As I post today, my mind is full of thoughts of Easter. We have celebrated the Savior, His sacrifice on the cross, and the power of the resurrection. I am not ready to leave the story. We must never leave the wonder and miracle of His love. We must tell the story in how we live our lives. Yet, how often we mark the special day on our calendar,  raise our voices in praise, sing of His love, His life, His mercy.  Then, Easter Sunday is over and we go on with our spring breaks and the normal routine of our lives. I wonder if you might linger a little longer this week in the message of Easter. Let's soak in the hope, the promise, the mercy and love displayed by the Savior.
 
What difference does the cross and resurrection make in your  life? 
This Easter morning I sang the words to a powerful song entitled “Mercy Tree” with the choir at church.
​ The incredible lyrics keep stirring in my mind. Take a moment and ponder the words below. 
There is a wonderful youtube version of the song by Anthony Evans. 
Here is the link if you would like to watch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWgL7hE307E

​MERCY TREE
On a hill called Calvary
Stands an endless mercy tree.
Ev’ry broken, weary soul,
Find your rest and be made whole.

Stripes of blood that stain its frame,
Shed to wash away our shame;
From the scars, pure love released
Salvation by the mercy tree.

In the sky, between two thieves
Hung the blameless Prince of Peace;
Bruised and battered, scarred and scorned,
Sacred head pierced by our thorns.

“It is finished” was His cry;
The perfect Lamb was crucified.
His sacrifice our victory,
Our Savior chose the mercy tree.

Hope went dark that violent day.
The whole earth quaked at Love’s display.
Three days silent in the ground,
This body born for Heaven’s crown
​
On that bright and glorious day,
When Heaven opened up the grave!
And He’s alive and risen indeed!
Oh, praise Him for the mercy tree!

Death has died. 
Love has won!
Hallelujah, Hallelujah!
Jesus Christ has overcome;
He is risen from the dead!

One day soon we’ll see His face;
Ev’ry tear He’ll wipe away.
No more pain or suffering:
Praise Him for the mercy tree!

Death has died.
Love has won!
Hallelujah, Hallelujah!
Jesus Christ has overcome;
He is risen from the dead! 

On a hill called Calvary
​Stands an endless mercy tree.

       As I prepared my heart to sing the song this week, my mind kept going back to the Scriptures; to the disciples who  left everything and followed Jesus and to the women who served Him, loved Him, and followed Him all the way to the cross. How desperate they must have felt on that dark day. That day when they believed all hope was gone, all dreams crushed for their Savior had been crucified.
        As I reflect on the story of Mary Magdalene, whose name means “bitterness,” I imagine her at the cross, broken and weeping as she watches her Savior die. She doesn’t know what is coming.
She only knows that this One who cast out seven demons from her, her deliverer.....has breathed His last breath.
He is the One who changed her bitter life forever, gave her a reason to live.
He is the One who offered her and the other women dignity, worth, and love.

How could it be that her Jesus was now hanging lifeless on the cross?

​His body was broken for her, but she did not understand that yet.
​His love had saved her and her love had led her to the cross, and there she stayed through His suffering.
She, John and the other women stayed, unlike the others who fled in fear.
She stayed through the spectacle and horror of it all. 

And I wonder, would I have followed Him all the way to the cross? Would I have had the courage? Would you?

         Mary stayed and watched as Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea took the body of Jesus down from the cross. They tenderly cleaned and wrapped his body in seventy five pounds of myrrh and aloe and placed Him in a new tomb in a garden. Only when the stone was sealed did Mary Magdalene leave; with the intention of returning after the Sabbath to further prepare His body for burial with more spices. 
         Read the account below of her return to the tomb in John 20:1-18. Try to place yourself in the scene as you read the Scriptures. Imagine what Mary Magdalene must have thought and felt when she saw the empty tomb that day.

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”
3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) 10 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.
11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”
“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).
17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

        The same love that held Mary at the foot of the cross brings her to the grave that early dark morning. I imagine the walk there was slow, weary and labored in her grief.  How her broken heart must have raced when she found the tomb empty with strips of linen that had been wrapped around His body lying on the floor. Desperate, Mary ran to tell the disciples. Imagine her pain as she wonders who could have taken Jesus and why? She believes she is robbed of her last act of devotion to care for His body in death.
​
​And she weeps.....
        Then she looks inside the tomb, and suddenly this woman who had been delivered of the presence of demons in her life was in the presence of angels! 

