Good Friday - the Crucifixion

As I woke in the early hours of the morning while it was still dark outside,  my mind immediately thought about Jesus and what He went through on "Good Friday" so many years ago. 

He had not slept.  They had arrested him in the late hours of the night before in the Garden of Gethsemane.  He spent the night being questioned and accused.  Peter stood outside warming himself by the fire, watching in fear to see what would become of the One he thought was their Messiah.

The Jews could not kill Jesus so they delivered Him to Pilate in the early hours the morning.  Pilate tried to release Him, but they refused and chose Barrabas instead. 

Pilate sent Him to be cruelly whipped.  He returned to Pilate beaten,  bloody, and with a crown of thorns piercing His brow. Can you imagine the agony and excruciating pain He was feeling at that moment for you and for me?

He was then led away to be crucified.  Pain was coursing through His body as the nails pierced through His hands and feet.  He hung there, writhing in agony for 6 hours. Six long excruciating hours of torture,  agony,  and pain. Three of those hours were spent in darkness as it covered the land.

Finally, Jesus cried out loudly "IT IS FINISHED!" as His mortal flesh died.

Hours of torment.   Hours of torture.  Hours of excruciating pain.  Yet, Jesus did it so that you and I can have the chance at eternal life. 

We should never treat His sacrifice lightly.  
He died for you - will you live for Him?

Go to Church faithfully,  not just special holidays.
Read the Bible and pray daily - He desires that relationship with each of us.
And live for Him - not just think of Him occasionally - but truly live for Jesus because in the end, that's what matters.

Will you receive His invitation to be Born Again as we remember what He did for us on Calvary?
Jesus taught we must be Born Again of water (Baptism in His name) and of Spirit (receiving the Holy Ghost evidenced by speaking in other tongues) or we cannot enter nor see the Kingdom of God.  He taught there are signs that will follow every Believer.  (John 3:1-16 + Mark 26:16-17) Jesus died so that we can be Born Again and walk in a new life with Him.  

No greater love than this! Happy Good Friday!

Interesting Biblical Facts About Events Leading Up To the Triumphal Entry

Interesting Biblical Facts About Events Leading Up To the Triumphal Entry

The Bible is full of such interesting details that we sometimes miss.  A recount of an event told from 4 different angles in the Gospels will have similar yet varying details.  One may add a detail that another may consider insignificant and vise versa.  To get a full understanding of what happened,  we need to look at all 4 Gospel accounts.  

Let's look at the Anointing at Bethany....

Jesus came to Bethany 6 days before the Passover. (John 12:1)  This was the town where Lazarus (whom Jesus raised from the dead), Martha, and Mary lived. 

Jesus and His Disciples were invited to dinner. 

John's account (chapter 12) mentions that Lazarus sat at the table with Jesus while Martha served. 

Matthew 26:6 and Mark 14:3 reveals that they were at Simon's house (one who used to be a leper).

Luke 7:40 again confirms they are at Simon's house. Luke 7:36,39 reveals Simon was also a Pharisee. 

So, we see from Scripture comparisons that Jesus was at the home of a Pharisee named Simon who had formerly been a leper whom Jesus healed. 

Going back to John's account, we see that Simon is also the father of Judas Iscariot. (Jn 12:4 + 13:2)

While Jesus was there, a woman came and poured very precious ointment from an alabaster box on Jesus' head. (Matthew 26:7 + Mark 14:3)

Luke 7:37-38 explains this woman was a sinner. 

John 12:3 + 11:2 reveal the woman's name is Mary, the sister if Lazarus, that anointed Jesus with the ointment.  Some accounts also tell of her humility and sorrow as she continued by washing Jesus' feet with her tears and drying them with her hair. 

Some within the house were appalled that Jesus would allow this sinful woman to touch Him. Some felt like she was wasting precious money. But Jesus, moved with compassion, forgave her of her many sins.  Mary came broken and unclean but left forgiven. 

I doubt she realized her actions were anointing His body for burial that was to take place only a few days later, but Jesus knew.  (Jn 12:7)  

Everyone thought He came to be their King, who would kick the Romans out and set up an earthly throne.  They could not comprehend His Kingdom was not of this earth.  They did not understand He must first die so that we may have a chance to live (eternally).

Jesus opened the door for us, but we make the choice to walk through it or not.  We must follow and obey Jesus' instructions to be Born Again of water and of Spirit. 

