...a word from Kathy

Who Not What

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Hayes) — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 11:55:00 -0500

In my life I’ve asked God, what do you have for me? What do you want from me? What is your purpose for my pain? What is your plan for my life? What am I to do? But perhaps I’ve been asking the wrong questions. It’s not and never has been in the what but in the who. Consider these few verses from John 20.

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?”…16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

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.’”

When Mary went to the tomb and it was empty, she was asked, WHO do you seek? Who not what? Then later in this same story, when the WHO is revealed, Mary rushes to embrace Him. But he asks her to wait until His glory is fully revealed.

I too rush for the familiar. Mary knew who Jesus was in her life. She had lived in His world, watched Him interact with people, saw His love easily given, heard the teaching, watched the miracles. And at an empty tomb, when she saw Him again, she could only understand what she had previously known. She longed for the past, wishing life could return to what it once was—because in those days, she felt truly alive, filled with hope and joy.

But a different day had come, and it was a day she could not yet grasp or understand. She longed for the memories of their shared life. I live backwards so often, longing for what I once knew, for what I once loved, for laughter of old days and times. All the what.

It is clearly the Who we seek. For the Who is the hope, the future of new days, of healing, of glory.

MARY MAGDALA’S EASTER PRAYER by Ron Rolheiser* APRIL 1, 1985

I never suspected

Resurrection

and to be so painful

to leave me weeping

With Joy

to have met you, alive and smiling, outside an empty tomb

With Regret

not because I’ve lost you

but because I’ve lost you in how I had you –

in understandable, touchable, kissable, clingable flesh

not as fully Lord, but as graspably human.

I want to cling, despite your protest

cling to your body

cling to your, and my, clingable humanity

cling to what we had, our past.

But I know that…if I cling

you cannot ascend and

I will be left clinging to your former self

…unable to receive your present spirit.

* Ronald Rolheiser, OMI, is a prominent Roman Catholic priest, theologian, and award-winning author known for his work on contemporary spirituality

Bow Low

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Hayes) — Wed, 1 Apr 2026 10:07:00 -0500

It started out as a normal Sunday morning. Coffee, reading an actual newspaper and church. It was Palm Sunday and we expected the waving of a few palms; however, what we were not expecting was to be fully engaged as actors in the Holy Week story.

The opening scene was one filled with uplifting music and a parade of palms, which involved many of those gathered. The joy, laughter and celebration was contagious and uplifting. The shouts of Hosannah through song were glorious.

As the service continued, we found ourselves immersed in the full reading of Matthew 26-27, with reading parts. These verses in Matthew reflect Jesus' last week on earth. Our active roles in a parade of palms quickly became new roles of disciple, bystander and spectator. Some of our speaking parts were:

Though all become deserters because of you, I will never desert you

Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you

The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him

Greetings, Rabbi

He deserves death

I do not know the man

I do not know what you are talking about

I have sinned by betraying innocent blood

Barabbas

Let him be crucified

Truly this man was God's son!

(Individual phrases from Matthew 26-27)

In the span of a very few minutes on Sunday, the shouts went from 'Hosannah' to 'Let him be crucified.' The transition in the service was fast and highlighted to me what must have been tremendous emotional, intellectual upheaval in the last few days of Jesus' earthly life. Again, the time frame was less than a week - from Hosannah to Let him be crucified. How quickly does this happen in my life? How quickly do I move from praise to denial and doubt and accusation?

The experience left us feeling and thinking about Holy Week in a fresh, honest way. And I've been reminded that not only did the spectators, disciples, religious leaders hear all the words but so did Jesus.

And yet, we find him a few days later in total humility and anguish crying out to His Father, the Lord. When he could have accused, He prayed. When he experienced disappointment from his friends, He cried out to the One. When he was soul sick about the future, He bowed low and chose the better way, he chose His unconditional loving Father. The same One we have the option to choose.

🎵I don’t want to profit off Your presence

I don’t want to build what You’d tear down

I don’t want to bring half-surrender

I just want to be the first to bow

Low, low

I bow down low, low

This is not an empire, it’s Your kingdom

I’m sorry that I tried to be the King

I didn’t even realize You were missing

From now on let my posture be

Low, low

I bow down low, low

Down on my face

Under the weight

All I can say is You are holy

I can’t look away

Ever by the same

All I can say is You are holy

Low, low

I bow down low, low

Writers: Kory Miller, Mitch Wong, Mia Fieldes, 2024

🎶🎵

Take a Listen - Low by Kory Miller

Mama said

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Hayes) — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 13:47:00 -0500

My mama used to tell me stories of days gone by and as much as I loved hearing them, I inherently knew there was more depth to her retelling. A depth she wanted me to know, and experience, and apply to my life. And she wanted me to find these truths on my own. Unfortunately, much of her insight was lost on me until after she passed away. But today, her birthday, I hear her voice in my memory, and I understand her wisdom a bit more. As such, I hold her words very close.

And so, I believe are the stories from the Bible. God longs for us to study and find truths on our own.

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Matthew 4:5-10

Tim Keller (September 23, 1950 – May 19, 2023) was an American Presbyterian pastor, Reformed theologian, and Christian apologist) summarizes these two temptations as:

•Using God (Presumption): Temptation to test God's love and authority for personal assurance or show.

•Rejecting God (Power): Temptation to achieve ultimate, rightful authority through shortcut and compromise rather than the Cross.

The obvious question seems to be, do I presume with God? Do I test His love and authority for my own gain? Do I place myself on the highest point of the temple? Does my spiritual pride puff me up only to then question or presume when life doesn't go my way?

Or do I bow to the temptation of power? The temptation of being considered important and respected by peers. Do I crave the attention from the world? Would I rather juggle all my blessings, and count them one by one or would I rather bow down and give them all away to know Him more?

If we step into this scripture and apply the words to our lives, what would be your 'highest point' and your temptation of power? Would it be your children? Would it be your achievements? Your investment account? Would it be your attitude of self-assurance?

My mama was a humble woman. She was raised by parents who farmed and had little. Her marriage to my father was one of love and struggle. Mama was loved, she was a hard worker, she lived with physical pain, emotional pain, longing, and at times, fear. But she never put herself at the 'highest point'. She never longed for power but bowed to the one who saw her and loved her and gave all for her.

