The Son part one

Posted on December 21, 2024 by Wendy Kleker

THE SON,

part one

            We tend to glamorize the birth of Jesus. To romanticize the betrothal and marriage of Joseph and Mary. To think of the journey to Bethlehem as a walk in the park or should I say wilderness. To whitewash the stable with clean straw and lovely smelling cows. To recreate a beautiful sparkly night with twinkly lights and a balmy breeze and Heavenly music.

Where I think its fun to imagine it this way, it was also reality for Mary and Joseph. It was the real deal, where the rubber meets the road, so to speak, and their lives were turned upside down by one short message from God. A message delivered by the mighty angel Gabriel to a young peasant girl in a small out of the way village in Galilee.

Have you ever wondered what it was really like for Mary? That blessed, glorious experience of giving birth to the Savior of the world. How did a young peasant girl really see it? This is how I imagine it might have been.

The Message

            One day I was washing dishes after breakfast and singing one of my favorite Psalms, when suddenly there was a tingling down my back. You know it’s when you get goose bumps on your arms and you know something great is about to happen. But what? I can’t imagine since I’m just a plain peasant girl from a small village in Galilee, of unimportant birth. Except that it is said my family line has come down from David. Does that mean anything? Not that I know of. My betrothed Joseph is also from the line of David so when we are married our humble house of a simple carpenter will be of Noble blood. Ha! Something to tell our children when we tell them the stories of our ancestors. Of Abraham and Jacob and King David and all the glorious things God did back then.

Oh I think it would be so grand to hear from God or see Him work in a mighty way. Don’t you? I mean we talk about it, we see the memorials, we remember the stories. Like the stones Joshua placed near the Jordan after the Children of Israel crossed over to the promised land on dry ground. But that was so long ago and God has been so silent and they seem like fairy tales that are not real. I would just love to feel God’s presence and know He is real!

Just as I was dreaming about this with my hands in the warm soapy water, suddenly there was a bright light filling our small humble living space. A light like I had never seen, brighter than the brightest sun rays and I covered my face with my arm, as I turned around. Slowly lowering my arm, I saw a bright, glistening being, tall and commanding. Dare I say an angel of God? My heart began to pound, yet for some reason I was not afraid, only filled with such awe I could not move or speak.

“Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” The angel’s voice filled the room and my mind.

I was confused. Favored woman? God is with me? Me? What could that mean?

“Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel said, and I wasn’t sure if he really spoke or the words were only in my head. My mother who was in the back room at the time, said she never heard a thing. “For you have found favor with God! You will conceive and give birth to a son, you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever. His Kingdom will never end!”

I stumbled back against the counter. This was too much to take in! “Wait a minute how can this happen? I have known no man, I am a virgin!” I cried.

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,” the angel explained, “and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy and He will be called the Son of God.

Then he went on to explain that my cousin, Elisabeth, who was in her old age and had been barren all her life, was also with child, given to her from God for His purpose.

“For nothing is impossible with God.” The angel firmly stated.

My surprise knew no end. I was shocked and could only stammer the first thing that came to my mind. “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” I mean what can you say to an angel? Right? Then the angel left. (from Luke 1:26-38)

My legs felt like the dishrag I had dropped in the dishpan and I had to sit down. I sat on a cushion and putting my elbows on the table I buried my face in my hands.

Was this true? Did this really happen? Was I really going to have a baby? But I had no husband! Just my fiancé Joseph, and we were only engaged! What will happen to me if I become pregnant?

Those tingles I talked about before, spread down my back and across my arms. I felt suddenly warm all over and funny, like I was being pulled from my body. A glow came before my closed eyes, and I was filled with great peace. I breathed slowly and felt a deep assurance that all would be well. God, my God, the God of my ancestors, would take care of everything.

Great joy filled my heart. I, just plain Mary, had heard from the Almighty God of the universe!

I floated for days on this feeling of joy and assurance. Sometimes I felt as if I was floating above the ground. I went to visit my cousin, Elizabeth, in the hill country of Judea and was so excited to find it all true. She was indeed with child!

I hadn’t know for sure, before seeing her, if what the angel said was true. But it is! Elizabeth called me the mother of her Lord! She knew I was carrying a child, even before I told her about the angel’s visit. Wow! I am amazed!

This feeling is nothing like I had ever felt before! I can only call it exhilarating! Like standing on a mountain and seeing a vista of grandeur and majesty spread at my feet.

“Oh how my soul praises the Lord! How my spirit rejoices in my Savior!” I said to Elizabeth. “For He took notice of His lowly servant girl and from now on all generations will call me blessed. For the Mighty One is holy and He has done great things for me.

He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear Him. His mighty arm has done tremendous things!” (Luke 1:46-51)

I am just so amazed and blessed to see God working and to actually hear from His angel!  I am so greatly humbled that He would choose lowly me to carry out His great promise to His people.

So I stayed with Elizabeth about three months and by then I knew I was indeed carrying a child. Of course I had been with no man so I knew without a doubt this child was indeed the workings of Almighty God. However what would I face when I returned home?

Soon after getting home I told my parents all that had happened. At first they didn’t believe me. My mother swore up and down that she never saw or heard an angel that day. Surely, she said, she would have since the house is not large. Well I couldn’t explain that but I told them again and again that I had not known a man in an intimate way.

Finally my father traveled to Elizabeth and Zechariah’s village and found out for himself that a miracle had indeed happened to his aged niece, who was about to finally give birth to a child. Also Zechariah could not speak because he had not believed the angel, Gabriel, who had given him the message of the son his wife was carrying. This Zechariah wrote out explaining all, with great excitement, to my father. So having heard this with his own ears, he and my mother were more inclined to believe me.

However it soon came time to tell Joseph my betrothed that I was with child. Oh my! What a time. We took a quiet stroll outside the village and I explained all that had happened. His expression was incredulous.

