Category: Faith

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Oh Glorious Day!

Woke up with joy in my heart and wanting to praise the Lord. Maybe you woke up with a heavy heart – well then, it’s time to offer a sacrifice of praise! Praising not because you feel like it but because He ALWAYS deserves it.

“Let all who run to you for protection always sing joyful songs. Provide shelter for those who truly love you and let them rejoice. 12 Our Lord, you bless those who live right, and you shield them with your kindness.” Psalm 5:11-12 CEV

I can hear some “sad sack” say but those verses are for those who live right and I’m not sure that includes me. Well, if you have Christ as your Savior, you’re living right! He made you a new creature in Christ – the old has passed away and all things have become new.

So with a joyful heart lift your song of joy to the Lord and it will definitely change the way you look at life today. This song, Glorious Day, was written in 1910 by a Methodist minister. It’s a good one.

1 One day when heaven was filled with His praises,
One day when sin was as black as could be,
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin,
Dwelt among men, my example is He!

Refrain
Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
Buried, He carried my sins far away;
Rising, He justified freely, forever;
One day He’s coming: O glorious day!

2 One day they led Him up Calvary’s mountain,
One day they nailed Him to die on the tree;
Suffering anguish, despised and rejected,
Bearing our sins, my Redeemer is He! [Refrain]

Refrain
Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
Buried, He carried my sins far away;
Rising, He justified freely, forever;
One day He’s coming: O glorious day!

5 One day the trumpet will sound for His coming,
One day the skies with His glory will shine;
Wonderful day, my beloved ones bringing;
Glorious Savior, this Jesus is mine! [Refrain]

Remember yesterday’s teaching – overwhelming joy! We can’t help but praise when we are overwhelmed with joy!

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Overwhelming Joy

Place yourself, if you would, with the disciples.

Yesterday, they had seen their friend, their Rabbi, their Messiah return from the grave! Their joy was overwhelming but there was still an undercurrent of fear.

The soldiers said the disciples had stolen the body. Would anyone believe them? Would the religious leaders come to their homes with arrest warrants? Would they be hauled off to prison?

Oh, but the joy!

This morning they are having their coffee and biscuits. In their excitement, no one really took time to cook and prepare for today. I imagine them sitting around a big table, deep in their own contemplation of the day’s events, looking up and seeing their friends doing the same and the burst into spontaneous laughter.

Jesus, who had died, was alive and He had appeared to them. There are so many they need to tell of this great miracle. People need to know. Thomas needed to know.

“After Jesus had greeted them again, he said, ‘I am sending you, just as the Father has sent me.’ 22 Then he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. 23  If you forgive anyone’s sins, they will be forgiven. But if you don’t forgive their sins, they will not be forgiven.’

24 Although Thomas the Twin was one of the twelve disciples, he wasn’t with the others when Jesus appeared to them. 25 So they told him, ‘We have seen the Lord!’

But Thomas said, ‘First, I must see the nail scars in his hands and touch them with my finger. I must put my hand where the spear went into his side. I won’t believe unless I do this‘!” John 20:21-25 CEV

But let’s not be too hard on Thomas. For we often express some of the same doubt when it comes to things of the Lord. We doubt the things we haven’t seen or those we can’t understand. And, in spite of our doubting, Jesus meets us where we are and reveals Himself to us in our time of need.

“ We know what love is because Jesus gave his life for us. This is why we must give our lives for each other.” I John 3:16 CEV

Today’s not just another Monday. It’s the Monday after we celebrated the resurrection of our Lord! Make today a celebration filled with overwhelming joy!

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He Lives

There were three that died that day on crosses but only One lives!

You all know how I feel about the old hymns. There is so much truth and power in those songs but because I sang them over and over again as a child I didn’t realize the value of the words. Also, sad to say, the message of those songs didn’t line up with the message that many times was being preached from the pulpit.

I often heard “this life down here will always be a struggle BUT when we get to heaven it will all be worth it”. I agree with the fact the heaven will be so much greater, not even comparable, with the life we live here but we are called to be victorious and world over comers living the abundant life of Christ while we are here. So many times, Christians live as if they were saved and stuck.

Jesus didn’t live that way and He doesn’t want us to either. When he died, rose and ascended to the Father, Jesus lives to make intercession for us. He is our source of strength and our example of victory.

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10 NKJV

“But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:24-25 NKJV

Remember our message a few weeks back on the resurrection – Jesus spoke Mary’s name and told her to tell the disciples that He is risen! This old hymn reminds us that Jesus is alive and walking with us, giving us a life of victory.

• I serve a risen Savior

He’s in the world today.

