An Old Dead Chicken

When we were children we lived in Jackson, Mississippi.  We often came to visit our grandparents who lived on a farm in the northeast part of the state.  Whenever we got there, Grandma almost always sent Grandpa to the store for one thing or another. 

 One time, my youngest brother went with Grandpa to the store.  It was just a little old country store but the owner somehow managed to stock plenty of items.  He and Grandpa were good friends and they joked around a lot. 

 When Grandpa and John got home, Grandpa was still smiling.  He told me the owner asked John  what he liked to eat.  My brother was pretty young at the time – maybe about four.  John told the man he liked chicken. 

 “Chicken?” the owner asked.  “Why, you wouldn’t eat an old dead chicken would you?”  Grossed out by the thought of it John shook his head and said, “No!  I wouldn’t do that!”  The owner chuckled, but didn’t ask him any more questions.  My little brother never knew he was the source of entertainment that day. 

 This is a lighthearted incident; but remembering it prompted me to think about something much more serious.  I thought about sin … my sin.  So many times we say Jesus died for our sins, but do we really think about what we are saying? 

 Our Savior did not want to die on the cross.  He did not want to go through that pain.  In Gethsemane, He asked God to “let this cup pass from me.”  Christ prayed that same prayer three times.  Each time He told the Father, “not as I will, but as you will.” 

 Jesus was then betrayed, arrested, interrogated, slapped, spit on, mocked, scourged, and crucified.  It was ugly.  It was painful.   And it was my sin that put Him there.  Unfortunately, sometimes I try to distance myself  from that ugly, painful realization. 

 When Aaron was about 8 years old, he was with us at a youth meeting.  During the devotional, the youth minister said our sins put Jesus on the cross.  Tears came to Aaron’s eyes.  He looked up and said, “What?  I didn’t hurt Jesus!”  Aaron was visibly upset.  He was too young to understand that the youth minister was talking about our sin. 

Our hearts should be tender and compassionate when we think of what the Lord went through for us.  We shouldn’t think about the cross in generic terms.  The death of Christ should be personal to each one of us.  After all, that is the way Jesus feels about it.  

Christ died for me and you because He knew we needed Him.  

Our Savior is above all things.  

Robin Whitley

More Than A Wedding

I attended my niece’s wedding on Sunday.  Weddings are a celebration of love – and a commitment between a man and a woman forever.  This one was no exception.  My niece and her husband were ready to make that commitment in front of friends and family.   I pray for God’s blessings on their lives together as husband and wife. 

 A wedding ceremony is not only about love between the two who are getting married.  So much time and effort goes into that wedding for years before it ever takes place!  It is much more subtle than what’s going on with the couple – but it is there if only one cares to pay attention. 

A wedding represents the lifetime of devotion from the parents of the bride and groom.  So much love, attention, and teaching goes into the raising of a child to become the person someone falls in love with. 

From the day the child is born countless prayers go up to our Heavenly Father.  Parents pray for their children’s marriages well in advance.  They pray for their future spouses too. 

The festivities that come with a wedding are reflections of love.  It is not the amount of money spent that is important.  We all know money does not buy the love a family creates.  Instead, it is all the personal touches that show how much we truly care.

So much work went on behind the scenes yesterday – acts of service from the kindest people.   I am thankful that my brother, sister-in-law and niece  are so well-loved.  I am also grateful for the groom’s family and friends who are so special to him.  His parents put so much love into raising him! 

It is God who created marriages.  In Genesis 2:18, God said “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.”   None of the birds or livestock God made was right for Adam.  Then God made woman from Adam’s own rib. 

She was just right.  Notice Adam said, “At last this is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; She shall be called woman because she was taken out of man.”   Notice Adam said, ‘At last.’  Finally – after all those animals that were not right – at last here is the perfect helper for me. 

The family unit was instituted by God Himself.  Genesis 2:24 reads, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.”   

 Whether we are daughters, sons, spouses, or parents, let us be thankful for the love and wisdom of God who gave us our families!

 Christ above all things – Robin

The Ides of March

I usually don’t mention days on the calendar, but sometimes it just seems appropriate.  March 15^th is known as the Ides of March.   Many of you are probably familiar with Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar.  I read it when I was in high school. 

The play includes a rather famous line – “Beware the Ides of March,”  Although Shakespeare’s tragedy isn’t completely factual,  Caesar was assassinated on the ides of March.  He was betrayed by men he thought were his friends. 

I don’t know that much about Julius Caesar, but I did read a couple of articles about him.  He had appointed himself ‘Dictator for Life’ and the senators of Rome did not like that.  They did not want to lose their positions of power.  It was jealousy and greed that led to his assassination. 

Our Savior was also killed because of jealousy and greed.  I mean no disrespect to Christ in any way whatsoever.  Caesar was a pagan who did not believe in the One True God.  Jesus Christ was the Son of God.  So there is absolutely no comparison. 

Jesus was betrayed by one of His own apostles.  Judas was one of the twelve men closest to our Savior.  Although He knew it was going to happen, I cannot imagine what that must have felt like to Jesus.  How hurt He must have been! 

We know Jesus prayed three times in the Garden of Gethsemane to “let this cup pass from me” (Matthew 26:39).  He did not want to go through what He was about to go through.  Jesus did not want to die in such a horrible way.  Still, He submitted to His Father’s will. 

One can almost hear the words of our Savior as He prayed.  One can almost see Judas greet Jesus and kiss Him.  We can hear the sword being drawn and the cry of Malchus as his ear is sliced off.  Can you imagine the look of wonder on the servant’s face when Jesus touched his ear and healed him? 

Jesus paid an incredible price for the souls of the world.  His death and betrayal redeemed us from the evil one.  But this redemption is only for those who choose to acknowledge and obey Him. 

Jesus made an extremely important statement in John 15:14.  He said, “You are my friends if you do what I command you.” 

“Which commands Jesus?”

“All of them.” 

“Yes, but what about …”

“All of them.”

“Surely, You don’t mean …”

“Robin, I mean all of them.  If you love me you will keep my commandments.”

Jesus will not force us.  It is all up to us. 

Christ above all things – Robin