Chocolate Bunnies and Cadbury Eggs

As much as I love chocolate bunnies and Cadbury eggs - that is NOT what Easter is all about. Easter is a celebration that has its roots in the shadow of cross.  The blood stained cross where the despair and anguish of Jesus’ Mother and His disciples was absolute.  The one they loved, the one they followed, the one they were sure was the Messiah.  WAS DEAD.  Jesus was quickly buried and the disciples all went into hiding for fear that the religious leaders. Friday night all day Saturday and through that night the cloud of hopelessness and desolation hung over them.  Then Sunday morning out of sense of love and duty some women went to finish the gruesome task of embalming Jesus body.  Sunday morning - EVERYTHING changed. 
 

Matthew 28:1-4 (NIV)  After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. [2] There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. [3] His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. [4] The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

 

Several women went out to finish the burial process of Jesus which had been very rushed on Friday evening.  Mark 16:3 says that they were concerned with moving the stone away from the tomb.  Either just before they got there or as they arrived an earthquake shook everything.  An angel arrived and rolled away the stone from the entrance to the tomb.  WHY?  Jesus was not there He had been raised from the dead.  Jesus did not need the stone to be moved so that He could get out.  The stone was moved for all the world to see that the tomb was EMPTY! 

Death cannot keep its prey, Jesus my Savior;

He tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord!
Up from the grave He arose;
with a mighty triumph over His foes;
He arose a victor from the dark domain,
and He lives forever, with his saints to reign.
He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!

PERSONAL:  Lord, You rose with POWER destroying death and it’s power over me.  You broke Satan’s grip over me.  Thank You for dying and for LIVING for me.  Thank You for making it clear for all the world to see that YOU are a RISEN SAVIOR.

JUST A PASSING SHADOW

If you have ever shadow boxed or played shadow tag you know that you can hit a shadow or step on it and you will not affect that shadow in any way shape or form.  It is not substantial and real in the sense that we can hold and touch it.  In many other ways our world seems so real.  We can see, touch, hear, smell, and taste many different aspects of our world. In contrast heaven and eternity seem very unreal to us and sometimes we have a hard time living with eternities values in mind.  That is why it is hard for us to fully grasp what the Psalmist is saying in these verses.                                                                               

Psalm 144:3-4 (NET)  O LORD, of what importance is the human race, that you should notice them?  Of what importance is mankind, that you should be concerned about them? [4] People are like a vapor, their days like a shadow that disappears.

Psalm 144:3-4 (NLT)  O LORD, who are we that you should notice us, mere mortals that you should care for us? [4] For we are like a breath of air; our days are like a passing shadow.

In comparison to the universe with the splendor of the stars and the almost unimaginable distances of light years who are we?  Psalm 144 asks that very question.  Why did God take notice of us?  Why has God paid any attention to us at all?  We are not much more than a vapor or breath of wind.  In comparison to God and his creation we are merely a vapor or a shadow.  That really should step all over any illusions we have about our own importance.  Our lives, as real and substantial as they feel to us, in light of eternity and the realities of heaven, are nothing more than a passing shadow.  Yet the God of the universe the creator of all that we see and all that we cannot see still provided a way for us to have a relationship with Him.  It cost the life of His Son Jesus.  But through the death of Jesus we can come to God and ENJOY Him here and now and also throughout eternity. We must always remember that we are just a passing shadow that this world is NOT what it is all about.  We are merely preparing for eternity.  We have to remember that the blink of an eye or the flicker of a shadow that is our life here will pass it will come to and end.  That is when the REALITY of Eternity in God’s presence will start.  What an amazing God we have.  He is Worthy of ALL our praise Worship and adoration.  The old song said it this way:  This world is not my home I’m just a passing through.  My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue.  The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door.  And I can’t feel at home in this world any more. 

 

PRAYER:  Lord Jesus, help me to remember that this world and everything in is will pass away.  Help me to live with Eternity and the Realities You have promised in mind. 

I HATE GOODBYES!!

I HATE GOODBYES!  It has not always been that way.  When I was in High school I could get caught up in the adventure of being away at camp for 8 weeks and not miss home or family all that much.  But after I married Carol - saying goodbye to her or our daughters when they still lived at home was never enjoyable.  I did - many times - but I never liked it.  Yes once I got into the trip I enjoyed the ministry part of it.  It was always amazing to see God doing wonderful things in the lives of people.  It was exciting to see God use me in some way to encourage or help others.  But getting home was always so wonderful.  I am glad that God understands me and that He does not condemn me that I hate the last couple of days before I actually start a trip.  I am glad that in His compassion He watches over me and gives me the grace to go and watches over Carol and gives her the grace to send me on my way.  I Love these verses that tell us of the compassion of God. 

