Category: Remember

I recently had a day that I counted as a waste until I remembered “the why behind the routine.” Remembering “the why” is important, especially when things don’t go as planned.

I had a really busy weekend ahead, but I didn’t want to give up my Friday morning routine of doodling on my porch. Besides, my new watercolor pencils had arrived, and I was anxious to try them out.

I planned to redo a design that I had done with regular colored pencils several months ago. I was sure the colors would be much more vibrant using the watercolors and expected that the finished work would be a perfect addition to my Etsy shop. However, after three different tries, all I ended up with was a disappointing mess.

I pulled out my markers and moved on to a different verse that I wanted to redo. I had a beautiful image in my mind, but when I observed my artwork, it didn’t meet my expectations. The lines were too sloppy.

I tried again… and again… and again…. I felt at peace as I listened to worship music and let my mind focus on God, but still, none of my creations were good enough. There was always something wrong no matter what I tried. I just wasn’t satisfied.

The next morning, as I got ready to face another busy day, I thought about all of my doodle attempts the day before. I was frustrated that none of those attempts were good enough to reproduce for my Etsy shop. Why had I wasted several hours of my time when I had so many other things I needed to do?

My mind went back to the doodle I had created almost effortlessly the week before. Fear had gotten ahold of me. So, I searched God’s word for help. That’s when the words of Isaiah 41:10 spoke peace into my heart. “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” I meditated on the words, pictured what they meant to me and doodled them out as I worshiped, sang and cried in His presence. I loved the way the doodle turned out. Even more important, I was ready to face my fear; God was with me.

That’s when I realized the difference. I remembered “the why behind the routine.” My Etsy shop isn’t my why!

I began doodling out Bible verses long before my Etsy shop. I was in the habit of writing Bible verses down on index cards when I came across one that I wanted to remember. Sometimes a verse would become so real to me that I could visualize it. So, I would grab some markers and doodle it out.

I posted my doodles on Facebook thinking maybe they would catch someone’s eye, and God’s word would speak to that person’s heart as well. Sometimes my doodle was pretty goofy, but I posted it anyway.

I had fun doodling these verses, and I also found it to be a great way to unclutter my head and untangle my heart, particularly if I had experienced a tough week. Meditating on His word always brought (and continues to bring) me healing and peace.

Eventually, I began setting aside Friday mornings to doodle and sort things out with God. I always look forward to this time of sitting at His feet and shutting everything else out for just a little while.

I would never have done anything more with my doodles, but my son suggested that I should turn some of them into greeting cards and sell them on Etsy. A couple of months later, a friend asked me if I would frame some to sell in her boutique. Thus “Every Season Creations” was born.

After that, I found myself getting pickier about my doodles. The lettering needed to be centered. The design had to be neat and arranged just so.

It was this pickiness, that kept me from being satisfied on that particular Friday. Though my time spent with God was still sweet, I got really frustrated because I was unable to create something to add to my shop. I lost sight of the “why behind the routine.”

I set aside my Friday mornings for doodling simply because I want to spend time with God and point others to Him. I need His word to transform my life, and I want others to know the power of His word in their lives as well. That is “the why behind the routine,” and “the why behind the routine” is all for Him.

I noticed the elderly man holding his poppies as I exited the store. I remember my mom giving me money for poppies when I was a child, and so I always stop when I see someone standing with the bright red flowers. I asked the gentleman how much a poppy cost. “Whatever donation you would like to give,” he answered. I exchanged a couple of dollars for a poppy and rushed to my vehicle.

As I hurried away, I thought about how small my offering was in comparison to what the poppy symbolized. I wanted to go back not only to make a larger donation but also to ask the veteran to share his story. Sadly, I did not turn around because I had somewhere I needed to be. I figured I would make another contribution to the next veteran I saw and would ask for his story, but I never got another chance.

The poem “In Flanders Fields” was written by Canadian Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD during World War 1. He had seen too much suffering, and one of his close friends was killed in battle on May 2, 1915. McCrae performed his young friend’s funeral that same day and is said to have written the poem the next as he looked at all of the wild poppies growing in the ditches of the cemetery:

“In Flanders Fields” by Canadian Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

 

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

 

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

In 1920, the American Legion adopted the red poppy as their official flower in memory of those who fought and died in the war. In 1924, they began the poppy program to raise funds to help with medical and financial needs of both veterans and active duty military personnel and their families. Nearly 100 years later, we still see the poppies for sale, especially close to Memorial Day.

I wish I had given a bigger contribution that day. Though my donation was small, I still received a poppy to remind me of those who shed their blood. They sacrificed their lives for the freedom of others, many of whom they did not know, many of whom did not deserve it. Some of the recipients did not appreciate it, and some still take freedom for granted.

