We work so hard to make God proud, but do we work hard to make God happy?
What is thing you can think of doing today that would make God smile?
Is there a person who needs a text today?
A teddy bear you could put in your window?
A game that your kids want to play that you really, really, just don’t want to do?
Do it.
Small acts of love. That is what makes God smile.
Broken like me
A few years ago at the Church Camp I attend, the pastor was speaking on God’s love language, and he said something that stuck with me. A broken heart is God’s love language. What? Brokenness? He then explained that when we are broken is when we seek God and see Him. When we are broken He makes us whole again and He makes us better. He works through our brokenness.
No one knows brokenness like Jesus.
For those who don’t know, today is Palm Sunday. I wonder how broken Jesus was riding into Jerusalem today? Soon He would know ultimate suffering, soon He would die. What a level of suffering that laid upon Him. You can tell from His prayers in the Garden that He was broken. God used brokenness in and of His Son to make us whole. He uses our brokenness to make us whole too.
If you are broken today, keep your chin up! Today began a path to unmatched victory in our Spiritual lives. It can be a day that begins the path to your victory also. Just pray and believe.
He is Risen.
Angels in disguise
I wonder how often we miss our guardian angels.
I was watching a Hallmark movie where guardian angels come to earth and physically befriend, and assist their, ‘assignments’.
The thing was that these angels looked and acted like angels. They were clean cut, and very kind, with perfect teeth.
I have been helped and guided by many people that God put into my life, many of which would not have brought the word ‘angel’ to mind when looking at them. Sometimes they were crass, sometimes they were dirty, they did NOT have perfect teeth, in fact sometimes they had missing teeth. But they were still angels, and I still needed them.
How often do we walk right by our guardian angels simply because they do not look like angels?
Friends
I will follow you anywhere. Even past the realms of death to that which lies beyond.
So says a true friend.
I will go through death alone and move through what lies beyond alone for you. So says the truest friend. Jesus.
No matter where we go we are not alone; and for the places where we cannot go, Jesus goes alone without us to fight our battles for us.
Isn’t that an encouraging thought.
Cookie?
My dog almost always responds to a command if the word ‘cookie’ comes after it, because he knows that I deliver. If I say he gets a reward he is going to get a reward. I don’t offer a reward and then not deliver. That is why he looks so good in my photos of him, he knows to sit, stay and then ‘cookie’!
When God says He is going to do something He is going to do it! He doesn’t promise and then not deliver. If God says He will provide, He WILL provide. If God says to stand and see a Him do something amazing then stand! If we obey Him He will bless us. We don’t obey and get nothing, eventually God will reward us.
When we finally get our ‘cookie’ we will laugh at our own doubt. So don’t doubt, trust, obey, and see God do something wonderful.
Their blood is on us
There are things that are said often that shouldn’t be. Movements that are wrong.
There is a scene in a certain TV show that I won’t name because it is a little harsh. That being said, the main characters are in the middle of a war. Very quickly the people begin to run out of supplies because there are too many of them in the small area that is safe to live. The government decides to send a group of about 2 thousand people, Mostly old or sick, to “regain” an area of land lost to the enemy. They knew these people couldn’t do it. They sent them out to die so they could reduce the population. Later when the remaining people truly did need to regain that land the people complained at the new governor and what he said in response was this:
“We stole the lives of the people who were sent to ‘regain’ that land. Their blood is on our hands. We owe them this, today we atone for that sin.”
Right now there is a movement to let the seniors and the people with diseases to die when they catch Covid and to only save the young and healthy. As one who fits in the young and healthy category I must say I was disgusted and horrified, but not surprised. People are selfish and want to ensure their own safety. That is expected. That is wrong.
If we do this one day we will have to pay for the blood we have spilled and lives we have taken, don’t ever think that we won’t.
Please join me in praying against this monstrosity of human nature. God will never let Canada get away with doing such a horror, don’t be naive enough to believe He will. It is not our government doing this, not yet, so far this is just a small movement, but God help us if it grows. I know God always helps us, but we need to pray anyway.
