Saturday, April 28, 2012

Still Quillin'

Back on Dec. 31st, 2011 I posted a blog called "My New Hobby."
The hobby I was referring to was quilling, which is the art of paper curling.
Since then people have asked me if I still quill. 

I sure do! Here are a few of the projects I've done so far this year:


 Here's a card I made for our nephew Tristan for his Birthday.


Here's a picture I made for Danica for her birthday.


 This is a card I made for my sister Becky.



And I made this one for my sister Denise.



Here's the Thank You card I made for a girl 
who played piano for our Women's Choir.



 And here are some Easter things I made to celebrate
 the victory Christ won for us on the cross.





Happy Easter!


Friday, April 20, 2012

Book Club

Sorry I haven’t been blogging as faithfully as I used to. I’m having trouble figuring out what to blog about. The problem isn’t coming up with ideas. The problem is that I have so many thoughts in my head lately; it’s hard to pick just one. It’s probably because of this book I’ve been reading. It’s really amazing. The best book I’ve ever read. I highly recommend it.
You know the book I’m talking about. It’s your favorite too.
I’ll admit, I don’t read it as much as I ought. Or at least I didn’t. But lately I’ve been reading it a lot more. And the more I read it, the more I want to read it.  There’s power in the Word. That’s for sure!
So, this week I’m blogging to encourage you to join my “Book Club.” Dust off your copy and read the greatest story ever told. God’s love letter to his people. The Bible.
Here are a few tips to get you started:
-          Pick one time of day and make it a habit to always spend that portion of your day in God’s Word.
-          If you haven’t read the Bible lately (or ever) begin with the Book of John. It’s the 4th book in the New Testament. Deep thinkers may prefer Romans, the 6th book of the New Testament. I’m starting in Genesis, which is a good place to begin as well, but I also enjoy just paging through the Bible to see what jumps out at me.  In short, it doesn’t matter where you start. Just start!
-          Don’t be afraid to make notes in your Bible! Use pencil if you want, but mark it up. You’ll be glad you did.
-          Don’t own a Bible? Let me know and I'll send you one.
-          Don’t have time to read? Try listening to the Bible while you’re doing something else. Check out this website: www.biblegateway.com There you can read whichever translation of the Bible you prefer, and/or listen to it right from your computer! It’s super-easy and convenient. (I listen to Genesis while I do my morning yoga. No kidding!)
-          Join a Bible Information Class. It’s not just for new members and it’s a great place to bring up any questions you may have about what God’s telling you. This was advice a friend gave to me, and on Sunday evening I went to my first class. Maybe I’ll see you there next week too???


Thursday, April 5, 2012

Communion

Six weeks ago I decided to take a break from blogging to ponder Jesus’ passion.

This I have done.

One of the things I’ve pondered most during this time is the Lord’s Supper, also known as the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

The church I’ve belonged to my entire life teaches that when we take this sacrament we’re not just eating bread and drinking wine, but that in, with, and under the bread, we also receive the body of Christ. And that in, with, and under the wine, we also receive the very blood of our Lord Jesus, shed for us on the cross.

This is a teaching I have always questioned.

Is that really what Jesus meant?

Maybe he was just being poetic.

Like when he said I am the vine, you are the branches or I am the light of the world.

The topic came up about a month ago in Bible Class. I took a deep breathe, raised my hand and said, “I’m not saying I don’t think Jesus could turn the bread into his body and the wine into blood, if that’s what he meant. I just don’t understand why it’s so important we agree on that.”

Thankfully, I was not kicked out of class for saying this out loud. I was even told it was a “good question.” For the answer, I was asked to read 1 Corinthians 11:28. “For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.”

That seemed pretty clear…until I read the footnote of my Concordia Self-study Bible which said, “The word ‘body’ may refer to either the Lord’s physical body or the church as the body of Christ.”

I still wasn’t sure what to believe. But I wanted to know. I had to know.

So I began searching the Scriptures for passages related to this topic. I read every account of the Last Supper recorded in the Gospels, as well as several chapters in the Epistles. I read a few commentaries as well, and even checked out the Book of Concord, on which all of our church’s doctrinal beliefs are founded. After that I exchanged several emails with an old friend of mine who happens to be a Pastor. These were extremely helpful as well.

The more I read and pondered these things the more I wondered why I was having such a hard time believing what Christ himself said.

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it,

and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying,

“Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant,

which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Matthew 26: 26-28


A week ago I took communion. Before I walked up to the table of the Lord, I examined myself as I’d been taught to do. I asked myself these 4 questions:

  1. Do you recognize your sin and your need for a Savior?
  2. Do you believe that Jesus paid for all your sins by his suffering and death?
  3. Will you strive to live a holy life, and amend your sinful ways?
  4. Do you believe the bread and wine are the true body and blood of Jesus Christ?

Yes, yes, yes, and YES!

With joy I walked up to the altar, took the bread and placed it in my mouth. I washed it down with the wine, and thought about the miracle that just took place. I smiled. Jesus loves me. He knows me, and he still loves me.

It was the most significant participation in the sacrament I have ever experienced. To realize how much I mean to Jesus. To remember and believe all he’s done for me, and all he still does for me. It is truly amazing. Amazing grace. Amazing love. Amazing Savior!


Later I thought about the paralyzed man that was lowered through a roof to be healed by Jesus. The first thing Jesus said to him was, ““Son, your sins are forgiven.” Mark 2:5

The teachers of the law criticized Jesus for saying this. They didn’t think he had the power to forgive sins. To prove them wrong, Jesus then healed the man of his physical disability. “What is easier?” he had asked them. Which miracle is more incredible? Curing a physical need, or giving life for all eternity?

And now I ask you, what is the greater miracle, changing bread and wine to body and blood, or forgiving sins and granting eternal life?

I think this week God showed me that he does the first, to help me more fully appreciate the second.



I wrote a little poem about Communion. It’s not very good, but I decided to post it anyway. Maybe it’ll get you thinking, and appreciating this amazing gift God gives us through the sacrament a little more as you prepare your hearts and minds for Maunday Thursday worship.



Communion

The heavy wooden church door

swings shut as we go in

displacing sounds without

with calming sounds within


a handshake, and a welcome,

a bulletin, a nod…

and soon we take our places

within the House of God


perhaps we do not notice

the table right away

distractions pull us left and right

and cause our thoughts to stray


but soon the polished silver

attracts our wandering eye

Looks like there’s Communion

we whisper with a sigh


we sing the hymns as posted

we hear the scripture read

we listen to the message

the Nicene Creed is said


and once the offering’s taken

our thanks have been conveyed

it’s then the Pastor tells us

of the night Christ was betrayed


we’ve heard the words so many times

we know them all by heart

and then we stand and get in line

and mindlessly take part


but do we really take to heart

the beauty of it all?

do we take and eat this meal

with wonder and with awe?


do we trust in Jesus’ word

THIS IS MY BODY GIVEN

and know that through this sacrament

our sins are now forgiven?


this miracle, this gift of God,

no greater love is known

and as we drink the blood of Christ

this gift becomes our own


a great and wondrous mystery

how bread and wine can be

at the same time body and blood

Christ shed upon the tree


but O, a greater mystery still

that in His death I find

all my sins are washed away

His victory is mine


please help me take this sacrament

with joy and peace, believing

that through the bread and wine we are

Your body and blood receiving


and knowing this rejoice to find

the Greater Gift to be

that with your lifeblood as the price

You died, and set me free