“What?!” he cried in his calm controlled manner, “Let me get this right. You are with child, but you say this child came from God not a man?”

I nodded, “It’s true, really!” I explained about Elizabeth and her child but I didn’t really expect Joseph to believe me. I mean who would? Joseph is a simple man, a practical man who believes in God and the scriptures, but to swallow such a wild tale from your young fiancé, I mean that would be hard for any man. In these days we don’t expect visions of angels and messages from God. Who would since none have been known in such a long time. How long since anyone has heard from God, we do not know.

Joseph was silent for along time, walking along with his head down and his hands folded in front of him, inside his long sleeves. I walked beside him, my stomach sick and not due to the pregnancy either, and prayed that God would please talk to Joseph’s heart. I wasn’t sure if I loved Joseph. I had known him for a long time, and he was a good man. I would need a man by my side to raise this child. Without a husband the child would grow up in disgrace and how could God’s Son do that?

Before we entered the village again, he stopped and looked at me with sorrow in his eyes. I knew he thought I had betrayed him and my heart broke for him.

“Oh Joseph!” I cried, “Please don’t think I would hurt you in any way! Oh please believe what I say is true!”

He lowered his head but before he did I saw the sheen of tears in his eyes. “I will have to think on this, but believe this, I will not disgrace you publicly. I will probably break our engagement, but will do it quietly. How you will explain a child, I don’t know, but I just don’t think I can accept your story.”

Then he walked away, his head bowed, his steps dragging. My heart broke into a thousand pieces. It was then I knew I loved this man who had been more like a big brother to me than anything. “My God!” I cried, “Please make him see the truth.”

I made my way home and later fell into bed but not into sleep. My soul and mind were troubled indeed. I felt sick to think I had hurt such a gentle, caring soul as my Joseph.

“How can you do this God?” I cried. How could He bring such turmoil into my ordered life? Everything was going so good, just as it should. I am of a good age to be betrothed. The engagement would last a year or two until I am more mature and better able to handle being a wife and have children, so my mother explained. Joseph and I would see each other often, every day usually, and get to know each other as friends. It’s the way it should be. The way it usually is with our people. But now!

“Now God my life is all messed up! Joseph is hurt and feels betrayed and I will be disgraced and the child, God your Son will have such a hard time!”

“It is ok, Child, I will take care of you and Joseph and my Son. Nothing is impossible for Me.” These words came into my head and I felt such peace fill my heart. I knew it would indeed be ok. God was in control and He would handle everything. With that I fell into a deep sleep.

That night Joseph lay in his bed and tossed and turned. Thoughts of what Mary had told him going around and around in his head like a butter churn. He just couldn’t believe an angel had actually spoken to her. Had she gone daft? He knew she was given to fanciful thinking and romantic day dreaming, but this was far beyond anything normal for a young woman. Wasn’t it?

He could hardly pray. His befuddled mind could only find the words, “Help me God to know what to do!” As he was whispering these words over and over he finally fell into a troubled sleep.

He had a dream where a shinning angel stood before him and spoke to him, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus. For he will save his people from their sins.”

And in a half sleep state Joseph remembered the words of the prophet: “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel, which means God is with us.” (Math. 1:20-23)

When he woke up, Joseph whispered, “The Messiah! Mary is giving birth to the promised Messiah!”

Jumping out of bed, Joseph donned his robe and sandals and rushed over to Mary’s house. He burst upon her family’s breakfast and rushed over to Mary. Her parents were surprised at the behavior of this stoic man but Joseph ignored them and knelt before Mary.

Taking her hands in his he said, “Mary forgive me for not believing you, but I have had a dream and God has confirmed all that you have said. I will marry you, if you will still have me.”

Tears sprang to Mary’s eyes and she threw her arms around his neck nearly knocking him over backwards. “Oh yes! Yes I will marry you! Thank God! Thank God!”

This was not, I’m sure, how Mary had dreamed her marriage would be. A quickly planned affair brought on by an unplanned pregnancy! Her world was turned upside down and inside out with Gabriel’s message. One little message from God.

Yet, God used the miracle of Elizabeth’s pregnancy to confirm for Mary and others that what He was working in Mary was indeed from Him. He usually does this in my life. If He gives me a message, or a direction, it is always confirmed by other means.

Turmoil and trouble came into Mary and Joseph’s world all because of God’s plan. Because of God working His will in their lives they experienced confusion, doubt, stress and pain. But through it all I’m sure they had peace. God was with them and He gave them the strength and all that they needed to go through it.

In the same way, God’s will, His plans don’t always make my life great! In fact, sometimes God’s will brings turmoil and trouble. Often times when God works in my life there is confusion, stress and pain. However, God is working for my good and for the good of others around me. This I know, this I trust. He always gives me His peace, His joy and His strength through it all. I just need to trust and lean on Him in the worst of times. And, like Mary, I will praise my Lord!

“Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy! I look to You for protection. I will hide beneath the shadow of Your wings until the danger passes by.

Be exalted O God, above the highest heavens! May Your glory shine over all the earth!” Ps. 57:1, 5

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Be anxious for nothing.

Posted on July 5, 2024 by Wendy Kleker

BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING

“Do not be anxious about ANYTHING. But in EVERYTHING, by prayer and petition, with THANKSGIVING present your requests to God,” Phil. 4:6 NIV

Be anxious for NOTHING? Not for anything? Really? Is that even possible? Its easy to say, very hard to do. Anxiety breaks down the door it seems no matter what I do. I hear bad news, or there is a hitch in the house buying plans and anxiety crowds my mind. This happens sometimes no matter what we say or do. This is normal, but what God is talking about is staying in that anxiety. The verse could read, do not stay in your anxiety for long. Do not dwell in it. Do not live in it.

