Happy, blessed Monday!

Easter is over but it didn’t just end there.  Forty days after His resurrection, Jesus ascended to Heaven until He comes back for His bride!

What happened during those forty days?  We are talking about Jesus, so we know He wasn’t sitting around twiddling His thumbs.  Even after all He had been through, there was still work to be done.

His followers must have had so many questions.  Even though Jesus had been preparing them for what was coming, that must have been very hard to think about.  During those post resurrection days, He gave them direction.  He loved them, just as loves us now.  He fostered relationships with His followers and with others.  He gave comfort.  He provided redemption, think Peter.  He instructed and impowered, not just for the disciples, but a lasting instruction and empowerment that continues for us, even today.

Jesus died, arose and ascended to Heaven but He remains with us through the Holy Spirit every day!  So much happened after Easter.

Pray Unceasingly!!

Lois

 

What happened after Easter? -You Version

How Did Jesus Spend His Time?

2,000 years ago, Jesus conquered death forever. The stone was rolled away from the empty tomb, and we were given new life in Christ.

But what happened next?

Discover five things Jesus did after His resurrection—and what they mean for us today:

1. Jesus showed up.

Jesus spent 40 days on earth after His resurrection. During this time, He eased His followers’ doubts and gave them direction for the future.

Jesus didn’t shout His love from heaven. He showed His love on earth. Today He does the same, by bending low to hear our cries and heal our hearts.

2. Jesus modeled community.

From breaking bread on the road to Emmaus, to having breakfast on the beach with His disciples, we see Jesus make time for relationships.

Jesus was never too busy to stop and show He cared. As His followers, we’re called to intentionally serve people in our families, workplaces, and cities.

3. Jesus comforted the broken.

When Jesus came back, He wasn’t frustrated that His disciples hadn’t understood His plan. He met them in their uncertainty and fear instead.

Jesus consoled the woman weeping at the empty tomb. He eased Thomas’ doubts. He spoke words of life and peace.

Today, our Savior still has grace for our questions and confusion. He still draws near when our hearts are broken.

4. Jesus redeemed mistakes.

Before the crucifixion, Peter denied knowing Jesus three times. Later, we see Jesus restore Peter by asking Him three times if he loves Him, and instructing Peter to care for His flock.

Even though Peter stumbled in his faith, it didn’t cancel his identity in Christ.

In the same way, we can trust that God’s power is made perfect in our weakness.

5. Jesus instructed and empowered.

Right before Jesus ascended into heaven, He told His followers to “go and make disciples of every nation.”

With these instructions, we’re called to live every day with intentionality, looking for opportunities to share the Gospel.

It’s our job to show people what it means to know God and to make Him known.

Easter might be over, but what it means for us matters all year long.

Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we’re able to access God’s grace, presence, and reassurance like never before.

Happy Holy Week!

From the shouts of “Hosanna” to the shouts of “Crucify Him!” we are reminded of the tremendous price paid for our forgiveness, for our sins.  In a week, He went from hero and a king to rescue the Jews from Rome, to someone who was both feared and hated.

Sometimes, I look around at many people who see Easter as just another holiday where they might get a 3 day weekend, when in reality it’s a 3 day period that Jesus spent in the grave.

As we celebrate this holiday with our churches, friends and families, may we remember the price paid for it.  Even more though, remember what else it paid for, the gift of eternal life for each of us, if only we will choose to receive it.

Pray Unceasingly!!

Lois

The complete article ( https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/holy-week-timeline.html) tells of what each day stands for in different denominations.

 

Excerpts From Holy Week Timeline for 2022

Anna Oelerich

| Contributing Writer

“Every spring, Christians around the world celebrate Holy Week, commemorating the last eight days of Jesus’ life on earth. The time is a sacred one—an opportunity to reflect on and express gratitude to God for the most important events in the history of the world. The week begins on Palm Sunday and ends on Easter Sunday, each day set apart by a variety of special services, readings, songs, and events.

Palm Sunday honors the day when Jesus humbly rode into Israel’s capital city, cheered as the new King of the Jews—and as the Son of God who would usher in an eternal kingdom. A handful of days later, many who misinterpreted His mission called for His death. Jesus was sent to die by crucifixion on Friday and, through His sacrificial death, paid the price for the sins of humanity. On Sunday, He resurrected to new life, proving His claim as the Savior of the world who had the power to defeat death. Since that day, those who believe that He came for that purpose are welcomed as children of God into eternal life.

Palm Sunday

Jesus had been teaching about the kingdom of God and His identity as the Jewish Messiah for about three years when the time came for Him to formally, publicly make that claim in Israel’s capital of Jerusalem (John 12:12-15). When He arrived, people greeted Him with a famous ancient symbol of victory—palm branches. The thousands of Jews carrying the branches had heard Jesus’s teaching about God’s kingdom and had been beneficiaries of his miracles. Many believed that He came to usher in the new kingdom promised in the Old Testament. They had waited 400 years to hear from God. Now, here was who seemed to be the Son of God, claiming that He was the king of Israel.

But even Jesus’ mode of transportation into the city—a lowly donkey rather than a majestic warhorse—revealed the Jews’ misaligned expectations. Centuries of prophecies had suggested the Messiah would come and overthrow the Roman government and bring Israel back to the glory it enjoyed under King David (Psalm 110, Isaiah 2:2, Isaiah 11:12, Ezekiel 37:24). But the kingdom God was introducing was an eternal, universal kingdom, not a local, political movement. Just as Jesus’ birth was marked by unadorned humility, so would be the rest of His short time on earth.

During Palm Sunday services, churches across the world gather to wave palm branches as a nod to Jesus’ triumphal entry. The leaves can also be dried and woven into small, handheld crosses. More traditional churches might sing noted Palm Sunday hymns such as “All Glory Laud and Honor.”

Jesus had spent the evening of Palm Sunday out of the city, and upon return the next day, he taught in the temple of Jerusalem. He shared parables that used simple imagery to explain the kingdom of God. The Jewish leaders thought he was being blasphemous by doing so and questioned him (Matthew 21:23). Later, as he walked through the temple, Jesus became angry that the holy place of worship had become a place for buying and selling—and taking advantage of the poor. In his zeal, he overturned tables, enraging the vendors (Matthew 21:12-16). Then he spent the evening with his friends Lazarus, Mary, and Martha (Matthew 21:17).

It is here, at the beginning of the week, that Jesus increases and intensifies His public messages. The Gospels record the outrage of the leaders of the day, and we are meant to recognize that Jesus’ death on Good Friday will not be accidental or unexpected. Instead, Jesus deliberately stirs up the anger of those who wish to kill Him because He fully understands His mission as a sacrifice for the sins of the world.

The magnitude of Jesus’ messages contrasts with His decision to reconnect with several close friends. This was doubtless an encouragement to the three siblings in question and Jesus Himself as He processed what lay ahead of Him. Jesus had declared Himself to be “the resurrection and the life” shortly before raising Lazarus from the dead—a clear foreshadowing of His own death and resurrection.”

 

Happy and blessed Monday!

Sometimes, we just have one of those days.  We all have them, right?  Nothing goes right.  We have been hurt and we don’t like it.

Those are pretty normal feelings but how we deal with those feelings make all the difference.  Ideally, it can draw us closer to God and His truth but be aware it can too easily lead us away from God.

Pick up all those broken pieces of your life and hand them over to God, who ca and n work miracles, big and small.  He welcomes our brokenness, He calls to our hearts and He heals all that is wrong!  He is bigger than anything we can give Him so just turn it over to Him now.

Father, thank you so much for your love and mercy, even when we don’t deserve it.    You mend the broken parts of our lives and welco

We ask this in the precious name of Jesus, Amen.

 

Pray Unceasingly!!

Lois

 

Lysa TerKeurst

It’s okay to feel hurt and confused about situations in your life. But don’t let your feelings lead you away from God or away from His Truth.

When it feels like all that’s left of your heart and your story is broken pieces, you can bring them all to God. He is big enough to handle our honest feelings. He’s not afraid of our doubts or our questions. And His Truth won’t leave us, even when our gut honest cries don’t sound so Christian.

Let’s press into Him in those very places where we may feel tempted to pull away. Let’s ask Him to meet us and speak to us in the pages of His Word. Let’s remember that it’s better to wrestle with Truth than stay stuck in our places of turmoil.

Happy, blessed Monday!

I have been thinking a lot lately about how my life has changed throughout the years.  I have no idea how I got to be my age so quickly, I was really young such a short time ago, wasn’t I?  It sure seems like it anyway.

I really like to think I have gotten much wiser.  I have lived through a lot of positives and negatives and somehow, survived.

I have gained and lost, then regained, Lord only knows how many pounds in my life and still face that struggle again.  I know what I need to do and even know how I should do it but still, fight that battle every.single.day.  I am strong enough to know that I have to do this again and weak enough to know how much I miss “my people”.  Those who stood with me and fought with me for, literally, years.

What I do have consistently, every.single.day, is a faith in a God who is big enough to handle anything I can throw at him.  It’s a piece of cake for Him but the problem arises in what I make it.

My problems are so trivial compared to so many that I pray for every day, but I feel like I fail at the simple stewardship of my own body.

There is a lot of things going on that threatens to steal our peace and security that we have in a relationship with Jesus.  I pray that, this week, no matter how chaotic life may get, that we keep calm, productive thoughts in our minds.  Peace doesn’t mean there are no issues or hard realities to face.  Peace means being able to face any of those things with the assurance that Jesus will be walking right along with you to help you through it.

Pray Unceasingly!!

Lois

Happy and blessed Monday!

I wonder how often we think about the tremendous grace we have been given and continue to be blessed with.  I know I don’t think of it often enough or I would never get off of my knees in gratitude!  Are we sharing the grace we are given with others, according to our gifts?

Like so many things, sometimes I tend to settle into a routine and take for granted what has so graciously been given to me.

The writer has used her mother as an example.  I could do the same.  My mother didn’t have much to offer materially but she could cook, she could offer whatever assistance was needed when someone was sick and she could pray.  Oh, how I remember her praying!  She blessed others in every way she could and always prayed for them.

I remember a story my cousin told me as an adult.  When my aunt (dad’s sister) graduated eighth grade, she didn’t have a presentable dress, so mom, who was already married to my dad, cut up one of her dresses to make one for my aunt.  My aunt never forgot that.

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us–Romans 12:6a.

So, what can we do to share our gifts with others?  Our gifts came from a generous Father who blesses us with grace so often.  I don’t believe we are meant to hide it away.  I believe we are meant to share it generously.

May the grace of God permeate your heart and soul.

Pray Unceasingly!!

Lois

 

Hope and Grace

Vonna Meier – Alliance Women

Love always hopes–1 Corinthians 13:7.

My mother fought hard for relationships that were threatening to break. As a member of the Body of Christ, she considered it her personal responsibility to fight to preserve “oneness.” She avoided gossip like the plague, but when she learned of trouble brewing in a marriage or any relationship in the church, her mama bear instincts kicked in to protect that part of the Body from severing. She reached out, asked questions, listened, prayed, offered assistance, and reassured the wounded that there is always hope.

I’m not sure my mother ever thought about what her spiritual gift was. Maybe the apostle Paul—and the rest of us—might assign her the category of “encouraging” and “showing mercy” (see Romans 12:3-9).

My mother was quiet. You may have rarely noticed her. Preparing meals; sewing sundresses; cleaning closets; inviting little ones to discover silent treasures inside her “church bag,” which caused a joyful hush in her pew every Sunday morning—none of these things drew attention to herself, but all of these things blessed the Body of Christ. When no one needs credit, Christ gets it instead.

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us–Romans 12:6a.

We all want our gifts to be received graciously, even if we don’t “hit the ball out of the park” every time we offer our gift. Is it okay with you that people “have different gifts, according to the grace given?” Is it okay with you that that brothers and sisters in your church, members of your very own Body, may offer those gifts with differing amounts of faith?

Some gifts are quieter, but who’s to say how much faith it may take to persevere in them?

Grace is the glue that keeps me—and the Church—together. We are truly one Body only when we pour grace out abundantly over each other.

Whether all eyes are on you as you offer your gift or no one sees your sacrifice, you belong. Let’s hold onto hope and keep fighting this good fight of faith together. Let’s live by the grace given to us so every member knows that they belong.