Tag Archives: Gospel of Luke

Broken

English: Final baked loaf

The Gypsy Mama

1. Write for 5 minutes flat on the prompt: “Broken” with no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to please visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community.

OK, are you ready? Please give me your best five minutes on:::

Broken…

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The world’s definition of broken–beat down, ruined, unusable.

God’s definition of broken–love poured out.

The woman, broken. A sinner. She broke the jar and poured out the perfume on the Jesus.

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 NIV

Jesus broke the bread with His disciples. A breaking. A thanksgiving.

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Matthew 26:26 NIV

That same Jesus, body broken. He poured out His blood for us.

There has never been a greater love.

50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open.  Matthew 27 NIV

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His Love Encompasses Them All

English: Lost sheep on farm track.

Today’s jam at Faith Barista is about vulnerable love.

Vulnerable is not one of those words that I really enjoy…or even like very much for that matter.

Some people are really good at “putting themselves out there”, living in the moment and not worrying about it.

I am not one of those people.

To me, being vulnerable means opening myself up to hurt.

To misunderstanding. To possible embarrassment.

Vulnerability is akin to standing on the stage, with the spot light on me…all alone.

No, thank you.

No matter how hard I try to steer clear of it, I find myself in this exact position, on occasion.

I get lost. Sometimes it is difficult to find my way “back home”.

Straining to climb the mountains of life. Slipping. Fearing. Immobilized. Seemingly, all alone.

Scared out of my wits, sometimes by what is real, often times by scenarios I make up in my own mind.

Vulnerable.

Thankfully, on days like that, I am reminded of the parable that Jesus told to the teachers and lawyers of His time.

The story is found in the book of Luke, chapter 15.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

 1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

 3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Jesus as shepherd.

Looking for the lost.

For the scared.

The alone.

The vulnerable.

His love encompasses them all.

 

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“That’s What Christmas Is All About, Charlie Brown”

A Charlie Brown Christmas

I was born in 1968.

Of course, I don’t really have any recollection of that decade. My memories come alive for me in the 70’s.

My childhood.

Last night I watched, A Charlie Brown Christmas, with my husband and kids. The cartoon first aired in 1965 on CBS. It has been watched during the Christmas season every year since that time. I remember watching it as a child, back before cable TV, back when one had to check out the TV guide to make sure no shows were missed. The Christmas shows were special back then…before VCR‘s and DVD players. Tivo wasn’t around yet, and most people only received the three main channels on their sets.

I’ll admit that I bought all the Peanuts cartoons on DVD….because I wanted them….for nostalgia’s sake.

As I watched the cartoon last night I was once again struck by the fact that Linus quotes the Christmas story from the book of Luke. I dare say that any modern day Christmas shows/movies would face litigation if they quoted the Biblical story of Christmas.  Don’t you find it interesting though, that this particular cartoon has been around for 46 years and is still very much loved?

Sigh.

I sat on the couch, at 43 years old, and watched a beloved show that took me straight back to 1975. I was seven years old all over again. As I munched on some freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, I listened as Linus set his friends straight on what Christmas really means…and it made me happy all over again.

“‘8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. 12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and goodwill towards men.'”  (Luke, chapter 2)

“…And that’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.” —Linus

Thank you, Linus. The words you quoted

never grow old…even if you have been around since 1965.

 

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His Healing Touch

hospital_bed-5139

The Father of Lies, whisperssssss……..

Faintly.

Subtly.

Barely, perceptible.

The words scald the heart. White hot.

“You are not enough. You never were. You never will be.”

And the heart leaks from the pin pricks of the lie

Deception slithers its way into the holes left behind…

as the life blood leaves one drop at a time.

Wounded and bleeding.

Worn down and worn out.

Wanting.

Then the miracle happens.

Jesus knows and sees the bleeding heart. Nothing is missed as He surveys the scene.

But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

He sees the wounds. He gently touches the scars that have formed.

And He goes about the work of healing.

But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me. “Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”   Luke 8: 46-48

His hand touches the holes left in the heart. He repairs with the skill of a Master Surgeon.

With each stitch He breathes Words of Life…

You are wanted.

You are worthy to Me.

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.

I knew you before you were even born.

I have plans for you.

I love you.

You are chosen.

You are beautiful.

I bought you for a high price.

You are one of the redeemed.

And the Great Physician said…

“It is finished.” John 19:30

 

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Love Is A Sacrifice

As good as heart can wish

Image by harold.lloyd via Flickr

Love is a sacrifice… I wrote this note in my Bible, in the margin of the page,  next to the story of  The Good Samaritan. (Luke 10:25-) A story that Jesus gave as an example of love. A man hurt, beaten and bleeding, on the side of the road. Ignored by some. Cared for by a stranger. The stranger showed compassion and mercy to this man that he did not know.

As I looked to this story, I pondered the words of the Lord. He ends His parable referring to the actions of the good Samaritan, “Go and do likewise.”

Go and do likewise. Jesus’ words echo in my heart.

How many times am I like the priest or the Levite in the story? The first people to encounter the wounded stranger. The priest crossed to the other side of the road, as did the Levite. Was the sight of the man too much? Were they too busy? Did they owe this stranger their time? Could they be bothered with the ache of another?

I’ve known this story since childhood…but, today I looked at it with new eyes.  A story with a lesson. Relevant to today.

“He bandaged his wounds.”

“He took care of him.”

To the inn keeper he said, “Look after him, I will reimburse you.”

This man was not too busy to slow down.  He knelt to help another…with no expectation of reward or reimbursement. We do not know (Jesus never says)  if the hurt man ever thanked the Samaritan that had helped him.

Love calls for sacrifice.

A sacrifice of time. A sacrifice of energy. A sacrifice of what I might want, for the benefit of another. Selfishness can’t survive in the presence of love.

Real love for others, always requires a sacrifice of self.
“The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
Mark 12:31

” Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
Luke 6:31

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”
Ephesians 4:2

“We love because he first loved us.”
1 John 4:19


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