Being Linked to Jesus

From Pastor Eric Kapur

3 great questions and prayer to consider:

• Am I trying to do things that Jesus has not asked me to do? Am I trying to be something God has not asked me to be (ie, perfect, never weak, always competent,)? 
• Am I carrying things that Jesus has not asked me to carry? Am I carrying things that only Jesus can carry? 
• Did Jesus tell me to bear this? If so, how can I bear it in dependence and trust? If not, why am I bearing it then? What does this say about what I am really yoked to?

As the Spirit brings clarity and conviction, let this move you to pray an honest prayer of repentance like this: Jesus, I’m weary and tired of carrying it all, I"m exhausted from trying to be so good and have it all figured out and bear it all. I can’t be good enough!! I don’t know what to do. The things I'm carrying that you haven't asked me to - I can't put them down apart from your grace. The things you have asked me to - I can't bear apart from your strength. Help me take up your yoke that I might find rest for my soul and help others find rest in you.

Finished Work

This is a memory I've read from 3 years ago about an emotionally painful experience I had with Kyla.  This will be forever etched in my memory.  We have had many good days since that painful day with her three years ago.  But I am reminded how fragile relationships are.  As I continue to see the pain that comes and goes in my personal life and the pain of broken relationships around me I KNOW in my heart how critical the finished work of Jesus on the cross is.  But my acceptance of His work is important as well.

August 5, 2016 at 3:29 PM ·

"A Christian trusts a finished work". I read that in a devotional book today and the words seemed to jump off the page. A finished work. And Jesus said (from the cross) "It is finished". Is this the finished work I am trusting? Yes and No. Strange that I would read that sentence just one day after a VERY bad day. In some ways, pain is my enemy. Yesterday it raised its ugly head. Kyla and I were building something together and it was quite a project. We were finishing it on the floor when she looked at me and said, "This is a really good day". Then she smiled and continued her work. It was shortly after those sweet words when pain in my lower back screamed at me. Gingerly I stood and told Kyla I had to stop. "Mimi's back is hurting". How well can a 5 year old understand that? Try as I could, I couldn't get the pain to let up --- Tylenol, ice, lying down --- nothing helped. I needed to move slowly through the house. But what we built was blocking my movement so I showed her how to easily separate the pieces so I could walk. She said no. So I did it for her. With my foot. I kicked and the beautiful structure fell into smaller pieces. To emphasize my anger and frustration I yelled at her. Oh how quickly a sweet relationship can crumble. Pain or not, I scolded myself, internally and tried to repair the structure. "Do you want to help me, Kyla?" "NO!" she said with tears, "You hurt my feelings."

Do I trust the finished work of Jesus on the cross. Yes. I believe He died for me because of days like yesterday. But also No. I don't trust Him to guide me to a safer place when I am standing on the edge of the cliff of anger. Because I have had experience with this cliff in different circumstances I have learned to hear His words of warning and words of wisdom of "Come to Me and I will help you with this." I heard those words of warning on and off yesterday. In those instances, pain was my friend...part of the warning. But I chose to not heed His gentle calling me back. Anger and stubbornness hang out together. Yesterday, they won.
Today is a better day...less pain. But, best of all, I went to that place of forgiveness. At the cross, I experienced once again His gentle grace. Now, for the hard part...to restore the broken relationship with my precious Kyla. Charlie said, "Gini, she will forgive you. It will just take time." I began mending the bridge of forgiveness for her today. I rebuilt, as best I could the structure. Hopefully tomorrow she will build again and I look forward to those sweet words, "This is a good day, Mimi."

It Is Well With My Soul

Horation G. Spafford, a 43 year old Chicago businessman, suffered financial disaster in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.  He and his wife were still grieving over the death of their son shortly before the fire, and he realized they needed to get away for a vacation.  Knowing that their friend Dwight L. Moody was going to be preaching in evangelistic campaigns in England that fall, Spafford decided to take the entire family to England.  His wife and four daughters went ahead on the SS Ville du Havre, and he planned to follow in a few days.

