(March 31, 2005 6:15 AM CST)
Two men in dazzling garments said
Maybe you are looking in all the wrong places.
to the women at the tomb:
"Why do you search for the Living One
among the dead?
He is not here; he has been raised up.
Remember what he said to you
while he was still in Galilee ---
that the Son of Man must be delivered
into the hands of sinful men,
and be crucified,
and on the third day rise again."
With this reminder,
his words came back to them.
Luke 24:5-8
Maybe you don't remember the words of Jesus.
It is all there.
Take a close look.
He rose from the dead just as he said he would.
Recall his life-giving words.
Recall his promises.
(March 30, 2005 6:10 AM CST)
Continued from yesterday...
The young man at the tomb said...
They were trembling.
"Go now and tell his disciples and Peter,
'He is going ahead of you to Galilee,
where you will see him just as he told you.'"
They made their way out and
fled from the tomb bewildered and trembling;
and because of their great fear,
they said nothing to anyone.
Mark 16:7-8
They were bewildered.
They said nothing.
Strange.
You would want to tell someone what you saw.
You would want to deliver the message
given to you.
Fear does strange things.
(March 29, 2005 6:18 AM CST)
"When the sabbath was over,
They had many questions.
Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James,
and Salome brought perfumed oils
with which they intended
to go and anoint Jesus.
Very early, just after sunrise,
on the first day of the week
they came to the tomb.
They were saying to one another,
'Who will roll back the stone for us
from the entrance of the tomb?'
When they looked, they found that
the stone had been rolled back
(it was a huge one).
On entering the tomb
they saw a young man sitting at the right,
dressed in a white robe.
This frightened them thoroughly,
but he reassured them:
'You need not be amazed!
You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth,
the one who was crucified.
He has been raised up;
he is not here.
See the place where they laid him.'"
Mark 16:1-6
Who would roll the stone away?
Who was this young man?
Where was Jesus?
What had just happened?
It was breaking news.
They saw the empty tomb.
They did not understand.
(March 28, 2005 6:30 AM CST)
"The women hurried away from the tomb
Jesus brings you peace.
half-overjoyed, half-fearful,
and ran to carry the good news to his disciples.
Suddenly, without warning,
Jesus stood before them and said,
'Peace!'
The women came up and embraced his feet
and did him homage.
At this Jesus said to them,
'Do not be afraid!
Go and carry the news to my brothers
that they are to go to Galilee,
where they will see me.'"
Matthew 28:8-10
He brings you joy.
Embrace him.
Give honor and praise to him.
He is alive.
(March 27, 2005 6:24 AM CST)
Happy Easter!
Pray for someone that just found out they have cancer.
Then the angel spoke, addressing the women:
The angel gave a message to the women at the tomb.
I was told a few days ago.
God be with them and their family.
Thanks.
"Do not be frightened.
I know you are looking for Jesus the crucified,
but he is not here.
He has been raised, exactly as he promised.
Come and see the place where he was laid.
Then go quickly and tell his disciples:
'He has been raised from the dead
and now goes ahead of you to Galilee,
where you will see him.'
That is the message I have for you."
Matthew 28:5-7
Jesus was not dead.
He was alive!
Amazing news!
How could this be?
Jesus had risen from the dead.
(March 26, 2005 6:44 AM CST)
What is Easter to you?
"They then took away the stone (from Lazarus' grave)
That is us.
Is it about candy and Easter baskets
and new clothes?
and Jesus looked upward and said:
'Father, I thank you for having heard me.
I know that you always hear me
but I have said this for the sake
of the crowd,
that they may believe that you sent me.'
Having said this he called loudly,
'Lazarus, come out!'
The dead man came out,
bound hand and foot with linen strips,
his face wrapped in a cloth.
'Untie him,' Jesus told them,
'and let him go free.'"
John 11:41-44
We are dead in the grave of our sins.
Jesus prays for us to the Father.
He calls to us.
We come forth into the light.
Jesus frees us of our sins.
We are alive again.
That is Easter.
(March 25, 2005 6:10 AM CST)
It is Good Friday.
"Your attitude must be that of Christ:
How wonderful Jesus is!
We remember how much Jesus loves us.
He died for us...
that is how much he loves us.
Though he was in the form of God,
he did not deem equality with God
something to be grasped at.
Rather, he emptied himself
and took the form of a slave,
being born in the likeness of men.
He was known to be of human estate,
and it was thus that he humbled himself,
obediently accepting even death,
death on a cross!
Because of this,
God highly exalted him and
bestowed on him the name
above every other name,
so that at Jesus' name
every knee must bend
in the heavens, on the earth,
and under the earth,
and every tongue proclaim
to the glory of God the Father:
Jesus Christ is Lord!"
Philippians 2:5-11
He did so much for us.
We can't understand such generosity.
Today he gives us tremendous blessings.