PSALM 103:13-17 (NLT)  The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. [14] For he understands how weak we are; he knows we are only dust. [15] Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. [16] The wind blows, and we are gone -as though we had never been here. [17] But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear him....

Our God is like the perfect father who is both tender and compassionate.  WHY?  Because He knows us He understands us, after all He is the one who made us.  God knows that we are not much more that grass or wild flowers which bloom and die.  We have a life cycle built into us by our God.  We are born we live and we die.  The difference between us and the flowers of the field is that God LOVES US and after we are saved we enter into a personal Relationship with Him.  He loves us with a Love that NEVER FAILS. His Love remains even when we our faith is weak and struggling.  His Love remains even when we struggle to do what He has called us to do.  His love remains even when we have to say goodbye for a time to those we love.  His love and compassion is why we can count on His strength and help during those times when we are struggling. 

Prayer:  O God, You have proved Your Love over and over but especially in knowing and understanding me.  Even though You know me so well You still Love me and have pour out your Love and Compassion on me.  THANK You.  Thank You that you understand that I hate to say goodbye but that I still go trusting You in those times of separation. 

TEARS of Sorrow - TEARS of JOY!

After I returned from an amazing trip serving with our Missionaries in Mexico Carol and I packed and travelled to the memorial service for her nephew Jeremiah Small.  (If you have not heard about his death serving Christ in Iraq here is a link to a great article about him. http://www.worldmag.com/articles/19280)  After talking with family who had just returned from Iraq as well as being at the memorial service it is still hard to communicate what powerful impact this 30 yr. old young man had and is having on the people of Kurdish Iraq.  We may never know why Jeremiah was killed since the young man who shot him took his own life.  But we do know that nothing catches God by surprise He is sovereign and that He knows what He is doing.  Jeremiah’s mother and father came back to US and shared with us that it was very evident from everything that had been going on that Jeremiah’s work in Iraq was finished and that he would continue to serve his Lord through his death.  His family were part of the ongoing demonstration of the Gospel Truth.  Over and over they were asked: will you seek revenge?  will you seek financial compensation?  Time after time they answered NO we are NOT here to seek either REVENGE or Compensation.  We are here to extend Forgiveness to they young man who shot Jeremiah and to his family.  They were able to place flowers on the tomb of the student who shot their son and embrace the parents of the student assuring them of their forgiveness.  In a culture that always seeks revenge it was a powerful demonstration of the grace of God.  For the people of Iraq to hear the parents of a murdered teacher offering words of unconditional Forgiveness was unheard of. Jeremiah loved his students and adopted country - he knew it was a dangerous place to publicly live out his Christian faith but that is what God called him to do.  So he did it.  I was reading in Philippians this week with many of these thoughts running through my mind.

Philippians 1:21 (NIV) For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Philippians 1:21 (NLT) For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.

Philippians 1:27 (HCS) ...Live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ...

Philippians 1:27 (NLT) Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ...

In light of Jeremiah’s willing sacrifice of himself for the people he served these verses offered up a new challenge for me.  To LIVE, truly live as a committed follower of Christ means I must count the cost and be willing to pay the price.  Willing to offer up myself for the Lord Jesus.  I may never be put in a situation like Jeremiah - my living for Christ may mean dying a little each day to myself and to the pleasures of this world. Being willing to spend myself for the good of others and the gospel.  It will certainly mean to do what Jeremiah did by living in a way that is WORTHY of the gospel of Christ.  What does it mean to live worthy of the salvation that was bought through the cross of Christ?  It will mean thinking and speaking and acting in ways that bring honor to the Lord who gave His life for us.  That is what Jeremiah did - he lived in a way that showed everyone what it meant to be a Christian.  There was no mistaking his loyalty and commitment - it was to Jesus Christ.  He was not there because he was paid well, he was not there because he was an adventure seeker, he was not there because he was forced to be there.  He was there because he wanted to show the reality of living everyday for Jesus Christ.  Thank you Jeremiah for your example.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, help me to live FOR YOU.  To live Worthy of the gospel Your death for me.  Help me to willingly die to self everyday.  Help me Lord God to live in a way that these things are TRUE of me in practical everyday ways. 

