Penelope Baldwin's Blog
August 23, 2017
Writing Challenge Wednesday: The Sense of Touch
It’s all about the details. What do you want your reader to feel while in the midst of your story?
Writing isn’t just about telling a story; it’s about bringing the readers into your world so they can experience it with you.
If you haven’t already, check out my posts, Using Your Senses in Writing: Part I: Characters
And Using Your Senses in Writing: Part II: Places for more information on the importance of using your senses in writing.
Now you’re ready to delve into the world of the sense of touch.
But how do you do that?
Get to know the sense of touch by paying attention.
What words would you use describe how something feels? Try to avoid obvious words like “rough” or “soft.” Think about other things that feel similar. What kind of metaphors can you create?
Look into it further with this fun writing challenge.
Your writing challenge today is this:
Observe as many of these as you can with your sense of sight, and write about what you see.
I know there might be some of these that are difficult for you to complete, so I offered 20 different challenges to give you a variety to choose from.
A beard (WiTH THE BEARD OWNER’S CONSENT)
A hairbrush
Your bed sheets
An animal
The hood of a car
Curly hair (WITH THE HAIR OWNER’S CONSENT)
Something metal
A steering wheel (BUT, AS ALWAYS, DONT WRITE WHILE DRIVING!!)
A cold floor while barefoot
Wool
An outside door knob
Mixing food with your hands (Like meatloaf or cake batter)
Someone’s handshake
Laying in grass (If you’re not allergic)
Something slimy
An instrument you’ve never touched before (WITH THE INSTRUMENT OWNER’S PERMISSION)
Ice (Either in your hand or in your mouth)
A warm drink (From the moment it touches your lips to when it hits your stomach) DO NOT USE HOT DRINKS- NO BURNING YOURSELVES ON MY WATCH)
The weather (The wind, the sun, the heat, the cold)
Something made from rubber
The post Writing Challenge Wednesday: The Sense of Touch appeared first on Words With a Twist.
August 15, 2017
Writing Challenge Wednesday: Sense of Smell
Use your sense of smell to help your readers dig a little deeper with this fun writing challenge!
It’s all about the details. What do you want your reader to feel while in the midst of your story?
Writing isn’t just about telling a story; it’s about bringing the readers into your world so they can experience it with you.
If you haven’t already, check out my posts, Using Your Senses in Writing: Part I: Characters
And Using Your Senses in Writing: Part II: Places for more information on the importance of using your senses in writing.
Now you’re ready to delve into the world of the sense of smell.
But how do you do that?
Get to know the sense of smell by paying attention.
When you walk into a room, think about the different scents. Not just the first things you smell, but the smaller ones. The perfume of someone walking by, the dust in the air. Think about the smells you would expect and those you don’t.
Look into it further with this fun writing challenge.
Your writing challenge today is this:
Observe as many of these as you can with your sense of smell, and write about what you observe.
Somewhere you’ve never been before. What smells different about this place than any other place? How does the scent make you feel?
A bookstore. Is it old mom and pop shop or a chain? Does it have a coffee shop? Do the other people close to you affect what you smell?
In a friend’s car. (Sidenote: If your friend is going to read it, be nice!)
Right after it rains.
A campfire.
On a farm. (Try for more than the smell of animal dung.)
At a swimming pool. (Try for more than “chlorine.”)
Outside at day then again at night. Does it smell different? How so?
In someone else’s home. How are its smells different than the ones at your home? How are they the same?
Somewhere medical. (Doctor’s office, Hospital, Lab)
A flower garden.
Someplace new. (As in, recently built.)
An old building. Can you smell something other than “old building smell?”
The park. The scent of nature, the smell of metal swing set, freshly cut grass
A party.
A School If you can, check out an elementary school, middle school, and high school. How do they smell different?
At a hardware store.
A sporting event.
Somewhere very familiar to you. How does that scent make you feel? Does the familiarity of it elicit a certain emotion? Does it remind you of any particular memories?
A garage. (Home or at a place that fixes cars.)
What did you come up with? Let me know in the comments!
The post Writing Challenge Wednesday: Sense of Smell appeared first on Words With a Twist.
August 9, 2017
Writing Challenge Wednesday: Sense of Hearing
It’s all about the details. What do you want your reader to feel while in the midst of your story?
