THE LORD MADE EVERYTHING!

HALLELUJAH!!

MARY MAGDALENE -- SORROW AGAIN

                                            CHAPTER 7

                              SORROW BEGINS – AGAIN

      She sat on a stool in a corner of the room watching the guests eat their supper.  She was SO comfortable in Lazarus' home.  Always a loving host, but now experiencing  a new life, he overflowed with joy.  The guests in his home smiled, or chuckled, or laughed with him.  Jesus' eyes twinkled as he watched the antics around him, like a patient schoolmaster with happily rowdy children.
     Then the mood changed.  The laughing and loud talk had gradually diminished until it ceased altogether.  Lazarus' sister, Mary, stood behind Jesus, and, as if in a dream, she broke open a bottle and poured its contents over his head.  In waves the musky fragrance of nard invaded the room.
     Most of the onlookers were embarrassed--for Jesus, for Mary, even for Lazarus as host.  Judas' reaction, however, was more beyond embarrassment.  He..was..furious.  His eyes filled with disgust and he blurted out in a loud whisper to no one in particular, "What a waste!  If she wanted to DO something she could have sold the nard and put the money in the treasury.  But this?!..."  And while Judas clucked and shook his head, the Magdalene watched from her vantage point in the corner, and knew the words he said didn't match the itchy fingers he hid in the folds of his cloak.  Momentarily, she wondered why Jesus kept Judas as a disciple, even honoring him with the responsibility of the treasury.  However, in the midst of these thoughts her attention was riveted to what Jesus was saying.
     "She is anointing me for burial... she will always be remembered."
     The Magdalene shuddered in the chill, and noticed others doing the same.  What did he mean, "burial?"   His popularity with the people had never been greater.
     Yet in her heart she knew he spoke the truth, and filled with an inexplicable sadness, she stared into the fire's dying embers and quietly wept.

THE LORD'S BLESSING...

WE HAD BEEN HOME FROM UGANDA FOR THE SUMMER

TO EARN ENOUGH MONEY TO GO BACK.

DAVE WORKED FOR A MAN AT THE CHURCH 

WHERE WE HAD BEEN FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS.

CARL DECIDED TO PUT DAVE AND HIS OTHER 

WORKER AT HABITAT FOR A WEEK.

I WAS WORKING AT A SECRETARIAL JAIL

 SITUATION IN COUNCIL BLUFF, IA.

IT WAS A CHALLENGE RE: OUR JOBS,

BUT WE LOVED IT AND WE WERE APPRECIATED.

WELL, WE WENT BACK TO UGANDA.

HOWEVER, I TOOK THIS PHOTO OF DAVE THEN,

AND HAVE ALWAYS SMILED WHEN I SAW IT.

THE WORD WORKS NOW VERY WELL,

BECAUSE THE LORD'S BLESSING

IS ALL WE CAN EVER COUNT ON,

FOREVER!

NEW HOPE UGANDA, 1995

AND IT WAS A COUPLE MONTHS AFTER THE HABITAT IN OMAHA.

AND HERE AND THERE HE WAS A PIANO TEACHER AND A COMPUTER TEACHER, AND WAS A MATH AND 

SCIENCE TEACHER IN UGANDA.

I WAS A SECRETARY AT NHU, AND A BOOK TEACHER AND FRENCH LANGUAGE TEACHER THEN.  LIFE HAS SIGNIFICANTLY

CHANGED FOR ME SINCE THEN.

I LOVED IT THERE! AND WAS APPRECIATED.

BOTH OF US STILL HAVE HEARD WONDERFUL

 THINGS ABOUT US FROM FRIENDS THERE--

SOME IN UGUANDA OR IN U.S., CANADA, ENGLAND --

 AND FB-ING AND THANKING US.

THANK YOU, JESUS, FOR BREAKING INTO OUR LIVES

AND BLESSINGS US!

 

AND FOR YEARS HE'S CONTINUED TO BE A 

PIANO/ORGAN PLAYER/TEACHER AND FIXING 

ANYTHING IN ANY HOME OR ANY CHURCH

AND FIXING COMPUTERS FOR PEOPLE,

AND USUALLY GIVING COMPUTERS AWAY AS A

MINISTRY/MISSIONARY GIFT, INSTEAD OF PAYMENT.

HE'S A BLESSING TO MANY!

INCLUDING ME!! FILLED MY HEART WITH LOVE! 

10TH ANNIVERSARY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1995, AND STAYING

AT THE HOTEL AT ENTEBBE, UGANDA.

ANOTHER SPECIAL TREAT!

JOY RISES!! YEP, IT DOES!!!

RON AND SHIRLEY HAD JUST STARTED THEIR JOB, NEAR

KAMPALA, BUT HIGHWAY TO THE ENTEBBE AIRPORT.

ANYHOW, WE MET IN '94 AND THEY WERE BACK

IN THEIR HOME BETWEEN SEATTLE AND TACOMA,

DEALING WITH THE MINISTRY CONNECTIONS THERE.

THEY RETURNED.  WHEN WE WERE GETTING READY TO LEAVE TO OMAHA FOR A SUMMER BEFORE RETURNING BACK TO UGANDA,THEY WERE AT THEIR PLACE.  

DAVE AND I LOVE THEM VERY MUCH.

DAVE WOULD LOVE TO SEE THEM AGAIN!

