Blog

  • Once Upon A Week

    Once Upon A Week

    Six days before Passover

    Anointed with oil all exclaimed

    A waste it was all fussing over.

    ’Twas Sunday riding a donkey You came down street,

    Given palm and ‘Hosanna in the Highest’ joyful greet!

    Meal eaten with the chosen few,

    Broken bread, red wine foretelling their future view.

    Gethsemane garden You wailed an agonized cry,

    Father, dear Father, let this cup pass me by!

    In trial standing poised yet silent,

    Returning scourged, crowd chanting crucify Him to no relent.

    Golgotha, the place cross carried You,

    Body tied, nailed for they thought it was through.

    Roman guards gambled for your garment on display,

    This, the final mock of You, they having their way.

    Noon darkness rang over the sky,

    All astonished in disbelief of their eye.

    Upon three hours,

    Your Spirit released—It Is Finished!

    Temple veil torn—sin was diminished.

    Mary, Your tomb—emptiness she found,

    Jesus overcame death and could not be bound.

    Yes, Once Upon A Week all this came to be,

    Our Savior, Jesus, bore the Cross for you and for me!

  • From Pondering to Somber Reality

    From Pondering to Somber Reality

    Pondering involves deep thought of an item or topic. It is often something heavy on one’s heart at a given time. This process helps to stay centered in faith. Luke 2:19 states “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart”. What joy this event of Jesus’ birth cast upon her, shepherds, wise men, etc. and the knowledge of belief at this time in history.

    Throughout her motherhood, there had to be moments where she pondered on how unique and divine deity would come forth for her given Son. He was broadcast as the “Son of Man”. Yet, we know she actively upheld His ambition as signs, miracles, wonders were performed. Boldly, in John 2:5, she showed paramount obedience in Cana. She told the servants, “Whatever he tells you to do, do it.” Imagine your excitement if your son turned water to wine. You would have danced happily and exclaimed, “Yep, that’s my boy!”

    Going forward into the tension moment of Jesus before Pontius Pilate and Barabbas being released by the crowd; we see Pilate wrestling with fact that Jesus was not the enemy before him. Deuteronomy 25:3 tells of Jewish Law for receiving lashes as punishment. Matthew 27:26 depicts the occurrence of Jesus being scourged by Romans as granted by Pilate to eliminate any further escalation of angst. What was Mary’s heart pondering at this time—for we do not know? As a mother, one has to relate to the tenderness of pain deep within, a heart screaming to halt this process and spiraling, frantic emotions of helplessness. Hence, today our culture relates Isaiah 53:5 “By His Stripes We Are Healed,” as the deletion of disease from ones body, though the Bible itself does not specifically note this as fact.

    And upon His return before them, they chanted “Crucify Him” Matthew 27:22-23, Luke 23:21, and John 19:6. Pilate, being in total disbelief, washed his hands of Jesus’ blood and this punishment in Matthew 27:24. Jesus proceeds forward through Via Dolorosa carrying His Cross to Golgotha/Calvary as crucifixion was upheld on Good Friday.

    For this moment, let’s put our woman, motherly hearts with Mary at the foot of the cross. Would her thoughts be of evil, unforeseen anguish, stabbing pain or some other measures to cope with this reality? Post your comments below… I often cry at this scene in the movie ’The Passion of the Christ’. I have some knowledge of her grief and loss. I too have experienced a loss of son. Yet, it was not in this particular manner but in awe shocking form.

    Illustration of an empty stone tomb on a grassy hillside during a vibrant sunrise.
  • The Light Within

    The Light Within

    There’s a light within ones soul,

    It never goes out,

    Never grows old,

    Though it be tossed to and fro,

    It remains lit,

    Always a glow.

    —Tina Hall

  • Why Self-Discovery Matters: Discover Your Inner Spark

    Why Self-Discovery Matters: Discover Your Inner Spark

    What secrets are lurking under your user shell? Is it a bubbling cauldron of creativity or just the leftover pizza from last weekend? Either way, it’s time to find out why it matters—after all, who doesn’t want to know what’s cooking beneath the surface?

    All good questions, right? Well, maybe until you dive into the brain-boggling phenomenon known as “The Real You.” Have you ever finished something and thought, “Whoa, how did I pull that off?” Or been in a place and suddenly recalled a thought from ages ago that perfectly matches your current surroundings? Nope, it’s not just luck; it’s the surreal joke that is you! As kids, we can’t wait to grow up, but when adulthood finally knocks on the door, it’s like opening a birthday gift and finding socks instead of a cool toy…Hmmmm!

    Wisdom is not exactly like a popcorn kernel that you can just grab and munch on, especially when life’s rollercoaster feels a bit too jerky for comfort. It takes a truckload of patience, a sprinkle of time, and a dash of understanding, which in our speedy world are about as popular as a snail in a marathon. So, my friend, take a good squint at yourself and check out that amazing soul of yours—the one that’s more unique than a unicorn in a suit! Do you see it? That little spark of excitement, the nagging curiosity about how on earth nature even exists, the desire to explore a new coffee shop, all your wacky ideas, and your impressive list of “I did that!” moments. These quirks and quibbles are what make you fabulously you, not a carbon copy of someone else’s Pinterest board. Once you uncover your true essence, it’s like you’re in a relationship with your soul—cuddling with it moment by moment, as it tags along with you through every goofy minute.

    This isn’t your typical pep talk meant to freak you out or bore you with pointless introspection—oh no, my friend! This is your ticket to discovering just how fabulously quirky and delightfully human you are. Prepare to chuckle, ponder, and realize that you’re not just normal—you’re lovable, tenacious, and beautiful (even if your reflection occasionally resembles a bumpy potato!). That old saying, “Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Beholder”? Well, forget that when it comes to your inner self! It’s not the pizza dough exterior that counts, but the sparkling inner DNA that makes you uniquely you, not a carbon copy of someone else. So, stop fretting over that cellulite party on your thighs or that quirky birthmark—dive deep within and let your resilience shine like a diamond in a pile of fuzzy socks!

    There are things in life that could shake the very foundation of even the sturdiest of souls, and trust me, some of those moments make you want to scream, “Why me?!” Don’t just glance at them; take a leisurely stroll through the chaos and watch yourself bloom like a well-watered houseplant. People may claim to know you, but they’re really just trying to figure out which version of you they’d like to adopt like a stray cat! My point? BE YOURSELF! And for the love of all things quirky, BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF! Who cares if some folks don’t dig your vibe? Newsflash: no one is liked by everyone! So, do what gets your heart racing and what brings you joy—LIVE! And if you happen to be spiritual, get ready for the bewildered looks; they just add extra spice to your unique flavor of fabulousness!

    In closing, I hope your eye is now zeroed in “solely” on you and your superpower to make a difference in this gigantic cosmic playground! If not, hit the pause button and give yourself a reality check by digging through the opening questions—don’t worry, we all have our “oops” moments. Love and giggles to you!

  • Hello World!

    Hello World!