Thought for the Day

"[To have Faith in Christ] means, of course, trying to do all that He says. There would be no sense in saying you trusted a person if you would not take his advice. Thus if you have really handed yourself over to Him, it must follow that you are trying to obey Him. But trying in a new way, a less worried way. Not doing these things in order to be saved, but because He has begun to save you already. Not hoping to get to Heaven as a reward for your actions, but inevitably wanting to act in a certain way because a first faint gleam of Heaven is already inside you."
— C.S. Lewis (Mere Christianity)

WWJD

John 20
(The Empty Tomb/Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene)
Jesus Appears to His Disciples
19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

Jesus gave an enormous amount of power to the disciples when He blessed them with the Holy Spirit... He gave them the power of "forgiveness" over mankind. Sometimes, unfortunately, we (modern day Christians) feel that we should have that ultimate power, too. Maybe somebody hurts us so badly that we want to be judge and jury!

But, Jesus specifically told the disciples:
"If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." And what WE were told was the following:
Luke 6:37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. AND Matthew 6:15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

That's a little bit different than what the disciples were told, huh?

In the 90s, I wore a WWJD bracelet, like many other Christians did, too. It made me consciously think "What Would Jesus Do" in various situations throughout the day. It also showed other people that passed me during my journeys, that I was a Christian. Now, I wear a chunky cross necklace. I wear it for the same reason. It reminds me that others "see" me as a Christian, and that my actions may be under scrutiny. And, the last thing I want to be seen as is a hypocrite. So, am I perfect because of my chunky necklace? Of course not! I'm a sinner just like everyone else. But, it keeps me humble, and ever mindful.

Anyway, I wonder if the disciples struggled with their roles as judges. I know I would have... There are too many things in my past that I could be judged for to judge anyone else. I hope everyone else feels that way. If all the cross necklaces I see everywhere are any indication... Well, we can only ask ourselves WWJD?

"Wrath of God" OR "Mother Nature"

Some parts of the city that I live in, like other areas across the country,are currently under water. We haven't had this much flooding since 1997. I went out today and took pictures throughout town - lots of people were out doing the same thing.



Several states away, in Alabama, families are suffering the loss of loved ones to horrific tornadoes. Many are still looking for family members.

Last night in my weekly Bible study class we discussed what many people are asking themselves in times like this... Is God causing this devastation? If you ask yourself this, you must also ask yourself some of the follow:

A) Why did God allow September 11th?
B) Why do innocent people die in drunk driving accidents?
C) Why do good people suffer from terminal illnesses?
D) Why does God allow children to be born with birth defects?
E) Why does God allow thousands of people to die in "natural disasters" (ie earthquakes, hurricanes)?

This is my opinion on the whole matter:
1.) God is a LOVING God. Proof of this - John 3:16-17 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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. AND 2Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

2.) We have FREE WILL. Proof of this - Joshua 24:15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”

SO...
In regards to A & B, since we all have free will, we unfortunately can sometimes be hurt by others actions. For instance, the terrorists of 9/11 made a decision to harm as many people as they could when they flew the planes into the World Trade Center buildings. They were responsible for the deaths of 2752 innocent people.

Regarding C,D & E, These things are a part of life... and death. They have always been and will always be. I don't know why they are, but I do NOT believe that God is using them as a punishment for anyone. What I do know is this: We are never alone in our struggles - Romans 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 2 Corinthians 5:1,5 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands... Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Now, "Wrath of God" or "Mother Nature"? I say neither. I'll just call it - LIFE, but I thank God He's on the journey with me.

Forty MORE Days...

Scriptures record that Jesus walked the earth for forty days after His resurrection prior to His ascension to Heaven, and during that time He appeared to the disciples and others on twelve separate occasions. It is difficult to harmonize those occasions positively as no gospel writer has recorded all His post-resurrection appearances. Certain appearances have been recorded by certain writers stressing the peculiarities of those particular occasions without denying other appearances on other occasions. Mark and John however do record that His first post-resurrection appearance was to Mary Magdalene at the empty tomb early on the Sunday morning following His crucifixion. ~ http://bible-truths-revealed.com/adv62.html




We just went through 40 days of Lent. Maybe you gave up something for Lent... maybe you took on a new discipline during that time... either way you probably learned just how LONG forty days can be! But, I bet the forty days that Jesus spent on Earth after His resurrection didn't seem very long to His disciples and friends. I bet those 40 days flew by.

