MY PRAYER FOR THIS DAY

Last week was exhausting for me physically and mentally.  I think at one point I described myself as "spent"--used up and broke figuratively speaking.

As I begin this week, I felt compelled to write a prayer to my heavenly Father.  I know that HE is guiding and leading and loves me.  He is doing the same for you and you can share my prayer if you want.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for all your blessings.  They are too numerous to list.  There would not be space or time or enough ink to list them all.  Most of all, Lord, I will thank you for salvation for without it, I am nothing.  Because of it, I am something.

I'm thankful that you know my heart all the way into the deepest part of it.  I pray that you can see the love I have there.

I pray for strength for this day and the days ahead.  Only you know how many those are but I ask strength of body and mind for all those days, whatever they hold.

I pray for endurance.  When my heart is overwhelmed, as your scriptures say they will be, please lead me to the rock that is higher than I as you have been and will always be a shelter for me.

I pray for enough-- for the ability to love enough, to serve enough, and to look to you enough.

I ask your care and blessings on those who are sick, those who are hurting, those who simply don't understand, and those who need you most.  I pray protection for my family and all those around us.

I pray that my faith will be bigger than my fear.

I pray as I always do for myself for wisdom to live life the way you want me to.  I pray forgiveness for myself for those wrongs I have done.  I pray that I can also draw strength from the joy in my heart which is given to me by you.  And I pray that I always remember that you hold us all in the palm of your hand.  Yet you live in our small hearts.  Amazing.  Confusing.  Real.

Help this day, Lord that thy will always be done and that Romans 8:28 will be in active action.

I love you Lord.

Amen.

A PERFECT PROMISE

After the resurrection leaving an empty tomb, Jesus appeared to his disciples a few times.  One instance, two were walking on the road to Emmaus when Jesus joined them.  They didn't recognize him, but talked to him about the things that had transpired.  They asked him to visit with them.  While they were eating, the gospel of Luke says he took bread, blessed it, brake it, and gave to them.  At this point they knew him and then he vanished from them.  They discussed how that while they were on the road, their hearts "burned within them" as he talked.  Yes, Jesus speaking to a heart can do that for sure.

There was the time also when he met with the disciples and showed them the scars in his hands and feet.  Thomas was not there that day.  He insisted he would not believe unless he saw for himself.  Afterwards, Thomas did see Jesus and the scars and believed.  That's where you get the phrase "doubting Thomas".

I love what Jesus said to Thomas, "...because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."  Jesus is talking about me here...and you...and the whole world.  Blessed because we have believed.

A short time after that, Jesus and his disciples were together.  He was "parted from them and carried up into heaven."  Another gospel says he was "received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God".

I also love the account in Acts 1:9-11.  It says that while they watched, he was "taken up and a cloud received him out of their sight."  And while they looked toward heaven as he went up, there were two men standing by in white apparel.  (Angels, I presume.)  They said, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?  this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven."

That tells me, just as the folded napkin in the tomb did, that He IS coming again!  Hallelujah, praise the Lamb of God!

The song I have chosen for this final series of posts sort of tells the whole story.  It, too, is another of our choir songs, one of my very favorites actually.  The title is "We Shall See Jesus" and it goes like this:

"Once on a hillside people were gathered
Hoping to see him, as thousands were fed.
He touched the blind eyes, healed broken spirits
He moved with compassion, as he raised up the dead.

Once on a hillside people were gathered
Watching as Jesus was crucified.
No one showed mercy to the one who had healed him
Yet Jesus loved them as he suffered and died.

Once on a hillside people were gathered
For Jesus had risen and soon would ascend.
Then, as he blessed them, he rose to the heavens
And gave them his promise, to come back again.

We shall see Jesus just as they saw him.
There is no greater promise than this.
When HE returns in power and glory
We shall see Jesus, we SHALL see Jesus, just as HE is!"

And ALL God's people said, "AMEN!"

COME

The "traditional" celebration of Easter has passed.  Some might say it's all a fairy tale.  Some might say it means nothing.  As a Christian and a child of the Lord, I say to you, "It's the world to me!"

Jesus died on the cross for my sins and yours that we might be "saved", or so my Baptist denomination calls salvation.  Other denominations may call it a different word but it means the same... COME to Jesus.  Many have come to him in prayer and acceptance and that's it.  Many have come and totally forgot about him after.  And many have come, believed on him, and have a daily walk with Jesus.  It's a spiritual thing.

