Jesus and the linen burial cloth

I read this story below and thought how powerful it was and its meaning to us today. I would love to hear your thoughts on it as well. Blessings!

Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection?
The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes. The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded and was placed separate from the grave clothes.

Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to theTomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved (John). She said, ‘They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb and I don’t know where they have put him!’

Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb. John out ran Peter and got there first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn’t go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying to the side. Was that important? Absolutely! Is it really significant? Yes!

In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant and every Jewish boy knew this tradition. When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating. The servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished. Now if the master were done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table. The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, ‘I’m done’.

But if the master got up from the table and folded his napkin and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because the folded napkin meant, “I’m coming back!” He is Coming Back (and soon)!

Maundy Thursday

Today is Maundy Thursday. The definition of ‘Maundy’ is Mandate. That is exactly what Jesus gave us, a new Mandate and that was to LOVE one another(John 13:34). Really is easier said than done though isn’t it? Everyday people bug us, hurt us, make us mad and yet we are to LOVE, irregardless. So hard to do. Yet we must still strive for that perfection, which will never happen until we pass from this earth, but to strive nonetheless is our goal and call as Christians.

My daughter Sophie is now 8 months old and such a HUGE JOY she is to me and my loving wife. We are so blessed to have such a happy baby girl. She is a pure joy and I love spending as much time as I possibly can with her. She is growing up so fast–Yes all the stories people say about that are true, however I have enjoyed each and every step with her and will remember these times and moments for the rest of my life and will not forget, but cherish!

Heather and I are about to make another huge step in purchasing a new home. We are set to close next friday and we’re so excited about it. So much work to do still, but such an exciting time we are in. Grateful for God’s richest blessings in our lives. I attribute each and every blessing to my Father who art in Heaven and give Him thanks for everything.

To God be the glory forever and ever, Amen.

Where is Jesus today?

To Mary at the garden tomb on resurrection morning, He looked like a gardener. (John 20:14-16) To the travelers on the road to Emmaus, Jesus appeared as a fellow traveler. (Lk.24) To the disciples who were fishing, He was another man at the beach. (John 21)

I find inspiration from many different sources every day. My issue is, I need to blog/write more. So that’s what I’m trying to do. This posts inspiration comes from an email article I just read and I wanted to share my thoughts on.

“People see God everyday, they just don’t recognize Him”

I like this quote, because the fact is true. God is omnipresent. Thus, he is everywhere all the time, anywhere and everywhere. In our hearts, minds, checking out at the store, with us hanging out with our friends, etc.

So, the question is, do we see Him wherever we are? Or do we choose not to see Him? Do we forget about Him and think about Him only in our troubled times and when times are good we forget about Him?

Rest assured, He never forgets about you! He is constantly vying for your attention all the time. He loves you and wants a closer relationship with you. This post is here to encourage you to build a stronger relationship with your father who art in Heaven.

Blessings abound everyday and God has them stored up for you. All you need to do is recognize who they’re from.

God isn’t going to show Himself to you, since our example comes from the Bible and the examples show Jesus as a normal everyday person. Nothing that would make Him stand out more than anyone else. Not the most handsomest man or type A personality to grab your attention. Just another person blending in. You have to seek His face(Him) to see Him and be actively pursuing Him, not waiting for a lightning bolt to strike right in front of you so you know “oh there he is!”

An apathetic point of view and stance on seeking after God is one that will find you walking with the ‘crowd’. A positive, pursuant attitude will guide you to your Father and you will see Jesus in the midst of your day, conversation or drive.

Blessings be upon you and yours

Ash Wednesday 2013

Are you giving anything up on Ash Wednesday this year?

I have mildly contemplated it. I have in years past given up things and have even posted about them here in my blog as well.  This year is different for me.  I have been real busy loving on my little 6 month old daughter Sophie. We have been looking into buying a new home.  We are in the process of renting our current home out.  Work has been keeping my busy.  I have begun to work on an Emmaus team for Walk #72 as an ALD for the 2nd time.  My wife and I are enjoying serving as D-group leaders on sunday morning to our 11th graders and on and on…

I write and share these things above because this is my life and where my head is and where I am right now in my life.  Full of what life is supposed to be about and what makes me happy.  I’m grateful and thankful.  Grateful for the financial blessings to live this wonderful life God has given me and thankful to have so many great people in my life that love me for me and the joy that it brings me.

