h2odevos encores 040612 Cruzando

"Tears of sadness for the hands that kill

Tears of joy when life is born

Hear the song of freedom and my sails are filled

In a rusty nail a cross and a temple curtain torn"

Loose in the World by Peter Mayer and  Jim Mayer

Cruzando is a Spanish word for "crossing." There are lots of "crossings" which take place in our lives. Some of them are obvious and quite noticeable and others are more subtle, secret and also sacred. Last night, after the Maundy Thursday service it was quite interesting to see the full moon which graced the sky. I thought to myself how remarkable it is as we celebrate God's love being "poured out" that the sky was full of light.

"I am poured out like water,

   and all my bones are out of joint;

my heart is like wax;

   it is melted within my breast; 

15my mouth is dried up like a potsherd,

   and my tongue sticks to my jaws;

   you lay me in the dust of death." (Psalm 22:14-15)

Today is Good Friday. Someone might ask, "Why do you call it Good?" Most likely it was called at one time "God's Friday." And while all days belong to God, it is most appropriate to remember on this day how God gave his son, his beloved son for the sake of the world.

Throughout these days of Lent we've spent a fair amount of time thinking, praying, talking and reflecting on water. On Easter Sunday, we'll rejoice in the waters that are "stirred up" by God's Spirit. But, today we acknowledge the reality of thirst. We hear about the thirst Jesus had. We remember people like the woman at the well who was thirsty, physically and spiritually for Living Water. We pray for people who need clean water to drink, to cook and to wash. We know that giving a cup of water to another is the same as giving it to Jesus.

"After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), 'I am thirsty.' 29A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. 30When Jesus had received the wine, he said, 'It is finished.' Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit." (John 19:28-30)

Lucas Cranach was a contemporary of Martin Luther. He painted several scenes of the crucifixion. You can check one HERE.

"This love is... strong enough to be weak

Brave enough to speak

These arms are longer than we can believe

Kind enough to lift you off your knees

Oh...mighty this love

Oh...mighty this love"

Mighty This Love by Peter Mayer

See you at the crossroads,

rtg