The Cost of a Cupcake

It must have been one daunting task to feed seven kids everyday of the week. In our house there were five boys (small horses), and two girls. Mom used to pack our school lunch everyday which meant almost a loaf of bread just for those. And, I never met a boy that only ate one sandwich of any concoction. Mom also made our treats, cookies and cupcakes, by the gross.

Well, as boys will be boys, one of the precious cupcakes came up missing just before supper time. Supper time, means mass grazing for the boys, we didn't have much money but we sure did eat good. Anyway, mom got really upset and knew it was one of her male offspring. How did she know? Nobody confessed to the cupcake caper so dad sent all of the boys upstairs to bed with no supper. No supper, a fate worse than death for five stomachs that required a constant flow of substance for survival, yet alone to thrive and become pillars in our community.

Off to bed, we climbed up the stairs, I was mumbling something to be sure. The three older boys started to argue and accuse each other of the cupcake caper. As the accusations and denials flew across the bedrooms an awful truth began to descend upon us, we are gonna get hungry, in fact we might even stay up all night fighting the severe hunger pains that would descend upon us any minute. With the pains of being famished descending so did the tears.

An older brother, who shall remain nameless, unless he doesn't buy me a steak dinner, headed down the stairs making his speech of confession and blubbering words of contrition. It only took a minute for the rest of the herd to descend the trail and gather at the feed trough. I might never know if that brother was the real culprit of the cupcake caper. In fact, he may have just been the one that was most hungry. After all he did turn out to be six foot six inches. That my friends is a big horse.

Jesus took a lot of time when it came to dealing with food and our earthly needs. On the hillside He fed thousands with a minuscule amount. He grilled fish outside for the disciples. In the upper room He opened a door of grace with bread and wine. And, during a great Jewish feast He declared that He was the Bread of Life. I am so blessed and glad to know that I don't have to go to bed hungry anymore.

The Eyes of Christ

The Eyes of Christ

It was the eyes o Christ, those magnificent eyes that-

Watched a blessed wedding celebration and made sure that the joy of the event would continue.

It was the eyes of Christ-

That looked upon a mass of humanity and recognized individual souls,

talking to them about life in His coming kingdom.

It was the eyes of Christ-

That looked into the heart of a great religious teacher and created a thirst for eternal life.

It was the eyes of Christ-

That looked past a life filled with failure and sin worthy of death,

and by His gaze and words her soul found freedom and a purpose

for living far greater than chains of this world.

It was the eyes of Christ-

That looked with powerful compassion on a man whose home was a field of bones and stones.

The man whose only friends were the fiends that haunted his every second, minute, hour.

That looked past the evil that was evident and focused on the soul

that was hidden by rag and ruin.

Those magnificent eyes of Christ.
It was the eyes of Christ-

That watched and heard a powerful warrior begging the Great Healer to touch his daughter.

A warrior whose battle hardened soul was ready to die by the spear,

but trembled in fear over the thought of losing his own flesh and blood.

It was the eyes of Christ-

That watched as a man begged for food and searched for dignity in dust and dirt,

that some of that very dirt that reminded the blind of his plight was

transformed into a salve of sight.

It was the eyes of Christ-

That drew friends into an intimate fellowship where basin, bread and wine

would become instruments of grace and relationship.

It was the eyes of Christ-

That entreated three friends to help Him in His hour of need,

looking past their inability to be vigilant, knowing of their future.

It was the eyes of Christ-

That pierced the heart of a political puppet telling him that all power was

granted by the King of the Universe.

It is the eyes of Christ-

That recognize the man by the side of the road holding his sign,

"Will Work for Food" and is acquainted with pain and despair,

still knowing that he is a man of worth and eternal value.

It is the eyes of Christ-

That look into the hollow shell of the woman whose existence is propped

by the pill and the bottle, whispering to her soul that she can begin again

and with His grace her life will be vibrant and whole.

O, Let Us Have Those Magnificent Eyes of Christ.

A Lenten Thought

A Lenten Thought

Close, Come to His Cross,

The Scene, His Life, Seem as Dross.

I Will Cherish the Old Rugged Cross

The Wood, The Blood,

Attack my Soul Like a flood.

I Want to Flee,

In His Visage, it is Me.

I Will Cling to the Old Rugged Cross

He Hangs in My Place,

Clothed in Disgrace.

His Head Bowed Low,

From Brokeness, Life does Flow.

I Will Cherish the Old Rugged Cross

His Eyes, Upon Me Gaze,

My Tears, My Vision does Haze.

The Death Post, I Again Come Near,

For My Need I See Clear.

I Will Cling to the Old Rugged Cross

My Hands, Soul, do Grip His Feet,

Souls Rejoice! For Salvation Sweet.

The Post, The Beam, That Raised Him High,

Transport All Beyond the Sky.

tg/2-11-01

"I Will Cling- I Will Cherish" The Old Rugged Cross-George Benard

Blessings to All.