The Change

(it.wikipedia .org)

The Change – that took place that day.

Over the Easter holiday season, we watched a few movies about the resurrection of Christ. Fortunately, movies of this nature are improving greatly in quality. In one depiction of the days leading up to the crucifixion of our Lord, we saw people buying lambs to sacrifice at the Passover Feast the Jews celebrated at that time every year. The dots that history connects to bring us the story of our redemption are profound.

When the people purchased their “spotless lambs” for sacrifice, the prices were apparently hiked up, just as we would expect to pay more for food or extras at any festival. While we can eat or spend our money before or after attending festivals, they were commanded by Old Testament law to bring a spotless lamb to sacrifice. Rather than bringing a lamb with them over however many miles they had to travel to get to the Feast festival, it was more convenient for many to purchase one there. Those selling the lambs knew that the needs of the people would yield them a hefty profit. They could demand pretty much any price they chose.

Sometimes I “put myself in their shoes” and imagine what it might be like to walk a mile in those Jewish sandals.

I’d want to speak up and complain about the high prices being charged. But to be a Jewish woman then meant what I had to say carried little meaning. My husband would just pay the price being asked. Suffice it to say that I would have a hard time hiding my anger and frustration at being ripped off for what was a religious obligation.

(fity .club)

While singing during praise and worship a few weeks ago, this scene came to mind, where in the movie the Jews were paying for their commanded sacrifices. Almost as if I was really watching the people in front of me purchasing their lambs, someone in the distance caught my attention. A friendly looking young man waved in my direction. What could he want? Was he looking at me or someone else nearby? My face conveyed my question, and the man waved all the more ferociously. He was definitely wanting my attention. I smiled back at him and he motioned for me to come to him. Well, that’s silly – I’d lose my place in line. He shouted something I couldn’t make out and kept motioning for me to head his way. He cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled louder. Curious and amused, yet happy that we would be next to buy our lamb, I stood still. He began to jump up and down. I focused on him intently and I could hear him screaming with joy, “Helen, I paid for your lamb! I bought your sacrifice for you. Come get it!”

Back in 2025 I gasped and began to cry happy tears, shockingly wet, thankful tears.

Yes, that’s just what He did! As Jesus called out to me, I realized in a whole new way, He paid the price for me; that profoundly high price that was demanded for my atonement – my peace with God. Jesus paid it for me. My sacrifice was paid for! Jesus IS my sacrificial Lamb! The mighty change that took place that day, He took my place. He died for me so that I can live with Him.

Selah.

(worshiphousemedia .com)

“The next day John (the Baptist) saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” – John 1:29 NKJV

Were You Thinking About This?

 

(from ssnet .org)

Do you think God has a big ol' weight scale next to His throne, where He has all of your sins and the ugliness of your past on one side and He's checking out the good things you do to balance out the scale?

Do you think He'll find enough good things to tip the scale in your favor?

Like, maybe if you could stop dropping weight on the sinful side you could catch up a little while trying to place things on the good side?

Well, I've got some great news for you. Here's the secret to getting that weight scale to tip in your favor!

Give yourself, your whole life - problems and trophies, to Jesus and He'll put His thumb on the scale for you. All He has to leave there is one drop of His blood and the scale will be completely tipped in your favor. 

You see, there isn't enough good in the world for you to pile up on the "good side" to weigh it down enough to outweigh the bad side; even if you're really “not that bad” of a human being. 

(from worshipministry .com)

The only thing that can tip the scale in your favor is the blood of Jesus. 

And that's the good news: 

He's offering to do that for you!

He'll wipe out your debt, completely!  

That's why He suffered and died on the cross. What does the cross have to do with you? That’s where He paid the price [death] for your sins and mine.

One drop of His blood. That's all it takes. 

It's yours for the asking. 

Simply turn to Him, tell Him you're sorry for all the junk on the bad side of the scale and give Him your heart. Then He can empower you to do good for yourself, for Him and for the body of Christ. Don't make it harder than it is. That's all He wants in return for His gift of redemption. 

Doing things His way isn't so that He can "lord over you" and boss you around. Doing things His way is for our benefit, to give us the best life we can live; and to cover us with His protection. 

All because He loves us. 

He loves us completely and without reservation or condition. (“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” the famous John 3:16 quote.)

Doing things our own way will never produce enough good to outweigh the bad. If we could pay the penalty ourselves, Jesus wouldn't have had to die in our place to make that payment. 