Still pretty hard to do when I was trying to find a home to live in and there were just not many options. Being faced with having no home, no shelter, no place to be mine, is a fearful thing indeed. No matter what I did no matter how much I prayed, anxiety ran rampant.

After much searching, God kept leading me back to this house in Sentinel Butte, ND. A 104 year old house that needs some updates. I was reluctant to take on such a project, but the doors kept closing on other options. Plus I would love to live in Sentinel Butte where I can name most of the 55 residents and I know where they live.

Oh so much prayer and supplication going up to Heaven’s portal. With thanksgiving. When things looked like they were going good, something would cause a wrinkle. Sometimes I just didn’t feel I could go on, that I just could not deal with another hitch in the works. That is why Paul first instructed, “Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS. I will say it again. REJOICE!” Phil 4:4 NIV

For it is in rejoicing in Him that I turn my eyes from the problem and onto His glorious face. It is in worshiping Him and praising Him that I am aware of His presence. I can run to Him and lay my burdens down, but under His wings I can rejoice and sing.

He lifts up those who are bowed down with burdens. I have been bowed down. Trying to find a place to live, now in the process of buying and facing a 1,000 mile move, all alone with no husband is enough to bow me to the ground. He wants me to come to Him with my troubles. He wants me to lay my burdens in His hands. He want me to trust Him to lead me down the best path for my life. He wants me to hide under His wings. But its in rejoicing and praise, that I see Him. For when I rejoice my focus is on Him, not the storm raging around me. I am near His side, under His wings, leaning on Him.

So after a long process we finally had a purchase agreement signed by both parties and now John’s nephew is working on my loan. The next hurdle is the appraisal, which has been ordered. But it seems God is leading me this way. There are no other doors open. He closed all other doors. I am faced with the huge, overwhelming job of packing up our household.

When anxiety sneaks in or busts down the door, I give it to Him first. Then I rejoice in His goodness. He is Glorious. He is Good. He is Great. He is Gracious.

He is Mighty Creator, Elohim. He is Abba (daddy) Father, who loves me and cares for me. He doesn’t just love me, but He takes care of me. He sustain me, He guides me, He advises me. He is El Roi, the God who sees me and helps me. He is Yawey Yireh, who provides for me. He is Yahweh Shalo, the Lord of Peace. He is Yahwey Tsuri, my solid Rock. He is Yahwey Roeh, my Shepherd. He is Ish my husband. He is Basileus Basileon, King of Kings. He is Sar Shalom, Prince of Peace. He is Christos Mashiah, The Christ and Messiah. He is Iesous Soter, Jesus, my Savior. (don’t ask me to say all those names!)

He is Almighty God, lover of my soul.

I thank Him for who His is. I thank Him for what He has done. I have seen His hand working in my life. He straightened out (with John’s brother Bob’s help) a problem I had with movers that I was trying to cancel but they would not recognize my 22 emails I had sent to cancel a move job John has reserved. With brother Bob’s phone call and persistence they canceled the job, the day the truck was supposed to come, and are supposed to send the deposit money back. I haven’t seen it yet, but hopefully it will come. So one burden off my back. One burden gone. “Come to Me”, Jesus said, “And I will give you rest”.

So when I rejoice in who He is and give Him my troubles and thank Him for what He has done and what He is going to do, He gives me peace. He guards my heart and my mind from anxiety, from Satan’s fiery darts, from my own doubts and fears, from strife and fretting with a peace that transcends all understanding. But I have to give it to Him often as I take it back.

So every time anxiety knocks on the door. Every time fear sneaks in the window, every time doubt finds a foothold, I need to run to Him. To rejoice in Him. To give my burdens and requests to Him and to thank Him.

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again. Rejoice!

Let your gentleness (forbearance) be evident to all. The Lord is near.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

And the peace of God, which transcends ALL understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:4-7 NIV

An angels wing?

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In memory of John

Posted on June 2, 2024 by Wendy Kleker

Go stand upon that mountain

Today I was walking up on the mountain, not far from where we spread John’s ashes yesterday. Also yesterday was a beautiful service for him at our church. We cried a lot, we laughed a lot, we rejoiced a lot. And we ate a lot. He would have loved it. But today, with the family gone and the house empty, I was feeling the reality that he is gone from my life on this earth forever. Gone. No more drives, no more camping, no more smiles, no more teasing, no more sweet companionship, no more long talks. No more security in his nurturing and care. He took such good care of me. We had so much fun together. He was my life, my joy, my sun.

So I cried as I walked and began to sing, “Go rest upon that mountain. Son, your job on earth is done. Go to Heaven a shouten’, look at the Father and the Son.” (by Vince Gill.)

I cried to God, with tears running down my face, “But his job wasn’t done here on earth. He needs to take care of me.”

“Oh my child,” I heard God say in my mind, “I will take care of you. I will sustain you.”

This verse came to my mind, “Cast your burdens upon the Lord and He will sustain you. He will take care of you. He will not let the godly slip and fall.” Ps. 55:22 (NIV, NLT)

I stood still and soaked in God’s love for a moment. Birds sang around me. A vista of ridges, trees, the valley and snow capped mountains spread at my feet. God’s presence enveloped me and I was filled with sweet peace.

“I will trust You, Lord,” I prayed, “I will trust you to sustain me, to take care of me, to nurture me, to hold me up, to support me. Jesus you are in me. You are with me. You are for me. You will guide me, you will provide, you will use me for your glory, you will bless me.

He already is blessing me with the love of family, the support of friends, the help and advice with finances from John’s family. He always comes through. I can trust Him because He is trustworthy.

“God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to Him for protection.

He arms me with strength. He makes my way PERFECT.

He makes me as surefooted as a deer, enabling me to stand on mountain heights” Psalm 18:30, 32-33

Go stand upon that mountain!

