(Saturday)
The weather forecaster had predicted sunshine and warm air, and he couldn’t help being a little eager to get going. He had made plans for several weeks, and today was the day. Today he would enjoy being outside at the city festival filled with exhibits and crafts and food. Not that he was interested in those things. No, today he would enjoy being outside with his best friend, and that always meant fun was ahead.
He didn’t get to see her very often because they lived in different towns and neither of them was of an age to drive yet. They depended on their parents for transport, but he didn’t mind. He liked her family, and she liked his. In fact, on this day, his parents would deliver him to her, and her parents would then accompany the two friends throughout the day. His eagerness was growing into excitement at the thought of spending the whole day in her company.
As they reached their destination and he transferred from one car to another, he turned to hug his mother goodbye and she pressed some bills into his hand. Mom knew he would need some food throughout the day and had added a little extra just in case he wanted to pick up a souvenir for the girl. Thanks, Mom. His hug of appreciation was genuine, but his attention had already turned to the cute little brunette with the pretty smile and dancing eyes.
Mom couldn’t help but wonder if this was the one she had prayed for. Ever since the birth of her son, she had prayed for his future – including the possibility of a spouse one day. The boy certainly enjoyed this girl’s company, but they were quite young and many years would pass before a future together would be considered. For now, he would just go and enjoy being with her. Buy her something special, son, and take care of her. That’s your job for now. Mom was content watching him go knowing that her youngest child would be happy for the day.
When he returned home, Mom asked the usual question. “How was your day?” He grinned at her and handed her a small bag. Inside was a unique, handcrafted piece of pottery filled with beautiful grey catkins and tied with a piece of leather meant for hanging on the wall. The vibrant vase colors were mom’s favorite combination: blues and greens that resembled peacock feathers. “What’s this?”
He explained how the girl’s parents had funded most of the day, and after purchasing his own food, he had some left over. The craft items were expensive, but he had just enough to purchase one item. His girlfriend, he said, had agreed that being together was all they needed and had helped him choose a gift for his mom.
Mom’s heart melted. He could have kept that money or spent it on himself. He would have been well within his rights to spoil the girlfriend a little. With a generous spirit, he chose to honor his mother.
In the first century, guests were considered more important than family members. Hospitality was the greatest gift that could be given. When guests entered a home, water was poured over their dusty feet, and a dab of fragrance or oil was placed on their heads. Extravagant meals were provided, and their safety was the responsibility of the host.
As Jesus visited in Mary’s home, she treated him as a valued guest. A bottle of expensive perfume was her most prized possession. Worth much more than a piece of pottery, Mary’s bottle would have cost nearly a year’s wages. Rather than splash Jesus’ feet with water and dab him with perfume, Mary offered hospitality fully. With her generous spirit, she washed his feet with the entire contents of her bottle. She then let down her hair, a very intimate and personal gesture never done in front of others, and she used it to dry his feet. Mary gave all she had and honored Jesus.
The disciples questioned: “What’s this?” Judas even complained that Mary’s actions were a waste of resources. I think Jesus’ heart melted. She could have kept that perfume or sold it and spent the money on herself. She would have been well within her rights to spoil her family a little; but with a generous spirit, she chose to honor Jesus. Mary had honored him, prepared him for burial, and shown her devotion to him with no regard for personal cost. Her pure heart was coupled with a new and right spirit.
When I read Psalm 51, I am reminded of Mary’s heart. She took care of Jesus with no expectation of anything in return. She attended to him because she loved him. Her willingness to serve Jesus melts my heart and moves me to pray the psalm: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.”
Many years later, the boy now drives himself to see the same girl, and the pottery gift still hangs on the home wall. I placed it by the light switch in my bedroom so I see it several times a day and am reminded of a giving and selfless heart. May God help me always to be hospitable with a heart solely dedicated to serving Jesus.
Willing to serve,
Pastor Beth
PRAYER FROM PSALM 51
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. Amen.
KEY VERSES FROM TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READINGS
Psalm 51 – Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.
Habakkuk 3 – O Lord, I have heard of your renown, and I stand in awe, O Lord, of your work.