Like a child, we sometimes whine, "It's not fair!"

No. It's not fair. Jesus took all our sin on Himself and gives us all the blessings of heaven in return. (Romans 3:12 , Romans 3:16 , Romans 3:19 )

We get the better end of the deal, the deal He's been offering you your whole life. Take it. You won't get a better offer. This is God's grace wrapped up in mercy. 

A friend calls this the "almost too good to be true news".

(from guideposts .org)

Ponder it. Pray about it. Ask God to forgive you. Give Him your heart, allowing Him to be Lord of your life – and He’ll do the rest.

Romans 10:9 “That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.”

A Thought on Tithing

(picture from dictionary.com)

Peter and Coleen had been happily married for little more than a year when they announced that they were going to be parents. Everyone was overjoyed and looked forward to the blessed event. When the special day came and Pamela was born, Peter and Coleen were among the happiest parents in the world. But, Papa was enveloped with a special kind of love and pride that only a grandpa could enjoy and he showed it in every precious way he could. Pamela was his first grandchild. He opened an account at the bank for her; in her name, with her mother’s name as a co-account holder. This was an account for her to use to go to college and obviously, he expected her to go to the best college money could afford! It was quite a substantial amount of money.

(picture from qz.com)

Pamela grew graciously and beautifully. She was surrounded by love and developed a warm and caring personality. She was kind and giving, as well as she was an excellent student when she reached her school years. Although it was hard for her mother and father to send her off to school, she soon showed them that their fears were unnecessary. She adapted and thrived in her new social environment.

While Pamela was still quite young, Peter ran into a run of hard luck at work. His job was threatened and he was eventually laid off. His job had been a good one, though. His dear wife, being the astute handler of the finances that she was, had managed to set aside plenty of money they could fall back on until he found work.

This time of unemployment lasted longer than either one of them had anticipated it could. Coleen knew how thin the money was being spread and could also see how anxious Peter had become. So instead of worrying him further, she borrowed from Pamela’s account, reasoning that they needed it to get by. More anxiety might just make it even harder for Peter to find another job.

Eventually, he landed a great job, better than his previous position. After receiving several paychecks, they could relax somewhat and were comforted knowing that they had indeed, ‘made it through the hard times’.

(picture from moneyunder30.com)

But, Coleen had begun to see how easy it was to borrow from Pamela’s account, reasoning that they’d be able to replace it when the time came, perhaps little by little, if necessary. After a while, she had to tell herself, “So, okay – Pamela will have to do with a little less than Papa had intended. She’ll still have plenty. Maybe she’ll choose to go to a less expensive college on her own…”

Pamela grew up to become an energetic and fun, yet refined young woman. The three of them were a close-knit family. But, in the middle of her senior year of high school, Peter and Coleen learned that they were to have another child, after all those years. Coleen’s doctor had concerns with this pregnancy, though. Coleen was older, yes, but she had also developed a few medical conditions which could be harmful to her unborn child. Throughout the pregnancy and even through the delivery, the medical bills that accumulated became enormous. Their medical coverage only covered so much of it and the rest would fall to them to pay. They had always maintained a nice standard of living, but the medical bills began to take their toll on their finances. Pamela’s new little sister, Christine, would require special medical attention, but she would be okay. Again, what looked like an unmerciful crisis had Coleen dipping into Pamela’s account.

We’ve all heard the cliché, ‘when it rains, it pours’ and crisis begets crisis. Very soon after Christine was born, Papa fell sick. Collen’s mother feared that this Christmas might be Papa’s last and decided that they should all celebrate Christmas together and make it a very festive party. She asked all of her children to contribute to the feast. One thing she counted on from Coleen was her special cookies. No one else could make them just right. Papa loved them. Almost three weeks before Christmas, she set aside several days for holiday baking and made the biggest batch of cookies she’d ever made. Everyone would be looking forward to them, so she wanted to have more than enough. She boxed them up and set them aside. But, because of the emotional turmoil she was feeling, she began to sneak a cookie from the box now and then.

The day before Christmas, Coleen got the box of cookies down from the cupboard to take to Mama’s house and discovered that she had eaten most of them. She was shocked and pushed aside everything else she had to do to make time to bake some more. She panicked as she discovered that she didn’t have the ingredients she needed. Peter was out with his car, and Pamela had taken hers. She couldn’t get to the store, so she sat down and cried.