Could I write about the things I do day to day that are more important than fasting or giving something up for 40 days once a year, sure I could.  My thought is this, IF in giving something up for 40 days for Lent and then you return to your life unchanged, what’s the point of Lent and you giving something up?

Encouraging you to do more in your day to day life as a LIFESTYLE is what I am expressing here.  Give something up for Lent, awesome! Making that a LIFESTYLE, well that’s entirely different and that’s what Jesus has called us to do.

God Bless you in this Lenten season.

2012 Vacation in Florida

We ventured to sunny Key Largo, Florida. What a beautiful place in the world it is. We were there for 7 days and the 80 degree weather everyday was welcomed. One day, we traveled a hour and a half South to Key West and enjoyed the day trip there. While there we took a picture at the southern most point in the continental US. There was a small line there, but it went quick and the people there were quite friendly. We saw Earnest Hemingways home there and ate lunch at a beach front restaurant. Afterwards, I took Sophie and dipped her feet into the cold Atlantic Ocean. She was smiling and enjoyed the water. 

We swam in the rental house pool practically everyday and there was a nice jacuzzi as well to warm you up in the cool night. I even got a pretty nice tan while there. 

Sophie went swimming in the pool for the first time in her whole 5 months of life. She really enjoyed that too. It was a good time in all and a welcomed break from the daily grind that life can be at times. 

We spent the trip with Heathers family there and we all enjoyed each others company. We cooked on the BBQ many times and I enjoy cooking and handled that myself. 

Theater Under the Sea was the theme park we went to and saw a Dolphin show, a Parrot show and a Sea Lion show. This park was the 2nd oldest park in the US. We were really up close to all the marine life and I think it rivaled Sea World for what it had to offer. Very fun trip that was. 

Grant and I went on a Jet-Ski adventure in the Atlantic for an hour each. That was fun but exhausting. An hour straight on a Jet-Ski can get tiresome quickly. It was fun nonetheless. 

Our flight home was quick and nice and Sophie is an excellent traveler with little crying or complaint thankfully. We arrived to 45 degree weather here in Houston and weren’t upset by it all.    

 

2012 in review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

4,329 films were submitted to the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. This blog had 30,000 views in 2012. If each view were a film, this blog would power 7 Film Festivals

Click here to see the complete report.

Earrings

My beautiful Sophie just had her 3 month bday. I know it’s silly with the age thing but hey, I’m a first time dad with a girl. So, to celebrate, we got her ears pierced. That is the latest on my precious little girl.

Creed

I thought of this as punctual for me and for our country and would like to share it with all of you:

MY CREED

To live as gently as I can;
To be, no matter where, a man;
To take what comes of good or ill
And cling to faith and honor still;
To do my best, and let that stand
The record of my brain and hand;
And then, should failure come to me,
Still work and hope for victory.

To have no secret place wherein
I stoop unseen to shame or sin;
To be the same when I’m alone
And when my every deed is known;
To live undaunted, unafraid
Of any step that I have made;
To be without pretense or shame
Exactly what men think I am.

To leave some simple mark behind
To keep my having lived in mind;
If enmity to aught I show.
To be an honest, generous foe,
To play my little part, nor whine
That greater honors are not mine.
This, I believe, is all I need
For my philosophy and creed.

Edgar A. Guest

1916

1 Year Anniversary

No words can explain how fulfilled and happy I am in my life right now.  It’s taken quite a few years for me to get here, but I have finally made it.  This is the high point of my life in the classic adage of ‘Peaks and Valleys’ as they say.

My Wife Heather and I celebrated 1 year yesterday and I can’t help but think how fortunate I am to have found her in a time of my life that I was really in a not so good place.  She has been the best woman ever and in so many ways. I can’t help but continue to sing her praises day after day.  My heart is overjoyed!!

She has now given me a beautiful daughter Sophie, that has made me a home body and I love every minute of it. That time I spend with this beautiful child of God and her has completed me truly.  No where else on God’s green earth except with them is where I want to be.

When scripture says a Godly woman, he was definitely talking about Heather in the annals of time. 

When you think on life and how many years you have lived, know that for me and in my experience, it keeps getting better and I look forward to the future with MUCH HOPE!

So thanks be to God for this wonderful life that I am enjoying with my lovely wife Heather that makes my heart smile and overflow with joy!

Sophie

I wanted to share a pic of my beautiful daughter for y’all. Amazing love!!!! I keep telling people why they didn’t tell me how much joy it is to have a child. If I would have know I woulda had more sooner!