         And then the moment comes.... a man speaks words of compassion, “Why are you crying?” Mary, eyes blinded by her tears, mistakes Him as a gardener. Then Jesus, the resurrected, living Lord of her life, speaks her name, Mary.... And she knows.... And Jesus knows her,  every detail of her life. He knows that her overwhelming sense of gratitude and love for Him is what drove her to the cross and now to the grave.
​And He cares....deeply. 
​And Mercy calls her by name. ​
Her Savior Lives!     

      And she grabs hold of Him, clings to Him with a love that she will never let go. Her Lord, her teacher lives!
Mary Magdalene is the first one to see the resurrected Lord alive. 
Her despair turns to joy!

Death has died. Love has won!

​Her darkness is filled with the presence of His light. 
She has been faithful and He commissions her, as He does us,
to share the good news that He lives!

What will you do with this truth? 
​
Jesus knows your struggles and your darkness.
 When life seems overwhelming and tears flow, 
When you’re tempted to lose hope............
Jesus cares, Jesus saves,  and He knows your name. 

​You too can walk out of the tomb of whatever
​is holding you and live! 



​His love ran red for you.
​ Find your rest and be made whole in Him.

Then....Live in the light of His presence,
                in the Resurrection power of His deliverance. 
Choose today to follow Jesus and live in the beauty
of His redeeming love, and extravagant grace.
​
Jesus chose to offer His life on the Mercy Tree for you.
​
Do you believe? Do you know Him as Savior and Lord?
Mercy calls your name. 

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son,
that whoever believes in Him
​should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

​In the powerful name of my Risen Lord,
Kathy

Resources: Mercy Tree, words and music by Krissy Nordhoff
and Michael Neale, Images: Pinterest, Monica Wood

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As you have read from my last couple of blogs, thoughts of NEW have weighed heavy on my mind and in my spirit.  It is possible that you will continue to read more on this subject, because that's where The Lord has me right now.  I had the wonderful opportunity to speak this past weekend to our past Restore Retreat participants at a reunion that Kathy and I hosted.  My talk was entitled A New Day and with spring in the air, it seemed quite appropriate.  I will save the details of that evening for another time for I do not believe it is the right timing to share that in this blog.  God has a different plan.

I am sitting here, praying over what to convey to you.  I have struggled all week knowing that it is my turn to write.  I have promised the Lord that if He doesn't give me a word, that I will not write from the flesh.  

This is the week leading up to Good Friday and Resurrection Day!  I remember one of my Jewish piano students once asking me, "What's so good about Good Friday? Isn't that when Jesus died?"  What a wonderful opportunity The Lord gave me that day to share the good news of His resurrection and salvation plan!  

Jesus was creating something new...

He was creating freedom from the Law.  There was no more need to sacrifice animals to make atonement for our sin, for He was creating a new form of payment, with His own perfect blood.  He was creating a new open passage directly to the throne room of God as the veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom.  He was creating a new life for those who believe and put their trust in Him.  
I'm sure the list could go on forever.  

During the writing of this blog, I received a text from a friend asking me if I was watching the Passion of Christ.  Sadly, I had to tell her no because I'm on a deadline.  Then my little brain began to do some wandering!  Hmmm...I wonder if there is a YouTube or something that I could add to my blog to help everyone focus on this special week leading up to Good Friday?  It was then that I found this video on my very first search!  It is considered the best scene in the movie, The Passion of the Christ.  I'm sure it has been rated the BEST because of the cinematography, but after watching this 2 minute and 15 second clip, I think it is the best because of the closing words of this scene.  If you have never seen this movie, I need to warn you that it is very graphic and quite difficult to watch; however, the producer did a fabulous job portraying only a fraction of what Christ actually went through!  If you are unable to view the video below, I have added a link.  You can click the link and it will take you directly to the YouTube video.

Click here to watch the video clip if the above doesn't work for you   https://youtu.be/ylO_Vp7aReQ
​

"I make all things new."  

Do you believe that?  Perhaps we know it in our head, but does our heart really believe...that it is a personal promise?

