Reflections

This spring my mother-in-law suddenly became sick with her final illness and my husband, my two younger children and I rushed to her side.  We drove all night from Massachusetts to Illinois.  Nearing bed time our oldest son called and asked, "Are you driving all night?"  We said, "Yes."  He answered, "Well, be careful."  Soon after that our second oldest son called.  He asked, "Mom, are you guys driving all night?"  I answered, "Yes."  He said, "Please, be careful.

Within an hour Nathan, our second son called back and said, "I've been thinking about it.  If I start driving now, I can probably meet you just past Cleveland and drive the car through the night for you so you don't get too tired and fall asleep at the wheel."  I was so moved by that gallant offer, but I declined.  A couple of hours later, he called again and asked to speak with my husband. He presented the same offer trying to be more persuasive.  Just as I did Pat declined the offer.  Later, Nate called again, just hoping that we would change our minds.

Gabriel, our oldest son, is married with three children. After his initial call he and his wife took turns through the night calling us every two hours, just to chat and make sure we were awake.  He never mentioned their strategy, they just called and talked to us.  After the third call, we figured out what they were doing and were once again grateful for such wonderful children.

It seems to me that those little acts reflect God.  Our Savior has done the gallant thing.  He left His kingdom and came to earth to guide us safely home.  At the same time He quietly works in the background, blessing us daily by providing power to keep us from harm.

I challenge all of us to notice God's reflection in the people and things around us. Flowers speak of His purity.  Mountains command our attention to His majesty.  Simple caring acts by those we love testify of His sacrifice.  "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)

The Victory - The End

"Christ did not yield up His life till He had accomplished the work which He came to do, and with His parting breath He exclaimed, "It is finished." John 19:30.  The battle had been won.  His right hand and His holy arm had gotten Him the victory.  As a Conqueror He planted His banner on the eternal heights.  Was there not joy among the angels?  All heaven triumphed in the Savior's victory.  Satan was defeated, and knew that his kingdom was lost."  Desire of Ages, p 758, by E. G. White.

*anyone interested in getting a copy of The Desire of Ages, please contact me and I will get one for you.

The Drops

"Heaven viewed with grief and amazement Christ hanging upon the cross, blood flowing from His wounded temples, and sweat tinged with blood standing upon His brow.  From His hands and feet the blood fell, drop by drop, upon the rock drilled for the foot of the cross.  The wounds made by the nails gaped as the weight of His body dragged upon His hands.  His labored breath grew quick and deep, as His soul panted under the burden of the sins of the world.  All heaven was filled with wonder when the prayer of Christ was offered in the midst of His terrible suffering, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." Luke 23:34.  Yet there stood men, formed in the image of God, joining to crush out the life of His only-begotten Son.  What a sight for the heavenly universe!"   (The Desire of Ages, p 760; by E. G. White)

*anyone wanting a copy of The Desire of Ages, please contact me and I will get one for you.

The Spotless Son

"The spotless Son of God hung upon the cross, His flesh lacerated with stripes; those hands so often reached out in blessing, nailed to the wooden bars; those feet so tireless on ministries of love, spiked to the tree; that royal head pierced by the crown of thorns; those quivering lips shaped to the cry of woe.  And all that He endured - the blood drops that flowed from His head, His hands, His feet, the agony that racked His frame, and the unutterable anguish that filled His soul at the hiding of His Father's face - speaks to each child of humanity, declaring, It is for thee that the Son of God consents to bear this burden of guilt; for thee He spoils the domain of death, and opens the gates of Paradise.  He who stilled the angry waves and walked the foam-capped billows, who made devils tremble and disease flee who opened blind eyes and called forth the dead to life - offers Himself upon the cross as a sacrifice, and this from love to thee. He, the Sin Bearer, endures the wrath of divine justice, and for thy sake become sin itself."  (The Desire of Ages, by E. G. White; p 755)

*anyone wanting a copy of The Desire of Ages, please contact me and I will send you one.

The Darkness

"With amazement angels witnessed the Savior's despairing agony.  The hosts of heaven veiled their faces from the fearful sight.  Inanimate nature expressed sympathy with its insulted and dying Author.  The sun refused to look upon the awful scene.  Its full, bright rays were illuminating the earth at midday, when suddenly it seemed to be blotted out.  Complete darkness, like a funeral pall, enveloped the cross.  "There was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour."  There was no eclipse or other natural cause for this darkness, which was as deep as midnight without moon or stars. It was a miraculous testimony given by God that the faith of after generations might be confirmed.

In that thick darkness God's presence was hidden.  He makes darkness His pavilion, and conceals His glory from human eyes.  God and His holy angels were beside the cross. The Father was with His Son.  Yet His presence was not revealed.  Had His glory flashed forth from the cloud, every human beholder would have been destroyed.  And in that dreadful hour Christ was not to be comforted with the Father's presence. He trod the wine press alone, and of the people there was none with Him." (The Desire of Ages, By E. G. White; p 753

*If anyone would like a copy of the book The Desire of Ages, please contact me and I will send you one.

The Ransom

"And now the Lord of glory was dying, a ransom for the race.  In yielding up His precious life, Christ was not upheld by triumphant joy.  All was oppressive gloom.  It was not the dread of death that weighed upon Him.  It was not the pain and ignominy of the cross that caused His inexpressible agony.  Christ was the prince of sufferers; but His suffering was from a sense of the malignity of sin, a knowledge that through familiarity with evil, man had become blinded to its enormity.  Christ saw how deep is the hold of sin upon the human heart, how few would be willing to break from its power.  He knew that without help from God, humanity must perish, and He saw multitudes perishing within reach of abundant help."  (The Desire of Ages, by E. G. White; p 753)

*anyone who would like a copy of The Desire of Ages, please contact me and I will send one to you.

The Expression

"For long hours of agony, reviling and mockery have fallen upon the ears of Jesus.  As He hangs upon the cross, there floats up to Him still the sound of jeers and curses.  With longing heart He has listened for some expression of faith from His disciples.  He has heard only the mournful words, "We trusted that it had been He which should have redeemed Israel."  How grateful then to the Savior was the utterance of faith and love from the dying thief!  While the leading Jews deny Him, and even the disciples doubt His divinity, the poor thief, upon the brink of eternity, calls Jesus Lord." (The Desire of Ages, by E. G. White p 750)

*anyone interested in receiving a copy of The Desire of Ages, just contact me and I will send you one.