(picture from dallasfoodnerd.com)

On Christmas Day, she took a small plateful of cookies to the party. Everyone was a little disappointed. They’d expected her to bring a lot of them. Papa smiled at her and patted her on the shoulder.

Later that afternoon, Papa made a little speech, an appeal to his children to get right anything in their lives that was wrong, as well as an expression of the joy they’d brought him. He also told them of the happiness he felt at being able to provide so well for his family over the years. He called Pamela to his side; his pride and joy, his firstborn grandchild. He proudly proclaimed that he'd given each of his grandchildren funds with which to attend the college of their choice, beginning with her. He went on to tearfully say that he intended to hang on long enough to see her use it.

(photo from ChurchofJesusChrist.org)

Coleen began to tremble inside. She held her newborn close, knowing that the money wasn’t there. Just as with the cookies, there might only be a plateful left. Papa smiled and said that yes, an account would be opened for Christine, too, as soon as he was able. Coleen’s mind began to compute. Perhaps, I can use money from that account to replace Pamela’s and no one would ever know. Or, at least Papa would never find out.

But, Papa never woke up the next morning. Coleen was crushed.

The afternoon of the funeral, Pamela addressed the family and reassured them that at college, she’d make Papa proud. Coleen cried all the harder. How could she tell Pamela? The whole family would know about her failures. Oh, what a disappointment this would have been to Papa. And he hadn’t yet opened an account for Christine for Coleen to borrow from to hide what she’d done. To think, the last time she saw her dad, he smiled proudly at her. He had always thought the best of her.

That night, Coleen cried a confession to Peter. When he asked her how much was left, she collapsed on his chest and told him she didn’t know. She begged, “How can I face my family?” He held her and just let her cry until she fell asleep. The next day, they went to the bank together to check it out.

Maybe some people tithe this way. For some of us, it’s a long time from payday until Sunday morning when the offering plate is passed around. With well intentions, we set aside from the money God our Father has provided for us, the portion He requires back. But, sometimes, by Sunday only a small part of it is left. We might feel embarrassed about it. Some might even feel shame to give only a remnant of what is rightfully God’s. Some of us might decide that it’s no use; we just can’t do it right – so why do it at all? We settle for giving a small offering in each week. Some of us live in fear that God will punish us for taking what is His – as if all of it isn’t His to begin with? What will God say to us when we see Him face to face? Maybe some of us don’t know the forgiveness and the trust of our Father. Today might just be the day to begin to tithe again.

Coleen and Peter went into the bank together and nervously approached the teller to inquire about the account balance. Greatly surprised, they discovered that no money was missing at all! There was just as much in the account as there was the day Papa opened it eighteen years ago. Not many days before Papa’s death, he had restored it.

And the last time he looked at her face, he smiled at her!

(picture from pinterest.com)

(- Helen Williams! 4/2/1995)

What Does He Want From Me?

(centralportland.org)

"What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:26)
With these questions Jesus asks, he is saying, 'if you are going to be my disciple, I want something.' What is it he's asking of you?"
- Uncommon Questions from an Extraordinary Savior, Christopher Bozung

I routinely ask myself, when the subject comes to mind, ‘What does Jesus ask of me? What does He want from me?’

Flippantly, I can say, He wants my life. That’s the correct answer, right? He wants all of me! He wants me to trust Him with, put into His hands, my health, my relationships, my finances, my future, my successes and my failures, my children, my grandchildren, my siblings and my mom – my friends.

But, what does that really look like?

When reading the questions Jesus asked, I can smugly say, ‘I haven’t gained the whole world, so I’m not in any danger of forfeiting my soul.’

But, on a lazy day – would I forfeit my soul (would I risk doing the will of God) for…… a nap? Or for quiet time with a good book? Even the GOOD BOOK?

(quotes.land)

I don’t want to sound like the voice of condemnation, because I’m not. My God serves up fresh grace by the second when we need it (all the time).

But, in essence, am I putting my nap, or reading time or TV time or game time - before what God’s asked me to do?

I guess that depends on what God’s asked me to do in the moment. If I’m spending time with Him in His Word, surely, He must be pleased. But, if He’s asked me to go over and check on my neighbor and I brush it off, saying – after some quiet time reading the Bible, or after a quick nap, or after I mop the floor…. He knows I’m blowing Him off.

Ouch!

