I loved this little inn. A “boutique” hotel, they call it. I loved everything about it. The elegant, unique decor that wasn’t fussy but welcoming and whimsical, the fragrances, the soft sheets, the quiet. We checked in using an app, so I didn’t meet anyone. It was the innkeepers day off. So for a whole day I had been admiring it with no one to thank. Every unique antique and carefully chosen texture and color revealed the designer’s personality. It was definitely someone I wanted to meet.
The next morning I met the owner at the coffee bar. I told her how much I had been admiring the design choices and special touches, and she told me she had done it all! At that moment, I was surprised at my own emotional reaction. I was downright gushy and I even teared up a bit (a little embarrassing).
Her face lit up at my words, clearly touched that someone had noticed her creative decisions. There was something deeply satisfying about being able to express my admiration directly to the person behind what I’d been enjoying. Without that moment, all my gratitude would have stayed bottled up, with nowhere to go. Instead, it turned into a brief but meaningful connection — sweet and surprising, even between two complete strangers.
Might it be something like that when we meet the Creator of the universe face to face? It is one thing to appreciate the beauty and creativity of creation and even get a sense of the Person coming through the design. But it is another thing altogether to interact with the One who is responsible and hear His delight that you noticed what He has done.
The next time you notice something God has designed, instead of just admiring the art, tell the Artist.
“The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.” Psalm 19:1
This is the Eden Rose given to me by my mom many years ago. Each spring when it blooms I thank her in my heart and bless the Artist who created it.
Fifteen years ago, I moved to Western New York from North Carolina in the middle of January. There was already an accumulation of several lake effect snowfalls on the ground. I had moved to the frozen tundra! I had been in a regular habit of running and I didn’t want to lose my routine. So I dutifully drove to the local gym and joined up. I then proceeded to go to the gym 5 times a week….NOT! Sigh.
After the snow melted, I realized that I have a perfect running track right in front of my house. One loop around is 1/2 mile. It’s flat, no through-traffic and it’s free. On many of my morning runs, I came across a precious sight. An older gentleman and toddler walking hand in hand at the toddler’s pace. Both of them are enjoying the other’s company and neither of them is in a hurry. It makes me say, “awww.” I didn’t know the man at the time but I figured he was probably retired and could be out doing something for himself, playing golf, going out with his friends, or whatever. But instead, he was choosing to spend his morning with this little child, probably a grandchild or even a great grandchild, but nevertheless, so endearing. After several times of seeing this precious pair and just enjoying the sweetness, I pondered why it is so endearing.
When someone of greatness–whether it be of age, wisdom or position–lowers themselves to care for someone weak or helpless, we get a glimpse of God. Think of all the movies where a super hero stoops down from their pedestal to anonymously save someone. The Biblical concept of “gentleness” means having the ability to overpower or harm someone but choosing instead to use that position to care for them. God demonstrates His gentleness toward us in Jesus. While we were still sinning against Him, Jesus died for us.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8
The ascension of Christ is often overlooked as a significant event in the life of Jesus. You might view this as just another in the long list of miracles that Jesus performed, but it is so much more.
What does the ascension have to do with you and me and our everyday lives as Christians, if anything?
The answer is. . . EVERYTHING!
After Jesus rose from the dead He spent time with His disciples over a period of 40 days at different times and places in His resurrected body. Then He rose in another way…into heaven. (Acts 1). His ascension is his Inauguration, His Coronation, His Ordination as our High Priest. When He ascended, He entered into heaven to the real tabernacle – not a copy of the real one, the real one (Hebrews 9:11).
When Jesus ascended, it was the start of what He continues to do at this very moment! He is at the right hand of God (I Peter 3:22) and He is interceding for us (Romans 8:34).
The Ascension in Art The ascension has been depicted throughout history in art with various perspectives emphasizing a different aspect of the event…Jesus’ humanity, His divinity, some have him slightly off the ground, others high above.
One way Jesus is portrayed in art and icons is surrounded by this shape. It’s called a Mandorla – meaning ‘almond’ in Italian. When two circles overlap, it creates this shape. This symbol represents the intersection of heaven and earth. Jesus is the union of humanity and divinity. He is fully human and fully God.
The Ascension of Jesus Christ, gold mosaic; Neamt Monastery, Romania
The Original Design In God’s original design for the world, God and humanity would live in perfect harmony. That was the vision of Eden. As creatures in His image, we are created for perfect union with Him.
The Problem But sin broke that perfect union and we became separated from our loving Creator. So now we have a broken relationship. If there is a broken relationship it takes both parties to participate in the reconciliation. But there was a problem. God in His holiness could not fellowship with us in our sin and we humans in our sinfulness and brokenness could not ever be good enough to be acceptable to God.
