HE GREW THE TREE

HE MOLDED AND BUILT A SMALL LONELY HILL

THAT HE KNEW WOULD BE CALLED CALVARY.

THEN HE MADE THE SEED THAT WOULD GROW TO BE

THORNS THAT WOULD MAKE HIS SON BLEED.

THEN HE MADE A GREEN STEM

GAVE IT LEAVES AND THEN GAVE IT SUNSHINE AND RAIN AND

SHELTERED IT WITH MOSS.

HE GREW THE TREE HE KNEW WOULD BE

USED TO MAKE THE OLD RUGGED CROSS.

WITH TEARS IN HIS EYES GOD LOOKED DOWN THROUGH TIME

SAW HIM SPAT UPON REJECTED AND MOCKED.

STILL HE KNEW THE TREE HE KNEW WOULD BE

USED TO MAKE THE OLD RUGGED CROSS.

NOTHING TOOK HIS LIFE WITH LOVE HE GAVE IT.

HE WAS CRUCIFIED ON A TREE THAT HE CREATED.

WITH GREAT LOVE FOR MAN

GOD GAVE WITH HIS PLAN.

HE GREW THE TREE SO THAT WE MIGHT GO FREE.

STILL HE GREW THE TREE HE KNEW WOULD BE

USED TO MAKE THE OLD RUGGED CROSS.
Lyrics to song  He Grew the Tree by Calvin Clark

To the Cross

Our church usually has a musical program during the Easter season. One year my son-in-law was asked to portrayed Jesus in the program. Such an honor. 
We always put on such a big production for a church our size. There are always some issues we have to work out during production. One--How can we portray Jesus ascending into Heaven?  The Fisherville answer-- You run a rope through some pulleys to the baptistry and get several strong men to stand out in the hall holding the rope. At the signal, these men run to the next marked spot down the hall (straight out of "Little Rascals"). Too far and he will ascend into the roof; too close and his feet will stick out at the bottom. Only in Fisherville.
But this presentation was hard for me to watch. I watched men put a crown of thorns on my son-in-law's head, men acting out driving nails in his hands and feet, the blood (not real) flowing freely and then these men raised him up on a cross.  I don't cry easy but a sob escaped from me and tears ran down my face. I wanted to cry "Stop, take him down. He doesn't deserve this. He is innocent."
How many thousand times more did Mary feel the pain of watching her innocent son die on the cross. What pain my Heavenly Father must have felt as real men nailed real nails in His Son's hands and feet.
"Thank you Jesus for bearing the cross for my sins"
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotton Son that whosoever believes in Him shall be saved." John 3:16

"Good Catch"

Wonder if they will let me keep her?

You can't keep someone you love in a cage.

Where would you get this idea?

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I love samples

I enjoy the samples of food items at Sam's and other stores. You taste before you buy and calories don't count on a sample.
Several times I would go to the Starbucks inside a grocery store and order a latte'. They would have a little bowl of chocolate covered coffee beans there to sample. Loved them.

One day when I went in they had a plate of fruit. Not as good as chocolate but okay. I had one piece and it was so good I was getting another when the lady checking out turned around and said "Are you enjoying my lunch." She bought this fruit at another counter and had set it down to pay for her coffee.  Oops! I didn't know. She didn't see the humor in this. I told her "I am so sorry, let me buy you more." She said kind of huffy, "No thanks" and walked off. I felt bad....but I did get 2 pieces of fruit out of the deal.

"Lord you have assigned me my portion, and my cup, you have made my lot secure" Ps. 16:5
Elizabeth Elliot wrote "I know of no greater simplifier for all of life. Whatever happens is assigned. Every assignment is measured and controlled. As I accept the given portion, other options are cancelled. Decisions become much easier, directions, clearer and my heart quieter. A quiet heart is content with what God gives. Contentment is accepting God's control over all of life's circumstances."