Resurrection plus 3 days

I am back from a short get away with my family.  We celebrated my oldest daughter's 16th birthday with a trip to Florida.  While there we toured Kennedy Space Center and the Brevard Zoo in Melbourne.  I am so glad to be back in the office and am looking forward to what the Lord has in store for the remainder fo this week.  It is amazing how a couple of days away from the office can seem like weeks.  I feel very disconnected and kind of like I may have missed something!

I am also feeling somewhat deflated because I did not make time with my Jesus a priority while we were away.  I have missed our quiet times in the morning and our talks about His Word.  I am missing that still small voice.  How are things with you?  Has the excitement of the Easter celebration worn off like a new toy at Christmas?  I am so thankful that Jesus does not put me aside like I do to Him some times.  He never stops paying attention to us.  He never stops being excited about seeing us live lives that are pleasing to Him.  He is always right there by our sides.  I have (re)learned valuable lesson this week.  Jesus is on vacation with us.  We do not leave Him at home like the pet fish and dogs and cats.  He tells us as much is Matthew 28:20b- "And lo I am with you always, even until the end of the age" 

God I pray that you will help me to remember to take you with me wherever I go.  Thank you that you do not leave.  I am so thankful that when I came to you this morning, you were waiting, patiently, lovingly and willingly.  Help us to continue to celebrate your resurrection until we see you again!  Amen.

Waiting on Him,
ML

The tomb is Empty!

<sup>Never before and never again will there be a need for a savior.  Never again will we celebrate the resurrection of another because the King of the Universe is surely alive.  Death nor the grave could contain Him.  Because of His great love for us, He came to earth as a man, died on a cross for the payment of our sin and arose on the third day as only He could do.  Thank God for your Son Jesus, for His work on the cross and for His payment for our sin.  Thank you that as we celebrate the empty tomb today, we also await your return and the promise of eternity together.  Come soon Lord, we love you.  In Jesus name, Amen. 

Matthew 28:
1</sup> 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.
 ⁵ The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. ⁷ 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.” 

Happy Resurrection Day,
ML

The whole earth shook

The earth shook, the curtain to the temple was torn in two, the rocks split and Jesus yielded up His spirit, fulfilling what He was sent to earth to do.  Indeed, He carried your sin and mine to the cross that day and endured horrific things.  As we remember Good Friday today and continue the celebration of Holy Week let's be mindful of the pain and suffering that occurred on our behalf.

There will be many people who attend church on Sunday because of social norms and expectations.  Many will include church on the list of things to do along with family meals, Easter egg hunts and eating of jelly beans.  It is our responsibility, as those who understand, to show others.  We must be a reflection of the love of Christ.  In our speech, in our actions and in our hearts, let us love our neighbors as ourselves. 

God, thank you again for sending your only son to die for us.  Thank you for loving us that much.  Help us to love in such a way that others would be drawn to you.  Help us to worship in spirit and in truth and be an example for others.  We love you and thank you.  Amen.

Waiting on Him,
ML

Up and down and side to side

Matthew 22:37 reminds us that we are to love God with all of our heart, soul and mind.  And we are to love our neighbors as ourselves.  I have been recently teaching my students about the various relationships we have in our lives. 

This passage which is comparable to passages in other gospel accounts as well as in Deuteronomy 6 and  is essentially telling us a couple of things.  The first thing is our relationship with Christ.  This is our vertical relationship.  Picture the upright of a cross.  As Christians we are called to be in right relationship with Jesus, our savior.  This requires effort on our part.  Relationships take time, effort, willingness, devotion, trust, transparency, intimacy.  Sometimes we forget that Jesus is a living savior.  He longs to be with us.  He desires that closeness with us.  I would not have been able to stay married to Ame for 18 years if we did not spend time investing in our relationship.  This vertical relationship must be intact in order for the other relationships in our lives to be healthy.

Those other relationships are our horizontal relationships.  Picture the horizontal rail on a cross.  See in our passage we are admonished to love our neighbors.  The implication is that we are to love each other, period.  We will disappoint each other, hurt each other yet we must love each other.  Guess how to do that?  Have your vertical relationship intact.  That is why Jesus said this was the greatest commandment, if we get this right, our relationship with Him... Other things in life have a way of coming together. 

