Simon, the Cyrene

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From the shadow of the cross, when Jesus was crucified, many watched – in amazement, in horror, in confusion.  This is a narrative that imagines what Simon might have thought and felt.

 

32 As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. 33 They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). – Matthew 27:32-33

 

Simon, the Cyrene

When I stood in the shadow of the cross, I was exhausted. Yet, I found myself ignoring the groans of my body and remained there, on the hill.

            A few hours earlier, I had been standing on the street, watching a distressing scene of three men carrying their crosses, walking to their deaths.  I didn’t know what their crimes had been and I didn’t care. 

            A young boy in front of me was mocking the three, especially the man walking in the rear.  He was struggling with his cross and I could see why.  His back was bloodied and his face was swollen.  He wore a crown of thorns on his head.  No wonder blood was dripping down his face.

            There was a woman to my left.  Amidst her tears, she was talking about his having healed her.  We had heard the talk about a man who healed.  Was this him?

            When the men to be crucified reached our point in the street, the man in the back stumbled under the weight of his cross.  The crowd gasped and all was silent as he struggled to regain his grip, but the cross was too heavy and the man’s body was too injured. 

            Soon the crowds resumed their mixture of cries and taunts.  And then, one of the soldiers turned to look at the crowd.  I wondered if he intended to silence them, but his eye fell on me and as he reached through the onlookers and pulled me from the crowd, I felt my knees buckle.  What did he want with me?

            And then I knew – I was to help carry the cross of the bloodied man.  I couldn’t say, “no”. 

            As I reached the man, I looked into his eyes.  Despite the tortuous path he had traveled, there was amazing strength within his gaze and I took energy from that. 

            When I shouldered the cross, I expected him to pull back and let me do the work, but it seemed as if he was able to find some reserve.  Together we carried that cross, sharing the load.

            In those first steps, I could only think of completing this task I had been forced to take and quietly slipping away once my job was done.  Yet, when I found myself in the shadow of the cross, I couldn’t leave. 

            I found strength in his shadow and that power remained with me the rest of my life. 

            I thought I shared his burden that day and yet, somehow, I knew, he had taken all of mine.

 

Prayer:  Loving God, we never know when life will call us to help someone shoulder their burden.  Grant that we may see the need and willingly step up to be the support that might be so needed.  We ask this in the name of Jesus, who calls us all to take up our cross and follow Him.  Amen.

Rev. Dawn Carlson

God’s timing Vs. My timing….. Maybe I’m just rambling!!!

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I often find myself fighting with God about what is best for me and when it is supposed to happen. I am sure I am not the only person that this happens to on a regular basis..

I know when I was supposed to have found the love of my life.. I know when I was supposed to have married him.. I know when we would’ve been having our first child.. I also know that I should have an animal rescue open and running already.. WHAT IS WRONG WITH GOD??? Why doesn’t he know these things?? Must I tell him everything??

So, the above attitude has led me down some pretty nasty paths in my lifetime. Patience is something I have very little of.. Not one of my virtues as my mother would tell you..

I sit here now with many of my dreams poking through what has seemed like dark clouds for so long. Some of these dreams that are occurring have even made me question other dreams..

My dream of the perfect husband has been crushed to many times to explain. The last time the worst by far. Do I give up this hope?? Of course not.. Deep inside I know that God has that man picked out for me.. If I could just sit back and wait..

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

I sit here writing this wondering if someone like me has any right to be sharing God’s word with the world.. I am currently experiencing one of God’s greatest miracles. Something I have wanted and prayed for and been denied many times over my life.. I am UN-married, divorced, and practically widowed at my young age.. And now at this time, when I often feel like the forever single women, I am expecting a baby.. I keep asking myself how I got here.. How did I make a decision to put myself in this position.. Me?? Really?? OK!! I know really!! I’m not nor have I have been perfect.. I don’t expect I ever will be..

“If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t FALL!” (1 Corinthians 10:12)

I have even wondered over the last 6 months if my previous thoughts that God had given me the strength to start this blog were even true.. Why would God encourage a sinner to spread his word?? Why would God allow me someone who has made bad decisions in life over and over and over again to speak his name??? How many times will he pick me up when I fall???

“If we confess our sins God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1John 1:9)

David prayed, when he asked forgiveness, “Have mercy upon me O God, according to your loving kindness, according to the multitude of your tender mercies. Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin” (Psalms 51:1-13). In the greatness of God’s compassion, there is a “multitude of tender mercies” and no upper limit on the number of times you can approach him for forgiveness.

