I take the bit of bread and the mini cup of wine and walk back to my seat. The music plays softly and the sanctuary is strangely quiet. I feel the weight of the moment and I know better than quickly putting it all in my mouth and swallowing. I sit and look around. The young lady in front of me, she goes to her knees, holding that bit of bread and mini cup of wine in her hand. The old man across sits, eyes closed, hands open, bit of bread and mini cup nestled in there. And the mother back there, she sobs quietly.

And I sense the awe of His Presence in the midst.

I gently put the bit of bread in my mouth and begin to chew. I feel my teeth tearing the bread apart. And with each strike of my teeth against the soft texture of bread, I see Him hanging here. And with each strike of my teeth against the soft texture of bread, I see His joy in me taking Him in. His broken body for my freedom.

The bread is crushed under my teeth in hundreds of tiny little parts. I crushed it. I crushed it.

My sin crushed Him.

The bread is soft and liquid, mixed with my saliva, and I swallow, making it a part of me. Making Him a part of me.

And I see His joy in me taking Him in.

My sin crushed Him, but He took it on purpose. And I sense His joy in me receiving Him.

I welcome the nourishment that He is to me, the life that He is to me.

A death gladly given for a life. It is a good Friday indeed.

There is something delightful about home.

As my children grew up, I sought to make home the place where they felt safe, where they were free to grow up, where they made memories and became who they are.

But as much as the concept of home is filled with memories, going home is a bit different. Maybe you back to what you remember, people, feelings and atmospheres when you go home, but going home is never behind you. Going home is always moving forward, one step at a time.

In our Christianese jargon, we often call “dying” going home. And rightly so. Because as we leave our earthly tent behind, this is exactly what we are doing: we are going home.

And we all are moving forward, one step at a time, going home one way or another.

And it is wonderful.

Home to God the Father who has loved us from the beginning of time and has inscribed our names in the palm of His hand. Home to Jesus, our wonderful Savior, the Forerunner of us all, the One who purchased redemption for us. Home to Holy Spirit, the sweet Presence of God with us and in us every moment of the day.

Home where we belong.

Home where everything is going to be okay. Forever.

Home where we are safe.

Going home is what I think about when everything is going haywire around me. Not that I don’t want to live down here, but I draw deep comfort from knowing that there is a day coming when all struggles will be over and we will be with Him forever and ever.

Going home is what I think about when I need to remember that I am loved. Not that I don’t know that I am, but when the feelings aren’t there and everything seems to be caving in on me, I draw deep comfort from knowing that there is a day coming when I will forever be in His arms.

Going home is what I think about when my body betrays me. Not that I am not willing to age gracefully, but sometimes the knees hurt and the back doesn’t bend and the hair feels too grey, and I draw deep comfort from knowing that a day is coming when I will put on a new body that forever will be fit unto Him.

The older I get, the better home  looks.

Cultivating Thankfulness with Ann

#553 Cleaning out a closet and finding a really cool picture of my son

#554 Getting everything done on my to-do list

#555 Celebrating the adoption of a little neighbor

Sometimes, I link up with any or all of these wonderful writers: Hearts 4 Home, SDG,  Hearts Reflected, WLW, EOA, Things I can’t say, Growing Home, Play Dates with God, Monday Musings, Hear it on Sunday, Inspire Me Monday, Tell me a Story, The Better Mom, a Mama’s Story, Into the Word, In and Around Mondays,OYHT, Gratituesday, Titus2Tuesdays, Extraordinay, Lessons from Ivy, Denise in Bloom, Sweet Blessings, Faith Filled Friday, Finding Joy, WholeHearted Home, Mom’s the Word,

In the Alphabet of Life, L has to be for laughter.

Laughter is the nectar that makes everyday life delicious. Its sweetness travels all the way down to our toes and changes how we perceive all that is around us.

Laughter is more contagious than flu any day. It makes people flock together and it binds them together as they share an intimate moment of happiness.

Laughter is the strongest antidote I know. It knows how to gently reduce or put in their right place very real things like self-importance, sadness, stress, physical pain, the feeling of being overwhelmed, loneliness, self-pity  and hopelessness.

Laughter is good for us. Physically, it relaxes the whole  body, releases “happy hormones,” and even boosts the immune system! Socially, it strengthens relationships, enhances teamwork, makes attractive and even helps diffuse conflict. Mentally, laughter adds a bit of zest to life, eases anxiety, improves mood and even relieves stress.