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Ressurection

Posted on March 31, 2024 by Wendy Kleker
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THE RISEN

“Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” John 20:15

            There was a rumble deep in the earth. The ground shook mightily. With loud cracks, huge rocks split open. People gathered on Golgotha were knocked off their feet as rocks rolled and earth crumbled.

In the tombs, graves broke open and many Godly people who had died were raised to life. They walked about, even into town, and after Jesus’ resurrection appeared to many people. (from Math. 27:52)

The centurion and guards near the cross saw the great earthquake and graves being opened and they said, “Surely this is the Son of God!” A miracle had been demanded and a miracle they received. The mighty hand of God, shaking the earth, tearing the curtain in the sanctuary and raising people from the dead. But still many did not believe.

Near the cross a group of people huddled on the ground, where they had fallen when the shaking began. Mary Magdalene rose to a sitting position. She looked up at the battered figure on the cross. The body of her beloved Teacher and Lord was limp, his head hanging slack. On the ground beside her, lay the mother of Jesus, her heart wrenching sobs and cries the only sounds that were heard. On her other side Mary, the aunt of Jesus and Salome were just sitting up.

Mary raised her tear-stained face to gaze at her Son on the cross. “He is gone!” She wailed. “It is over. It was all for naught. The years hiding in Egypt, the hours of learning in the temple, the preaching, the miracles, the suffering, all for nothing.” Her voice could barely be heard as her words carried the grief of a mother’s heart. “He healed hundreds, He saved others, why in the name of our God didn’t He save Himself?” She fell to the ground as her keening cries rose in the still evening air.

Mary Magdalene put her arms around the sobbing woman and pulled her close. “He also raised Lazareth from the dead. We can not forget that. It is not finished!”

The other women crowded around Mary to comfort and console her. They shielded her eyes when the soldiers came to break the legs of the crucified criminals so they would die before the Sabbath began. Jesus was dead however, so they rammed a spear in his side and blood and water poured out.

The woman who had followed Jesus watched as a rich man from Arimathea, Joseph, by name, took the body down, along with Nicodemus. Wrapping Him in linen cloth and spice, they laid Him in a nearby tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Jesus sat nearby and watched as the men rolled a heavy stone across the opening.

The crowds had gone home shaking their heads. The disciples apparently had fled and were hiding. John took the mother of Jesus home and the other women ministered to her since her heart was torn in two.

All night and all the next day, despair settled on them like a cloak, heavy and dark. Visions of Jesus’ suffering played back in Mary Magdalene’s mind over and over. This was not what they expected. Jesus their Teacher was the Messiah, or God with us, but wasn’t He supposed to reign as conquering King for Israel? Wouldn’t He deliver them from their bondage and lead them to be a great nation? Wasn’t He God? And yet He let them lead Him to slaughter like a lamb. He never said a word. He did nothing to save Himself!

Mary had expected something great. Many angels coming from Heaven to take Jesus from the cross. Or even after He was dead and lying on the ground, she had expected life to come back into His battered body. She thought He would have risen again and walked with them. As He said.

Was He really the Son of God? Was He truly the Messiah? Mary had been so sure. After all He had fed thousands of folks on a few fish and two loaves. Hundreds had been healed from grave sicknesses. He had even brought a few back from the dead. How could things have gone so wrong? Mary had not expected this. Not this darkness. Not this horror. Not evil and death. No not this.

I so often think God will work a certain way. When darkness comes, when suffering comes, when death comes, I am knocked to my knees. I don’t expect it. A mighty God would not work that way. Would He? Would He allow His very own Son to die a horrible, violent death?

Well, yes He would! Yes He did. To save my soul, to save your soul, He did.

Would a loving God allow suffering and trials in our lives? Oh yes He does! To save souls. To test us. To draw us closer to Him. To train us for battle. To develop our faith muscles. So others will see His glory shining in us. So a cloud of witnesses will see our faith in Him. Oh yes, you bet, He does.

The religious leaders were not satisfied with Jesus being only dead. To keep Him in the grave, they secured the tomb by putting a seal on the huge stone at the entrance then posted guards to stand next to it.  Why were they afraid of a dead man?

The day after the Sabbath, Sunday, in the predawn stillness, Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of Jesus and Salome, the wife of Zebedee, walked to the tomb with spices to anoint Jesus’ body.

“How will we roll that big stone away?” Mary Magdalene whispered. The others just shook their heads.

Coming in sight of the tomb they stopped. Would the guards let them near. An eerie stillness filled the air. Not a sound was heard, nothing stirred in the gray dawn. Then a Morning Dove called. All else in the garden was silent. The women waited, holding their breath. Expectancy hung in the air like the morning mist amongst the lilies.

What is it? Mary Magdalene thought, What is about to happen?

A rumble started deep in the earth, like a low growl. It grew until it was a roar. Mary looked at her companions, their eyes were wide in fear.   Like the hour when Jesus died, the ground began to shake. Violently the earth shook, the trees swayed, rocks rolled from the cliffs near by, the women fell to the ground.

With mouths open, Mary and the others watched as a glowing white figure descended from Heaven and landed in front of the tomb. An angel! Who appeared like lightening, so bright Mary couldn’t look at him, and his clothes were whiter than anything she had ever seen.

The angel took hold of the stone and with a grating sound rolled it away from the tomb. Then he sat on it. The two guards who had been standing like statues, fell to the ground in a dead faint.

Mary and her companions stayed on their knees and bowed their heads.

“Don’t be afraid,” the angel said in ringing tones, “I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.   He is not here, He has risen! Just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him. Now I have told you.”

Mary slowly rose from the ground and crept up to the tomb’s entrance. She peeked inside. In the dim light she could see nothing. Stepping in farther she saw a white cloth laying on the low stone bench, a scarf folded at the head, and nothing else. No body of her Lord.

