This Man

So this morning I am listening to Jeremy Camp music on YouTube, trying to psych myself up to cleaning my bathroom, which at this point includes sweeping and mopping the floor as well as scrubbing both the tub and shower. (NOT something I enjoy!) As I'm listening, I come across "This Man." Let me share the lyrics with you: "In only a moment truth Was seen revealed this mystery. The crown that showed no dignity He wore And the King was placed for all the world To show disgrace, but only beauty flowed from this place. Would you take the place of this Man? Would you take the nails from His hands? Would you take the place of this Man? Would you take the nails from His hands? He held the weight of impurity. The Father would not see The reasons had finally come to be to Show the depth of His grace flowed with Every sin erased. He knew that this was Why He came. Would you take the place of this Man? Would you take the nails from His hands? Would you take the place of this Man? Would you take the nails from His hands? And we just don't know the blood and Water flowed and in it all He shows just how much He cares, And the veil was torn so we could have This open door and all these things have Finally been complete. Would you take the place of this Man? Would you take the nails from His hands? Would you take the place of this Man? Would you take the nails from His hands? From His hands From His hands From His hands From His hands From His hands?" So I took a moment and watched a bit of it. The particular version I watched showed scenes from "The Passion of the Christ," where Jesus was being beaten and carrying his own cross. I didn't keep watching long enough to see if it showed Him actually on the cross or not--although I'm sure it did--because I wasn't sure I could stomach it this morning. It was pretty gory and gruesome stuff. The pain and suffering He suffered staggers my imagination. So, then I hear the chorus, "Would you take the place of this Man? Would you take the nails from His hands?" and the thought pops in my head: "WOULD I?" It didn't even take a second to think, "No. No, I would not." Truth be told, that kind of pain would be just too much and there are VERY few people on this earth that I would suffer like that for, and even then I might pray that death came quickly. To do that for all of humanity, for the very people who were causing me that suffering while laughing and jeering--spitting!--at me, for people I've never met, who wouldn't even be alive for thousands of years after my suffering? No, I couldn't. So now I think, "Man, I must be a terrible person! I thought I was a loving, Christian woman." Well, the truth is, that while I AM a loving, Christian woman, I am NOT God. When Bree was born, someone told me, "As much as you love that baby, just imagine... God loves you even more than that!" It was very humbling, because I knew that I loved that baby more than anything I'd ever loved before. Before she was born, I didn't know such a love existed. I couldn't imagine a love bigger and better than that! So that memory brings it into focus. I couldn't take the place of that Man, because I am not capable of loving humanity that much. I am only human, and human beings have, by nature, a bit of selfishness in them. It's always good for me to remember just how much my Lord loves me, it's humbling, and makes me feel all gooey inside. This is why Christians should be happy people: because our God loves us more than we could ever imagine. Have a great day everybody, and God bless you all!

"Above All"

Well, I have been kinda AWOL here on my blog because Sammy--our wonderful little rescue dog--decided that our laptop looked like a good thing to hike his leg on. Needless to say, although the laptop, mercifully, seems to not have died altogether, it does require a password to log in to and one of the letters in the password no longer works on the keyboard. Since it's extremely hard for me to type on my phone or Corey's tablet, I have decided not to post much. I am posting this (as I did the one on 11-11-11) from another laptop. So anyway, I've had "Above All" stuck in my head for a while. It's because of the part of the song that is in one of the Christmas songs we're singing for the Christmas cantata, "like a rose, trampled on the ground, You took the fall, and thought of me, above all." I love the lyrics to "Above All." It reminds me of all that Jesus sacrificed for me. I am very thankful for that. So, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I would like to list the blessings for which I am thankful for, starting with God Himself and His sacrifice for little insignificant me, continuing with Corey, the kids, my parents, my siblings, etc. The thing is, I have so many blessings--indeed, each breath, each second, each morning is a new blessing--that I could never count them all. For that, I am thankful. So I will close with the following Bible verses: "Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name." -1 Chronicles 29:11-13 "Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever." -Psalm 107:1 God bless you and keep you. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving if I don't get back on before then!

Every Season

Today, which is not only a once-in-a-lifetime day (11-11-11), is Veteran's Day. It makes me think of my grandfather, Ralph Helton, whom I've always called Pap-Pap. Pap-Pap loved his country, serving in the U.S. army for more than 30 years. He retired as Sargeant Major Ralph Helton, one year AFTER I was born. I never knew Pap-Pap as a soldier, I knew him only as my loving, doting grandfather, whose very presence made my day so much better! I do know that he loved his country: he was very into politics, always getting into discussions with my dad and uncle about it. He flew the American flag in his front yard on a flagpole that was there as long as I can remember. So it is in his memory, that I honor all Vets today. God bless our troops, wherever you may be! I love you Pap-Pap, and I miss you so much!