Holy Week part 3

Wednesday, March 27th
– Tenebrae 
Reflecting on the death and sorrow of Jesus


Light candles and turn off all the lights.
I admit, I didn't do this.  It is pretty bright outside.  Plus, I don't really want to light a candle on my messy kitchen table... it would mean I would have to clean it...not going to happen right now.

Read Isaiah 53:4-9
I've read this passage in the NIV quite a few times, but I find that looking at another translation helps give fresh meaning sometimes.  I have linked it in The Message here, but I also appreciate the Amplified Bible as well as some others.  It isn't long.  Look around this site and find the translation that speaks to you most directly.

As an aside, the part where he is in the garden really helps me see, even more deeply, what he went through.  Whereas it does, later on, talk about him being beaten and cursed, it views it from a perspective that is farther removed from Christ.  In Gethsemane  though, you can see how Christ felt and understand more deeply what he is going through.  He is scared, not for his, or the world's future, but for his present.  He is lonely--God and his friends seem to have abandoned him.  But still, he is strong and faithful.  Here we see Jesus fully human, with all the weaknesses and strengths rolled into one.  He is not a robot.  He is a person, and despite his fears, it is now his turn to face away from the waves and step out in faith--and he does.  Thank God!

Talk through the story of Jesus’ death from memory. Take a few moments to write out how Jesus must have felt during the journey to the cross.

The story is long, and I am sure you can all remember it.  If we were actually together, we could take turns talking and adding to one another's stories, but as it is, I think I will tell you the most memorable part for me. I am taking poetic license, though, and am telling it in my own words:

Jesus is taken into custody and is taken into a big building where the chief priests and religious leaders are gathered.  The door is left wide open, and there remains a view of the courtyard outside, a fire blazing in the center to keep away the cold from the surrounding night.  Through the gates of the courtyard, a figure slips silently.  Keeping an eye on the proceedings inside the building, he approaches the fire to keep warm.  He wants to see, no, needs to see what happens.  His heart is beating and his hands, despite being so close to the flames, are ice cold.  He is startled when he hears a voice next to him.  "Hey, weren't you with that guy up there?"  Heart pounding in his chest, he denies it.  The person shrugs and walks away.  His breath calms, he is safe.  He looks up again at the building.  It is far enough away that he can't hear anything, but he sees the anger in the priests' faces, and he sees how tall Jesus is standing, despite their accusations.  "Hey!"  a voice sounds next to him. "You were with that Galilean weren't you?"  "No!"  you whisper fiercely   The person walks away, looking back at you with questions in his eyes. Still a little nervous, he looks up toward the building.  The religious leaders look even angrier than before, shaking fingers in Jesus' face.  "You!  I know you!" he hears from behind him.  "You totally look like a Galilean!  You are one of His followers, aren't you!"  He turns to look at the person behind him.  He is going to be found out!  "I don't know what you are talking about!  I don't know Him!"  And then, he hears a rooster crow.  Suddenly he remembers the conversation of mere hours before, and he turns and looks toward the building, only to find Jesus staring straight at him.

There are no words.

Jesus knew.

He knew.

And although he knew it would happen, but he couldn't have heard those conversations happening in the courtyard.  He heard the rooster though, and that had been enough.

Maybe Jesus was wishing it wouldn't happen.  Hoping against hope that Peter heard what He had said, and changed the course of history.  If this could change, maybe other things could change too?  Maybe there was another way.  But still, he knew.  He knew Peter, His Peter, would deny him.  On top of the silence he received from God, and the accusations thrown in his face, and the desertion of his friends, and the betrayal of Judas, now Peter...

Blow out a candle.

Consider the great darkness of his journey. Write out some of your own feelings.

What heartbreak.  Piles and piles of heartbreak.  But still, he stood and faced his accusers.  Still he chose to follow this path.

Thank God.

Blow out the rest of the candles and sit is silence and darkness for a few moments.