John 12 – Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
For today’s full scripture readings, click here… https://www.divinestreet.org/lent-scripture.html
The weather forecaster had predicted sunshine and warm air, and he couldn’t help being a little eager to get going. He had made plans for several weeks, and today was the day. Today he would enjoy being outside at the city festival filled with exhibits and crafts and food. Not that he was interested in those things. No, today he would enjoy being outside with his best friend, and that always meant fun was ahead.
He didn’t get to see her very often because they lived in different towns and neither of them was of an age to drive yet. They depended on their parents for transport, but he didn’t mind. He liked her family, and she liked his. In fact, on this day, his parents would deliver him to her, and her parents would then accompany the two friends throughout the day. His eagerness was growing into excitement at the thought of spending the whole day in her company.
As they reached their destination and he transferred from one car to another, he turned to hug his mother goodbye and she pressed some bills into his hand. Mom knew he would need some food throughout the day and had added a little extra just in case he wanted to pick up a souvenir for the girl. Thanks, Mom. His hug of appreciation was genuine, but his attention had already turned to the cute little brunette with the pretty smile and dancing eyes.
Mom couldn’t help but wonder if this was the one she had prayed for. Ever since the birth of her son, she had prayed for his future – including the possibility of a spouse one day. The boy certainly enjoyed this girl’s company, but they were quite young and many years would pass before a future together would be considered. For now, he would just go and enjoy being with her. Buy her something special, son, and take care of her. That’s your job for now. Mom was content watching him go knowing that her youngest child would be happy for the day.
When he returned home, Mom asked the usual question. “How was your day?” He grinned at her and handed her a small bag. Inside was a unique, handcrafted piece of pottery filled with beautiful grey catkins and tied with a piece of leather meant for hanging on the wall. The vibrant vase colors were mom’s favorite combination: blues and greens that resembled peacock feathers. “What’s this?”
He explained how the girl’s parents had funded most of the day, and after purchasing his own food, he had some left over. The craft items were expensive, but he had just enough to purchase one item. His girlfriend, he said, had agreed that being together was all they needed and had helped him choose a gift for his mom.
Mom’s heart melted. He could have kept that money or spent it on himself. He would have been well within his rights to spoil the girlfriend a little. With a generous spirit, he chose to honor his mother.
In the first century, guests were considered more important than family members. Hospitality was the greatest gift that could be given. When guests entered a home, water was poured over their dusty feet, and a dab of fragrance or oil was placed on their heads. Extravagant meals were provided, and their safety was the responsibility of the host.
As Jesus visited in Mary’s home, she treated him as a valued guest. A bottle of expensive perfume was her most prized possession. Worth much more than a piece of pottery, Mary’s bottle would have cost nearly a year’s wages. Rather than splash Jesus’ feet with water and dab him with perfume, Mary offered hospitality fully. With her generous spirit, she washed his feet with the entire contents of her bottle. She then let down her hair, a very intimate and personal gesture never done in front of others, and she used it to dry his feet. Mary gave all she had and honored Jesus.
The disciples questioned: “What’s this?” Judas even complained that Mary’s actions were a waste of resources. I think Jesus’ heart melted. She could have kept that perfume or sold it and spent the money on herself. She would have been well within her rights to spoil her family a little; but with a generous spirit, she chose to honor Jesus. Mary had honored him, prepared him for burial, and shown her devotion to him with no regard for personal cost. Her pure heart was coupled with a new and right spirit.
When I read Psalm 51, I am reminded of Mary’s heart. She took care of Jesus with no expectation of anything in return. She attended to him because she loved him. Her willingness to serve Jesus melts my heart and moves me to pray the psalm: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.”
Many years later, the boy now drives himself to see the same girl, and the pottery gift still hangs on the home wall. I placed it by the light switch in my bedroom so I see it several times a day and am reminded of a giving and selfless heart. May God help me always to be hospitable with a heart solely dedicated to serving Jesus.
Willing to serve,
Pastor Beth
PRAYER FROM PSALM 51
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. Amen.
KEY VERSES FROM TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READINGS
Psalm 51 – Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.
Habakkuk 3 – O Lord, I have heard of your renown, and I stand in awe, O Lord, of your work.
John 12 – Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
For today’s full scripture readings, click here… https://www.divinestreet.org/lent-scripture.html