Writing isn’t just about telling a story; it’s about bringing the readers into your world so they can experience it with you.
If you haven’t already, check out my posts, Using Your Senses in Writing: Part I: Characters
And Using Your Senses in Writing: Part II: Places for more information on the importance of using your senses in writing.
Now you’re ready to delve into the world of the sense of hearing.
But how do you do that?
Get to know the sense of sound by paying attention.
Listen for the details. The loud roars, the barely there hums. Hear the crunching sound when you walk across a dirt road.
Pick as many of these places as you can. Write about what you hear at each.
A high school football game.[image error]
At a hiking trail at a park.
The first thing you hear when you wake up.
At a library.
At a dog park.
At a movie theater. (Before you walk into the movie.)
At a restaurant.
On a walk around your neighborhood.
At a grocery store.
While dinner is being made.
While you’re in the shower/taking a bath.
When there’s bad weather where you are.
While you’re home alone. (Even better if it’s at night.)
While you’re waiting for a concert to start.
While at a coffee shop.
in a busy hallway (wherever you find yourself).
In a waiting room. (doctor’s office, dentist, hair salon etc.)
Outside, early in the morning.
Near a body of water (in a forest, near a stream, by a lake, by the ocean).
A public place not mentioned above.
That’s all I got! So how’d you do? Let me know in the comments!
Happy Writing! -Penny
The post Writing Challenge Wednesday: Sense of Hearing appeared first on Words With a Twist.
August 1, 2017
Writing Challenge Wednesday: Sight
It’s all about the details. What do you want your reader to visualize while in the midst of your story?
Writing isn’t just about telling a story; it’s about bringing the readers into your world so they can experience it with you.
If you haven’t already, check out my posts, Using Your Senses in Writing: Part I: Characters
And Using Your Senses in Writing: Part II: Places for more information on the importance of using your senses in writing.
Now you’re ready to delve into the world of the sense of sight.
But how do you do that?
Get to know the sense of sight by paying attention.
Look closely. Get out your metaphorical microscope. Watch. And get the details.
Your writing challenge today is this:
Observe as many of these as you can with your sense of sight, and write about what you see.
I know there might be some of these that are difficult for you to complete, so I offered 20 different challenges to give you a variety to choose from.
A person who just got great news. What happens to their face? What body language do they exhibit?
An argument between two people. What body language do they exhibit? What do they do with their hands? How do they use the space around them?
Water flowing: Are you near an ocean? A lake? A swimming pool with people in it? A bathtub? A sink with a drain? What does it do?
The view from your moving car. (ONLY WHILE YOU ARE A PASSENGER- NOT AS A DRIVER!!) Statutory things, moving things. Do they blur as you pass them? What do you notice? What do you miss?
The night sky. What’s affecting it, if anything? Are you in a well-lit area or out in the country? What does the moon look like? How does the night sky affect your environment? (If the moon is bright, does it help light up what you can see in front of you? If you can’t visualize the moon, is it darker?)
The sunrise, the sunset. The day at noon. Describe the clouds, the colors, the way the light affects how you see the day.[image error]
A bruise. Bonus points if you can see a bruise/different bruises at various stages of healing)
A photograph from a previous generation (prior to the 2000s.) What stands out as different? Describe the clothing, the hairstyles, the environment.
A forest. Describe the trees, the animals, the plant life.
The hairstyle of someone you don’t know. Write enough details that someone reading it would know the style.
A place you go to frequently. Look at the details. What do you notice that you hadn’t noticed before?
A person with multiple tattoos. Where are the tattoos? Are they in color? Pick a tattoo and describe it.
Feet. Are they people you’re observing wearing shoes? What kind? Are they clean? Dirty? Well worn? What do you think a person’s shoes say about them?[image error]
The exterior of a broken down building. (FROM A SAFE DISTANCE AWAY) What makes it look broken down? What do you think caused it to look that way?
Hot food just out of the oven
A person over the age of 60. Describe his/her best feature. What makes it so amazing?
A person in the middle of working. Describe what they’re doing, how they look while doing it. Are they bored? Concentrating? Enjoying work?
Two people in love. How do they act with each other? How can you tell they’re in love? How does one person’s reaction affect the other?
