MONDAY, DAY 29 OF LENT 2025

John 15:1-8 THE VINE AND THE BRANCHES is the title of this section in my Bible. 

I love that Jesus uses visuals, and that John carefully recorded what Jesus was saying. The people in Jesus' day understood about vines. They grew lots of grapes, and they were familiar with the husbandry required for maintaining those vines. Those responsible for the 'husbandry' of those fields of grape vines had to prune off the dead vines, prune back the healthy ones so they would be more productive, and give them the proper amount of water, nutrition, and care to make it possible for them to reach their highest potential. 

This section of John 15 is entirely in red letters, which means it is Jesus' words. I have excerpted selected verses to address:

"I am the true vine and my father is the gardener. Every branch in me that does not produce fruit he removes, and he prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit."

"Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me."

"I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me."

God is the gardener. Jesus is the main vine. I am one of the smaller vines connected to him. When there are things in my life that are not healthy or productive God prunes those off. As humans, pruning hurts in the moment, but it is the only way for us to be productive. Pruning has a purpose, and that is one of the messages Jesus is providing here.

If we can visualize how an actual field of grape vines looks when it has not been managed - when the vines just grow unchecked, and get filled with deadwood that slows down their usefulness and effective growth, creating only disappointment when it comes to harvest time when the harvesters can see very little was produced - we can equate that to our lives. 

I don't like being pruned, but I know it is only because God loves me enough to want me to be healthy spiritually, healthy enough to grow fruit. 

In other verses in this portion of scripture it talks about those who don't stay connected to the vine. We can do NOTHING without being connected. Lord, bring on the shears! Prune me! Make me a good plant! And I know that you will feed me, water me, provide all the nutrients I need to be a vine that remains connected to you and then - and only then - will I be able to  produce good fruit!

SUNDAY, APRIL 6, THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT

Only 2 more weeks until our celebration of Resurrection Day! I long for that day to come! 

Very appropriately, my song for today is: IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL, a song especially poignant in troubled times.

 

IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL                

Words by Horatio G. Spafford, 1873; Music by Philip P. Bliss, 1876

                       

1.         When peace like a river attendeth my way

            When sorrows like sea billows roll

            Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

            “It is well, it is well with my soul.”

 

Refrain:          It is well with my soul,

                        It is well, it is well with my soul

 

2.         Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come

            Let this blest assurance control

            That Christ has regarded my helpless estate

            And has shed His own blood for my soul.

 

Refrain:          It is well with my soul,

                        It is well, it is well with my soul

 

3.         My sin – oh the bliss of this glorious thought

            My sin – not in part, but the whole

            Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more

            Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord O my soul.

 

Refrain:          It is well with my soul,

                        It is well, it is well with my soul

 

4.         And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight

            The clouds be rolled back as a scroll

            The trumpet shall sound and the Lord shall descend

            “Even so” – it is well with my soul

 

Refrain:          It is well with my soul,

                        It is well, it is well with my soul

 

Tag:                 It is well, it is well with my soul

 

History of It is Well With My Soul

 

Horatio G. Spafford (10/20/1828 – 10/16/1888) was a devoted Christian – and a successful Chicago lawyer.  He is the man who wrote the lyrics to “It is Well With My Soul” – which becomes even more touching when you know the history behind Spafford’s life and the specific story that precipitated his writing the words of this song.

 

The scripture reference is Psalm 46:1 "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

 

The first tragedy in their lives was the death of their son from pneumonia in 1870 at the age of 4.   

 

Then in 1871 the Chicago fire devastated the city. Just prior to that event Spafford had invested extensively in real estate by the shore of Lake Michigan and the disaster decimated his holdings.  

 

Two years after the fire, Horatio Spafford planned a trip to Europe with his family. He wanted a rest for his wife and four daughters, and also to assist Moody and Sankey in one of their evangelistic campaigns in Great Britain. He intended to travel with his family; However, the day in November they were due to depart, Spafford had a last minute business transaction and had to stay behind in Chicago. He sent his wife and four daughters on ahead as scheduled on the S.S. Ville du Havre, expecting to follow in a few days. On November 22, just off the coast of France, the ship with his wife and daughters aboard was struck by the Lockhearn, an English vessel, and sank in few minutes.

 

Spafford's wife survived but all four of their daughters were lost.  When she reached land Mrs. Spafford cabled her husband with two simple words, "Saved alone."  Shortly after, Spafford left by ship and asked the Captain to tell him when they reached the spot where his daughters died, and as he stood out on the deck looking over the rail at their gravesite, the words to this song, so significantly descriptive of his own personal grief – "When sorrows like sea billows roll..." poured from his pen to his notepad.  The verses for the hymn "It is Well with My Soul" was born from his pain – and his abiding faith.  