If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation! 2 Corinthians 5:17

I have been created anew the day I trusted Christ and turned my life over to Him.  It is my spiritual birthday month!  He continues to refine me.  I fail Him again and again, yet He continues to love me and pursue me.  He whispers in my ear, "It's a new day...my mercy is new every morning...I am faithful to complete in you what I began.  It is for you that I gave my life because I hold you dear to my heart.  Trust that I can and have washed away all your guilty stains and make you white as snow.  You are my beloved.

This week, I encourage you to focus your days on the cross.  Read the story again and again.  This is the greatest love of all.  And each day that you feel like you fall a little short, slide a little bit further, or get frustrated that you don't measure up, remember His sacrifice.  His love.  His agony.  His obedience to the Father.  Remember His power, that great resurrection power, available to us because we are joint heirs, His children, His beloved.  Let Him whisper in your ear, "Today is a new day...my mercy is new every morning...I am faithful to complete in you what I began!"

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I think I see some recurring themes here of arches and colors and light as I post these pictures!

 What messages are found within the pictures and objects of your home?

         Ours is not a perfect home. We are blessed that it is filled with beautiful things and gifts of love, but we live real life here. Later this morning I discovered that our dog was sick during the night in several rooms all over the carpet! And I walked in this afternoon to find a snake in my kitchen! Yes a snake! The high flood waters have them searching dry, high ground and this one liked my kitchen! Apparently, we had left a door open earlier. Ugh! I was in a panic, frozen in fear. Ken was at a rehearsal. Fortunately, a neighbor came and rescued me and got the unwanted visitor out. It's kind of funny when I think about it now as I am blogging about home. Not exactly my vision of a peaceful, beautiful home, but definitely real!

         Amidst the beautiful artwork, there is too much clutter, repairs to be made,(like the current leak we just discovered in the roof!) and many areas that need my attention. But, it is our special place, the home my father built for us long ago, the home where my children were raised, the home where we have kindled our love for each other and for our Lord, the place where we know the intimacy of belonging and the joy of becoming.  In this home we have laughed and cried, worked, celebrated with friends, made treasured memories and glorious music, feasted, worshipped and prayed for 33 years. 

         I want my home to be a place where people want to linger, where they sense the presence of Jesus, where they feel loved and welcome in an atmosphere of beauty. I imagine you feel the same way. Perhaps you love to cook and your home is more a place where wonderful tastes and smells draw in those whom you love. Your home should be a reflection of you, a blessing to be shared.  Our homes reflect our beliefs and our personalities with the colors we choose, the messages we portray, and more importantly the love found within them.  That’s what transforms the buildings that provide us shelter into homes that nurture us, protect us, and warm us.

Love. Lavish, extravagant love. Love that sacrifices.
     Love that holds us together in the storms of life.
            Love that provides a safe haven,  a place of devotion to Jesus.
That is what is of greatest value in the homes we create. 

       As I ponder that thought, my mind goes back to the stories of Jesus ministry in the homes He frequented.
​ Jesus was drawn to the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. We see him in Bethany sharing a meal with his friends, teaching words of truth. He felt welcome there. He felt loved there.  Most of us know the story of Jesus at the home of Mary and Martha from Luke 10:38-42 (NIV)

“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.  She had a sister called Mary,who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.  But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,  but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

       Mary chose to sit at the feet of Jesus. She was devoted to His words. She listened. His presence was of utmost importance to her. She loved her Lord deeply, extravagantly. She chose to pour out her love on Him in her home, despite the scorn of her very busy and distracted sister.
​
Because Mary chose devotion to Jesus in her home, she knew intimately the heart of her Lord.

It takes many, many hours for us to develop, research, and to refine our blogs.  If that were all I had to do day in and day out, it might become faster for me.  I might be a little more thorough, and write in such a way that it wouldn’t take quite as long for you to read.  So, I’ll try to write fast if you will try to keep up with my writing and thought process!  Here is a short incomplete list of parades that came to my mind:

• Animals into the Ark
• The Midnight Parade of Escape
• The Parades of Jesus

Within each so-called parade, there seems to be some type of celebration, followed with His promises.  These parades aren’t necessarily what we think of at Mardi Gras, Thanksgiving, or the Rose Bowl with floats, laughter, music, and such.  These parades are more like just moving from point A to point B.  Parades are defined as a public procession.

