3 hours ago
"After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
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. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him."
Matthew 28:1-9
"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
Romans 10:9
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
He is Risen!
He is Risen Indeed.
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. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him."
Matthew 28:1-9
"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
Romans 10:9
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
He is Risen!
He is Risen Indeed.
Every year on Good Friday I like to read the accounts of Jesus's crucifixion in the gospels.
It makes me refocus my whole day, and if there is any time of year we should be focused on Jesus's sacrifice it is during this day.
One thing that stood out to me this year was how Jesus could have called legions of angels to rescue Him at any time. He said so Himself: "Or do you think I cannot now pray to my Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?" (Matthew 26:53)
I'm sure there must have been incredible temptation for Him to do just that. When they were smashing that crown of thorns down on His head and mocking Him. When they were beating him within one stroke of just killing Him right there. When they nailed Him to that cross. When He was hanging on that cross, struggling to breath for hours.
I think from a human standpoint it must have been especially hard not to call angels to His aid when He was hanging on the cross and the people who passed by were saying "If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross." (Matthew 27:40) And the chief priests and scribes stood by saying "He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him." (Matthew 27:42)
The thing is, He could have come down off the cross. He could have put them all in their place right there, and how could they help but believe in Him then?
But if He had done that, if He had called those legions of angels, we all would be lost. He didn't come to conquer the nation and rule - He came for one purpose. He came to die. And without his death, His entire purpose on earth would have been meaningless.
And by the spilling of His blood, the Perfect Sacrifice of Himself, our sins were washed away. We are able to know God and we are assured of our eternity in Heaven, all because of what He did on the cross, and because of what happened three days later.
He rose from the dead! He came back to life! Death couldn't hold Him - He conquered death, and He now gives eternal life to anyone who will believe in Him. "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart the God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9)
But none of this could have been possible if He had come down off the cross. How ironic that the chief priests said they would believe in Him if He came down from the cross, when if He had done that He couldn't have saved them. I wonder what was going through His mind when they said those words? I think it must have been just a deep compassion and probably a sadness too - they just didn't understand.
He had to die to give us life. Without His death and resurrection, there would be no hope at all. He could have called many angels to get Him out of it, but He chose to endure torture and ridicule and indescribable pain for our sakes.
Aren't you glad that He left the angels where they were that day?
"But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:5
It makes me refocus my whole day, and if there is any time of year we should be focused on Jesus's sacrifice it is during this day.
One thing that stood out to me this year was how Jesus could have called legions of angels to rescue Him at any time. He said so Himself: "Or do you think I cannot now pray to my Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?" (Matthew 26:53)
I'm sure there must have been incredible temptation for Him to do just that. When they were smashing that crown of thorns down on His head and mocking Him. When they were beating him within one stroke of just killing Him right there. When they nailed Him to that cross. When He was hanging on that cross, struggling to breath for hours.
I think from a human standpoint it must have been especially hard not to call angels to His aid when He was hanging on the cross and the people who passed by were saying "If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross." (Matthew 27:40) And the chief priests and scribes stood by saying "He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him." (Matthew 27:42)
The thing is, He could have come down off the cross. He could have put them all in their place right there, and how could they help but believe in Him then?
But if He had done that, if He had called those legions of angels, we all would be lost. He didn't come to conquer the nation and rule - He came for one purpose. He came to die. And without his death, His entire purpose on earth would have been meaningless.
And by the spilling of His blood, the Perfect Sacrifice of Himself, our sins were washed away. We are able to know God and we are assured of our eternity in Heaven, all because of what He did on the cross, and because of what happened three days later.
He rose from the dead! He came back to life! Death couldn't hold Him - He conquered death, and He now gives eternal life to anyone who will believe in Him. "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart the God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9)
But none of this could have been possible if He had come down off the cross. How ironic that the chief priests said they would believe in Him if He came down from the cross, when if He had done that He couldn't have saved them. I wonder what was going through His mind when they said those words? I think it must have been just a deep compassion and probably a sadness too - they just didn't understand.
He had to die to give us life. Without His death and resurrection, there would be no hope at all. He could have called many angels to get Him out of it, but He chose to endure torture and ridicule and indescribable pain for our sakes.
Aren't you glad that He left the angels where they were that day?
"But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:5
So I've been trying to determine if there is anything good to say about Spring. I started my musings yesterday with the post "Spring. Bleh." I feel like it must be a little ungrateful to despise one season so much when the Lord made each season for our enjoyment, so I'm determined to find a good thought in my head about Spring.
