April 2, 2023
This is the time of year we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus. It’s such a hope filled season of new life! When we see new life, we are filled with the glorious hope Jesus brings that He is alive and always with us!
Wherever we go it seems like the topic of the condition of the world and our country come up. This is still a time like none of us have ever experienced. We talk, we pray and always concluded that even though everything around us has changed, our heavenly Father hasn’t changed! His promises haven’t changed! His blessings haven’t changed! The Fruit of the Spirit hasn’t changed! His love hasn’t changed and never will! Just let that soak in because it’s the only way we can get through this life victoriously and be a witness to the world for Him.
I heard this the other day, “There is no danger of My purposes being lost to the powers of the world. I am victorious!!” He reminded me of His Word. From Genesis to Revelation His promises are true. His mercy is ALWAYS new every morning! His joy – His peace that is in me and you all the time because He is in us. His love never fails. “Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others. Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up.” 1 Corinthians 13: 7 So what I am saying is, no matter what is going on in the world around us we still and always will have Him and we live as victorious as He does!
I have been reading through the Gospels about Jesus’s last days on earth. “After they brought the colt to Jesus, they placed their prayer shawls on its back, and Jesus rode it as he descended the Mount of Olives toward Jerusalem. As he rode toward the city, people spontaneously threw their prayer shawls like a carpet on the path in front of him. As soon as he got to the bottom of the Mount of Olives, the crowd of his followers shouted with a loud outburst of ecstatic joy over all the mighty wonders of power they had witnessed. They shouted over and over, “Highest praises to God for the one who comes as King in the name of the Lord! Heaven’s peace and glory from the highest realm now comes to us!” Luke 19:35-38
Imagine how the disciples must have felt. We are perplexed and wonder what is next these days. The disciples were with Jesus watching all the events that must take place for the prophecies to be fulfilled. They were stunned, in unbelief and even denied Him. “Along the way Jesus said to them, “Before the night is over, you will all desert me. This will fulfill the prophecy of the Scripture that says: I will strike down the shepherd and all the sheep will scatter far and wide! “But after I am risen, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and will meet you there.” Then Peter spoke up and said, “Even if all the rest lose courage and fall away, I will still be beside you, Jesus!” Are you sure, Peter?” Jesus said. “In fact, before the rooster crows a few hours from now, you will have denied me three times.” Peter replied, “I absolutely will never deny you, even if I have to die with you!” And all the others said the same thing.” Matthew 26:31-35
As Jesus shared with the disciples and others what the end times would be like, He gave them a warning. “Be careful that you never allow your hearts to grow cold. Be careful that you are not caught off guard, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and the worries of this life, and that day will come upon you suddenly like a trap. Don’t let me come and find you drunk or living carelessly like everyone else. For that day will come as a shocking surprise to all. Keep a constant watch over your soul, and pray for the courage and grace to prevail over these things that are destined to occur and that you will stand before the presence of the Son of Man.”
Luke 21:34-36 He tells us to be careful that the day will come and catch us off guard or be as a shocking surprise to all. Keep constant watch over heart and pray for courage and grace. If our hearts are not guarded and our focus is not on Him, we can become deceived and disillusioned just like the disciples.
It was a dark and confusing week. Jesus warned His disciples just as He has warned us. He told them of areas that are going to be tempting just as He has spoken to each of us. He gave them the answers. He has given us the answers! We have even more than the disciples. He lives inside of us. Jesus had taught, warned, shared and prepared for what was coming. He even told them the end of the story, the Resurrection. But when they were in the middle of the reality that Jesus was crucified, killed, they didn’t remember what He had said. They had lost hope.
Sometimes we wonder how could they have missed what Jesus was telling them. How did they not know what He was talking about? Even though the disciples walked with Jesus personally and had every opportunity to know what was coming we have even more. We have Him living in us and we know the VICTORY of that week yet we doubt His words at times, we let the things of this world weight us down. Be careful that you are not caught off guard, or your hearts will be weighed down with the worries of this life. As we are walking through some disillusioning times, we MUST keep our hearts and minds focused on Him and His love. There will NEVER come a day that His love, joy, peace and hope are not ours. “Then he walked a short distance away, and overcome with grief, he threw himself face down on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if there is any way you can deliver me from this suffering, please take it from me. Yet what I want is not important, for I only desire to fulfill your plan for me.” Then an angel from heaven appeared to strengthen him.” Matthew 26:29 An angel was sent to strengthen Jesus. I love this. He is always here to strengthen us and even through angels “So now wrap your heart tightly around the hope that lives within us, knowing that God always keeps his promises!” Hebrews 10:23
“Against all odds, when it looked hopeless, Abraham believed the promise and expected God to fulfill it.” Romans 4:18
Right now, things are crazy in our world but nothing compared to many times in the past. This is one of the greatest times ever to be alive. It’s a time to be a part of the miracles He is doing. It’s not happening one of these days down the road, it’s happening now, today. His purposes are not lost to the powers of this world. He is alive and working all around us. The heavenlies are full and overflowing with His glory. As we celebrate His Resurrection this week ask Him to show you things He is doing. Then praise Him and raise a hallelujah for He is RISEN AND ALIVE!!!
I raise a hallelujah, in the presence of my enemies
I raise a hallelujah, louder than the unbelief
I raise a hallelujah, my weapon is a melody
I raise a hallelujah, heaven comes to fight for me
I'm gonna sing, in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, you're gonna hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes, hope will arise
Death is defeated, the King is alive!
I raise a hallelujah, with everything inside of me
I raise a hallelujah, I will watch the darkness flee
I raise a hallelujah, in the middle of the mystery
I raise a hallelujah, fear you lost your hold on me!
I'm gonna sing, in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, you're gonna hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes, hope will arise
Death is defeated, the King is alive!