You are invited, if you have not already, to read my testimony on this blog.  ("My Experience of Grace, 10/1/19).  I answered the call for salvation at age 9.  I didn't realize exactly what believing on Jesus would mean to me but as I grow older and wiser, I realize HE is all the world to me.  It's amazing, confusing, and wonderful all at the same time!

Salvation is such a simple thing--by grace through faith, the gift of God.  Here's what the scripture says about it from Romans 10:9, 10, 13....

"That, if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Jesus bade me come to him just as I was.  I love this song:

Just as I am, without one plea
But that Thy blood was shed for me
And that Thou bid'st me come to Thee
O Lamb of God, I come! I come

Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt
Fighting and fears within without
O Lamb of God, I come, I come

Just as I am, and waiting not
to rid my soul of one dark blot
to thee whose blood can cleanse each spot
O Lamb of God, I come, I come

There you go.  It's about Jesus, the cross, and the resurrection and there's so much more!  I am forever grateful for all Jesus did for me and continues as I walk through life with HIM.

Come.

Consider....

(I'm thinking I have one more day so tune back in tomorrow for my last Easter season writing for this year.)  

ALIVE!

Hallelujah!  The tomb is empty!  Jesus.  Is.  Alive!  Just as HE promised, Jesus lives today.

Again the different gospels tell different details of the resurrection, but in them all, Mary goes early to the tomb to find the stone rolled away and Jesus gone.  The gospel of John speaks of how she goes to find Peter and John to tell them, they come and go, and as she is looking into the tomb to see the grave clothes laid and the face cloth folded in a different place.   She sees two angels, one at the head and one at the foot.  The angels asked her why she was crying.  She responded that if they had taken him to please tell her so she could get the body and take care of it.

At that point she turned around and saw Jesus who asked why she was weeping.  She told him the same.  Then Jesus called her by name and she knew it was he! I can imagine clearly the joy in Mary's heart when she realized it was Jesus.  I'm so glad that Jesus knows ME by name and I know HIM!

Thank God that Jesus lives today!

On a personal note, every Easter of my life was spent in a church service.  Every single one.  There was one when I was about fourteen that my daddy was really sick and in the hospital and my sister and I attended with our aunt and uncle.  Then when I married The Husband, our church did Sunrise Service then an indoor service at regular time.  For 41 years, The Husband and I have gone to both of these services.

As all of you know, today is different because of our country's fight with this virus.  No organized church services are planned, just online.  And I'm grateful for online.  We have worshipped that way for the past weeks.  This morning, though, is different.

This morning, The Husband and I went outside at sunrise and worshipped and praised together.  He read the resurrection account from the gospel of John as we both stood there dripping happy tears for what Jesus did for us and what it means for us.  We gave thanks for the love of Jesus, what he has done and continues to do for us, and all the other good that HE is!  No, it was not like our Easter normal but the feeling where it counts is the same.  Grateful hearts praising Jesus that HE lived, died, rose again and now is with us always!

The song that I have on my heart today is one that our choir was practicing and would have sang in today's "organized" Easter service and goes beautifully with The Husband's scripture reading in OUR sunrise service today.  It goes like this:

"Very early in the morning went Mary to the tomb.
Where she found the stone already rolled away.
Two in white said unto Mary, "Go and spread the glad refrain,
He still reigns, He still reigns!

He sits high upon a mountain, king of kings and Lord of Lords,
And all power is his forever, HE still reigns.
An empty tomb is there to prove death could never hold our King,
He still reigns, He still reigns!

This old world's in such confusion
Hearts are failing every where.
And sometimes it seems that God just doesn't care.
But don't you fear for He holds our future,
Let all heaven and earth proclaim,
He still reigns!  He still reigns!

An empty tomb is there to prove, death could never hold our king!
He still reigns!  He still reigns!  He still reigns!  He still reigns!"

Oh, and anytime one sees a napkin folded, it means that person is coming back.  Pay attention that Jesus' napkin in the tomb was folded.  He's coming back!

Consider.....

I'm thinking, too, I might keep this thread of posts going a bit longer so check back with me tomorrow and maybe the next tomorrow after that....who knows?  I might be on a writer's streak!

Blessed Easter Celebration to you!

THEN WHAT?

Crucifixion Day was past.

Jesus was in the tomb.

Barabbas was free.

Jesus' followers had to be sad.  Didn't they?

Everyone's lives went on.  The "problem" was dead.  He wouldn't be back.

Or would he?