With a gasp she turned from the tomb, ready to tell the others that Jesus’ body was gone, but they had left.   Shocked and confused, Mary sat on a stone near by and wept bitterly. She had been strong to this point, but the disappearance of her Beloved’s body was too much.

Mary and Salome hurried excitedly to tell the descilples what the angel had said. Suddenly in front of them stood a man. They stopped.

Mary gasped. “Jesus!” .

“Rejoice!” Jesus said, with a smile. “I am alive!”

“My Son!” Mary ran to Him along with Salome and falling on the ground before Him, they held His feet and praised Him.

“Do not be afraid,” He told them, “Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee and there they will see Me.”

Jesus is the Light

Mary Magdalene was sitting near the tomb and weeping when John ran up and bending over looked inside. Then Peter stormed into the tomb and John followed. After a few moments they both came out and walked quickly away talking excitedly to each other.

Mary wondered what they saw there, maybe she had missed something so, she walked to the tomb. Bending over she peered into the dark cave. Her eyes were blinded by a great light and she saw two angels sitting there. One at the head and one at the feet of where the body of Jesus had lain.

“Woman,” one angel said, “why are you weeping?”

“Because they have taken away my Lord and I don’t know where they have put Him.” Stricken by grief and shock, Mary could not grasp what she had heard from the first angel.

With head bowed and tears running down her face she turned from the tomb. A man stood before her with the rising sun glowing behind him.

“Woman why are you weeping? Who is it you are seeking?” He asked.

Shielding her eyes from the bright sun, and thinking it was the gardener, Mary pleaded, “Sir if you have carried Him away, please tell me where you have put Him and I will get Him.”

Unable to take her pain any longer, Jesus said, “Mary.”

That one word was enough. He called her name and she knew Him.

“Teacher!” she cried.   She rushed to Him and wrapped her arms around Him. She clung to Him as if she would never let Him go.

Jesus pried her arms from Him and gently wiped the tears from her face. “Mary,” He said softly, “don’t you know you must not hold on to Me? I must go soon to my Father in Heaven. But what I said before is true. My Father is your Father, My God is your God. If you love Me and keep My word, My Father will love you. And We will come to you and make Our home with you always. Go tell my brethren this.” (from John 14:23-24)

Mary missed the joy because her focus was on her circumstance. Jesus was close to her and she didn’t know Him. Maybe while she sat in the garden weeping, He was standing near by. Her eyes were downcast and she never saw Him. She didn’t know He was alive.

“Just turn to Me.” He might have whispered. “Only open your eyes and look upon My face. I am here with you.”

Are you missing the joy?

Is Jesus calling your name today? Is He standing near by waiting for you to look at Him, to run to Him, to grab hold of Him?

Jesus went into the grave beaten. That first Easter morning He burst forth from the grave Victorious!

It was not all for nothing! His life, His work, His death was for a purpose. When all seemed lost, God’s plan went forward. Even sealed boulders and armed guards could not keep Him in the grave. It was NOT finished! The sacrifice was done, the price paid, but Life had just begun.

No matter what grief, no matter what pain, no matter what burdens you have, Jesus gives you Victory. Victory over darkness, victory over despair, victory over sin. Death is turned to life in our lives. Life that will go on forever and ever.

Darkness lifts, the Light is come! Life bursts forth from the grave! Justice is satisfied! Jesus is near by! All I can do is praise Him!

“A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.” Mathew 14:19-20

Note: I have paraphrased and dramatized “The Crucifixion” and “The Risen” which are based mostly on Mathew 27:45-66, Mark 16:1 (for which women went to the tomb) Mathew 28:1-10, John 20:1-17 and also from The Story which combines all four gospels.

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The Crucifixton

Posted on March 31, 2024 by Wendy Kleker


THE LAMB

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” Rev. 5:12

The day the Lamb of the world died, the noon sun became as dark as night. God’s Son cried out “My God, My God why have you abandoned me?”

It was a long road up to the hill called Place of the Skull. Jesus already had suffered much physical abuse. No longer able to go on, He fell with the heavy cross beam on His back and lay still.

A bystander, Simon from Cyrene, who had just entered the city from the country and had no idea what was going on, was forced by soldiers to carry the condemned Man’s cross.

What a welcome to the city! Crowds of people; some weeping, some running and some yelling insults to this condemned man who looked nearly dead. Simon must have been afraid. What if this man died on the way, would they nail him to the cross instead? Yet, Simon bent to lift the heavy beam off the beaten and bloodied back. It was then Simon gazed into the eyes of Jesus.

He was startled at what he saw there. Instead of the cold, rebellious eyes of a criminal, or the sorrowful, dead eyes of a beaten man, he saw gentle eyes, loving eyes, bright eyes full of compassion and understanding.   Simon didn’t realize he was looking into the face of his Savior, but that one gaze changed his life forever. He was never the same again, but how could you be after an encounter with the Living God.

It’s hard to imagine the pain Jesus endured. Whipped almost to the point of death, hit, kicked and with blood running down his face from the long thorns imbedded in His head, He was laid on the wooden cross and nails were driven through the palms of his hands. Then a large nail was pounded through both his feet together and into the wood. The pain must have been unbearable, yet He suffered in silence.

Once the cross was pulled upright and slammed into the hole, His body weight hanging on His arms caused the air to be cut off. Automatically His legs pushed up to hold the weight on His nailed feet. The pain that screamed through his shoulders and arms was excruciating. His back already beat into hamburger ground against the roughened timber. Blood ran in His eyes, pain shot up His legs from his pierced feet, yet He looked upon the soldiers gambling for His clothing and the people gathered around who were mocking Him. And He had compassion on them.

“Father forgive them!” He cried.   The One flogged, the One spit upon, the One scoffed, the One unjustly accused, the One nailed cruelly to a torture device said, “forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

Two criminals were crucified with Him, One on the left and one on the right. One of them mocked Jesus, saying “If you are truly the Messiah, the Son of God who You claim to be, prove it by saving Yourself and us too!”

