Grace and Truth, Jesus in Charge, John 19:16-27

So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.

Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews. Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.”

Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.

“Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.”

This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said,

“They divided my clothes among them

    and cast lots for my garment.”

So this is what the soldiers did.

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

 

Many may have thought they were in charge. The soldiers thought they had control of Jesus, but he knew what should happen and made sure it did. Pilate decided what the sign would read. Did he think giving Jesus this title would keep him, Pilate, safe?

 

Soldiers chose to not split Jesus’ garment, but, truly, this had been predicted years before in the Psalms. And Jesus, the oldest son, made sure his mother would be taken care of after he was gone.

 

Thank you, Jesus, that no matter what man may think, you are in charge of our future; of our daily care; of our salvation. 

Guest Author, Jann Franklin

 

Thank you, Jann, for sharing with us this week.

 

Love Isn’t Equal

 

 

When my second child came along, I worried I wouldn’t love him as much as my first. Of course I did, and I expected to love them the same.

 

I thought having two boys meant I could repeat everything for Cameron—he could wear Nathan’s outgrown clothes, play with Nathan’s outgrown toys, etc. I learned, much to my surprise, that children aren’t the same. Nathan didn’t equal Cameron, and neither did my love.

 

Nathan adored cars from the beginning, and taking things apart. Cameron preferred action figures and drawing. Nathan was tall and slim. Cameron was tall and, well, not slim. Cameron told me once that he could never get married. “Mom, I’m going to give all my money to the poor. I can’t afford a wife.” Nathan would walk into a store and tell me how he would rob it.

 

A stern look would send Cameron into distress. He’d burst into tears and exclaim, “You don’t care for me!” Disciplining Nathan took words and looks, more words and looks, and usually banishment to his room. That kid loved to push all buttons, literally and figuratively! As my boys grew, so did my parenting skills (or so I imagined). I learned which phrases and discipline methods worked best on which child. I also adapted my encouragement and teaching to fit their personalities.

 

Cameron needed to be a leader instead of a follower. We put him in situations so that he could make decisions and take the first steps for others to follow. He grew to understand that he could say “no” when others tried to influence him. He learned to stand up for himself and for what was right. Maybe a little too much! Cameron told me that during his work evaluation, his supervisor remarked that his peers felt he gave his opinion a little too much.

 

Nathan had to learn empathy, and that being right wasn’t more important than being kind. We gave him opportunities to show love and caring, such as handing out cookies to children in subsidized housing and working with the preschoolers at church. The last decade or so, Nathan’s friends consistently mention his kindness and empathy toward others.

 

Another lightbulb moment—I had to pray for my children differently. For Nathan, I prayed that God would soften his heart and incline it toward others. I prayed for my oldest to feel what others felt, and see their sorrows and joys. My prayers for my youngest were almost the opposite. I asked God to protect Cameron’s tender heart, but not to let undesirable influences take advantage of him.

 

I’m happy to report, by God’s grace and a mother’s fervent prayers, my kids are just lovely. Nathan is twenty-six years old and engaged to Kat, whom we adore. They plan to marry this November, and we are beyond excited. He is a sergeant with the Texas National Guard in Abilene and is an active member of a local church. Nathan is on fire about the upcoming men’s conference at his church, and he and Kat actively take part in local outreach programs.

 

Cameron, at twenty-three, has completed his first year of marriage. We can’t say enough amazing things about his wife, Gracie, or her family. They met at Texas State University in CRU, formerly Campus Crusades for Christ. Cameron and Gracie just finished the first year of their two-year internship with CRU, and they plan to make college ministry their full-time passion. Not so fun fact: 86% of kids who enter college professing they are Christians go on to exit college stating they no longer follow Jesus. Ya’ll can see why I’m so excited to have Cameron and Gracie in this mission field!

 

I struggled those first few years of parenting because I tried to love my kids equally. I was so worried I might love one more than the other, and I consumed my days doling out my love in carefully measured portions. When the lightbulb moment hit and I realized the insanity of my parenting, I took a step back and regrouped. I finally got it—parenting isn’t about loving my children equally. It’s about loving them the way that they need it. I wasn’t the perfect mom, by anyone’s scale. I didn’t love my kids equally, just the way that they needed. And that’s so much better!

 

Bio: I live in Grand Cane, Louisiana.--population 298. Many of my ideas come from weekly interactions with my fellow villagers. Like my protagonists, I never appreciated my small town upbringing until my husband forced me to live in one. No I can't imagine living any other way. My husband, Joh, and I enjoy Sundays at Grand Cane Baptist Church, dinner with family and friends, and watching the lightning bugs in our backyard with our dogs. Our kids come to visit, when they aren't too busy living their big city lives. 