I guess it's kind of fun, because it's a time for things to be born. I have a friend who ranches, and the baby lambs are absolutely adorable. So I guess that's one thing.
I suppose Spring is a time of rebirth. Seeds that have been lying dormant since they fell off of dying plants last Autumn are starting to crack open and send out little shoots (even though here we don't actually see those shoots until May or June).
Birds are flying in again after being gone for so long. We did see a bluebird the other day. That was pretty exciting.
The most significant positive that I would give Spring is that it's the time that we celebrate the Resurrection of our Saviour, the Lord Jesus.
I wonder what it's like during the Spring in Israel. What is it like in the country where it all happened at this time of year?
I know the Lord purposefully planned to be crucified and resurrected during Passover, because He is our perfect Passover Lamb. He is the final sacrifice to cover our sins, for those of us that believe in Him. Since He did sacrifice His life for us, so that our sins would be paid for once and for all and it would never be necessary to sacrifice another lamb, it would seem appropriate for Him to give Himself to atone for our sins during Passover.
But I wonder - I think the Lord must have purposefully planned Passover to occur during the Spring. And if He purposefully planned Passover to occur during the Spring, He purposefully planned for His death and resurrection and to occur during the Spring.
I wonder - do you think He chose Spring because it is a time of rebirth?
But then He created Spring too. He created the whole idea of rebirth.
Maybe He created Spring to be the time when He would rise from the dead.
Maybe He decided that the seasons would happen the way they do - with things dying in the winter and being reborn in the spring - to be a reflection of His death and resurrection.
Even though Spring starts as such an ugly season, it ends with glorious new life. Just as the ugliness and seemingly hopeless situation of His death ended in the glorious event of His Resurrection from the dead.
Maybe I don't mind Spring quite as much as I thought I did. Because the Lord obviously chose this time of year for His supreme act of mercy and grace to save us to take place, so there must be something special about it.
The Lord created everything in this world for His Glory. Absolutely everything. And I think He must be happy when we look a little deeper at everything in His creation, even when certain things may seem ugly or unnecessary at first, to find His glory in the things He has made.
Because His glory and eternal attributes can be seen in all the things that are made. Even in the ugliness and subsequent beauty (yes, I suppose I admit it - there is beauty) of Spring.
"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."
Romans 1:20
"The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said."
Matthew 28:5-6A
Finally Enjoying Spring, The Season Of Our Lord's Resurrection,
Note: This is a two-part post, so if you are a first time visitor, I'm not usually so pessimistic, and you have to read tomorrow's post to really see where this is going. Thank you.
I have a confession to make. I don't like Spring too much.
I can hear the gasps of astonishment right now. So many people get so excited about the prospect of Spring.
New grass.
Chirping birds.
Flowers.
Maybe I'd be excited too if Spring was actually pretty here. But it's not. I think it's the ugliest season.
In Summer you have green everywhere you look. You have hot dogs, baseball games, barbecues, warm summer nights, fresh scents on the air after the rain. It's a lovely time of year.
In Autumn you have the beautiful colors of the changing leaves. You have that wonderful crisp smell in the air. You have hay being cut, deer being hunted, and football games being played. Pumpkins, squash, cookies, muffins. Cold enough to feel cozy when you're inside, warm enough to enjoy yourself outside. Definitely my favorite season.
Though Winter can sometimes be ugly, much of the season is just gorgeous. White just covering the landscape. Snow-covered mountains in the distance. Being able to see your breath. Sledding, ice skating, skiing, and other winter sports. Getting ready for Christmas and everything that comes with it. It's a season that really warms your heart, even while your toes are freezing off.
But there's just not much to say about Spring. The snow starts melting, and where I live it just takes forever for any green to appear. The air is too cold to wear any summer clothes, but too warm to wear the sweaters that were appropriate a short time before.
And there is mud. Lots and lots of mud. It squishes beneath your shoes, and it's almost impossible to wear heels. The dogs get all muddy whenever you let them outside, which means you have to give them a bath at least once a day to prevent your carpet from becoming stained.
Everything is just brown and ugly. By the time there is anything good to say it's more like Summer than Spring.
Maybe the reason I dislike it is because where I live things just tend to go from Winter to Summer, with nothing but a muddy mess in between. It snows, it melts, there's mud, it snows again. And we go through this cycle until about the middle of May.
Exhibit A - This picture was taken last year at "Springtime".