I know that He is living,

Whatever men may say.

I see His hand of mercy;

I hear His voice of cheer;

And just the time I need Him

He’s always near.

• He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!

He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.

He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!

You ask me how I know He lives?

He lives within my heart.

• In all the world around me

I see His loving care,

And though my heart grows weary,

I never will despair;

I know that He is leading,

Through all the stormy blast;

The day of His appearing

Will come at last.

• Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian,

Lift up your voice and sing

Eternal hallelujahs

To Jesus Christ the King!

The Hope of all who seek Him,

The Help of all who find,

None other is so loving,

So good and kind.

Lyrics by Alfred Ackley

HE LIVES! He lives within my heart.

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Hope & Victory

I know we’re still a week away from celebrating Easter but the heart of everyone who has chosen to put their faith in Christ celebrates His resurrection each and every day.

We serve a risen Savior – He lives!

This morning I am sitting here quietly and again I’m thinking of the first Easter morning. Thinking what it must have been like when Mary ran to the tomb and found it empty.

She was heartbroken, thinking that someone had stolen Jesus body. And then it happened – she heard her name.

“Jesus asked her, ‘Why are you crying? Who are you looking for?’

She thought he was the gardener and said, ‘Sir, if you have taken his body away, please tell me, so I can go and get him.’

16 Then Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’

She turned and said to him, ‘Rabboni.’ The Aramaic word “Rabboni” means “Teacher.” John 20:15-16 CEV

I’ve thought of that so many times,. What must it have been like to hear Jesus speak her name? In her heartache, He was there!

In my heartache, He is here. In my joy, He is here! In my day to day moments He is here and when I’m quiet, I can hear Him speak my name.

So I gladly declare to all this morning

“The angel said to the women, ‘Don’t be afraid! I know you are looking for Jesus, who was nailed to a cross. 6 He isn’t here! God has raised him to life, just as Jesus said he would. Come, see the place where his body was lying. 7 Now hurry! Tell his disciples that he has been raised to life and is on his way to Galilee.'” Matthew 28:5-7 CEV

He is risen as He said! He lives within my heart. Hallelujah!

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And the Winner Is…

We all like to win. I was never very athletic so I would cheer from the sidelines, encouraging those who were competing.

But I know now that I am a winner and I’m cheering for you.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT

Those who have gone before us in this life of faith are cheering us on. Their lives are examples of encouragement of what God will do in the lives of common, ordinary people.

Do you realize Jesus considered Himself a winner when He endured the cross?

“In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.” Colossians 2:15 NLT

He did this for all of us.

“ My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. 2 He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.” I John 2:1-2 NLT

When our lives are committed to Christ we participate in His victory.

“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. 2 We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments. 3 Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. 5 And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.” I John 5:1-5 NLT

We are destined to be winners – victorious – overcomers.

“ We thank God for the power Christ has given us. He leads us and makes us win in everything. He speaks through us wherever we go. The Good News is like a sweet smell to those who hear it.” II Corinthians 2:14 NLV

God uses us to be a voice for Christ in the world telling the Good News of His love, forgiveness and victory.

“ But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” I Corinthians 15:57 NKJV

“ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39 NKJV

Better than winning the lotto or anything else is the victory we have in Christ. And the winner is…US!

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Hot & Tired

I was reading in John 7 this morning where Jesus is talking to the people about living water.

” On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and shouted, “If you are thirsty, come to me and drink! 38  Have faith in me, and you will have life-giving water flowing from deep inside you, just as the Scriptures say.” 39 Jesus was talking about the Holy Spirit, who would be given to everyone that had faith in him. The Spirit had not yet been given to anyone, since Jesus had not yet been given his full glory.” John 7:37-39 CEV

Those words “If you are thirsty, come and drink” brought back a vivid memory.

Dave and I were farming alfalfa in the Arizona desert south of Phoenix. The hay balers were used weren’t the ones that produced the big round bales. Instead, they were Freeman balers that produced the smaller, rectangle bales, each weighing about 110 pounds.

In Arizona, we bale at night once the dew comes in and has an opportunity to moisten the alfalfa a little before baling. Well, because it was night we hadn’t seen there had been a malfunction of the bale chute and so the bales dropped off the baler and landed on their sides.

In the morning, we had to go out and set the bales up right so they could be picked up by the road sider, a piece of equipment that made the bales in a tight stack. It was summer, the sun was hot and I was walking from field to field setting the bales while Dave had other work to do.

I didn’t realize until it was too late that he had driven off with the water. I was so hot and thirsty when he returned. I was parched.

Water. Life-giving water!

