Author: rene.shelton

rene.shelton https://reneshelton.wordpress.com A simple woman asking simple questions, making simple observations, and working to make and keep things intentionally simple. Life doesn’t have to be hard and complicated.
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At the Cross

Today is Saturday – Between Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday – a day to contemplate. Here’s what I have been thinking about:

Mary, Mary, Mary

Four women are easily identified at the crucifixion. In all these lists, one particular name, Mary, pops up many times. Count the total times it shows up in these verses: 

  • Matthew 27:56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James and Joseph), and the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee.
  • Mark 15:40 – Some women were there, watching from a distance, including Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James the younger and of Joseph[fn]), and Salome. (NLT)
  • John 19:25 – Standing near the cross were Jesus’ mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. (NLT)

How many Mary’s did you count? Did you count Mary, the mother of Jesus 3 times, even though she is named only once? Either way, you have to admit there are a lot of Mary’s listed in these verses – all clumped together right here at Calvary, at the cross.

Sadly, over the course of human history, rebellion against God has become the normal way of living for humans. The gapping difference between His good plan for mankind and our reality is well beyond our ability to understand or repair. At the crucifixion we are reminded that we are rebellious creatures.

In Hebrew tradition, repetition indicates exponential importance of the thing named. Let’s take a look at “Mary.” Mary comes from the Hebrew name “Miriam.” The root of the name comes from a Hebrew word meaning bitter or rebellious. The related action verb means “to be rebellious against; to be disobedient; to disobey.” So why would all this “rebellion” be at the crucifixion? 

Let’s think about the greatest rebellion which has included humanity. In a pristine world where everything had been declared good or very good, one woman and one man chose to add “and evil” to their lives. That first bite opened the door for brokenness, heartache, and bitterness to enter the world. Every generation since then has lived in a world where good and evil battle for their souls.

But in the midst of all that rebellion stands a cross. On this cross, a great exchange took place.  It is described in these lists of names by the phrase “Mary, wife of Clopas.” Clopas is a Greek name with Hebrew roots meaning “my exchanges.” At the Cross, Jesus exchanged His sinless life for our disobedient, obstinate, and bitter life filled with sin. His death redeemed our broken world and made way for the many exchanges we need to make to become more like Him.  Who but a compassionate, merciful rebel would die for our sins? 

Is it possible for us to join this rebellion? Consider how “Mary, the mother of Jesus” started participated. God sent an angel to tell her of the good plan He had for her life. She was chosen to be the one who would give birth to His One and Only Son. She could start a different kind of rebellion, the invasion to set things right on earth, by giving birth to the King of Glory. Even though she didn’t fully understand it, she willingly accepted the assignment and became a willing vessel.

The plan for our lives may not be so grand, but we start by becoming a willing vessel and accepting the great exchange He offers. We invite Jesus to be Lord of the only part of this world we fully control – our own soul. We thank Him for the great exchange He made for us personally and accept His good plan for our life. Then, we ask Him to help us learn to live like Him. We get involved in a community that lives like He did. We can recognize these communities because they love like Jesus loved. They follow His word and do what Jesus did and they share his goodness with others. We allow Jesus to make us a rebel who changes the world from the inside out with compassion, grace, and mercy!

After that, then what? Consider Mary Magdalene. Her entire life story was a series of changes that made her like the One she loved most. When Jesus met her, she was a prisoner of evil in the battle over her soul. Jesus casted seven demons out of her and she followed Him closely even after his burial. She was the first person to see the Risen Savior and the first carrying the good news of the Resurrection to Peter and John. We can be like her. She is an excellent example of a devoted rebel to the Redeemer, because she stayed close to His side and did what He did. 

Do you need to accept an exchange offered and change from one kind of rebel to another? Talk to the One who was on the Cross. He’s waiting with open arms for you.

3 Hymns, 1 Message

This past weekend, we attended the memorial service for one of the most loving, caring women I have known. I met Ann nearly thirty years through my husband. She was his colleague and she became my mentor and supervisor while I completed practicum hours for my counseling degree. Ann always had a smile. She always made time when I needed to consult or just chat and she always had words of wisdom to share with me. Often over the years, when I faced a difficult situation, I asked myself, “If I were talking to Ann about this, what would she tell me?”

Ann loved the Lord and trusted Him completely. I never remember her become frazzled or worried about things, even when they didn’t seem to be working out the way they should. When she saw a need, she worked to find a solution that also created peace and harmony among all those involved. She was creative and knew how to say things – even hard things – in ways that were easy to understand without blaming or shaming others. She served the Lord with her whole heart. She loved God’s word, knew the treasure it held and lived by its principles. 

