Three Loved Ones Go Home for Easter

By Susan Dollyhigh-

Isa and Jorge, my sister-in-law and her husband, came home Easter weekend to celebrate the holiday with the family. They came to spend the weekend with Coleen, Isa’s mother. Isa and Jorge brought along Kivette, their beloved lab-collie mix. Flamboyant, exuberant, effervescent Isa. Unpretentious, restrained, humble Jorge. Sweet, lovable Kivette. And Coleen. Strong, solid, firm. A rock as her children called her. Coleen. Mother, Grandmother, Great-grandmother, Sister, Aunt, Cousin, Friend. Coleen, not very fond of dogs and especially not dogs in her house. But Coleen, who couldn’t deny room and board to Kivette, that sweet granddog of hers. Kivette who easily nuzzled her way into all of our hearts and soon came to spend every holiday with the family.

Isa, Jorge and Kivette came home Easter weekend to celebrate the holiday with the family. The family planned to have Sunday lunch together. Coleen’s refrigerator was overflowing with her delicious home-cooked food. But the sun rose that Easter morning to the saddest day ever experienced by the remainder of the family. Sad and terribly painful. Easter Sunday spent not in church as planned. Easter Sunday spent planning three funerals.

Isa, Jorge and Kivette came home to Mount Airy Easter weekend to celebrate the holiday with the family. Only Mount Airy wasn’t their final destination. Seems they only came through to pick up Coleen. On Saturday morning, Isa, Jorge, Coleen and Kivette traveled up Interstate 77 North. On that beautiful spring morning surrounded by the breathtaking panoramic view of the Blue Ridge Mountains, they were ushered into the very presence of God the Father. And seated there at His right hand, His Son, Jesus Christ.

Jesus who was sent into this world as a baby born of a virgin. Jesus who lived a sinless life yet died on a cross to pay the penalty for our sins. Jesus who on the third day rose from the dead. Jesus who now lives in heaven with God, His Father. And that’s what Easter is all about. Yes, Isa, Jorge, Coleen and Kivette went home that weekend to celebrate Easter. I can only imagine what a wonderful, glorious celebration that must have been.

In memory of Coleen, Jorge, Isa and beloved pet Kivette who went Home for Easter in March 22, 2008.

Time Has Not Come

By Janet Morris Grimes –

Jesus knew what would happen, once he left the solace of the wood shop behind. As the world found out about him, some would love him while others hated him. Some would use him, trying to twist his words and actions to manipulate others. While others, those who were hurting, would chase him from town to town, ready to sacrifice anything just for the chance to touch the hem of his garment.

He knew big, life-changing plans were in the works, but he kept it a secret, content to follow God’s plan on God’s timetable.

His first recorded miracle took place at a wedding during his 30th year. There as a guest with his family, his mother came to him to present a problem that could cause embarrassment to their hosts.

“They have run out of wine.” Mary explains, saying nothing further.

But Jesus understands. “Why do you involve me? My hour has not yet come?”

He knows a miracle is needed, even if it is a small one;  a surface-level miracle rather than an eternal one. He knows it’s just the kind of miracle we would try to perform, if we could do such a thing. We could fill a need and wow an audience at the same time.

After a few moments of thought, Jesus stepped out onto the public stage, aware that all of his preparations in advance were about to pay off. He would later rely that deep relationship with God that he had fed through the years.  He would call on those scriptures filed away in both his memory and his heart. Jesus spent 30 years figuring out who he was and what he was all about before ever revealing it to the world.

If you ever feel as if nothing is happening in your life, consider the fact that God may be using this time He has alone with you to get you ready for whatever is next. Maybe it is a public stage and perhaps it is not. Take advantage of the time without distractions. He appreciates the opportunity to reveal himself to you, in the most personal of ways.

It’s your heart He is after. And once He has that completely, He can’t wait to share it with the world. Because your story is His story, and when people get to know you, they might also get to know Him as well.