Is He mad at me? No. I don’t believe so.

Is He disappointed with me? No. I don’t believe so. How can we be disappointed when we already know the outcome of something? He knew if I’d respond to Him with selfishness or obedience.

(pinterest.com)

“For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.” – 1 John 3:20-21 (KJV)

The real question here is – why do I ever respond to Him with selfishness?

As humans, most of us want to give up when someone fails us time after time after time. We just stop relying on them. We don’t stop loving them, but we stop asking much, of them.

Do you ever feel like God’s not “using” you anymore? Hmmmm…. 

Are we giving Him reason not to rely on us?

Great news! His patience FAR outweighs ours. He has faith in us, even when we don’t have faith in ourselves.

New assignments? New opportunities to put God’s will first! New opportunities to obey Him; to pick up our cross and follow Him!

(loveumentary.com)

Giving Good Gifts

(My own photo.)

God restores my soul.

What part of me is my soul? My spirit is one with His, my body is my flesh and blood, but my soul is comprised of my mind, will and emotions. All of those parts of me have been influenced, and sadly, damaged by the world.

God restores me through various means; often just a walk through the beautiful creation of the nature around me brings incredible healing. But one of my favorite ways is when He touches me through my friends and their encouragement and the parts of life they share in with me. Most of the time they probably don’t even realize the healing they impart to me. Maybe that’s because God is actually the One imparting the healing, He’s just doing it through them; through you!

One little reminder of love that brings me healing is a gift my friend Marie gave me. Though my friends can be very giving, Marie’s gift illustrated to me one of the many times she listens to me. Being heard and acknowledged brings tremendous healing.

I drink a lot of water and had mentioned, off the cuff, that when at home I should drink from a glass, not bottled water. I hate contributing to the plastic problems we have in our earthly environment. During a visit with Marie, she gave me a cup; perfect for my needs. I don’t sip from this cup, I guzzle. I drink more water than anyone I know. But, each drink from the cup reminds me that she loves me and she listens to me and that she chooses to allow God to restore my soul through her and our relationship. It was a simple gesture, but it came from pure motives and a loving heart. I love her for this.

I find it quite easy to love most everyone. But, certain people more significantly write their names on our hearts. Marie is one of those people. God bless you, Marie.

There are so many ways we can allow God’s healing to pour through us into those we love, and even into the strangers we meet every day. If you take a few minutes, I’m sure you can come up with a list of ways God has poured into you through the people around you. Sure, you can come up with a list of ways people have hurt you, too. What kind of person do you want to be? One that drips with healing or one that inflicts injury, {most commonly the kind of wounds we can’t always see with our eyes)? We can bring healing just as easily as we can hurt. We get to choose which words and actions we’ll use.

I’ll bet we’ve all heard the phrase, “Hurt people hurt people”. The truth of the matter is that when we inflict pain on those around us, it’s not always intentional. When acting from a place of hurt, we do hurtful things, sometimes, without even realizing it.

Often, we can’t help but ask, “But when is someone going to pour into me?” If someone shares healing with us, we can pass it along, blessing others from our place of healing. It can feel impossible to help others when we’re hurting so badly ourselves. We might be overlooking the actual sources of our distress, or even be in denial about the wounds we bear; being blinded by our pain. That definitely makes it harder to give good gifts to others and can prevent us from seeing ugliness we might be spewing about into the lives of those we love.

But, God does not leave us helpless or without resources. His Word is filled with power and tools to make us more like Him; whole. When our pain is so great that we refuse (consciously or not) to turn away from His Word, rather than to it, He sends someone along to take our hand, or our heart, and lead us to Him. Of course, we always have the option of pulling away from the help He sends to us.

Some of the biggest sacrifices we can make are through allowing God to act through us, even when we ourselves are in insurmountable pain. And sometimes, some of our biggest healing comes through the self-sacrificial love we choose to share.

Whether it’s through a token of our love, or through our actions, we’re all capable of showing our love, even when we’re tempted to act selfishly. We can do this only when we yield to God and what He shows us to do.

How has God been pouring into you? How has He been pouring through you?

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.” – James 4:7-8 (NIV) 

Undercover Boss?