I wasn’t surprised by hymns at Ann’s service. They were dispersed in the order service. “The Old Rugged Cross” is a favorite of many older Christians. It tells of the pain and agony our Savior suffered at Calvary in order to provide a way of salvation for the inhabitants of the world. It reminds us that in the midst of His agony, our lives were forever changed. “Jesus Loves Me” is a common children’s song. The first verse is one learned by youngsters around the world. The following verses explain that He loved, He loves, and He will love. The simple song makes the Savior’s love personal. And “Just As I Am” has been heard all around the world in large evangelism meetings as the hymn of invitation and the promise of acceptance. He turns no one away.

As I was thinking of Saturday’s hymns, these thoughts came to mind: When I fail and make mistakes, I go to the cross and He welcomes me. When I feel insecure and weak, I go to the cross and His arms are opened wide for me. When I am prideful and arrogant, I go to the cross and see His humility and willingness to be wounded for me. When I don’t use the gifts and talents He gives me, I go to the cross and He forgives. He went to Calvary for me knowing I would falter in my walk with Him. When the enemy tells me my past is too unredeemable, I run to the cross and see Truth who loves me. When others ignore me, disrespect me, or harm me, I go to the cross and lift my head to look into His loving eyes. He still loves me just as I am, even though others don’t. When I am misunderstood, I go to the place I will never completely understand and thank Him for His love, His mercy, and His grace. His kindness. His goodness. And His faithfulness. His arms are always open – to welcome me, to comfort me, to remind me that He loves me just as I am.  

Oh, Ann. Thank you for a life that reflected His love, His goodness, and His kindness. And thank you for this one last reminder – at the old rugged cross, Jesus loves me just as I am.  

Heavenly Father, Help me remember this important fact and share this good news with others. Help me love everyone I meet just as they are and introduce them to You and the old rugged cross where they can experience your love – just as they are.

Psalm 20

Two summers ago, I came across David’s battle prayer, a prayer of intercession before victory is seen. It has been on my mind again recently. Because we live in the midst of a battlefield and face the enemy every day, I share this prayer for you today. Your Commander listens well and is already at work on your behalf.

When you are distressed 
and things look bleak,
When the battle appears long 
and hopeless,
When the victory seems so far away . . .
May God attend to your call 
and respond to your cry and need.

May He set your feet in a secure place,
in the cleft of His rock, 
too high for capture.
Let your heart be filled with 
gratitude and praise
as He places you there.

May He send you help, 
but not just any kind of help.
May you recognize the help that 
comes from His holy place . . .
His voice, His presence, 
His light, and His truth.

May He support you - 
hold you up, comfort you,
refresh you, establish you, 
and sustain you with provision
from His abundant storehouses.

May He remember your offerings, 
your sacrifices, your devotion, 
your petitions, your distress, 
and accept your worship
and all you place daily on His altar.

(Pause quietly here 
and listen for Him to respond.)

May He grant Your heart's desire,
giving you strength 
to accomplish His work.
May you hear and heed 
His counsel as He works 
in you and through you 
to fulfill your mission.

Then, with Him 
and with brothers and sisters,
we will celebrate the victory He gives  
as we rally around the battle flag, 
the one standard, which proclaims 
the name and character of 
Almighty God.

May God provide what you need.
Trust His plan and His hands.

Here is a link to David’s original Psalm 20.

Today in history: Simon, Alexander, Rufus

We know very little about Simon. He was from Cyrene, an African city over 850 miles from Jerusalem. He arrived in Jerusalem Friday morning for Passover, but this wouldn’t be any ordinary Passover. Simon was forced from the crowd to participate in an event that changed eternity. 

Matthew, Mark, and Luke record Simon’s conscription to carry Jesus’ cross to Golgotha. But Mark provides details about Simon’s family. His two sons, Alexander and Rufus, were with him. 

Simon’s name comes from a Hebrew verb meaning “to hear, to listen, to obey.” This kind of listening includes hearing with understanding and with a heart intent on following through with action. People in crisis and chaos (both the helpers and those in the midst) want others to do this kind of listening.

“Alexander” is a name created by combining two Greek words, “man” and “defender” and Rufus’ Latin roots simply means “red.” 

That morning, on the Via Dolorosa, surrounding Simon were these messages: The Defender of Men covered in His own red blood is here! 

Heavenly Father, Do Mark’s details highlight Your answer to human hearts, even as it was happening? “Mankind, I have heard your cry for deliverance. Your defender is here. He is red, covered in His precious blood.”

And do You continue to remind us, even in the midst of chaos and turmoil in 2024, to “Listen closely and do what you have seen and heard from this One covered in His own red blood, your defender, your rescuer, and your healer!”

Do you know your defender?