My musings and thoughts are for your pondering. I am not a theologian but a simply a woman who likes to think and read the Bible in a search for wisdom. And, I believe that God loves our searching.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Let's Eat

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Hayes) — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 16:25:00 -0500

In the Bible stories leading up to Easter, we read about temptations that Jesus faced. On the surface, these temptations may seem to reveal the historic era of 30 BCE and not be applicable to our lives today. But maybe, they reveal a human nature we prefer to ignore.

We all have faced temptations. The easy ones to consider are those from childhood, i.e., the temptation to selfishness, or the high school/college temptations that led down roads we wished we’d never traveled, or the career temptations of, “what happens on the road, stays on the road.” But in our current days of life, do we still have temptations, have we outgrown these sources of torment?

After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:2-4

It is obvious that this conversation in Matthew 4 is about more than physical hunger. For as we read Jesus’ response in verse 4, the question being asked becomes one much deeper than satisfying hunger. ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ The tempter knows that we ARE deeply hungry and then goes on to question WHO will feed us.

I've been hungry in my life. Not physically but oh, so mentally and circumstantially. I've cried out for understanding, for healing, for a change in circumstances. And as I think of those times now, and ponder this exchange between the tempter and Jesus, I recall these hard times and realize I may have been tempted to wonder if indeed, God would provide. Or maybe I was tempted to wonder if He even saw my situation. Was He with me?

I also recognize the temptation to resolve, or to cure my own needs/hunger. I've had times that I failed to wait on God to provide my bread and instead, rushed ahead to find it on my own. I tend to lean on my ability and force situations to resolve a problem when God has not answered in my timeframe. For me these times show my nature of doubt as I question whether God could or would provide for me and mine. It shows my tendency to ignore deep hunger and look for a quick fix. A fix that at best is a temporary band aid for what really ails me...the search for true food from God.

The fact is we all need food to stay alive, to grow and to flourish. So, what are we eating? Who or what do I rely on to feed my starving body, spirit, and mind?

What might I be falsely feeding on in hopes of alleviating my deep hunger?

•Do we eat material goods to quench our hunger for acceptance?

•Do we eat busy lives to fulfill our need for recognition?

•Do we eat social media to watch and compare ‘us’ with ‘them’?

•Do we eat news to complain and demand instead of serving, and giving and praying?

Let’s eat the true food of love, acceptance, forgiveness, possibility, presence, guidance, and find faith that the eyes of Love envelop us in the desert and in our tomorrow and will provide all that we need.

Far and Near

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Hayes) — Sun, 21 Dec 2025 08:20:00 -0600

Often, I awake in the wee hours. My mind mostly weighs heavy thoughts in these moments. I think of old days and old ways as well as yesterday and future days. However, the silence in these hours is most welcome even amongst the tick-tock I hear in my head and house.

And then, the silent child is beside my bed. She's scared, she's teary, she's looking for reassurance that someone is near. She's searching in the darkness and quiet for safe arms as she has woken up in an unknown place and sees only shadows of yesterday. My granddaughter wanted her mom, her comfort and protector.

This Christmas I sense that my protector is far and near too.

He's farther and nearer than I can know.

He's farther ahead and behind that I can understand.

He's nearer than my next breath.

He's farther in healing my past than I can conceive.

He's farther than what I expect Him to be and nearer to my wildest hope.

He's farther from condemnation and nearer to all loving.

He's farther from friend and nearer to Messiah.

He's farther from my little world and nearer to my inner world.

He's near, He's here.

Merry Christmas, our Christ is born in the wee hours, in the silence, amongst the tick-tock of our world.

Santa or Savior?

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Hayes) — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 15:04:00 -0600

Santa is practically on his way. Children are in full anticipation of his arrival, experiencing no
doubt of his arrival. I don't believe that I've ever heard a child say, "what if Santa doesn't come." They are confidently focused on packages arriving: gifts, gadgets and gizmos! This bold anticipation of Santa's arrival is a teaching moment for me.

Before the birth of Jesus, the Jewish people did not doubt a Savior was coming. They faithfully knew that one day he would come. They were preparing for him; not with ribbons and wrappings but with hearts of quiet anticipation knowing he was practically on his way.

As we enter the last ten days before December 25, I wonder if I'm anticipating Santa or a Savior.

It seems that in the age that Jesus was born, people were starving for a Saviour. They lived life desperate for a hero, a conqueror. They realized that their only hope was for a king to come and defeat their enemies. People had come to realize that they could no longer fight their own battles and survive as the enemy was just too strong. So, they cried out anticipating the Savior was coming.

Zechariah praised God...in anticipation of the Savior. As did Simeon. As did the angels. As did Anna. As did the shepherds. All these people only knew the promise of a Savior. They didn't experience the full story of the baby's growth, his teaching, his persecution, his death, his new life.

Yet, God spoke and they believed, they anticipated the new born King. This King who came to defeat not only political enemies but those enemies that live in each of us. The memories we have of hurts, experiences that damaged us and those age-old pains that we just can't seem to release. Maybe we had an expectation of a different life, a different experience in marriage, or in family, or in health.

This Christmas let us anticipate our redemption and the defeat of all our aches, pains, disappointments. He has been born to remove all that pain from us and to take those burdens on himself. The Glory of Christmas is that He left his own Kingdom and came to feel, share, carry, and hold us so that we could have Him.

What is He bringing? Are we anticipating or hopeful for gifts, gadgets or gizmos? Has this time of year become just a long list of to-dos, present buying, and surviving the holiday? Do we often forget that we too have a Savior to anticipate?

“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,

because he has come to his people and redeemed them.' Luke 1:68

The Silence of Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Hayes) — Mon, 8 Dec 2025 15:00:05 -0600

I'm a long-time Southern girl. Most often we celebrated the Christmas season in cotton sweaters and longed for cold weather. But occasionally in December we got a snowy moment or two. And what I remember most about a snowy morning was stepping outside and hearing absolutely NOTHING. The silence of snow is a most beautiful thing. In fact, not much else in my world creates silence. But when presented with it, I suddenly realize my deep longing for it.

