When the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar was produced some were shocked by the liberties taken with the gospel account. That was 1971 and the musical, primarily due to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s haunting music and Tim Rice’s beautiful lyrics, is now an audience favorite. The show has a different perspective on the events of those days, but one thing can’t be denied, Jesus Christ was and is a superstar. We are accustomed to musicians and other performers drawing thousands of people, but he was an itinerant preacher hiking through the country with no publicity agent in tow. No wonder the religious authorities became anxious and the Romans suspicious when thousands of people began gathering to listen to him.

How often do we say the word hope? I hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow. I hope I stay healthy. I hope my kids are okay. I hope my car doesn’t break down. And, so on and so on. We’re hopeful people for the most part. We look for the silver linings, but in the way we use the word, we betray our doubts. Maybe we won’t receive what we hope for. We hope, but it’s possible we will be denied. That’s not the way the word is used when speaking of Christ. When we have hope in Jesus, our hope is solid as a rock. Our hope in him is a guaranteed outcome, not wishful thinking.

“Oh no, caught again!” The town of Gainesville is split by a train track. When I drive there to shop, it’s not unusual to have to wait on a train. If it’s Amtrak that’s OK. It’s just a couple of engines and a few passenger cars, but if it’s a slow freight you can sit there for 10 or 15 minutes. When that happens, I look for an escape route. Usually there’s not one so I sit there in frustrated silence watching the graffiti-adorned cars edge by. The last time this happened it occurred to me, how often during a busy day do I have such perfect alone time. Instead of being annoyed, I need to appreciate those few minutes of meditative rest. Used rightly they can do wonders for the attitude.

Do you ever feel miserable like Job? I do sometimes but not because I’m suffering without cause. Those are the times when I try to do something for others and only make matters worse. Like Job, I moan and groan and mope around asking, Why, Lord? Why did I interfere where it wasn’t appreciated. I meant well. I thought I was being helpful. It’s like a dark cloud settles over me and I feel the need for penance of some kind. But all I can do is apologize and hope I’m forgiven. Mistakes in our lives are great reminders of our imperfect humanity. Much better teachers than our successes.

We were carrying some boxes to store in my shed when my daughter said, “Mother, come look!” She was standing close to my back fence looking at a large bush covered with clusters of small white blooms. I heard her say something about butterflies and as I got closer indeed there were! The flowering bush in the woods behind my yard was alive with small butterflies! Bees were all over the tall bush too. It was animated with flittering, buzzing life. We stood there realizing we might never experience what we were seeing ever again. It was one of those magical times when you feel God just gave you a gift.

God loves beauty. I know that because he created so much of it. I love beautiful things too. Along with the beauty of nature, I love the art and music and dance inspired by the natural beauties. I love to look at beautiful objects and people and read the words of well-written literature. But God has a greater appreciation of beauty than I do. He sees beauty in what I might consider ugly. He sees beauty in the halting, incoherent prayer of a sinner. He sees beauty in old, worn-out wrinkled faces. He sees beauty in those who haven’t turned to him yet because he knows they will. God, help me to see!

The earth has put on a new dress. It’s a gorgeous green frock with flowers of orange, pink, yellow and blue woven into its fabric. It ripples in the wind as it flows over the landscape, glowing iridescently under the sun’s warming rays. It’s spring in Texas. Driving along the country roads I’m mesmerized by what I see of God’s good earth. Wishing I were a poet, I try but find it impossible to fully express how wondrous an experience it is to see such beauty. Thank you, Lord!

I love the song, “As the deer panteth for the water, So my soul longeth after Thee. You alone are my heart’s desire, And I long to worship Thee.” Martin Nystrom wrote these wonderful words based on Psalm 42. Look up the lyrics to the entire song if you haven’t heard them. They mean so much to me because they say what I often feel but can’t express nearly so beautifully. There’s a place in our hearts that needs to be filled with our Lord every day. When we miss our time with him, we struggle needlessly. Lord, I am so thirsty for you. Refresh me daily with your living waters.

Don’t be afraid said Jesus over and over again.  The apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians not to be anxious about anything but to pray (4:6, NKJV). He was no doubt in chains at the time and certainly had reason to be anxious for himself, yet still wrote these words. No matter his circumstances, he always looked to his Savior in prayerful faith and exhorted others to do the same. As for me, when any of my family are in trouble, not to be anxious is well nigh impossible. No, it is absolutely impossible without the faith of Christ himself!

How do you make your decisions about others? Most of us make some kind of judgment about people when we first meet them, sometimes good, sometimes bad. Have you ever thought your judgment might be predicated on how good a day they were having.

When you or I see them in a bad state, we wouldn’t know how hard they struggled against their hard-to-control temper or a terrible addiction. We wouldn’t know how much self-hatred they suffered knowing they had been forgiven by God but had slipped up anyway.

We are all one in what we call this human race. All of us slip up sometimes. Let’s leave the snap judgments behind. Let’s give others the grace, compassion and mercy we all want for ourselves.