Death and Resurrection

As we get ready to celebrate Easter this coming Sunday, let's take a look at scriptures about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 53:4-7 (NIV)



4 Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.


5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.


6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.


7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.




Blessings,

Note from Sarah

My daughter, Sarah, turned 15 last month.  I am so very thankful for her.  She is a great girl who loves Jesus with all her heart.  I am so proud of her! 

She is wearing a Lee University (Cleveland, TN) tshirt.  This is the university that she plans to attend and play basketball.  We sure are praying for a scholarship!

Last night she posted the message (had to post as two seperate ones) below on her Facebook.  It was late and I told her she needed to go to bed.  She said "mom, I have to post something on Facebook that we talked about tonight at church."  She read it to me and I asked if I could post it here today.  She gave me permission.  I just copied it from her Facebook.

This is something I learned in youth tonight that missy did :) if were christians were all part of the body of christ. and the body of christ is like a football game. CHRISTIANS(body of christ) are always on the offense because were the ones tryin to get in the in zone which is telling people bout christ..... The devil is always on the defence hes trying to stop the word of God from spreading. The football is like the word of God. you have to work as a team to pass it along to other people. in the bible it says "Go into all the world and preach the gossip." The devil will try anything to stop you. COME TOGETHER AND BE READY FOR THE ENEMY AND SPREAD THE WORD!

Blessings,

My Peace Day 2

Welcome back! We are continuing our look at Psalm 23:2b “He leads me beside still waters”.

Yesterday we looked at several scriptures on peace and different things that causes us to seek peace.

Today we will look at another name of God, Jehovah-Shalom meaning “Jehovah, my peace”.

We first meet Jehovah-Shalom in Judges in the story of Gideon. Gideon is hiding from the Midianites. One day an angel appeared before him and said “the LORD is with you, mighty warrior” (Judges 6:12). Gideon questioned this. He doubted this. He was afraid. (Any of that sound familiar?) In Judges 6:23 the LORD says to Gideon “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.” Gideon then built an altar and called it the LORD is peace (vs. 24).

Elizabeth George says “Is your daily life characterized by trouble, chaos and disaster? Do you feel like you are living under the pile, always behind, making little or no progress? That things are always out of control or never quite in order? Does your life lack the mark of God’s peace? Is there an absence of Jehovah-Shalom? … Our loving Shepherd leads. But we must heed. He leads, but we must follow.”

Gideon’s first response did not reflect a peaceful mind. I like what Elizabeth George says about this. “Is He leading the hesitant, reticent sheep in you? Is he trying to use you in mighty ways for His purposes … but you’re hemming and hawing, dawdling and fidgeting, fussing and fuming, stewing and worrying?

We fail to have peace when we forget (like Gideon did) that God never asks for us to have confidence in ourselves. He only asks that we have confidence in Him. When God commands, God supplies.”

Wow! Did you hear what that last paragraph said? We need to have confidence in God, not in ourselves! How often do we try to do things in our own strength, only to get frustrated, stressed out, and all out of whack? We need to pause and allow our Great Shepherd, Jehovah-Shalom, to lead us beside the still waters where we can find peace, total peace.

One of the ladies in my book study really enjoyed this chapter. At the time, she had a lot going on, i.e. working extra long days, a youth trip coming up and dental surgery appointment a few days before the youth trip. God really spoke to her and ministered to her His peace in a mighty way!

Another lady has been without a job for about eight months with no job lead in sight. She felt led to go back to school where she is learning medical billing. Now she has been out of school a long time and it has been a bit overwhelming to go back to school. What really spoke to her was having confidence in God rather than self. In herself she would be stressed, overwhelmed and feeling like she couldn’t do this. In God, she can succeed!

The picture that came to my mind of peace is one of our dog Barney. When we pet Barney, we run our hand down the length of him so that his fur lays flat. If we rub our hand up his back, then his fur stands up. When we are all out of whack, it is like our “fur” is being rubbed the wrong way going up instead of down. When we sit by still waters of peace, our “fur” which was up now lays flat. We are at peace once again.

What about you? Do you need the peace speaker in your life? Are you living in chaos? Are things troubling you? Take time today to allow your Shepherd, your Jehovah-Shalom, to be your peace speaker.

Here are two thought provoking questions the author asks at the end of Chapter 4. Take a moment and ask yourself these questions:

1. Do you have a time and place where you retreat regularly to commune with the God of peace?

2. How does it encourage you to know that God leads you to places of peace “beside still waters”?

Let’s pray. Father, we thank You that You are our Jehovah-Shalom, the LORD our peace, Jehovah my peace. We thank You that in our busyness and dealing with responsibility You lead us beside the still waters where Your peace can be found. I pray for the ladies reading this that are in need of Your peace in their lives. Father, saturate them completely with Your peace until they are dripping peace with every step they take. Thank You Father for touching them today in a special way. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.


Blessings,

My Peace

“He leads me beside still waters” Psalm 23:2b

John 14:27 (NIV) Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 14:27 (The Message) I'm leaving you well and whole. That's my parting gift to you. Peace. I don't leave you the way you're used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don't be upset. Don't be distraught.

