Mom’s Potato Salad…

My husband makes the best ribs. On the way to church recently, he said that he wouldn’t mind making a slab or two. I immediately started thinking about my mom’s potato salad, which I haven’t made in quite a while. Her potato salad is full of carb and fat DELICIOUSNESS, and the cost to our 50-something waistlines must always be considered. This particular Sunday, we unequivocally decided the calories were worth it.

We stopped by the store after church and purchased all the items needed for ribs and potato salad. I was so excited! When we got home, I immediately got my potatoes in the pot to boil. When I went to drain the potatoes, I accidentally touched the inside of my forearm with the hot pot. It didn’t hurt too much at first, so I didn’t tend to the burn right away. I was distracted by the mouth-watering thought of the finished product that I needed to get into the fridge to chill asap. The cost of this minor accident surely paled in comparison to that creamy potato salad.

When I finally got around to tending to the burn, I realized that it was actually a significant burn. It really was painful and most likely would leave a scar. Boy, I sure wish I had considered the cost of not tending to the burn earlier at this point. Stupid potato salad, it probably won’t even taste like my mom’s!

The very next night, we studied the cost of the cross in our Monday Night Bible Study. You see, we tend to overlook the cost of the cross to Jesus and rarely even consider the cost to God himself.

‭‭”About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ (which means ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’).” (Matthew 27:46).

Jesus, in that moment, felt the full weight of all of our sins, as His Father turned his back on His Son. Jesus then gave up His life for us.

“And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.” (Matthew 27:50)

As I look at my grandson snuggled up with me, I can’t imagine assigning the task of torture and death to him. I can’t fathom, then turning my back on him as he suffered under that torture and death. Yes, there was a moment in time when the cost was significant and a man lost His life. For us. Every single one of us. It is important that we consider the cost.

‭‭”After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. ‭‭There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” (Matthew 28:1-7)

The cost was worth it to God. It was worth it to Jesus. God loves us so much that the sacrifice and pain were worth it. Jesus’ nail scarred hands remind us of our worth and the cost that He paid. God had given His one and only Son the most important job to do, and his focus was on accomplishing the task for His Dad. No discussion. No hesitation. And then, Jesus did more than endure it, He saw beyond the cross to the joy in His Father’s eyes.

‭‭“Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father glorify your name.” (John 12:27-28)

“fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)

This Lenten season, I am thankful for my Savior’s sacrifice and for an extra helping of ribs and potato salad, which actually did taste just like my Mom’s.

Be joyful and consider the cost.

A Kit Kat…

My husband and I laughed so hard at the family Easter Egg hunt in our back yard yesterday. You have never seen grown people act such a fool over hidden plastic eggs! My daughter’s beloved Nana actually tossed a plastic bowl at her head to try and distract her at one point. I’ll put it this way, we have a very competitive family!

The angel dog was also part of the hunt, barking and cheering on the hunters. And he was close by when each participant went through their eggs. He proudly brought a small Kit Kat candy bar back to me and was very proud of his found treasure. Before I knew it, he was eating his treasure, wrapper and all. I immediately told him to “drop it”, which made him choke it down even faster. You see, he wanted that candy bar even though it was not good for him.

We have so many similar temptations in life, don’t we? We find ourselves caught up in the moment and before we know it, we have gobbled down that thing that is not good for us. Even when we hear our Father telling us to “drop it”, we quickly devour it in hopes that it won’t hurt too bad this time.

Thank God that we have a Father that understands and was willing to send his Son, Jesus, to conquer death and sin. So when we find ourselves with a mouthful of sin, wrapper and all, we can repent and bask in his forgiveness. He also provides a way for us to stand up against that temptation the next time, even if it is a yummy Kit Kat candy bar!

I hope each of you delighted this Easter in the overwhelming sweetness of that empty tomb and all that it means for you. And I do hope that you enjoyed a little something sweet to eat, minus the wrapper of course!

Be joyful!

“The angel spoke to the women: ‘There is nothing to fear here. I know you’re looking for Jesus, the One they nailed to the cross. He is not here. He was raised, just as he said. Come and look at the place where he was placed.'” Matthew 28:5‭-‬6 MSG

Miracles Still Happen…

I witnessed a miracle this past weekend. My daughter’s friend was in a car accident. She actually flipped her car five times, over a barbed wire fence and landed halfway out her front window. For all intensive purposes, she should be in heaven with Jesus. No, not the case here. God has things left for her to do. Her part of His story is simply not finished. So, she walked, painfully, away from the accident with five fractured vertebrae and several contusions to her lungs. She will heal in a back brace. Her injuries did not require surgery. And she found herself at home the day after her accident to start the healing process. It was nothing short of a miracle. God’s grace and mercy on display for us to witness.

And what a better time to witness God perform a miracle than the week leading up to Easter, this Holy Week. The same God who turned water into wine; made the blind man see; and raised Lazarus from the dead just moved in this young girl’s life. His power, His glory, His mercy, His grace on full display.

The same God whose Son, Jesus, faced the brutality of the Cross and who gave up His final breath for each of us. Jesus, who three days later, left the tomb empty, completely victorious and alive, so that each one of us can have eternal life with our Father in heaven. Yes, this same God stood in the gap of this accident and spared this young girl’s life.

What is there left to say? Thank you Father. You are truly an awesome God. You are good. You are powerful. You are merciful. To You be all the Praise and all the Glory. Forever. Amen.

Be joyful and in awe!

“For even the Son of man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28 NLT