And that is what I call a miracle, only when the time is right. Truly worth the wait; God’s plan on God’s timeline.

On the third day, a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus mother was there and Jesus and his disciples had been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine” (John 2:1 -5).

“Why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”

His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Shining In the Dark

By Jennifer Slattery –

It is easy to live in self-protection mode. It is comfortable to surround ourselves with Christians, seated in a nice, safe, predictable church pew. But as I read the Bible, I never see God calling Christians into seclusion. Consider Joseph in an Egyptian prison. Egypt was a pagan land. How many prisoners, enslaved by darkness, watched Joseph pray day after day? And what about Paul? One of our favorite stories is of Paul singing in prison. How brightly did his light shine surrounded by inmates?

When our daughter was young, we lived in Southern California. Life in California is unique in many ways. It is not uncommon for a child to go through life without ever touching snow. You can live on top of your neighbors and not know them. You’ll spend hours in your car, not moving in rush-hour traffic. You’ll drive forty-five minutes to find the hiking trails cut in the center of the city. You’ll sit in your back yard, which will likely be covered in cement or gravel, and stare into the night sky in search of those ultra-bright stars that somehow manage to outshine the city lights.

One evening, we wanted her to see the night sky without the “dimming” city lights, so we drove to the desert. We lived on the edge of the Mojave, so it didn’t take long, but once we got there, the view was spectacular! The stars that appeared so faint at home blazed, and numerous stars that were previously out-glimmered by streetlights, dotted the sky.

This image often comes to mind when I pray for guidance. As new opportunities come my way, my first reaction is always self-protection—to remain tucked in my nice church pew, surrounded by brightly shining Christians, waiting…just waiting for that occasional non-Christian to trickle in. And yet, where does our light shine the brightest? In the dark. God’s love is extravagant, initiating, self-sacrificing. God’s love penetrated the darkness.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:1-5).

The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness cannot, does not, will not overcome it. So, carry your candle and run to the darkness.

Jennifer Slattery is a novelist, columnist and freelance writer living in the midwest with her husband of fifteen years and their thirteen year old daughter. You can find out more about her and her writing at htt://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com.

It’s a Wrap—168 Hour Film Project

By Dianne E. Butts –

Well, the film production week I talked about in my last two articles came and went in a whirlwind. We put our film in the overnight mail fifteen minutes before the deadline on February 24th, had a wrap party that evening, and the last of the film crew left the next day. It was an exhausting, exhilarating experience.

The Bible verses we were assigned that we were to illuminate in our movie were Genesis 9:8-10, which talk about God making a covenant with Noah never to destroy the earth by flood again. Following verses speak of the sign of the covenant—the rainbow. It seemed a very challenging verse to portray in a story about motorcyclists and Colorado mountains, but then I’d bet every 168 Team thought their verse was challenging too.

We got some awesome locations, including a ranch with Colorado’s beautiful Sangre de Cristo mountain range in the background. We gave God credit for that set design.

Unfortunately, for all our planning and praying, things did not go off without a hitch. The wind blew for most of our outdoor scenes which made for big challenges with the sound. I learned they can do a lot of magic in post production, but they can’t fix everything.

We had a team of writers which became a challenge. I learned not all writers have the same priorities! My focus was creating a story that illuminated our Bible verse. I felt the Sangre de Cristo (“Blood of Christ”) mountains were our rainbow rising in the sky. But others were concerned about my overt Christianity coming off cheesy. Still others were concerned with story tension and character motivation. With the pressure of the time constraints of 168 hours, I never felt we had a great script, but others felt we had a strong story.

We also had different perspectives on filming, with different things being important to different people. The director focused on how the movie would look—the use of color and light. In the opening shot, our character walks from darkness into light—very symbolic. No bright colors showed in the film until the final scene to depict life.

I imagine challenges aren’t unique to our film experience, and even learning that is profitable.

With the problems we experienced I doubt we’ll be in the running for any awards, but was that really the point? Of course you always want to come out with an awesome finished product, but when that doesn’t happen, what then?