Without laughter, we might forget to be thankful. And to see how beautiful things really are. And to breathe deep and life fully.

And to love.

In the Alphabet of Life, L is for Laughter

A joyful heart is good medicine. Proverbs 17:11

Cultivating Thankfulness with Ann

#550 God’s protection on bad roads

#551 God’s peace on bad roads

#552 The movie, Les Miserables and its message of grace

I live in the United States of America, a democracy with a president. I like it that way. That’s what I am used to.

But in the Alphabet of life, where things show themselves the way they really are, there is no room for democracy, and K is certainly for KINGDOM.

Where there is a Kingdom, there surely is a King; His name is Jesus. And the King goes before us, waging war for us, judging us righteously. Oh, how thankful I am for my King Jesus!

Where there is a Kingdom, there surely are subjects; it’s you and it’s me. And the subjects follow the leader, obeying His command, enjoying the benefits of belonging to the King. Oh, how thankful I am for my position in Him!

Where there is a Kingdom, there are rules and ways; His Word will prevail. And His Word speaks truth to us, strengthening us for the journey, leading us into the victory of the King. Oh, how thankful I am for His enduring Word!

The Kingdom of God cannot be overthrown. It forever will rule. And for that I will forever give thanks.

In the Alphabet of Life, K is for KINGDOM.

“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.” Revelation 11:15

Cultivating Thankfulness with Ann Voskamp

# 538 Being fine with not finishing my dessert

# 539 The joy of belonging to God

# 540 Hope for a better tomorrow

Sharing with these wonderful blogs:

Sometimes, my soul feels bruised.

It is as though someone punched me in the core of me, and the breath is knocked out of me, and I don’t quite know how to get back on track. There is a bunch of blood pooled together deeper than I can express, and the hurt is unbearable.

And the pain from the bruise, it seeks to control all of my thoughts, down to the tiniest ones.

And the pain from the bruise, it tells me that I should never, ever hope again, and that trust is overrated, and that I should just make myself really tough so that no one can reach me. So that no one can bruise me ever again.

And the pain from the bruise, it shouts that there’s no use trying anymore. I might as well let the life bleed out and extinguish it all. The pain of the bruise, it becomes a decree that my life is over. Finished. The end.

But then, God’s gentle hand reaches out and touches my bruised soul. He delicately takes my crushed soul and places it in His very hand.

And He tells me that the pain of the bruise ushered a skewed decree. He tells me that His decree for me is life, and hope and joy forever more. He says that He never breaks a bruised reed, and He never extinguishes a dimly burning wick. (Isaiah 42:3)

And then He promises that the pain of the bruise will fade and the bruise itself will even disappear.  He says that His plan for my life is delicious, and it’s worth hanging on.

He says that His love will carry me through.

And I believe Him.

Cultivating Thankfulness with Ann Voskamp

#538True hunger, knowing that a meal is coming

#539 Home Bible Study tonight

#540 My new cradle that I use for my plants

Sometimes, I link up with any or all of these wonderful writers: Hearts 4 Home, SDG,  Hearts Reflected, WLW, EOA, Things I can’t say, Growing Home, Play Dates with God, Monday Musings, Hear it on Sunday, Inspire Me Monday, Tell me a Story, The Better Mom, a Mama’s Story, Into the Word, In and Around Mondays,OYHT, Gratituesday, Titus2Tuesdays, Extraordinay, Lessons from Ivy, Denise in Bloom, Sweet Blessings, Faith Filled Friday, Finding Joy, WholeHearted Home, Mom’s the Word,

In the Alphabet of Life, J has to be for Jesus. Because not only is Jesus what life is all about, but He Himself is life. “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men,” the Scriptures say.

When I say His name, it is honey in  my mouth–sweet and rich and filled with an explosion of joy.

When I pray His name, it is peace for my heart–settling my soul in the midst of the storm.

When I sing His name, it is grace down to my toes–energizing every part of me for the journey ahead.

When I declare His name, it is power over my life–creating all that needs to be.

Jesus–the King above all kings who came down as a babe

Jesus–the lowly carpenter who relentlessly builds His church

Jesus–the One coming for His Bride

Jesus–my forever Best Friend, the lover of my soul.

In the Alphabet of Life, J is for Jesus

She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. Matthew 1:21

Cultivating Thankfulness with Ann Voskamp

#532 Living in a country where I am free to worship God

#533 No alarm clock on the week-ends

#534 Spending an evening with my adult children