We don't really have "Spring" here. Not like most people think of Spring. It's only "Spring" in the sense that little shoots of grass start popping up here and there, but that's not too exciting when they get covered by snow a week later.
Some people get the Winter blues. I get the Springtime blues.
Maybe you all can help me change my outlook. I'm just having a hard time figuring out what I like about Spring.
This post to be continued tomorrow . . .
Wiping mud off my shoes,
Check back tomorrow for my conclusion to the Springtime issue!
I have a confession to make. I don't like Spring too much.
I can hear the gasps of astonishment right now. So many people get so excited about the prospect of Spring.
New grass.
Chirping birds.
Flowers.
Maybe I'd be excited too if Spring was actually pretty here. But it's not. I think it's the ugliest season.
In Summer you have green everywhere you look. You have hot dogs, baseball games, barbecues, warm summer nights, fresh scents on the air after the rain. It's a lovely time of year.
In Autumn you have the beautiful colors of the changing leaves. You have that wonderful crisp smell in the air. You have hay being cut, deer being hunted, and football games being played. Pumpkins, squash, cookies, muffins. Cold enough to feel cozy when you're inside, warm enough to enjoy yourself outside. Definitely my favorite season.
Though Winter can sometimes be ugly, much of the season is just gorgeous. White just covering the landscape. Snow-covered mountains in the distance. Being able to see your breath. Sledding, ice skating, skiing, and other winter sports. Getting ready for Christmas and everything that comes with it. It's a season that really warms your heart, even while your toes are freezing off.
But there's just not much to say about Spring. The snow starts melting, and where I live it just takes forever for any green to appear. The air is too cold to wear any summer clothes, but too warm to wear the sweaters that were appropriate a short time before.
And there is mud. Lots and lots of mud. It squishes beneath your shoes, and it's almost impossible to wear heels. The dogs get all muddy whenever you let them outside, which means you have to give them a bath at least once a day to prevent your carpet from becoming stained.
Everything is just brown and ugly. By the time there is anything good to say it's more like Summer than Spring.
Maybe the reason I dislike it is because where I live things just tend to go from Winter to Summer, with nothing but a muddy mess in between. It snows, it melts, there's mud, it snows again. And we go through this cycle until about the middle of May.
Exhibit A - This picture was taken last year at "Springtime".
We don't really have "Spring" here. Not like most people think of Spring. It's only "Spring" in the sense that little shoots of grass start popping up here and there, but that's not too exciting when they get covered by snow a week later.
Some people get the Winter blues. I get the Springtime blues.
Maybe you all can help me change my outlook. I'm just having a hard time figuring out what I like about Spring.
This post to be continued tomorrow . . .
Wiping mud off my shoes,
Check back tomorrow for my conclusion to the Springtime issue!
I'm doing this Bible study with my mom and sisters. We're going through a Proverbs study book, and it's really good so far. It's reminded me of the importance of wisdom and discernment.
When I was younger one of the qualities that I really desired for myself was wisdom. To be a wise woman was one of my goals in life. Wisdom is one of those virtues that helps you with every other virtue, and if you have wisdom difficult situations won't be so difficult. Difficult situations may not even arise in the first place, because if you show wisdom in different situations it's a good way to avoid complications.
Wisdom makes all the difference in knowing when to speak and when to be silent. When to share a concern and when to overlook an offense. What to say and what not to say. With wisdom life and godliness is just easier.
It's emphasized throughout Scripture that wisdom is better than any material possession. When God gave Solomon an opportunity to ask for anything he wanted, Solomon chose wisdom over riches or power or long life, and it pleased God (1 Kings 3:5-14).
Would I have chosen wisdom over anything else I could ask for? On some days I just don't know - but I would hope so. The amazing thing is that when Solomon asked for wisdom over riches or honor, God gave him what he asked for; but He also gave him what he didn't ask for (1 Kings 3:13). The Lord blessed Solomon for seeking wisdom; and I think He will bless any of His children who sincerely desire to please Him through wise actions and words.
Somehow I've lost that desire for wisdom in recent years. I think it's just because things have gotten so crazy and busy for the last, oh, three years, and somehow I just forgot about the importance of seeking wisdom.
That's shameful isn't it? How can one forget to pursue something that's so important - something that has been so important in the past? I don't know, but through this Bible study with my mom (who is a very wise woman) I've remembered that long forgotten desire of my heart: to grow to be a wiser woman.
