Thoughtful About . . . Taking Up Our Cross

Thoughtful About . . . Taking Up Our Cross

by | Apr 2, 2015 | Thoughtful Thursdays, Uncategorized

Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” ~ Mark 10:21

This week, I tend to look long and hard at those verses that tell us to take up the cross. This week, it stops being metaphorical and has a gruesome, beautiful, REAL quality to it. This week, I’ve been giving some unexpected thought to this verse.
As everyone probably recalls, this verse is from the the account of the rich young ruler who approached Jesus to ask how he, who has always obeyed the Law, can have eternal life. I never would have considered it a controversial verse…but I think it probably is. Because Jesus, in his love for the young man, tells him to give up everything. To give it all away to those in need. To take up the cross–to embrace suffering, punishment, trials, pain–and follow Jesus.
I’m sure you’ve heard sermons on this verse. I’m sure you’ve talked about it in studies. I know I have. We’ve talked about how Jesus was identifying the thing that the young man held as an idol–his wealth–and telling him to put it far from him. To actually obey the Law that says to put nothing before God, instead of just claiming to. We’ve talked about how Jesus certainly isn’t telling everyone in the world to sell all their earthly possessions.
Which is true. He isn’t. He would only have to tell us that if we valued our earthly possessions above our heavenly ones. But last year, when we talked about this in Sabbath School, I went home asking myself, “What would I do if Jesus did ask me to give it all up? My house? My cars? My books? My comfortable life. Could I?”
My prized possessions–not the couch. The BOOKS.
We’re all quick to say, “Of course!” But I wasn’t going to accept a trite answer from myself, because I know myself too well, LOL. As I examined my heart, I really wasn’t sure. I wasn’t sure I could walk away from it all if He asked–but I knew that wasn’t how I wanted my heart to be. So I asked Him, that day, to change my heart.
There were no epiphanies in the following months. No tests. No…anything. But when I asked myself the question again about a month ago, I realized that there was no hesitation any longer. I quite simply no longer loved the idea of a comfortable house, a comfortable life, as much as I loved the idea of doing absolutely whatever God asks me to do. If He asks me to give it up, I will.
It’s a strange idea to people today though, isn’t it? We are, above all, a society that craves security. We want to know that our job will be there. That there will be a paycheck every week. That our insurance will cover our bills. That the car will start up every morning. That we’ll have a nest egg to retire on. But I realized yesterday that for most of my adult life, I haven’t had those things. As a freelance writer, editor, and designer, I frankly never know if or when or how the next contract will come. My hubby works for a family business in an industry incredibly unstable. I had no insurance until a couple years ago…and my premiums, thanks to the so-called Affordable Health Care Act, just doubled.
Last night, I was talking to my parents, and they mentioned how if it came down to it, my husband could get a great job. Good pay, benefits. Security.
And I realized…I don’t want it. I don’t want to be tied to “security.” I don’t want to give up my dreams–and worse, give up my ability to say, “Yes, Lord! Here I am!” because I’m too afraid to give up my things. I don’t want to turn into the rich young ruler.
Security, while something we all crave, is an illusion. Things could change at any time. The rain falls on the just and the unjust alike. Fortunes disappear. Economies fail. Businesses go bankrupt. Our only security in this world is Him. In the sure knowledge that He can make less enough.
Our only security is knowing that we will suffer. We will know pain. Heartache. Loss. Persecution. (Death and taxes, as the old saying goes.) Those are sure. Guaranteed.
Our security is knowing that when those times come, we have a Savior who has suffered more, and who understands. Who lost it all, but did it anyway. Who had no place to rest his head, but all the grandeur of heaven. Who had no insurance, but who could heal through the power of the Spirit.
Our security is Him. Not the things of this world. The things of this world are what made men shout, “Crucify Him!” and nail his hands to a cross.
I nail those things to the cross instead. I say that all I am, all I have, is His. 
I will obey your call, Lord. I will take up the cross. Right now, I know that means obeying the call you put on me to homeschool, to write, edit, design, and serve my church. But I know that tomorrow, that call could change. If it does, I pray I won’t hesitate over things. I pray I will follow you out onto the water. To the mouth of the cave. Into the mob. And to the cross.
Thank you, Jesus, for your sacrifice. I’ve spent years trying to fully understand it, and I daresay I’ll spend many years more doing the same. Because the more I see, the more I realize it’s so far beyond all I can comprehend. But I thank you for it. I praise you for it. And I will work diligently to keep my heart open to it, rather than cluttered up with the things of this world.
Remember When . . . Easter Traditions Began?

Remember When . . . Easter Traditions Began?

by | Apr 1, 2015 | Ancient World, Holiday History, Remember When Wednesdays

So, this past winter I looked up the start of some of our most long-lasting Christmas traditions–namely, Santa Claus. And what I learned made me determined to revive the roots of the tradition, not abandon them altogether as I’d been tempted to do.

The Easter Bunny, on the other hand…I think I’m pulling the plug on him.

I actually made Xoe look up the history of the Easter Bunny last year and write a report on it for school, LOL. She was totally confused by what she found–or rather, by what it has to do with Jesus’s resurrection. Good question, my girl. Good question.

