Pathways Press.com

Written by Doreen May from the Village Church

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. [Psalm 100:1-2]

Written by Stanley Mast, a contemporary pastor and teacher.

Putting Jesus first in our lives can cause real pain. Jesus calls that our cross—not just the pain that is common to humanity in a fallen world, but the unique pain that comes from following Jesus so closely that we lose something precious. Is there a cross in your future? When you are tempted to shy away from your cross, remember Jesus. He was the “biggest loser” in history. He invested his life in preaching the kingdom, doing acts of love, teaching a radical way of living, training disciples to change the world, risking everything for the cause of God. And they killed him. What a loser! No, says the gospel. It was precisely by losing that he won. By losing his life, he saved ours. And his resurrection proclaimed him the biggest winner in history, by proving that he was who he said he was, that he did what he said he would, and that he can be trusted to keep his word. Trust is what we need in order to overcome our fear of the cross in our future—trust in Jesus and his work and his word. The world says that putting Jesus first is foolish. The cross says that putting Jesus first is the way of salvation. So what will you trust—the wisdom of the world or the wisdom of the cross? Will you trust yourself or Jesus?

And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. [Luke 14:27]

Written by Bobbi Capin from the Village Church.

In 1971, while stationed in Camp Lejeune, NC, I attended a Bible study with a friend. I took my 18-month-old, and she took hers, both going off to the nursery. The next morning, I was unable to awaken my daughter. She was running a very high fever of 106. I called my Bible study friend whose husband was head of the Pediatric division of the hospital, and she advised me to take her in immediately. After many tests they finally gave her a spinal tap and she was admitted to the hospital with H Flu bacterial meningitis. Where to go, what to do., For we who believe in a loving, faithful God there is nowhere else to go but to the Lord. I found myself kneeling at her crib with deep prayers for healing. We were in need of assistance to help with our older daughter so that were freed up to be at the hospital. Neighbors, though understanding, were fearful of transmission. In 1971 there was no inoculation for this disease. My Mom (Helen Downey) to the rescue. She flew down on a moment’s notice to help out for a number of days. My husband was required to sign a paper indicating that the outcome may not be what we had prayed for. Pam was in isolation and quarantined; put on antibiotics for 10 days and cared for by a loving staff. My friend’s doctor husband was a Christian who cared deeply for others. Each night he would go to Pam’s room before going home and lay hands on her with sincere prayers for healing I wasn’t much into the laying on of hands at the time. You needn’t ask me how I feel about that now. This was our time to surrender control and trust our God. Though this was a huge setback, there were much needed positive outcomes as well … changes in priorities and a deeper appreciation for the daily blessings our Lord provides. Pam came home a happy toddler and is now a wonderful speech/language pathologist with a family of her own and assisting youngsters with their needs. Praise God for answer to prayer. Through this setback we were also provided the opportunity to grow, to depend wholeheartedly on God’s will, and to be grateful for His daily provisions.

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. [Psalm 121:1-2]

Written by Augustine of Hippo (354-430), a Christian theologian and philosopher from Roman Africa who served as the bishop of Hippo.

As they were looking on, so we too gaze on his wounds as he hangs. We see his blood as he dies. We see the price offered by the redeemer, touch the scars of his resurrection. He bows his head, as if to kiss you. His heart is made bare open, as it were, in love to you. His arms are extended that he may embrace you. His whole body is displayed for your redemption. Ponder how great these things are. Let all this be rightly weighed in your mind: as he was once fixed to the cross in every part of his body for you, so he may now be fixed in every part of your soul.

Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons. [Matthew 27:55]

Written by Catherine Montgrain from the Village Church

When I discovered I had cancer in 2016, I didn’t know much about the prophet Micah and how he spoke about God’s requirements of us. Now, the prophet’s simple instructions and words from God run through my head regularly, and I thank bible study for this knowledge given to me.  My cancer experience and survival took me to the depths of humility. I became truly humble. We rely on other people for our life and put ourselves completely into God’s hands, trusting our doctors and nurses through this too. This was a very hard and untried path to take and I learned to walk humbly with God, walking through all the possible problems with help from God and loved ones around me. The kindness of the medical staff also made me vow to be kinder myself. I needed a very strong regimen of chemotherapy, and it has taken a big toll on my body, even today, though I am 10 years cancer-free. Yeah!    Possibly, my health issues have made me more open to other people’s problems and lives, and following justice is something I believe in deeply.

What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God. [Micah 6:8]

Written by Elizabeth Clephane (1830-1869), a Scottish song writer. She composed the hymn “Beneath the Cross of Jesus.”

Upon the cross of Jesus
mine eye at times can see
the very dying form of One
who suffered there for me:
and from my stricken heart with tears
two wonders I confess,
the wonders of redeeming love
and my unworthiness. 