Anyway, Proverbs says that those who seek wisdom diligently will find it (Proverbs 8:17). What a wonderful promise.
I think think the Bible study we're doing on Proverbs, reading Proverbs daily, and praying for wisdom are a good start, so that's what I plan to do.
You'll probably be reading alot of posts inspired by Proverbs in the near future!
When I was younger one of the qualities that I really desired for myself was wisdom. To be a wise woman was one of my goals in life. Wisdom is one of those virtues that helps you with every other virtue, and if you have wisdom difficult situations won't be so difficult. Difficult situations may not even arise in the first place, because if you show wisdom in different situations it's a good way to avoid complications.
Wisdom makes all the difference in knowing when to speak and when to be silent. When to share a concern and when to overlook an offense. What to say and what not to say. With wisdom life and godliness is just easier.
It's emphasized throughout Scripture that wisdom is better than any material possession. When God gave Solomon an opportunity to ask for anything he wanted, Solomon chose wisdom over riches or power or long life, and it pleased God (1 Kings 3:5-14).
Would I have chosen wisdom over anything else I could ask for? On some days I just don't know - but I would hope so. The amazing thing is that when Solomon asked for wisdom over riches or honor, God gave him what he asked for; but He also gave him what he didn't ask for (1 Kings 3:13). The Lord blessed Solomon for seeking wisdom; and I think He will bless any of His children who sincerely desire to please Him through wise actions and words.
Somehow I've lost that desire for wisdom in recent years. I think it's just because things have gotten so crazy and busy for the last, oh, three years, and somehow I just forgot about the importance of seeking wisdom.
That's shameful isn't it? How can one forget to pursue something that's so important - something that has been so important in the past? I don't know, but through this Bible study with my mom (who is a very wise woman) I've remembered that long forgotten desire of my heart: to grow to be a wiser woman.
Anyway, Proverbs says that those who seek wisdom diligently will find it (Proverbs 8:17). What a wonderful promise.
I think think the Bible study we're doing on Proverbs, reading Proverbs daily, and praying for wisdom are a good start, so that's what I plan to do.
You'll probably be reading alot of posts inspired by Proverbs in the near future!
As I've said multiple times before, one of the things I love about having an iPod is the podcasts. I love being able to subscribe to podcasts and listen to them anytime I want. I enjoy listening to music, but I get bored of music after a little while and I just like to listen to other radio programs. Hence my obsession with talk radio.
Well, right after I got my iPod for Christmas I also subscribed to some Christian radio podcasts. I love listening to certain Bible programs or the Focus on the Family radio program, but they're never on when I can listen to them - but now I can listen whenever I want!
I have about a forty-five minute drive to work each way, so it's the perfect time to listen to my lovely podcasts.
One of my favorite sermon programs is Grace To You, which is John MacArthur's ministry. I think he gives good, solid, biblical teaching in his sermons.
This past Friday I was listening to a sermon series by John MacArthur called "God, Satan, and Angels". You can download that series for free at John MacArthur's website, or subscribe to the Grace To You podcast - it aired in 2009 so you can sync the episodes of this series to your iPod that way as well.
I just finished the part of the series on the attributes of God, and in the last sermon I listened to, John MacArthur said something that really hit home for me.
He was talking about one of God's attributes - His Omniscience, meaning that God knows absolutely everything. He knows what we do wrong and what we do right, He knows our motives, He knows everything that's going on in the world, He knows how things are going to turn out in the end, He even knows how things would have turned out if we had chosen to act differently. He is absolutely all-knowing.
To illustrate the point that God knows what's going on in our hearts, John MacArthur told the story about the Lord Jesus asking Peter whether Peter loved Him. After Jesus asked Peter several times and Peter told Jesus that he did love Him, Peter finally said "Lord, You know all things; You know I love you."
MacArthur then went on to say that it's a good thing the Lord is omniscient, because if He wasn't omniscient there are some days He might not even know that we love Him, because it wouldn't be obvious.
Wow.
I was really convicted by that. I had never thought of that before, because obviously the Lord is omniscient and even though I mess up and do wrong things, He can see my heart and knows that I still love Him, even though I'm not acting like it. But I shouldn't just rely on the Lord's omniscience to give Him the knowledge of my love for Him - I should show it. It breaks my heart a little bit to think about the days when there really is no outward sign that I love the Lord - that I belong to Him, that I follow Him, that I serve Him.
How ashamed I am when I think of my behavior in that light! Because if the Lord couldn't see my heart, much of the time He might not be able to see that I love Him.
