Posts Tagged ‘jesus’

Creator

April 15, 2016

Our bodies are fearfully and wonderfully made by the Great Creator, God himself. As I sit by the bedside of my very ill spouse I can view with wonder how our bodies react to heal themselves. The doctors have even given God the Glory for the resilience in the body. We have seen many small miracles.

Just think, when you cut your finger or maybe break a bone in your arm or leg then a few weeks later everything is back to normal. You may have a scar from the cut or a slight limp from the break but you are back to being able to function normally.

Sin is like that. When we sin and ask forgiveness, God forgives completely, however, there may be a “scar”. A broken marriage leaves children with only one parent in the home, theft may bring jail time, drinking may cause illness or death and on it goes. Are we forgiven? Absolutely! God not only created our wonderful body He made a way to be forgiven of all our sins through trusting in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

Live for Jesus

April 13, 2016

“We ought to be living as if Jesus died yesterday, rose this morning, and is coming back this afternoon.”  Adrian Rogers

2 Corinthians 5:15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

Stressed?

April 9, 2016

Stressed? We live in a world where situations bring on stress all around us. Maybe it is at the workplace,  sick children, car problems, a spouse or sibling with a severe disease or worry over the unrest in the world. All we have to do is listen to the news to hear the conditions that would cause stress.

Maybe it is a good thing that is causing your stress, graduation, wedding, new baby or an upcoming family reunion.

There is an answer that comes from the greatest source, the Bible: 1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

What Would You Do?

April 7, 2016

What would you do differently if you knew Jesus was coming today?

Acts 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

He Arose

March 29, 2016

You may not have heard of a man named Robert Lowry, (1826-1899) but if you have been going to church you have heard and sung his hymns. He authored and composed over 200 hymns back in the 1800’s. “Shall we gather at the river”, “I need thee every hour”, “All the way my Savior leads me” are just a few that you may know. The one that we hear the most is sung at Easter services, “He Arose”:

1 Low in the grave he lay, Jesus my Savior, 

waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord! 

Refrain:

Up from the grave he arose; 

with a mighty triumph o’er his foes; 

he arose a victor from the dark domain, 

and he lives forever, with his saints to reign. 

He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!

2 Vainly they watch his bed, Jesus my Savior, 

vainly they seal the dead, Jesus my Lord! [Refrain]

3 Death cannot keep its prey, Jesus my Savior; 

he tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord! [Refrain]

1 Corinthians 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Easter Celebrations 

March 26, 2016

Today many children will be looking forward to tomorrow when they will celebrate Easter with egg hunts, baskets filled with candy, the Easter bunny and maybe a day that  they will be with family and friends. Something is missing.

The most important reason why all these things are in their lives: the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The focus should be on Him. Make sure that the true meaning does not get lost in all the preparations and plans.

My favorite memory of Easter is my grandmother taking me to a sunrise service outside looking over a beautiful view from on top of a hill. Then we would go to breakfast and on to church where the hymns about Jesus would be sung and the resurrection story would be told.

We serve a risen Savior, let us make sure He is first in our celebration on Easter Sunday.

Matthew 28:6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Crown of Thorns

March 21, 2016

Matthew 27:29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!  

Joni Erickson

March 20, 2016

Joni Erickson Tada had a terrible accident that left her a quadriplegic. In spite of her physical limitations she became an accomplished author and artist. Over 25 years ago she married her husband, Ken. For her wedding she had planned to come down the center aisle in her motorized wheel chair. Just before her grand entrance she noticed two distressing problems. First, she had rolled over her beautiful gown and made a big grease spot and tear in it. Then, the flowers in her lap had slipped and had lodged between her leg and the chair. She was filled with disappointment, and then suddenly the doors to the auditorium opened, and she saw her husband to be.
Here was the man who was committing his love and his life to her. Joni later said, “Once I saw Ken’s face, all I could think of was him. Everything else—the people in the church, the flowers that were sitting a little askew on my lap, the fact that my dress didn’t fall right because I was sitting in a wheelchair, the grease marks, the rip in my gown all of it paled in comparison.”
When we we see Christ, He will be all that matters to us.

Matthew 26:64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Have You Lost Your Wonder?

March 9, 2016

The first of three reasons why we don’t in souls according to a Lifeway article:

We’ve lost our wonder.In Matthew’s account of The Great Commission  it seems that Jesus is not imploring his disciples to share the gospel. He’s expecting it. And why not? They’d just witnessed a man brutally crucified, buried for three days, now risen. If you had met Jesus, if you’ve seen him first dead, then alive, nobody would have to convince you to go tell someone about this miracle. 

Why don’t we evangelize? Not because we don’t have the right tools or the right spiel. We don’t talk about Jesus because those of us who know Jesus have lost the wonder. If you’ve been with Jesus, who was raised from the dead and has given you new life, if he’s indeed the reigning King of the Universe, if you know and love him, of course you are going to tell people about him. A Christian’s first obligation is to lift up high the risen Christ, invite your people into the wonder of his love. If you do this and get a glimpse of Christ, you won’t be able to stop telling your friends and neighbors and coworkers. We are all evangelists for the things that capture our hearts. Think back to your last several conversations. Think about what animated you, what got you talking, what gave you excitement? Did anyone have to prompt you, beg you, guilt you? No, it came naturally.

If Jesus is the center, talking about Jesus will be natural.

Matthew 20:17-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Full Schedule?

February 29, 2016

Monday morning and you look at your calendar for the week and wonder how you will get everything done. The days are full, the schedule is overwhelming  and your energy is lacking. First, stop and take a few minutes to pray and seek God’s wisdom and help and your day will be better. You will get through this week and when you look back you can Praise the Lord that He was with you through this busy time. Remember those minutes you spend with Him makes everyday go smoothly.

Philippians 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.