There was still a bit of unrest among the scribes and Pharisees.  The gospel of Matthew records this in Matthew 27:62-66.  They went to Pilate and told him to remember how the "deceiver" said he would rise again.  The asked Pilate to command that the tomb be made sure until the third day lest his disciples come by night and steal his body, then say that he had risen.  Pilate told them to make the tomb as sure as they could. The stone was sealed and a watch was set.

My song lyrics that come to mind today are from an old song titled "Had It Not Been" and goes like this:

"Just suppose God searched through heaven.
He couldn't find one willing to be.
The supreme sacrifice that was needed.
To buy eternal life for you and me.

Had it not been for a place called Mt. Calvary.
And had it not been for the old rugged cross.
Had it not been for a man called Jesus.
Then forever my soul would be lost.

Well I'm so glad he was willing to drink his bitter cup.
Although he prayed, "Father let it pass from me."
And I'm so glad he didn't call heaven's angels,
From these hands pull the nails that torment me.

Had it not been for a place called Mt. Calvary.
And had it not been for the old rugged cross.
Had it not been for a man called Jesus.
Then forever my soul would be lost."


Consider....

A DARK DAY

With the morning came a trial that was a mockery.

A "judge" who didn't feel the "criminal" was guilty but with the tradition of releasing one on this Passover time, the crowd wanted Barabbas, a known murderer.  The crowd got their way.  Barabbas walked free.

Jesus was "prepared" to die on the cross.

He was mocked.

He was beaten.

He was scourged.

His head was topped with a crown of thorns.

Physically spent and bleeding, he had to carry his own cross, at least for a time, before someone else was compelled to do that.

Nails were hammered in his hands and feet and he was raised to the sky to hang between two thieves.

Jesus, the very Son of God....

He was still mocked on the cross and offered vinegar to drink.

Even in his pain and suffering, he conversed with the thieves and one who showed repentance was told that "this day you shall be with me in paradise".  I noted in my reading, too, that a centurion also said, "Surely this is the the Son of God.

Jesus cried out, and then he died.

As night approached,  a man who went to the officials and asked for the body of Jesus.  He took the body to his own new tomb, prepared it for entombment, and rolled a stone in front of the opening to close it.  Many of the women Jesus ministered to were there also.  Then the day was done.

This song comes to mind today--Beautiful Scars:

"Look at his hands, they're nail pierced.
Look at his feet, they're torn.
Look at his side, it's riven.
And His brow, oh, He wore a crown of thorns.

And the world would look at the torture
And declare it was only a shame.
But the scars that He took at Calvary
Bring healing through faith in His name.

Beautiful scars the world cannot see.
Beautiful scars hold attraction for me.
Marks from a death that was destined to be.
Beautiful scars to me!"

I haven't given you all the details of this day.  I have read the scriptures and encourage you to do the same.  Read it with awe and wonder mixed with a tear or two or more for what Jesus did for you and for me.

The story doesn't end here, though.  A lot can happen in three days.  Just wait, Sunday's coming!

Consider....

THE CROW OF A ROOSTER

After Jesus' agonizing prayer in the garden, Judas did what he committed to do.  He sold out for thirty pieces of silver and betrayed the Lord with a simple kiss.  I realized this morning I left that part of the gospels out of my listing of readings.  Maybe you found it anyways.

The disciples ran off and left him.  His friends.  Imagine.

Jesus was taken away to the high priests and false witnesses were found.  Isn't it easy to always find the false and wrong in something?

Jesus was slapped and spit on--undeserving of all.

I've discovered that I love a lot of Isaiah's prophesy in the Old Testament.  One of the my most loved is this one from Isaiah 53: 3-7...

"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet, we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth:  he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth."


Peter followed along behind a bit and hung around the judgement hall.  During the course of the time, one girl there commented that he was with this Jesus.  Peter denied that.  Yet and another said later to the group, "This is one of them."  Peter denied again.  Later, even others said that surely Peter was one of them.  Peter began to curse even denying strongly that "I know not the man."  The scriptures say that immediately that the rooster crowed.

I think in my being how Peter must have felt as soon as he heard that sound.  Surely in that area there were loud sounds from the crowd and a lot of activity but I know that sound of the rooster was louder than anything going on and the sound pierced Peter's heart.

I think it's the gospel of Luke that says as soon as the rooster crowed, Jesus turned.  One of the saddest parts to me that you never hear much about is when I see in my heart the faces of Jesus and Peter as Jesus turned and met Peter's eyes.  Oh the emotions that must have been there.  Through the disappointment, the pain, the truth, and the love that surely was in those eyes, both sets of eyes, my heart has so many emotions.