Psalm 29:11 (NIV) 11 The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.

Isaiah 26:3 (NIV) You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.

My ladies and I are reading "Quiet Confidence for a Woman's Heart" by Elizabeth George. This is a study of Psalm 23. In Chapter 4 Elizabeth George looks at Psalm 23:2b "He leads me beside still waters."

There are several things that causes us to seek peace. Busyness is probably at the top of all of our lists. Responsibility, I think, would come close to busyness. Stress comes to mind, but it is probably a result of either busyness or responsibility. Any kind of strife would cause us to seek peace.

What are some other things that causes you to seek peace?

Psalms 23:2 tells us that our Great Shepherd, Jehovah-Rohi, leads (a characteristic of Jehovah-Rohi) us beside still waters.

When I think of still waters, I picture calm water, restful water, peaceful water. When we feel like we are coming unglued and everything is falling apart, the last thing we need is rushing, raging water – as in a rapid. Rather, we need to sit by the still waters and let peace envelope us.

Elizabeth George says in Chapter 4 “Have you visited the still waters of God’s peace and comfort lately? The waters are there … waiting for you. And the Shepherd is there too. … God gives you His peace, and He extends rest to the weary and renewal to the exhausted.”

Isn't it wonderful to know that the Shepherd is there for us ready to give us the peace of the quiet waters that we so desperately need!

Tomorrow we will continue our look at Chapter 4 and look at another name for God found in Psalm 23:2.

Blessings,

The Silent Sermon

A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him.

It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his pastor's visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited.

he pastor made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone then he sat back in his chair, still silent.

The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead.

Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The pastor glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.

As the pastor reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, 'Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I will be back in church next Sunday'.

We live in a world today, which tries to say too much with too little. Consequently, few listen. Sometimes the best sermons are the ones left unspoken.

Blessings,

Rest

Psalm 23:2a (NIV) He makes me lie down in green pastures,

Matthew 11:28-29 (NIV) 28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Matthew 11:28-29 (The Message) 28-30"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

Psalm 62:5 (NIV) Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.

Psalm 91:1 (NIV) He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

My ladies and I are reading "Quiet Confidence for a Woman's Heart" by Elizabeth George. This is a study of Psalm 23. In Chapter 3 Elizabeth George looks at Psalm 23:2 “He makes me to lie down in green pastures."


In Chapter 3, the author tells us that food and rest are in those green pastures where the Shepherd guides us. Food is found in the green, lush pastures. Have you ever been driving down the road and seen a field of very green and pretty grass? Or it could be like a yard where new grass had been planted and is now filling in. Rest is found when we lie down in the green, lush pastures. There have been times when I have seen cows and horses laying down in their green pastures. They always seem so content, so restful, so peaceful.


Elizabeth George tells us that we can “partake of green pastures by ‘having quiet times with the Lord’. You experience the same sense of rejuvenation, the same revival of Spirit, the same deep satisfaction that sheep enjoy when resting in the presence of a faithful Shepherd they trust.” Time spent in the green pastures in reading God’s Word is very necessary. We all know that our time in God’s Word should be regular, daily and it should be ever increasing.


Psalms 23:2 says that the Lord makes us lie down in green pastures. Elizabeth George continues saying “God’s procedure for making us lie down is a call to trust Him … He alone knows the future. Only He knows what lies ahead of us.”


One way He makes us lie down is by waiting. Now we all have a hard time waiting – whether it is waiting nine months for a baby to be born, or waiting on an answer to prayer, or waiting for direction. Waiting helps us to trust God more. Sometimes we would rather learn to trust God more in other ways than waiting.


On waiting, Elizabeth George says “A time of waiting ‘locks’ us into a life of study, a life of prayer, a life of lingering with the Shepherd, a life of preparation … until we rise up and move ahead again, having received from our time of rest all we need for life’s next challenge.”


I have had many times of waiting. Several years ago, the company I worked for closed at the end of the year. I chose to stay with the company until the last day and thus was then unemployed. I was only unemployed for several months before finding another job. Looking back, did I use that time of waiting to my benefit or did I waste it?


What about you? Are you in a season of waiting? Are you using this time to draw closer to God?


Let’s use the waiting time as a time of finding rest in God and a “life of lingering with the Shepherd”.


Here are two thought provoking questions the author asks at the end of Chapter 3. Take a moment and ask yourself this question:


1. Take a minute to think about the times when you need rest:
a. What is your mental condition?
b. And your physical condition?
c. And your spiritual condition?


2. How do you think waiting causes you to grow in patience?


Let’s pray. Father, we thank You that You make us lie down in green pastures. We thank You that food is found in those green, lush pastures. Help us to use our time in those green pastures to our benefit by spending regular time with You and in Your Word and may those times be increasing. Father, when we are made to lie down by a time of waiting, help us to embrace the waiting and not kick against it. We thank You for being our Great Shepherd, our Jehovah-Rohi! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.


Blessings,

My Provider

Psalm 111:9 (NIV) He provided redemption for his people; he ordained his covenant forever— holy and awesome is his name.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV) No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

1 Timothy 6:17 (NIV) …but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

Philippians 4:19 (NIV) And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

My ladies and I are reading "Quiet Confidence for a Woman's Heart" by Elizabeth George. This is a study of Psalm 23. In Chapter 2 Elizabeth George looks at Psalm 23:1b - "I shall not want".