No one is omniscient but God. No one else can see my heart. No one else can see my heart. They can only see my actions. What a sobering thought. If there are days when the Lord might not be able to see my love for Him if He wasn't omniscient, how can I expect anyone else to see it?
I need to live my life with one constant question in my mind - if the Lord couldn't see my heart, would He be able to tell that I love Him right now? When I'm in the middle of an argument I need to ask myself this. When I'm having a bad day and feeling grumpy I need to ask myself this. Whenever I'm just living my daily life I need to ask myself this.
Because I belong to Jesus, God chooses to see me in the light of the righteousness of Christ, and not in the light of my own sins. He chooses to look past my daily failings and see my desire to follow Him and serve Him - what mercy He gives me, to choose to look past the obvious sins and consider my heart instead! In the light of such mercy it is such a little thing to serve the Lord through my daily actions - but how hard that little thing is at times! But He only asks that I continue to try - that I never stop trying.
No one but You, Lord, can see my heart - they can only see how I live my life. Help me to show them my love for You through every action.
,
Well, right after I got my iPod for Christmas I also subscribed to some Christian radio podcasts. I love listening to certain Bible programs or the Focus on the Family radio program, but they're never on when I can listen to them - but now I can listen whenever I want!
I have about a forty-five minute drive to work each way, so it's the perfect time to listen to my lovely podcasts.
One of my favorite sermon programs is Grace To You, which is John MacArthur's ministry. I think he gives good, solid, biblical teaching in his sermons.
This past Friday I was listening to a sermon series by John MacArthur called "God, Satan, and Angels". You can download that series for free at John MacArthur's website, or subscribe to the Grace To You podcast - it aired in 2009 so you can sync the episodes of this series to your iPod that way as well.
I just finished the part of the series on the attributes of God, and in the last sermon I listened to, John MacArthur said something that really hit home for me.
He was talking about one of God's attributes - His Omniscience, meaning that God knows absolutely everything. He knows what we do wrong and what we do right, He knows our motives, He knows everything that's going on in the world, He knows how things are going to turn out in the end, He even knows how things would have turned out if we had chosen to act differently. He is absolutely all-knowing.
To illustrate the point that God knows what's going on in our hearts, John MacArthur told the story about the Lord Jesus asking Peter whether Peter loved Him. After Jesus asked Peter several times and Peter told Jesus that he did love Him, Peter finally said "Lord, You know all things; You know I love you."
MacArthur then went on to say that it's a good thing the Lord is omniscient, because if He wasn't omniscient there are some days He might not even know that we love Him, because it wouldn't be obvious.
Wow.
I was really convicted by that. I had never thought of that before, because obviously the Lord is omniscient and even though I mess up and do wrong things, He can see my heart and knows that I still love Him, even though I'm not acting like it. But I shouldn't just rely on the Lord's omniscience to give Him the knowledge of my love for Him - I should show it. It breaks my heart a little bit to think about the days when there really is no outward sign that I love the Lord - that I belong to Him, that I follow Him, that I serve Him.
How ashamed I am when I think of my behavior in that light! Because if the Lord couldn't see my heart, much of the time He might not be able to see that I love Him.
No one is omniscient but God. No one else can see my heart. No one else can see my heart. They can only see my actions. What a sobering thought. If there are days when the Lord might not be able to see my love for Him if He wasn't omniscient, how can I expect anyone else to see it?
I need to live my life with one constant question in my mind - if the Lord couldn't see my heart, would He be able to tell that I love Him right now? When I'm in the middle of an argument I need to ask myself this. When I'm having a bad day and feeling grumpy I need to ask myself this. Whenever I'm just living my daily life I need to ask myself this.
Because I belong to Jesus, God chooses to see me in the light of the righteousness of Christ, and not in the light of my own sins. He chooses to look past my daily failings and see my desire to follow Him and serve Him - what mercy He gives me, to choose to look past the obvious sins and consider my heart instead! In the light of such mercy it is such a little thing to serve the Lord through my daily actions - but how hard that little thing is at times! But He only asks that I continue to try - that I never stop trying.
No one but You, Lord, can see my heart - they can only see how I live my life. Help me to show them my love for You through every action.
,
"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." 1 John 4:10-11
Taking time to remember Jesus's perfect love for us. I hope you all have a blessed Valentine's Day.
,
Taking time to remember Jesus's perfect love for us. I hope you all have a blessed Valentine's Day.
,
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