This is the time of year we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus. It’s such a hope filled season of new life! When we see new life, we are filled with the glorious hope Jesus brings that He is alive and always with us!
Wherever we go it seems like the topic of the condition of the world and our country come up. This is still a time like none of us have ever experienced. We talk, we pray and always concluded that even though everything around us has changed, our heavenly Father hasn’t changed! His promises haven’t changed! His blessings haven’t changed! The Fruit of the Spirit hasn’t changed! His love hasn’t changed and never will! Just let that soak in because it’s the only way we can get through this life victoriously and be a witness to the world for Him.
I heard this the other day, “There is no danger of My purposes being lost to the powers of the world. I am victorious!!” He reminded me of His Word. From Genesis to Revelation His promises are true. His mercy is ALWAYS new every morning! His joy – His peace that is in me and you all the time because He is in us. His love never fails. “Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others. Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up.” 1 Corinthians 13: 7 So what I am saying is, no matter what is going on in the world around us we still and always will have Him and we live as victorious as He does!
I have been reading through the Gospels about Jesus’s last days on earth. “After they brought the colt to Jesus, they placed their prayer shawls on its back, and Jesus rode it as he descended the Mount of Olives toward Jerusalem. As he rode toward the city, people spontaneously threw their prayer shawls like a carpet on the path in front of him. As soon as he got to the bottom of the Mount of Olives, the crowd of his followers shouted with a loud outburst of ecstatic joy over all the mighty wonders of power they had witnessed. They shouted over and over, “Highest praises to God for the one who comes as King in the name of the Lord! Heaven’s peace and glory from the highest realm now comes to us!” Luke 19:35-38
Imagine how the disciples must have felt. We are perplexed and wonder what is next these days. The disciples were with Jesus watching all the events that must take place for the prophecies to be fulfilled. They were stunned, in unbelief and even denied Him. “Along the way Jesus said to them, “Before the night is over, you will all desert me. This will fulfill the prophecy of the Scripture that says: I will strike down the shepherd and all the sheep will scatter far and wide! “But after I am risen, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and will meet you there.” Then Peter spoke up and said, “Even if all the rest lose courage and fall away, I will still be beside you, Jesus!” Are you sure, Peter?” Jesus said. “In fact, before the rooster crows a few hours from now, you will have denied me three times.” Peter replied, “I absolutely will never deny you, even if I have to die with you!” And all the others said the same thing.” Matthew 26:31-35
As Jesus shared with the disciples and others what the end times would be like, He gave them a warning. “Be careful that you never allow your hearts to grow cold. Be careful that you are not caught off guard, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and the worries of this life, and that day will come upon you suddenly like a trap. Don’t let me come and find you drunk or living carelessly like everyone else. For that day will come as a shocking surprise to all. Keep a constant watch over your soul, and pray for the courage and grace to prevail over these things that are destined to occur and that you will stand before the presence of the Son of Man.”
Luke 21:34-36 He tells us to be careful that the day will come and catch us off guard or be as a shocking surprise to all. Keep constant watch over heart and pray for courage and grace. If our hearts are not guarded and our focus is not on Him, we can become deceived and disillusioned just like the disciples.
It was a dark and confusing week. Jesus warned His disciples just as He has warned us. He told them of areas that are going to be tempting just as He has spoken to each of us. He gave them the answers. He has given us the answers! We have even more than the disciples. He lives inside of us. Jesus had taught, warned, shared and prepared for what was coming. He even told them the end of the story, the Resurrection. But when they were in the middle of the reality that Jesus was crucified, killed, they didn’t remember what He had said. They had lost hope.
Sometimes we wonder how could they have missed what Jesus was telling them. How did they not know what He was talking about? Even though the disciples walked with Jesus personally and had every opportunity to know what was coming we have even more. We have Him living in us and we know the VICTORY of that week yet we doubt His words at times, we let the things of this world weight us down. Be careful that you are not caught off guard, or your hearts will be weighed down with the worries of this life. As we are walking through some disillusioning times, we MUST keep our hearts and minds focused on Him and His love. There will NEVER come a day that His love, joy, peace and hope are not ours. “Then he walked a short distance away, and overcome with grief, he threw himself face down on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if there is any way you can deliver me from this suffering, please take it from me. Yet what I want is not important, for I only desire to fulfill your plan for me.” Then an angel from heaven appeared to strengthen him.” Matthew 26:29 An angel was sent to strengthen Jesus. I love this. He is always here to strengthen us and even through angels “So now wrap your heart tightly around the hope that lives within us, knowing that God always keeps his promises!” Hebrews 10:23
“Against all odds, when it looked hopeless, Abraham believed the promise and expected God to fulfill it.” Romans 4:18
Right now, things are crazy in our world but nothing compared to many times in the past. This is one of the greatest times ever to be alive. It’s a time to be a part of the miracles He is doing. It’s not happening one of these days down the road, it’s happening now, today. His purposes are not lost to the powers of this world. He is alive and working all around us. The heavenlies are full and overflowing with His glory. As we celebrate His Resurrection this week ask Him to show you things He is doing. Then praise Him and raise a hallelujah for He is RISEN AND ALIVE!!!
I raise a hallelujah, in the presence of my enemies
I raise a hallelujah, louder than the unbelief
I raise a hallelujah, my weapon is a melody
I raise a hallelujah, heaven comes to fight for me
I'm gonna sing, in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, you're gonna hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes, hope will arise
Death is defeated, the King is alive!
I raise a hallelujah, with everything inside of me
I raise a hallelujah, I will watch the darkness flee
I raise a hallelujah, in the middle of the mystery
I raise a hallelujah, fear you lost your hold on me!
I'm gonna sing, in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, you're gonna hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes, hope will arise
Death is defeated, the King is alive!