But the other criminal rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even have fear of God when you are dying! Unlike you and me who deserve our punishment, this Man has done NOTHING wrong!” He got it! Looking at Jesus, he pleaded, “Lord Jesus, remember me when you come into Your Kingdom.”

Jesus met the gaze of the criminal with love in His eyes, “Today,” He replied, “you will be with Me in paradise.”

If you will but ask, there is nothing Jesus can not forgive. His love for you is beyond understanding.

As Jesus. hung in agony, the people, many of whom a couple of days before had sung praises to Him, now shouted abuse. The religious leaders mocked Him saying, “He saved others but He can not save Himself. So He is the king of Israel, is He? Let him come down from the cross right now and we will believe Him.” Even the Roman soldiers scoffed at Him.

This King of Kings, Almighty God, Prince of Peace, could have, indeed, called ten thousand Angels to set Him free. I’m sure mighty winged warriors were lined up in Heaven, anxiously awaiting the command to destroy those who dared trample the Son of the Living God. To annihilate those who dared to crucify the one true, perfect Lamb on a cruel cross. To wipe out forever those who spat upon and mocked their adored Prince.

One call from those cracked lips and the world and all its inhabitants would have been blown to bits. But this God-Man, Jesus, chose to die, alone, for you and me. Only Love will do that.

They hung Jesus on the cross at 9:00 in the morning. After hanging there for several hours, He managed to raise His weary head and looking through a red haze of sweat and blood saw His mother, her sister, Mary and Mary Magdalene, weeping near the foot of the cross. Tears ran down His mother’s upturned face and her eyes were full of sorrow and grief. Jesus knew there was one more task He needed to complete.

“Dear woman, Mother of Mine,” He cried weakly, but loud enough for them to hear, ” do not be afraid. John will be like a son to you and will look after you.” To the disciple standing beside her he said, “John, from now on, treat her like your mother.”

That’s His nature, to always care for those He loves. “Do not be afraid or discouraged. I will never leave you or forsake you.” He told Joshua long ago. “I am with you always even to the end of the age” He told His disciples just before He disappeared in the clouds.

No matter what we go through, no matter how desperate our situation, Jesus is always with us. Sometimes He delivers us from the trial and sometimes He walks beside us holding us up, helping us over the rough places.

At noon the sun became as dark as night. The wrath of God poured out upon His one and only sinless Son. Jesus who had endured silently to this point cried out, “My God, why have you forsaken Me?”

You see since before the beginning of time, the Father, His Son, and the Spirit had been one, together in perfect harmony always, through all things. Until now. Now they were ripped apart. For the Son had the sins of the world, all of them that you and me and everyone else who ever lived or ever will live, placed on Him. Jesus carried the sins of all man kind and His Father could not stand to be near Him, or even to look at Him.

For a moment in time and we don’t know how long, the Son was forsaken by His Father. Jesus, the perfect Son of God was completely alone in a darkness full of evil. This I believe is what killed Him. Death on the cross is very slow and comes as the victim suffocates when the legs become too weak to hold the body weight. Jesus died after only 6 hours and even Pilate was amazed He was dead so soon.

I think the grief and pain of His loving Father’s abandonment squeezed His heart until it shattered into a million pieces. Jesus, the Prince of Heaven, could not bear being ripped from His Father’s presence where He had been for all time. His human heart could not endure the despair of being plunged into utter darkness and buried beneath the unimaginable weight of the terrible evil of all man kind.

He cried out, “Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit.”

Then that compassionate, merciful, shattered heart ceased to beat.

At that moment, God’s wrath was satisfied. The earth shook violently. The sun turned black the day was a dark as night. Huge rocks split in two. People who had been dead for ages came out of the tombs and walked among the living.

The heavy curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn from top to bottom. Signifying that no longer is there a barrier between man and God. No longer does God burn with wrath for His crown creation because of their bent for evil. No longer is there an inner sanctuary where God dwells that only a priest may enter and plead forgiveness for God’s people.

For now the blood of Christ flows, free. A fountain flowing to wash away the sins of the all man kind. No longer does the presence of God dwell in a temple, but now He will enter into any open heart willing to accept Him.

Now you can fall on your knees at the foot of the cross and lift your tear-stained face to the Savior. Now you can ask forgiveness from the Lamb and His blood flowing from that stained cross will wash you clean.

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.” Romans 10:9-10 NLT

“But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, He will certainly save us from God’s wrath.” Romans 5:8-9 NLT

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The sky is dark, the earth is shaken, graves are opened, Satan turns tail and runs. When Jesus said, “Its finished,” It WAS finished. Our debt was paid. The sacrifice for our rebellion was made. Our redemption was bought with the precious blood and terrible death of our Savior, Jesus Christ. There is no more to do, but beleive. Jesus did it all.

Posted on March 30, 2024 by Wendy Kleker

Read about cruxifixion and why Good Friday is good. Click below on Continue Reading:

Crucifixion
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LET IT GROW

Posted on February 5, 2024 by Wendy Kleker

“Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh the joys of those who take refuge in Him!

Fear the Lord, you, His godly people, for those who fear (respect) Him will have all they need.

Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who TRUST IN THE LORD WILL LACK NO GOOD THING.” Psalm 34:8-10 NLT

But wait a minute, you say! Have all I need? Lack no good thing? What about that pay check that I don’t get any more? What about my car that broke down? What about that beautiful house we lost? Why did God take my husband? I surely needed him!

Why does God allow sickness? Why does He wait to heal until our loved ones are in Heaven? Why doesn’t He answer our prayers?

Oh my friends, He does. He always hears and He always answers. In His time, in His will. His timing is always right, even if its not our timing. Remember, He is always more concerned about our souls than about our earthly comfort.

