Jesus

Expecting!

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The news is out, Duchess Kate is expecting a sibling for Prince George!  A second pregnancy allows the couple to know a little bit of what to will happen during this season of expectation.  What to wear, what to schedule and not schedule, where to travel, what to eat, are all somewhat familiar things to manage as she/they/we await the arrival of the 4th in line to the throne.

prince-william3--a Prince William in Oxford in first appearance since announcing Kate’s pregnancy. getty images photo

Isn’t life full of expectations?  Some expectations are unrealistic, and find us disappointed, like (not) winning the lottery.  Others are routine, yet are still sources of great joy and pride, as in high school or college graduation.  What are you expecting?  What are others expecting from you?  And, most importantly, what is God expecting from you?

Set some goals

A new school year has begun which causes most of us to punch the reset button even if we have been out of school for decades.  At this time of renewal, set some new goals, both long and short term.  List three “expectations” for each goal, and routinely check to see how you have met your own expectations.

Disappointing others unintentionally

You may be frustrating someone without even knowing it by not meeting their expectations.  Take a step back to examine how you interact with those close to you, and evaluate if you could be missing the mark in any area.  Communicating expectations between siblings, spouses, children and co-workers can eliminate a blow up down the road.  By simply asking how you are, or are not, meeting their expectations shows a great deal of care for your relationship.

What God expects from you

God’s expectations of man seem to be quite low.  He knew we would not be able to live up to His standard, and had a plan from the beginning to send His only Son as the perfect and only acceptable sacrifice for our sin in order for us to finally meet His high expectation of being clean, forgiven, and in relationship with Him.

He expects us to sin, and He expects us to ask for forgiveness.

So, repent.

He expects us to be in relationship with Him.

So, pray.

He expects us to love others.

So, intentionally and actively GO love others.

He expects us to continue to mess up.

So, repeat this process over, and over, and over again.

God’s Expectations Condensed

Love God with all your heart, and love others as yourself.

If you do these two things, everything, including expectations, will fall into place.

“Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: love your neighbor as yourself.  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”  Matthew 22:37-40

Expecting some changes,

Mary Ellen

 

Linens: Using them, cleaning them, and how Jesus left His

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Jesus folded His napkin

The use of linens goes back for centuries, yet they get only “special occasion” use in most households today.  Jesus even gave us a clue to His travel schedule, i.e. His Return, in how He left the linen cloth in the tomb after the Resurrection (John 20:1-9).  Here John records that the Resurrection has happened, Mary Magdalene has been to the tomb and returned to tell the other disciples what she saw.  When Peter enters the tomb he sees “the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus’ head.  The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen.”  So what?  The linen strips “lying there” indicate that Jesus did rise up out of them, as opposed to unwrapping them from around His body.  The burial cloth folded next to the strips is a clue to the Hebrews of the day, emulating their Master to servant relationship in the table clearing custom.  At this time, it was customary for the servant to prepare the master’s table exactly how he wanted it.  The servant would not disturb, or clear the table until he knew the master was finished with the meal, and was not coming back.  Should the master leave the table, finished and not returning, he would throw his napkin, wadded up, on the table.  If the master intended to return to the table, he would carefully fold his napkin and place it next to his plate.  Similarly, Jesus carefully folded his burial cloth (napkin), placed it next to his linen strips, indicating that He will return!  His message, “I am coming back”, would have been understood by all Jewish people at the time of the Resurrection.

This wonderful illustration makes the use of fine linens even more enjoyable!  In the last several weeks I have had the pleasure of using many of my grandmother’s and great-great aunt’s beautiful linens as we have celebrated a variety of milestones and achievements.  In so doing, proper cleaning comes into play.  Below are some photos of beautiful linens and their sources, as well as some cleaning tips for fine linens.

Cleaning tips:

1. Immediately after you beautifully entertain with your fine linens, soak them in cold water overnight.

2. Make a solution of Oxyclean and cold water to soak again to remove any stains, and to brighten yellowed items. Oxyclean is non-chlorine and will not damage the fibers.  Always use a non-chlorine product.  Lemon juice and salt is another stain removing trick.  thelaundress.com also has tips and products that look tempting!

3. Rinse thoroughly and roll between a terry cloth towel to get as much moisture out as possible.

4. Iron linens while still damp on the backside of the linen.  (You may line dry them in the sun, or on low in the dryer.  You will need to dampen them again to iron them later.)

5. Store folded in acid free paper, in an acid free box.  (Container Store has several sizes)

Click here for a Martha Stewart video with a few more cleaning product ideas for removing rust and other stains.

Now, for the eye candy!

