Three Truths About Words
Author of Tongue Pierced, Nelson Searcy, says to start changing things for the better, we first need to recognize three essential truths about the nature of words.
According to Searcy, in order to steer away from words that can cause damage and toward words that create life, we should begin to work these truths into our thinking: Read more
A party was the last thing Mary Magdalene expected as she approached the tomb on that Sunday morning. The last few days had brought nothing to celebrate. To her the last few days had brought nothing but tragedy.
In the early morning mist she arises from her mat, takes her spices and aloes, and leaves her house, past the Gate of Gennath and up to the hillside. She anticipates a somber task.
By now the body will be swollen. Death’s odor will be pungent.
A gray sky gives way to gold as she walks up the narrow trail. As she rounds the final bend, she gasps. The rock in front of the grave is pushed back.
When she stoops down and sticks her head into the hewn entrance, she sees what looks to be a man, but he’s white—radiantly white. He is one of two lights on either end of the vacant slab. Read more
The curtain of the Temple was hung before the Holy of Holies, which was part of the Temple no one could enter.
Jewish worshipers could enter the outer court, but only the priests could enter the Holy Place. And no one, except the high priest on one day a year, entered the Holy of Holies. No one. Why? Because the shekinah glory—the glory of God—was present there. Read more
Lock them up . . .
. . . all those who have hurt you! Lock them up and hold them responsible. Never forget a slight mistake, never forgive an indiscretion, never write off a debt . . . make them pay. You are justified by suffering. You are understood in your anger.
Don’t let anyone escape!
They don’t deserve parole. Lock them up and keep the only key in a very safe place.
Only one thing you should remember – you must stay at the jail to guard your prisoners.
You can’t move on. You can’t rise above. You can’t pursue your noble dreams. You built the jail; now you’re a jailor.
It’s dawning on you now, isn’t it? There’s not much difference between being in or out. Walls are walls, hey.
What’s that I hear you say? You don’t want to be a jailor? Well, then let them out! Open all the cells and offer complete pardons.
Choose to forgive and forget, and dismiss the charges. Let them out and let God work His justice. Let them out and tear down the jail. That jail was a real eyesore, anyway.
So, what do you think? Deciding whether to spend your life looking at stark prison walls, or mighty oceans of mercy? I’d choose the latter. But that’s just me. The choice is yours 🤷🏽♀❤
Happy Easter!
Of all the scenes around the cross, this one angers me the most. What kind of people would mock a dying man? Who would be so base as to pour the salt of scorn upon open wounds?
The words thrown that day were meant to wound. And there is nothing more painful than words meant to hurt.
If you have suffered or are suffering because of someone else’s words, you’ll be glad to know that there is a balm for this laceration. Read more
There was some dice-throwing that went on at the foot of the cross.
Imagine the scene. The soldiers are huddled in a circle, their eyes turned downward. The criminal above them is forgotten. Casting lots for the possessions of Christ.
Here are common soldiers witnessing the world’s most uncommon event, and they don’t even know it. As far as they’re concerned, he is just another criminal. The cross is forgotten. Read more
Go with me for a moment to witness what was perhaps the foggiest night in history. The scene is very simple; you’ll recognize it quickly. A grove of twisted olive trees. Ground cluttered with large rocks. A low stone fence. A dark, dark night. Read more
The road from Jericho to Jerusalem was just fourteen miles. A half day’s journey. Jesus is at the front of his band of disciples. A young soldier marching into battle.
As Jesus states his mission, forget any suggestion that he was trapped and made a miscalculation. Ignore any speculation that the cross was a last-ditch attempt to salvage a dying mission.
These words tell us that Jesus died . . . on purpose. No surprise. No hesitation. No faltering.
The way Jesus marched to his death leaves no doubt: he had come to earth for this moment. The journey to the cross had begun long before leaving Jericho. As the echo of the crunching of the fruit was still sounding in the garden of Eden, Jesus was leaving for Calvary. Read more
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