For you see, it can’t be perfect for us. Not yet. He can’t answer every prayer as we would want. As my granddaughter at 10 years old once said, “It would be too easy.” Yep! She had it right.

If life was easy street, where would we be? If we got every desire, every prayer, everything in life just as we wanted, where would we stand? Not near God, I’m pretty sure. Not hiding under His wings, close to His side, seeking His face every day, I can assure you.

We would be sailing out there somewhere, flying on waves of our own making. Going our own way, doing our own thing, thinking we are pretty special. That’s the way we are. We can be very independent when things are going smoothly.

A sunshiney day, smooth seas, a good stiff breeze and we set our sails, lean back with a big self-satisfied smile, and pilot our way through the day.

That’s why God has to send some rough waters, some high waves, or maybe a raging storm to reminds us we need Him. To grow our faith muscles. To teach us to rely ONLY on Him.

We can’t do life without Him. But we need reminding. We need knocked off our high horse now and then. We need a reason, some times a big reason, to seek His face, to hide in His shadow, to dwell in the secret place, near His side. To run to Him. To call out to Him. To give Him our burdens.

That my friends is why we should rejoice in trials and great troubles.

“Dear brothers and sisters when troubles of ANY kind come your way, CONSIDER it an opportunity for GREAT JOY. For you know that when your faith is tested, your ENDURANCE has a chance to grow.

So let it grow. For when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” James 1:2-4

Only by working do our muscles get strong. Such is our faith. Only by testing and trials will it grow.

So let it grow.

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ARISE AND SHINE

Posted on December 25, 2023 by Wendy Kleker

        Darkness! Can you see it? Blackness! Black as coal, heavy, oppressive, no light, not even a pin prick of light, complete darkness, no sight. I can see darkness moving over the face of the earth. Darkness wrapping around the world like a cloak. Suffocating darkness, enslaving darkness capturing the hearts of men and women.

Evil can you see it creeping over the land? The earth shutters, the people cry. Sickness, disease, sin, violence, terror, pain, rage and oppression. We can see it coming. We fear, we run, we cry out. But where do we run and to whom do we cry out?

“But know this that in the last days perilous times will come, for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self control, brutal despiser of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying it’s power. And from such people TURN AWAY.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5

We are even fighting amongst ourselves. People of the same nation bickering and slashing each other.  Government leaders turning against God and betraying our great country.  Evil men infiltrating our shores and threatening our children.

“But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” 2 Tim. 3:13

The enemy is in our midst, deceiving and confusing our minds. He stalks amongst God’s children bringing depression and discouragement where there should be joy and peace.  He’s attacking our marriages, ripping apart families and causing all hope to vanish.  He is the master of deception and he deceives whom he can.

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill and to destroy.” John 10:10

Is there no light? Not even a glimmer?

A star shines in the night bright and glorious. Star of wonder! Star of Light!

Jesus bright and shining, Jesus loving and giving! Jesus who burst upon a dark world with the Light of the ages is still here. He is alive and ruling.  Jesus the Healer is amongst us!

“I, (Jesus) have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly!  I am the Good shepherd.  The good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” John 10:10-11

Jesus is the Light! He is shinning for all to see! For all who will receive Him as their Savior and make Him Lord of their life.

No darkness, no evil can stomp out His light. Do not be deceived He will come with vengeance and He will stomp out the darkness! He will defeat evil!

“Now I saw heaven opened and behold, a white horse.  And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.”  Rev. 19:11

Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the Light of life!” John 8:12

Choose the Light.  Choose Jesus.  Don’t let the thief steal your joy.  Don’t let the evil one kill your peace.  Don’t let the deceiver destroy your light.

Stand firm against the Devil.  Lean on Jesus. Walk in the Light!  Give Him your burdens instead of falling beneath the load.  Don’t fight the battle by yourself.  March in the power of the Commander of Heaven’s armies!

“He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The word of God.  And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen white and clean, followed Him on white horses.

Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword that with it He should strike the nations.   He Himself will rule them with a  rod of iron and He Himself treads the winepress of fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”  Rev. 19:13-16

“Arise and Shine! Loved Ones, for your Light has come!

The Glory of the Lord has risen upon you! For behold the darkness shall cover the earth and deep darkness over the people, but the Lord will arise over you! His Glory will be seen UPON YOU!” Isaiah 60:1-2

Jesus is the Light!

ARISE AND SHINE!

Stand in the light!

Fight for the right!

March with His Might!

NO fear!

No Retreat!

No SURRENDER!

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TRUST

Posted on August 9, 2023 by Wendy Kleker

JESUS IS IN MY BOAT

Large crowds followed Jesus wherever He went. They crowded around Him, bringing those who were sick, lame, blind, deaf. He healed their sick, he taught them with many parables, He even raised a few from the dead. His day was very busy, so busy He could not take time to speak with His mother and brothers. His ministry was intense with people clamoring at Him every moment. It was hard for Him to breath, He could barely hear anyone speak, He could hardly think. In fact earlier in the day the people had crowded around Him so much that He got into a boat and taught with parables out on the lake, just to get some space.

By evening He was worn out. His head hurt from all the noise and demands, His throat hurt from talking loudly so the crowds could hear Him, His feet hurt from standing all day, His heart hurt from seeing so much suffering. And yet He could do only so much. He was human after all.

He’d, had enough, the sun was setting, His belly was growling, He could barely keep His eyes open. He was human after all.

So, He told His disciples to get into the boat and row to the other side of the lake. As soon as the boat moved away from the shore Jesus, seeing a chance to catch a nap, laid down in the stern of the boat with his head on a pillow. Immediately He fell into a deep sleep. No tossing and turning, no twilight land, no dozing. As soon as His head hit the pillow He was sawing logs. He was human after all.

