Just For Easter . . .Empty Things . . . 3/23/08

Dear Holy Friends,     The sun isn't up yet. Was the tomb already empty by this time? I wonder what time He did rise. We know the first visitors to the tomb were there in the early morning. As the sun rises this morning, I will ponder what happened after the sun rose that day.   In His Grip, Chandra   EMPTY THINGS   Empty milk carton in the fridge     means Mom will get mad . . . Empty wallet and checkbook     means bill paying will look bad . . . Empty pantries and freezers     supper will be creative . . . Empty gas tank in the car     getting there is tentative . . .   Empty rooms where the college boy slept     means times passed, he grew . . . Empty bed where a spouse used to rest     means lonely is now something new . . . Empty heart with no hope at all     means the world broke that one down . . . Empty lives with no joy or love     means depression threatens to drown . . .   Empty tomb with the stone rolled away     means Jesus rose, victor over sin . . Empty tomb yet filled with love     means we need never be empty again . . .   ~Chandra Lynn Smith, All About Grace, pg 8   Thank You Jesus for giving us this most precious gift, Keep us mindful of it today and always.   Love, Chandra

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Just For Today . . . Shadow of the Cross . . .3/20/08

Dear Holy Friends,     The rain stopped overnight, the sun is shining. I'm sitting at my desk with sunshine on my face and enjoying the play of the shadows. Then I think of the shadow looming before Jesus on this day. In His Grip, Chandra   The Shadow of the Cross   The shadow of a cross loomed     He could see it all the time         as He walked and talked and taught             the cross followed behind . . . In the shadow, He still guided     every step that week to help us         know what to do when He was gone             and teach us how to trust  . . . How could he go about His day     knowing what was to come?         How could he keep loving them             stay instead of run? He walked that week knowing betrayal was nigh     that his friends would run and deny         in all of this He also knew             my sins were another reason to die. . . We walk this week in the shadow too     of what he did for you and me         the path he took years ago             is the reason we are free. . . ~Chandra Lynn Smith, 3/20/08~   Somewhere in the spring flowers and bright sunlight there is a shadow. The shadow of what tomorrow brings and the light of salvation for us. May we not forget to bask in the glow of that shadow.   Love, Chandra

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Just For Today . . . Mid-Week Reflections . . .3/19/08

Dear Holy Friends,     If you take your Bible and figure out the days that things happened Jesus' last week, you find something interesting. We don't know what he did on Wednesday. The only thing we know happened on Wednesday was that Judas met with the chief priests and set up the betrayal. I wonder if maybe that was the day Jesus spent quietly with family and firends?   In His Grip, Chandra   Mid-Week Reflections   The middle of the week how did He awake? knowing tomorrow would bring hurt and heartbreak. Did He lie there and want it to go away? Could He find moments of joy in the day? Did He want to sit with Judas and show Him the way? Did He know the time for that had passed away? How could He go on knowing what was to come? How could He do that for our sin, every one?   When I look at the cross I see two things there. I see mercy and grace through God's loving care. The mercy flows to me as He takes my sin. He hung there so that I could enter in. And grace that washes over my heart and my soul is the grace that saves me and makes me whole.   ~It's All About Grace, pg31, Chandra Lynn Smith~   I'm looking at the middle of my week and thinking about His. It humbles me to know what the next few days brought to Him, and He did it for me. Wow.   love, Chandra

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Just For today . . . Last Week . . . 3/17/08

Dear Holy Friends,     yesterday he rode into town to celebration and cheers . . . on Friday he hangs on the cross to take away our sins. His last week of life. have you ever studied what he did that week? I actually have it labeled in my Bible, day by day. This week I will step aside from the nature poetry and look to the cross.   In His Grip, Chandra   Last Week If I only had one week left     what would I do? Would I go out and try to experience     things I'd never get to do? Or would I gather myself inside     and treasure every moment? Sit with family and friends and share     how much this life has meant?   Jesus was different, he taught,he cared     he argued with pompous men, He reached out with love and compassion     as his life came to its end. His final week, his greatest lessons     taught for me and you. As betrayal and death loomed before him     he was showing what to do. He could have called upon the angels     to rescue him from this, But he stood there in strength and grace     when Judas betrayed with a kiss. The last week of his earthly life     made me who I am today. Without all he did that week     I'd never have found my way. This week, I take moments to pause     studying his every move and then I drop to my knees in humility     thanking Jesus for his love.   ~Chandra Lynn Smith,  3/17/08   Take some time this week and look in the gospels at His last week. I bet you'll see yourself in there somewhere.   Love, Chandra

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Just For today . . .The Winter Heart . . . 3/7/08

Dear holy Friends, Do you have a winter heart? What do I mean? Well is there so much that weighs you down that your heart is cold and gray like winter? If so, look to spring. God gives us spring in nature, but I think he also gives it to us inside.   See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land.  ~Song of Songs 2:11,12   The Winter Heart   I stood at the door in awe     the Lord was blessed my heart         as Spring approaches             winter prepares to depart. . . Snow still lay in piles     barren trees all gray         the grass brown and dormant                        another winter day . . . But looking again I see     flowers pushing through the ground         robins all over everywhere             squirrels running around. . . Of all the season changes     I like this one the best         the world slowly awakens                              from its winter rest. . . Winter changes to spring         as salvation changes a soul         Jesus brings new life and growth             making the winter heart whole. . .   All The Earth Proclaims, pg 39   Embrace your winter heart and let the Lord go ahead and fill it with Spring. Love, Chandra

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