When You Face a Bully

Her  normally pink cheeks were colorless. She was biting her bottom lip.

"Stop it, Haley. He's not gonna kill me. He'll probably just black my eyes or knock out my teeth ... or paralyze me or something."

"That's not funny. Don't go. You'll end up in trouble. He's just a jerk, and it's not worth it."

"If I don't go this will never end. And besides, I don't want people sayin' I'm chicken."

"Why do boys have to be so stupid? Who cares if they call you chicken if you can keep your teeth?"

"Chicken have teeth?"

"Jase Freeman, you make me so mad!" And she turned and walked away. She didn't even look back over her shoulder at him. She just walked away.

Jase stuck his chin out and pulled his shoulders back. He took a deep breath and stepped towards the concessions stand.

On the way, he couldn't help but think Here lies Jase Freeman...

The Wish I Wished Last Night is the first book in the middle grade fiction series The Chronicles of Crumberry.

Grab it up and read it with your kids over Spring Break! It might just open up conversation about the bully walking the halls at school.

Reminders All Around

They are everywhere.

You can see them if you are looking.

When you're having a wonderful day ...

and when you are in sorrow ...

they are there.

They don't wax and wane according to what's going on in your life.

Reminders.

Reminders of God's faithfulness.

I have an old nativity from my childhood. It used to play Silent Night. I reminds me before I knew Him, He knew me.

I listened to "When We All Get to Heaven" this morning. It took me back 38 years, when my faith was young and fresh. God was faithful to me during the frail years of growing.

There is a tiny crosstitched Christmas stocking hanging in my office nook. I started the project for our first child. When I miscarried, I tucked it away. The pain of losing our child was too great. I didn't get it out when I became pregnant with our second child. Our second joined our first in heaven, and the sorrow was deep. Today, that stocking bears John's name. God gave us James, Hannah, John, and Abigail. I wasn't ready to get the stocking out until John's birth. Today, it reminds me--I will see and know the two children in heaven, and God has blessed us greatly with 4 children.

My last name is Pierce. When I sign my name, I see God's faithfulness to give me my completer. My best friend. A godly, kind, and wise husband.

God takes a broken heart and puts it back together. It doesn't resemble the heart it used to be. It's a heart that knows He is real. He is faithful. And should sorrows come around again, He will put it back together again. And He will make it even more beautiful than it was the day before, because He is LORD.

His faithfulness whispers through the unexplainable. It sings through the confusing. It shouts in the sunrise. It wraps it's arms around us in the sunset.

God promised those who believe that He will supply for our every need.

He is faithful.

Evidence is everywhere.

I can see it.

Can you?

He Thought He Had All Authority

I can almost picture it...

He stood, in the finest of clothing. I imagine he stood with arrogant confidence.

And he demanded an answer.

"Where are you from?"

He had authority. Power to reduce people to begging. Power to do and say whatever he chose.

He didn't get an answer to his question.

His arrogance spilled out, "You're not talking to me? Don't you know that I have the authority to let you go and the authority to have you  killed?"

I'm sure he raised his voice.

We think we have authority too. We live like we get to choose our last day.

You do; I do too.

"Tomorrow I will ... "

"This summer we will ..."

"I plan to ... "

Such an unpopular subject--the truth.

It doesn't matter what your last name is, how much money you have, how many people bow to you, how confident you are ... you don't get to choose. Neither do I.

Whether you live another day, or die.

It's okay though, because there is a choice we've been given.

Many years ago, I saw myself as I am. I prayed and asked Jesus to be my Lord forever.

I chose forgiveness.

I chose a relationship.

I chose Jesus.

Pilate looked down at Jesus, bloodied and beaten, and demanded an answer. When no answer was given, he wielded his authority over Jesus ... well, he tried.

I wonder what cold chills ran through him when Jesus spoke? Did he go weak in the knees? Did he feel the impulse to bow?

"You would have no authority over Me at all, if it had not been given you from above."

John tells us from that moment, Pilate made every effort to release Him. His conflict must have been great--the wrestling between good and evil, the struggle to want Jesus and want to keep control over self. Arrogant refusal to admit sin.

He chose self that day.

Jesus chose His death that day ... so you and I could chose life.

Jesus' last earthly instructions, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age"

I have to wonder if the words traveled back to Pilate's ivory tower ... Jesus has all authority. Did he feel the need to wash his hands once more?

I do not have the authority to choose the day I die, and neither do you.

It's okay though. I choose Jesus.

How about you?