Tag: God

Holy Week, Wednesday, Jesus Rests

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It would seem that the gospel’s are silent on the whereabouts of Jesus on this day of Holy Week.  Perhaps he remained in Bethany with Mary, Martha and Lazarus, taking a needed day of rest.  Tomorrow will be a trying day with the Last Supper, Gethsemane, His arrest, beating and trials by night leading to crucifixion on Friday.  Jesus knew what was coming and how his human body would need strength for tomorrow so He rested.  Even though He was God, He felt all the pain and fatigue of a man when He was within His earthly body.  So He needed rest today.

What do you need today? Here are a couple of scriptures for you to mediate on to encourage and strengthen you.  David knew his need for the Lord and relied upon Him each day. Here are two examples: 

 Psalm 138:7-8a 7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
    you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
    and your right hand delivers me.
8 The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;
    your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.

Psalm 37:3-6 3 Trust in the Lord, and do good;
    dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him, and he will act.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
    and your justice as the noonday.  

Jesus knew the Psalms of King David and perhaps He drew strength and comfort from these words too.  He knew God had a purpose for him to complete and that He needed to trust His heavenly Father and rest in Him. Let David’s words bring you peace and rest today as you walk trusting in Jesus..

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can call upon Him for strength and rest in His ability to give me all that I need.

Linda

Holy Week, Tuesday-Teaching Abounds

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Bible scholars attribute many happenings to the Tuesday of Holy Week.  Jesus was questioned by the religious leaders as to by what authority was He speaking and performing miracles.  Jesus cleverly trapped them with their own questions, and they left him alone. (Matthew 21:23-27)  After that confrontation, Jesus proceeded to teach in parables about the tenants who killed the messengers sent by the master, and about the wedding banquet where those invited refused to come and then strangers were welcomed in their place.  Both of these pointed to the treatment of Jesus, God’s Son, by the religious leaders and Jews of His day.  Jesus also taught about taxes and where we owe our allegiance.  He spoke about marriage in heaven and who He really was. (Matthew 21:28-23:39)  Later in the evening, Jesus ate at the home of Lazarus, Mary and Martha. There Mary anointed Jesus with pure nard, a very expensive perfume, and the disciples were upset at her for using this costly perfume on Jesus. (Matthew 26:6-12)  From morning until night, Jesus used every minute to instruct and build up the faith of His followers as He knew His time was short.

During this day, one of Jesus’ most important teachings was revealed when the Jewish leaders asked Jesus what was the most important commandment in the Law?  Jesus replied: 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:37-39 (ESV)

This statement about the right priorities for our lives is so simply stated, and yet is so difficult to live out on a daily basis.  Putting God first in our lives will keep everything else in balance and then loving others with as much love as we love ourselves comes next.  Do you love yourself?  Do you take care with what you put into your body, soul and mind? Jesus tells us that He expects us to love and respect ourselves. Out of that love for God will flow and be poured into those around us.  Think about your priorities today and the fact that Jesus spent time His last week on earth telling us how to align our lives in the most productive way for ourselves and others.

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can have His Holy Spirit’s indwelling power that enables me to keep my priorities in line with Him. Putting God first then yourself and others is God’s way. Thankfully, He is able to see this work in us to completion as promised in Philippians 1:6 “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” He also promised help in Matthew 19:26 “But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Praise God! He wants us to show His love to others and will enable us to do so in His time and His way.

Linda

Holy Week, Monday -Confronting Injustice

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There are two specific actions Bible Commentaries assign to Monday of Holy Week.  Jesus entered the city humbly and triumphantly on Sunday and then cleansed the temple area of money changers and withered a fig tree on Monday.  Both actions seem harsh from our Lord but give a picture of the worldly opposition to God’s kingdom.  From both we get a glimpse of divine justice.  You can read the accounts in Matthew 21 and Mark 11.

Jerusalem at Passover was a bustling city with many pilgrims arriving to make offerings at the temple. They needed to purchase animals for sacrifice and change money so they could pay the yearly temple tax. The exchanges were all being conducted in the outer court of the Gentiles.  Here is Matthew’s account from 21:12-14.

moneychangers

12-14 Jesus went straight to the Temple and threw out everyone who had set up shop, buying and selling. He kicked over the tables of loan sharks and the stalls of dove merchants. He quoted this text:

“My house was designated a house of prayer;
You have made it a hangout for thieves.“

Now there was room for the blind and crippled to get in. They came to Jesus and he healed them.  (Message)

Jesus was then, is now and will be in eternity the Righteous Judge.  He saw the true motives of the people desiring to make money exorbitantly and uprooted and cast them out literally.  He placed priority for prayer and worship on coming to God’s house.  He got right to the work of his ministry- healing and allowing access to God for everyone.

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As we near the cross, take heart from this short snippet in Jesus’ last week.  Know that He came to save and set right relationships and motives towards God.  What attitudes do you need adjusted by Jesus today?  Do you attend church to make ‘connections’ with people for business or do you come to pray and reflect on your walk with Jesus?  Looking at the heart is what Jesus did then and does now in our lives through the Holy Spirit.  Let Him cleanse your heart today and put you on the right pathway with right motives.  May our hearts be right with God today as suggested in this quote by Charles Wesley.  