A scary movie (or a clip from a scary movie). Watch a part in which the character is scared. Describe their facial features, their actions.
A dimly lit room. How do things look? How is it different than when the room is well lit?
That’s it! I hope you enjoyed using your sense of sight for this writing challenge. Stay tuned for next weeks challenge, the sense of sound!
Tell me all about your experience in the comments!
Happy Writing! -Penny
The post Writing Challenge Wednesday: Sight appeared first on Words With a Twist.
July 24, 2017
Why Write
If you ask yourself…
“Why write?”
Answer.
Why Write?
Because
Writing…
Excites. Soothes. Offers clarity. Digs deep. Gives hope. Is therapeutic. Releases anger. Evokes. Comes alive. Whispers. Expresses what you can’t say aloud. Yells what you can only mutter. Makes sense of confusion. Releases pain. Sheds light. Simplifies. Complicates. Awakens. Relaxes. Builds. Tears down.
Why Write?
Because…
Writers…
Turn black and white into shades of gray and shades of gray into color.
Offer a voice to the voiceless.
Give hope to the hopeless.
Make you laugh when you don’t feel like laughing.
Make you cry when you feel like feeling.
Make you live when you think you’re numb.
Make something out of nothing.
Take something and make it everything.
Envision what could be.
Define what really is.
Look past the surface.
And aren’t afraid of what’s underneath.
Why write?
Because
Writers
give answers.
And Writers …
Can change the world.
The post Why Write appeared first on Words With a Twist.
May 1, 2017
Hello world!
Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing!
The post Hello world! appeared first on The Words Behind the Words.
April 23, 2017
Dear God…How to Pray in a Chaotic World
[image error] Ever feel like your world is filled with chaos? Things to do, people to see, noise…everywhere? Do you try to pray but find that your head is in a hundred different directions? How many times have you wondered what God’s answer is to your question, but you feel like you can’t hear anything? Me too. And I find myself wondering how to pray so that I feel a real connection with God.
Dear God,
I want to hear your voice- not, like, out loud or anything- but I’d really like to know if I’m doing life right, and I’m not sure what your thoughts are on that. Also, I’d like you to guide me when I don’t know what to do. And, if possible, I’d like to know the answers to some of my questions. Oh, and can you make it nice and clear so that I know it’s you and not just my own thoughts wandering around in my head?
And I’d like it to be right now…
Or…now.
Wait…was that you?
Love always, Penny
Twenty minutes later…
Dear God,
I’m sorry. What were you saying? I started thinking about how to kill the weeds in my garden without killing my flowers and forgot to listen.
Sincerely, Penny
Dear God,
I thought I knew what you wanted. I thought I was doing the right thing. Was I wrong? Why is this happening to me? Why?
Am I doing it wrong? Tell me how to pray so I can hear your voice.
I don’t understand, Penny
A few days ago, I holed myself in my bedroom to pray. But my kids found their way into my room one right after another- as if they were passing each other batons outside my door. Even when I locked the door, they knocked. And knocked. Until finally, I got them to go do something else so that I could have time to myself.
That’s when my phone started dinging. Facebook alerts, text messages, emails, you name it. Everyone wanted a piece of me that morning.
So, I prayed to God that I could shut out the noise. That I could hear Him even with everything else going on around me. And I felt like He was directly speaking to me when this thought ran through my head:
“Turn off your phone.” (And I’m not sure, but I’m guessing He might have been rolling His eyes at me when He said it.)
Yes, I am an intelligent person; although, I know it might not seem like it at the moment. But with everything going on at that time, it didn’t occur to me to turn the sound off on my cell phone.
Right now, we live in a society of noise. Cell phones with Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Spotify, email, messages, YouTube (just to name a few) that you can take with you anywhere. TV shows with music and explosions, car chases, and general angst. I can’t go into or out of a room without something else to interrupt my thoughts.
Where does prayer end up in the midst of all of this? I may pray to God, but do I really listen? And when I try, why does it seem so hard?
I asked this question, and God spoke to me about this very thing. (Which is amazing, because as you can tell, getting through to me isn’t the easiest thing to do.) And His word to me was this: turn off the noise.
Sounds a little too simple, right? We’re busy. We have a hundred thoughts going on at once. And there’s noise coming from everywhere. Turning away from the craziness of life seems like it’s easier said than done.