I’ve also had times when my soul and my spirit has been parched. So tired and stressed that all the tears had been cried. Feeling that there was no emotion left. Hopeless.

Have you been there?

This is what Jesus is referring too. Dry in body, soul and spirit. In need of life-giving water. That water, that refreshing comes from the Holy Spirit. He brings strength from heaven’s throne.

“But I tell you I am going to do what is best for you. This is why I am going away. The Holy Spirit cannot come to help you until I leave. But after I am gone, I will send the Spirit to you.” John 16:7 CEV

“Those who are hungry and thirsty to be right with God are happy, because they will be filled.” Matthew 5:6 NLV

“Your body will always be dead because of sin. But if Christ is in you, then the Spirit gives you life, because Christ made you right with God.” Romans 8:10 ERV

That dry, parched, thirsty feeling will be quenched when we allow the Holy Spirit to fill us with living water.

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Keep Looking Up

Yes, one more message on looking up! Why? Because that’s what the Lord said for me to do. This is a message I’ve shared before, but it bears repeating.

I want to draw your attention to a time when Jesus “looked up”. Jesus had left the area of Judea just days earlier because the Pharisees were trying to kill him. And now he learned that his dear friend Lazarus was very sick. He told his disciples that they needed to return to Bethany and they reminded him that the people in that area were against him.

Jesus waited a couple more days and then he told the disciples we MUST go to Bethany, Lazarus is dead. When Jesus arrived he learned that Lazarus had already been in the grave four days. Martha came out to meet Jesus and told him if Jesus had been there she knew her brother would not be dead.

So, do you get the picture? Jesus is grieving over the death of his dear friend. He is just a two mile walk from a town where a mob had tried to kill him just a few days ago and now his friend’s sister is blaming him for her brother’s death. WOW!

The story goes on from there. Lazarus’ other sister, Mary, and the mourners came to where Jesus is. Mary falls at Jesus’ feet and says the same thing, “If you had been here my brother wouldn’t have died.” And now comes the shortest verse in the Bible – Jesus wept.

I think he wept because he felt the grief of the loss of a friend; I think he wept because he was being blamed for that death; I think he wept because the people around him had no faith and hope. But he wept. And then he did something that we all need to do – He looked UP!

“Jesus was still terribly upset.,, 41 After the stone had been rolled aside, Jesus looked up toward heaven and prayed, ‘Father, I thank you for answering my prayer. 42 I know that you always answer my prayers. But I said this, so that the people here would believe that you sent me.” John 11:38-42 CEV

He looked up to the Father – he reminded Himself that God the Father had not abandon Him and that even in His grief, the Father was there to bring victory to the situation. He looked up and he thanked the Father for answered prayer. He knew the purpose of all of this was that the people would believe!

His words, “Lazarus, come forth” brought the power of God to the situation and Lazarus came walking out of the tomb! Awesome!

A kind and loving God brought an end to grieving and despair. He brought life to Lazarus and life to the hope and faith of the people who were there. He can and will still do the same today.

What is it in your life that is dead and needs to be resurrected? Your hope? Your faith? Your health? Your marriage? Your joy? Your finances? What???

Look up to the one who has life giving power – look up and thank Him for resurrection and then be bold like Jesus and call it forth from the grave. You notice Jesus didn’t agree with the things that Mary, Martha and the people were saying.

He was focused on looking up – we need to do the same!

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A Place of Help & Hope

As a child I used to look up in amazement when planes flew over. They were a completely new phenomenon to me. I wondered where they were going and how they could possibly stay in the air. To a four-year-old it was a miracle.

We are told to lift up our heads in the Bible. But that doesn’t mean to turn our heads up, it is an attitude of the heart. This was an attitude that King David took. Turn our focus heavenward. Looking up is looking beyond ourselves and looking to someone higher, looking to God the Father.

“ Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. 10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.” Psalm 24:8-10

Are you looking up today? Are you looking beyond yourself and finding God’s directive on how you should function today? It’s easy to get discouraged and even depressed with all the world’s happenings and Jesus knew that these days and times we are living in would be taxing to our mental peace at the very least so He gave us this command.

“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Luke 21:25-28

So many things around us are in turmoil. Wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes, weather disruptions, political unrest, bias, hatred, financial uncertainty, relationships failing. All of these things wear on us emotionally, physically and spiritually.

The prophet Isaiah had this vision from the Lord.