Prayer:  Father God, I come to you today in need of readjusted attitudes and I desire that my motives be made pure.  Show me where I have wrong attitudes and motives.  Fill me with your Spirit anew today and guide me in your ways.  Cause me to walk with you in humility and openness. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Do you desire to have a heart of prayer today? Then lift up your voice and thoughts to Him. He will answer. Proverbs 15:29 “The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.” Be right with God today.

Linda

Old or New Testaments, Jesus is Worthy

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On this last day before Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, I am thinking about his resolve and determination to face the events that would transpire in the last week of his life. What courage and love it must have taken to head towards Jerusalem with the cross looming before him. For today I have chosen a psalm filled with joy and thanksgiving as we anticipate the shouting crowd, the humble Savior and the willing donkey too.

Psalm 100  Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
2     Serve the Lord with gladness!
    Come into his presence with singing! Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. , Ephesians 4:17-20 “but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,”

3  Know that the Lord, he is God!
    It is he who made us, and we are his;
    we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Ephesians 2:20 ‘For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” John 10:14-15 “ I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. “

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
    and his courts with praise!
    Give thanks to him; bless his name! 1 Thessalonians 5:18 “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

5 For the Lord is good;
    his steadfast love endures forever,
    and his faithfulness to all generations. 2 Corinthians 9:8 “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” 1 John 4:8 “ Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.“

Whether in the Old or New Testaments the story of our God is consistent. He is glorious and worthy of our praise and worship. He is our God and Savior and there is none that can compare to Him. Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can rejoice in my God and Savior.

Blessings as you enter into Holy Week and may your journey down the Palm Sunday road be filled with praise.

Linda

 

Thank You Jesus

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As we near the end of the Lenten season and enter Holy Week next week, let us remember what Jesus accomplished on the cross. Psalm 103:3-13 gives a vivid picture of our gracious and marvelous God and Savior.

The Lord is merciful and gracious,
    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 He will not always chide,
    nor will he keep his anger forever.
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
    nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
    so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
13 As a father shows compassion to his children,
    so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.

I am so thankful that God is filled with love and mercy towards me. When I disobey His word, he disciplines me with justice and leads me towards what He desires for me. He doesn’t punish me for my sins as I deserve but is forgiving and totally removes my sins away. God has compassion for me and shows me His continual steadfast love day after day. What parts of this psalm do you identify with?

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can feel His love, compassion, forgiveness and grace poured over my life. Thank you Jesus for making this relationship with God possible through your work on the cross. I am humbled by your great sacrifice.

Linda

Christ Did It All for Me

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As I near the end of this Lenten season and my journey through the Psalms, it seems appropriate to conclude with one of my favorite psalms. Psalm 103 had always held a special place in my heart as the messages contained within are so encouraging to my faith.

Psalm 103:1-5 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
    and all that is within me,
    bless his holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits,
3 who forgives all your iniquity,
    who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit,
    who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can claim the benefits of knowing and trusting in God without any reservations.

God promises the benefits of faith: healing, forgiveness, redemption, love, mercy, goodness and renewal! That is why without reservation, I can praise His name and call Him blessed. He has healed my broken heart, forgiven my sins and restored me on more than one occasion. He has treated me with love and tender mercy and renewed my life when I thought all was lost. I think this is why this psalm resonates so with me. It seems a picture of my spiritual journey and shows the hope and redemption I have found in Christ. I pray the words of this psalm speak to you today and remind you of how blessed with are to know and live in Christ.

Linda

Worthy of Worship, Father and Son

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Psalm 96 begs the question, why do you worship God? What about God is worthy of praise? Psalm 96 gives the answer in full Technicolor with lots of exclamation points! The psalmist extols God for who He is and proclaims His greatness.

Sing a new song to the Lord!
    Let the whole earth sing to the Lord!
2 Sing to the Lord; praise his name.
    Each day proclaim the good news that he saves. He is worthy of praise as He alone SAVES.
3 Publish his glorious deeds among the nations.
    Tell everyone about the amazing things he does. His deeds are wonderous.
4 Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise!
    He is to be feared above all gods.
5 The gods of other nations are mere idols,
    but the Lord made the heavens! He is no mere idol or wood. He is greater than any other god.
6 Honor and majesty surround him;
    strength and beauty fill his sanctuary. He is surrounded by glory in heaven.

7 O nations of the world, recognize the Lord;
    recognize that the Lord is glorious and strong. He is glorious and strong.
8 Give to the Lord the glory he deserves!
    Bring your offering and come into his courts.
9 Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor.
    Let all the earth tremble before him. Worship Him as all earth quakes before Him.
10 Tell all the nations, “The Lord reigns!”
    The world stands firm and cannot be shaken.
    He will judge all peoples fairly. He is the just judge.

11 Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice!
    Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise!
12 Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy!
    Let the trees of the forest sing for joy All creation praises and rejoice in Him.
13 before the Lord, for he is coming!
    He is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with justice,
    and the nations with his truth. Unlike earthly kings, He will just with absolute justice and truth.

