“The RoseBouquet”

Things are really looking up this week! I admit to being antsy last week, and I contacted a lot of people to hint and ask outright if they would consider being my angel investor. Then one man wrote telling of how a bank had mercy on them when they came back from being missionaries abroad, and how they had been blessed in their Christian bookstore they started up. He suggested I try the financial institutions. The one in his area was offering special deals to first time mortgage holders.

Well, I had to admit that I have been saying they wouldn’t consider me - I’ve got no credit rating because I’ve refused to take on any debt in the last 30 years - however, I haven’t actually asked any of them. So I prayed about it over the weekend, and decided that if no one came forward by Monday, I would dress up and go begging for a mortgage.

I spent Monday morning researching the information I’d have to provide, and checking online what I might expect at our local credit union, the one this friend had mentioned, and another one in the city. Just before I left for my Monday afternoon appointment with the local credit union, a man called, who is on the mission Board with me at W.T.M. He offered to help. I told what I was doing and asked if he would also consider co-signing if that became necessary. He agreed.

I had a fine meeting that took an hour and a half. The young woman was a great listener and seemed to feed off my enthusiasm for all the things I plan to do to make a living once I’m in the city. She agreed that my credit rating was nil, and my tax returns for the last three years did not show the kind of income to support my loan. However, if I could get that $15,000 loan from Mennonite Trust, and if this gentleman who offered, would co-sign, she’d be happy to give me a loan!

Best of all - they would allow me to pay off as much and as often on the loan as I would like!

I checked out the other credit union and the PC Financial by calling their 800 numbers, and got much the same answer. Then, my “co-signer” suggested that before I sign the final deal I go get more details on the one FirstSask would give me. So I made an appointment for 9:30 this morning. (That’s why I’m half a day late here).

My “co-signer” now has several options to choose from. I need to report to him, and see which route we’ll go. But if all goes well, I expect to sign the deal for the purchase of my little mint green house this week, or next!.

I do not feel it is ethical to put a picture of it online before I own it, but - you can watch for it next week! This is going to happen! You will see that little house transformed!

My heart-felt thanks to all my dear friends in various parts of the world who have been praying for me in all this! Your prayers have helped.

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I’ve not had time to write articles, but last night I sorted through some photos about the preparations for the Estate Auction, and you may want to “read” the photos for more 1000s of words than I have time to write.

Preparing for Auction

Interesting! Those guards who had been mute witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus came to life, and delegated some of them (out of two, four, or more, we don’t know), to go into the city and report to the chief priests everything that happened.

The chief priests quickly met with the elders and devised a plan. (Always scheming, right?) They paid the soldiers a large sum of money and told them what to story to report; that the disciples had stolen Jesus’ body while they slept. If this got to the governor’s ears, they would cover the soldiers’ tracks. It says here, that this is the story widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

I now have a big question. Roman soldiers were always executed if they were found to have been asleep on a guard duty. If they confessed to being asleep, why were they not executed?

This does explain though, why it is so hard to convince people of the resurrection if they have only heard the Jewish, or secular version of what happened. They have believed the fabricated story sold to the soldiers.

The soldiers knew the true account of what happened, and they told it to the chief priests, so they were not ignorant either. All these men deliberately choose to believe and pass on a lie. I think this falls under the “unpardonable sin.”

So what can I learn from this? What shall I do or believe now as a result?

PRAYER: Oh Father-God, I rejoice that I have heard the true account despite this cover-up! Thank You, that the truth has not been silenced. Your truth has prevailed. Help me to be part of those who pass on this true account of Jesus’ resurrection, and not part of those who cover it up with falsehoods. I want to be bolder in sharing the gospel story, because everyone who believes and receives for themselves Jesus’ death and resurrection for them, can be saved and sanctified. Hallelujah! Amen!

+++++Jesus is my King+++++Jesus is my King+++++

Blessings on you Today!
Ruth Marlene Friesen

P.S. Watching your friend die is HARD, isn’t it? Ruthe handles it fairly well for her first time. You should read this book - you could learn from her.

“The early bird gets the worm,” I used to hear a lot when I was growing up. These two Marys were up and away to the tomb at dawn on the first day of the week. They got there in time to see all the drama of Jesus’ resurrection. They definitely got the prize!

First there was a violent earthquake. It says, “..for an angel of the Lord came down…” so apparently the angel arrived with a mighty thump on the earth. This angel grabbed that sealed rock at the tomb’s door, and rolled it away. Not just over a foot or two, but so it landed on it’s side, and this strong angel sat down on it. He had the brilliance of lightening, and clothing as white as dazzling snow.

The guards were so afraid of him, the Bible says here, that they were like dead men. Immobilized. (I wonder if they didn’t recall what they saw later, and have an impressive story to tell!)