 

My website is

Jannfranklin.com

 

My books are listed under

Jannfranklin.com/mybooks

Guest Author, Kathy Cretsinger

 

Kathy Cretsinger is a dear friend. As a publisher, she took a chance on me, a beginning author, for which I will always be grateful. She is a devoted Christian, a loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother, and a delightful writer.

 

Thank you, Kathy, for having me on your blog. I always enjoy visiting with you and your friends.

Authors are a strange race of people. We think of things that no one else thinks about, and our thoughts come to us at all times of the day or night. That is what happened with Unlikely Candidate.

A couple of years ago, I was listening to the news and a thought came through my brain. Can a Christian woman run for President of the United States? Would she win, and could she have a sense of humor? Maggie Culbertson was born.

Maggie is a no-nonsense woman, mayor of the town of Possum Ridge, Tennessee, lawyer, wife, and mother. She loves God, family, and country in that order. She sees things differently than most people. There is always humor in her life. There is also Clarence the rooster who chases her when she is outside.

This came from something that happened in my life. When I was a child, we had a rooster that chased us all over the back yard. He always tried to take a bite out of your heel. I named him Clarence.

There are snippets of truth in the story. Most writers add from their life.

While I was writing the book, I decided we needed a Secret Service Agent, and Kenneth was born. Then, he told me he wanted to fall in love with Loretta. Most of us have characters who talk to us. I loved writing about Kenneth and Loretta. He is such a sweet guy.

There is a tradition in Possum Ridge. When a child is born in the family, their first name begins with the same letter as their last name. Maggie is Magnolia Louise Masters, but she married Craig Culbertson. Their children are Cynthia and Charles. The chickens are Clarence, Cindy, Caroline, and on and on. I think you get the picture.

I enjoyed writing this book. I hope you enjoy reading it. It can be purchased on Amazon at https://bit.ly/4dieZ13

 

Blurb

Magnolia (Maggie) Louise Masters Culbertson asks a question, “What do you have to do to run for President of the United States?” Her husband, Craig, and friend, Rocky, explore the early stats and discover she has powerful support.
The country is in a turmoil, and she can improve it with her calm demeanor, witty outlook on life, and Christian values. Her experience as a U.S. Senator, Special Counsel for the State of Tennessee and mayor of Possum Ridge, Tennessee are in her favor.
When she announces her candidacy, someone slips a note into her hand. It reads, “You will not live to be president.” That won’t happen.
Maggie’s stubbornness to make the country better prevails. She is unstoppable and has a secret few know about.
She happily watches her secretary, Loretta Little, and security guard, Kenneth Anderson, fall in love while she runs for office.
Can she save the country from this den of lions?

 

Kathy Cretsinger is an avid reader and writer. She loves to encourage other writers to help them find their writing life.

 

Several years ago, Kathy and her husband left their home in East Tennessee to begin a new home in Western Kentucky. They are much closer to their children and grandchildren. This move brought more time for her to write.

 

Each month, Kathy writes a newsletter to bring her readers up to date on her books. Join her at kathycretsingerauthor.com.

Rerun: At the Feet of Jesus

    This was first posted on my blog in January of 2018

 

I have long believed in the power of the name of Jesus.

 

My husband Murry is a math tutor. He says he likes to tell people that once you have a decimal point, “You can add zeros after the last digit until Jesus comes, and it won’t change.”

 

Murray believes that there is power in using the name of Jesus.

 

Recently, in a book by one of my newest favorite authors, Jan Karon, whenever people needed to pray about a hard thing in their lives, and they couldn’t think what to say, they prayed simply, “Jesus.”

 

I started writing this piece in June of 2016, and from that day I wrote: “In church this morning, we were singing a song I didn’t know well, but when we came to the place where I knew to say ‘Jesus,’ I had a moment of joy.”

 

Often, as I sing a song with Jesus’ name, I find my heart calming and my face smiling.

 

Not too long ago, I started reading a book I didn’t really like. When the author began talking about her and her husband’s faith in Christ, I suddenly started liking the book more and relating better with the author.

 

There is such power in the name of Jesus.

 

A few weeks ago at church, we read from Luke 10, about Mary and Martha, and how Martha was worried about getting everything done. But Mary chose the good stuff or “what is better”, by sitting at the feet of Jesus. Our pastor demonstrated “the good stuff” by giving a bakery made cupcake in a box to a little boy in the crowd.

 

I want to not only know the power of the name of Jesus, and it is amazing, but I want to get the good stuff. I want to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to him, and learn what he thinks is important for me to know.

 

I plan to spend extra time in the gospels this year, praying each day that God will help me open my ears to what Jesus has to say to me.

 

Luke 10:38-41: As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”