 

Three more children were born to the Spaffords:  two girls and a boy. In spite of the ponderous personal losses he sustained, Spafford faithfully lived the message that God deserves our praise and worship no matter what our circumstances.

 

 

His original poem had more verses than the ones we are most familiar with. Some of those verses are recorded here: 

 

It Is Well With My Soul   

             

When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain:
It is well, [it is well,]

With my soul, [with my soul,]
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.                      Refrain

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!                  Refrain

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.                         Refrain

But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!                           Refrain

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.                                         Refrain

 

 

Horatio G Spafford

1873

 

SATURDAY, DAY 28 OF LENT 2025

John 14:27-31

We are at the end of Chapter 14. I had to divide my comments on this chapter into sections because there was so much in it that deserved being shared. This portion of the chapter is even more precious in light of what was about to transpire in Jesus' time on earth.

Verse 27 records this statement by Jesus to his disciples:

 “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful."

 What a critical message to hear and absorb! Jesus gives us PEACE! It is not a peace the world can give. The world's peace is totally contingent on everything going smoothly, with no disagreements, challenges or ruffled feathers. That is not the peace Jesus was talking about. His peace is inner peace, knowing beyond the shadow of a doubt that he is who he says he is, and that because we trust in him, we are guaranteed an eternity with him. It is internal security of our destination, not able to be unnerved by the realities of the world we live in personally, locally, nationally or globally. My life can have more challenges than I prefer, and I can still have his peace. My state and country and be in upheaval, and I can still have his peace. The world universally can be going totally awry, and I can have his peace. 

All of those things are true, and I have his peace. Inner peace. Knowing my soul is secure in his love because of what he did at the cross! Thank you, Lord, for your peace that passes understanding, that is with us through pain, grief, sorrow, and joy! Thank you!

FRIDAY, DAY 27 OF LENT 2025

John 14: 15-26

What a beautiful portion of information and promises. 

"If you love me you will keep my commands" (vs 15); "The one who has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me" (vs 21); "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word...." (vs 23)

Wow! That's very straightforward! In addition to those verses Jesus talks about the Holy Spirit!

Vs 16: "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth." Vs 26: "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you."

Intertwined in those verses are other tidbits that are informative, including Jesus' declaration that he will not leave those who love him as orphans - he will return! Because HE lives, we will live also. What a wonderful portion of both promise and clarity! 

Late yesterday I learned of the passing of a longtime friend. Our kids were primary playmates in their younger years and the memories are numerous! In her case, I cannot cry over her passing - at least not right now. She had Alzheimers and the last time I saw her in August 2023, she did not appear to know me, though she remembered my husband, so perhaps it was just that my name didn't ring a bell. Anyway - that is when I cried my tears. I had lost my friend, but it took until now for her body to give up on living. There is never a good time to say goodbye, but no one would ask her to live in the fog Alzheimer's brings.  Memories of earlier years will keep her alive for all who loved her - and the good thing we all hold onto is knowing where she is. It is a race we all run, and everyone who hears "Well done" as they cross the Finish Line is a winner!

ACKNOWLEDGING APRIL 3, 1953

 

A Good Day to Die

by Lola Rice Cain

 

It was a good day to die

Spring had just brought new life:

Trees were leafing out

Birds were singing

The grass was green

And hope for new beginnings was alive

But not for her

 

It was a good day to die

Life for her had lost meaning

She was unable to see her purpose

She gave up on life prematurely

And in choosing death she gave up on herself

And on my siblings and me

She chose that day as her goodbye

 

It was a good day to die

A day that poured pain into many lives

A day that left sorrow in its wake

A day that would never be forgotten

A day that ended her personal losses

And became the start of ours

A self-absorbed day that is cemented in memory

 

But for her it was apparently a good day to die

And the fallout of her choice?

We’ve become more resilient

We are more tolerant and stronger

Than we would have been

Had we never endured that pain

Still, for us, it was not a good day for her to die

 

 

Written October 31, 2021 in memory of Nellie Nina Scott Rice, mother to Duane, Ken, Lola, and Gary, who committed suicide April 3, 1953, at the age of 37.  Forever missed.  Forever in our hearts.  Forever loved.

 

 

GRIEF

Lola Rice Cain

 

Grief is love poured out as the final act of care

It washes over me in unwelcome waves of sorrow

Subsides momentarily, then blindsides me again and again,

Mercilessly hammering at my consciousness

And intruding into my attempts at slumber.

 

Grief is love in its final earthly form

A painful reenactment of all that came before

It oozes through my every pore

And is the assailant at my heart’s door

It refuses to disappear, but is slowly being subdued.

 

Grief is love unleashed in ways I could never have conceived

And I must allow it its time as there is a time to grieve

Even so, as it flows in and out of my awareness

I find respite in memories that make their way

Through the fog of the pain – and I will live to love. 