Zechariah was a priest in the Temple in Jerusalem just before Jesus was born. Let's read about him:

Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. ¹²When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. ¹³But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. ¹⁴He will be a

joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth,
Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”
¹⁹The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.²⁰And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”

I've always thought that what happened to Zechariah was only a punishment for his unbelief. But most recently, my pastor taught about the gift of silence and that perhaps Zechariah received more than he could imagine.

Our world doesn't offer us much silence. Even when we are silently on our phones our minds are whirling. Maybe what we all need for Christmas is silence not more packages and bows. Not more but less.

I believe that my heart and soul long for silence. Silence that accompanies and surrounds us like new snow, silence that embraces and encompasses thoughts. Silence where we can hear the angels or God Himself speak. Perhaps that's the gift Zechariah received before his baby boy, John, was born. When presented with it, perhaps he suddenly realized his deep longing for it. What could he have received in the silence? What affirming love and acceptance awaited him? What wisdom did he receive?

From the continuing story in the Bible (Luke 1:67-79) it seems Zechariah learned quite a bit as once the silence passed he leaned into worship, praise and honor of this Holy God.

Oh, Silent Night, come quickly. Let me choose silent minutes as Christmas Day arrives.

Now, let's sit in silence right now for 30 seconds...Do you hear what I hear?

He is Before

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Hayes) — Mon, 1 Dec 2025 14:42:00 -0600

Edwin Warner Park
Nashville, TN

It is December 1st and a new day. A new day traveling toward Christmas Day. A new day for me in a new place. And I desire for a new day in my heart and mind.

December brings to mind hustling and bustling, decorations and gift buying. However, the left-over turkey is still in the frig! What is my hurry?

Let us all S L O W D O W N.

Slow down and think about what is to come, what has come.

Who is this Baby that Christians celebrate at Christmas? This Baby is the God who according to Tim Keller, "wrote himself into the scripts of our lives."

This God came to us in creation. He came when we least expected Him and we wondered, how? This God came to us as we were waiting for someone to save us.

I'm thinking today of people looking for hope. People looking for energy for tomorrow and food for today. I'm putting myself in shoes of those looking for money to pay taxes and take long journeys. I'm looking for light when all around me is dark. Do I still hope or am I just surviving? People have been waiting for all of history for Someone to help, to guide, to show a way.

The beauty and overwhelming concept of God is that He initiated the contact with us. He's always been running towards us. He's a God of love and relationship.

He doesn't wait until I'm perfect or completely have it all together. Those thoughts are ones I falsely attach to God as I can only understand a shadow of His unconditional love. How could He love me and my nature so completely and unwaveringly? I cannot understand.

He loves before, He creates before. He comes before. He left a perfect place of Glory, with all the power of love and healing to come to earth in a way that I might recognize Him and then claim Him as my gift. It is this glorious God who is born to us. Do you see Him written into your life script?

Eyes of Your Heart

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Hayes) — Sun, 11 May 2025 11:53:00 -0500

Often, I get stuck in circle of thought. This week I’m stuck on the words, “eyes of my heart.” I’m struggling to understand this simple but complex phrase.

Assisi, Italy

I’ve used the term, open your eyes, but mostly in traffic situations when a driver may have frustrated me!! Or when my husband is diligently searching our frig for an item and I casually walk up and pluck it from the shelf, open your eyes! In kinder days, I open my eyes and catch a blue bird flying by. Or I notice small flowers on the roadside, or the magnolias beginning to bloom. My eyes are also open to see hurting people on the news and in my city. I see division and anger.

As I try to live with open eyes, I'm not sure I live with the eyes of my heart. I have even arrogantly asked God to open his eyes and heal our world, heal those I hold close, heal the pain and suffering and division. These examples of my pleas to God have a commonality for they seek a result. A result that perhaps in my simplicity and self-righteous have determined to be best. It’s a focus on outcome.

And I pause today pondering if outcome is the measure of my faith journey. Is outcome my end result?

Below are some words from Ephesians. This letter, written by Paul, was to a young church, a group of true believers. “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” Eph 1:18-19

There is but one result in these words, and it is: that we may know the hope to which he has called us and the richness of our inheritance as His people. The end result is all God. Opening my eyes, is not my hope or my result. It’s becoming like Him to the world around us. It’s having His eyes to see, His eyes to love, His eyes to accept the unacceptable, His eyes to love those who are outcast. It’s having eyes that recognize all He offers us; all He has in store for us.

When I pray for my eyes to be opened, I wonder if I even understand what I’m asking. Has this phrase become too common? When I hear the quiet voice of God reminding me to open my eyes, what do I see? Do I see outcomes, am I merely looking for results? Can I, will I pause myself and see the holiness of God and His plan?

“It can be even harder to focus on things we think we already know. What more is there to see?” 10-Minute Challenge: “The Starry Night’ by van Gogh, Larry Buchanan, NY Times, May 6, 2025.

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. I Corinthians 13:11-12

Open the eyes of my heart Lord, that I may see you.

Wandering and Wondering

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Hayes) — Fri, 2 May 2025 14:38:00 -0500

Back in my childhood days, we were wanderers. I remember jumping on my bicycle to explore with the only rule being, "be home by suppertime." Lord knows, how far we'd ride and certainly my mother never really knew how far and wide we'd go! I still have memories of those explored places, hidden bike routes, plum trees we borrowed from, and even pomegranate trees with fruit that confused us.

Wandering and wondering were good for my childhood. I learned that exploration and curiosity can be helpful to understanding. Now, I admit that there were a few times that my mama had to "teach me" some difficult lessons when my wanderings went sideways. But I still learned, I still had a chance to see for myself.

Such was the case for these men on the road to Emmaus. Certainly, after their last few days these guys must have been experiencing a wandering and a wondering existence. For suddenly, life as they had expected and even anticipated had gone sideways.

Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him.

He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

“What things?” he asked.

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” Luke 24:13-24

Has your life ever gone sideways? Have you ever woken up to unexpected news and could not find God anywhere? Have you ever run to prayer and found Him strangely silent? For me, these times have led me to wandering and wondering.

