Christians' Symbol

"The Old Rugged Cross" and "When I Survey The Wondrous Cross". Isn't is amazing this emblem of suffering and shame is cherished by believers. No other religion I know does this.

The Old Rugged Cross

My thoughts about Good Friday (God's Friday) --- The Cross - It seems that often the cross has become just a beautiful or simple piece of jewelry...and I have two: One that is so shinny and has black stones at the 4 ends. The other is not a polished silver, but has a little purple stone in the middle and a ring around the cross bars.... I've read the words of the well known hymn "The Old Rugged Cross"...here are a few phrases - "The emblem of suffering and shame"..."that old rugged cross, so despised by the world"..."the old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine," "To the old rugged cross I will ever be true, its shame and reproach gladly bear"..."the dear Lamb of God (Jesus) left His glory above to bear it (the old rugged cross) to dark Calvary". These words certainly paint a different picture than my necklaces. I wonder if my crosses have weakened the message of this hymn. Maybe not...perhaps when I wear them, a conversation about that "old rugged cross" may begin. Today, the Tuesday after Palm Sunday and just days before Good Friday, is a day to contemplate a cross that was old, and rugged, and blood stained. It held the Creator of the world as He bore ALL the evil of the world...and His Father looked away. But, wait...Here comes Easter!

A Newspaper Column Debate

A Church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made 'no sense' to go to church every Sunday.

He wrote: "I've gone for 30 years now, and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons, but for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them.  So, I think I'm wasting my time, the preachers and priests are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all."

This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column

Much to the 'delight' of the editor, it went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher:

"I've been married for 30 years now.  In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals."

"But I do know this: They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today".

"Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!"

When you are DOWN to nothing, God is UP to something!

Gini's Response: Hmmmmm and Mmmmm  So true.  now that I am 72 I have lost track of the sermons.  Some were definitely "snoozers"  and some were "100% nailed it".  I grew up Southern Baptist, small little Banning church, went to Cal Baptist College (now University).  One of the requirements at CBC was taking two years in Bible (one Old Testament and one New Testament.  The professors was in the "snoozer" category.  She was in her 70s and her lectures were straight read from the text book by Hester.  Actually she was a joke around campus - SAD.  But here I am at age 72 and I LOVE to read God's Word.  So Hmmm and Mmmm.  His Word says "His Word will not return to Him void."  It NEVER grows old.  It continues to nourish this old lady. 

Head Conversations

March 19, 2014 ·

I'm not a night person...prefer to be home in relaxed clothing when the sun goes down...last night was my Bible study meeting and all day yesterday it was "I'm going...I'm not going...I'm going...I'm not going." Going won out at 5:15 and I had to be there at 7 with a 20 minute drive...so I started a new conversation in my head "you can do this!" So glad the "go" won out. The study in God's Word was awesome...Peggy McAulay's leading/teaching was great, discussions were special and God met me there with HIS love and grace. Thanks Precepts and Peggy.

Waiting

And once again I post something from the past. This is from 3-12-14. The words are from the devotional book "Jesus Calling". I find it interesting that I can't remember what we were waiting for four years ago. But, it seems there is even more waiting on this 12th day of March, four years later. I'm always reminded of words in the Bible about "waiting". This seems to be a position God often chooses for us. And, if you are like me, you don't like it. But these words from J.C. paint a beautiful word picture of a strong chain. The ( ) words are from four years ago post on Facebook: (For those in the waiting room: "Waiting, trusting, and hoping are intricately connected, like golden strands interwoven to form a strong chain. Trusting is the central strand, because it is the response from My children that I desire the most. Waiting and hoping embellish the central strand and strengthen the chain that connects you to Me."
- Jesus Calling, March 12, 2014 THIS IS FOR MY FAMILY AS WE WAIT TOGETHER AND TRUST GOD TOGETHER. you... Gini, Mom, Sister, Wife & Mimi)

Working Out

In January I was contacted by Abi Correale, a junior at Biola.  Abi is my niece Lisa's daughter.  Abi is in the nursing program at Biola.  One of her classes is regarding geriatrics and she has an assignment to interview a "senior adult".  She is to do 5 interviews.  As of this writing we have concluded 4 and we will finish in March.  Her assignment is due in April.

These interviews have been interesting and I told Abi she will know me better than my own sister knows me!  We discuss physical, mental and spiritual health.  As we discussed physical I told her about my decline in this area - especially in my muscle tone and ability to walk well.  Long story short as a result of this discussion, I contacted a friend who is a personal trainer with a very, very small gym.  In the first week of March 2018 I began a 2 x a week, one hour each session work out with him.  I am SO ENCOURAGED and EXCITED to see improvement.  I'm grateful to God for this.