Animal Parade:
We all know the story of Noah and the Ark, or so we should!  God chose to preserve His created animals and mankind through an ark built by Noah, architected by God’s design.  He was the only man who found favor in the eyes of the Lord because he loved God and obeyed Him.  The animals came in two by two.  God shut the door, the rains came down, and the floods came up!  All was destroyed as they spent right at a year developing sea legs upon that floating dark, smelly, zoo!  It probably wasn’t Mrs. Noah’s idea of the romantic cabin in the woods or private get-away!

If you are into numbers in the Bible like I am, you will find it interesting that in Genesis 8:13 Noah opened the ark to dry land on 01/01/601.  The date was first year of 600’s.  601 in fact (six is the number of man), 1st month, and the first day of the month!  I guess it was kinda like New Years Day if you compare the dates to our calendar!
​New beginning, new beginning, new beginning! It was a second chance for mankind.

​After the flood, God established an everlasting covenant and celebrated with a banner in the sky…the rainbow.  I can only imagine the ooh’s and ahh’s proclaimed by Noah and his family at the beautiful spectrum of colors displayed against the beautiful azure palette above head and over the once dreary waters and sky. 

Have you been in that place?  The place when God calls you to do something that you think you cannot possibly be equipped to do and the place where total dependance is on Him?  You have to move from a "comfort zone" to a "trust zone!"  Be encouraged, friend.  God will see you through.  He has the set of plans!  The waters may seem stormy and over your head, but fret not nor be afraid.  There is always a promise of hope when it comes to answering God's call!  And what comes after the rough waters will take your breath away with uncontainable joy, beauty, and peace.

The Midnight Parade:
There was a call to leave (Ex. 12: 29-31)…a great parade of Hebrew Children leaving all behind but a few items God told them to grab.  It was a great escape in the night!  Verse 22 instructs the Hebrews to set themselves apart by putting blood on the doorpost of their home and not to go outside.  It was the Passover sacrifice.  At midnight (the turning of a new day I might add!), the Lord struck all of the firstborn in Egypt.  Only the view (sign) of the blood shed and spread over the lintel and doorpost caused the Lord to pass over and spare them from death.  The Israelites would experience a new life, new ways, favor and a new promise of hope!  New promise…I will be with you, I will lead you and I will fight for you.  And God did as He said.  He was leading them by a column of fire by night and a cloud by day.  He became the light and direction during the darkness.  Respite during the brawling heat of the journey.  And as they approached the Red Sea, (14:14) The Lord fought for them!

​The Passover celebration was instructed as a reminder for their salvation and not open to just anyone!  It was a memorial and ordinance for the chosen children who obeyed the words of the Lord.  It is a celebration that we share today as followers of Christ.      
 
What are some practical ways to celebrate and remember the day that Jesus set you free from your sin?  Your so-called midnight escape?

The Parades of Jesus
​
Read Matt. 21 – Hosanna, Blessed is He Who Comes
Jesus parades the street on a donkey & colt –
There’s celebration and singing!
Messiah has come – salvation is near as was prophesied –
​promise of redemption.

I really never gave too much thought for the two animals.  The New American Commentary suggests:
But irrespective of the correct reading of Zech 9:9,51 it would be natural for the mother to come along if her colt had never previously been ridden (Mark 11:2).52 Verse 5 can easily be taken as implying that Jesus rode only on the young donkey, appropriate symbolism for his purity and holiness. “Daughter of Zion” refers to the people of Jerusalem. The “king” will be the Messiah. But an unarmed, plainly clad civilian riding a donkey contrasts sharply with an armed soldier astride a warhorse. This Messiah comes in humility, gentleness, and peace.[1]
But I also see the symbolic “newness” ushered in.  A new way to salvation, thus fulfilling prophesies.
I love that Matthew Henry brings out the importance of the donkey as being a
“creature made not for state, but service, not for battles, but for burdens; slow in its motions, but sure, and safe, and constant.”[2]  I see it as a quiet symbolic promise of security!

​Celebration, honor and song accompanied this triumphal parade!
 