We meet Jehovah-Jireh, the LORD will provide in Genesis 22. It is a familiar story where Abraham is asked by God to take his only son Isaac and offer him as a burnt sacrifice. Abraham’s response is immediate obedience. When Isaac asked his father about the lamb for the sacrifice, Abraham response is found in Genesis 22:8 (NIV) Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together. And just as Abraham was ready to sacrifice his son, an angel called out to him to stop. As Abraham looked up, he seen a ram that was caught in the bushes. Genesis 22:14 (NIV) So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided."

Yes, God did provide the sacrifice just as Abraham said he would.

How comforting it is to know that God sees our needs and He provides for them! You may ask how I can know for certain that the LORD will provide.

Elizabeth George in this chapter says “We have the promise of God (which requires it), but we also have the very nature of the Person of God (which demands compliance) … with God, to see is also to provide.”

Some of our basic needs are food, clothes and house. God tells us in Matthew 6:25-28:

(NIV) 25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[a]? 28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.

God feeds the birds and clothes the lilies and He will also feed and clothe us.

We read how the children of Israel wandered for forty years in the wilderness. During that time, their shoes and clothes never wore out. God, Jehovah-Jireh, provided manna for them new every day. They did not lack anything – for forty long years! We too can count on our Jehovah-Jireh to be our provider in everything!

Jehovah-Jireh, the LORD will provide, has worked in my life and in my family’s life many, many times. When my first baby was born, we were struggling financially. Through a lady in our church, the LORD provided diapers. When we had car trouble, He provided a vehicle. When I needed a job, He provided one and it was perfect. When my husband has gone on mission trips, He has provided financially. Jehovah-Jireh has indeed been my provider through the years and in so many ways!

I like what Elizabeth George says: “Jehovah-Jireh denotes our loving Shepherd sees our needs and sees to our needs. And when we see His provision, we need to see to it that He is greatly praised!”

We must always remember to give all praise to God who is our Jehovah-Jireh, our provider!

Here is one thought provoking question the author asks at the end of Chapter 2. Take a moment and ask yourself this question:
1. If you’re facing a seeming impossible situation now, how does the thought of Jehovah-Jireh, “the LORD will provide”, encourage you?

In what ways has the Lord provided for you? In what ways do you need Him to provide?

I want to remind you that no matter what you are facing today, no matter how big or how small, God wants to be your provider! Call out to Him and trust Him to do it! His time is not our time, but He always comes through!

Let’s Pray. Father, I thank You that You are Jehovah-Jireh, my Provider! Thank You for all that You do in my life and in my family’s life. Thank You for always coming through for us. I ask that You will show Yourself Jehovah-Jireh in the lives of those reading this. You know what they have need of today. Thank You Father for being our Jehovah-Jireh, our Provider! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

ps.  I shared this post on Heart to Heart with Holley.

Blessings,

Cry Out

Psalm 34:17 (NIV) The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.

Psalm 55:17 (NIV) Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice.

Psalm 57:2 (NIV) I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills {his purpose} for me.

Psalm 84:2 (NIV) My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV) 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'

My husband’s been out of the country on a mission’s trip to Romania for nine days now. He will be home in two days! When he first arrived in Romania, his phone was not working. Before he left home he had called and set up for his phone to work out of the country. I had to make some calls and finally his phone was working.

At first he was texting me, which was good. But then he was able to call and talk to me and the kids. Oh! How wonderful it was to hear his voice! It was nice texting back and forth. But it was even better to hear his voice. He has been able to call us almost every morning. I would wait anticipating his call.

This got me to thinking about how our Heavenly Father longs to hear our voice call out to Him.

This past Sunday night several ladies went to visit Sister Helen, a lady in our church who is homebound. We had a wonderful visit with her. Sister Helen has physical difficulties and it has affected her speech. Her speech has gotten worse over the last few years and she is hard to understand for the most part. As we were closing out our visit with prayer, Sister Helen was crying out to God. As she was doing so, the thought came to me that although we had a hard time understanding all that she was saying; her Father knew exactly what she was crying out to Him about.

Another example is the cry of your baby. As parents, we learn what the different cries mean for our baby. I can remember being in the sanctuary (the nursery was not too far) and hear a baby cry. I knew immediately if my child was crying or not. I knew the voice of my baby.

Just as I got excited whenever my husband called me, our Heavenly Father gets excited to hear the voices of His children call out to Him.

Have you called out to your Heavenly Father today? He is there ready to hear your voice and ready to move on your behalf. Call out to Him today!

Let’s pray. Father, we love You. We thank You that You are always near to hear our voice cry out to You. We thank you that when we don’t make a bit of sense, You know exactly what we are saying. Thank You for all that You are doing in Romania with the team there. We give You praise! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

By the way, my husband and the team with him have seen over 50 people raise their hands for salvation. People were ministered to mightily and many people were healed. God did a glorious work these last seven days of ministry. We do give Him all praise!

Blessings,