Everyone focuses on John 3:16 but just a few verses prior, Jesus instructed the same audience (Nicodemus and His Disciples) that unless a person is Born Again of Water (Baptism in Jesus name -Jesus taught His Disciples how to baptize) and of Spirit (receiving the Holy Ghost which is evidenced by speaking in other tongues) we CANNOT ENTER NOR SEE the Kingdom of God. Don’t marvel that you must be Born Again. 

Scripture ref KJV: John 3:1-16, 22 + Mark 16:16-17 + Acts 2:1-4, 38-39 + Acts 10:44-48 + Acts 19 and so many more...

Hypocrites!

Hypocrites!

I was having a conversation with someone the other day who expressed they do not go to Church because there are hypocrites there. I explained that there are hypocrites everywhere (even outside of Church) and that it should not stop us from going to Church.  

I pondered more on the topic as I studied the Bible today.  Yes, when you go to Church,  you will find some who are hypocrites.  A hypocrite is a person who puts on a false appearance - it is a person who claims to be a Christian yet lives opposite to Christian morals and Biblical teachings. 

Jesus addressed the topic of hypocrites in the Church in Matthew 6:2 - "Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, AS THE HYPOCRITES DO IN THE SYNAGOGUES and in the streets, that they may have glory of men...."

AND IN THE STREETS? You will also find hypocrites in the streets (outside of the Church). Remember,  a hypocrite is a person who claims to be a Christian yet lives opposite to Christian morals and Biblical teachings. Yes, you will find those within the Church who claim to be a Christian yet are hateful,  spiteful,  bitter, rebellious,  gossipy, backbiting, etc. Their heart is not right. 

But there are also those who claim to be a Christian, yet they do not go to Church and live opposite to Christian morals and Biblical teachings (cussing, drinking, fornication, and so on).

I'm not casting stones,  but would that not also fall under the description of a hypocrite?  It is something to seriously ponder on.  

There were hypocrites at the synagogue yet that did not stop Jesus from going.  We should not and cannot let that stop us from going to church either lest we be found to be a hypocrite as well.  I'm not casting stones -  I'm reaching for souls.  That is one of many deceptive reasons the devil has created to keep people out of Church.  Don't fall for it.  

Christ-Centered Easter / Resurrection

 Has anyone else noticed how difficult it is to find Christ-centered Easter/Resurrection crafts and activities?  Even at Hobby Lobby (a Christian based company) I was only able to find 2 Christ-focused crafts (one of which I cannot use because it has a hippy long haired Jesus). The rest were Easter eggs and bunnies. 

Some may wonder,  "what's the big deal? They're cute! Everyone else is having egg hunts at Church.  Why don't you?!"

My reason - I'm not casting stones at anyone else who does, but when I think about the excruciating agony, the scourging, the thorns piercing Jesus' brow, and the torture He went through on the Cross,  I have to wonder how it makes Jesus feel when we focus attention more-so on bunnies and egg hunts than about the remembrance of what Jesus endured to purchase our Redemption?

We will have a Resurrection Story Stone Hunt which tells the story of what Jesus did for us ending with the celebration that He is Alive and wants to live in our hearts. And we will have a Candy Rain after Church on Resurrection Sunday to remind us of God's sweet love and blessings that He showers down on us. 

If you are looking for Christ centered activities and having trouble finding them as I did, this blog may give you some ideas....

https://heycreativesister.com/christian-easter-activities/

That I Might Attain....

 Paul, whom we consider one of the greatest Apostles,  and yet he wrote....

Philippians 3 (KJV)
¹¹ If by any means I MIGHT ATTAIN
unto the resurrection of the dead.
¹² NOT AS THOUGH I HAD ALREADY ATTAINED,
either were already perfect:
but I follow after,
IF THAT I MAY APPREHEND
that for which also I am apprehended
of Christ Jesus.
¹³ Brethren,
I COUNT NOT MYSELF TO HAVE APPREHENDED:
but this one thing I do,
FORGETTING those things which are behind,
and REACHING FORTH unto those things
which are before,
¹⁴ I PRESS TOWARD THE MARK for the prize
of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Paul realized his need to keep pressing forward,
to keep fighting the good fight of Faith. 
He had not made it to Glory yet.
He had not attained perfection.
He couldn't change his past, his failures, the things he had done before that kept coming back to mind to haunt him,