Fortunately for us we can walk and talk with God (and Jesus) freely. We may not see or touch Him, but we are not limited to forty days, forty minutes or forty years. That was a freedom Jesus gave us all with His resurrection. Not only do we have access to Him now ~ we have access to Him for eternity. Thanks be to GOD!

Thought for Today

"The greatest disease in the West today is not TB or leprosy; it is being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for. We can cure physical diseases with medicine, but the only cure for loneliness, despair, and hopelessness is love. There are many in the world who are dying for a piece of bread but there are many more dying for a little love. The poverty in the West is a different kind of poverty -- it is not only a poverty of loneliness but also of spirituality. There's a hunger for love, as there is a hunger for God."


— Mother Teresa (A Simple Path: Mother Teresa)

photo - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mother_Teresa.jpg

Thought for Today

"May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us." — Mother Teresa

Easter Sunday - He is ALIVE!

The Resurrection Matthew 28:1-10



1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 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.” 8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”


Mary Magdalene, one of the first people (a woman no less) to be told Jesus had risen, was blessed beyond words... she actually was met by Him on her way to share the good news of His resurrection. SHE WAS MET BY THE RESURRECTED CHRIST!

The following song, In the Garden, was written by C. Austin Miles in 1912 from Mary Magdalene's perspective as she discovers Jesus in the garden outside of the tomb.

1. I come to the garden alone,
While the dew is still on the roses,
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.
* Refrain:
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.
2. He speaks, and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.
3. I’d stay in the garden with Him,
Though the night around me be falling,
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling.

He has Risen. He has Risen Indeed! Happy Easter.

Holy Saturday...

The Guard at the Tomb Matthew 27:62-66
62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.” 65 “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

Boy, ironic isn't it? The Pharisees and chief priests made sure that nobody was gonna say that someone "removed Jesus' body" from the tomb. The security preparations that they were so worried about completing did nothing but reinforce the predictions that Jesus foretold! Their actions brought FAITH to others.



I found the following pretty interesting: Where was Jesus on Holy Saturday? Depends on who you ask...

Per Stephen K Ray - He was in the tomb, of course. Soldiers guarded the tomb and a seal had been placed on the stone. His dead and bloodied body lay wrapped in the shroud of burial. But in 1 Peter 3:18-19 we are told that while his body lay cold in the tomb, he was moving around preaching the Gospel! For Christ also died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit; in which he went and preached to the spirits in prison.

Along the same lines, but a little more detail...
Per DR. MARK ROSS - By most estimates, the crucified body of Jesus lay in the tomb all day on Holy Saturday. However, there is another tradition hinted at in the scripture and spoken of in the Apostle’s Creed. The seventh line of the Creed speaks of Jesus suffering under Pontius Pilate. Then it reads as follows= Was crucified, dead, and buried: He descended into hell; The third day he rose again from the dead;
The creed refers to all three holy days in the above lines, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday. Most of us are familiar with the ideas in the first and the last line. The middle line gives us reason to pause. What does “He descended into hell” mean? Neither scholars nor even churches all agree on the meaning. Some churches will not even repeat that part of the creed. Others assign a benign meaning to it such as “Christ went through a hellish suffering on the cross.” However, some churches tie the expression in the creed to a variety of obscure passages in both the Old and New Testaments that reflect what Christ might have been doing on Holy Saturday. Two of the most prominent passages in the list come from First Peter. The old apostle writes that Jesus “went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison…” Peter also wrote, “The gospel was proclaimed even to the dead…” Many interpret the creed and these as well as other passages in the scripture to suggest that while the body of Jesus may have been in the tomb, the essence of Jesus was not merely lying around. They believe that somehow he visited those who had died before him. That he preached to generations who had never seen his miracles nor heard his parables. Paul may have been referring to the same event when he wrote in Ephesians that Jesus “descended into the lower parts of the earth” and “led captivity captive.”
On Holy Saturday did Jesus preach to those in hell? Did he redeem the condemned? No one can say for certain. The idea rubs against most of our beliefs about heaven and hell and the distance between this world and the one that follows.

And finally...
Jesus was in Heaven. Luke 23:38-45 38 There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”


No matter what you believe - the important thing is what happened on EASTER SUNDAY!

Photo - http://sntjohnny.com/front/how-many-guards-at-the-tomb-of-jesus/485.html
Photo - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jean_Jacques_Henner_-_Jesus_at_the_Tomb.jpg

Good Friday...

The Crucifixion Matthew 27:32-44
32 As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. 33 They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. 35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 36 And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. 37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 38 Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” 41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42 “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

Of course Jesus could have saved Himself, but He had already accepted the "cup" that God had placed in His hand. He was willing to die for us. The chief priests and teachers would never have understood that gift because that was a sacrifice that they never would have been capable of giving.

The Death of Jesus Matthew 27:45-56
45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). 47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.” 48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.” 50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. 51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and[c] went into the holy city and appeared to many people. 54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” 55 Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.

After it was too late, the centurion and the guards FINALLY realized Jesus was the Son of God! I wonder, besides their initial fear, what they felt. Did it change them to spend all that time mocking Jesus, hurting Jesus, and then ultimately killing Jesus... only to realize - "I WAS WRONG!"?

The Burial of Jesus Matthew 27:57-61
57 As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

Can you imagine the agony these women felt? I'm sure they never really believed that their Lord would be killed. They had a long weekend ahead of them... but boy what a great surprise Sunday was going to bring!

Maundy Thursday...

The Lord's Supper
Matthew 26:20-29
20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21 And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?” 23 Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” 25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?” Jesus answered, “You have said so.” 26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” 27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”


Jesus knew when He sat down to dine with His disciples that night that He was sitting with His betrayer. The remaining apostles were shocked to hear such news! How could one of them be against their Lord? They had followed Him for years - been at His side and witnessed miracles. Who would do such a thing?


Gethsemane
Matthew 26:36-46
36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 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.” 40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 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.” 43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. 45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

These groups of verses show Jesus' "Agony in Gethsemane". Jesus was clearly showing His humanness here. He was distraught! He was looking for another way to fulfill God's Plan - but NOT once did He show unwillingness to follow through with what was required of Him. Try to imagine His disappointment each time He returned from His prayers only to find the disciples sleeping....


Jesus Arrested
Matthew 26:47-56
47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” 49 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. 50 Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.” Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. 51 With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 52 “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” 55 In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56 But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

Of course, Jesus was aware the Judas was coming to turn Him over to His enemies. And the disciples, men that only hours before were faithful to Him... Well, I'm sure He knew that they would flee in terror, too. But, it truly saddens me that at the very end - Jesus was ALONE.

The next day was when the true agony came to Him.

Wednesday...

Today we are going to read about how two people expressed their feelings toward Jesus on this "midweek" day of Holy Week: 1) A woman pours perfume - that in today's standards would be worth over $10,000 - on Jesus' feet to prepare Him for His death, and 2) A once devout follower of Jesus turns his back on his Lord for 30 pieces of silver - about a month's wages. (At a full-time minimum wage job, that would be $1257.00.)

Both actions had to leave the disciples confused...

Jesus Anointed at Bethany: Matthew 26:6-13
6 While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. 8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. 9 “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.” 10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 The poor you will always have with you,[a] but you will not always have me. 12 When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 13 Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”




Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus: Matthew 26:14-16
14 Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests 15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.



The very next night, Judas joins the other disciples as if nothing had happened, but Jesus knew...

Photos - http://bible.cc/john/12-3.htm,http://www.indyprops.com/pp-30pcs.htm

Tuesday...

The Authority of Jesus Questioned: Matthew 21:23-27
23 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?” 24 Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 25 John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?” They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.” Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

The Plot Against Jesus: Matthew 26:1-5
1 When Jesus had finished saying all these things (He had just finished speaking of the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats), he said to his disciples, 2 “As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.” 3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, 4 and they schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. 5 “But not during the festival,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”


Jesus matter-of-factly informed His disciples that in two days He was going to be crucified. He was telling them this to prepare them, not to warn them in order for plans to be hurriedly made to protect Him or hide Him. If you or I knew that our imminent death was just two days away, I'm sure that would have been our plans! But, Jesus was aware this was going to happen to Him even during His triumphant entry into Jerusalem two days before. His telling the disciples was basically informing them of His willingness to go through with God's plan for our salvation.

The other important point that needs to be made with this set of verses is the fear that the chief priests and elders were showing with their actions... they were carefully making plans to take Jesus into custody - “But not during the festival,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.” They knew they had to watch their step or there was gonna be big trouble! That should have been a clue to them that what they were doing was so wrong.



Sadly, just one day later, one of Jesus' own betrays Him...


photo - http://www.flickr.com/photos/bible_cartoons/3533063429/

Monday...

Jesus at the Temple: Matthew 21:12-17

12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”

14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.

16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.

“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,

“‘From the lips of children and infants
you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?”

17 And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.



Yesterday, Jesus had happily rode into Jerusalem as shouts of 'Hosanna' echoed around Him. Now, on Monday, as He entered the Temple, He allowed His anger to show when He discovered the mockery that had been made of His house of prayer.

Of course, the chief priests and the teachers were there to see all this, and they took advantage of His outrage - They always took every opportunity they could to try to catch Him in a "blasphemous lie". But, like every other time Jesus had been confronted by the Pharisees, chief priests or teachers, He maintained His dignity when He answered their questions.

And so, on this day, He walked away from them again... their plan not quite in place. But it would be just a matter of days until they were ready to take Him into custody.

Palm Sunday

Matthew 21:6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”
11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

How exciting for the followers of Jesus... three years into His ministry and what a welcome He receives when He enters Jerusalem on Palm Sunday! I can imagine they were thinking that everything was finally coming together - all the sacrifices they had made in their lives throughout those years were now paying off - Jesus was finally being recognized as the man who came "in the name of the Lord". Of course, the people in the city weren't capable of comprehending who Jesus really was, but at this point the disciples couldn't completely understand His divinity either. All they knew for sure was that on this day things were looking pretty good for Jesus and His ministry.

They didn't have a clue what was going to happen in just a matter of days...

photo - http://s282.photobucket.com

Toddlers...

My granddaughter has learned that she has immense control over her little brother! She knows that if she jumps on the bed, he'll jump on the bed... if she sits quietly, most likely he will, too. As a result of this new found knowledge, I have virtually lost my mind! LOL

My son sat her down this morning and explained to her that she is "the big sister". It's her responsibility to be a role model to her brother... showing him the correct way to act. He patiently told her that she shouldn't show him things that are gonna get the little guy hurt or in trouble. She sat there so angelically, soaking in each word he said, and the second he left the room... Well, let's just say jumping on the bed is soooo much fun! (Unfortunately, children/toddlers haven't completely developed a little thing called "impulse-control" yet.)

That's kinda like it is for adults when it comes to sin. We know what God expects of us. We know what is best for us. BUT...

We are human - No matter how hard we try to lead a sinless life, we will fail; but that doesn't mean that we should just quit trying. Everyday we should strive to live a Christ-like life. Having done that, every night we can say our prayers, knowing that we've done our best, and that Jesus loves us just the same.

Holy Week...

Holy Week is almost here! This Sunday, Palm Sunday, will begin the journey that Jesus took that ultimately lead to His death and our salvation. Starting Sunday, I will begin a series on Holy Week, in which we will go through what happened each day in Jesus' life during that time.

If you want to plan a devotional schedule of your own, here's some Bible verses that may help:

Palm Sunday - The Triumphal Entry: Matthew 21:1-11

Monday - Jesus at the Temple: Matthew 21:12-17

Tuesday - The Authority of Jesus Questioned: Matthew 21:23-27
The Plot Against Jesus: Matthew 26:1-5

Wednesday - Jesus Anointed at Bethany: Matthew 26:6-13
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus: Matthew 26:14-16

Maundy Thursday - The Lord's Supper: Matthew 26:17-30
Jesus Predicts Peter Denial: Matthew 26:31-35
Gethsemane: Matthew: 26:36-46
Jesus Arrested: Matthew 26:47-56

Good Friday - The Crucifixion: Matthew 27:32-44
The Death of Jesus: Matthew 27:45-56
The Burial of Jesus: Matthew 27:57-61

Saturday - The Guard at the Tomb: Matthew 27:62-66

Easter Sunday - The Resurrection: Matthew 28:1-10

It's all in how you look at it...

A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign which said: "I am blind, please help." There were only a few coins in the hat. A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words. He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words. Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy. That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were. The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, "Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?" The man said, "I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way. "I wrote: 'Today is a beautiful day; but I cannot see it.'" Both signs told people that the boy was blind. But the first sign simply said the boy was blind. The second sign reminded people how fortunate they were to have their sight. Should we be surprised that the second sign was more effective?

Moral of the Story:

Be thankful for what you have. Be creative. Be innovative. Think differently and positively. When life gives you a 100 reasons to cry, show life that you have 1000 reasons to smile. Face your past without regret. Handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear. Keep the faith and drop the fear.

It's a beautiful thing to see a person smiling. But even more beautiful is knowing that you are the reason for the smile!

Faith is not about everything turning out OK; Faith is about being OK no matter how things turn out.

Author Unknown

Thought for the Day

“Every evening I turn my worries over to God. He's going to be up all night anyway.”

~ Mary C. Crowley



photo - http://media.photobucket.com/image/praying%20hands/bclocker/100_1000.jpg?o=3

Switch Things Up a Little Bit...

Have you ever heard the saying... "If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it"? I think that's a pretty moving declaration, but I think it can be a much more powerful statement if you switch things up a little bit.

Now, I do believe that God does sometime put us in situations to TEST us, and that during those times He will never leave us. ~ Matthew 11: 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

But, I also believe that the world can force us into circumstances, and that God definitely would never abandon us during those difficult times. ~ John 17:15 "My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one."

So, perhaps, the better testimony would be... "If the world brings you to it, God will bring you through it."



Photo - http://s304.photobucket.com/albums/nn194/Psiouxe/?action=view¤t=JesusBaptism.jpg

Two Sides...

We all hear there's two sides to every story! It's been that way since the beginning of time:

God's Side - Genesis 2:15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

Satan's Side - Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” 4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

If you were Eve, which side would you have believed?

Today, it's so easy to get stuck in the middle of the world's drama. Life isn't as black and white or cut and dry as listening to God OR listening to Satan. Sometimes the message doesn't come through that clearly, and sometimes it's hard to determine who represents good and who stands for evil. We need to hear and analyze BOTH sides of the story before we can decide which side we'll believe or stand behind.

Knowledge is a powerful thing! Let's not take it for granted.

I'd Rather Have Jesus...

Robert Brault Quotes

"If God had wanted to be a big secret, He would not have created babbling brooks and whispering pines."

"Perhaps the Ten Commandments would be more widely observed if Moses had brought them down on refrigerator magnets."

"Life is short, God's way of encouraging a bit of focus."

"What is it that we all believe in that we cannot see or hear or feel or taste or smell -- this invisible thing that heals all sorrows, reveals all lies and renews all hope? What is it that has always been and always will be, from whose bosom we all came and to which we will all return? Most call it Time. A few realize that it is God."

"In nature we see where God has been. In our fellow man, we see where He is still at work."

"We see the devil's hand in that which tempts others, not in that which tempts ourselves."

Friends

“Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." ~ Christopher Robin to Pooh



Everyone needs a friend like that...

Photo - www.flickr.com

Thoughts for Today

The Son of God, one with the Father, was with Him when He made the world...
Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let US make mankind in OUR image, in OUR likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

Jesus comes as a child...
Luke 2:4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

Jesus explains the coming of the Holy Spirit...
John 16:7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.


The Son of God, one with the Father, will return to the Father...
John 16:28 "I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”

Jesus dies for our sins...
John 3:16 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. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Matthew 27:45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). 47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.” 48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.” 50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

The Holy Spirit arrives...
Act 2:1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.


Everlasting hope...
John 14:1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Paradigm Perspectives

A paradigm is the way that we view something from our own personal perspective. Even though most people consider their point of view to be objective, true objectivity is next to impossible. The reason is that humans tend to interpret everything they see, hear and experience according to their individual frame of reference.
Essentially, it boils down to our personal version of the truth. Try as we will to be objective, our personal understanding of the world around us, is at best subjective objectivity.
We are all individuals with different life experiences, different associations and different perceptions, these all influence our personal viewpoint. That is why two people can see or hear the exact same thing and be left with entirely different impressions of what they saw or heard. ~ http://advancedlifeskills.com/blog/paradigm-perspectives/

For instance, you probably always cut your apples the same way every time you eat them. But what if you changed the way you did that one simple task? Your perspective on that one part of your life would change.