The Solution So, the only answer was that God had to become a human! In Jesus all of humanity is restored to union with God. Like the mandorla created by overlapping circles, Jesus became that perfect bond, perpetually human, eternally God.
Jesus ascended bodily into heaven. He didn’t suddenly “unincarnate.” The angels at the ascension said “This same Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).
He will forever be the incarnate Lord – both human friend and divine savior.
Why the Ascension Matters for you….
Sometimes we get the idea that being a Christian is having “Jesus in my heart.” This is only a partial truth and robs us of the full power of the Christian life. A better, more Biblical definition of being a Christian is that WE ARE IN CHRIST.… IN CHRIST. We have to be in Him for Him to be in us! If you immerse a sponge in a tub of water, the sponge is in the water and the water is in the sponge. This is a metaphor of life in Christ.
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears you also will appear with him in glory.
Colossians 3:1-4
Your true life is hidden in Jesus. So, if Jesus is ascended to the Father, you are ascended with Him! I pray that your heart will thrill at this truth and this hope will shape all that you do and all that you are. Our hope is eternal!
I seem to be thinking a lot about weddings lately. This week my husband and I celebrated our 32nd anniversary of our wedding in 1986. Where does the time go? There is another wedding on the horizon in our family as our youngest just proposed to the love of his life and will be getting married next year.
And then, of course, millions of people are tuning in to see the wedding of a prince and princess today. Have you noticed that the people being interviewed are absolutely giddy about the marriage of two people they have never met?
A friend asked me yesterday if I was going to watch it and why I thought so many people are fascinated by it. My answer may have surprised him because I don’t think it’s about the dress or the royalty or even the gossip. I think it’s about heaven. Not in the sense of “oh isn’t love heavenly?” …. I mean heaven.
The book of Ecclesiastes says that “God has made all things beautiful in its time and He has also set eternity in the human heart” (Ecc. 3:11). Our fascination with weddings is evidence of that secret treasure that God has placed in every human being that He has created.
Everyone’s favorite part of the wedding ceremony is the grand processional. The bride makes her long-awaited entrance and she locks eyes with the groom. Royal weddings especially give me chills as the grand music begins and the dramatic cathedral train of the bride’s dress flows down the aisle behind her. Oh, how we love to see the groom’s eyes full of love and adoration for his bride.
What is it about weddings?
When we witness a wedding, we are seeing into the future….it is the future of all who have put their hope in Jesus. The Bible describes the Kingdom of God culminating with a wedding…The Marriage Supper of the Lamb. The bride of Christ is His church and he will present her in all her glory, perfect and blameless some day. He died for His bride so that they can spend eternity together.
It’s more than just our vicarious experience of seeing two people in love. The deepest longing of the human heart is being awakened…to know and to be deeply loved by God, the One who made us and loves us eternally and will never fail us. That is why weddings and marriages are so important. They represent this deeper, eternal truth. They are a shadow of what is to come.
My fourteen year old dog died a few weeks ago. I see this on Facebook every day. Your family pet dies and you feel the need to post a picture saying goodbye to the best dog ever. That was exactly what I did, but not one photo, eighteen. Ok, it’s a dog, our family pet, not a human. But, when it happened to me, I realized this is an odd kind of grief. It’s not like when a person dies and we share the grieving process in a broader community. With a pet, the grief isn’t shared as much…it’s more private.
With every step in ridding my home of the remembrances of the dog, the grief broke over me again. Her passing represented an ending to an era of our lives. She was the dog we adopted after our youngest child was out of diapers and we could bear the thought of caring for a “baby” again. And over the years, she became a member of the family, a constant faithful presence and a sweet demonstration of unconditional love. But, I was almost embarrassed by my sadness. For heaven’s sake, there is much worse loss that could have happened, right? Nevertheless, I grieved like I lost a best friend.
We grieve any time we lose something or someone. Grief is part of the human experience. Separation from someone you love is painful. Though this sadness we feel at losing someone hurts, it also shows us something deeper about the universe…..We are not meant for goodbyes. God put eternity in the heart of every soul. That is why goodbye seems so wrong, because it is! This world is not permanent, but there is an eternal place and an eternal Person who loves us and made us to live with Him forever. Jesus. There is so much about this broken world that I don’t understand, but I know this one thing. God loves us and He gave His Son so that we may live with Him forever.
Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.There is more than enough room in my Father’s home.If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. (John 14:1-3)
Maribeth's Hope 