So, since he nor any of us could change our past, he exampled and taught what we can do: 

(1) FORGET THE PAST!  It's behind you once you've sincerely repented and your sins have been washed away in the waters of Baptism in Jesus name. (Baptism in Jesus name remits your sin it washes them all away. Acts 2:38 + 22:16)

(2) REACH FORWARD to the things that are before!  Seek the things that are above.  Seek FIRST the Kingdom of God AND His Righteousness.  Then everything else will fall in place and work out for the good. (Col 3:1 + Mt 6:33 + Rom 8:28)

(3) Then PRESS TOWARD THE MARK for the prize of the high calling of God!  It's not something that will come easy.  It's something you will have to work at and work hard for, just as an athlete training so they may be their best and do their best to win the race/game. There is a reward at the end!  Keep pressing!  Don’t give up!  It will be worth it all when we see Jesus!

But until we finally attain, we keep pressing and working out our salvation with FEAR AND TREMBLING lest we become carnal and comfortable and fall asleep in the Light as the 5 foolish virgins only to wake up too late and find yourself to have become a castaway.  (Phil 2:12 + 1 Cor 9:27 + Mt 25)

We're too close to the end! 

Don't give up!  

Keep pressing!
Increase your Prayer life and Bible reading time!
The more heavenly minded you are, the more earthly good you will be because that's when God can use you!  And He wants to 🙌

Examine Yourselves

 “EXAMINE yourselves, 

whether ye be in the faith; 

PROVE your own selves...”

  — 2 Corinthians 13:5 (KJV)

Examine yourselves....

What are my actions revealing?

What are my words revealing?

What are my thoughts revealing?

What is my conduct revealing?

What is the way I dress saying to others?

Do my actions, my words, my thoughts,  my conduct,  what I wear prove to others that I am a Follower of Christ?

🎵Only one life So soon it will pass

 🎵Only one life

So soon it will pass

Oly what's done

For Christ will last

Only one chance

To do His will 

So live for Jesus all your days

It's the only life that pays 

When you recall you have but one life🎵

We're not promised tomorrow. 

We're not even promised the next breath.

Live for Jesus. 

Love Jesus. 

Follow His teachings and commands.

Achievements in this life will mean nothing in the end.

Only what's done for Christ,

Our obedience to His Word - ALL of it

Will be what truly matter when we stand before Jesus. 

Eternity is forever. 

It matters where you will spend it. 

So live for Jesus all your days

It's the only life that pays 

When you recall you have but one life.

Don't Be Deceived

 Ephesians 4:14  KJV

14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

As we grow in Christ, Paul is admonishing and warning not to be as children who are easily swayed in their beliefs.  

There are wolves in sheep's clothing, false brethren, and false prophets who appear to be looking out for your good and come as an angel of light, but if they are causing you to question the doctrines of holiness and separation from the world, that is the same serpent spirit which beguiled Eve in the Garden of Eden. 

"Did God really say....?"

"Is it really wrong to....?"

"That's not really a heaven of hell issue."

"We need to appear more relevant."

"There's nothing wrong with that."

Those are serpent lies sent to beguile and deceive. If the Bible says it's wrong, it is wrong no matter how much that person may sweetly convince you that it's not. 

Guard your heart and try the spirits to see if they are of God.  A person sweetly talking and even appearing to reason away holiness and separation from the world convincingly is not from God - those are doctrines of devils subtly sent to blur the lines between holiness and worldliness with cunning craftiness. 

They are walking in the vanity of their own mind, devoid of truth and appropriateness.  There is blindness on their heart. They are trying to hold onto the world while reaching for God in attempts to blend the two, but all you get in the end is strange fire that is displeasing to God.  He is a Holy God and requires holiness from His people!

You may think I'm being a little strong. If I am, it's because the spirit of deception is running rampant and doctrines of devils are subtly deceiving and drawing away souls from sound doctrine.  They are being enticed by the desires of their flesh. 

We're too close to the end to lose out now!

We're too close to the end to fail Him now!

Don't be deceived! 💔🙏

Repost from 2-19-23

No Turning Back

 🎵I have decided to follow Jesus...

No turning back. 

No turning back.🎵

We're too close to the finish line to turn back now.

Love not the world

 1 John 2 (KJV)

¹⁵ Love NOT the world, neither the things that are in the world. 

* This includes its music, its entertainment,  its 'stars', etc

Too many love and are clinging to the things of the world more than the things of God. Actions reveal whether you truly love God or love the world.  