So I said this to God. His response?
Do it anyway.
Huh. Okay. And how should I go about shutting off all the noise of life, God?
I figured I’d have to figure that part out myself, but God must know I’m a difficult case when it comes to focusing, because he offered up some advice. So, in case you’re like me and need to know how to pray, here are some simple things I’m doing.
How to pray in a chaotic world
Get out of the house.
Get some fresh air. Go by yourself. Take a walk. Get away from the noise. And, if you have to take your phone, put it on silent. Some people can pray in their cars, while taking a shower, in their rooms with other things going on in the background. I can’t. Going on a walk outside not only gets me away from the noise, the fresh air and movement helps me focus.
Get up early.
There’s always something to do. Somewhere to be. But if I get up a little bit early, I can devote that time to God. And it makes the rest of the day go better!
Make it a two-way street.
Spend some of the time praying and some of the time listening. But don’t worry if you can’t hear anything from God. Sometimes it just takes time.
Use a notebook.
Write down a few notes about the experience. Sometimes it helps give me clarity. Sometimes it helps me remember later.
Have a conversation.
When I pray, I don’t have to just pray for myself and others or ask for forgiveness or thank God. Those are all important things of course, but Jesus wants a relationship with you. It’s okay to tell him about your day. Or tell him a story you think is funny. Or ask him how it felt when his own disciples wouldn’t listen to him. Sometimes, it’s just good to talk. And God can still give you wisdom and strength through those times with Him that you think are just fun conversations.
Schedule it.
I know this one might confuse some people, because we’re told not to make prayer something you just make yourself do once a day. But scheduling time for God doesn’t mean you can’t also talk to him throughout the day or any other time you need Him. And if you have an important meeting at work, you go to it, right? No matter how busy your day gets, you go- because your work is counting on you to be there. Think of it like that. Make it part of your routine. And if someone asks you to do something during that time, tell them you can’t.
Remember, above all else, God loves you.
Jesus died for you. He only wants good things for you. Even when you’re at your lowest, even when it seems like God isn’t listening, He is. But sometimes, what God knows is best for you isn’t always what you think it is.
The post Dear God…How to Pray in a Chaotic World appeared first on Dwelling in Joy.
April 18, 2017
Hope For When You’re Running on Empty
Do you ever feel like you’re running on empty? You’re not alone. These days, burnout seems to be an expected part of life. We don’t slow down until our bodies make us. We’re constantly thinking, doing or planning to think and do. And in the midst, we think, “I’ll get to God later.”
[image error] I know I need God. I listen to songs about God’s everlasting love. I read passages that tell me to “trust God with all of your heart,” (Proverbs 3:5) and that “God will supply every need.” (Philippians 4:19)
And yet, so often, I get wrapped up in the busyness of life, and my time with God gets lost in the background. How many times have I added God to my infinite to-do list? I plan to pray for those in need. I say I’ll keep up with my Bible plan. I want to ask God before making decisions. But… life.
Then I put my relationship with Jesus on hold, and I end up breaking down.
But I’m always brought back to a time in my life when God taught me the hard way how to live life without running on empty.
It was a bad day. My daughter woke up sick, and the pediatrician could only fit her in if we could be there in twenty minutes (which is exactly the amount of time it takes to get there.) I called work to tell them I’d be late and made arrangements to get my son off the bus at home after the doctor’s appointment. Then we bolted out the door.
The best laid plans.
The gas needle teetered dangerously close to the E. But we were running late. Plus, I kinda figured the E stood for “eh” because you still have twenty-ish miles after the gas light comes on before you run out of gas. (Or so I’ve heard.) And I really didn’t want to be late.
But it was okay. We made it. Mission complete.
Until after the appointment… when I passed the gas station again, this time by accident. “We’ll catch the next one,” I reassured my sick girl.
Only there wasn’t another one.
And we were on the freeway. I don’t have to tell you what happened next, do I?
In case you’re keeping tabs, 1) Freeway, 2) Sick girl, 3) Son coming home after school, 4) Work thinks I’m coming in soon, 5) I PASSED a gas station, 6) Twice.
I hadn’t prayed once that day. But, while on the side of the highway, in the heat of the summer, with an empty fuel tank and a kid who might never trust me again, I prayed some bold prayers. Then I made some phone calls.