“I saw the Lord sitting on a very high and wonderful throne. His long robe filled the Temple. 2 Seraph angels stood around him. Each angel had six wings. They used two wings to cover their faces, two wings to cover their bodies, and two wings to fly. 3 The angels were calling to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord All-Powerful. His Glory fills the whole earth.‘” Isaiah 6:1-3 ERV

The Lord is still on His throne. He is still in control and we can trust Him! God is not taken by surprise, and He has a plan for our good.

Don’t let your heart fail or become fearful – lift up your head for your Redeemer (redemption) draws near!

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The Good Fight

and some days it’s a real battle.

This morning I woke up with two scriptures on my mind. “Fight the good fight of faith” and “our God is great”. The two of these run hand in hand. When we try to accomplish things on our own, we can become frustrated, discouraged, disappointed in the battle and then see the same results when we complete the task.

Striving to reach a goal, develop a relationship, coming back from devastating circumstances, or just daily life in general can be an all-consuming endeavor that causes us to lose sight of the joys that are all around us on a daily basis. But when we “go for it” in faith God directs our steps and although our goal may be the same, the purpose for reaching that goal is God centered and it brings a much more pleasant reward.

The other side of the coin is those that don’t even fight. They have no motivation to succeed or venture toward the goal. They live with the outlook of “whatever will be, will be”. So, they never even try to fight or to win.

But when we fight the good fight of faith, our faith isn’t in ourself or our abilities it’s in God and what He has placed within us. Today – make the effort, go for it and most of all trust in God who is there with us every step of the way.

“…Always try to do what is right, to be devoted to God, and to have faith, love, patience, and gentleness. 12 We have to fight to keep our faith. Try as hard as you can to win that fight. Take hold of eternal life. It is the life you were chosen to have when you confessed your faith in Jesus—that wonderful truth that you spoke so openly and that so many people heard.” I Timothy 6:11-12 ERV

Deuteronomy 10:16-18 “Stop being stubborn. Give your hearts to God. The LORD is your God. He is the God of gods and the Lord of lords. He is the great God. He is the amazing and powerful fighter. To him everyone is the same. He does not accept money to change his mind. 18 He defends widows and orphans. He loves even the strangers living among us. He gives them food and clothes.”

“Don’t worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks for what you have. 7 And because you belong to Christ Jesus, God’s peace will stand guard over all your thoughts and feelings. His peace can do this far better than our human minds.” Philippians 4:6-7 ERV

God is more than able!

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In the Storm

Peace, be still.

Simply put be at rest. Some see peace as the absence of conflict, but I want to show you that we can be at peace in the midst of a storm.

In the book of Luke we read about the final days of Jesus life. He was celebrating the Feast of the Passover with his disciples. He told them that the broken bread and the wine represented what was about to happen to Him. He told them He would be betrayed.

Their reaction was strange.

They began arguing about which one of them would do such a thing and then they began to argue about which one of them was the most important to Jesus.

Oh my goodness!!!

If I had been Jesus, I would have left them all. But instead, Jesus told them that He was praying for them and He gave them instruction on how to live once He was gone.

Then He took them to the garden where He prayed. He told them they needed to pray also. He knew they would need to remain strong. He prayed for Himself and for them, but they fell asleep.

He knew what was about to happen.

In His humanity, He didn’t want to face the cross and the horrible death of crucifixion but in His divinity, He knew He was the only One who could be the sinless sacrifice. Only He could be the One to redeem us all and reconcile mankind to the Father.

He went through great conflict and turmoil; battling His mind and emotions He came to a place of peace, His spirit found rest!

When Judas betrayed Him with a kiss there was no ridiculue or retaliation, when the soldiers were placing him under arrest there was no fight. He was at peace!

Jesus was living the words He spoke to the disciples earlier that day.

“‘I leave you peace. It is my own peace I give you. I give you peace in a different way than the world does. So don’t be troubled. Don’t be afraid.” John 14:27 ERV

The Apostle Paul tells us this:

“Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. 7 Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.” Philippians 4:6-7 CEV

Our storms come in a variety of ways. Some are actual weather-related storms; others are physical and health related. Financial, emotional, relational – storms are storms and their purpose is to rob our peace. They come to distract us from trusting God’s word. They come to steal the seed what God has planted in our hearts.

“…The seed is God’s teaching… But when trouble comes, they turn away from God. 14 ‘What about the seed that fell among the thorny weeds? That is like the people who hear God’s teaching, but they let the worries, riches, and pleasures of this life stop them from growing. So they never produce a crop.” Luke 8:11-15 ERV

Are you in the middle of a storm today – do you feel like you’re about to be crucified? Let the Lord’s peace rule your thinking. Don’t be troubled, don’t be afraid. Take refuge in God and trust Him to control the outcome.

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