Am I saying that intentionally doing the same thing over and over again and just asking forgiveness is OK?? No.. Not at all. What I am saying is that we all slide.. We all have our own demons that we struggle with.. Sometimes God chooses to use those demons and struggles to teach you amazing lessons.. Sometimes those lessons end in the biggest blessing you could ever imagine..

”A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)

I can’t promise you that I will never stray off my path again. But I can assure you that even as I type this out I can see the ways God has been preparing me for the rest of my life.. How he has worked a plan for me to be exactly what he created me to be.. “We all fall short of the glory of God”.. We should all be willing to pick the ones who fall, including ourselves back up..

  1. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5)
  2. Thus says the Lord, Your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way you should go.” (Isaiah 48:17)
     
  3. “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.” (Psalm 32:8)
  4. “For this is God, our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even to death.” (Psalm 48:14)
  5. “The Lord will guide you continually …” (Isaiah 58:11)

Remember – God already has your next new job all set up and planned out for you. All you have to do is simply WAIT for His timing to bring it to you!

By: Martha Blomstrom

Random thoughts from the Advent Journey

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As the title says these will be random thoughts:

Have you ever seen how God is able to use the least expected vessels for His mission? An unwed mother, from Nazareth (“Can any good thing come from Nazareth?”), a stable in a small town called Bethlehem not to mention a killer of His people named Saul, later known as the Apostle Paul.

Have you ever noticed that God’s view of people isn’t always ours? Shepherds in the field chosen as the first to receive the news of Christ birth, instead of the priest and kings.

Gentile, wise men, led by a star the first to give Him gifts.Jesus’ willingness to eat with tax collectors and sinners, even His chosen disciples were fishermen and tax collectors not priests or scribes.

Have you ever noticed that where God needs us isn’t always a comfortable place? A mother about to deliver in a stable, taking a young child and running to Egypt to save His life, Paul and Silas in Jail, Jesus on the cross.

Have you noticed that fulfilling God’s will often requires a difficult journey?  Mary and Joseph’s journey of about one hundred miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem, the wise men’s coming from the east, Paul’s ship wrecked missionary journey, the children of Israel from Egypt to the promised land, Jesus’ journey to the cross and our journey of course from sinner to saint.

Now for a confession, every time we sing, one of my favorite Christmas Songs, “Silent Night” or “O Little Town of Bethlehem” I have trouble seeing the place as silent or still. An uncomfortable crowd, forced to travel with no place to stay, there to pay a burdensome tax imposed on them from a foreigner, you know they were talking loudly with each other. Not to mention the family reunions taking place with loud greetings and memories and catching up. It’s no wonder the people in Bethlehem didn’t come running to the stable they were distracted with the every day things of life. My prayer for myself and everyone else is that we may not be distracted this Advent Season but that God will gain our attention and we will see “The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” as the shepherds and wise men did.

One last thought, of course He called shepherds He had a very special Lamb to be watched over.

By Rev Bill Rafuse

Pondering on Christmas

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Every house was full with families gathered together, many for the first time in years. Loud discussions could be heard, some about the cost and danger of the journey. Others upset with the politicians and the new taxes they had just imposed. Late comers had trouble finding a place to rest tired bodies. So as evening came many slept,others tossed and turned and still others hurried about town seeking a place to sleep.

Bearded men set at a table,heads covered in a heated debate about how to keep the Lord happy with such difficulty keeping the laws. “Did you see those in stables with unclean animals?” “Yes and not enough water for all to bathe properly!” “Who will minister to them with most of the priest in other towns?” “Counting the number of gentile merchants who have come in for the profit is impossible.” “Nothing good could ever come of this mess, boy am I glad we live right and have nothing to fear.” “Those poor tribes of Ishmael in the East, and the lower class like the shepherds in the fields have no hope of pleasing the Messiah when he comes.” Head coverings straightened, robes hitched tighter, and sandals tied they leave for the comfort of the places their power and wealth afford.

Thirty years later some of those bearded men came together again and questioned the story of this man from Nazareth, something about Bethlehem during the tax, they were there and nothing of importance happened that they knew of.

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them.”(Luke 2:8-9a) You know the rest of the story. “Magi from the east came” (Matthew 2:1) finish the story you know it.

