Tonight's Blog for Friday, May 3, 2013

"Each one reach one." No one comes into a "walk" with Christ apart from another person who is available,

prepared, and observant. Jesus wants to change the world, but has limited himself to people like us. No tricks, no fancy schemes, no magic. There never was a "Plan B." My best understanding of the story of the Ethiopian Eunuch in Acts 8 confirms that idea. An angel, or a miracle, or something spectacular won't work. No, GOD has you and me and that is it if HE is to fulfill the Crazy Logic of John 3:16! "For GOD so loved YOU..." 

Sitting here tonight, I am still sure that this walk with Christ is more of a loving walk with someone you have cared for and partnered with for a lifetime. Jesus isn't enlisting us in an army, and the Bible isn't a training manual for basic training for the military. He loves you and isn't afraid to show it, or to tell it! When You die, HE won't be telling your sins or showing your weaknesses, HE will be bragging on you. YOU are loved. 

It might help you to see yourself in a different way. Many of you commented on Marge's niece, Amy and her word crafting. Today, I want to have you see what a great ability she has as an observer. 

Here is what Amy observed: 

"On the sidewalk where I take my morning jogs occasional walks, someone carved in the once-wet cement, “I ♥ Linda H.”

Every time I pass those words, I wonder about the person who left them. Was he a member of the city construction crew, pouring and smoothing concrete along the road, when he was overcome with love for his sweet

wife? Or perhaps a young couple was out for an evening stroll, and they happened upon a section of wet cement,

and the suitor picked up a stick to show Linda how much he cared. Maybe the words were etched by a boy walking home from school, daydreaming about the cutest girl in the whole sixth grade. He kept his crush a secret, though.–At school, he teased her mercilessly and pulled her pigtail braids, but here, after class, he confessed his true feelings.

(Apparently, this all happened in the 1860′s near Little House on the Prairie, where girls wore pigtail braids.)

I think the schoolboy is the most likely culprit, because of the letter H. Last initials are a grade schooler’s calling card.–I was known as “Amy D.” until ninth grade. The cement-scrawler was careful to clarify which Linda he loved. Linda H! Not Linda T., who was too tall for him, and definitely not Linda W., the class tattletale.

“I love Linda,” he wrote, and then added with devotion, “H.”

I wonder if Linda H. ever knew she was loved. I hope so. I hope she loved him back, and I hope they got married, and have three kids and a dog, and take walks down “their sidewalk” to remember the early days.

Of course, if they are married, I suppose she isn’t Linda H. anymore. She probably took his last initial. But even so, love stories like theirs make the world more wonderful, and my morning jogs occasional walks more tolerable."  

Tonight, will you believe that you are "Linda H." to Jesus. He wrote a love letter for you, and HE loves you. Just knowing that makes it better. Love is still the greatest force in the world. This weekend, when you worship, will you allow yourself to bask in the love and acceptance of Jesus. I guarantee that HE loves you. I guarantee that HE knows you and still loves you. If each of us could just show the love of Jesus to someone who is also loved by HIM, we really would fulfill that idea, "Each One Reach One." 

God bless you tonight, dear ones, you are loved! big marv