The following are from pioneerlinens.com

kim-seybert-loop-ribbon-napkin-sm Bijoux small kim_leafnap_small CapizShellSmall fez_small[1]

The following are from horchow.com

HC-1Z5S_ai HC-50YP_ai HC-4BKH_ai

The following are from schweitzerlinen.com

big_sq-2-Placemat_Flores big_sq-2-TC_JardinDAmour big_sq-2-PMat_Cassandra

Set your table for the royalty in your life, especially if it not a “special occasion”!

 

Easter Travels

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British Royals’ Easter Travel

Many will have travel plans and various ways of observing Easter this weekend.  The Cambridge family of three will still be Down Under, Queen Elizabeth will participate in the Maundy Thursday service at Blackburn Cathedral in Lancashire, while the rest of the Royal family will head to Windsor Castle to greet The Queen when she arrives from Blackburn for her month-long stay for Easter Court.  The word “Maundy” is from the Latin word mandatum, meaning commandment, and refers to the Last Supper when Jesus gave His disciples a new commandment, “Love one another”.  So, in Blackburn, The Queen will keep the 13th century tradition of Edward I, and the spirit of the great commandment, by having alms (money) given to senior citizens.    Until 1689, the Kings and Queens of England would also wash the feet of the poor at Westminster Abbey to demonstrate what Jesus, the King of Kings, did for His disciples at the Last Supper.

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A month of Easter Court at Windsor Castle http://www.royalcentral.co.uk

 

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The Queen will observe Maundy Thursday at Blackburn Cathedral http://www.royalcentral.co.uk

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The alms pouches are in the platter on the yeoman’s head yeomanoftheguard.com

The Yeoman of the Guard will give out pouches of money to 88 men and 88 women, the same number as her age.  Each senior will receive a red pouch of money intended for food and clothing and a commemorative coin, probably to celebrate the birth of Prince George.  The white pouch will have 88pence, a nod to her age.

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alms pouches wikipedia.org

Jesus’ Easter Travel

Prior to the Passover, Jesus was in Ephraim taking cover from those who wished to kill Him.  Six days before Passover He came closer to Jerusalem and stayed in Bethany (a ‘suburb’ of Jerusalem), where He raised Lazarus.  Then, He made His way into Jerusalem for His final days.  Even in the city, at the dark of night, He traveled quite a bit, going from a Last Supper loft for the first communion, feet washing, final instructions and prayers, to the Mount of Olives to pray some more and be arrested, then to Annas’ house, Caiaphas’ house, and Pilate’s palace for questioning, then to the Governor’s city house for torture by the soldiers, to Golgotha for mocking and crucifixion, and finally to a new tomb.  As discussed in the previous post, Jesus was meticulous in carrying out God’s plan, which included all of this torture-filled travel.  God designed His itinerary in order to fulfill Old Testament scripture about sacrifice, atonement, Passover, and Messiah.  Everything, every event, every word, and every action had significance.

The most significant event of all is, of course, the Resurrection.  The guards kept watch, Mary Magdalene came in respect, love and grief, and an angel was present to explain and direct her about the miracle of all miracles.  The disciples were grieving in town, fearful of what would happen next.  Then, Mary Magdalene finds the disciples to tell them the Good (unbelievable) News, and Jesus was not far behind her to show the boys the Good News Himself.  He tells them, “Peace be with you!  As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”  (John 20:21)  Matthew quotes Jesus as saying, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”  (Matthew 28:19)  That is quite an itinerary for all who follow Him!

Your Easter Travels

Tradition will dictate what most families will do this weekend.  Will your travels take you to the Easter bunny more often than to the Cross?  Will the tradition you pass on to the next generation be about the contents of plastic eggs, or the empty tomb?  No matter if you travel on a plane, in a car across town, or barefoot to the backyard, how will you make your Easter travels significant? Here are five suggestions for your itinerary:

Immerse yourself in the worship service offerings this week. (Maundy Thursday service, Good Friday service, Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday)  Truly transport your mind to Jerusalem as scripture is read and actively interpreted.

Read all four Gospel passage accounts of The Last Supper through the Resurrection.  Note details amplified by each gospel writer, how harmonious they are, and decide which one makes the scene most clear to you. (Matthew 26-28, Mark 14-16, Luke 22-24, John 13-21)

Identify who you say Jesus is.  He spent three years teaching and demonstrating who He is.  He spent His last three days, not only continuing this pattern, but also paying the full cost of the sins of the world for all time.  Make a list of who you identify Jesus as, and compare this list to what the Bible says.

