by Tami Rudkin ย He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering (Isaiah 53:3, NIV). “You don’t know how I feel!” Becky screamed. Her shoulders sagged and her once-silent tears became mournful sobbing. She was right: I couldn’t relate. Her pain was too deep. The expression etched on…
Author: nowwhat
Jesus: Our Pioneer
To find new life, we must follow the Leader. by Tami Rudkin ย And let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith . . . (Hebrews 12:1b, 2, NRSV). Living in Wyoming has given birth to many daydreams about the pioneers…
Jesus: King of the Upside-Down Kingdom
Gaining a different view of the world. by Tami Rudkin ย Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel” (John 1:49, NIV). Parade day in our town is a big event. Hours before it actually begins, people gather along the parade route. Children run and laugh; moms…
Jesus: Lamb of God
by Tami Rudkin ย “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John l:29). Dirty and dusty roads, dirty and corrupt minds, dirty and compromised religion. Sometimes the dirt was a natural phenomenon of living in an arid, sweltering…
Jesus: Illuminating Light
Seeing ourselves as Jesus sees usdisrupts our comfort zones. by Tami Rudkin ย “The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned” (Matthew 4:16). Shining . . . shadows. Radiant . . . gloomy. Brilliant . . . dim….
Jesus: I AM – for Always
by Tami Rudkin ย “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8:58, NIV). Jesus was a radical, a revolutionary, a rebel — at least in the minds of the Jewish people. Everywhere He traveled He upset the religious leaders. He infuriated them to the point of murderous thoughts….
Jesus: Carpenter
We can trust the One who knows the tools of His trade. by Tami Rudkin ย “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! Isn’t this the carpenter?” (Mark 6:2, 3, NIV). Jig saw, band saw, and table saw. Chisels, 1/4″,…
Jesus: Friend of Sinners
by Tami Rudkin ย The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners” (Matthew 11:19, NIV). Broken dreams. Shattered hopes. Ruined lives. These words describe many in our world today. They may describe you. They’re all around us, on…
Jesus: God’s Thought Spoken to Us
The weight of words, divine and mortal. by Tami Rudkin ย In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1). Children sing “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” As soon as we hear that childhood verse, our mind’s…
Jesus: Bright Morning Star
The Light of the world takes on the Prince of Darkness. by Tami Rudkin ย I am the Root and Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star (Revelation 22:16, NIV). Simply speaking those words, repeating His name, soothes my spirit and impels me to look to the pale eastern horizon where the beautiful Morning…