April 11th, 2024
God is good all the time….
Knowing all that was going to happen to Him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth” they replied. “I am He,” Jesus said…. John 18:4-5
Easter snuck up on me….
Not sure how….
I can use the excuse that it came early this year….
It would be just that….
An excuse….
I ran out of time to prepare….
My children understood….
Completely….
Showed me so much grace…..
The grace that can only come from God….
Only because of their relationship with God…
I told them….
Rather than giving them a bunch of trinkets….
I would get them all one little gift each…
To be received after Easter….
They all declined a gift….
They know….
Eventually the money will run out….
Eventually I will have to work again….
They know….
Eventually, a job will pull me away from them….
They don’t look forward to that day….
But they understand it is coming….
They want dad’s undivided attention….
As long as possible…..
They are such good stewards….
They try to be wise with spending….
Always….
Not just now….
But always….
They understand it is His money….
They are just the stewards….
Trying to spend it wisely….
Trying to use it to glorify His kingdom….
In all that they do….
His presence in their lives….
In their hearts….
Is so beautiful….
They teach me so much….
I insisted anyway…..
I told them I was getting them a little something for Easter….
They may as well help me make it something they wanted….
One a sketch pad…
One a Squishmallow….
One a book….
One a small lego….
They were all minimal requests….
Caleb’s request….
A special baseball….
So he could give it to a friend….
He is 12 years old….
So so generous….
He is always thinking how to bless others….
We frequently talk about how it is a blessing to be a blessing….
Caleb got a gift at Christmas….
From someone at church….
Not a close friend…
More of a bystander….
Who just wanted to bless him….
So unexpected….
He gave Caleb a $100 gift card….
It blessed the giver….
It blessed Caleb….
Caleb spends every Monday afternoon at his best friend’s house….
He wanted to bless his parents with a late Christmas gift….
He loves them….
He appreciates all they do for him….
He decided to give them his $100 gift card…
I gave the parents advance notice….
I wanted them to know it was coming….
It would have crushed him for them to decline the gift….
They are such good people….
I knew they would not accept it….
If I had not let them know it was coming….
They accepted it….
Caleb was blessed….
The parents were blessed….
Caleb’s birthday came shortly after….
The best friend’s parents…
Spent that $100 on an amazing Lego for Caleb for his birthday….
It blessed Caleb’s socks off….
The best friend’s parents were blessed….
Caleb already had that Lego….
He did not let that be know when he opened the gift….
Just showed extreme gratitude….
I offered to return the Lego and get him one he does not have….
He declined….
He wanted to bless someone else with it….
He was not sure who….
He waited….
The opportunity came up…
A friend…
But not a close friend….
He gave the Lego to him….
Anonymously…..
He did not want the credit….
He just wanted to bless him….
We did not see him receive the gift….
But I am sure he was blessed….
That $100 was passed along four times….
Blessing 8 people….
And still may not be spent….
It all started with a generous heart….
From practically a bystander….
Who invested in my 12 year old….
Who passed it along….
I am proud of my son….
It was beautiful to watch this $100….
Over three months….
Blessed so many people….
It was God at work….
God’s hand….
In every step….
It was beautiful to watch…
And to take a moment….
A moment to realize what had happened….
How God had moved….
I almost over looked it….
Easter weekend was all about Him….
What He has done for us….
My children are in His hands….
His peace was present….
In their first Easter….
With their Mom in heaven…..
We spent the weekend celebrating….
Not us….
But Him….
They could have cared less….
That dad missed hiding eggs….
That we did not have baskets….
It was about Him….
What He did for us….
One of the most powerful verses….
It makes me cry….
Almost every time I read it….
Knowing all that was about to happen….
Knowing the torture….
Knowing the scourging….
Knowing the whips….
Knowing his body would have no flesh left….
Knowing every little detail….
Of the suffering….
Of the mocking….
Knowing all…..
He stepped forward….
The only way they could take Him….
Was if He allowed them….
He stepped forward….
Knowing all….
He did that for me….
He did that for all….
For those who believed….
For those who love Him….
For those who don’t know Him….
For those who hate him…..
He finished the work….
He did what we could not do….
He took everything….
All of mankind….
He took….
He took it with my family in mind….
He took it all on the cross….
He did it….
Knowing there is a punk….
Knowing we will have persecution….
Knowing we will walk through valleys…..
Knowing His grace is sufficient….
It is more than we need….
Our hope and our future….
All in His hands….
It is all we need….
Through Him….
We are more than conquerors…..
I cannot imagine….
Anyone…..
Walking through their version….
Of what we have walked through….
Their version of tragedy….
Without Jesus in their life….
Without knowing Him…..
Without trusting Him….
Without seeing His goodness….
His faithfulness….
His peace….
It breaks my heart….
To think there is anyone….
Trying to walk through this cursed world….
Without Jesus….
Yet alone spend eternity without Him….
He has told me to reach more people….
I am doing all I know how….
To tell His story….
In my life….
His goodness is everywhere….
His faithfulness is everywhere….
His light is bright….
In spite of what the punk tried to steal….
His love is perfect….
In my families life….
I would not trade it for anything…..
….. All the time God is good.
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