Pathways Press.com

Written by Ruth Boven, a contemporary pastor.

Living God, our hearts are lifted to you in praise and thanks that the grave could not hold our Lord Jesus. He is risen! Help us to live joyfully, hopefully, and boldly in the power of his resurrection. Amen.

Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!  [Luke 24:5-6]

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Written by Erin Jean Warde, a contemporary author.

I believe one of the greatest challenges of the human life is the experience of sitting inside pain and grief. I find that when I am entombed in my suffering, my prayers take the form of questions as I ask God to offer me the compassion, tenderness, and deliverance I thought I could count on when I first believed.  There is something about that middle place, the place where my faith and my reality feel deeply at odds, where I am forced to wrestle with doubt knowing that the tussle won’t tear me from my belief, but instead that it will somehow join me to a God who can survive the fight.  The remembrance that my love for God and God’s love for me can survive the conflict is, in and of itself, a form of belief, as it means that instead of disappearing from God entirely I stay connected, because even when my prayers are questions they are passionate, as they are born out of my desire to be connected to God, to feel the love of God, not to leave God and my faith…Holy Saturday invites us to be honest about the reality of our suffering, the prayers we pray out of conflict, the ways we tussle with the tension between our faith and the reality of life before us. The gift of Holy Saturday is that we are able to behold the dead body of Jesus and know that, against all odds, there is a way out of the tomb.  When we are in our own sufferings, feeling so covered in the reality of death and suffering that we can almost smell the spices that promise we are given into decay, we can remember that this day is not the last day.  There is a tomorrow that will greet us at dawn with the compassion, tenderness, and deliverance of God.

My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.  [Matthew 29:39b]

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Written by Vickie Stone from the Village Church

1995 was Lorrie’s diagnosis.  She did not know it at the time, but my 35-year-old sister, would have a 5-year battle with breast cancer. Her medical team would tell her, great news: your lymph nodes are clear. They would label her cancer in remission, only to later tell her the cancer had returned and spread to her lungs. And then to her liver. This was so wrong. She was young. Her kiddos were so little, just 3 years and 8 years old at her diagnosis.  I was barely back to California from a wonderful trip to Australia, when my brother-in-law Tom told me I should come; the doctors said the disease was progressing. Lorrie, true to her form, had not wanted to “interrupt my special trip” with her latest disease challenge. I left for Ohio immediately. Visiting was hard, we all just wanted to wave a magical wand and return her health to her. Our family was numb and simply lost without our Lorrie, our social director. Lorrie, always the organizer, making plans for our family’s outings and celebrations. How could she be taken from us? She was so needed here. I had so many questions for God as anyone does when they see someone taken so young. A few weeks later, after the funeral, I was back in California, trying to figure out a future without my big sis, my childhood partner in crime, my matchmaker, and my confidant. The phone rang. My best friend in Ohio insisted she had to share what had transpired with her 5-year-old daughter.  Her daughter says to her, as they are walking up the stairs in their home, “Lorrie is talking to me.” My friend was naturally quite surprised, yet curious so she simply said: “Oh? What is she saying to you?” The little one, matter of factly replies, “She is telling me that we should be crying only tears of joy!” This little girl’s message provided my entire family such comfort. It was a mystery we gratefully took at face value. Lorrie was letting us know…she was in His glory, she was fine, and she wanted us to be too. Indeed!

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. [Psalm 16:11]

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Written by Ee Chien Chua, a contemporary IT leader.

Heavenly Father, on this Maundy Thursday, we remember the humble acts of love that Jesus displayed by washing the feet of His Apostles and sharing the Last Supper with them. Help us to follow in His footsteps, serving one another with humility, love, and forgiveness. We praise You, the Ancient of Days, and trust in Your eternal power and presence. Guide us in our daily lives as we strive to be more like Jesus, serving others without self-interest. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. [Luke 22:19-20]

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Written by Joni Eareckson Tada, a contemporary author. This is an excerpt from her book “The Practice of the Presence of Jesus.”

Our great King is eager to pour favor on his children. He does not wait for us to come to him; he seeks us out. He is actively pursuing us…God pursues us with goodness by giving us things we haven’t earned, such as warm friendships, food on the table, peace and safety in our streets, jobs to do and encouraging words over cups of coffee. God pursues us with mercy by not giving us what we have earned, such as judgment. He is quick to forgive and overflowing with love, all because of Jesus. God never grows weary of pouring out mercy and goodness

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. [Psalm 23:6]

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Written by Paul Bane and Matt Litton, contemporary authors. This is an excerpt from their book “In the Presence of Jesus.”

There is something invasive about even a loved one coming into the intimacy of your home. It can be extremely stressful to try to get your house perfect before someone visits. But consider the profound revelation that the God of the universe did not wait for you to come to Him, but He patiently waits outside your door. The truth is that Jesus longs to be invited into every moment of your life, whether you are experiencing stress, worry, grief, or joy. He wants to bring His presence and unconditional love to every aspect of your existence. As you go through the busyness of this day, quiet yourself to listen for Jesus’ gentle knock. Consider what anxiety, need, relationship, and moment He is patiently waiting for you to release to Him. What areas of your life are you trying to keep hidden from Christ?

Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. [Revelation 3:20]

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Written by Julie MacNeil of the Village Church

The little town of Altadena, California sits on a hill at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains. The majestic peaks rise high above and are Altadena’s crowning glory. Once there was nothing but poppy fields, but now neighborhoods populate the hill town. Some parts are like forests, where the stately deodar firs line many streets. It is a town where families have lived for generations, and neighbors know neighbors. Altadena was my hometown. Our family owned the house on Athens for 67 years, selling it, after my mother passed away, to a family much like the one who bought it in 1947, a young couple with a little girl, and a boy on the way. My brother and I handed them the keys with tears in our eyes. Then last January 7th, vicious winds swept up from Eaton Canyon with diabolical force, bending trees nearly parallel to the ground. Sparks turned into flames, merciless until they had destroyed everything in their path and there was nothing left to burn, leaving much of Altadena as desolate as a battlefield, the epitome of scorched earth. It was then that Jesus made his way through the rubble and poured out his love. He poured it out in tears of the residents, in hugs and in kindness. There were no strangers in Altadena that week. Neighbors shared what they had. Families took in families. Restaurants gave away food. Folks who had never heard of the little town at the top of the hill became friends of the people in Altadena who had lost everything they owned. And the people learned that they hadn’t really lost everything at all. They still had the love of Jesus. My brother’s family and mine still love that house on Athens, and feel that it remains part of us. All the memories are still there, the Christmas parties, the fun with cousins of three generations, wedding and baby showers. My brother over the years remodeled the kitchen, 2 bathrooms, built cabinets in the family room and kept up repairs for our mother, when she lived there alone. So we feel a great connection to the young couple who must start over and create new memories out of the rubble. Curiously, the little grey wooden mailbox that my brother made, with white trim and shingles, just like the house, was left unscathed by the flames. It even had mail in it! To me it is a sign that their home will be restored. Next week we will go to Altadena to reconnect with this family and share the love of Jesus with them.

The Lord is near to the broken-hearted and saves the crushed in spirit. [Psalm 34:18]

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Written by Claire Gibson, a contemporary writer.

God’s presence is a mysterious concept. At times, I’ve felt His closeness like a breath on my cheek. Other times, I’ve had to trust that His nearness is truth—regardless of my emotions or circumstances. If I trust Jesus, then I must take Him at His Word, and He tells me over and over again through Scripture that He will not leave me behind, He will always be present, and even when He is not physically present, the Holy Spirit will stand in the gap.  …  Often, I can be tricked into believing that in order for me to experience God’s presence, I need a plush upholstered chair, a window that emits plentiful natural light, a cup of just-brewed coffee, a journal, and a good pen. Silence. But God is present with me, even when I am not aware of Him. And if God is always with me, then He is with me in the chaos of the day, just as much as He is in the precious moments of morning quiet. Jesus is with you too—today, yesterday, and forever. No matter what you’re facing. No matter the sorrow, past or present, He is here—grieving with us, celebrating with us, growing and filling us with His Spirit, and helping us take steps forward with hope. There is no checklist of calm or solitude required for God’s presence to attend to your weary soul. He is here now. He is with you, always. His presence flows into your heart, whether you feel it or not, whether you see it or not. 

The one who keeps his commands remains in him, and he in him. And the way we know that he remains in us is from the Spirit he has given us. [1 John 3:24]

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Written by Meredith Houston Carr, a contemporary writer.

I’d read accounts of Yosemite National Park’s beauty, but seeing it for myself felt electrifying. With eyes wide, I tried to absorb the grandeur set before me. The massive rock formation El Capitan rose high into a cerulean sky, its monstrous granite face basking in the sun. The waters of Bridalveil Fall roared with authority, and the peak known as Half Dome stretched upward, shrouding itself in clouds. All this splendor made it clear: God’s presence lives among this land, His fingerprint evident on every breathtaking peak. And yet my heart struggled to reconcile how a God who created such majesty could let crushing heartache into my family. Just before this trip, my son received a diagnosis identifying special needs that would change his life and my family’s life forever. We found ourselves thrust onto a hard road we neither anticipated nor desired. It felt like God was asking me to scale one of these peaks with no equipment, and I couldn’t help but wonder, God, are You here with me? Have You forgotten about us? Maybe you’re asking the same questions. In your marriage, family, work or health, you struggle to see evidence of God’s activity. As you wipe away endless tears, you may wonder if He’s with you — and if He truly has your best interests in mind… If we’re honest, we know we often conclude that we must be on our own when we see only desert rocks and unscalable mountains in our path. When human solutions are absent, we often assume God’s presence must be absent, too. But the next time we face a crisis, we can make a different choice! In Matthew 28:20, Jesus promises to be with us — always. So when trouble comes, we can pause, take a deep breath and choose to acknowledge the unshakeable reality of God’s presence. We can also cultivate the habit of shifting our eyes from the obstacle to the God who will sustain us through it. Fixing our gaze on Jesus frees us to experience God’s provision in surprising ways. We can refuse to let our human expectations form a barrier to God’s divine workings. It’s been years since my son’s difficult diagnosis — and while special-needs parenting hasn’t been an easy road, I can confidently say God has never left our side. Time and again, He’s shown up for us in ways my mind couldn’t comprehend. And He wants to do the same for you, dear one. Today, will you choose to look for God’s presence along your desert road? The rock you keep tripping over may just be the tool God uses to demonstrate His sustaining presence in your life.

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. [Matthew 28:20]

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Written by Margot Wallace of the Village Church

A few weeks during Lent bodacious flowers spread vibrant hues on a 50-acre hillside in Carlsbad Ranch.  The dazzling Giant Tecolote Ranunculus blooms to create a rainbow of color facing West.  Each Spring I visit these flowers to reflect upon the beauty of this display. I humbly try to capture their brilliance through photography and paint. At this time of year, the Earth gives up its nutrients to prepare seeds for growth.  Dirt is the most important factor – enabling these incredible plants to surface. After a cold winter, the blooms appear in blazing color for all to enjoy! Think of all the life giving ingredients we reap from this fine soil, enabling all life forms on our planet to thrive!   Lent is a time of reflection, service, and prayer.  In our journey here we are privileged to reflect upon this magnificent garden.  In praise and prayer we develop a closer relationship to God, and, serve others through acts of charity.

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. [Matthew 6:28-29]

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