Keep the Celebration Going!

Greetings,

I hope everyone had a blessed Easter weekend.  Thousands of churches around the world celebrated the resurrection of our Lord, and that is a wonderful thing!  One way we keep the celebration going is by doing the things Jesus did. 

Matthew 9:35-36 "Then Jesus traveled to all the towns and villages.  He taught in their meeting places, reported kingdom news, and healed their diseased bodies, healed their bruised and hurt lives."

At the heart of this passage is a Savior Who had compassion for people.  Wherever he went He noticed the hurting people in the crowds, He was aware of their struggles, and His heart broke for them.  And  then He did something about it.

He gave good news!

He taught them a better way to live by encouraging them to connect with the heavenly Father!

He healed their physical ailments!

He made their minds sound!

He restored a healthy balance in their emotions!

He soothed their souls!

You may be thinking you can't do what Christ did, but I disagree.    We can certainly notice the needs of others and have the right responses ready in any given situation.  We can speak encouragement, and we can point others to the love of our  Father.  As for healing, we can take a bold step and pray for someone.   Christ is the One Who patches things up, but our hearts and hands are the conduits through which His power travels.  

And look what James 5:16 says, "...pray for each other so that you may be healed."  The most amazing result of our efforts is that we, in the process of reaching out to others, of wrapping our arms around them, of praying for their well-being, will be healed ourselves! AMEN!

PRAYER:  Dear Lord, Thank You for Resurrection Sunday.  You are alive, and Your life is in us.  We are equipped to live this life victoriously.  We want to keep Your example going.  Make us aware of  other's needs.   Fill us with compassion.  How many times has someone reached out to us and changed our life for the better?  We want to do the same.  This time, however, we want to touch someone else's life knowing that when we do, blessings will flow into our own.  Praise Your beautiful name. Amen!  

No Questions Asked~

Luke 23 contains the details of Jesus' crucifixion, and we learn in verse 32 that two other men, who were criminals, were also going to be crucified. Verse 39 says one of the them "hurled insults at Jesus." Verses 40-42, however, paint a different picture of the other criminal.

He says, "We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But Jesus has done nothing wrong.”  Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”

These two men represent the two types of people in our world today - those who want nothing to do with Christ and those who realize their great need for Him. (I have something in common with the criminal who needed Jesus, and I hope you do too.)

Nevertheless, verse 43 is what makes Christ so awesome, so great, so wonderful, so selfless..."Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise."

So simple, really. No harsh words about a crime-filled life. No judgment, no condemnation, no criticism. The criminal genuinely wanted to be forgiven, and Jesus gave it. No questions asked.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Today we unite our voice with that forgiven criminal and say, "Remember us!" We look forward to being with You in Paradise. In the meantime, thank You that You are with us each step of the way on planet earth. In Jesus' name, AMEN~

Three Very Powerful Promises!

With Resurrection Sunday still fresh on our minds, I want to share a story I once heard.  I 

have taken the liberty of putting my name in the story because I identify with it on a very 

personal level.

***
One day Yenisita was complaining to God that the cross she was carrying was too heavy; she felt as though at any moment she would crumble under the heaviness of it.  So many responsibilities. So many people to look out after.  So much grief to deal with.  So much disappointment, sadness, frustration.  Just so much...

All of a sudden, a bright light flooded the room, and Yenisita realized there were hundreds of thousands of crosses all over the place.  Then she heard the voice of the Lord Almighty. "My dear child, I invite you to put your cross down and pick up the one that suits you best!"

"I'll take that deal, Lord!"

Yenisita put that cross down and starting looking around.  You better believe she was looking for the tiniest, smallest, lightest cross she could find.  Finally, way over in the corner, she saw the perfect-sized cross made out of balsa wood -- one of the lightest woods in the world!  She hurried over there with such enthusiasm.  Finally, a cross she could carry.  Made just for her.

Then she heard the voice of the Lord Almighty for the second time, "Yenisita, that is the very cross you came in with!"

***

There's a mighty lesson here, people!  

"No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; He’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; He’ll always be there to help you come through it." (1 Corinthians 10:13 The Message Version)

This verse makes three very powerful promises; let us pray them over our lives.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Thank You that You will never let me down,  thank you that You will never let me be pushed past my limit, and thank You that You will always be here, right here next to me, to help me through everything I face in this life.  Help me to always remember these powerful truths! I praise You, in Jesus' name, AMEN!