The women might have been somewhat rattled and in shock too, but at least they were able to hear the angel speak and to obey. The angel said, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

The women hurried away, afraid, yet filled with joy. But on the way, Jesus greeted them! They worshiped Him, and He reiterated the message to go tell His brothers to go to Galilee to see Him.

I can only imagine the utmost excitement in these two Marys. It might have been like my most emotional time multiplied about 10 or 12 times. (More might kill me).

PRAYER: Oh Lord, what a tremendous, victorious resurrection for You! How exciting for those Marys to witness the opening of that tomb. How wise that the guards were witnesses too, and had a story to tell afterwards that no one could refute. How glad I am, dear Lord Jesus, that You are such a mighty Victor over death and the grave! Abiding in You I have that now too!

+++++Jesus is my King+++++Jesus is my King+++++

Blessings on you Today!
Ruth Marlene Friesen

P.S. So much fiction nowadays focuses on ‘reality’ - the ugliness of life, the raw pain. Ruthe’s Secret Roses is different in that it focuses on what life should be and can be like if someone has a lively relationship with God. True, there is a lot of suffering in this world, and the book doesn’t hide from that reality, but shows how one young woman deals with it in victory. Wouldn’t you like to see how she does it? Read about the book here

Pilate had become very accommodating, hadn’t he? When Joseph asked for the body of Jesus to bury it, he got it. When the Chief Priests and Pharisees came to Pilate to ask for a seal and guard around that tomb so that Jesus would not be able to fulfill His prediction that He would rise the third day, Pilate let them have their way too. “Go make it as secure as you know how,” he said..

The story the religious leadership gave was that the disciples might steal Jesus’ body and then say He had risen from the dead. They must have projected on those poor disciples the kind of actions they would take themselves. I’ve not had the impression the disciples were the sort who would attempt such a deceptive move.

The disciples were devastated that their Lord had in fact died. This was not how they had understood Him, nor was it in their minds to plot anything, never mind to pretend Jesus had risen from the dead.

Maybe it’s just as well it was these Chief Priests and the Pharisees who took all these precautionary measures. They themselves sealed that tomb and posted Pilate’s guard, two to four soldiers, who knew if they fell asleep on this watch, they were dead too! This way, when the resurrection happened, these angry Pharisees had no one to point a finger at. They could not point and say, “You should have sealed that tomb!” Or, “Why wasn’t there a guard posted?” They had seen to every security measure.

When I was a child, if we kids tried to plan tricks or traps for one another, my beloved Gra’ma would say very wisely, quoting a verse in Proverbs I learned later, “He who digs a pit for another will fall into it himself.” - Those religious leaders set a trap for themselves.

PRAYER: Lord, we’ve read the next chapter, so we know what happens and we read these verses with that in mind. If I should start an elaborate plot to deceive others, help me to remember that it will spring on me, and hold me up to public embarrassment. I confess, that does seem to be fair retribution. You are a just and fair God. I want to remember that.

+++++Jesus is my King+++++Jesus is my King+++++

Blessings on you Today!
Ruth Marlene Friesen

P.S. I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses, and the voice I hear, falling on my ear…. Ruthe’s Secret Roses, my novel, illustrates that dear song!

Joseph of Arimathea was a rich man who had become a disciple of Jesus. After Jesus died it was Joseph who knew what to do, and had the courage. He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. He was used to getting what he asked, and may not have had any qualms. Pilate simply ordered that Jesus’ body be given to him.

Nor was this man, Joseph, afraid to do work that would normally contanimate someone else. He handled Jesus’ body, (probably with the help of servants), taking it down from the cross and wrapping it in a clean linen cloth. Then they carried it to his own freshly hewn tomb in a rock garden nearby. Joseph and his servants rolled a big stone in front of the mouth of the tomb, and went away.

But look; verse 61 says, “Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there across from the tomb.” It doesn’t say whether they helped with the burial as we saw in Mel Gibson’s “Passion of Christ,” but it’s possible. At the very least, they were nearby and had watched, and could not tear themselves away yet to go home. This was the worst day they had ever experienced, and they could not switch it off so easily. They sat on the ground and mourned.

I learn from Joseph that if we do the next good thing we know to do, God will use it as part of His plan. Just step forward and others will agree and things will be completed. We may not all be rich followers of Jesus, but if we use what we have and know, it will be the right thing at the right time.

I learn from the women that it is important not to brush off and set aside our grieving process. When we hurt badly, we need to allow time to own that pain. Denying it does not help us. (It will only make us unhealthy).

PRAYER: Oh Lord, it’s hard to do both, but I want to be like Joseph, and take the next steps as they appear necessary, and even to sacrifice the things I’d set aside for myself, to give them to You. You won’t borrow them forever! On the other hand, like these dear women, I need to face and express my pain and grief when I have it, and not run away from it. Help me to do that too. Amen.