Sing: 
Oh God We call
Oh God, we call. 
From deep inside we yearn…
From deep inside we yearn…
From deep inside we yearn…for you.
. . . for you.

Holy Week part 2

Tuesday, March 26th
– Healing 

Offering prayers and intercessions on behalf of those who need healing

Read Mark 7:31-37
Jesus heals the deaf and mute man by sticking his fingers in the man's ears and saying "be opened" and then spitting and touching his tongue.  He also tells them all not to tell anyone, but they don't listen.

Write out a list of people who are hurting or sick. Spend some time praying for them. Try drawing or writing our your prayers together.

I think this list might be private.  Some people don't want all of the internet to know their problems.  Especially since many of the people on my list would be children I know...

But, my God, as I compile this list in my head, I realize it goes on and on.  We are all broken.  We are a broken people and we need your healing touch.  If, however, like the man lame from birth, we are meant to live with these hurts so that Your glory can be revealed, give us strength.  Walk with us and help us carry what we feel we cannot.  Help us see through our own grief and pain and look forward into your brilliant and glorious light.


Queries:
Who do you know that are hurting?
again, private

How can you be peace and grace to them?
listening ear, warm arms, praying heart



PS--I originally started this thread on e-mail, but no one responded, so I thought I might be bugging people.  I encourage people to reply and add their own perspectives, thoughts, wisdom to these posts.  This medium is fine for getting my thoughts out of my head, but it is not very useful for growth if people don't add to and stretch my understanding.  I want to be stretched, so I never get tempted to put my GOD in a box, neatly folded, and figured out.

Holy Week part 1

So, at church they gave us a pamphlet to help us reflect on Christ this week (Holy Week).  They said it was meant to be done in community, so I am re-posting today's entry, and am adding in my reflection.  I encourage you to reply all and add to this conversation.  If you would rather be left off of this, that is ok too.  Just let me know and I can take you off the list.  I am going to try to do this each day this week (since they have a whole week's worth of reflections).  

--Jess

Monday, March 25th

– Thanksgiving

 

Giving Thanks for Jesus

Read through your favorite stories about Jesus in the gospels. Some suggestions: Luke 5:17-26; Luke 15; Matthew 8:23-27…

some of my favorite stories: Jesus walks on water (Matthew 14:22-23, ) , Jesus heals the man born blind (John 9)

Take some time to remember who Jesus was, and what he did. Try lighting a candle while you read, as a way of picturing Christ being present.

Queries:

What’s your favorite thing about Jesus?

He healed the broken, regardless of how misguided or lost they were.  He gave forgiveness and healed them.  He wasn't afraid to be himself.  He spoke truth to power and gave others the strength to do so too.

Which story do you like the most? Why?

Probably my favorite is the one about the man born blind.  So much happens in this story in John 9.  Jesus challenges a long-held belief that misfortunes/infirmities come because of sin.  Jesus says that those misfortunes/infirmities are there so that God's work can be seen in the world. Then he works his miracle.  It is different then other miracles though.  Instead of just saying "be healed"  he uses mud and his own saliva, and then commands that the man wash in a pool.  God's miracles don't always happen the way we expect them to.  Afterwards, the Pharisees don't understand what could have happened.  They ask and they interrogate, but they can't figure it out. (I love that whole exchange--the man gets pretty snotty with them.) The man doesn't care that they can't figure it out, because he knows all he needs to know, and when he encounters Jesus again, his spiritual eyes are opened and he can truly SEE.  

Spend some time in prayer, thanking God for Jesus.

the good and the gross

Well, it is the first official day of Spring Break.  Monday.  I think I did pretty well for a Monday.