I love seeing these men process with each other all that had happened. They were working out their faith with strong, and vulnerable discussion. And then, right in the midst of that frank, honest conversation, a fellow traveler joins them, and they were kept from recognizing that the traveler was Jesus. Maybe in keeping them from recognizing who walked with them, the men were freer to continue in their words of stark honesty, of shock and disappointment from all the events that had occurred. As humans, we are pretty good at hiding our true feelings when new people enter the conversation or when we come before a teacher, or associate we respect.

But this Jesus, wanted to hear their whole truth. In a way, perhaps it was a healing. For as the men were able to express their inner confusion and disappointment, the healing could begin. They were reminded of the prophets' teachings and of Jesus' teachings. And as Jesus, sat with them and broke the bread of love and forgiveness, they truly saw Him.

When is He walking beside me and I do not recognize Him?

When does my wandering and wondering shut out the messages He has taught?

When have I felt my heart burn inside me? Wasn't He there?

Even in our wonderings, do you see Him?

Eyes to See, Ears to Hear

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Hayes) — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 07:51:00 -0500

Peter, Peter, Peter! Oh, to be as passionate as Peter! He would be the one you want at your next party. He would be the one to give the emotional toast at a wedding. He would be the one to encourage you, challenge you to go further. He would be the star in the room. We see in Matthew today a portion of his story.

Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. 51 With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

52 “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”

55 In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56 But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled. Matthew 26:50b-56, John 18:10

Have your actions ever gotten ahead of your logical brain? Have your words slipped out? Have you deserted a difficult situation? Has your silence and retreat caused pain to others and yourself? These men in this story were faced with incredible choices. They were scared, confused, and ready to make a stand. Haven’t we all been there?

And then, we find Peter stepping forward to defend Jesus, his Lord. This same Peter who moments ago could not stay awake to pray, was suddenly a swashbuckling sword fighter. And just a quickly, Jesus sets him straight in his thinking. His passion was beautiful; however, his action was not.

This week, I’m asking myself some questions from this scene for I too, act rashly at times. At times, I fight, I flee from Him, and I deny Him.

I cut off ears, not literally, but I cut off people who believe differently, I hasten to judgement and declare “I know best,” but isn’t that a sword too? How can people hear if in my need to defend, I’ve cut off their ears so that they cannot hear?

I hear His whisper: Put down the sword of your self-righteous words. Put down the sword of your sour look. Put down the sword of your need to ‘be right.’ Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?

Peter got through the week and then the following month. He listened, he stayed, and he acknowledged his need to grow into a Christlikeness. After that time, he preached his first sermon. And thousands heard the loving sword of his words that day and thousands responded to that love.

But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. Matthew 13:16-17

Personalized Inside Out

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Hayes) — Wed, 9 Apr 2025 07:20:00 -0500

Who doesn’t love a monogrammed set of cuff links, or napkins, or towels, or most anything? We’re a culture of personalization. The gift is more special if it’s inscribed with initials. It takes forethought to give such a gift, planning so that the gift arrives in a timely manner. It tells the recipient, “I’ve been thinking of you, planning to celebrate you. I’ve gone ahead of you, to prepare a special, custom-made gift.”

And so today, we find ourselves in a garden where a similar gift is being prepared.

36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’ 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.’

39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.’ Matthew 26:36-39

This scripture gives us a hint as to what Jesus was experiencing in the garden. However, too often I’ve focused on the sleepy disciples as that seems to be the role I play most easily. I’m distracted, I’m so unaware and often not present as to what is happening around me. And certainly, there is a message there for us.

But today, the described experience of Jesus is alive in my thoughts. I'm realizing that Jesus is monogramming my faith. He’s making it personal for me, these 2000 years later.

I see his vulnerability to the Father, his great sorrow as events began to unravel in his life. Through his words, I sense the pain that he is about to experience and even was experiencing as his community, those closest to him, could not stay awake with him in prayer, and in support. This emotional, mental strain that I see in Jesus, also lands on my doorstep.

For like most of us, I’ve cried out to God in sorrow, in disappointment, in happenings that I did not want in my life. I’ve asked Him to change the course of bad events, of hard situations, of sickness, and finally exhausted, and after many tears have turned to hope in his will for me and mine.

This struggle we see from Jesus is our monogram; it's an imprint that shows how deeply God understands us. He experienced for us the mental anguish of life, he pleaded with his Father to change the route he was on, he felt sorrow, he cried out, he experienced unimaginable emotion. He lived all our emotions; He looked to his Father for the strength to endure. And so can we. It’s truly an amazing, personalized gift. Our emotional pain was defeated and healed through the work, honesty and prayer of Jesus in Gethsemane. He showed us that the Easter crucifixion and resurrection is both a physical rebirth and a daily mental/emotional rebirth and resurrection.

He has monogrammed His victory over all our "sorrow and trouble." He offers us a life renewed from the inside.

You learned Christ! My assumption is that you have paid careful attention to him, been well instructed in the truth precisely as we have it in Jesus. Since, then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything—and I do mean everything—connected with that old way of life has to go. It’s rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you. Ephesians 4:21-22 The Message

Red Carpet Day

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Hayes) — Wed, 2 Apr 2025 06:58:00 -0500

The big day approaches and preparations are ongoing. There is so much to do and so little time. We want our guests to feel welcomed, adored and honored. We’ve decided to ‘roll out the red carpet.’ Historically, the use of red carpet was to honor people, to show respect to kings, leaders, and most recently to movie stars and celebrities. Participation in these events are invitation only and practically impossible to crash, i.e., attend when not uninvited.

A common scene occurred back in 33 AD. Simon a prominent Pharisee held a dinner party. And the special guest that day was Jesus. There was no fanfare with the arrival of Jesus, no red carpet. As he reclined at the table, an uninvited woman appeared beside him. She crashed the event. There was no attempt to remove this woman, and she went about her purpose for attending. Her purpose was not for delicious food, or for the company, nor was it to hear Simon and Jesus discussing great theology. It seemed that she was there for only one purpose.

36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume.38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. Luke 7:36-47

She brought her version of the red carpet. She came to Simon’s house with perfume, an expensive perfume. And she came to pour it out on the One she knew was the Christ, “the anointed one.”