WE'VE SEEN THEM IN THEIR UGANDA AND SEA-TAC AREAS, AND THEY ACTUALLY CAME TO SEE US IN OMAHA WHILE THEY WERE DRIVING AROUND OUR NATION TO SHARE WITH CHURCHES,  SHORTLY AFTER WE ARRIVED IN '96. 

I HAPPENED TO SEE THEM WHEN I WAS IN TACOMA

IN FALL, 2012, AND WE GRABBED LUNCH TOGETHER 

AND I WAS HITTING THE ROAD TO OMAHA. 

 BEING WITH THEM WAS A HUGE BLESSING.

BLESS THAT WORLD OUTREACH MINISTRY!!! 

PROPHETIC IS A CHALLENGE LOCALLY AND WITH FAMILY!

DAVE AND I WERE THERE; HE TOOK THE PHOTO.

THE FAMILY NAMED DANGERS WERE THERE,

OTHER FRIENDS OF THEIRS AND UGANDAN KIDS.

ANYWHERE WE OR THEY ARE, STILL,

AND SEEING THE REALITY AROUND AND ABOUT US,

AND SHARING THE PROPHETIC PORTION THAT'S IN US,

WE ALL ARE OFTEN IGNORED.  

THE PHOTO WAS 20 YEARS AGO.

IN THE DISTANCE OF OUR TIME, 

MUCH HAS CHANGED ALL OVER THE WORLD.

[BTW, DAVE AND I LOVE UGANDA!!!  

 AND OUR "FAMILY" AND FRIENDS IN UGANDA.]

THEY DO! WE DO!!

WHEN IN OUR HEART TO SERVE AND BLESS THE LORD,

WE HEAR AND SING WONDERFUL NEW SONGS.

THE SONGS ARE TRULY CONNECTED TO THE HOLY SPIRIT!

MARY MAGDALENE...RE: JESUS AND JAMES

                                         

                                            CHAPTER 6

                            JAMES QUESTIONS JESUS


     When the sun was setting, fire dimming, and the men dispersing to do their final night chores, Jesus sought a secluded place to pray...to touch his Father while away from the constant pressure of the people He was called to serve.  He sat in the grass and leaned back against the trunk of a tree.  It wasn't altogether comfortable, but it reminded him of the oneness between creation and God, and, in his exhaustion, he needed a firm reminder of that over-flowing unity.
     As he gazed into the heavens, centering himself in the love of God, he heard footsteps.  Turning his head, he saw James approaching.  Love warmed his heart for this older brother of John, this man of tempestuous nature, yet possessing a great capacity for compassion and sympathy.  "One of Father's unique achievements," he chuckled inwardly.  Aloud he said, "James, what brings you here?
     "Master," said James, digging at the ground with a sandle foot, "I need to ask you about Mary."
     "What is it?"  Jesus asked gently.
     "Well,"... he paused, probing for just the right words.                 
     "People are talking.  They are laughing behind your back, saying that you love Mary, and..." His voice trailed off and he shrugged in helplessness.
     "But, James, I DO love her.  Mary is a wonderful, gentle, beautiful woman.  She radiates the love of Father, and it is a pleasure to be with her."
     As he watched the shock on James' face, he smiled and continued, "But I love you, too.  And Andrew.  And Thaddeus.  And Joanna.  And John.  Each of you. All of you.”
     James continued to look a bit surprised, but he seemed less worried.
     "James, you must remember, most men have no understanding of the heart of my Father that impels Him, to enjoy what He has created.  He does not see that friendships and caring, such as the ones I have, are sordid or sinful or inappropriate.”
     He smiled.  "There is nothing inappropriate about my love for you or your brother.  We are brothers.  We are family.  Most people can not understand that.  We do not share a common blood line.  But our holy spirits communicating and focused on serving my Father make us one."
     He looked intensely into James’ eyes.  "And there is nothing, absolutely nothing, inappropriate about my love for Mary.  Mary is my sister, my friend, my child.  If my mission was human in origin, that relationship might be different.  But that is not the case.  My mission is for, and to, all men, women, and children. Nothing must stand in the way of what the Father wants me to do.”
     Jesus shifted a bit.  Glanced at the sky for a moment.
"James,  when ugly rumors and misstatements are made, who is the author of that ugliness?  Certainly not my Father.  And if not my Father, then whom?"
     James answered quickly.  "Satan, the father of lies."
     "That's right, James.  If he can discredit or manipulate or create dissension, he will.  Remember the story of the sheep and the shepherd.  How did I describe Satan to you?"
     "You said he was a thief and a murderer and that he came to steal, kill and destroy."
     "Right again, James.  Now, think.  Does that only mean in the physical realm?  What if part of Satan's scheme is to steal peace, joy, respect, courage?   To kill reputations, and feelings of self-worth?  And what if he came to destroy – not simply the body -- but loving relationships among families and friends?
     "People misunderstand because they want to misunderstand.  They enjoy painting pictures of unrighteousness, because it mirrors the unrighteousness of their hearts and helps them deaden the pangs of conscience.”
     Jesus nodded firmly at James.  "So, yes, I love Mary.  But I love my Father and my mission first."
     James broke into a broad grin.  "I feel better.  I guess I've learned something in spite of myself."
     It was a good self assessment, and Jesus smiled back, remembering again James' usual reticence at learning.  Jesus was pleased to see James growing in his understanding through the growth of his own heart and spirit.