Between God’s grace and a couple of family members/saints, it all worked out in the end. But not because of me. Why didn’t I just stop for gas? Because I was too busy. I was under pressure. And I figured I could get to it later.
And that got me thinking. This is sometimes how I treat God. I know I need him, but I get busy; I’m too stressed, and there’s always later. But God is our fuel. He guards our hearts, fills us with wisdom and heals us. He guides us in our steps. When we don’t fill our souls with the Holy Spirit, we end up running on empty, sometimes without even realizing it.
How many times have I been too busy to ask for God’s wisdom before making a decision then later wondered where it all went wrong? How many times have I acted in anger then regretted my actions?
When we take the time to fill ourselves up with God’s word every day, we avoid the dangers of being stranded. We can ask God what to do next instead of asking Him to fix our mess.
But even in my weakness, God’s power prevailed.
My actions had consequences. But we got home safely with no long-term issues other than my daughter’s complete lack of faith in my ability to discern when to stop at a gas station.
Not to mention, only days earlier I’d prayed for an opportunity to clean my car out before it got too hot. So while we were waiting for someone to bring us a gas can, I glanced in the back seat of my car full of crayons and trash. Then I heard God say to me, “you’re welcome.” (And I think He might have laughed a little. But I’m not sure.)
In the end, He used the experience to bring me closer to Him.
I am weak. I make mistakes. But God’s love is an overflowing fuel for my soul, available anytime I need Him. It’s easy to get caught up in life, but when we seek God first, we save ourselves from running on E.
This experience taught me two things. Seek God first always. And when I’m running on empty, never pass a gas station.
The post Hope For When You’re Running on Empty appeared first on Dwelling in Joy.
April 16, 2017
God’s Promises Will Break Your Chains and Free Printable
“I will call upon the Lord -For he alone is strong enough to save. – Rise, your shackles are no more- For Jesus Christ- h as broken every chain.” From Call Upon the Lord by Elevation Worship
Anger, depression, worry, fear, discontentment, temptation, uncertainty.
I’ve felt all these emotions at one point or another- sometimes all at once. And when those feelings start to simmer, my instinct is to give in to that inner voice telling me I should feel that way. I forget about God’s promises, and I become shackled to my thoughts.
But just because I think something, doesn’t make it true.
Reading scripture reminds me that God gives me a spirit of power, love and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7)
Easy to remember when I’m reading The Bible.
Or right after I’ve been to church.
But what about those times when I’m in the middle of ocean, treading water, and I feel like I’m drowning? (Metaphorically. The chances of me being in the middle of the actual ocean without a boat are pretty much zero.)
But God says, “Rise. Your shackles are no more.”
If you’ve read any of my other posts, you know that I’m working on “counting it all joy.” (James 1:2) I want to find joy in all circumstances, not just when things are going well. But God tells me finding joy means complete trust in Him. And in order to have complete trust in him, I have to stop relying on myself.
Recently at church, my pastor suggested we list the things we say to ourselves that we think are true.
We all have those thoughts, but we don’t have to be chained to those feelings. God’s promises remind us that, through Him, we are free.
So what does God want us to know?
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)
“For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.” (Ephesians 6:10)
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
“For the sake of his great name the LORD will not reject his people, because the LORD was pleased to make you his own.” (Samuel 12:22)
God’s Word is living. It’s breathing.
Even though The Bible was written thousands of years ago, we still connect to the Holy Spirit by reading God’s Word, and He still speaks to us through His promises.
As I read God’s promises in The Bible, they become God’s promises to me, in this moment. He speaks to me through His Word. And the more I read it, the more God can work within me. And the more I remember it, the more power it gives me when the doubts creep in, and my emotions attempt to take over.
God’s Word gives me strength. I can fight the negative thoughts. I can turn away from self doubt.
So to help myself, I’ve decided to print off the passages that speak to me and read them every day, aloud. Multiple times. Until I memorize it. Until God’s Word in The Bible becomes God’s words to me. Then, when my feelings start to override my relationship with God, God’s promises will come back to me and give me strength.
And because I love God and Pinterest (not equally, but both with heart), I created scripture cards with some of God’s promises. At the top of each card, I listed some of the things we wrestle with the most. Below that, I listed a verse from the Bible that reminds us of God’s Word.