I wonder about her thoughts that morning when she learned of the upcoming dinner party. Maybe she was in the market and heard rumors about great preparations occurring at Simon’s house, about the red carpet being rolled out. Then perhaps, she heard the whispered name, Jesus. Maybe she went home and looked around her bare room, her life of little to find something to offer this teacher, Jesus. She somehow had a jar of expensive perfume, and it was all the value in her life. Maybe without hesitation, she grabbed it and headed to Simon’s home.

As she approached the dining room, and spotted Jesus she went straight towards him. And begin what she intended, she anointed him with the perfume and her tears. While the buzz of conversation surrounded her, her only focus was on the One. She knew her need, she knew her mess-ups, she knew when she had traded herself for a quick fix and she knew the One before her was her only true Hope. So, she poured her valuable perfume and wept. Oh, I wonder what those tears represented. Was she weeping over her past mistakes or was it the sudden awareness of His complete holiness? And the perfume, what a lovely aroma must have filled the space, and everyone would have smelled it. This quiet, significant way of worship impacted everyone nearby. No red carpet to be trampled on and stained but an aroma that filled the air, permeated the room and invisible but clearly present.

This Mary of Bethany, loved sacrificially, she worshipped without hesitation, and she gave. And maybe, even after the dinner party the fragrance lingered. I can smell it today! The aroma still permeates our days.

I ponder today. Am I more comfortable in rolling out the red carpet with my service and actions or can I find a time to weep and anoint the One who continues to love and save me? Did Jesus want or need her perfume? Of course not, but she needed to give Him what she had. For only in giving what I have, surrendering my perfumes of family, success or of achievement, that I will find the ability to fully accept His love and return His love.

What do I have to give? What aroma am I leaving behind?

The Big Sky

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Hayes) — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 07:54:00 -0500

Faros Armenistis, Mykonos Greece

The 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness are a large part of the Easter story. But if you’re like me, you may prefer to gloss over this part of the story and get to the happy ending. However, the rush to the end of the story, the happy ending, may rob us of a life-renewing experience.

My husband and I spent a large portion of our lives in the vast lands of Texas. It was where I learned about the big sky, seeing complete horizons surrounding you. In my nonprofit work, I spent a few hot days on south Texas ranches and in cattle barns. One thing similar to all was the dust, the blowing winds of heat, the harshness, the unrelenting sun. This is as close as I’ve come to experiencing wilderness. And it’s a far cry from living 40 days and 40 nights in such a place. And this picture I paint, does not show you my fully loaded, air-conditioned Suburban (if you live in Texas, you must drive a Suburban or so I learned.)

On my hot wilderness days, the day could not end quickly enough. The big sky of the desert was vast but I certainly wasn’t interested in hanging around to learn anything. I looked for comfort. Now, in the comfort of our homes today, let’s spend a minute in the wilderness and go deeper.

Jesus is led into the desert and there he spends over one month. And then the temptations begin. The Christian faith teaches us to experience life as Jesus did, to follow his pattern, his love and forgiveness. In this season, that means to follow him into the desert and into the temptations he met. For in doing that, I can find where in my life temptations are being disguised and hopefully learn to recognize them.

The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:“‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”

Overall, these three temptations are often interpreted as representing the broader human struggles with the desires of the flesh, the desire for signs and proofs, and the allure of worldly power and success.*

What does this boil down for us?

1. What desires do I put in front of seeking God? What am I hungrily seeking? Is it material, wealth, or is it just MORE.

2. How do I test God? Do I find myself in a battle of wills, “God, if you, will do this; I’ll believe, or I’ll forgive, or I’ll love. Do I test Him, when I demand a answer to my, "why."

Goliad, TX Photo: L. Gray

3. How do I pursue power, and influence to make me feel better about myself? Do I use the achievements in my life to sugar-coat the real me and my need for a Savior?

These questions are not easily answered; and maybe that is why we have 40 days to sort things out and think things through.

The big sky in the day of the wilderness is a difficult place to live and shows a lot of cracks, needs, and pains in my life. But the night sky of the wilderness shows the hope, the glory, the healing only He offers.

Find your desert today and ask yourself some questions. Experience the big sky.

https://www.christianity.com/wiki/jesus-christ/what-was-the-significance-of-the-temptation.html

Preparing

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Hayes) — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 07:02:00 -0500

It is approximately five weeks before Easter Sunday and I'm beginning to think about our plans. The who, what and where of Easter weekend is important, isn't it?

What are my preparations? Am I preparing at all? Do Easter baskets, and new Easter outfits count as preparations or perhaps lunch with the family on Easter Day?

Honestly, it seems that once again my thoughts are up side down. This is not a season of bunnies, candy, and dying eggs but one of remembering, reflecting, and preparing for a deeper Easter experience. An experience of preparation. Just before Jesus was led into forty days in the wilderness:

...John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness,

‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’

I wonder in these pre-Easter days; what John is calling us to understand? Is this a personal question to each of us:

Your name here, prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.

What and how do I prepare the way for the Lord? What are the straight paths? This morning, I was working in my small garden and needed to prepare the ground for wildflower seeds I was planting. The preparation involved scraping, and a bit of breaking up the ground so that the ground could receive and bring forth the most beautiful, colorful, delicate blooms. Is this simple example a way forward for me to prepare? In these next few weeks, will I allow a bit of scraping, a bit of loosening tough places inside me? Will I make space amid the chaos of my thoughts, the rush of my days? The work of preparation is not for the weak or faint-hearted. But isn't preparation, in any sense, what makes possible the gift of receiving? If my ground is not prepared, it can not receive.

Perhaps in these weeks, I ask God to prepare me for all He has for me. Perhaps it is a preparation of joy or a preparation of surrender or healing. Could it simply be, "God, prepare me for life, prepare me to find hope, to find You"?

One of God's greatest traits is that He always goes before us. So before I get confused in my role of preparation, I see that He is also preparing. In Psalm 23, we read that "He [God] has gone to prepare a table for us." More preparation is happening, even for God. He is preparing for us. Our God loved us first and taught us love. And now, He prepares for us even as we prepare for Him.

What does your Easter preparation look like?