A warning?
`Warning? Warning against what? ‘ said Boromir sharply.
‘Against delay. Against the way that seems easier. Against refusal of the burden that is laid on me. Against-well, if it must be said, against trust in the strength and truth of Men.’
The breaking of the fellowship, LOTR
Hard times come; some of which we can choose whether or not to accept. If we hold back from God’s will because we know the road will be hard, isn’t that wrong?
Tonight I heard my mom praying for the courage of Paul, it filled my heart. Paul’s courage was challenged and tested and yet still he fought on because he knew Jesus. He knew there was a greater reward. Never once did Paul hesitate to do God’s will and never once did he trust in the truth or strength of men. Now he is one of the most well known and debated upon authors in the Bible. Why? Because he refused the voice of the devil when he called him away from God. Paul had spent enough time doing the devil’s work that he knew it held no reward. Paul trusted in the God who saved him, Paul did not delay or deny God’s task. Paul went forth in courage because his faith was in God.
Oh, the things we can learn from God’s disciples.
Sever
Sever skin from bone
-Snap- the screams echo through the halls. It’s dark and dry. Thirst. Need. Fear. Pain. -Snap- another shriek. Your turn next.
Trembling. Is this an illusion? A nightmare? No. The tearing at your skin from the rats shows that’s not true. Is anyone out there? Someone to save you. -Clink- Doors open. “Leave!” Gruff voice. Daylight. Tears. Relief.
Screams.
Not yours. Out comes a man. His face is twisted and he drags his body as he walks. You run over just in time to catch Him.
“Sir. Are you alright?” Blood soaks your palms. A weak smile. Sweat. More tears.
A whisper. “For you, I did this.” Death.
3 days. Arms lift you up and spin you around. ALIVE! RISEN! FREE!
I hear the best torture professionals could sever skin from bone with a single lash. Have you ever had a cut bone deep? I have; it’s agonizing, I still have the scar.
Imagine 49 of those covering your body.
They spare some details in the movies because I am sure that Jesus wasn’t free standing, He most likely was tied to something to hold him still when they beat Him. Also. He probably threw up blood till He couldn’t anymore. The screams and cries of anguish, (anguish we should have bore) would have been sickening to the audience. It would not have been anywhere near as gentle as we see it in our minds.
Image one hundred billion names or more tattooed on the end of the whip. Look closely. There is your name. No! Don’t look away! Watch as it drives itself into your savior’s back. That is why we serve Him.
I know most people will walk away from this and shake their heads and try to remove these images. But don’t. Lest we ever forget that Jesus SUFFERED and died. Those lashes were yours, and mine.
Save the date
Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
1 John 5:12 NIV
Okay class; repeat after me. Christ has………… Great! Next. We are………….. Terrific! Now we are…………. Amen!
For those who don’t know the answer off the top of their heads, that is totally fine, here are the answers:
Risen
Saved or free
New creations
We are Christians. That is the sum and substance of what we are. We are bringing Christ to the world. In bringing Christ to the world sometimes we forget that we are also Christ’s creations. We. You. Me. The people who are already Jesus followers. We are also saved. We are also free. We are also new creations and Jesus died for us too! Sometimes we seem to forget that; but Jesus is ours to share, not give away. He still belongs to us. We still belong to Him too.
Thank you Jesus that we are the free because you are risen for us and you love us. Amen
Jesus wants me for a sunbeam
Jesus wants me for a sunbeam
Remember the old song Jesus wants me for a sunbeam?
Today I went to walk my dog and brush my horse. The sun was so warm it turned our deck hot despite the melting snow around us.
When it’s cloudy and dark it’s easy to reflect that in our moods, but same goes for when it’s sunny.
The physical sun draws us into a state of pleasure. We are to be sunbeams for Jesus. So does that mean we are to bring joy to others? Absolutely!
We are to spread happiness, to bring a simple smile to someone’s day, isn’t that what Jesus did? He brought healing, yes. But He also brought joy and hope.
How can we be sunbeams today?
Carried in the cross 