Promises

"Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you, while He was still with you "The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again." Then they remembered His words." Luke 24:5-8

"Then they remembered His words." You don't always catch that part of the scripture. How many times have I overlooked it myself. What if they would have remembered His words? Would they have been sitting and watching the tomb all night, waiting for the rock to roll away? If I remembered His words, would I worry about so much or would I wait in expectation of the revealing of His plan?

It's important to memorize and remember His words! There we find peace and hope. "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; If it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." John 14:1-3

Remember His words...  He is alive and He is coming back!

Why is Good Friday so good?

Last week I was preparing the April calendar. There is a picture card for Good Friday with three crosses, and Easter is marked with a lily flower. One of my first graders asked me, “Why is it a Good Friday if He died on the cross that Friday?” The question is a very logically one, and I’m sure there are others who wonder the same thing. Let me explain.

He died because He loves me. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” John 3:16-17

He died to save and protect me. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by “Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:23-24
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

He died to get me back. “Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” Ephesians 1:7

He died for the joy it would bring. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2

Yes, there was extreme pain and overwhelming sorrow, but Good Friday is so sweet because it was the beginning of Easter morning!

Prayer

Prayer! It’s a popular topic in sermons, Sunday school lessons, books, and conversations with friends. Why is prayer so important? Why does it come up among believers and non-believers alike?

For believers it’s our main communication with our Father. We seek His face and His plan. We carry our burdens to Him, sharing our love for Him and our hope in Him. Even non-believers may seek our prayers when they can’t find answers anywhere else.

There are all kinds of prayers and ways to use them. It’s just like a conversation with your best friend Who also rules the world. It’s my most powerful tool that I don’t use as much as I should. How would my life, my friends’ and family’s lives, my circumstances, my world be different if I were more faithful to pray? I hate to think what I’ve missed because I was too lazy or let the enemy keep me too busy to pray.

Many are praying for our nation because of the upcoming elections. Yes, that is an important event, but Scripture tells us to pray for our leadership at all times. Our prayers aren’t just for the next four years, but for His glory and for eternity.

Prayer is a private time between you and the Father, a bonding time for your family, and a public time with the body of believers. This body has many parts and many roles but all for the same Father. The National Day of Prayer is the first Thursday in May. I hope you will seek out a local event on the national website and participate. 

Blessings

For several weeks I've been meditating on blessings, those received and those to share with others. As a new years begins, what a fitting time to remember or realize how much the Father loves His children, and the blessings that can not be lost.
* salvation
* eternal home
* crown of life
* Holy Spirit
* purpose
* peace and hope in Him

My goal for the new year is to daily acknowledge and give thanks for the blessings I receive from Him. I also want to bless others in the opportunities He affords. As the old hymn says,
"Count your blessings, name them one by one
Count your blessings, see what God hath done.
Count your blessings, name them one by one
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done."

What a great year ahead for us all if we focus on His many blessings and are willing to serve as a blessing to others.