(photo from oliveleafministries.blogspot.com)

In the very first chapter of the book of John we discover that, “He [God] was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” (Verses 9-10 KJV)

While pondering this verse it occurred to me that this isn’t entirely different from what many in our culture watch on television; a show called “Undercover Boss”. Personally, I’ve not seen it, but I understand the premise; a company boss/owner goes undercover to work with his employees, without them realizing it’s him/her. While this television boss may discover his employees slacking or outdoing themselves, it could mean the difference between being fired or promotion time for the employees. It also gives the boss-man a chance to be in the trenches, seeing first-hand what he expects of those he employs; perhaps he’ll realize he really doesn’t pay them enough or give them enough credit. Perhaps he’ll find he really doesn’t need as many employees to do the job as he thought. Certainly each episode promises enough drama to keep their audience coming back.

When God became flesh and dwelt among men, He came to an undeserving, unwelcoming creation, to give Himself on our behalf. This creation He loves so much that He made us in His own image, and we didn’t recognize Him. He willingly sacrificed Himself for our sakes; and His Name’s sake.

When He put on flesh and walked among us, He didn’t find any surprises. He knew man’s heart better than we know it ourselves. He already knows when we’re slacking and when we’re glorifying His Name. He knows when we’re hurting and when we’re rejoicing, all from His Throne, which should be made in the hearts of each one of us.

No, He didn’t come to “check up on us” or to inspect what we’re doing here on the earth He’s given us. He came, anointed to preach the gospel to the poor; to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised and to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. (Luke 4:18-19) He came to provide the necessary blood sacrifice to reunite man’s heart with His own. (1 Peter 3:18) He came to take on the penalty for our sin. (Romans 6:23 & Romans 8:1-4) He came to remove the veil from our eyes that we might see into the spiritual things beyond this existence; that matter more than the temporal things of this world. (Matthew 13:16)

He came because He knew we’d want to see Him. He’s here among us now, wearing the flesh of each of His believers. We are the body of Christ. When we ask why He doesn’t do something about the situations that surround us, He lets us know He has and He does; He’s created us.

Can we recognize Him in this flesh?

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” – John 1:12 (KJV)

Ponder that!

A Scary Thing

Way back in the dark ages when my husband was in the Air Force, we were stationed in a small town in Illinois at a base that's now closed. (For you history buffs, that was Chanute AFB in Rantoul, Illinois.)

 

We lived in an apartment complex in town until base housing became available. Another couple that occupied an apartment across the street from ours was in the spotlight because on a regular basis, this large American man would yell at; berate; cuss loudly at and degrade his tiny Asian young wife.  

 

One morning as I walked my kids the few blocks to school, I heard God tell me to stop at her house and tell her that He loved her. I determined to do that on the way home. But I didn't follow through. I made excuses and piddled the day away. Before I knew it the clocked chimed time to go walk the kids home from school.

 

As my toddler and I passed her apartment, I felt God nudging me. But I walked all the way down to the corner kind of "arguing" with God about it, making excuses why I couldn't take the time to stop. "She won't understand English." And, "It's too late now, I'm halfway to the school, if I turn back now I'll be late getting the kids." God wasn't hearing any of that. "If you'd have stopped as I asked you to, you wouldn't be running late."

 

Convicted and knowing how much I love knowing that God loves me, how could I not turn back and tell her? As I approached her door, butterflies were having a wrestling tournament in my stomach. Why? I have no idea! I knocked on her door. No answer. Gentle nudge; I knocked again. No answer. Smile. Sigh. "Oh, God, you just wanted to know that I would do this, or rather, wanted me to know that I could do this!"

 

Before I could turn to walk away with relief, she opened her door a little, shyly peeking through the crack. She looked up at me (yes, I'm taller than she was, if you can imagine that) with pleading eyes, whispering Asian words I couldn’t understand. I sweetly told her that God asked me to drop by and tell her that Jesus loves her. Her face melted as she began to cry. She came out onto the step and hugged me, tears turning to sobs as she wailed, "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

 

As I walked to the school to get the kids (no, as it turned out, I wasn’t late), I marveled at how simple that was. I felt a glowing joy about doing it, but wondered why I was so easily intimidated in the first place.

 

I never saw the woman again. I have no clue what happened to her. But I can’t tell  you how happy I am that I obeyed the voice of my Father.

 

“…To obey is better than sacrifice…” 1 Samuel 15:22 (NIV)

 

God prefers our obedience to a million sacrifices. Ponder this!

My Christmas Story

The Hammer

by Helen Williams more than a few years ago....