They left the crowds behind but some even followed in boats. Did no one see the dark clouds building? Didn’t anyone feel the wind as it built up speed? Did no one feel the waves becoming higher and higher? Or was it a sudden storm that just burst upon them before they knew what hit them?

A fierce storm that suddenly came up. Waves rose and broke over the bow, wind howled, rain poured down. It was sudden, it raged, it threatened their lives. So fierce was it, the boat began to fill with water, soon to swamp. And Jesus slept away in the bottom of the tossing, wet boat. He was human after all.

The disciples furled the sails, fought the oars and bailed the water, but nothing seemed to help. They would go down, they would sink, they would drown in the raging sea. The disciples, as I would have done, panicked. They yelled at Jesus but He didn’t hear them. One of them, Peter perhaps, struggled in the windswept, pitching boat to the back, shook Jesus and yelled above the wind. “We’re going to drown Teacher! Don’t you care?”

Jesus opened his eyes, sat up groggily, shook His head and looked about to see why they woke Him. He saw the water in the boat, the waves crashing over the sides, the 12 men, mouths agape, staring at the waves with wide eyes.

“Silence!” He yelled, “BE STILL!” He would really like to get some more sleep. After all He was human.

Suddenly, just like that, the wind stopped. The waves stilled. There was dead silence. The setting sun shone on the glassy lake.

Now, the 12 pairs of wide eyes were pinned on Him instead of the waves. Their mouths hung open in terror but not for their lives.

Looking around, Jesus asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith.” Do you still not believe who I am? Do you still not understand that I am fully human, yet I am God? Do you not trust that I will not leave you or forsake you, but will be with you always?

I am so much like those disciples. I can’t say that I blame them really, after all it was a very fierce storm and it threatened their lives. I would not want to be dumped into a raging, cold sea. So they tried to do what ever they could do to save themselves. They fought the waves and wind. They rowed like crazy. They put all their strength into the oars. They did all they could do, as if Jesus, the Miracle Worker, wasn’t sleeping in the boat. It didn’t work. The waves were swamping the boat. So they panicked. After all they were only human.

Exactly what I would have done. When a storm comes up sudden and fierce, I always do everything I can possibly do, on my own first. As if Jesus isn’t sleeping in the boat.

I fight, I put all my strength into it, I fret and plan. When that doesn’t work, I panic. Then when all seems hopeless and there is no other way, I call out to Jesus.

No wonder He says, “Are you still afraid? Don’t you know who I am? Don’t you know I am fully God? Don’t you know I am in your boat? Do you still have no faith?”

You see because Jesus was fully human, He understands us. He knows what makes us tick. He knows what makes our hearts pound in fear. He knows what makes our knees weak. He knows how we get tired. He knows how our bodies hurt. He knows. And he understands. He sees our tears. In fact, He puts them in a bottle.

Yet He is fully God so He has the power to comfort, to guide, to give blessing, to bring peace. He is the Mighty Creator, the God of the Universe, the Miracle worker and the Way Maker.

He will never leave me or forsake me.

He is always in my boat waiting for me to call on Him.

Taken from Mark 4:35-41

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Rest

Posted on July 26, 2023 by Wendy Kleker

A LONG SABBATH

I have a wise friend who told me once when I was recovering from knee surgery, “You are taking a really long sabbath. When it was me, I would sit and just enjoy every bird I saw, every smell I smelled, every sound of nature, all the cuteness of Sadie. I don’t know, I just rested.”

“So the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them was completed. On the Seventh day God had finished His work of creation, so He rested from all His work. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when He rested from all His work of creation.” Gen. 2:1-3 NLT

Have you ever thought about this? I mean did God need to rest after creating the world? He has no physical body. Does God get tired? I doubt it. I know He used this for a example for us to follow but what does it really mean when it says God rested?

In Psalm 132:8 The psalmist says, “Arise O Lord, and enter your resting place, along with the Ark, symbol of your power.”

And again in verse 14, God is speaking, “This is my resting place forever,” He said. I will live here, for this is the home I desired.”

This temple was not a place for God to come and sleep or relax but a dwelling place for God. It was the place that His Glory dwelled among men. So I think we could look at Genesis 2 the same way. After He created, God came to dwell on earth, He presided there. A garden became His place of rest, or abiding place. And He had sweet fellowship with man. Makes perfect sense.

Jesus says “Come to me all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear and the burden I give you is light.” Math. 11:28

If we think about this in the light of abiding in Him, it doesn’t mean we can go to Him and He will give us sleep, or relaxation, or rest from our labors. It means if we abide in Him, we will find a safe place to dwell. A place where we can be free from worry, because He is in the traces with us. He is pulling the load.

When He says “the burden I give you is light”, it does not mean I will not have troubles or tribulations or sorrows or grief. It means He is the One carrying the load. He is the One who works out my troubles. He is the One who carries me through the tribulations He allows into my life. I don’t need to worry and fret because He is the One who is at work in my life.

Nothing comes to me that He does not allow. And if He allows it, it is for my good. He may be working for my souls good, not my bodies good. He works all things for our good, whether our earthly good or our Heavenly good.

When I rest in Him, when I abide in Him, I have sweet fellowship with Him. IF I go to the garden, and IF I don’t hide from him, and IF I am not too busy trying to work things out on my own, He will walk with me and talk with me.

I can sit back, relax and enjoy every bird song.

I can breath in every wonderful woodsy scent.

I can feel every cool breeze on my face.

I can let the worry go, the exasperation, the impatience, the grumbling.

I can soak in every breath of God, every nugget learned, every touch of His hand.

I can relish every brush of His fingers on my cheeks, every whispered word, every smile on His lips.

I can sit in His presence and know Him.

I can abide in Him.

Excuse me, I think I might just go take a long sabbath.

“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

This I declare about the Lord:

He alone is my refuge, my place of safety. He is my God and I trust Him.” Psalm 91:1-2

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