See, a king will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice. Each one will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land. [Isaiah 32:1-2]

Written by Nina Pope from the Village Church

It was a huge surprise the day I received it.  I have always especially loved Valentine’s Day, and the giant red heart box was in itself a piece of art with elaborate red ribbon trimmed with white lace and a lavish red rose and ribbon in the center…not the sort of candy box you see these days.  The whole thing was about 35 inches tall and wide.  It was impressive at first look on the outside and held about 5 pounds of mouth-watering See’s candies within.  Although the candy is long gone, the box remains today and is a unique reminder and symbol of affection received from the love of my life, Hughes Pope.  It was unexpected and made me feel loved and will always be a cherished treasure, reminding me of many rich moments that preceded and followed its arrival. Of the many wonderful gifts I have received over the years, it is still a standout and always brings a smile to my heart and never fails to stir an avalanche of emotion because I know that out of love it was freely given and was beyond anything deserved. And so it is with the cross of Jesus Christ.  It was not the expected outcome to the end of Jesus’ earthly life.  Even now, it amazes and astonishes believers across the generations.  Unlike my giant heart box, the cross looked like defeat, not triumph and victory.  In subsequent understanding, humanity came to realize its impact for underserving recipients given out of God’s abundant love, bringing an unforeseen eternal impact which would indelibly imprint itself on the heart of all who would partake.  It was and is a symbol of love so deep that it is impossible to overestimate, a perfect love freely given and designed to be accepted and enjoyed by all delivered by a cross that in the beginning did not in any way resemble what it truly was — love.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. [John 3:16]

Written by Max Lucado, a contemporary pastor and author.

The Cross. Can you turn any direction without seeing one? Perched atop a chapel. Carved into a graveyard headstone. Engraved in a ring or suspended on a chain. The cross is the universal symbol of Christianity.  An odd choice, don’t you think? Strange that a tool of torture would come to embody a movement of hope. The symbols of other faiths are more upbeat: the six-pointed star of David, the crescent moon of Islam, a lotus blossom for Buddhism. Yet a cross for Christianity? An instrument of execution? Would you wear a tiny electric chair around your neck? Suspend a gold-plated hangman’s noose on the wall? Would you print a picture of a firing squad on a business card? Yet we do so with the cross. Many even make the sign of the cross as they pray. Would we make the sign of, say, a guillotine? Instead of the triangular touch on the forehead and shoulders, how about a karate chop on the palm? Doesn’t quite have the same feel, does it? Why is the cross the symbol of our faith? To find the answer look no farther than the cross itself. Its design couldn’t be simpler. One beam horizontal—the other vertical. One reaches out—like God’s love. The other reaches up—as does God’s holiness. One represents the width of his love; the other reflects the height of his holiness. The cross is the intersection. The cross is where God forgave his children without lowering his standards. How could he do this? In a sentence: God put our sin on his Son and punished it there.

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. [2 Corinthians 5:21]

Written by Vickie Stone from the Village Church.

When you learn about a chapter in someone’s life where they are facing harsh obstacles, are you amazed at the courage people display facing such a journey?  I think it must feel Iike one more thing might very well take them under. When I was a Deacon, I heard prayer requests that would make my heart ache for the person in need. And now in our small groups at Ladies Bible Study, hearing of family loss and hardships. Losing both one’s children, in addition to a house fire; friends facing cancer diagnosis, it is heart wrenching. Like most, I shake my head and think – Why? Why must there be so much suffering in the world? The answer is of course: the world is broken. When humans became separated from God, a steep price was paid. The Good News is, that is NOT the final answer. We as believers, know there is Hope. Hope in the name of Jesus Christ.  Yet when the future, that peace of being with Jesus Christ, seem so far away, how do we deal with the now?  As certainly this life and our journey on this planet presents daily trials of health issues, job demands, relationship challenges, financial loss, anger, jealousy and all sorts of stressors. How then, do we obtain the Peace, the Peace of Christ promised by God? The answer of course is found in the Bible. The words from believers that lived long ago can guide us and keep us focused today on methods of facing these challenges head-on and not lose hope.  For example, the scriptures in Philippians 4:8. Paul instructs the believers in Philippi what to focus their minds on and sometimes people today, focus on the beauty of this scripture’s adjectives, when in fact we should also realize the action word is THINK. So our guidance is to focus our thoughts on positive blessings and to follow Jesus’s model. As He often broke away from His followers and spent time with the Father in solitude, praying. During this Lenten season if you don’t already practice this, may you carve out time, each day to think positive, beautiful thoughts, and be reminded that nothing can ever separate us from the love of Jesus Christ.  Let this Peace of God take hold in our hearts. For He is The Way, The Truth, and The Life.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. [Philippians 4:8]

The writer of the lyrics of this American folk hymn, written in 1835 is unknown.

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, that caused the Lord of bliss
to bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
to bear the dreadful curse for my soul.

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. [2 Corinthians 5:14]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-UmemwpAvA