Since Mary and Joseph had been turned away from all the inns and told they could stay in a barn and that their child could sleep in the newly made manger when he was born, that’s where they found themselves the next morning. Their child had been born late in the night, a boy child. They named him Jesus. He lay quietly on a bed of hay in the manger. As Mary sat there watching him sleep, she couldn’t help but notice what a beautiful manger it was. Considering it was built to hold hay for the cows, she wondered why its maker took such care and put so much delicate work into it. Her husband, being a carpenter, might know. She called it to his attention and asked him why he thought the carpenter that built it would have made it so ornate.

‘Well, either he just takes a lot of pride in his work, no matter what he’s making, or he had nothing much else to do and decided to put all that detail there to keep himself busy. Or perhaps God told him that our child – His child, would lay there. Only the carpenter himself knows. And yes, he did a wonderful job on it. But we’ll probably never know who made it, dear.’

As he was answering Mary some straw from the hayloft sifted through the boards and they heard a rustling coming from above.

‘But then again,’ he whispered, ‘one never knows.’

He tiptoed around to the steps that led to the hayloft and as quietly as he could, climbed them. When he got to the top he boldly asked, ‘Who’s up here?’

He waited for an answer. At first there was silence. But when he saw the straw moving, he asked, ‘Shall I come see for myself?’

At that, the straw moved a lot and from it emerged an old man. He tried to stand, but lost his footing and sat down.

‘Hello, master. It is only I, the keeper of the animals. I mean you no harm. I sleep here alone. I’ll be on my way about with my chores now.’

He got up and hobbled to the top of the steps as Joseph descended. He came down slowly. By the time he reached the last step, Mary eagerly asked him if he knew who had made the beautiful manger.

He nodded his head. ‘It was I, ma’am.’

Mary noticed that even though he was on the ground now, he didn’t stand up straight. She complimented the craftsmanship he’d so skillfully used on the manger but had to ask, ‘Why did you make it so special? A manger is for animals to eat from. You made it look like a piece of furniture for a king’s house.’

‘Ah yes, ma’am. I did make furniture for the king’s palace, and he did like it to be perfect. I can still work as well as I used to, even though I’m all bent over now. So my work carries on. Though the only job I could get was here. You see ma’am, once you’ve worked for the king and been let go, no one wants you. I’m a reproach among men and they don’t even know why. The king didn’t like the way I look. When I was young and strong looking they liked to have me as the king’s carpenter. But as I’ve aged, time has not been so kind to me. The longer I live, the more bent over I stay. When the king dismissed me no one would even look at me. I felt as though he’d spit on me. All I managed to bring with me was that big ol’ hammer there.’

He pointed it out. ‘So now, you must know that God’s hand is upon me for me to make such a craft using such a big hammer. The other tools I use, I’ve made myself. They too are meager, but that big hammer was once in the king’s carpenter shop. I guess it’s rather special to me. I worked there a long time.’

As he rambled on, he came nearer to the baby and was straining his neck to see him. Joseph sat down behind Mary, putting his hand on her shoulder. They both smiled at the man. Mary asked, ‘Would you like to see our baby? Come closer. He seems to have awakened by your voice, but he’ll not cry.’

‘Why, his eyes are opened and he’s just a newborn. I’ve never seen the likes of him,’ he chuckled. ‘It looks as though he’s looking right up at me, almost as if he knows me. Cute little boy. What did you name him?’

Joseph spoke up, ‘His name is Jesus. Come closer. Would you like to hold him?’

‘Oh, you can’t trust my back. I don’t think I should.’ But there was a look of yearning in his eyes.

‘God’s hand is upon you, remember? You said so yourself. Pick him up and hold him close,’ Mary said.

The old man came closer and bent over to pick him up, praying he’d be able to hold the boy Jesus. As he stood up, he kept straightening himself to a standing position. At first he didn’t even realize he stood up straight, as he did in his youth. He smiled at the child and talked to him ever so quietly. He looked at Mary and said, ‘If I didn’t know better, I’d think he was trying to tell me that he knows me. Just the wishing of an old man…’ His voice trailed off.

Suddenly realizing he was standing tall, he exclaimed, ‘Why, little Jesus, if you could see me now! I’m standing again! It’s a miracle!’

He held the baby close to himself and began to dance around the room. Joseph smiled at Mary and she said, ‘It’s not the first one to happen in this barn.’