NOTE: As you can see we are nearing the end of our study of Matthew. There will be four more devotionals next week, bringing us to the end of chapter 28. Because I’m very busy with cleaning up Dad’s estate and preparing to move myself, I’ll beg a leave of absence for a while, and let you know when I have another study ready - perhaps in the fall. I’ll let you know when we can start up again. Thank you for staying with me through this study. I trust it has blessed you.

+++++Jesus is my King+++++Jesus is my King+++++

Blessings on you Today!
Ruth Marlene Friesen

P.S. Muriel’s older sister Cathy has gone to a party with plans to elope from there. But their mother is dying and wants to talk to Cathy. What is there to do but find her and bring her back - even against her will. How do you suppose Ruthe handled that? Find out by reading, Ruthe’s Secret Roses. Available in e-Book edition Softcover edition.

For three hours in the middle of the day, a heavy darkness came over the land as Jesus was on the cross. Then He cried out that dreadful prayer, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” That was what the darkness was about.

Because all the sins of the world were on Jesus, God the Father turned away - He did not want to look at that sin. So Jesus tasted the terrible aloneness that comes with being disconnected from God for our sins.

I find it odd that after all these hours of suffering Jesus was still able to cry out with a loud voice. In verse 50, it says that He cried out with a loud voice again, and gave up His spirit. So His life was not just dribbled away, instead He willed to die, and died.

Immediately there were amazing effects; the great big, heavy, woven veil in the temple that protected the Holiest of holies from all but one priest, once a year, was torn - not from the bottom where people might reach it, but from the top, where only God could grab it and tear!

Secondly there was an earthquake and rocks split open. Tombs broke open and the bodies of holy, God-fearing people were raised to life, and wandered around the city, speaking to people.

The centurion and all those watching Jesus’ death got chills, and declared that is really, truly must be the Son of God. This super-natural death rivaled and superseded anything in their mythology of their gods’ adventures.

PRAYER: This is such an old story to me, Lord, that sometimes my mind glazes over, but today, in reading it a fresh in Your Word, I feel like I have afresh glimpse of how mighty You are, and that Your death on the cross was a very BIG deal! You suffered much for us, for me, but in the end You laid down Your life, it wasn’t snatched from You. You laid it down for my sins, and that set off fireworks of splitting rocks and resurrections from the dead! Truly, You are the Son of God!

+++++Jesus is my King+++++Jesus is my King+++++

Blessings on you Today!
Ruth Marlene Friesen

P.S. God tells me I am His own - does He ever tell you that? You can find out how by reading my novel, Ruthe’s Secret Roses

I’ve been busy sorting and lining up things from Dad’s workshops in preparation for the auction sale. Sometimes it means eating clouds of dust, when I clear off some cabinets that haven’t seen a broom in years!

I had one auctioneer come through last Thursday, but he said plainly that we couldn’t afford their outfit. They do BIG business dispursal auctions, and it costs him $1000 just to put his crew on site. He did give me some good recommendations though, and I appreciated that.

Monday night of this week I had another one come through to look it over. I haven’t heard from any of the others, so I went ahead and started planning for the auction with him. He also has some basic fees (which total to $1000) as well, and we’ve set a date for July 6.

I still have some more sorting and arranging to do, and to bring the basement stuff up, and to update my inventory and type it up. But then it is time to turn my attention to where I’m going to live.

Yesterday I’ve had a crushing blow as I learned that the funding I thought would be in place - is not. I still need a miracle! The trust company that is the executor of Dad’s will is not willing to loan me as much as I’d hoped. Without the full price of my house I’m sunk!

Then last night at the WTM Board meeting I was among caring friends, and hope returned!

So I’m clinging to our loving Heavenly Father these days, and waiting to see what He will do for me.

Business is… well, it is in a holding pattern while I try to wrap up this estate stuff, and my move.

I have started sending out my first “missionary prayer letter” inviting friends and followers to become my financial and prayer supporters, as I work part time for Western Tract Mission. You can read your copy here; 1stMissionaryLtr(5-07).pdf (If you wish to download it, simply right-click on the link, and on “Save As…” on the fly-up menu).

My evenings are still for my clients, and they do write encouraging emails sometimes. I know I will be able to do more once I’m settled in the city and can give my full days to my business, so I do have my moments of impatience. I really would like to be moved out of here well before the auction sale date, and I need to allow time to clean and fix up that place first.

May I ask you for a fresh surge of prayer that God will provide that little green house to me - and that quite soon?

My mind is always working on possible solutions and one that is churning around right now, is that if someone else who can afford it, would purchase the house for me, and then allow me to pay it off in rent-to-own payments until I can pay larger sums with my inheritance and what I’ll be earning, now that would be a dream plan. That person could charge me interest and make a profit too. Such people are called angel-investors in the business world

Can you pray, “Lord, send Ruth an Angel-Investor?”

If He does, I’d like to pledge to become one myself some day!