Holy Choice

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Hayes) — Sun, 22 Dec 2024 08:00:00 -0600

Welcome to the week of Christmas! We have choices to make in the next few days. What dishes to prepare, what to wear, who to visit, what time will we gather, did we buy the right gifts, do we have enough gifts for everyone? We have choices galore. Many of us are afforded choices we hardly notice.

The Christmas story is about choice also. Joseph and Mary made a choice to believe. The shepherds made a choice too, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened." Luke 2:15 It strikes me this year that this God who sent his son to earth as a baby invented choice.

He chose to create. He chose to love. He chose an unexpected arrival into our world. He chose to leave the perfect heavenly realm and come into our difficult world. He chose to walk among us, to know our aches and pains. And he chose to offer us the choice to follow him. Choice in essence is unconditional love. It's a story of: I love you and hope you will love and follow me for I have the best gifts to offer you.

But Christmas has a danger for us. We can get lost in the tinsel, wrappings and food preparation. But it's our choice to remember and seek the real meaning of a baby being born 2000 years ago. It's our choice to realize that same baby is being born in me and you today. Yes, He's arriving in us today and my choice is to open myself to the gift of His presence. Often, it's hard for us to receive gifts and would rather be the gift giver but it's only in receiving that we are humbled, and a response is required. What is your response? Do you see him? Do you feel the gentle nudge of 'let me love you.'

Let's open ourselves to receive. Let's follow the example of the shepherds and go see this thing that has happened and what is still happening. He won't push in and demand your attention; He won't bully you or badger you. Yet, He keeps offering His gift of life, of peace, of hope.

There is a gift waiting just for you this Christmas. Take time and make the choice to open it. Be aware on Christmas Day that He was born for you, into you, creating you, loving you, and choosing you.

Holy Tuning

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Hayes) — Sun, 15 Dec 2024 07:26:00 -0600

Photo: S. Keating

As the Day draws near, the hustle and bustle becomes more of a hustle for many of us. Schedules are being coordinated, visits being planned, Christmas lists have grown longer, the gifting seems endless, and moms are receiving, "Mom, can you cook this for Christmas" requests. Oh, the joy of being amid such excitement and anticipation. But the hustle and bustle elves bumping me around, have me longing for a quiet night.

It's as though the noise has become too loud for me to hear. Or could it be that I'm not tuned correctly to hear, really hear.

Thankfully, I found myself in a quiet place this week, joining several hundred people at a Symphony Christmas concert. We arrived and were seated high above the music-makers. Our view was soaring above the instruments, and the voices. Yes, it was crowded but in the most lovely way. The musicians began to tune, the concertmaster appeared, and was greeted with applause. The final tune key was given, and all the players complied.

Then the quiet. All multi-hundreds of those gathered were quiet in anticipation. "Not a creature stirred". And then the purposeful step of the maestro was heard. He arrived to applause, shook the hand of the concertmaster, acknowledged the audience and then focused on the most important - his musicians. Those who have come to give their all, to raise their voice, their trumpet, their flute, their drum.

As the first selection was played, the 'quiet' I longed for arrived. It was the quiet of perfectly aligned instrumentation, harmony, a chorus of community all experiencing a perfect sound. We were surrounded by love beside, behind, in front and within. In that moment, I was complete in the love of my Maestro, the One from whom all music flows.

May our hustle and bustle be tuned to the quiet anticipation of what is ahead for us - the hope, the glory, the direction of the One. The One who continues to come and be born in our world and in each of us. What tune will you play today?

I have not gift to bring, pa rum pum pum rum

Come, they told me, pa rum pum pum pum

A newborn King to see, pa rum pum pum pum

I am a poor boy, too, pa rum pum pum pum

I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum

That's fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum,

Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum, On my drum?

Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum

Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum Me and my drum.

"The Little Drummer Boy" (originally known as "Carol of the Drum"). Lyrics by Katherine Kennicott Davis, 1941.

Holy Expecting

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Hayes) — Sun, 8 Dec 2024 07:00:00 -0600

'Tis the season to be expectant. Children are expectant and anxious.

Parents are expecting long gift

lists and limited funds. Grandparents are expecting small pleasures of seeing smiles and giggles. A few among us are literally expecting babies. I have a sweet friend expecting a spring baby after the hardship of waiting. This couple is filled with joy, expectant of the gift they will soon receive.

Truly Christmas is the celebration of waiting in expectation, the expectation of a Savior. We celebrate a Savior entering this world. He was expected for generations, he was expected as a warrior, as a conqueror, as one ready to do battle and defeat the opposition. Yet he came most unexpectedly. He came as a most vulnerable baby. How could anyone understand or accept this? How can we?

We seem to still be looking for a conqueror of all that is wrong in our world. Someone who can give us love, and leadership, and hope. The packages under the tree don't seem to hold all we hope. The family gatherings may have become more of a duty than joy of seeing loved ones. Is there hope of a new gift? "I'll be glad when it's over," mumble many. We may have lost the real hope of a Savior.

But today, is a new day. It is a day for hope. And yes, perhaps, this season has become something way outside the birth of a Savior. But today is a day I can choose to turn that around, at least inside of me. Could the answer be as simple as a baby being born, not into the world but, into each of us? Can a Savior be born into the utmost, private places of our heart and minds? Is that where the expectation will finally be fulfilled?

My greatest expectation is in a Savior who will love my unloveliness, one who will light my darkness, one who will lead me to green pastures, one who will restore my broken heart or expectations. That Savior is being born today. Expecting and accepting Him is always a choice. The humble love of God never pushes but is always present.

🎵♪Come, thou long expected Jesus,

born to set thy people free;

from our fears and sins release us,

let us find our rest in thee.

Israel's strength and consolation,

hope of all the earth thou art;

dear desire of every nation,

joy of every longing heart.

Born thy people to deliver,

born a child and yet a King,

born to reign in us forever,

now thy gracious kingdom bring.

By thine own eternal spirit

rule in all our hearts alone;

by thine all sufficient merit,

raise us to thy glorious throne.

by Charles Wesley

Holy Waiting

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Hayes) — Sun, 1 Dec 2024 06:21:00 -0600

Here we are again awaiting Christmas Day, a celebration of the birth of the Savior. As I think back in
time, way back in time, to the BC era, I wonder how people waited and what they anticipated as they looked for a Savior.

