Jesus - Ellen Chauvin | Soaked & Sprouting

Bathrooms and Jesus

March 12, 2026 by Ellen Leave a Comment

Bathrooms and Jesus. That’s a combination you would never put together, right? Let me tell you how I got here:

Recently, we attended my husband’s fiftieth high school reunion. If you haven’t made it this far in life yet, let me tell you, it’s an interesting time. It’s also a time when you don’t want to look bad in any way.

So when I got stuck in the bathroom stall, I panicked a bit. I could imagine having to scream so loud that someone would come to my rescue. How silly would I look?!? Turns out, all I had to do was slam my shoulder into the stall door. Yes, I had a bruise the next day, but I didn’t look stupid!

That wasn’t the first time I’ve gotten stuck in a stinky situation. At a car show with my husband, I had to go to the restroom. All they had were port-o-lets. EWWWW. But you do what you’ve got to do. I went in, held my breath, and just as I was getting ready to (thankfully) leave the “belly of the whale,” a rainstorm blew through. Opting to maintain my nicely coifed hair (because I didn’t want to look like a drowned puppy), I decided to wait it out in that stanky old outdoor outhouse. Nasty!

Unlike me, stinky situations didn’t bother Jesus. Remember when He went to Lazarus’ grave and told the people to remove the stone? Lazarus had been dead for four days. The full implication of this act really shines through in the King James Version when Martha tells Jesus, “Lord, by this time he stinketh (John 11:39).”

Lazarus’ body was decomposing after four days in the tomb. Let me say this right now: “Oh, no, not me! I will not stand next to that stinky grave!” But Jesus didn’t shrink or cower at the thought. He had a larger purpose in mind.

Ancient Tomb, Israel 2023

Jewish tradition indicates “a belief that the soul hovered over the body for three days, hoping to reenter it, but then gave up and departed^⁠1.”

Jesus wanted the people to see the glory of God in the resurrection of a dead man. That’s why He waited until Lazarus had been dead four days. Past the point of no return. The people who saw this miracle would believe that God had sent Jesus (John 11:40-42).

Isn’t that just like Jesus? Barrelling into a stinky situation to bring life to it?

Jesus barrels into our stinky situations to bring us life.

If you’ve ever thought, My life’s a mess. It stinks. Jesus could never love me (or forgive me, or want me), you’re wrong. While we may not like our stinky lives, Jesus wades right into the middle and pulls us out of the muck and the grime.

Before Jesus came into our lives, we were all Lazarus-dead. We were dead in our sins, trapped in a tomb, and wrapped in grave clothes. We were stanky.

But Jesus. He has a heart for sinners like you and me. He cares. Jesus wants us to throw off the grave clothes and walk in new life with Him! And as with Lazarus, Jesus wants us alive for His glory.

How has Jesus been working in your life recently? How can you bring Him honor and glory with the way you live?

For His Glory,

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¹Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2045.

Christmas Memories: A Need So Great

December 20, 2023 by Ellen Leave a Comment

“What’s your favorite Christmas memory?” My husband and I relaxed in front of the fire, gazing at the sparkling lights on the Christmas tree. I was curious what Christmas memories the tree and lights brought to mind.

Thinking he may go back to a favorite childhood memory, he surprised me. He told about a Christmas prank he and his brother played on their Mom.

“Mom, look, Santa left a gift for me and Jerry!” John and his brother Jerry began ripping the pretty paper to shreds.

“Look, it’s a train! Like the one we almost got as kids! Whadaya think Mom?”

The look she gave them could have stopped a freight train. Cold. Hard. No Christmas joy. It was the annual Christmas joke and ribbing that began over thirty years ago.

“Moma, can we have a train for Christmas? Please?”

“Yeah, Moma, we want a train!”

For the boys, seven and five, life had been difficult the past year or so. Their 37-year old dad had dropped dead while refereeing a youth football game. Suddenly, the oldest son and daughter had to grow up. At sixteen, brother Jimmy was now head of the family. At ten sister Cindy became the mom, cooking for the boys and keeping the house. Meanwhile, Moma scurried to find work and make a living. Oh yeah, Moma also had to learn how to drive.

The second Christmas without their Dad rolled around. The two youngest boys began to dream. Could Santa, or Moma, give them something fun? Not clothes or socks or underwear. A real toy. The closer to December 25^th, the more they begged an cajoled.

“Please, please, please. Just a train. That’s all we want!”

Christmas morning dawned bright and clear. Anticipation and excitement was thick in the air. Perhaps, after all, there would be toys under the tree. They were sure Moma had told Santa about the longed for train.

Little Jerry and Johnny rushed into the living room to see what surprises may be in store for them. There, under the deep green branches of the fir tree, was a box, with the picture of a train and track on it! Hurrah! A train set! They tore into it, everyone joining in, putting the train and track together.

The engine chug-a-lugged round and round, pulling several cars. They could almost see the train crew in the caboose, it looked so real. That little engine worked hard. It was like The Little Engine That Could. Well, almost. “I think I can, I think I can. I think I can’t any more…” After about an hour it stopped.

“Moma, the train’s not working! Moma what now?”

Jimmy, the older brother/dad checked it out. “It looks like the wheels on the engine locked up tight. They ain’t budging.” The little engine couldn’t move. There was nothing they could do but box it back up. Moma would take care of it.

“I’ll return it to the store tomorrow.”

Gladness filled the hearts of little Johnny and Jerry. Tomorrow, they would have a brand new working train!

Only, they didn’t. Moma returned the broken toy, and brought home – an iron!

Eyes wide, mouths hanging open, shock rocked their world. The train they had wanted, that was in their grasp for a short while, was gone forever.

Christmas Memories: The train

“Oh, come on Moma. Don’t give us that look! We’ve wanted a train for thirty years! Now we finally have one!”

“Y’all don’t realize I did what I had to do for our family. I needed an iron to press my clothes for work. Remember, we didn’t have money for me to take them to the dry cleaners.”

“THAT’S your Christmas memory?” It was not the warm, fuzzy story with a happy ending that I expected.

I couldn’t imagine why my mother-in-law didn’t explain the situation to the boys. Instead she took the train away, never to replace it. Then again, I couldn’t imagine being a young widow with four children to raise.

I couldn’t imagine a need so great that something so loved and cherished would be given up.

But God could:

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Merry CHRISTmas!