The psalmist in Psalm 86:8 describes God. “Among the gods there is none like you, Lord; no deeds can compare with yours.” In Isaiah 46:9 God describes himself. “Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.”

Why would we go looking anyplace else for one to follow and worship?

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, we can worship the one true God in Jesus the Son. Philippians 2:9-11 “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place  and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.”

Linda

Images of a Protecting, Saving God

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Psalm 91 is often referred to the SOS psalm. God’s love and protection is clearly stated and one can be assured that they can call upon the Lord for help.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.” God promises shelter and protection for those who abide in Him.

3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
    and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his pinions,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
5 You will not fear the terror of the night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
    nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. The images of protection by God’s wings and our not needing to live fearfully are powerful. They are very reassuring!

7 A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand,
    but it will not come near you.
8 You will only look with your eyes
    and see the recompense of the wicked. God will protect you!

9 Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—
    the Most High, who is my refuge—
10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
    no plague come near your tent. Protection comes from abiding in the Lord.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways.
12 On their hands they will bear you up,
    lest you strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the adder;
    the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot. He has sent angels to guard our way.

14 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
    I will protect him, because he knows my name.
15 When he calls to me, I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble;
    I will rescue him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
    and show him my salvation.” My salvation is secure in Him from now throughout eternity!

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can be assured of God’s protection and my eternal salvation is secure. Thank you Jesus. Hebrews 5:8-9 “Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,“

Linda

Be Honest with God, He Listens

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Psalm 90 shows the depravity of man and the power and might of God. It also shows God’s heart for mankind and His great generosity.

Psalm 90:1-2 “Lord, through all the generations
    you have been our home!
2 Before the mountains were born,
    before you gave birth to the earth and the world,
    from beginning to end, you are God.” The psalmist is thinking about the eternality and the faithfulness of God towards man. He has always been there for us.

In verses 3-6, You turn people back to dust, saying,
    “Return to dust, you mortals!”
4 For you, a thousand years are as a passing day,
    as brief as a few night hours.
5 You sweep people away like dreams that disappear.
    They are like grass that springs up in the morning.
6 In the morning it blooms and flourishes,
    but by evening it is dry and withered. The psalmist extols the fragility of man and the fleetingness of our lives. God is timeless but not man.

In verses 7-12, We wither beneath your anger;
    we are overwhelmed by your fury.
8 You spread out our sins before you—
    our secret sins—and you see them all.
9 We live our lives beneath your wrath,
    ending our years with a groan. 10 Seventy years are given to us!
    Some even live to eighty.
But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble;
    soon they disappear, and we fly away.
11 Who can comprehend the power of your anger?
    Your wrath is as awesome as the fear you deserve. 12 Teach us to realize the brevity of life,
    so that we may grow in wisdom. God is angry over sin, rightly so, God abhors sin. As we live with a sin nature fighting within us, we can experience pain and trouble. The psalmist asks for wisdom from God that he might grow in Him in his short lifetime. As we confront our own sin, our faith in Jesus helps us to grow in the time God has allotted us.

In verses 13-17,  O Lord, come back to us!
    How long will you delay?
    Take pity on your servants!
14 Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love,
    so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives.
15 Give us gladness in proportion to our former misery!
    Replace the evil years with good.
16 Let us, your servants, see you work again;
    let our children see your glory.
17 And may the Lord our God show us his approval
    and make our efforts successful.
    Yes, make our efforts successful! The psalmist concludes with a plea to God for compassion and love, for gladness in proportion to his suffering, that good would replace evil years, to be able to see God at work and that his children would see God’s glory. Lastly, he asks God for His approval, that He could see that God was pleased.

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, we can lay our hearts before God in prayer and know He is listening and will respond. Hebrews 4:16, we can approach God, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Philippians 4:6-7 “ do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Psalm 4:3 “But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him.”

Linda

Jesus Teaches US to Pray for Others by Example

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Each Sunday during Lent we have been looking at prayers offered by the Apostles for the new believers in Christ. Each time we have seen their heartfelt love for their friends and deep conviction that their faith grow and develop. Today on this 4th Sunday of Lent I want to look at Jesus’ prayer recorded in John 17. I have chosen verses 20-26 but the whole chapter is Jesus’ prayer.

John 17:20-26  “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.

****Jesus prayed for you and me, future believers. He prayed for unity and that world who see and hears our testimonies will also come to believe.

22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. 24 Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!

****Jesus has shared part of His glory with us so that we may be unified with Him. He sent His Holy Spirit to indwell us! He wants the world to see His love. He wants us to be able to ‘see’ Him and know He is real and has always and will always love us.

25 “O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. 26 I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them.”

*****Jesus promises to continually reveal Himself and the Father to us. His love will continue to be in us and with us.

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, we too can pray for others to deeply abide in Him and reflect His glory given to us. Who do you know today that needs the love of Christ? Who needs to see Jesus and have a spirit of unity with other believers? Pray for one another today.

Linda