After returning the baby to the manger, the man said, ‘I’m blessed by the hand of God, indeed. I can’t repay God for the miracle He’s done in my, but I do want you to take my hammer with you when you go. I want you to teach this young child to be a good carpenter. As he grows, show him how to bring life to something as simple as a piece of wood. And tell him about me when he’s older. And tell him about the manger. And, I wish I could tell him myself. If you were going to be around for a while, I’d make him something to take with him, from me. But I’m sure you’ll be moving on shortly here. So take the hammer, please. The hammer reminded me of when I worked for the king. But my walk will remind everyone that I walk for the king, now.

His eyes gleamed with joy and delight.

Joseph accepted the hammer from the old man and promised that it would be Jesus’ to use as he grew, knowing that he’d have to be quite a little man to swing that hammer. It was a big one, indeed.

When Jesus was big enough to swing the hammer, the first thing he made was a manger for his donkey to eat from. He took time and care and lovingly made it after the pattern his mother had described so many times. When he’d completed his work, he called his mother to see it. He led her by the hand into the workshop where he and his father worked so diligently. She was proud of his work and her eyes filled with tears.

Jesus said, ‘Mother, if my donkey can come into the house, we can keep it there! It does look beautiful enough for a king’s house, doesn’t it?’

‘It sure does, my son. But the donkey stays outside. We’ll keep the manger forever. It will remind us how our heavenly Father wants us humbled before Him, so He can lift us up with His blessings. The manger you laid in was truly a blessing, to me, as well as to the old man. I wanted you to have the best, but God wanted you to be born in a barn. But in the midst of that barn, He let us know that He was there with us. Oh my Jesus, I love you.’ She hugged him tight.

As Jesus grew older, he grew in the wisdom of God and in love. He always showed his love, never esteeming himself more highly than others. He knew that it was better to give than to receive and he knew that he would give the ultimate display of love at the appointed time. He knew that when you lend, expect not to receive back what you’ve lent. And he always gave his best, which is why when a city boy came out to where Jesus lived, looking for the biggest and heaviest hammer he could find, Jesus gave him his.

The boy told him, ‘My father is the biggest man in the city and he has a big job to do. I told him that I would find just the right hammer for the job and I’ll keep looking until I do.’

Jesus stopped him and said, ‘Why did you promise to find this special hammer for your father?’

‘Wouldn’t you?’ the boy replied. ‘Besides,’ he added with a whisper, ‘if I do bring home the perfect hammer, he won’t send my mother and me away.’

Jesus told him, ‘Well, you’ll need a little help to carry my hammer. It’s very big; just right for that big job. I’ll help you carry it.’

They walked together for almost a mile. Pointing, the boy announced, ‘There’s my father. We live over there. He will be please. Would you like to meet him? Come on.’

The boy ran ahead of Jesus, calling to his father. Looking up, he saw them coming.

‘I’ve found the biggest and best hammer for you, Father!’

His father looked at Jesus and furrowed his brow. ‘Do I know you? You look so familiar. Your look says you know me.’

‘No,’ Jesus replied, ‘you don’t know me yet.’

He handed him the hammer and shook his other hand. After Jesus turned to walk away, the man looked at his hand, the one that held onto Jesus’, running his fingers over the palm as if he were feeling for something.

‘He was a big man, wasn’t he, Father? He sure had a big hammer, and he gave it to us, Father!’

Years later on a hill called Golgotha, Jesus saw that hammer again, and it was being used for a big job alright. After the soldier swing the last blow of the hammer, he looked at the man he was nailing to the cross. His eyes filled with horror as he recognized his face. He fell to his knees but quickly got back up before anyone would realize that his heart was being pierced. It seemed like forever as he looked into Jesus’ eyes, everything he’d ever done came up in his mind. He felt so helpless and he somehow knew why.

Jesus said to him, so quietly that no one else heard, ‘Now, you know me. And yes, I’ve always known you, and I love you.’

It was no coincidence that his marriage was mended from the day he received that.

It was no coincidence that his son was standing there beside him, also in a Roman soldier’s uniform.

He dropped the hammer and walked away from the cross, looking back only once. In his heart he grieved. But he knew that God knew of his grief when Jesus cried aloud from the cross in the air, ‘Father, forgive them. They know not what they do.’

He followed after the disciples – forgiven and alive for the first time in his life.

Have you yet to hold that hammer in your hand?

The house the King desires to live in is your heart.

What have you let Him build there – with His hammer?