What is your priority?  Where is your priority? Sleeping in or attending an event rather than attending church?  How much is God in your thoughts? How much do you pray? How much do you read your Bible? How much do you deny your flesh through fasting? Time with Jesus must be our #1 priority.  

The Bible continues to warn:

If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

¹⁶ For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, 

and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, 

is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Time for a heart check: who/what do you truly love more? 

Words may say: Jesus 

But what are your actions revealing?

The Parent and the Pastor

 The Parent and The Pastor

As A Parent....
You want good for your children.
You want them to be healthy
And to excel and do well in life

Yet, there are times....
when you have to have a talk with them.
They're getting into things they shouldn't.
At times, they are putting theirself in danger.
May even be putting their sibling in harms way as well.
You, as the parent,  see how what they're doing will harm them.
Sometimes,  no matter how much you admonish or try to reason with them, they continue to do it anyway,  pushing boundaries.
The last resort is issuing correction or instituting a punishment.

Your child whom you love...
Cries
Gets angry with you
Accuses you of hating them
You hear them falsely accuse, "you don't love me!"
Or even,  "Abuse!"
And yet that is the furthest from the truth.
It is BECAUSE you love them
It is BECAUSE you care
that you had to correct or punish them.
You understand that even though they may not at the moment.

Your Pastor...
Wants good for those God has placed in his care.
He want you to be healthy spiritually
And to excel and do well in the Kingdom of God.

Yet, there are times....
when your Pastor may have to talk with you.
He sees you're getting into things you shouldn't.
God shows him you are putting yourself in danger.
Your actions may even be influencing someone else and putting them in harms way (spiritually) as well.
As the Pastor, he sees the danger lying ahead.
Sometimes,  no matter how much he admonishes or tries to reason with them, they continue to do it anyway,  pushing boundaries.
The last resort is to issue a biblical correction.

This person whom the Pastor loves and cares for...
Cries
Gets angry with him
Accuses him of hating them
He hears them falsely accuse, "you don't love me!"
Or even,  "Church hurt!"
And yet that is the furthest from the truth.
It is BECAUSE he loves them
It is BECAUSE he cares
that he had to admonish them.
He understands this even though that person may not at the moment.

And, It is his duty - Biblically.
The Pastor is mandated by God to teach us the difference between what is right and what is wrong,  between what is holy and what is profane. (Ezek 44:23)
If the Pastor does not sound the alarm warning of danger, then God said our blood will be on his hands.  (Ezek 3:17-21 + 18:24-32 + 33:1-9)

That is a heavy responsibility. 
It is BECAUSE God loves us. (Heb 12:6)
It is BECAUSE the Pastor loves us.
If he didn't love you,  he wouldn't warn.

The Holy Ghost laid this heavily on my mind Monday morning (2-5-24) before I was even fully awake.

God is trying to admonish someone.
Will you hear and heed His voice.
Don't harden your heart.
God is reaching - BECAUSE He loves you. 

The Incense of Prayer

The Incense of Prayer

Exodus 30

⁷ And Aaron shall 

BURN THEREON SWEET INCENSE

EVERY MORNING.....

⁸ And when Aaron lighteth the lamps AT EVEN, 

he shall burn incense upon it,

A PERPETUAL INCENSE before the LORD.....

REV 5:8

...having every one of them harps, 

and GOLDEN VIALS FULL OF ODOURS, 

which are THE PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS.

Revelation 8

³ And another angel came 

and stood at the altar, 

having a golden censer; 

and there was given unto him MUCH INCENSE, 

that he should offer it 

WITH THE PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS.....

⁴ And the smoke of the incense, 

which came with the prayers of the saints, 

ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.

*Our prayers are like sweet incense before God.

*They are to be a perpetual incense =  Pray without ceasing. — 1 Thess 5:17 (KJV)

Have you offered up an incense of prayer before God this morning?

fb memory 2-4-23

Do You Love Jesus? Truly Love Him?

 February - the month of love

Many will give hearts, and cards, 

and chocolates,  and roses, 

and some even plan a nice place

to take the one they love for dinner. 

Many will do many things 

to show that special someone in their life 

how much they love them. 

But what about Jesus?

Are you in love with Jesus?

What are you doing to show Him

That you love Him?

It's easy to say

But actions speak louder than words.

Do you love Jesus?