Share what’s left over

When His disciples had had enough of a long day with a big crowd and asked Jesus to send people away, He told them to feed the people. He knew they had nothing to give and sent them to search through the crowd for food. Andrew brought back a boy with a little lunch. This lad seemed to have a compassionate heart just like the One he came to see and hear and he gave his five loaves and two fish. Jesus took the gift (I imagine with a smile and wink) and looked up at His Father in heaven. He bless the lunch and broke it into portions. As He handed pieces to His disciples, He instructed them to share what they had. Thus, began His silent lesson.

As they moved among the crowd, the disciples broke endless bread and fishes and handed portions to the hungry. And they all ate until they were satisfied. After the crowd left for their homes, Jesus commanded the disciples to pick up what was still there. In the end, there were twelve baskets brimming over with bread and fish, one for each one to carry. Did they understand that little becomes much in His hands and He gives us what we need and some to share?

We must not take what is provided to us and simply eat to our fill and leave the extra to decay on the ground, unused. Our hearts must be filled with enough compassion that we take what we have and we share it with others in need. The little boy with the little lunch did that. He gave all he had to the disciples. The disciples did that. They took what had been given and they gave to Jesus. Jesus did that. What was given to Him, He blessed and broke and gave. The disciples had another opportunity to do it again. What they received from Jesus’ hands, they gave to the hungry all around them. . . . And I wonder, were there men or women or children in the crowd who received and ate their fill and, noticing there was more in their hand, put the leftover in their pocket to share with someone on the way home? Or did they simply lay the precious gift on the ground and walk away, without thinking that others might need what they had just witnessed and enjoyed, the miracle of multiplication in the hands of The Bread of Life?

Dear Heavenly Father, Being Jesus’ disciple means I am to follow His example. He was compassionate and always willing to share what He had with those searching for what satisfies and suffering from all that doesn’t. Remind me to do the same. When You always provide more than I need, help me not leave portions on the ground. Help me to carry the bread with me and trust that You will multiply it as opportunities comes to share.

. . . life, itself

Heavenly Father, it is so easy to forget that all life itself comes from You. Everything that moves and grows does so because You started it and You care for it. Most things You simply spoke into existence. Your words created those things. But, human beings are most important. You created mankind in a different way. You formed human beings with Your hands and You breathed life into this part of Your creation. Help me not be so concerned with my own life and my own comfort that I forget how important all life is to You. Your words are powerful and create beautiful things. Your handiwork in mankind is magnificent and should be treated with the most care and respect. Help me treat each living thing with the same dignity and honor You do.

… the forces above

Heavenly Father, Creator of all I can see and all I can’t, thank You for the sky above my head filled with Your wonders. The sun warms to our world just like Your love warms and softens our hearts. Your moon, a light in the darkest times, reminds us You never leave us. Sometimes we can’t see You, but You always show Yourself to us at just the right time. When darkness comes, You provide a constant, faithful guide, like the north star, and countless others signs of changing seasons and times. All these wonders were created by Your voice and Your words. Father, when I am tempted to be awed by the things around me, remind me that You spoke and things were created in their proper places and You continue to speak even today. Help me listen to Your voice and Your words.

. . . for life, everyday

Heavenly Father, even when things are overwhelming and swirling about me, Your love never fails to show up. You never give up on me and move one to someone else who is better, who has things all together, who doesn’t doubt themselves, someone who is a shining example of a life surrendered to You. You don’t love them more. You have no favorites. You keep loving me and working with me to life the live and do the work You created me to do. You gave me life at the start and everyday You continue to give me life. Thank you! Let me be a reflection of your unfailing love. Let my life draw others to a life with You.

… daily bread

In His model prayer, Jesus taught us to ask for our daily bread. Heavenly Father, You don’t create and then simply walk away. Your faithfulness is demonstrated in nature. You continually make sure each part of creation is supplied with what it needs. This trait of caring and faithfulness is what You want to see in me. Thank You for reminding me that You don’t forget my needs. When I see the birds and the squirrels searching to find their provisions, I am reminded that my task is to search Your words for the provisions You have placed there for my soul and to make the most of opportunities to do productive work for the provisions for my body. Heavenly Father, it must break Your heart to see that human nature isn’t to be generous. You made both rich and poor (Proverbs 22:2) and You don’t play favorites (Acts 10:34). You state clearly we are to help those in need. If we plug our ears to the cry of the poor, then our cries will not be answered when we are in distress (Proverbs 21:13). You have given many of us plenty, even more than we need, so we can share. Father, teach me to live according to Your plan and become Your wise, gracious, generous daughter.

. . . for our world

Thank You for creating a beautiful place for us to live, one that we still don’t fully comprehend. Forgive us for doing things that interfere with Your perfect plan. Teach us how to work within Your rules. Often we go beyond the boundaries. We need Your help! Your way is always better.