Good Friday ... The day Jesus walked through sin!

I

t is Good Friday! Good Friday is the Friday of Holy Week, commemorating the crucifixion, suffering, and death of Jesus. We call it good, because God is so good in offering His own life as redemption for our debt of sin.

John 20:19-20 where the Apostle John records an encounter with the Risen Jesus. He writes: “On the evening of the first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.”

My friends, Isn’t it wonderful to know that Jesus walks through the doors of our lives and says, “Peace be with you.” Even when we try to lock him out in fear or grief or shame, … he doesn’t get angry, but responds with Peace. What do you lock away from Jesus? Remember, the risen Jesus is not angry with you. He loves you and offers you peace.

Happy Easter ... You know I love ya, Don

Look Up and see a greater future!

Luke 24:25-27 records: “Jesus said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.”

I know when I hear a fantastic story or an unbelievable account of events, I am slow to believe. The two walking with Jesus after his resurrection were depressed and struggling to believe the testimony of those who had seen Jesus alive. Jesus addresses their doubts with proof. When the two on the road to Emmaus looked beyond their depression and doubt, they saw the truth. They believed. The same is true for us. When you and I look beyond our doubts and depression the truth of a risen Jesus emerges and we believe. 

Look up and may He open your eyes to a personal resurrection!

You know I love ya, Don

Easter is a Reminder ... Do you remember?

Luke 24:6-8 records the angels at the empty tomb of Jesus telling the women, “He is not here; he is risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 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.”

It is hard to always remember things. I forget where I left my coat. I forget where I put down my cell phone. I have even walked out of the store and forget where I parked my car. In our busy lives, we forget. Easter is a yearly event which reminds of us the power in the one we trust. Just like the angels reminding the women, “He is risen,” we are reminded to take the resurrection of Jesus with us everyday!

So take these words with you today … “He is not here; He is risen!” ... may it remind you to celebrate Easter. 

You know I love ya, Don

Resurrected Hope, Future, and Dreams!

Mark 5:36 – “Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

So, they go to the house, people are in full mourning.  Shouting.  Making noise.  Wailing. Grieving.  In anguish.  Jesus tells them to be quiet.  She’s sleeping.

What a cruel joke to play on the parents.  How would he know?  She’s dead.  The doctor called it.  No pulse, no breathing. --- Jesus gets rid of them…the text says “he put them out” …just like you put out a dog to go do his business. I don’t know about you, but I am glad that Jesus puts out bad, ugly negatives when he arrives.

Taking the parents and just a few disciples, they go to the child.  He reaches down, picks up her lifeless hand and says, “Little girl, get up.”  Speaking in Aramaic … her native tongue. Jesus restores the dream of daughter, a family by meeting them in their native surroundings.

Immediately, just as the woman was restored immediately to full health, the little girl is immediately resurrected to full life.  She walked around and everything! We can well imagine the joy in that house that day!  We can well imagine the wonder at this man who can heal, and also raise the dead!  What a miracle!  Who can do such things?  Only Jesus, the Son of the Living God!

Resurrection is not limited to when our heart stops beating. Jesus resurrects hopes, resurrects futures, and resurrects dreams everyday.

Success is found when you and I approach Jesus … we have to water and cultivate our faith and trust in him just like Jairus and the Woman did. If you don’t, your hope, your future and your dreams die.

The first week at Park Chapel CC, I noticed in the foyer / hallway to the worship center was a large pot with basically a stick protruding out of dirt with one leaf on it. The plant was completely dry. I felt sorry for it, so I started watering it…six months later the stick was covered in little green leaves. I did not know that the custodial staff was intentionally ignoring it because they wanted to throw it out. We laughed about that…When we moved to HCC, after seven years … that plant was taller than I am now and covered in large, beautiful leaves. What resurrected that plant? Water!

My Friends, what do we learn from this scripture? Go to Jesus to find water, let him reach out to you and he will resurrect your hope, your future and your dreams.

You know I love ya, Don

Step out in Faith!

            Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase.”

            Oswald Chambers wrote, “Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time.”

What is holding you back? Go for it and trust God to take you through.

You know I love ya, Don

Training Ground for a Deeper Faith!

Romans 8:26 “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.”

Someone asked C.S. Lewis, "Why do the righteous suffer?" "Why not?" he replied. "They're the only ones who can take it." I think we can take it better those who don’t know the Lord because we have Him and a future hope on our side to give us grace to endure. We are made new again when we receive help for our weakness.

A man visited an orange grove where an irrigation pump had broken down. The season was unusually dry and some of the trees were beginning to die for lack of water. The farmer giving the tour then took the man to his own orchard where irrigation was used sparingly. "These trees could go without rain for another 2 weeks," he said. "You see, when they were young, I frequently kept water from them. This hardship caused them to send their roots deeper and deeper into the soil in search of moisture.

“Now my trees are the deepest-rooted trees in the area. While others are being scorched by the sun, these trees are finding moisture at a greater depth."

When we receive help for our weakness, we find our moisture, blessing, help, and strength in the Lord. Our lives on Earth are a training camp to ready us for Heaven. Don’t make a terrible ending to your life’s journey by giving up --- Finish your God given course well. Meanwhile, don’t desert your post, stay in the word and make your life Christ-centered. 

You know I love ya, Don 

Suffering is temporary ... so stop clinging to it!

The best is yet to come. Max Lucado; “No one cries when a plane lands safely and starts to embark. We never see anyone clinging to the chair cry because they have to get off the plane and arrive at their destination.“ As we read this text is causes me to wonder, why we cry and cling to the suffering of riding on the airplane when the destination is the goal.

I’ve heard talk on TV about people who are in their 70s as being the new 50! I also read a few weeks ago, that 100 is the new 60! I THINK THAT’S HIGHLY DEBATABLE! It depends on your health, obviously…and how you live your life getting to that age.

C. S. Lewis says: “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: SUFFERING is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” What's the idea? God gets our attention very well when we're in pain or are experience troubles and suffering in this life. When things are going well, we don't pay much attention to Him.

Our suffering is a reminder that we will be made new again when … We recognize that suffering is a part of this world … We cherish our hope of something better … We receive help for our weaknesses

 You know I love ya, Don