Truly love Him?

How are you showing Him?

When you love someone 

You long to spend time with them.

You call them often 

Your heart flutters as you read their text to you

And you hurry to send a message back.  

Are you doing that with Jesus?

Are you calling Him often through prayer?

Are you reading His text to you? (the Bible)?

Are you planning special places and times to meet?

Those secret special places of alone time with Him

Uninterrupted,  just you and Jesus. 

Do you love Jesus?

Truly love Him?

How are you showing Him?

Don't Neglect This Great Salvation

Don't Neglect This Great Salvation 

Hebrews 2:3 

How shall we escape,  if we neglect so great salvation...?

Neglect means to treat carelessly; make light of.

The Apostle Paul warned, "How shall we escape if we treat our salvation carelessly or make light of it?"

How do we treat it carelessly?

* Prayerlessness or very little of it

* Not much Bible reading if any

* Reading the Bible out of duty but not really absorbing what God's Word is saying to us

* Little or no fasting 

* Most of your time is spent fulfilling your own pleasures and desires

* Church attendance is neglected and thought unnecessary 

* If Church is attended, it is out of a sense of duty or obligation rather than a sincere desire to gather with other saints to worship Jesus together.  

* You can't wait for Church to be over so you can go out to eat or to the lake or maybe just wanting to be home. 

These are what Paul was warning against.  They are signs a person is growing lukewarm or cold in their spirit. 

Don't neglect this great salvation.  Stoke the embers of your soul through more prayer, more Bible reading,  more fasting,  more Church attendance until those embers are a blazing fire of the Holy Ghost within once again.  

Jesus didn't treat the cruel cross of Calvary carelessly concerning us.  We shouldn't treat the salvation He offered us nor our walk with Him carelessly either. 

Take time to do some soul searching and make sure you're not neglecting or treating your salvation lightly.

Re-post from 1-28-22

The devil is not afraid to go to church

 The devil is not afraid to go to church.  

Jesus was at the end of a 40-day fast when the devil came tempting Him, trying to make Him sin. (Luke 4:1-13).

The first place we find Jesus went after that was to church. But the people in Nazareth became angry at His words and kicked Him out. (Luke 4:16-30)

That didn't stop Jesus.  He left there and went to church in Galilee. Walking into the synagogue, he found a man hanging out inside that had an unclean (foul) devil. (Luke 4:33-37)

The Bible doesn't indicate what the devil possessed man was doing there. Was he causing trouble? Was he disrupting the worship or prayers? Perhaps the foul spirit was just quietly watching and observing, knowing he had some of those there bound as well. I have to wonder if anyone there even discerned and realized that the man was bound by an evil spirit? Was the man there wishing someone would see and set him free?

Jesus saw and knew!  I believe Jesus showed up with purpose! He had just been in Nazareth and taught that He was there to 'preach deliverance to the captives' (Luke 4:18).  And now He comes to where a man is being held captive by a foul spirit.

That foul spirit knew why Jesus was there and began to cry out to leave them alone. That devil said, "I know who You are!" After the encounter in the wilderness, the devils knew who Jesus is! Jesus silenced that foul spirit and commanded it to come out of the man. That foul spirit had to obey!

How many times have there been those that come to our Church services bound and we don't recognize or discern it? We recognize those bound by alcohol or drugs. What about those bound by nicotine? And too often we tend to just excuse poor behavior away or may even label the person as having a mental illness.  People are bound and yet we're not discerning it as we should.  

The devil is not afraid to come to church or say the name Jesus!

I have heard a woman possessed by devils say the name Jesus. That is why we must be discerning and full of the Holy Ghost. It takes more than just saying the name of Jesus to set the captives free.  We must walk in the power and authority of the Holy Ghost! 

Some of those bound are our loved ones or close friends. The devil has had them too long! It's past time for the Church to arise and take back what the enemy has stolen! We will see the victory and we will see the captives set free through the Blood of Jesus,  the power of His Holy Name Jesus,  and by the authority in the Holy Ghost! 

The devils know who Jesus is! They knew who Paul was! Do they know who you are? 

Jesus gave His Apostles power and authority over all devils.  (Luke 9:1) He's given that same power to those of us who have His Spirit in us. (Acts 1:8) Jesus promised these signs shall follow them that believe (Matk 16:17-18)

Are you walking in the power and authority of the Holy Ghost?

Repost from 1-27-22