Bible favorites

It’s not a fairytale.

Oops! Realized I included this blog twice! Oh well, I’m leaving it because the picture is different & perhaps someone new might be intrigued & accept Jesus. When something is important, repeat it. 😉

[Jesus said,] my soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

Matthew 26:38 (KJV)

My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and watch with me.

Matthew 26:38 (NLT)

So many times, we turn the death of Jesus into a storybook tale with a happy ending: the resurrection. I truly appreciate the reality of suffering depicted by Mel Gibson’s, The Passion of the Christ. Jesus came from heaven, God’s son, and lived as a man.

Jesus experienced temptation and felt pain. Emotional pain struck His heart as He was betrayed and abandoned by His closest friends. He also felt physical pain, unbearable to the point of death, yet He continued in suffering.

Verse 42 demonstrated the battle between flesh and spirit as Jesus asked of God, His Father, if there be any other way. Jesus, as a man, did not want to suffer and die. Yet, Jesus, as our Savior, was willing to fulfill the plan of the Father. Are you willing to give up your plans and your feelings in order to complete God’s will in your life?

In verse 53, Jesus says,

Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and He would send them instantly?

Jesus knew the reality of the power of God! How much more difficult for Him to continue suffering, knowing all He had to do was speak the word and angels would be summoned to deliver Him! Jesus overcame temptation. Jesus bore our punishment because of love.

This was not easy for Jesus. He did not use some supernatural anesthesia to help Him get through it. The crucifixion of Jesus, the ultimate sacrifice, a labor of love, secured redemption for all mankind. Will you accept it?

Will you believe in Jesus?

It’s as easy as ABC:

A. Admit you are a sinner.

B. Believe that Jesus is God’s only Son, that He died for you, that He rose again, and that He sends His Spirit to dwell within you.

C. Confess your sins to God, and He is faithful and just to forgive you.

Go and sin no more.

Never forget the true story that brings us our happy Easter❣️

*rock photo: carving at The Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus wept & prayed before the betrayal of Judas.

Remember the Whole Story

[Jesus said,] My soul is sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

Matthew 26:38 (KJV)

My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and watch with me.

Matthew 26:38 (NLT)

So many times, we turn the death of Jesus into a storybook tale with a happy ending: the resurrection. I truly appreciate the reality of suffering depicted by Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ. Jesus came from heaven, God’s son, and lived as a man.

Today as we celebrate the first day of spring, I am reminded of the new life that Jesus promises us. He did rise from the grave, so that we might have eternal life! He makes us new in him! It is amazing! However, we cannot forget the suffering that Jesus went through during the process of His crucifixion and simply revel in the joy of the resurrection. We need to remember the whole story.

Verse 42 demonstrates the battle between flesh and spirit as Jesus asks of God, His Father, if there be any other way. Jesus, as a man, did not want to suffer and die. Yet, Jesus, as our Savior, was willing to fulfill the plan of the Father. Are you willing to give up your plans and your feelings in order to complete God’s will in your life?

In verse 53, Jesus says,

Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and He would send them instantly?

Will you believe in Jesus?

It’s as easy as A, B, C:

A. Admit you are a sinner.

B. Believe that Jesus is God’s only son, that He died for you, that He rose again, and that He sent His spirit to dwell within you.

C. Confess your sins to God, and He is faithful and just to forgive you.

This first day of spring become a new person in Christ Jesus! 🌷

Where the presence of God is or is not? That is the question.

The presence of the Lord certainly was evident in our church services in Zambia. (A short video of praise in Bimba language)

Have you ever known anyone who makes the same terrible decision again and again resulting in catastrophic repercussions? Yet, he or she, when given another opportunity, repeats the action again. Often times, I think to myself (or even say out loud), “What are they thinking?” “Will they ever learn?” “Will I?”

There is a character in the Bible like this, many actually, but one person specifically comes to mind and that is Samson. Samson possessed a calling upon his life from before he was born. His mother and his father received a declaration from the Lord that they would have a son, and he would “deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines” (Judges 13:5b). Take time to read the entire story of Samson in Judges chapters 13 through 16.

Samson did many mighty things. His strength seemed super natural, much like that of a superhero in the movies. Samson’s strength came from the Lord. The spirit of the Lord would move upon Samson and grant him the strength he needed to defeat the enemy.

Although Samson was called and chosen by the Lord, he made many mistakes. Samson showed weakness when it came to choosing women. The women Samson chose to love were not godly women, and Samson even went against the counsel of his parents to marry anyway. He suffered great heart ache due to his first marriage (Judges ch. 14).

The last woman Samson loved was Delilah. This maybe one of the most famous love stories in the Bible. Most people have at least heard the names: Samson and Delilah. The details are quite sad.

