* Who Paid for This?

Or didn’t you realize that your body is a sacred place, the place of the Holy Spirit? Don’t you see that you can’t live however you please, squandering what God paid such a high price for? The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you. God owns the whole works. So let people see God in and through your body.
1st Corinthians 6:19-20 The Message

If we bought it and we paid for it and we have the scars to show for it, it's ours. We can do what we want with it. But the Truth of the matter is we didn't buy it, and we couldn't pay for it, and although we may have scars from the battles we've chosen to be part of IN our lives, our scars are not part or proof of the purchase price FOR our lives. 

Only Christ did that. He bought it. He paid for it with His own blood, and He has the scars to show for it. 

I love the way 1st Peter 1:18-20 reads in The Message: Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God. It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in. He paid with Christ’s sacred blood, you know. He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. And this was no afterthought. Even though it has only lately—at the end of the ages—become public knowledge, God always knew he was going to do this for you. 

God ALWAYS knew He was going to do this for you... and for me. It cost God plenty... and He paid in full.

Prayer:

Father,
         Open our eyes to see the great price that was paid for our redemption. Open our hearts to recognize and to know that apart from You, we have nothing and we are nothing. Help us to walk in the fullness of life that You have provided for us through Christ Your Son. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Is There Trouble Ahead? *

But it’s trouble ahead if you think you have it made. What you have is all you’ll ever get. And it’s trouble ahead if you’re satisfied with yourself. Your self will not satisfy you for long. And it’s trouble ahead if you think life’s all fun and games.

Luke 6:24-25 The Message

    There’s suffering to be met, and you’re going to meet it. “There’s trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contests—look how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true, not popular.

“To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.

“Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that. If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that. If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that’s charity? The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that.

“I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You’ll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we’re at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind.

“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don’t condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.”

Luke 6:24-38 The Message

Prayer:

Father,

        Help us to remember that our task is to be true, not popular. Give us the courage to stand up for what is true and not popular. Remind us that it's not all about us and what we want, when we want it. Cause us to give away our lives as You gave Yours for us. Show us the way, Lord, and help us to walk in it. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* The Right Mindset

Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 
Romans 8:5-6 NIV

Have you ever met someone with a certain mindset - that no matter what you said - they weren't changing their mind? Sometimes that can be a good thing; sometimes, not so good... It all depends on what set their mind in the first place. Was it Truth or circumstances of life or lies? 

We've all met people who are convinced that life is just one crisis or tragedy after another. Their mindset is that life is bad or at the very least, depressing, and nothing can change it. No matter what you say, they don't see that they have a choice. And because that's what they believe in their mind, they're right. However, the Word of God tells us, I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; There IS a better choice! 

Colossians 1:2 (NIV) instructs us to Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. We have a choice. We CAN choose life. If we set our minds on what the Spirit desires, we can - and WILL - have life and peace. What's your mindset?

Prayer:

Father,
        Your Word tells us in Isaiah 26:3 that You will keep us in perfect peace when we trust You and keep our thoughts fixed on You. Help us to not entertain thoughts and mindsets that are displeasing to You. We want to walk according to Your Word. We choose to love You - the Lord our God, to obey Your voice and cling to You for You are our life and the length of our days. Cause us to keep our hearts and minds in submission to You and Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* The Promise Arose

But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”
   She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”
   Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her,“Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”
   She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.”
   Jesus said to her, “Mary!”
John 20:11-16 NKJV

Jesus knew Mary, even though she didn't recognize Him. As I pondered these verses about the Risen Savior, I kept wondering - Why didn't Mary know Him? Had grief blinded her? I can certainly understand that - or was it that she knew Him so well as the promised Savior that she wasn't able to see the Risen Savior? 

And then I wondered, "Do we do that?" Do we accept the written plan and promise and then not receive the actual execution - the reality of it? It's one thing to believe it in black and white, but it can be quite another to walk it out in faith...actually believing. Just something to think about at the end of the day that we celebrate the Risen Savior.

Prayer:

Father,

           Your Word tells us And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive. We want to receive You and all that You have promised. Help us, O God, to believe the fulfillment of Your Plan and Promise and embrace it all! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* What Was He Doing?

