In the Shadows

So maybe the devotion this morning was something i was just supposed to read and be challenged by or was it that the enemy didn't want me posting it so it got deleted?  Hard to know the answer to that but as i have prayed about reposting it i thought i would try again.  If God allows it to be erased this time then we know the answer :)

This devotion is taken from the book of John 19:38-42.  Joseph of Arimathea and a disciple of Jesus asks Pilate for Jesus' body in order to give him a proper Jewish burial.  Nicodemus goes along to help Joseph and brings 75 lbs of myrrh and aloes to use in the wrapping of Jesus' body.

These two men are among Israel's most influential people.  Both good, upright, seekers of the truth.  Yet both kept their relationship with Jesus in the shadows.  "They feared the controversy and the consequences of making their faith public."

Now picture the scene:  As they approach the hill and then the cross,.."they are stunned to see the lifeless slump of torn flesh that was once such a vital Savior."  the emotion is more than both of the men can bare and they fall to their knees.  "They weep for Jesus."  They weep for what has been done, they weep for those that did this, they weep for those that lost someone they love, they weep for themselves.  For all these two didn't say and didn't do.  They weep of all the thoughts that rush to their minds of how they wanted to hide their connection with this man.

Joseph ascends a ladder that he places on the crossbeam of the cross.  He slowly climbs closer and grimaces as he has to struggle to release the nail that is holding his wrists.  Nicodemus is watching and waiting from the ground.  Preparing himself to receive the body of his Savior in his arms.  As Jesus is lowered into his arms, he feels the weight and his arms clutch his lacerated back still wet with blood.  They gory details could go on as they closely experience all the abuse and disfigurement that took place hours before.  What struck me was this authors focus on the secrecy of their relationships with Jesus.  "In the quiet courtrooms of their hearts, they realize that loving Jesus in private was just another way of despising him and esteeming him not.  And their hearts condemned them for their sins of omission."  At that time they felt guilty, they felt condemned, they just wanted to beat themselves up!  They were ashamed, so very ashamed.  Why didn't they do more or say more or use some of their great influence to try and help prevent this from happening?  They felt like they could have done something, something more.  But they were too worried about their careers.  However, as they shoulder this guilt and the heavy weight of the moment and the body of their Savior, Nicodemus remembers Isaiah's words: "He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death."  WHAT GRACE!

Jesus gave them this verse and they look at each other and realize "they HAVE done something.  They have spared the Savior the shame of a criminal's burial, where he would have been thrown into the garbage dump outside the city."  Can you imagine the emotion, the passion they both feel when they realize that despite their hiding and hesitation God himself ordained this moment AND this job for them!  This still was a dangerous time for them to step out of the shadows.  Hatred for Jesus was at an all time high and being known as one of his friends was definitely not going to make you popular.

This late blooming love is definitely better than a love that doesn't bloom at all!  "....a love that draws the cowards out of the shadows and into a fearless act of befriending their Savior."

Merry Christmas from the Jackson's

A year in the life of the Jacksons 

- Soccer, Travelling, Changing, Growing…   

                

There is definitely a lot of soccer in our lives.   I guess there is even more changing and growing.  And between trips, vacations, and travel soccer, we have driven a lot too.  We had downsized the pet population around here by 4 but added a dog, Jethro, to the mix.  A 100 lb., 6 month old Great Pyrenees puppy.  OH and a Beta fish.  Josiah’s Chinese water dragon met an untimely death and we released our 3 red-eared slider turtles back into the wild.  That leaves 2 cats, a dog, James’ 2 geckos and Rebekah’s fish.

Some of the highlights of the year include, Matt coaching James in Middle school soccer, John and Josiah playing together on a travel soccer team, Matt and James visiting Rick and Nancy in Saudi Arabia, Myra completing her second marathon, and hosting a baby shower for her sister Anne (and the 4^th of July on the same day), a Trip to NJ for Matt’s Aunts wedding (and the Statue of Liberty) and yet another new church home for us.  Myra and I also celebrated our 15^th wedding anniversary this summer!

Matt – I am teaching 7^th grade geography at Warren County Middle School, coached the soccer team and loved having James on the team.  I am also now working part-time for another church in the community, Christ Community Church, working with the youth and families there.  We were not really looking for another church change but, when contacted   about the position, it felt like a change the Lord wanted us to make. It is a small non-denominational church with a wide range of ages, coffee and donuts every Sunday morning and some really great worship!   The family all agrees it was a good move for us and we are all enjoying making even more new friends.  I also had a great time visiting Riyadh this summer with James and getting to scuba dive in the Red Sea.  Myra asked the kids what they liked most about Dad and here’s what they had to say: Rachel’s most favorite thing about Dad is that she loves him and cares about him.  Rebekah  says “he always takes care of me”.  John says his favorite thing about Dad is “Dad’s new droid”.  Josiah says he appreciates all that Matt teaches him how to do, from soccer to yard work, yet he thinks he should get allowance for some of the work he does around here.  James really appreciates his Dad not giving him homework!