Was the expectation so beyond their imaginations that at times they felt the prophecy was only a myth? As their fathers and grandmothers taught the stories of the expected Messiah, did the words at times fall flat? In everyday living, holding on to the expectation and the hope of being saved amidst significant persecution, had to be extremely difficult. It's hard to wait and believe. It's really difficult to rest in a waiting period without becoming tired, feeling foolish and perhaps turning cynical. Who can truly save us, they may have pondered? How can this mess of my life be 'righted' and made whole? Many life experiences–famine, war, persecution–perhaps led them to feel the foolishness of belief in an unseen savior.

How faithful those Jewish believers were to keep teaching, to keep striving, to keep believing even when the days, the pains, the shattered dreams fell. They clung to this hope and kept anticipating and kept preparing themselves for His arrival.

Now, we find ourselves on the other side.

We read eyewitness accounts of the Savior. We continue to be taught the lessons and we've sung the ole familiar carols. We anticipate. We prepare. We count the days.

Since we have history on our side, and it's easy for us to believe, isn't it?

But what am I expecting? Is my expectation too small? Am I thinking of a Savior arriving in my world and in me? Or am I anticipating packages and bows? Am I focused on the perfect meal, the family dynamics, the schedule of parties? What hope do I have in this Savior?

Is my waiting, Holy waiting? Do I truly realize who this Savior is and what he longs to accomplish in me?

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the greatness of his government and peace

there will be no end.

He will reign on David’s throne

and over his kingdom,

establishing and upholding it

with justice and righteousness

from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty

will accomplish this. Isaiah 9:6-7

How am I anticipating His coming? Do I realize the gift He has for you and me? What is my role in accepting His gift?

A Leaf

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Hayes) — Fri, 27 Sep 2024 16:49:00 -0500

Fall is coming and the leaves will soon be turning. Many

people will travel north to see this changing
phenomenon. The colors of bright yellow, orange and red stagger our imaginations. The hues are as varied as the sands on the beach. Each leaf will seemingly be singing their own song as they leave the tree and float slowly to the ground.

Can I?

When things change. When life hurts. When my knees get creaky. When an ending seems slow and lonely. When rejection comes. When disasters happen.

What joy can be found if we look closely at the cycle of the seasons?

We live. We cling to the things that give us life and nourishment. We act out our created purpose. We offer shade to those in the heat, we offer the sound of soothing as our leaves connect with others and blow in the wind. We dazzle with our proud colors; from bright green to eventually a deep red, orange or yellow.

The leaves don’t cling to the past or worry about the future. They exist for their sole purpose. They live today to the fullest.

Can I? Can you?

25“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:25-27, 33-34

Living Forward

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Hayes) — Tue, 2 Apr 2024 15:56:00 -0500

Banff, Canada Photo by KLHayes

Not too many days ago we went through the annual daylight savings, clock changing routine. It's a time that interrupts our sleep and our rhythm. An adage I always recall is, "spring forward" and later in the year "fall back." Easter is a time to spring forward.

I listened to a sermon on Sunday, and the priest pointed out that in one part of the Easter story we find Mary turning around. And these words caught my attention.

In John 20, Mary approaches the tomb where Jesus was buried. She came early. I wonder why she came. Surely, she knew the tomb would be sealed and guarded, yet she decided to go. I’ve imagined how Mary the disciples may have been feeling around this time. They must have felt perplexed, disappointed, confused, dumb struck with all that had occurred within just a few days. The emotional high of celebrating Passover with Jesus to the emotional low of watching him die.

But Mary came and saw the tomb was open and ran to tell the others. When she returned with the others, we read this:

11Now 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, “Rabbani!”(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.’”
18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

In these words, I believe there is truth.

The disciples must have been devastated. The dream had ended. Yet, Mary came back to the tomb. She returned before she realized that He was alive. She came back to be near him, to worship him, to express love to him even as she mourned. She came looking to the past, but left turning to the present and His presence.

How often do we look back on our week, our month, our year and wonder what we could have done differently? How often do we replay old scenes from years ago, scenes that sill hurt and words that stay in our minds. How often do we move on? Do you get stuck in the days gone by? Do we relive our past mistakes and lost opportunities? Isn't it time we, turn around and see our Savior?

From Britannica, "the English word Easter, which parallels the German word Ostern, is of uncertain origin. There is now widespread consensus that the word [Easter] derives from the Christian designation of Easter week as in albis, a Latin phrase that was understood as the plural of alba or “dawn”."

Easter marks the dawn of a new day. It is our time to turn around, to let go of the things we hold onto. Easter marks a new understanding. The work of the past has been done. As Jesus appeared to his followers over the next few weeks, his visits were not about the past but about the future. Their future. Our future. Their mission. Our mission.

What’s ahead? Where is He leading us? He has settled our past; let’s live forward.

The Oasis

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Hayes) — Sat, 23 Mar 2024 13:50:00 -0500

Do you remember the era of epic movies filmed in vast deserts? I seem to remember an actor, maybe Omar Sharif, crawling through the sands, fraught with thirst, and through his blurry vision sees an oasis. As he continues his crawl, the oasis, filled with pure water is but a mirage. But do not fret he is soon found, and his thirst is quenched! And his wounds, thirst, and sunburn are attended. The film makers of that era always seemed to float an oasis that was soon revealed to be only a mirage.

As Jesus’ desert time ended, he too, is attended. And it was no mirage.

Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. Matthew 4:11 NIV

I love the use of the word attended in this translation. Upon consultation with the all-knowing GOOGLE, I asked, what does it mean to attend someone?

“The verb attend means to be present, to listen, or give care of attention to.”

What a beautiful picture of the love and care that Jesus received from the angels. They were present to listen, and care for him. It seems to me that Jesus continued to live this way. He left his desert and immediately began His work. In the next few years of life as he traveled, he repeated this same attending. He was present to people. He listened to people. And he cared for people; the educated, the weak, the sick, the outcast, the traitor, the lonely, the innocent.