 

(Written November 28, 2021) 

Usually my remembrance day of my bio mother's death is limited to April 3. I do not recall what was happening in 2021 that made it pour over, but the October 31 poem makes me think that the November 28 poem was likely connected, but most likely connected to another death that triggered the memory.

THURSDAY, DAY 26 OF LENT 2025

 John 14:12-14 (CSB) states, 

¹² “Truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. ¹³ Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

This is, quite honestly, a passage I trip over. I absolutely do believe that Christ's followers can and do make a huge difference in the world, and that God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, gives many amazing gifts to believers, which are being used for God's glory. 

I also believe that the word translated 'greater' might mislead us - that 'more' might be a better word, with my rationale being that since Jesus returned to the Father, he sent the Holy Spirit, who can be everywhere at once, using many people simultaneously to do God's work on earth. It could also apply to the reality that we have many more years collectively and that God's miraculous works performed in the world through the power of the Holy Spirit - using humans as vessels through whom many of those miracles are made evident - would be 'more.' That would make sense to me.   

In past consideration of this passage, I have wondered if the ''whatever you ask in my name" was conditional on it being something God wanted to do, and allowed a human vessel to participate in so that person could feel used by God. 

I know God performs amazing miracles - but certainly not every time it is believed for and prayed for, so the 'whatever' throws me. Just being transparent! 

It is also worth noting since I am grappling with this again today, that verse 14 is not included in many of the manuscripts, which means it was likely added by a Scribe somewhere along the way who just wanted to reinforce the prior sentence. It doesn't change what was stated - but it is interesting to pay attention to those tidbits in our studying.

I will end with a story:

Years ago, in Montesano, when I attended the Montesano Presbyterian Church, the Lord gave me a very deep burden for a man in our church. He had just had a heart attack and I prayed diligently for him that he would be healed. A few days later the burden lifted, and I thanked God, believing that the burden lifting meant that the man was healed and would be okay. 

I was shocked to learn that at the time the burden lifted the man died. I was furious with God! I asked him, "Why did you take away the burden if he was not healed?" And God replied, "Death in this life is perfect healing."

He was right. The man was healed - just not the way I expected. Not the way I was praying for. When I feel a burden for someone I remember that lesson. I even told a friend not long ago, "I may not be the one you want praying for you, given my track record!" 

This passage leads me to a bit of a bunny trail and brings me to the bottom line of my faith. Do I trust God even when I don't understand? Yes! Do I believe he is with me through everything? Yes! Do I trust his timing? Even though I don't always appreciate it or understand it, yes! My times are in his hands. So are yours if you've placed your trust in him. We live under his care, and though we don't know the expiration date that is 'invisibly stamped on the bottom of our foot' (as I say), we can trust that God knows, and that we will not leave this earth one day sooner - and when we do have the joy of leaving we will wonder why we wanted so badly to stay!

Back on topic: I believe in God. I believe in miracles. I believe he guides, directs, and nudges us to do his will. I believe if he wants to do a miracle and chooses a human vessel to pray for it, he is the one doing the work, through the power of the Holy Spirit, and God is the one who receives the honor and glory. 

Thank you, Lord, for being a very present God in the lives of those who trust in you!

WEDNESDAY, DAY 25 OF LENT 2025

John 14:1-11 Christian Standard Bible. (My go to is usually the ESV.)

The words leap off the page as I read them, "Don't let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me." And then Jesus tells them he is going away to prepare a place for them, and that he will return to get them so they can be where he is - and he says, "You know the way to where I am going."

Thomas challenges that, saying, "We don't know where you are going. How can we know the way?"

Jesus reply to Thomas was, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." And then he proclaims, "If you know me, you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him."

Next Philip speaks up, "Lord, show us the Father, and that's enough for us."

And Jesus replies, "Have I been among you all this time and you do not know me, Philip? The one who has seen me has seen the Father...." 

 

Jesus was fully God and fully human. He was the only person of the Trinity who had a physical body, and as such was the only visible appearance of God. Jesus was there at creation in his pre-incarnate state as part of the Triune Godhead, and he became God incarnate when he was born to the virgin, Mary. He lived a perfect life for 33 years, and now he is trying to prepare his disciples for his exit. He is sharing final urgent messages as part of that exit strategy. Exit words of significant importance.  

He clearly tells them that in seeing him they have seen God, which means he is God, but also that he is the only way to God. He talks about his Father, and that they are inseparably joined when he declares, "I am in the Father and the Father is in me." (verses 10 & 11)

Lord, open people's eyes to see you! We need you now, in this crazy world that is plummeting into the abyss. Lord, give us ears to hear, wisdom to understand, and the determination to follow you closely through these troubled times. You alone are TRUTH. You alone are THE WAY. You alone offer us ETERNAL LIFE. Lord, incline hearts to YOU! Amen.