And, because I love all of you, I’m offering them here as a free printable!
To get your free printable scripture cards, click here. Then copy and paste the image to your desktop and print it off!
So, what are some of the feelings you struggle with? Anything not listed on one of my scripture cards? Let me know in the comments, and I’ll create some more!
The post God’s Promises Will Break Your Chains and Free Printable appeared first on Dwelling in Joy.
April 11, 2017
Before the Resurrection: Jesus, the Human
[image error]It’s Easter Sunday, the day of the resurrection, I attend church. My family gets together and hides Easter eggs for the little ones. We eat ham and cheesy potatoes until we’re too full then we play games until the little ones get tired and it’s time to go home.
And we all know why we’re celebrating. Because of the resurrection, we are forgiven. We have eternal life because the Son of Man died and rose again.
But Jesus wasn’t only the Son of Man, He was also a person. He lived as we lived, loved like we loved. And felt what we felt.
“Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, ‘We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!’” Matthew 20:17-19
Jesus knew he was going to be crucified. The resurrection was his fate. He knew he was going to be persecuted, mocked, and die on a cross. At any point along the way, he could have used his powers to stop it, but he sacrificed himself anyway. For us.
It’s easy to imagine this as a kind of epic- superhero story. Jesus, our hero, with powers beyond our imagination, stands up and proclaims- without fear or doubt- that He will die and save the world.
Yes, He is superhuman. He healed the sick, turned water into wine, fed five thousand with five loaves of bread and two fish, just to name a few.
But- He was also one of us.
The Resurrection
[image error]Several women arise before dawn and travel to Jesus’ tomb to anoint His body with spices. But when they arrive, they find the large stone covering the entrance to the tomb has been rolled away. And, more importantly, the tomb is empty.
His grieving friends and family slowly get word. And their sorrow turns to joy. Jesus has risen.
Three Days Before
[image error]
Blindfolded. Insulted. Beaten. A crown of thorns placed on his head. Nails driven through his wrists and ankles. His friends weep. His family mourns.
Jesus dies on the cross.
Four Days Before
“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” (Mark 14:34)
And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. (Luke 22:44)
“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)
It’s the night before Jesus is to be crucified. He’s overwhelmed with sorrow. Anguished.
His sweat is like “drops of blood falling to the ground.” The passages don’t paint a picture of Jesus with traces of perspiration dotted across his forehead or beads of sweat collecting above his upper lip. The image we’re given is of thick droplets pouring off his skin and pooling at his feet.
He asks God to “take this cup from me.” He wants to know. Is there any other way?
God says no.
And Jesus says, “Not my will, but yours be done.”
We all have those moments. Flashes of dread because you know what’s coming next, and it isn’t good. Your heart races, your hands get clammy, your chest tightens, and at some point, you realize you’ve been holding your breath. It’s the emotional roller coaster of anguish mixed with anticipation.
Jesus is going to be crucified tomorrow. He’s going to take on the sins of the world. Jesus will carry the weight of every sin for all mankind- not just now, but for always. And because God must turn away from sin, Jesus’ all-mighty father will forsake him.
He’s leaving his disciples- his closest friends. And, although he forewarned them of the death and resurrection, they still don’t understand the full weight of what’s coming. But he won’t be there to guide them or to comfort their pain. Not when it happens, and not for the next three days.
His soul is filled with sorrow to the point of death.
He feels. He is in pain. He mourns. Just like us. Because he is human.
But he does it anyway. For us.
He is fully God, but he is also fully human. He feels what we would feel if we knew what was about to happen.
And he allows God’s will to be done.
Today
I fall short of the glory of God. I sin. I make mistakes. I let my emotions dictate my actions. But I have God’s grace, so I’m forgiven. Me. One person among billions alive today. Thousands of years after Jesus died. Because, in that moment that Jesus was overwhelmed with sorrow, he still showed overwhelming love for us.
What he did for me, for all of us, wasn’t just superhuman abilities, it was super human compassion. A sacrifice without armor. Stripping himself of his powers, He stood before his enemies and said, “take me.”
Thank you, God, for sending us your only son. Thank you, Jesus, for your overwhelming compassion, love, grace and hope. Thank you for eternal life. Amen.
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