Often during this week, we might ask the same question over and over with the same answer over and over.  The question--why?  The answer--love.

"Jesus loves me this I know
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to him belong
They are weak but he is strong.

Jesus take this heart of mine
Make it pure and wholly Thine
On the cross YOU died for me
I will try to live for thee.

Yes Jesus loves me.
Yes Jesus loves me.
Yes Jesus loves me.
The Bible tells me so."

We always think the little ones mentioned in this song are children.  I'm here to tell you today that this sixty something year old blog writer is one of HIS little ones.

Let's raise a hallelujah!

Consider....

AGONY

I've had a lot of physical pain in my life.  Granted, I do have a very high tolerance for pain so often I can continue functioning with it while some might have to go to bed with the same level.  Honestly, too, I don't think of agony in a physical sense.

When I think of true agony, I think of it mentally.  Agony to me hurts the heart to the core.  Yes, to the very core.  I can tell you that I've had those times too and were it not for my spiritual relationship with my heavenly Father, I possibly would have succumbed to whatever the terrible result would have been.

After Jesus had supper with his disciples, they walked to the garden of Gethsemane.  He asked them to wait for him while he went "further" to pray.  The account of that prayer gives me chills when I read it.  I don't know about you but I have seen time and time again the painting of Jesus in the garden, bowed at that rock, pouring his heart out to his Father.  "Father if it be thy will, let this cup pass from me....not my will, but thine be done."  That is a REALLY hard prayer to pray.

His disciples--his friends--got sleepy and fell asleep, totally obviously unaware of what was to come. I do that to the Lord often...begin to pray and then fall asleep.  He loves me anyway.  And, he loved his disciples.  Anyway.

The song of the day today is one of my very favorite of our choir Easter songs, titled "He was willing" and it goes like this:

"It must have been lonely that day in the garden when Jesus knelt a stone's throw away.
Bent low beneath the burden he prayed to the father, "Be thy will, let this cup pass away".
An angel came to strengthen the Savior, as fervently he knelt there to pray.
And sweat like drops of blood fell on the ground before him, deeply grieved he knelt there to pray.

The cross was just ahead on Mt. Calvary, in agony his life he would give.
But he could see beyond to that resurrection morning,
He would die so that others might live, might live...
Yes he would die so that others might live, might live!"

The song sang anytime but especially during the Easter season gives me chills and yet makes me rejoice at the same time!  My favorite phrase in that song is "But he could see beyond to that resurrection morning...".  I encourage you to see beyond to what a life with Jesus holds for you.  Life.  Life.  Life.

As George Matheson, a blind preacher of Scotland, once said, "Show me it is through my tears I have seen my rainbows."

Consider....

MY UPPER ROOM

As I continue my reading and study of events leading up to the crucifixion and resurrection day, I am pondering the time that Jesus and his disciples spent together in the upper room with the communion time.  He was getting them prepared for what was to come.

You gotta love Peter.  He is adamant that he will never deny Jesus.  Yeah right.  I find myself a lot like Peter very often.  "Oh no, Lord, I will never deny you," I say just like Peter.  Yet I fail to share him with others as often as I could.

Then there's Judas who knows in his heart he has made a deal with the devil to betray this Jesus.  Sitting there, knowing.  Could Judas be pondering how he's gonna spend those thirty pieces of silver or is he already living with regret for what is coming?

Very little is said about the other ten disciples.  I often wonder their thoughts.  It's probably easy to figure but not so important to mention in the grand scheme of things.

Yet, even in that room of adamant proclamations of loyalty, potential regrets of actions done, and simple lack of understanding truly of what is going on, I feel the love of Jesus there for all of them. Just because that's who Jesus is and what He does.  Love.

How often do I go to the upper room in my heart, commune with Jesus, and go forth strengthened?  Hourly?  Daily?  Weekly?  Monthly?  Yearly?  Never?

Oh, the strength to be found in the upper room with Jesus!  He's a friend that loves, cares, comforts...the list of what he gives us is endless!

Before I got out of bed this morning, my mind went to another song.  This song is one I heard years ago and have never heard since, but the words stuck in my heart as it touched me so much at the time.  It goes like this:

"A friend when other friendships cease
A friend when others fail
A friend who gives me joy and peace
A friend when foes assail.