1. Woke up at 7:30 (that means I slept in two extra hours people!!!! That is impressive)
2. Got up at 8 ish
3. Went to go work out (on a day off, I should get mad props!!!)
4. Went to school (I know, I know, but a parent requested homework because the kid is going to be gone the week after spring break.  What can you do???)
5. Went home and cleaned the bathtub (oh sooooooo gross!) and the toilets (not nearly as gross!)
6.  Planted Gladiolas and Columbine in pots and added them to my front porch garden.
7. Did laundry (mostly just the sheets, myriad of winter-time blankets that need to be put back in the closet, oh, and the shower curtain)
8. Started dinner (the sauce tastes best if it cooks for a while)
9. Watched the first episode of Alias on Netflix and worked on my crocheting
10. Cleaned the trunk of my car
--this last one deserves the most time.  SOOOOOO, I have been noticing a gross moldy-like smell eminating from the trunk whenenver I open it, but there isn't a lot in the trunk.  Moving things around, I found two slightly moldy areas, and I bought some carpet cleaner to clean it with (that was months ago) but I needed to wait until it was dry-ish outside to clean it out because, hello, no garage.  So I decided that today was the day.  I began by getting everything out of the trunk (two grocery sacks full of other grocery sacks, jumper cables, a small toolbox) then I began the carpet cleaning.  One spot was really easy.  Then I got to the other spot, and it was wet.  I mean, wet, and the carpeting around it was wet.  SOAKED.  Like 1 1/2 foot square area.  It was gross.  So I pulled the carpet out and began drying the trunk itself.  Then I noticed the wheel well for the spare tire.  I took the board off the well and looked into it.  There was at least 1 (maybe 2) inches of standing water under the spare tire.  So I had to pull the spare tire out.  Luckily, there was a plug in the bottom of the well (apparently the manufacturers were ready for something like this to happen) and I could unplug it to get rid of most of the water.  I used paper towels for the rest and I sat outside reading (Patricia Briggs, The Hob's Bargain) while the trunk dried the rest of the way.  I also squeezed as much moisture as I could from the rug and had it hang for a while during the trunk's drying time.  I brought the rug inside the house to continue drying and closed up the trunk.  Now I have to figure out where the water is coming from and see if it is an easy fix.
11.  Wrote in my blog.

Now you are up-to-date :)

--me

Twitter

so, I joined twitter.

Probably the most fannish move I've made, mostly because I just joined it so I could follow updates on TLBD (The Lizzie Bennet Diaries) and their upcoming projects with Pemberly Digital (Sandition!!!!!! AAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHHAAAAAA!)

But I did join, for any of you out there who read this and use twitter

I am TessenBaker

I know, apparently I bake Tessens.

ah well, my family is in for it now

I shall commence the baking spree !!!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAHHAHAHAA!

Ok, I think I am done.

I think.

now who else could I follow on Twitter?

I wonder if Emma Swan has a twitter account?  Or Henry????  Henry is more likely, don't you think... I shall have to look into this...

The End

AAAHHHHHAAHAHAHAH

Ok, I am really not sure who reads this, but OMGOONDESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  LIZZIE BENNETT DIARIES AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

soooooooo AMAZING!

AHHHHH!

Sorry, I have no words.  Just the little hiccup in my heart area that says YYYYYEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSsss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111

just had to get that out there...

PS  if they EVER sell this on DVD, I want it!
NoW!

--me

Of Murder, Mystery, and Magic

I had the best birthday party ever, last night.  It was amazing!!!!  So my dear friend Trout threw me a Murder Mystery dinner birthday party.  And I found out almost EVERYTHING!  On top of that, I got to be an outrageous flirt and was the reincarnation of an ancient Egyptian Queen who was trying to keep her husband (the evil Pharaoh  from coming back to life and taking over the world.  I was POSESSED!!!!  And I got to faint, twice!  SOOOOOOOOO FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Then, at the end, they sang me Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star for my birthday song!!!!11  It was beautiful!!!!

SOOOOOO HAPPY!!!!!

30, here I come!!!

(P.S. My friends are amazing, esp. Trout, who was packing up her apartment during the planning process, and moved and cleaned her apartment the day before!)