But on the Atlantic Ocean the ship was struck by an iron sailing vessel and sank within twelve minutes.  226 lives were lost---including the Spaffords' four daughters.  When the survivors were brought to shore at Cardiff, Wales, Mrs. Spafford cabled her husband, "Saved alone."

Spafford booked passage on the next ship.  As they were crossing the Atlantic, the captain pointed out the place where he thought the Ville Du Havre had gone down.  That night, Spafford penned the words "When sorrows like sea billows roll...it is well, it is well with my soul."

Peter Rabbit

June 16, 2015 at 9:24 AM ·

Have you ever felt like your life is that of a child's storybook story? My favorite as I grew up was Peter Rabbit. In fact, to honor our first grandchild I had Peter R. tattooed on my ankle. Remember in the story, Peter is naughty and goes into Mr. McGregor's garden. In the end he frantically looks for the gate to escape. Well, in our life, Charlie is Mr. McGregor. But it isn't a garden in our story...it is the entire backyard. Bunnys are cute...but destructive! When they eat grass, they stay in one spot and eat until it is bare---no roots! So every day Charlie has walked the perimeter securing it with wire to keep the bunny out. Yesterday he found a breach and felt he had located the problem. Then last night, not only did he see "Peter" again, but Peter brought a friend! (to be continued)... June 16, 2019 So here we are, in my "to be continued story, 4 years later. Now, I am accompanied to the backyard by Jackson, our little dog. And, he finds the little piles of rabbit droppings that tell me, "yes, Peter Rabbit is still around". But, no matter about his friskiness. Peter Rabbit will always be my favorite bunny.

Remembering D Day

June 6, 2014 at 11:39 AM ·

Today is the 70th Anniversary of D Day...I'm 68. So obviously, I wasn't there and all I can glean of this day and event is through history. Only GOD knows where we as Americans and free people would be without the events of that day and the days and months that followed. One of my personal resolves is to work on my "take for granted" attitudes. So, I'm writing this little "tribute" to this day of history to say a feeble, yet deeply meant THANK YOU to those who fought for ALL the amazing freedoms I have. "Dear God, Have mercy on us...forgive our wayward ways. Inspire us to truly seek You, through your Redeemer Son, Jesus. Thank you for preserving our freedoms. Give us grateful hearts."

OH WOW! MORE GOD, less me

Romans 8:38-39   "For I am convinved that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present no future, not any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Philippians 2:9-11 "Therefore God also has highly exalted HIM and given HIM a name which is above every name, that at the name of JESUS, every knee should bow of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth and that every tongue should confess that JESUS Christ is LORD to the glory of God the Father."

etc. etc. etc x a zillion and more

Life on Planet Earth

One of my favorite TV stations is Animal Planet and I am particularly drawn to those stories that deal with people giving their lives to preserving the lives of animals endangered or just individual family pets under the care of vets.  It is particularly fascinating to me the efforts dedicated to conservation of species like rhinos, giant tortoises, gorillas, tigers and many more.  I can't imagine a world without them.  I hope as you read this it won't sound like preaching but simply me sharing my heart with you. I saw a story about the efforts to preserve the pregnancy of a rhino mama.  I was shocked to learn that the rhino horn is the most valuable thing on the planet - more than diamonds and gold.  Therefore, their future is fragile.  As I watched the human care over one expectant rhino it deepened my respect for female humans and animals who are honored to carry new life in their bodies.  Without them life would end - no more rhinos.  No more tigers. No more giant tortoises and the list goes on.  But of course the male is so critical and part of the future generation.  So, now, in my lifetime I see human conversation on a high alert to preserve our future.  We are the created beings above all that God created.  And yet, our story seems to be turning against that special place in creation.  Babies in the womb are sometimes and in some dark places referred to as parasites that do not deserve to live.  I do see extreme efforts to conserve the human life that God considers His greatest creation and HE, too, moved in history to conserve us.  Jesus gave His life to give us eternal life.  He, who created time and lived outside of time, stepped into time to redeem our time.