I think of another parade in which my Jesus entered.  This parade was not one of joyful celebration for those who had eyes to see, but I suspect, a big celebration for those who falsified and displayed malice against Him.  First, it was the parade to the chief priests and scribes. Then He was paraded off to Pilate.  The angry, the accusing, and the condemning led this parade! Pilate found no fault in Jesus, but because of the determination of the mob, Pilate paraded him off to Herod. After Herod’s questioning and mockery of Jesus, he and his soldiers adorned Jesus in gorgeous apparel and paraded Him back to Pilate. Pilate, still finding no guilt upon Him, delivered Jesus’ fate into the hands of those who sought to put Him to death. He was paraded down The Via Dolorosa to Golgotha where He would be raised high upon a cross and put on display.  Crowds watched.  Followers mourned.  Rulers scoffed.  I surmise a wicked celebratory attitude of  “I guess we showed you!” took place in the hearts of those who denied Him as The Messiah, Savior of the world. A sad celebration…but oh the promise yet to be unfolded and revealed!  The promise of forgiveness as He cried out, Father forgive them!  The promise of a direct line to the throne room as the veil was torn from top to bottom.  The promise of death defeated as He took the keys of death and hell and rose again on the third day!  The promise of salvation, full and free!  It’s the promise of a future resurrection when all of the dead in Christ shall rise at His rapture.  The promise of the great Revelation parade as He rides on the White Horse and victoriously defeats the great battle, which precedes the Great White Throne judgment and the New Jerusalem. 
The promise of all things new! Observe to whom He gives it! 

​He gives to those who thirsts and overcomes!  These things are a certainty!
 
What freedoms and blessings do you enjoy now because of Christ’s victory on the cross?  (If you need some ideas, look at Romans 6:1-23, 7:1-24, 8:1-39 and 1 Corinthians 15:1-58)

So this thought of parades, celebrations, and promises has taken me on quite a thought-provoking journey.  It is my prayer as you have read this blog today, that you too will step deeper into contemplative study and meditation on the Scriptures and let the Holy Spirit lavishly pour into your heart truths about Himself that speak relevantly during your time of study.  

The Parade:
Do you realize that your life is on parade?  It is Christ who leads us in the procession!  There are people with empty eyes looking up to you as you pass by the shell of their soul.  Their hearts often yearn with…throw me something mister (as we say in Louisiana)…as the fragrance of our knowledge of God spreads everywhere; it’s through our actions, words, looks, love and how we touch lives. 

​How effectively is your life spreading the “fragrance of the knowledge of Him”? Do the people in your sphere of influence tangibly see and experience the goodness and grace of God through you?

The Celebration:
There is a great celebration in store for us.  The Wedding Feast (Rev. 19:9) and gifts of crowns (1 Cor. 9:24,25, 1 Thess. 2:19, 20, James 1:12, 2 Tim. 4:8, 1 Pet. 5:1-4)!  But more importantly, it’s a new life of celebrating the King of kings and Lord of lords.

The Promises:
Then we have His promises…His great and precious promises!  (1 Peter 1;4)

• The promise of identity when we display love to one another (John 13;35)
• The promise of eternal life (John 3:16)
• The promise of conquering (Romans 8:37)
• The promise of Quenched thirst (John 4:14)
• The promise of All things new (2Corinthians 5:17)

Let your mind give thought to other parades: 

• Parade Around the Walls (Jericho)
• Race through the Red Sea
• The Parade Grounds of the Wilderness
• The Parade with a Healing Touch

Can you think of other “parades?”  Spend some time this week imagining each story.  Put yourself in the historical setting, listen to the conversations, and observe the emotions and the actions displayed.  Then, cross over the bridge of history and Biblical culture and apply each story to your own present day story, event or activities. 

Please share with us your insights as you study through parades, celebrations, and promises.  It is a way to encourage other believers!  And as we approach Easter, think heavily upon the parades of Jesus.  He loves you dearly to submit Himself to such scoff, scandal and suffering.  Trust Him.  He gave His all for you!  Won't you let go and give your all to Him?  We know there are celebrations and promises ahead when we release ourselves to the will of the Father.  Ultimately, we inherit all things new by drinking of His water of life and overcoming through the power of His blood.  We become His sons and He our God!

Be blessed as you explore God's parades, celebrations, and promises!
In Christ,
​Sherry

Resources:
​51 On the possibility of at least two interpretive traditions arising out of the Zechariah text, see R. Bartnicki, “Das Zitat von Zach IX, 9–10 und die Tiere im Bericht von Matthäus über dem Einzug Jesu in Jerusalem (Mt XXI, 1–11),” NovT 18 (1976): 161–66.
52 Gundry, Matthew, 409; Green, Matthew, 200.
[1] Craig Blomberg, Matthew, vol. 22, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 312.
[2] Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994), 1720.