I regret that I didn’t go back to learn of the elderly man’s story and to thank him for his service. I was in too much of a hurry. I had other things I need to take care of. I will probably never see him again, but I will not forget our brief encounter and the convictions that it brought.

I am humbled as I remember not only those who died serving our country so that we can live in freedom today. I am also humbled as I remember Jesus who died in my place so that I can experience freedom from the penalty of sin and death forever. When we accept Jesus’ death as payment for our sin and in turn submit to him, we are filled with the Holy Spirit. As we surrender our will for his, we are filled with his power to overcome sin and death. We are free from Satan’s grasp and saved for eternity.

I owe Jesus so much. And though I offer him so little in comparison to what he has done for me, he still washes me with his blood and covers me with his grace. I often pray that I not take his sacrifice for granted but that I would truly lay down my life for him just as he did for me.

If Jesus has been reaching out to you, but you have never accepted his gift of salvation, do not delay. Don’t get so busy with other things that you don’t have time for him. The day will come when you will not get another chance.

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (Jesus, John 15:13). Let us not forget those who laid down their lives for our freedom. Most of all, let us not forget the one who died in our place so that we could have freedom from sin and death and live eternally in heaven with him. Oh, how he loves us. There is no greater love.

I got up before the sunrise today and have been sitting in the dark and thinking. I have no idea how I even got through last week. There were so many things that needed taken care of, but by the end of the week, it was all one long blur. The busyness is now over, and so I sit in the dark and enjoy the quiet. I breathe peacefully, while the dog lies on my feet ensuring that I remain still for a while. As I get ready to begin a new week and anticipate a much lighter load, I think about Jesus and what this week held for him long ago…

Jesus knew it was his last week, yet he continued to put the needs of others above his own. He spoke the truth in love. He reminded the people of the difference between lip service that comes from knowing what God wants and true obedience that comes from knowing the Father and loving the Son. He humbled himself; the Master washed his disciples’ feet. He didn’t exclude the one who he knew would betray him. He prepared his closest followers for what was to come and spoke comforting words to let them know that it would be okay. Yet it was going to be difficult…

He knew what was coming that Thursday. He fell with his face to the ground and prayed to the Father three times asking if it was possible to take away the cup of suffering that he had been asked to drink. And though his soul was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground, his earnest prayers of anguish ended with, “Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

He was full of love, grace and compassion. He was a man of honor and truth. He healed the sick and gave sight to the blind. He was a friend to sinners, the poor and those who others shunned. There wasn’t a mean or selfish bone in his body. He spent his life serving those around him and doing the will of his Father. He never committed a single sin. He didn’t deserve this cup, but he knew that we were separated from God by our sin. He understood that the only way to get rid of our sin was by shedding the blood of a sinless man. There was no other way. He was willing to take the blame, willing to suffer, willing to die. He accepted the cup.

A large crowd arrived that night with clubs and swords. For thirty pieces of silver, he was betrayed with a kiss, and his closest friends deserted him. He was handed over for questioning, accused of blasphemy, spit on, beaten and ridiculed. He was completely innocent, but he didn’t defend Himself.

Then came Friday. Over and over, the whips beat upon his back until it became a mass of torn, bleeding tissue. He was stripped and dressed in a scarlet robe. A crown of thorns was twisted and placed on his head. They put a staff in his hand, knelt in front of him and mocked him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” They spit on him, took the staff and beat him on the head over and over. Then they put his own clothes back on him and led him away to be crucified.

As he hung on the cross, the people continued to mock him. “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God! He saved others, but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”

After hours of suffering, he cried out in a loud voice, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” He cried out again, and then he gave up his spirit.

The kind, compassionate, loving, giving, completely innocent man died. The crowd deserved to die. I deserve to die; you deserve to die, but he is the one who took the punishment.

He was buried in a tomb. A stone was rolled in front of the opening, and guards were posted to ensure that no one took the body. It seemed like hope was gone, but that wasn’t the end of the story….

“After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for 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.’” (Matthew 28:1-6).

Yesterday was “Palm Sunday,” and so this week we observe “Passion Week.” This is a time when we reflect on Christ’s passion for us and his passion to obey the Father, as He suffered and willingly gave his life to take away our sins. Jesus knew that the time was near and that the upcoming week would not be easy. Though he was praised as he rode into town on a donkey on Sunday, the praise would quickly turn to ridicule, torment and pain which would finally end with death on a cross. So we remember this week the things he said and did with only one week left before he would lay his innocent life down to die for us.

As we remember his passion for us, may we passionately worship him & proclaim the Good News of his death & resurrection to others. Jesus Christ died for our sin and has is risen! Do you believe?

“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” (Romans 10:9).

Just as Jesus laid down his life for you, won’t you lay down your life for him? Turn away from your sin, turn to him and accept his gift of eternal life. Then share the Good News with others. Who do you know that needs to know the peace and hope that comes through him?