Are you trusting Him with your life?  Are you trusting Him with your eternity?  Tomorrow marks the day that He was marched to a place called The Skull and was nailed on a cross to atone for the sins of  mankind.  I would love an opportunity to share more about this with you if you have questions.  Just know this, Jesus loves us so much, He died for us. 

God, help us to continue to be mindful of the pain you suffered on our behalf.  Help us to celebrate your resurrection as we keep in mind the death that had to occur first.  Help us to love you with our heart, soul and mind and to love our neighbors.  We can only accomplish these things because of your great love for us.  In your name... Amen.

Waiting on Him,
ML

2 days left

On Friday we will remember what Jesus did for us on the cross.  Can you imagine what His last few days were like? Joy from knowing He was fulfilling the will of His Father?  Fear from knowing how He would die?  Sadness in knowing He was leaving behind those He loved?  Hurt in knowing he He was betrayed?  How do we feel knowing that He did all of that out of His great love for us?  And of course it is the sin in our lives that perpetuated a need for a savior in the first place.  See, it was us that crucified Him.  He endured that pain and suffering on our behalf, so we did not have to.  How awesome is that?  There is nobody on the face of this planet that would endure what He did for us. 

How will we spend the next 2 days?  This is a great time of celebration with family and friends.  Sunday will be one of the highest attendance days in churches everywhere.  Families will come together, food will be cooked, we will all wear our new Easter best and take pictures, and worship and sing to the King.  We will celebrate the risen Savior, Jesus Christ. 

Let's not forget that before He rose, He willingly died, hanging on a cross, with us on His mind.

Jesus, thank you for the cross.  Thank you for loving us.  Help us to be ever mindful of your sacrificial love for us as is evidenced by your suffering.  Help us to tell others today so that all may know. Amen.

Waiting on Him,
ML

Behold He comes, riding on a mule!

As I am praying this morning and reading in Matthew I have mixed feelings while thinking about Jesus riding in on a donkey.  My first thought is, why is the king of the universe forced to ride on a mule, (sorry donkey, you are kind of a beast of burden creature)  It seems that He should be on some huge powerful steed befitting the power and might of a KING.  Then I am reminded about what we read in Matthew 20 about the first being last.  What an amazing God we serve!  I am glad that He is in charge.  How do you see Him today?

As we continue to celebrate through this Holy Week, where does the Risen King of the Universe fit into your life?  Have you taken time to consider what He did for us on the cross?  See, He once rode in on a donkey but when He returns He will return on that white horse. Revelation 19:11 tells us that the one sitting on that white horse is called "faithful and true".  Are you ready? 

God as we celebrate Easter this week, help us to understand the magnitude of your suffering on our behalf.  Help us Jesus to be mindful of the life promised to us because of that suffering.  Would you give us the opportunity and the courage to tell others of this great love and invite them to worship with us on Sunday as we celebrate the Risen Savior.  Thank you for the cross.  Thank you for loving us even when we don't deserve it.  Amen.

Waiting on Him,

ML

He is Risen!

As we continue through this Holy Week, people in general are arguably the most open to spiritual things than any other time during the year.  As followers of Christ we have an incredible opportunity (and responsibility) to introduce people to the gospel of Jesus Christ and what His work on the cross means in eternity. 

Our service to Jesus is our obedience in how we live our lives.  We learn in Matthew 20:28 that "even the Son of Man did not come not to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many"  You and I are part of that "many".  Because of His payment for our sin on the cross, we celebrate Easter this week.  Will you join me in praying about who God will have us invite to church this Easter Sunday?  If we are faithful in asking, He will be faithful in answering. 

Jesus, thank you for Easter and what that means for us today and what it means in eternity.  Will you lead us to people and lead people to us this week that need a relationship with you?  Will you help us live lives that point to You so that people may ask, "why are you different?" and we may respond by proclaiming your name as our life changer!  Help us Lord to fill seats in church not so we can boast about numbers, but so that we can boast about how awesome you are, and so others may hear the true Easter story, about our RISEN SAVIOR!  Amen.

Waiting on Him,
ML