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.
Revelation 1:17-18 NLT

He was dead. They all saw it - watched in horror as it happened. Beaten beyond recognition, whipped within an inch of his life, bloodied and stripped. Then nailed to a cross and crucified... where His life's blood and water flowed out from His pierced side. He said Himself, "It is finished..." 

When we say "It is finished." We mean it's done. It's over. There's nothing else to do with it or for it. It's ended. There's nothing left. The good news is His ways are not our ways. His thoughts are not our thoughts. When Jesus said, "It is finished." It meant only that the Master Plan for His time on Earth that time was completed. It wasn't over. It was just the beginning.

He descended into hell and fought the enemy and He won. Jesus now holds the keys to death and the grave. That's what He was doing the Saturday of what we call Holy Week.

Prayer:

Father,
         Thank You for sending Your Son as the propitiation for our sins. Thank You that we have been redeemed and set free by His Blood shed at Calvary. Thank You that we are overcomers by the Blood of the Lamb (Jesus) and the word of our testimony! Give us courage and opportunity to testify!  In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen 

* Perfect Love

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 NKJV

What if there was such a thing as a perfect love? A perfect mate? A perfect relationship? Someone who was perfect for real, but at the same time would overlook your imperfections? Someone who could see past any physical flaws or your neediness or your inabilities. Someone who would love you no matter what you did, no matter what you said, no matter what you looked like. Someone who spoke the love language of your heart. Someone who knew exactly what it would take to love you and make you feel that love all the way inside. Someone who never leaves, is always there. Someone whose whole goal is relationship with you. Someone who wants what is best for your life - to promote you and the abilities you have and who will do and has done everything necessary to make that happen. Someone who has proven to be steadfast and true through the test of time and for all eternity.

Let me arrange the introduction. His Name is Adonai. God the Lord. Your ultimate perfection is guaranteed through His perfect love gift - His Son, Jesus Christ. God doesn't just love. He IS love and He proved it at Calvary.

Prayer:

Father,
          Thank You for saving our souls, for redeeming us from our sins so that we can be in right relationship with You. Thank You for Your perfection and for the perfect gift of Christ so that we can be like You. Help us to understand, appreciate and to avail ourselves of this greatest of gifts. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Throwback Thursday

While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying,“Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”
Matthew 26:26-29 NASB

When I lived in St. Louis, I was privileged to sit under the teaching of a Rabbi, as part of the training for the staff where I worked. His lessons of Jewish culture brought a whole new understanding to several passages of Scripture. Because of it, this is now one of my favorite passages.

The significance of verse 29 when Jesus said He would not drink of the wine again until He would drink it new with us is this. Christ had already declared Himself the bridegroom back in Matthew, chapter 9. To be married in the Jewish faith requires two ceremonies; the kiddushin and the nisuin. Today, they do both in the same day. However, in biblical times, these were totally separate ceremonies, performed as much as a year apart. The kiddushin was the engagement - but far more binding than today's version. The kiddushin made the bride a legal wife, but without the mutual obligations being made complete. It was sealed with wine. They did not live together as man and wife until the bridegroom came the second time to gather his bride for the second ceremony, the nisuin.

During the time of the kiddushin, the husband would leave the bride to go build (or prepare) a place for his wife and future family to live. They would not be together until the house was finished and the bridegroom would come to fetch his bride. Then the nisuin would be performed and it, too, would be sealed with wine. 

In John 14:2-3 NASB, Jesus declares,  In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.  Read again Matthew 26:29, "But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”

It's Thursday of Holy Week - if we throwback to the original Thursday of Holy Week, we find Jesus proclaiming the kiddushin - providing the promise to His bride, "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again..."  

The question is - Are you ready for the nisuin?  Revelation 22:17a-b, Both the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Anyone who hears should say, “Come!” 

Prayer:

Father,
        Open our eyes to see You. Open our minds to know You. Open our hearts to say, "Come, Lord Jesus, come!" Create in us the heart of the bride awaiting her groom. Let us work to fulfill our duties during this time away from each other and let us watch for Your returning with joyful expectation! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen