The Resurrection

 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you." So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!" And they came up an took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me." Matthew 28:1-10 ESV

Jesus Last Words From The Cross

 Seven Last Words of Jesus from the Cross

1. Luke 23:34 "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."
2. Luke 23:43 "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise."
3. John 19:26 "Woman behold, your son!"
4. Matthew 27:46 "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
5. John 19: 28 "I thirst"
6. John 19:30 "It is finished"
7. Luke 23:46 "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!"

Good Friday

 So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them. Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." Many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews," but rather, 'This man said, I am King of the Jews.'" Pilate answered, "What I have written I have written."

When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, so they said to one another, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be." This was to fulfill the Scripture which says "They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots."

So the soldiers did these things, but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), "I thirst." A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, "It is finished," and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Matthew 21:16-30 ESV

1 Corinthians 1:18

For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

My prayer is for those who see the cross as foolishness to come to know and understand what it means. There are people who have read the Word of God and do not understand. This week a young man who did not understand, now understands and it is joyful to see his desire to know more about God.

Black Friday

Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving where there are epic deals that start off the holiday season. However, this holiday season is not what several families expected.

A janitor working his shift at a Virginia Walmart. A 40-year-old woman returning home to Colorado Springs for the holidays. A young man at his girlfriend's side, watching her friend perform in a drag show. Three college football players. A mother who worked to help foster children. One bartender who remembered your drink and another who danced. White and black, gay and straight, old and young. The collection of the newly dead from just three of this month's mass shootings are the very picture of the ideals - inclusivity, setting aside differences - that America prides itself on at this time each November. Four-teen people who did not know their last Thanksgiving was already behind them. 

Do you believe in evil? Whether you do or not, evil exists.

Besides the three shootings mentioned in that article there has been Darrell Brooks who recently had his trial for the 2021 Waukesha, Wisconsin Christmas parade attack that killed six and injured over sixty people. I watched the victim impact statements; he rolled his eyes, he laughed; there was no remorse for his evil act.

In the UK a heartbreaking story of an unidentified baby who was found in a recycling yard and laid to rest.

For several days I have been listening to the latest on Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow Daybell. Chad has been accused of murdering his wife, Tammy. Both Chad and Lori have been accused of murdering Lori's two children, 16-year-old Rylee Ryan and 7-year-old Joshua "JJ" Vallow. Prior to this Lori's husband was killed by her brother, Alex, who has since committed suicide.

I know this is morbid stuff to be reading, listening, and watching, however, I have always been fascinated with trials and forensics science.

Michael Wilson, the writer of 'After 3 Mass Shootings, a Thanksgiving With 14 Empty Chairs', wrote this line in his article "White and black, gay and straight, old and young." I would add saved and unsaved: white and black, gay and straight, old and young, saved and unsaved. Many people probably don't even think about whether a person is saved or not. I often think about it when I hear of someone dying.  There is no hope after death. The person has already made their decision.

Most people wonder 'why do bad things happen to good people?"

Why not? Bad things happen because of sin, which is due to the fall of man. We are not good, and we deserve God's wrath. No one is good.

"As it is written, THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS NOT EVEN ONE; THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE." Romans 3:10-12

Satan is our enemy,

"be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8b

The Bible tells us in Matthew 5:45b "for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."

As Christians we are not exempt from bad things happening, like cancer, accidents, tornados, and shootings. Perhaps we should ask the question "Why do good things happen to bad people?" The answer would be the same.

I like to watch a YouTube channel called "Active Self Protection." On many of the video the host of the channel will end with talking about spiritual fitness, "Make sure every day you've said everything you need to say to your loved ones. That they know you love them and that you have solved any conflicts and that your relationship with Jesus is strong. You may not get the opportunity to do so. You have to have them ready; you may not get another chance."

Somethings to think about.

ADMIT I am a sinner

REPENT turn from your sin

BELIEVE Jesus Christ died for you on the cross and was resurrected

TRUST & OBEY Jesus' teachings

1 John 1:8-9

If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

Romans 10:9

That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

1 Peter 2:24

and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.

John 3:36

He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.

2 John 1:9

Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teachings of Christ, does not have God, the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.

1Peter 1:17-19

If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

1 Peter 4:17

For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

And one last thing to remember is that God is always with us.

Matthew 28:20b

I am with you always even to the end of this age.

November 25, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fall 2021: Praise, Being Thankful & Asking for Comfort

 Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day. Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples. For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised. He also is to be feared above all gods for all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before Him, strength and joy are in His place. Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; bring an offering, and come before Him; worship the LORD in holy array. Tremble before Him, all the earth; indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved. Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; and let them say among the nations, "The LORD reigns." 1 Chronicles 16:23-31

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body and be thankful. Colossians 3:15.

This morning I found out that a staff member of one of the churches I work for went home to the Lord on Saturday. Her husband is still in the hospital with the same illness. Praying for healing for her husband as well as comfort for him and their, children and grandchildren.

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalms 34:18

Father's Day

I know. Yesterday was Father's Day.

I remember when my son was young worrying about how he would know to be a good father and a friend of mine said "He will know to be a good father by what he didn't have." Such prophetic words, for he is an awesome father.

Yesterday I thought about my son as a father, but today I'm thinking of my Dad.

He went home to be with the Lord twenty years ago. The last Father's Day with him, my mother, and two of their friends had dinner at Ledo. I had been teasing my parents prior to their friends joining us. There was a couple sitting near our table and during our meal as the couple was leaving the woman came over, knelt next to me and whispered, "Be good to them. I lost my Father recently." Those words were kind of prophetic as well, for in the next month my father had a diagnosis of throat cancer which was terminal. He never made it to the next Father's Day.

My Dad was a quiet man. He had a wonderful sense of humor; he could be such a clown. He loved to sing and I could listen to him for hours. Mom claimed he made the songs up because she had never heard of them. I figured I inherited that ability from him as I have often made up my own songs. My songs, mind you, have never been very good, however Dad's songs always were, at least in my view.

A psychiatrist who tested me when I was in elementary school (I was a weird, super-introvert) told my parents that I was terrified of my father. Later when I was an adult and was informed of the results of the testing I agreed with two of them but did not with this one. I have never been afraid of my dad; I have always looked up to him with admiration and respect. He wasn't perfect but that is maybe where the empathic side of me would kick in. Dad had a severe hearing loss and at times he could be a little cross when trying to listen to the news or things like that and kids are being loud in their play.

Dad loved the Lord with all his heart, and soul, and mind. I remember seeing him in his room either studying his Bible or praying. He always handed out Bibles to people who visited in our home and gave them as gifts. I believe all my friends received one. At work he had a rack he made filled with tracts and after he died a former co-worker told me that people would come by and pick up a tract or stop and talk to him about God. Dad taught Sunday school and he also preached at a senior housing in our neighborhood. My former husband did not want me to tell my father why we had separated; he told me that my father was the only person he knew who actually lived what he believed. That statement put me to shame as I knew at that time I was not living my faith.

My dad didn't have a Christian upbringing. He lived with his father, who was a musician, and they traveled all over the place. I remember my dad and grandfather sitting together for hours as my father would share the gospel with him. About five years before my dad passed away, I asked him how he came to know the Lord. I always remember going to church together as a family and we had family devotions. I don't remember my dad not being a follower of Christ. He told me that at first my mother shamed him into going to church by taking us children to church. Then one day he picked up my oldest brother's Bible and began to read it. It was through reading my brother's Bible that the Holy Spirit convicted my father of his sin, repenting, turning away from his sin, confessing Jesus as his Lord and Savior; he began a relationship that has gone on into eternity. At that time a light bulb went off in my head; that is why he always handed out Bibles!

I praise God and thank Him for my father who has inspired me to be just like Jesus.