If you cut your apple one way, this is what you find when you look at the core:

If you cut your apple from the other direction, this is what you discover:


What if you purposely set out each day with the goal of changing ONE paradigm of your life? Here are some areas that could be addressed for some people:

Homeless Persons:

Why don’t they just get a job? Surely they could get their lives back together if they really wanted. They are just lazy people that want to sponge off of the government.




In reality, a majority of Americans are just one tragedy away from homelessness. Most lower to middle class families live paycheck to paycheck.


Today’s Youth:

What is wrong with kids today? They just run wild! They are loud mouthed, rude, and disrespectful of anyone that has authority over them. Don’t their parents even care what their kids are doing?



Have you ever considered volunteering for Big Brothers/Big Sisters? They target children who need us most, like those living in single parent homes, living in poverty or with parents incarcerated.




Un-Believers:

Just look at what that person’s doing. I’m so glad that I’m not related to them or associated with them. I’m such a better person than they are…

Romans 3:23 (NIV)
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.




I challenge you to change your paradigm in just ONE area of your life this week. I think you'll be surprised with the outcome. I'll let you know how my experience with this little experiment works out...

Thought for the Day

If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it. ~Mary Engelbreit

The Merry Go Round

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

I find it interesting that the characteristics listed in the above Bible verses are called "FRUIT". It got me to wondering... If you think of fruit, say an apple for instance, in a literal sense, these words take on a much more complex meaning.

The parts of an apple are the skin, the flesh, the core, the seeds, the stem, and the leaves. Each part has it's own purpose: The skin is the part that covers the outside of the apple, and protects the inside parts of the apple. The flesh is the juicy part of the apple that you eat. It's juicy because it holds water. The core is the center part of the apple that has the seed pockets. The seed pockets hold the seeds. The seeds are the little black dots inside the core. They can grow into new apple trees if you plant them and take care of them. The stem is the slender twig that connects the apple to the tree. It carries food and water into the apple. The leaves are the little flat, green parts of the tree that cover the branches. They make food for the apple so it can grow.



So, if we are truly to be led by the Spirit, and honestly open ourselves up to "Love our neighbors as ourselves”, we need to use every part of the apple or we sell ourselves short.

Of course, the flesh is the best part of the apple... the part everyone wants, but if the stem didn't carry food and water to the apple - it would die. And the seeds grow new apples. The life Jesus has given us is the flesh of the apple... His WORD is the stem. The seeds are what we plant in other people. We are capable of planting those seeds because we've opened ourselves to the "Fruit of the Spirit" - love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

It's all like a Merry Go Round. Make sure you jump on!

Are You Mary or Martha?

At the Home of Martha and Mary ~ Luke 10:38-42
Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.
She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His word.
But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me."
But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things;
but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

A lot of times when people read these verses, they decide which one of these women is acting appropriately - most "Christlike" - and which is not. They immediately determine who they would be in the story.

So, are you Mary or Martha? Hopefully you're a little of both! This story explains that Martha was running herself ragged SERVING Jesus. (We hopefully can take that example from her -in moderation- in our lives and serve others on behalf of Jesus.) While, Mary was sitting at the feet of Jesus - not beside Him, but at His feet - a place of humility. (That of course is something we hopefully can learn from her in this story - to be HUMBLE.)



Depending on the circumstance, we can chose to be Mary or we can chose to Martha - or a mixture of both. We're used to wearing a thousand hats anyway. Right, ladies?


Photo - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Caravaggio,_Michelangelo_Merisi_da_-_Martha_and_Mary_Magdalene_-_c._1598.jpg

All the Days of My Life

When I read the two Psalms below, it's amazing to me that they both were written by King David*. The first, is obviously written by a man in agony:

Psalm 22
1My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from my cries of anguish?
2My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, but I find no rest.

The second, penned by a man that is positively certain that God would never leave his side:

Psalm 23
1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

However, it's reassuring to me that a man, like King David, had the same fears and struggles that we have today. Because we sometimes feel alone in our suffering does not mean that our faith has diminished, it means we are human - just as David was. And ultimately, we need to remember, during those times... when we are feeling distant from God, He hasn't left us. He is always there - all the days of our lives.

*King David (1040–970 BC) was an ancestor of Jesus Christ, and is credited for composing a majority of the chapters in the book of Psalms. As a boy, he is victorious over the giant, Goliath. To read about his life, check out the following books in your Bible: 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, and 1 Chronicles.


photo - www.sugardoodle.net