through on mostly level ground. The beginning of Psalm 50 speaks of the might and beauty of God and in later verses the judgement of God. We have those mountain top religious experiences where we stand in awe of God and never want to leave the place of worship. But the mountain top is never the end of the journey. We must come down the mountain; for every time God calls us to the mountain it is because he has something to say to us. We walk in the valleys like this image of the level ground and we see the surrounding mountains. It is in the valleys that we learn to be accountable to God, to order our way rightly, and to offer the true worship that God requires: "to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8) Scripture:
Elisha saw this and cried out, 'My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!' And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two. He picked up the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. Then he took the cloak that had fallen from him and struck the water with it. 'Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?' he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over. 2 Kings 2: 12-14 About This Image: It was almost fall when I took this picture on the Little River Tail in Elkmont. You can see some fall color in the leaves but there is still green there. Fall is a season of transition; the hot days of summer give way to the beginning days of winter. You can feel the change in the crisp air and beautiful blue skies. The scripture today is a story of transition in the lives of two prophets, Elijah the mentor and Elisha his successor, the ending of one ministry and the beginning of another. It is a beautiful story full of imagery that will make you think. I encourage you to read it slowly several times thinking about what each of people in the story must have been feeling. In the story Elisha followed his mentor across the river Jordan to an unnamed place. He knew that it would be the last time that he would see his mentor. We know that Elisha felt deep grief because he tore his clothes in two places. And after he grieved he picked up the cloak of his master and walked into his new beginning as the prophet of God. We all have endings and beginnings in our lives; some are joyful and some are sorrowful. Like Elisha sometimes we will grieve. Call out to God in your grief and then walk slowly forward to your new beginning in the power of God. Scripture:
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. Colossians 3:16 About This Image: At one time many families made their home in Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, like the Tipton family. The Tipton Cabin is one of the few cabins that the park kept when this land became part of the park. When I see these cabins I try imagine what they looked like when people lived in them full of furniture and household goods instead of the empty the way they stand now. I think that the bible can be empty like this room in the Tipton cabin to us if we just occasionally read the words. Paul admonished the Colossians to do more than just listen to the words but to let the message of Christ dwell among them richly. When something dwells with us we spend lots of time with it; we get to know it. Dwelling is more than visiting a place, more than just reading words from a book. For when we do let the message of Christ dwell richly within us then we can help one another and develop real gratitude in our hearts. Scripture:
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. Philippians 4:8 About This Image: The ice covering Cataract Falls looks pure and clear - clear enough to see the water flowing underneath the ice. In reality it is not pure and it would be a mistake to try to drink the water. It isn't always easy to think only about things that are praiseworthy, pure, right, noble, true, lovely and admirable. We are too easily distracted by the things that don't have these qualities. Sometimes it is even hard to tell if something is true and pure. The more we "think on such things" the easier it becomes to distinguish between the excellent and praiseworthy and things that are ignoble, wrong, and impure. |
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Soli Deo Gloria,
1 Corinthians 10:31
© 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Karen Milligan
1 Corinthians 10:31
© 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Karen Milligan