Recall in your mind his encounters with people. Notice that he was present with people as he taught them with new words. He traveled to the temple and listened and then taught His knowledge and experience. He gave His attention to feed, to heal, to look deeply into people’s pain and touch them in the places most needed.

And then, he met an outcast woman at a well as they both needed water. Her need was far greater than his. He offered to attend her and give her living water. But initially she only saw a mirage of hope and felt the well of her life was too deep for anyone to actually quench her thirst. But Jesus, stayed present. He continued to listen. And He gave her attention. And once she understood and accepted His gift of ‘water’ she left her desert of unbelief and ran to tell others. Did you know that her entire village soon came to believe in this living water God. John 4

Our deserts all look different. But He attends us all. He offers us the living water to quench us. Your well is not too deep. Your pain, your hope, your struggle is not unseen. He is present, He is listening, he attends you.

And Easter is coming!

Quiet Zone

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Hayes) — Sun, 17 Mar 2024 10:17:00 -0500

New relationships are usually filled with a lot of chatter, and stories of our beginnings. We share funny moments, historical moments, hard moments, and all moments that molded us into our current state. Then as the relationship grows and matures, the words may become less. And it’s enough to just be in the other’s presence. Together but without words. A quiet zone of space and love.

After thirty-some years of life and chatter, Jesus entered the quiet desert. And we only learn of spoken words after his 40 days and nights. During the forty days, we have no idea of what was said or not said but we read that he was alone. I wonder what Jesus thought about, what he experienced in the quiet of the desert. His desert seemed as though it was a preparation for His next steps. His desert was all-consuming and gave Him a renewal for life ahead.

Is a desert visit a pilgrimage? Is it in this place that we can hear most clearly? Is there power, strength and guidance in the quiet? Can we choose the quiet to seek and learn? The quiet zone can be scary, lonely, and desolate OR the desert pilgrimage can be full of hope, deliverance, and JOY.

It’s a few weeks before Easter, let’s choose the pilgrimage of the quiet zone. Let's quieten our lives, stop our chatter and just be quiet with the One. Let's be in His presence to listen and be restored.

Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31

The IF Test

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Hayes) — Sat, 9 Mar 2024 22:25:00 -0600

There are all sorts of ifs in our lives. We live a lot of life under the if mindset. Whether overtly stated or
not, we hear the undertones of the if statement. If you love me, you’ll help me. If you love me, you’ll clean up the kitchen tonight. If you love me, you’ll buy me that new dress. If you loved me, you’d never have let me get into this mess.

The devil uses a similar strategy.

Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Matthew 4:5-7

This is the “show me your God” moment or maybe the playground bully, yelling “prove it.” We may all have witnessed such behavior. And certainly, this mindset is one in which we are familiar as it has been around for all of time. But unfortunately, I realize, as I look deeply into myself, it’s also within me.

When life does not go as I expect or as I hope, in some deep, private place inside myself, I find myself making testy statements to God such as, “if you can or if you will, then I will understand, then I will follow you. When did I become one who gives God’s challenges, one who puts Him to the test? How can a mere human be so confrontative to the Holy God. Are these if thoughts a reflection of my own lack of faith? Are there areas in my life where I am tempted to believe that it’s too late for God to act? Is that a core belief that needs His healing? Do you have some core beliefs that have lulled you into thinking that it is too late for God’s healing touch?

Even Mary and Martha fell into this trap,

“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”

When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” John 11:21-22,32

And there is a story of man who brings his son to Jesus for healing, and he says, “But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Mark 9:22-23

I love that God is approachable and welcomes our doubts, our questions. He does not seem perplexed at our ifs. What I see is that He always responds no matter what I say to Him. He is always offering love, acceptance. And He always takes our ifs and turns them into His great “I AMs. I am the One who loves you. I am to One who makes all things possible. I am the One who heals.

Jesus replied, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God. Here I am. John 8:42

He is here. He’s never too late. No ifs, ands or buts.

Steady Stream

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Hayes) — Sun, 3 Mar 2024 06:29:00 -0600

My mother used to say, I’m so hungry that I’m about to cave in! We’d laugh and tease her about her words. But now, years later, I realize I often experience this same feeling. I'm hungry for a food that eludes me, I too feel that I may cave in!

Today, we again return to the desert. The desert is hot, unrelenting in sun exposure, sandy and uncomfortable to say the least. Our eyes are struggling to see through the glare, our bodies are sunburnt and aching, the exhaustion is real. And the desert nights are almost too cool, and frightening as the silence is overbearing and only broken by the howls of wildlife and stealthy critters that stir the sand around us. After two weeks in the desert of Lent 2024, are you thirsty or hungry yet? Are you about to cave in?

And He had fasted for forty days and forty nights, and that left him, of course, in a state of extreme hunger, which the Devil took advantage of in the first test: “Since you are God’s Son, speak the word that will turn these stones into loaves of bread.”

Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: “It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God’s mouth. “ Matthew 4:2-4, Modern English Version and The Message

How good would bread have tasted after 40 days? Yet, food was not His greatest need. Satan implies that what Jesus needed most was food, nourishment, and satisfaction of hunger. And certainly, He did need food in that moment! For most of us reading these words, we are not hungry physically. But aren't we hungry in other ways? Don't we actively seek other things to fill us up? What is our food choice of 2024?

Many of us have heard the verse from Matthew quoted for years and may have quoted it ourselves. But, we quote the top half of the verse in this translation, “One does not live by bread alone.” But it is the bottom halve that reveals the truth, “It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God’s mouth.” Not just one word but a steady stream. Constant and moving words. What steady stream of words have your attention?

Do you pay the most attention to the false messages of, “I’m not enough, I’m not smart enough, I’m not talented enough?” Are these words your steady stream? Or are you replaying old messages from your parents, your bosses’ words at your last review, the harsh words of your children, the words, and pictures from Instagram, or from the nightly news? What steady stream is feeding you? If all we are eating are these words, we will certainly cave in! What bread are you choosing to eat when another feast awaits?

Have you heard the steady stream of words from God about you?

You are never alone

You are valuable

You are not condemned

You are God’s masterpiece

You are known

You are loved.

We weren’t meant to live in the desert, but short visits can be awakening. Awaken to the food God is offering, the true fulfilling bread and steady stream.