Looking Unto the Cross..... A devotional for day 36 of LENT Tuesday, April 18

Sorry, your browser doesn't support Java(tm). He Gave His Life for You The piano lesson was just starting when the phone rang. I checked the Caller ID. We had sent out resumes to several district superintendents and it looked like this could be another one calling. I excused myself and answered the phone. It was Dr. Jack Eyestone, District Superintendent of the Missouri District Church of the Nazarene. He was meeting with the church board of the Charleston church that night and wanted to know if he could present us as a possibility to become the pastors of the church. He told me quite a bit about the church and the people, then said he would call back after my husband, Mark, got home to get an answer. I finished the lesson and then began to do some research on the town of Charleston, Missouri. This was starting to become a routine after each phone call from a district superintendent: *check the atlas, what was the population of the town and the surrounding area *get on the internet, check the statistical history of the church *do a search to see what information we could find about the town. This time we struck paydirt, the town had an official website. Here we discovered that each April, Charleston hosts a Dogwood-Azalea Festival. There were a few pictures of the town in bloom. It looked like a pretty town. A few more phone calls and the interview was set for the next week, the first week of November. It was rainy and dreary when we arrived, but the beauty of the town shone through in spite of the weather. Stately old Victorian homes greeted us. The fall colors were just past their prime, but the deep burgundy of the dogwoods and the brilliant crimsons, rusts, and oranges of the maples scattered here and there were still evident and provided an interesting contrast. We knew that if God should direct us to move to this town, we were in for a treat in the spring. We weren't disappointed. God did bring us to Charleston. In April, we were gone for a few days. When we left, the buds on the dogwoods were just starting to open. When we returned, Charleston was in full bloom. What a breathtaking sight! God's handiwork was evident everywhere you turned. Rainbow colored azaleas put on quite a show beneath the pink and white canopy of dogwoods. Here and there, redbud trees added touches of a deep purplish pink. Our own yard was adorned with dogwoods, redbuds and azaleas. The following weekend, as the festival got under way, people began to stream into town from all over. We followed the tour route marked with pink stripes on the streets and gazed in awe at the beautiful sights. The stately old homes that had sported the deep burgundy of the fall dogwoods were now decked out in brilliant hues of reds, pinks, white, and even lavender as the azaleas put on their display. The pink and white blossoms of the dogwoods lined the streets. We drove through town numerous times, drinking it all in. We discovered Mary's Thicket, a spectacular multicolored hedge of azaleas. Across the street, we looked in wonder at a lavender azalea that was as tall as the house it stood in front of. In talking with the owners, we learned that this one azalea bush was as old as the house–over 65 years old! We found the old former state champion dogwood tree that now had to have its branches propped up because they were so large and heavy. It no longer had the profusion of blooms that it once had, but the gnarled old branches still maintained a certain charm. The current state champion was a mile or so away. Most dogwood trees I have seen are fairly small, but this one was very large and completely covered with snow-white blossoms. The size of the two champion trees makes the Legend of the Dogwood even more credible. The legend says that the dogwood once grew as tall and stately as the oak, with strong branches suitable for making the cross upon which Jesus died. The dogwood was so distressed over being used in such a manner that Jesus took pity on it and decreed that never again would it grow large enough for its branches be used for such a cruel purpose. As a reminder to all of the crucifixion, the four petals of its blossoms form the shape of a cross. The edge of the petals bear the marks of the rusty nails and the blood of Jesus. In the center of the blossom is a crown of thorns. It is said that the pink dogwoods are blushing in shame. Sorry, your browser doesn't support Java(tm). As I write this, the few ornamental plum trees in town have donned their snowy white gowns, the redbud trees are getting ready to burst into bloom, and there are clumps of daffodils dotting the landscape, announcing in their golden tones, "Spring is coming!" By the time you read this, the dogwoods and azaleas will be in full bloom here and the annual Dogwood-Azalea Festival will be over for another year. If the dogwood grows where you live, let its spring blossoms remind you of the crown of thorns and the nail-scarred hands and feet of the One who gave His life for you on a cross of shame. Rev. Betty Bolerjack Charleston, MO USA Father What beauty Your creation gives each day. I thank You for reminding me what You have intended for my life to become as a display of Your creativeness for others to see. A dash of salt here, a beam of light there, a cup of cold water, and even a living sacrifice not always seeking my own good. Let me be part of Your creative bouquet for today. Amen. Suggested Daily Scripture Reading [Psalm 71:1-14] [Isa 49:1-7] [I Cor 1:18-31] [John 12:20-36] Visit: 1999 Advent/Christmas Series Epiphany Series You may send e-mail comments or suggestions toYvonne Edwards. Page designed by: Yvonne Edwards Prayer by: Joe Hittle Dogwood Pictures provided by Rev. Betty Bolderjack Holy Land Pictures provided by Chuck Wilkes. Copyright © 2000 NazNet All rights reserved. International copyright secured.