May I Take Your Order, Please?

Our grandchildren can come up with unique ways to entertain themselves. Emma wanted to be waitress to our crew last week, an idea stemming from an order pad I stuck in her Easter basket.
She decided that Bella and I should be kitchen staff...hmm.  Well, I guess there are worse ideas. Actually, Bella and I work very well in the kitchen together.

Emma styled the menu and even made a 'coler' sheet for Ivy, the child customer. Ivy was delighted.
As the orders came in, Bella and I busied ourselves and filled the plates.  Emma flirted with the customers a while and then came in to pick up their food and returned for drinks. Everything all at once became a true picture of what a real restaurant's kitchen must look like.

After delivering Ivy's meal, Emma put in her own order and Bella and I were glad to be done...except not really because refills were requested.  Emma returned for them with a sandwich hanging from her mouth.  Nice.  I told her waitresses could be fired for that, but she did not seem to care.
We then fixed our own plates and by the time we were done, the dirty dishes were being brought back. I put in my resignation to be effective immediately. Surprisingly, no one showed up for dish duty...until my sweet husband/busboy walked in, took one look, rolled up his sleeves, and went to work.

Emma is great at planning, but not so hot at following through.

There is a moral to this story...but I haven't the vaguest idea what it is.
Life is good and I am greatly blessed.  Yes, that's it!

Who Killed Jesus?

I teach first and second graders in Sunday School and I love them.  They teach me almost as much as I teach them, though often it is about snakes and camping, baseball and what they did on Saturday.
Once in a while I get to share something with them that stops me dead in my tracks...as if my own words were forging a truth deep into my heart.  So, I asked them"Who killed Jesus?"
And then I read:
Luke 23:3-25  And Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" And he answered him, "You have said so." 
Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, "I find no guilt in this man." 
But they were urgent, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place." When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other. 
Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. I will therefore punish and release him."  
But they all cried out together, "Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas"- a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, but they kept shouting, "Crucify, crucify him!" 
A third time he said to them, "Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him." 
But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will. 
So, I asked them again, "Who killed Jesus?"
And they answered, "The people."
Most people say that they would never have done what the people did back then. I must admit, it was a horror that delivered us from eternal death.  I have learned through the years that most of the time, I do not even know my own heart...my real motives and needs for self-preservation.
So I ask you, "Who killed Jesus?"
We all did.  Our sin did.  But praise the Lord for forgiveness and redemption and salvation that is made possible by His death and resurrection.

How Deep The Father's Love For Us (3rd verse)

I will not boast of anything: No gifts, no power, no wisdom;

But I will boast in Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection.

Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer;

But this I know with all my heart: His wounds have paid my ransom.