Well, I learned a ton doing this project: about the production side of film making, about working with other people, and about how I need to stand strong for what is important to me. (I had to fight to keep the scenes and dialog lines about the Sangre de Cristos and the flood.)

At least one crew member wondered why things weren’t going well. After all, she said, we’re doing this for God. Well, don’t we tend to think just because we set out to do something great for God that we’re not going to run into difficulties? Jesus set out to do something great for God. He did everything right. And He ended up nailed to a cross.

In the end, it was a good experience. We touched many lives as we set out to make this Christian film based on God’s Word. Many people got opportunities they wouldn’t have gotten otherwise, and I met people I otherwise never would have met. I hope we made a good impression that glorified God. For me, that’s what it was all about in the first place.

Dianne’s 168 Hour Film Project, titled “Steel City,” premiered at the 168 Film Festival in Los Angeles March 31 – April 2. Dianne is the author of the newly released book, Deliver Me: Hope, Help, & Healing through True Stories of Unplanned Pregnancy (www.DeliverMeBook.com). When she’s not writing, she enjoys riding her motorcycle with her husband, Hal, and gardening with her cat, P.C. in Colorado. www.DianneEButts.com

What does your Life Journal say?

By Pam Kumpe –

Do you remember where you were in 1989? Do you ever find yourself looking back in awe at the guidance and assurance you received from the Lord during your journey?

On a whim, I started writing in journals that year, and just this past December I closed the cover to yet another year of scribbles, notes and answered prayers.

Documenting the moments where I have cried, giggled, and enjoyed blessings, I have captured memories, many of which I would have forgotten. I’m the reason blonde jokes are alive and well on planet earth.

During my note taking, I’ve written about my children, my husband, my identical twin sister (best friend), about friends and strangers; all who’ve  made a difference in my life.

I’ve entered prayer requests to God, recorded the miracles of His touch in my life—all with the idea of thinking on praiseworthy things.

I have watched my entries evolve. I once wrote brief notes and tidbits, now I tend to recap God’s involvement in a situation, doing my best to see the Lord’s blessing in all situations.

Making an effort to stay away from negative entries has brought perspective to my life. Besides, when I look on the brighter side, I enjoy life and experience joy even when life falls on top of me, or I fall on top of it.

There’s something to treasure where Paul speaks in Philippians 4 about thinking on whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things (Philippians 4:8 NIV).

Putting on what we learn and have received from God is a charge Paul gives to us and the result of practicing praiseworthy things—brings peace to our hearts.

I can use more peace in my life, can’t you? And to think, this truth is as close as adhering to the Word of God.

Looking back through my journals, I have names of people who have offered kindness, friendship, served, given of their time, showed love and have made an impact in their community.

Just a few weeks ago, an angel (or a great friend) dropped off at my husband’s office, oversized two-foot Raggedy Ann & Raggedy Andy dolls. (My Raggedy Ann doll met an untimely death when I was only six years old, because my twin sister put her on the railroad track.)

My friend’s act of kindness took me back to my childhood, and tugged on my heart in a way which spoke to the essence of just how much God loves me. That’s right, God sent His son Jesus to die on the railroad track (cross) in my place, to rise again with new life (stepping from the tomb), to give me His love. He has my name written in His journal, and the Lord has captured my heart for eternity.

So I must ask. Do you sometimes feel like a Raggedy Andy or Raggedy Ann doll in a world filled with too many mishaps and mistakes? If so, think on the things that are right, pure and lovely, and fall into the arms of Jesus, He’s better than a rag doll, He’s alive. And He is ready to write your name in the best journal of all, the Book of Life.

Pam Kumpe writes a weekly inspirational newspaper column for the Bowie County Life/ Texarkana Gazette newspaper. She is the host of “Permission to Have Fun” an online radio show filled with fun, faith and encouragement, with the idea of rejoicing in the Lord, even when life seems out of tune. http://www.pamkumpe.com

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