Christmas has a gift for us all, not just the great gift of God’s son, but the assurance that God is a God of His word and even in times of difficulties, even when we are in situations were a blessing from God would seem impossible, and even if we don’t see it at the time, God does, has and always will keep his promises. Galatians 4:4 tells us that “In the fullness of time”, when God decided, “Christ came to earth”.God chooses the time to bless not based on what we see, think or fear but on His Amazing Grace.

By: Rev Bill Rafuse

Another’s Son

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“…he did what the angel of the Lord commanded him…” – Matthew 1:24

 

     Christmas Eve is always an interesting time in our home.  Between the last-minute packing for a Christmas Day trip, the rush to get a few more presents under the tree, the quick trek to extended family celebrations and the candlelight service that ends the day, we still manage to have time for our immediate family.  During the mad dash to get it all done, I always seem to find myself leaning up against a doorway watching my wonderful son and his stepfather as they discuss whatever activity is coming next.  It’s a scene that fills my heart with love, joy and grateful thanks.

     It is no easy task to raise a son.  And it’s doubly difficult when that child is not your own.  Nonetheless, millions of men and women seem to accomplish this with a care that matches the most devoted of biological parents.

     For Joseph this duty was magnified as he dedicated himself to the physical care and upbringing of the Son of God.  What an amazingly daunting task that must have been!  And yet, even in the few Biblical references we see that Joseph accepted this undertaking as a treasured gift from God and accomplished it with integrity, honesty and love.  Joseph stood arm-in-arm with God here – the earthly parent of God’s child.  And in doing this, he stands as a parenting example to us all. 

 

Prayer:  Loving God, may the gift of our children be treasured above all earthly gifts.  Open our hearts to the example of Joseph and the guidance of Your grace and wisdom through the Holy Spirit.  Grant that we, too, may stand arm-in-arm with You in the raising of our children and help us to guide them to the sure knowledge of the One who makes all things possible.  Amen.

By: Rev. Dawn Carlson

The waiting on the Lord is never a passive activity

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“While I’m waiting, I will serve You…while I’m waiting, I will worship…while I’m waiting, I will not faint, I‘ll be running the race, even while I wait!”  I sat down to ponder the theme of advent and immediately this song came to mind.  Advent is a time of waiting BUT also a time of preparation.  The waiting on the Lord is never a passive activity.

Think of Mary, as she waited for the birth of God’s son.  I am sure she was extremely nervous about the events that would take place every step of the journey.  Yet, she did not become inactive.  She told the angel, “Let it be unto me as you have said!” She then went and informed her family.  She even travelled a great distance to meet with her cousin, who might be able to share some advice about what God was doing through her.

Many Israelites had waited years for the arrival of the Messiah.  They also waited actively.  They did not stop worshipping when the Messiah failed to appear.  They did not lose faith in the God who had promised to redeem them from their situation.  They continued to follow the ways of God WHILE THEY WAITED.

How many of us pray for God to bring deliverance of some kind and then sit back and passively wait for His answer?  How many of us grow angry when God does not answer us quickly enough, because we are tired of waiting?  How many of us encourage others while they wait, yet cannot relieve themselves of their own despair in the waiting?

 Isaiah 40:31 states:  “…but those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” There seems to be a great deal happening in the lives of the believer who waits on the Lord.  Strength and energy, unknown to the believer before, begin to emerge.  Those who wait on the Lord no longer seem to be weary from the anticipation!

As we enter the season of Advent, you may find yourself praying for those things which you have long-awaited.  You may find yourself thinking, “God, it has been so long waiting on you to bring that which I have prayed for…”  But have you done any preparation for that which God may bring your way?  Have you spent time in the Word allowing God to penetrate you with His wisdom?  His wisdom and guidance are essential in preparing for that which you await!  Maybe God has been trying to answer the longing of your heart and you simply missed it by sitting back and wondering why He has not yet moved?

You all know the story of the man who prayed for God to save him in the flood.   A raft, a boat, and a plane all came by to offer rescue.  The man turned them all down because he was waiting on God to save him.  What amazing things have you missed by sitting back and “waiting” on God to act on your behalf?  The song shouts out to us, “I will move ahead bold and confident, taking every step in obedience…while I’m waiting!”  Are you moving ahead with obedience, or have you taken up residence in your Lazy Boy, all the while wondering, where is God?

By: Sheri Koyles