Gardens are one of the most refreshing places to visit with God’s unrivaled living art and science in the form of flowers in nature…specially during Hanami (Cherry Blossom) season!  From one spot alone at Ueno Park on a timely Hanami Season visit:In capturing the scene of this grand symphony of beauty, there is only one bird perched on the wooden sign. All these… for one bird!

Today being Good Friday, I am drawn to reflect on how Jesus values the one who would repent and turn to Him.  2018 years ago, He was in another garden, Gethsemane.

Matthew 26:38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”,… 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will,”… ’42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

Luke 22:44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

Though salvation for you and me is free by believing in Jesus, it cost Him dearly with anguish, distress, sorrow, torture, humiliation, rejection, death.  All that, for The One. Though overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death, He chose to do the Father’s will to give you and me eternal life.

The artistic depiction of that scene from Mel Gibson’s film, The Passion of Christ:

Thank You, Lord, for going through the horrific death You went through to pay the debt we owe (which we can not pay) so that we who fall short of Your standards of holiness, by faith in You, can have eternal life.

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Dear Friend, if today you find yourself in your own Gethsemane undergoing circumstances that overwhelm you, may you be greatly encouraged by these Easter messages:
Between Friday’s Death and Sunday’s Resurrection  (Dr. Peter Tanchi recalls the time when he struggled with his faith when his daughter, Joy, got raped.)

The Answer Is Easter (Ptr. Rick Warren’s first Easter message since his son, Matthew, took his own life.)

A Fresh Look at Passover/ The Last Supper and Today’s Suffering (Beth Moore talks about the relevance of the Passover Jesus celebrated during the Last Supper to discouragement or suffering you may face.)