Easter is actually from the Roman goddess of spring, Estre. She was a magician, a trickster, and her most famous trick was when she turned a chicken into a rabbit–but which still laid eggs. The Easter egg, then, was an ancient memorial to this goddess and her magic. The egg laid by a rabbit. The Easter Bunny was the product of this magic. Easter, in ancient mythology, was the celebration of the arrival of spring.

It just so happens that the date coincides with the Jewish Passover, which is, of course, when Jesus was crucified and resurrected. And so, the traditions of the Romans merged with Christianity when it was brought to Rome. But unlike Santa Claus, this was no saint who gave selflessly in honor of Christ, and in whose name other gave so their gifts could be anonymous, as Jesus commanded. No, this is pure paganism.

Do I have a problem with searching for colorful plastic eggs? No, not really. It’s a scavenger hunt, which is totally fine. But I do wonder why we call it Easter instead of Resurrection Day. (Actually, my piano teacher growing up thoroughly objected to this and always, always called it Resurrection Day.) I do wonder why the Easter Bunny still shows up. I love celebrating the resurrection, and I’m happy to do it with food, with treats, with things that bring Joy–because it should bring joy!

But I’m all done with the word “Easter.” I’m all done with the traditions that have absolutely no tie to what I’m really celebrating. Resurrection Day, even more than Christmas (in my opinion, LOL), is the foundational day of my Christian faith. Without this day, my hope would be naught. Oh, Jesus still would have paid the price for my sin had He not risen–but if He had not defeated death, then I wouldn’t have hope in life eternal with Him.

This Sunday, my friends, is the anniversary of the absolute best day in human history. And I’m tired of calling it by something that cheapens it. This isn’t the day of spring, of the rebirth of the year, of magical bunnies who lay eggs. This is the day of Resurrection–of the rebirth of my soul. The day Jesus defeated sin and the grave.

Way better than a chicken-rabbit. Just sayin’.

Word of the Week – Hello

Word of the Week – Hello

by | Mar 30, 2015 | Word of the Week

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve looked up the etymology of hello…but for some reason, I’ve never shared. Obviously time to remedy that!

So the life of hello began with Old High German’s hala, hola. It was an imperative form of halon, holon, which meant “to fetch.” It was what people cried out to ferry boat captains to get them to pick one up.

English adopted it as early as the 1400s, using it as an exclamation meant to attract attention, spelling it holla, or hollo. But they didn’t stop there–they also came up with a “bewildering” amount of other forms, like:

halloo 
hallo 
halloa 
halloo 
hello 
hillo 
hilloa 
holla 
holler 
hollo 
holloa 
hollow 
hullo

Hello didn’t catch on among the British for most of history.  Hullo became the standard there, while in the 1880s, America adopted hello as their standard form. It rocketed to the forefront of American speech with the advent of the telephone. Alexander Graham Bell and his cohorts agreed there should be a standard greeting when answering the phone. Bell wanted “ahoy” (which I think is super fun, so I’ve been known to answer like that when it’s my hubby calling), but “hello” won out.


And now hello is quite common in Britain:

Hello, formerly an Americanism, is now nearly as common as hullo in Britain (Say who you are; do not just say ‘hello’ is the warning given in our telephone directories) and the Englishman cannot be expected to give up the right to say hello if he likes it better than his native hullo. [H.W. Fowler, “A Dictionary of Modern English Usage,” 1926]

Thoughtful About . . . A Prayer Request

Thoughtful About . . . A Prayer Request

by | Mar 26, 2015 | Thoughtful Thursdays, Uncategorized

The Black Sea coast in Bulgaria

Since we began using Sonlight curriculum for our homeschooling when Xoe was in 1st grade, we’ve read a lot of missionary stories–and honestly, those stories are some of the best things we’ve read (in my opinion), even amidst all the literature I absolutely adore.

Maybe it’s because I love hearing how the light of Christ has been shone around the world. Maybe it’s because I’m always awed at hearing how He protects and provides for those living out the Great Commission. Maybe it’s because even the losses and sacrifices and martyrs still portray His greatness.

I’ve never felt the call to go into foreign missions myself, much as I admire those who do. My mission field is behind a computer, using the written word, and it’s something I’m passionate about–passionate in the true sense, something I’m willing to suffer for (which is where passion comes from). But I take great Joy in supporting those missionaries who do go out into the world.

Today, I’m sending off my husband on a missions trip. He’s traveling with a family that has long been friends of mine. They were full time missionaries for much of my growing-up years, and now the couple feel the call to return to Bulgaria, where they served for several years before. David is going along to try to help them find business opportunities to help employ the people in the gypsy village they hope to call home, and to provide resources for this couple too.

You may recall my post a few months ago about Stolen Blessings–these are the same people, the same general area in Bulgaria.

And so, I ask today that you pray. Pray for smooth travels into Eastern Europe. Pray for open doors where they’re meant to stride through and closed doors where they’re not. Pray for supernatural understanding. For wisdom. For knowledge. For the glory of the Lord to show up in ways no one expected. For divine appointments and blessings unforeseen. And of course, for safe, uneventful travels back home again.

The kids and I will be here, carrying on with business as usual. And praying. Lots. =) Thanks so much for joining me in those prayers!

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