What Happened To That Crown of Thorns?

by MARIANE HOLBROOK



What happened to that crown of thornsthat pierced His blessed head,

The one we should have worn but one He chose to wear instead?

That crown whose thorns still carried stains of royal blood so rare

That DNA can't match it; there's no sample to compare.



I'd like to think when God looked down upon His suffering Son

And wiped His ageless eyes in sadness at what man had done,

That God retrieved that blood-soaked crown and held it to His breast

So soldiers couldn't hold it up, make fun of it in jest.



Perhaps God placed that crown of thorns in Heaven's Trophy Case,

Reserved for things from martyrs who had known God's special grace,

For Jesus was a martyr, too, the greatest One of all,

For laying down His life in answer to His Father's call.



Some glorious day, all kings and queens will stand before the throne

From all the ages they'll be there, the famous, the unknown.

They'll look upon the Son of God who sits in Mercy's Seat,

Then bending on their knees, they'll place their crowns at Jesus' feet.



The faithful come before Him, those who worshipped Him on earth,

All saints since the Creation, all believers since His birth.

And there before the Master, stripped of meaningless fa'ade,

They lay their crowns before Him, this beloved Son of God.



God strides to Heaven's Trophy Case, removes the crown of thorns,

The one that Jesus wore when He endured those scoffs and scorns.

God lifts it high for all to see; as shouting fills the air,

The wood turns into diamonds, all the thorns to rubies rare.



The saints explode in worship, as the mighty choir sings,

"Hail, hail, our blessed Saviour, Lord of Lords and King of Kings,

You're worthy, blessed Jesus, and it's You whom we adore.

All heaven bows before You, You shall reign forevermore!"

Dancing around and singing that song

I waited patiently upon the Lord

And He inclined and heard my cry

He pulled me up out of the miry clay

He set my feet upon a rock



He gave me, beauty for ashes

And joy for my mourning

And praise for heaviness

He put a new song in my mouth

And a crown upon my head

He gave me life forevermore


Hes been so good, so so good to me

So good, so so good to me, so good so so good to me Jesus
(by Cory Asbury)

Stand still...

"Stand still,and see the salvation of the Lord."
Exodus 14:13

These words contain God's command to the believer when he is reduced
to great straits and brought into extraordinary difficulties.

He cannot retreat; he cannot go forward; he is shut up on the right hand
and on the left; what is he now to do?

The Master's word to him is, "Stand still."

It will be well for him if at such times he listens only to his Master's word,
for other and evil advisers come with their suggestions.

Despair whispers, "Lie down and die; give it all up."

But God would have us put on a cheerful courage, and even in our worst
times, rejoice in his love and faithfulness.

Cowardice says, "Retreat; go back to the worldling's way of action; you
cannot play the Christian's part, it is too difficult. Relinquish your
principles."

But, however much Satan may urge this course upon you, you cannot
follow it if you are a child of God.

His divine fiat has bid thee go from strength to strength, and so thou
shalt, and neither death nor hell shall turn thee from thy course.

What, if for a while thou art called to stand still, yet this is but to renew
thy strength for some greater advance in due time.

Precipitancy cries, "do something. Stir yourself; to stand still and wait, is
sheer idleness." We must be doing something at once-we must do it so we
think-instead of looking to the Lord, who will not only do something but
will do everything.

Presumption boasts, "If the sea be before you, march into it and expect
a miracle."

But Faith listens neither to Presumption, nor to Despair, nor to
Cowardice, nor to Precipitancy, but it hears God say, "Stand still," and
immovable as a rock it stands.

"Stand still;"-keep the posture of an upright man, ready for action,
expecting further orders, cheerfully and patiently awaiting the directing
voice; and it will not be long ere God shall say to you, as distinctly as
Moses said it to the people of Israel, "Go forward."

(Spurgeon)

Not just when its christmas time...

I just wanted to send you a thought that a friend and I had in a conversation about Christmas.

For me personal I thought several times already that Christmas is “horrible” - please don’t get me wrong not what Christmas is all about but all the stuff that is happening around Christmas.

The stress to get gifts or to create some last minute (am I the only one?), the people who are hustle in the store and on top of that scream at you, the people who honk the horn even that the light is still red (do you get what I mean?)
I so longed last year for a peaceful, reflective yes smooth pre-Christmas-period and was a little bit discouraged that it didn’t work out.

BUT -> The first Christmas ever was stressful itself!

When Jesus was born there was nothing like reflectiveness!!
There were people stressed out because the emperor got the palmy idea to count his folk.
Many didn’t have a donkey for the long walk and for some the last one was snatched away in front of them. The shepherds probably had trouble to gather all their sheep that night because some just ran off (and by the way they probably had enough to do and not the heart’s desire to get “interrupt” through a choir of singing angles ;)) streeeeeeeessssss :)
All the hostels were loaded with people being on the edge who - after a long journey - finally wanted to sleep. But outside there was no quietness because of all the people who were still outside and fighting over the last sleeping spot – there wasn’t a tiny bit of calmness or peace!

BUT exactly in that stress-filled world the SAVIOR OF THE WORLD was born – the biggest gift that mankind would ever get.

Only a few people took the time to marvel – to marvel in front of a little child, to marvel before a God everyone can come to!
Everyone that takes the time – in that stressful season – to kneel in front of the crib, and to enjoy the miracle, will experience that Jesus will fill you and me with peace!

I really like it that stress and Christmas just seem to belong together – just with the difference, that we should stop in between and marvel about what Jesus did!
BUT not only during the Christmas season but during the whole year!