Friendship with Jesus
Fellowship divine
Oh, what blessed sweet communion
Jesus is a friend of mine!"

Consider.......

THERE'S JUST SOMETHING....

Jesus.  Jesus.  Jesus.

The name of Jesus spread far and wide .  "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" (John 1:46)

Just the mention of his name seemed to get attention of folks.  Many didn't understand him.  Many who had not physically met him wanted to.  Jesus made a difference in lives.  He still makes a difference today.

Ask the blind man who was blind but was then made to see.

Ask the lame man who couldn't walk but went running and leaping.

Ask the widow of Nain and Jarius, whose children were dead but lived again.

Ask the woman who knew she only had to touch the hem of his garment to be healed.

Ask Mary, Martha, and Lazarus what Jesus did for them.

Ask any of those 5000+ hungry people on that hillside how delicious those loaves and fishes were to their hungry selves.

Ask Zacchaeus how he felt after Jesus went home with him.

And so many more whose lives were touched by Jesus.  Jesus.  Jesus.

I will even go a bit further and say to ask my friend who spent the last two weeks and more fighting fevers, even up to 105.6, caused by the silent virus we fight right now.  Ask her what a difference Jesus makes in her life.

And I will say you can ask this blog writer about the difference Jesus makes in hers.  There's not enough space of time to tell you all.  For sure, this blog writer is grateful to know Jesus as a friend, a hope, a Savior and Lord.

The words of a popular Gaither song say it well:

"Jesus, Jesus, Jesus;
There's just something about that name.
Master, Savior, Jesus,
Like the fragrance after the rain.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Let all Heaven and earth proclaim.
Kings and kingdoms will all pass away
But there's something about that name."

Consider.....

PALMS

Here we are!  A week before one of the most blessed of celebrations in my world and hopefully in yours, too.

Today is what is typically called Palm Sunday and the first of Holy Week, the week of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection.  As my t-shirt says, "A lot can happen in three days..."  That t-shirt will be enjoyed this Easter week while I am here at home sheltered in place.  It will be a different sort of Holy Week this year....no planning of Easter morning church sunrise service, no full house for Easter breakfast, no typical Easter service.....but in spite of that, the celebration will not be diminished in my life.  If anything can be said for this year's conditions, it can be said that the thrill of Jesus will be even more magnified in my life.

No typical organized celebration can change the joy in MY heart for MY Jesus, what HE did for me, and what HE still does for me TODAY.  I will rejoice in HIM!

I invite you to use this week to read scriptures in the gospel leading up to the magnificent morning of the resurrection.  To me, the scriptures NEVER get old.

Check back daily this week for some word of rejoicing.  I'm yet undecided as to the format of the blog posts for this Holy Week but I pray each one will give you hope and joy.

If necessary that you dust off your Bible, I encourage you to do so or as technology will allow nowadays, read these online.  You will find the four gospels tend to on occasion be a bit different in details, but the story is the same wonder that it always has been.

So this week, consider......

Jesus rides into Jerusalem.....Matt 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:29-40; John 12:12-19
The Last Supper with the twelve....Matt. 26:17-30; Mark 14:12-26; Luke 22:3-39; John 13
Sold out....Matt 26: 1-16;  Mark 14:1-2, 10-11:  Luke 22:1-6
In the Garden....Matthew 26:36-56; Mark14: 32-52; Luke 22:39-53; John 17, 18:1-11
Guilty?.....Matthew 26:57-75; Mark14:53-72;  Luke 22:54-71; John 18:12-27
A Dark Day....Matthew 27:1-66; Mark 15:1-47; Luke 23; John 18:28-42
The Tomb....Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20

SPRING'S SERMON

I took myself and my camera to the mailbox this morning, then walked down the road to an area where two dogwoods of ours are blooming.  I took pictures for a while and as I was taking, I realized that not all the dogwoods had bloomed yet.  Rarely have I seen or paid attention to the un-blooming dogwoods.  

As I looked at them today, I found beauty in them as much as in the ones already spread out.  More than that, I realized that they, like the dandelions, have no idea of the turmoil and fear in the world and keep on blooming on time.  It goes back to that post a couple of posts ago where we "consider the lilies of the field".  I understood yet again this morning that the Lord above has all this mess and this beauty in HIS hands and again, I rejoiced.  Greatly.

Here's what I saw....you find your own sermon.

This one is a lot like me....a little scared to open maybe?

Once they open, look how the light shines on them!

Consider..........