Tell someone the Gospel Easter account as you know it through scripture.  “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” John 20:21 says it all!  Or, “Just do it”, says Nike.  This final commandment is your proverbial “next trip” as you continue in your Christian journey.  The Christian who simply gains knowledge about God, and does not share it with others, is essentially staying home.  To truly be a Christian, one must “be sent out” as John says.   You are sent out as Jesus was sent out, to teach and show who He is to “all nations”, i.e. everyone.

Reflect on your Christian “travels”.   Think about where you first learned about Jesus, how God has helped you to grow, what you have learned about the Cross, and what does God want you to do next.

Use tradition as a vehicle to go to a new place God has for you to experience this Easter.  Add to your tradition something(s) that will take your love of the Lord with all your heart, your soul, your mind and your strength (the first commandment) to travel closer to loving your neighbor as yourself (the second commandment) by being sent out (the Great Commission).

May your heart and soul travel far this weekend, and may God give you your next itinerary.

images

fineartamerica.com

Happy Easter!

Traveling Royally

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The Royal Windsors traveled to New Zealand on Monday

This week we see the Royals have made it Down Under safely on their commercial flight from London to Dubai, then to Sydney for an Air Force transfer to Wellington, New Zealand.  Across all of those miles and hours in a steel canister, Prince George came out as the perfect smiling baby in his mother’s arms!  Well done!  Today, Tuesday, the family has a day to rest before continuing their adventures in hiking, yacht racing, visiting hospitals, and taking tea, to name a few activities during their three week journey.  Their priorities as parents will be evident as they return early each afternoon to spend time George.

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(Photo: Danny Martindale, WireImage)

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(Photo: Danny Martindale, WireImage)

 

The King of Kings travels to Jerusalem on Sunday

This Sunday, Palm Sunday, we mark the day Jesus traveled to Jerusalem on a donkey as prophesied in Zechariah 9:9, “see your King comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”  Jesus, as described in Matthew 21:5, allowed two disciples and a villager near Jerusalem to participate in this fulfillment of prophecy.  The very large crowd saw Jesus riding into town on this donkey (not a stallion, but a dinky donkey!) and immediately responded to Him as His royal subjects in reverence, awe, and enthusiasm.  I wonder how many in this large crowd traveled distances to come see this King of Kings parade down the dusty road to Jerusalem. Two years ago I traveled 5000 miles to stand in a crowd to see Queen Elizabeth II and her family parade down the Mall for her Diamond Jubilee.  I understand the desire to get a glimpse of Royalty!

Jesus’ priority was consistent with how He lived His life on earth: He came to do the work His Father had for Him to do, i.e. “for God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:17.  This Son has been talked about, and read about through the prophets since as early as 700 B.C. by Isaiah, and is referenced in Genesis as co-creator with God as Genesis 1:26 uses the plural pronoun “us” in identifying the creators of man.  (That is an interesting lesson of tying the Old and New Testaments together in consistent harmony.)  Isaiah uses titles such as a child is born, Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, a shoot from Jesse.  Isaiah 35 indicates actions this Messiah will take, like opening the eyes of the blind (John 9), unstopping the ears of the deaf (Mt. 11:14-15), and causing the lame to leap (Mt. 9:1-8).  All of these miracles were really signs to alert the prophecy educated public that this is the One, let your eyes be opened!

Jesus was meticulous in carrying out the Father’s plan.  In so doing, He accomplished all things in love.  He carefully created relationships, and maintained them faithfully.  We see how He called His disciples out of boats, an outcast woman at the well, a paralyzed man from his mat, a blind man to wash in the Pool of Siloam, and even a tax collector to be changed and follow Him.  They all were changed, and did follow Him!  As they followed Jesus, their relationship with Him grew because Jesus intentionally and continuously instructed, loved and prayed with them.  Not only was He an example to follow, but He interacted with them as The Example.

How are you being an example to those around you?  How are you intentionally interacting to deepen and grow your relationships?  What titles might be used to describe you, and what actions have you taken that mimic the One you follow?  As you travel the road to your church this Sunday, ask yourself why are you drawn there this Sunday, and what will you continue to do the next week, and the next?  The first century followers of Christ quickly abandoned Him after He entered the City.  How will you maintain your relationship with the One who came to save the world even after Easter Sunday, the easiest day to show your title as “Christian”?

Jesus shows His priority clearly in fulfilling God’s plan to save the world from sin.  The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge show their priority as a strong, devoted family in keeping George not only close, but apart of their day, unlike past generations in their travels.  What are your priorities, and how would anyone know by seeing your actions?

May your road to Jerusalem this week reveal the King on the prophesied donkey, and your response to Him.

“Your attitude should be that of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:5

 

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wikipedia.org

PS for some New York travel, restaurant, and photo ideas, see my new page, Regal Travel.