THE NEW EWE

"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!'"

Luke 15:4-6

March 27, 2024

Happy Easter

LIFE IN THE FOLD

My mama was diagnosed with cancer when I was 8 years old. At first, she was diagnosed with an ulcer, then eventually colon cancer. For the next seven years, she went through chemotherapy, radiation, and four surgeries. She had to wear a colostomy bag for several years.

There were times during those first few years when she still felt like going to church and being with her family and enjoying life. But there were times during her treatments when she had bad headaches and just didn't feel well. The last couple years or so of her life, there were many times when she suffered and was in great pain.

I was fifteen years old when Mama passed away. Those last couple months or so had been horribly painful for her and difficult for the family, as we watched her suffer. Watching a loved one slowly waste away, and then watching as they take their last breath is heart-wrenching.

Knowing that they are no longer suffering and that they are in heaven is a comfort, it really is; but there is, also, grief and devastation to the family. And sometimes there is a struggle with faith and questions as to why God hadn't healed them and allowed them to stay here on earth with their family. It's just hard!

I don't think I would have emotionally been able to handle it, had it not been for that hope and promise of eternal life and knowing that one day I will see her again, where we will never again be parted.

A few years after Mama's death, I stayed with an aunt for a few hours each day during the work week. She was married to one of my mom's brothers, and had been diagnosed with cancer prior to my mom passing away. I remember one evening they had come to our house to visit and she had been taking treatments. She had lost all her hair and was wearing a wig, and took it off to show Mama her bare head. My uncle had asked if I could come and stay with her while he worked. She was on a medical liquid diet at that time and spent a lot of time lying in bed and sleeping. She passed away shortly after this time of me staying with her.

Many times during the day she would come into the living room and lay on the couch and share memories and stories of family. I wished later that I had written them down, because I've forgotten many of the things she had shared with me.

One day she was talking about my mama and the battle she had fought with cancer. This particular uncle and aunt had come down to our house countless times, after church, to drink coffee and visit with my parents. One of the things she and my mom had talked about was their journeys through cancer and honestly, I'm not sure what else, because I wasn't always there in the room with them.

That particular day when she was talking to me, she said something that greatly impacted my life. She said, "You do know that the reason your mom fought so hard and so long to stay alive was for you, don't you? She was worried about you being so young and wanted to be there with you for as long as she possibly could."

Those words just hit me in the heart! I was young and hadn't realized that. I'm sure that the two of them had had conversations about it. I had watched my mama suffer and the pain that she had endured for so long. The thought that she had done that for my sake was overwhelming! At first it made me feel somewhat guilty that she would have put herself through that, because of me. But it, also, let me know the depth of love that she had for me -- her baby girl (I'm the youngest of five daughters born to my parents).

This gave me a glimpse into the sacrifice that Jesus made for me -- and for you. He humbled Himself to come to earth and be born, in human flesh. He endured criticism, hatred, lies, and unbelief from those who didn't believe that He was truly the Messiah. He wasn't accepted by those who should have known Him best, in His hometown. He had Pharisees who followed Him around, for the sole purpose of picking apart His teachings and trying to prove that Jesus wasn't who He said He was.

But that wasn't the worst of it. Jesus was arrested, put on trial, had a thief released in His place, falsely accused, beaten, tortured, and heard crowds yelling, "Crucify Him!" After enduring the crown of thorns being harshly pushed down into his skull and being beaten until the flesh on His back was ripped open, He was then expected to carry His own cross to the crucifixion site. Then Jesus was nailed to a cross and had crowds of people standing around, watching Him die. In those last moments of His life, He even felt forsaken by His father! He cried out, "Father, why have you forsaken Me?"

On the cross He also said these words, "Father, forgive them, because they know not what they are doing."

Jesus endured everything that He did, because He knew that we couldn't save ourselves. We needed Him to come and take our sins upon Himself. God so loved us, the world, that He gave His only Son! Why? So that whoever believes in Him, will not perish, but have eternal life.

God loves us so much that He made a way for us to spend eternity with Him! Jesus loves us so much that He was willing to leave Heaven, come to earth in human flesh, and die for our sins so that we could have eternal life.

Jesus last day on earth was His worst. But His worst day was the reason that He had come; to fulfill His Father's purpose of dying for the sins of all mankind. He did all of that out of His great love for each of us!

Jesus didn't stay in the grave! On the third day, He rose again!! He didn't raise in human flesh, but as the resurrected Savior who had overcome death, hell, and the grave. He rose so that we, too, could rise from our graves and live with Him forever.

This Easter, remember what Jesus did for you. Really think about it! He suffered and went through the pain and torture and crucifixion, because He loved you so very much.

If you've not received Jesus as your Lord and Savior, please do so today. All you have to do is acknowledge that Jesus is Lord, confess your sins, ask forgiveness, and receive Jesus into your life. It will be the best decision you have ever made; and it has eternal benefits!

JON'S PERSPECTIVE:

This Friday is Good Friday. At my work, we honor Good Friday with a day off. In some ways, we could say we celebrate it, but I prefer 'honor'. Jesus died on Friday, so I don't think of it as something we celebrate, but we honor the day.

Jesus died for our sins. And that is important, and we are thankful for His sacrifice. But it is the next Sunday that we really celebrate. Jesus rose from the grave. That is awesome! It doesn't just mean that He was able to return to heaven, but it means we can all be resurrected through Him. We can all go to heaven in our time.

This weekend, I suggest you consider each day what Jesus, the 12 disciples, and others were going through each day. Thursday night, Jesus was arrested and tried. Friday, He was hung on the cross and died. Many of His followers observed most of that. Saturday, many of His followers thought the ministry was over, and went back to work, or they fled to avoid arrest themselves. Sunday, they learned He was raised from the dead, and the ministry continued with new purpose.

If you regularly attend a church, great! If not, please start with this Easter. And don't just attend once, but begin attending regularly.

ON THE MENEWE:

Jello Cake Dessert

Mix jello and water together.

Tear up half of the cake into chunks and and put in a large bowl. Pour half of the hot jello over cake. Cover with half of the sliced strawberries; then half of the Cool Whip.

Layer again.

Refrigerate until ready to serve. Can be made a day ahead of serving.

THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER:

I love Easter! I have so many great memories from my childhood; and even my adult years. Growing up, my mom and we five girls always got a new dress to wear on Easter. When I was young, it was always homemade, but we were always excited to get a new dress. We, also, got new shoes -- generally sandals.

When I was a single adult, living on my own, I often didn't have a lot of extra money. One year I really wanted a new dress for Easter, but just didn't have the extra money to buy one -- and I wasn't skilled enough to sew my own clothes. I was feeling a little disappointed that I wouldn't get a new dress that year. I had just bought a new mobile home and got moved in, and had expenses from that. One Sunday evening, an uncle and aunt who attended the same church as me, asked if they could come down and see my new house. As they were leaving, they gave me enough money to go buy myself a new Easter dress. I can't remember for sure, but think that there was enough money for me to get new shoes, too. That God would care enough about the little things, to provide a way for me to get something new to wear for Easter, made me cry happy tears of joy.

THOUGHT TO PONDER:

God proved His love on the cross.

When Christ hung, and bled, and died, it was God saying to the world, 'I love you.' - Billy Graham

OUR HEARTFELT THANKS TO YOU:

We love you!

Loretta & Jon

http://www.graysheep.org