SLOW OBEDIENCE IS DISOBEDIENCE

I remember when I was asked (told) to do something by my parents.  I might complain and ask why I had to do this but for the most part I would EVENTUALLY do what they asked me to do.  But I have to be honest - many times they had to give me a deadline.  They would say Mark you need to clean your room before you can go anywhere.  So I would wait and wait and trying to put it off as long as possible.  If a friend called and invited me to go and play some football or shoot baskets I had to say no because no matter how much I promised to do it later my Mom and Dad knew me better than that.  You would think I would learn.  But the more irksome the task the longer I waited to do it.  And I missed out things I would rather have done because I did not obey sooner rather than later.  So as I read these verses the challenge obedience came back to me in a whole new light. 

Psalm 119:59-60 (HCS) I thought about my ways and turned my steps back to Your decrees. [60] I hurried, not hesitating to keep Your commands.

Psalm 119:59-60 (NLT)  I pondered the direction of my life, and I turned to follow your laws. [60] I will hurry, without delay, to obey your commands.

I love the fact that the Psalmist was pondering and thinking about his life and the direction he was going.  At that point he decided he was going the WRONG way and TURNED back (that is called repentance) to God’s Word with the desire to obey.  The phrase perhaps reflects the fact that the writer had drifted away from following God faithfully.  Because when he turns back he HURRIES to OBEY.  He does NOT hesitate, he does not stall for time, he does try to put it off for another day, or another time.  He has seen that he was wrong - he has turned back to God and His Word.  Now there is a determined desire a commitment to follow through immediately without hesitation in full wholehearted obedience.  How do we respond when God shows us that there is something in our lives that displeases Him?  We should think about it and look into God’s Word and then Hurry without any Hesitation or Delay to OBEY.  If we know what we are supposed to do and we put it off then we are choosing to stay in our rebellion and disobedience.

PRAYER:  O Lord, help me to ponder my life regularly in LIGHT of Your Word.  Lord, please help me to think clearly - guide my thinking by Your Word and Your Holy Spirit - help me to OBEY.  Keep me from putting it off - give me Your strength to be able to OBEY You with ALL my heart.  Help me Lord God to HURRY to Obey Your Word. 

WARNING! WARNING! REWARD

Many years ago I was hired by a law firm to translate at a deposition on a law suit.  I did a lot of translating in courts so I accepted this job.  I did not realize that the deposition would take 7 hours.  The whole time that I was translating the lawyers from the other side had another translator listening to make sure that I did not make any mistakes.  It was exhausting work.  Why?   Because I trying to be as precise as possible so that the questions and answers were translated accurately. I understood that the outcome of the case might be determined by my translation.  Having experience in translating has made me even more thankful for the fact that we have several very good English translations of the Bible.  I know that when I translate something there are times when there are several good and accurate options for how something is translated.  As I look at different translations of the Bible it makes me think and compare the words and phrases. Many times it is just a word that is used differently or in a different order that catches my attention. But as I compare them, I’m thinking and praying and asking God to touch me with HIS WORD. When it comes to the poetry of the Old Testament we know it is very difficult to capture the essence of the Hebrew perfectly. That is another reason I love looking at 3-4 different translations when I am studying. Let’s look at these verses together.

Psalm 19:11-14 (NLT) They [God’s Commands] are a warning to those who hear them; there is great reward for those who obey them. [12] How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. [13] Keep me from deliberate sins! Don't let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. [14] May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Life Application Study Bible: When we think of instructions, decrees, and commandments, we might think of rules that keep us from having fun. But here we see the opposite: God's laws revive us, make us wise, bring joy to the heart, give insight, warn us, and reward us. God's laws are guidelines and lights for our path, rather than chains on our hands and feet. They point at danger to warn us, and then point at success to guide us.  

 

David tells us that God’s Word is a WARNING, to anyone who will listen, to anyone who will seek to hear what God has to say.  God’s Word exposes those sins and faults that we keep hidden away. I Love David’s prayer... “don’t let them (sins) control me.”  Am I willing to pray like David that sin would have no part in controlling my life? The last verse reminds us of what our attitude should be each day. We should pray that All the words that come out of our mouths and All the thoughts that travel around in our minds might please and honor God.  

PRAYER: Lord God, you know everything including my thoughts and my motives. Please Lord, help my thoughts to be focused on You and Your Word. Help me to be so completely captivated by Your Word that I am changed by it. May that change be so dramatic that my

words and thoughts actually reflect You accurately and completely.