Myra – Keeps us all going.  While most of us are at school, she does more laundry than most would think possible.  She keeps the house looking great and makes sure everyone gets where they need to be, when they need to be there.  All while taking care of Ruth.  She also finds time to run, a lot!  Thankfully her mom can watch Ruth three mornings a week, while Myra logs 20-35 miles a week.  This past summer she completed her second marathon and is going to start training in December for her third. What do the kids have to say where Mom is concerned?  Rachel says “Mom sweeps a lot, is kind, and really likes her husband and her kids”.  Rebekah loves that Mom always wants to play board or card games with everyone.   Josiah says he really appreciates when Mom lets him help out in the kitchen, cooking and baking though, not so much with the dishes!  John’s favorite thing about Mom is “her new iPhone”.  James’ highlight with Mom this year was the many stops at Sonic after Cookeville soccer practice twice a week for a well-deserved treat! 

James- is 12 and in 7^th grade.  He grew a lot this past year and is one of the tallest in his grade.  He had a great season playing with a U14 travel soccer team from Cookeville (about an hour away).  He also just made the Olympic Development Program (ODP) team for Tennessee.  We don’t know what all that will mean, but as of right now, he is seeing and being seen by some top club and college coaches in the region.  He also had a great time in Saudi this summer on an amazing trip.  We are very proud of the young man God is shaping James to be,  we are thankful to be his parents and we appreciate how hard he works in school (straight A honor roll) and on the soccer field.  He is looking forward to selling his iPod to Josiah when Josiah gets enough money and saving to buy is own new IPod 5^th gen.  He is also really looking forward to his trip to North Carolina for the Olympic Development Soccer Team the first weekend in January.

Josiah – is just about 11 and in 5^th grade.  He is playing trombone at school, following in the paths of his dad, uncle, and granddad and doing very well at it.  He is a strong guy that loves to laugh.  He is playing goalkeeper for their travel soccer team and is learning to be the leader/ encourager from the back.  Josiah also has a creative streak that loves to come out in anything from inventions to artwork.  He loves to help in the kitchen and says he likes to bake cookies.  He is also looking forward to his birthday next week and Christmas so that he can then hopefully have enough money to buy is own (James’) iPod.

John – is 9 and in 4^th grade.  He works hard and is super competitive.  He is playing trumpet at school and wearing through pants and shoes at a very fast rate!  He can never sit still or go to sleep early; he might miss something and be just a tad behind if he did.  He plays all over the soccer field and can be counted on to do just about anything on the soccer field or at home.  He says his favorite thing to do is play soccer with his friends and build on the most recent fort outside with his brothers.

Rebekah-is 7 and in 2^nd grade.  She definitely fits the oldest girl profile; she’s neat, organized, motherly and very responsible.  She’s athletic yet very much a girl at the same time, reminds me of someone else I know! She loves soccer, school, animals and playing with friends.  Two of the things she says she loves to do is snuggling with her mom in bed and playing killer Uno with the family.

Rachel-is 6 and in 1^st grade.  She is slowly growing out of being the baby of the family but it has NOT been an easy position for her to resign.  She has grown and matured a lot in the last year, from a sweet little kindergartener to a 1^st grader that is reading and writing in cursive!  She does NOT like soccer she says and she has just started her first gymnastics class across the street at the Civic Center.  She says she loves the new church because they have DONUTS and her favorite thing to do is painting and science experiments.

Baby Ruth-is 23 months old now!  Talk about growing a lot in the last year, she has really taken off lately in talking and singing.  She can almost sing the whole Rock-a-Bye baby song all by herself!  She is becoming very independent while still very attached to her family and her Gigi (Myra’s mom, Vicki).  We are all a bit sweeter because we have her in our lives.  Everyone still fights over who can get her up in the morning, who can get her from the nursery at church, who can get her out of her car seat, who gets to carry her in somewhere, who get s to sit next to her at dinner and on and on and on….it’s really rather sweet.

We are all healthy, grateful and glad to be living our every days with one another and having people like you in our lives!

A Common Thief

Wow, our MMerge page still exsists!  I can't believe it's been since July that i posted on here.  Where does time go?  FAST is what how it has been going around here!  This morning i read something i just had to post..... It's was from a Devo. i read re: the two thieves on the cross next to Jesus.....

 
  It says in Matthews account of this story that the robbers-plural, both joined in the sneering and taunting of Jesus.  But something changes, one of the robbers heart was changed, touched and he was given the heroism to stand up for Jesus and the humility to submit to him.  Asking then that Jesus remember him in His Kingdom.  This thief, in the midst of that whole scene watches as Jesus responds.  He witnesses Jesus appeal to a higher court and his appeal is not for justice but for MERCY and not for himself but for his accusers.  WOW!  Powerful, isn't it?

  You know it went on to say that we have all been robbers, we too have stolen much. "When i have gossiped, i have taken from another's reputation, and in the process, robbed my own.  When i have raised my voice in anger, I have taken something away from peace. When i have aided and abetted immoral thoughts, I have stolen from another's dignity, depreciating that person from a sacred object of your love to a common object of my own lust.  When i have hurt someone's feelings, i have taken something from that person's self-worth-something which might never be replaced, something for which i might never be able to make restitution.  When i have spoken the truth, but not in love, i have stolen from your kingdom by pushing a soul, not closer, but farther away from the borders of paradise.
  Remember me, O King, a common thief! "