Delilah agreed to deliver Samson to the Philistines for a payout of 1100 pieces of silver (Judges 16:5). She enticed him and inquired of him, “how may you be bound to afflict you?” (Judges 16:6) Why would someone who loves me need to know how to afflict me? The question of the hour, yet, Sampson did not seem threatened by her inquiry, he just told her a lie. While he slept, she carried out the steps Samson said it would take to afflict him, then called for the Philistines & they attacked Sampson, but his strength saved him.

Even after realizing she had tied him up and put him in danger, Samson came back into Delilah. Two more times Samson created stories of how he might be defeated, and Delilah called in the Philistines.

Samson defeated the Philistines three times in Delilah’s care. Finally, Delilah nagged and nagged Samson every day for the truth. The Bible says, “…his soul was annoyed to death.” (Judges 16: 26b)

“So he told her all that was in his heart.” (Judges 16:17)

Delilah had his head shaved as he slept upon her lap, called for the Philistines, and when Samson awoke, he had no strength.

One of the saddest scriptures in the Bible: “But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him.” (Judges 16:20b)

The Philistines captured Sampson, gouged out his eyes, bound him with chains, and made him a slave to push a grinder like an animal.

Have you ever experienced the presence of the Lord?

Have you ever been in a place where you knew the presence of the Lord was not?

We need to be more aware of God’s presence. Without Him we have no hope. Ask God to let His spirit guide you every day. Don’t lay in the lap of sin so many times that you neglect to even recognize it’s sin anymore. The consequences are too great. We must live in the presence of God every day.

Perhaps you feel like you’ve stepped out of the presence of God. Come back to Him. As long as you are living, it’s not too late.

Judges 16:22 tells us,”However, the hair of his head began to grow again after it was shaved off.”

Judges 16:28 says, “Then Samson called to the Lord and said, ‘O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me….'”

The Lord remembered Samson, returned his strength to him for one final feat, and “…the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he killed in his life.” (Judges 16:30)

Call upon the Lord today. Be in his presence. Stop walking in places where God spirit is not.

Reaching up from the waves.

Matthew 14:24-33(NLT)

Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”

But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”

Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the

water.”

“Yes, come,” Jesus said.

So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.

Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”

When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.

As you read this excerpt from the Bible, imagine the feeling of being overtaken by waves of crashing water. The thought of drowning brings fear & anxiety. I’ve heard many people say they feel like they are “drowning in debt“, “drowning in sorrow”, “drowning in work”, and many other examples.

Life happens: the good & the bad. Sometimes I feel like I’m sinking as I struggle with my thoughts & sometimes my actions. The waves of doubt & insecurity threaten to drown me.

I’m thankful for Jesus. I know He’s there to lift me up. He will walk beside me through the crashing waves.

He’s here for you, too. Take the time to call upon Him. Trust Him. Don’t doubt.

Shine for Jesus

Acts 7:57 (NLT)

Then they put their hands over their ears and began shouting….

ears

The story of Stephen has always been one of my favorites. Beginning with Acts 6:5, we meet “Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Ghost.” (KJV) Stephen had been going about preaching the Good News of Jesus and performing miracles. This brought about the attention of the temple rulers. Men began to debate with Stephen; but none could match Stephen’s wisdom, so they decided to spread rumors against him. Stephen was arrested.

As he was brought before the council and questioned, Stephen boldly responded. I find Stephen’s response compelling (Acts 7:2-53). The Bible says Stephen’s face shone like an angel (Acts 6:15). Stephen began with a history story upon which everyone could agree. He started his defense with the story of Moses. He reminded the leaders of Moses receiving the law on Mt. Sinai, a law which they all upheld and believed. However, Stephen also reminded them of the shamefulness in their history, “But our ancestors refused to listen to Moses. They rejected him and wanted to return to Egypt.” (vs. 39) They all stood by and intently listened to all Stephen had to say, even agreeing with his every word. Until verse 51, Stephen says, “Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That’s what your ancestors did, and so do you!” Stephen called them murderers of Jesus, the Messiah.

Have you ever talked with children, and when they didn’t like what you had to say, they put their hands over their ears? Perhaps once you were that child! It’s high time we listen! Sometimes the truth hurts. We can be quick to judge others and understand the judgment of those in the history books. As an onlooker, we see the foolishness and arrogance that leads to destruction. But, looking in the mirror, oftentimes puts us on the defensive. We do not want to see our mistakes, admit wrong doing, or change.

mirror

These leaders of the temple could not stand to hear Stephen’s accusations because they were guilty. The King James Version says they “gnashed” on him with their teeth (vs. 54). Can you imagine grown men biting another grown man? They were chaotic in their charge against the righteous man, Stephen. As they stoned him to death, he had a vision of Jesus and forgave them as he died (vs. 56-59)

Do you find yourself just going through the motions of Christianity? Do you find yourself quick to judge others and hanging on every line of the law simply to accuse them of failure?

Find a relationship with Jesus today. Certainly He wants you to serve Him, but He wants you to serve from a heart of love. Spread the Good News to others in a fashion, so they will actually believe that Jesus is Good! Let others see Jesus shining forth from you.