He gives and gives and gives.
Amazing, isn't it?
Thank you, Jesus!
(March 24, 2005 6:11 AM CST)
"Jesus came forward and addressed them
The Lord Jesus is in control.
in these words:
'Full authority has been given to me
both in heaven and on earth;
go, therefore, and make disciples
of all the nations.
Baptize them in the name
of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Teach them to carry out everything
I have commanded you.
And know that I am with you always,
until the end of the world!'"
Matthew 28:18-20
He has all authority.
He gives us commands.
Will we follow them?
Will we baptize new believers?
Do the will of the Lord.
He is with us.
He is there.
We are not alone.
(March 23, 2005 6:16 AM CST)
"You can depend on this:
Depend on God.
If we have died with him
we shall also live with him;
If we hold out to the end
we shall also reign with him.
But if we deny him he will deny us.
If we are unfaithful
he will still remain faithful,
for he cannot deny himself."
2 Timothy 2:11-13
He is faithful.
He is reliable.
He has promised and he will do it.
You can depend on him.
Hold on until the end.
Be faithful.
(March 22, 2005 6:18 AM CST)
"At every opportunity pray in the Spirit,
Pray often.
using prayers and petitions of every sort.
Pray constantly and attentively
for all the holy company.
Pray for me that God
may put his word on my lips,
that I may courageously make known
the mystery of the gospel ---
that mystery for which
I am an ambassador in chains.
Pray that I may have courage
to proclaim it as I ought."
Ephesians 6:18-20
Pray in the car, around the house, at school,
in the grocery store and all over the place.
Pray with the Holy Spirit.
Pray for your brothers and sisters in the faith.
Have courage.
Share the mystery of faith.
Paul was in prison.
He used it for an opportunity.
Share right where you are.
The Lord is with you.
(March 21, 2005 6:16 AM CST)
"Thomas said,
Jesus is the way.
'Lord, we do not know where you are going.
How can we know the way?'
Jesus told him:
'I am the way, and the truth,
and the life;
no one comes to the Father
but through me.
If you really knew me,
you would know my Father also.
From this point on you know him;
you have seen him.'"
John 14:5-7
Follow him.
You will not get lost.
He has the map.
He sees the big picture.
Stay close to him.
Get to know him.
(March 20, 2005 6:25 AM CST)
Today is Palm Sunday.
"The huge crowd spread their cloaks on the road,
It is a joyful scene.
We begin Holy Week.
Make an effort to come closer
to the Lord this week.
It is a week of many blessings.
while some began to cut branches from the trees
and lay them along his path.
The groups preceding him as well as
those following kept crying out:
'Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest!'
As he entered Jerusalem
the whole city was stirred
to its depths, demanding,
'Who is this?'
And the crowd kept answering,
'This is the prophet Jesus
from Nazareth in Galilee.'"
Matthew 21:8-11
Jesus is welcomed by the people.
They love him.
He loves them.
They are rejoicing in their Savior.
He brings them good news.
He will save them from their sins.
He will heal them.
God has visited his people.
(March 19, 2005 6:35 AM CST)
"Since, then, we have a great high priest
Jesus was tempted just like us,
who has passed through the heavens,
Jesus, the Son of God,
let us hold fast to our profession of faith.
For we do not have a high priest
who is unable to sympathize with our weakness,
but one who was tempted in every way
that we are, yet never sinned.
So let us confidently approach
the throne of grace
to receive mercy and favor
and to find help in time of need."
Hebrews 4:14-16
but he never sinned.
He is our inspiration.
We look up to him.
We ask him for the grace to do the same.
When temptation comes your way, as it will,
call on the name of Jesus.
Find help in your time of need.
Jesus is there.
Be confident.
(March 18, 2005 6:10 AM CST)
I went for my 6-month checkup with Dr. Watts yesterday.
"For this reason, I remind you
You have been given a gift.
He says I still have no signs of skin cancer returning.
Thank the Lord.
My cold is almost gone, also.
I survived the killer cold of 2005.
Many people at work had/have this cold.
to stir into flame
the gift of God bestowed
when my hands were laid on you.
The Spirit God has given us
is no cowardly spirit,
but rather one that makes us
strong, loving, and wise.
Therefore, never be ashamed
of your testimony to our Lord,
nor of me, a prisoner for his sake;
but with the strength
which comes from God
bear your share of the hardship
which the gospel entails."
2 Timothy 1:6-8
It is the Spirit of God.
It is there.
It is within you.
Will you be strong in the Spirit?
Are you loving and wise?
Call on the Spirit.
There is your strength
to get through this day and
accomplish great things.
(March 17, 2005 6:20 AM CST)
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
"God has willed to make known to them
The Lord reaches out to you.
the glory beyond price
which this mystery brings to the Gentiles ---
the mystery of Christ in you,
your hope of glory."
Colossians 1:27
He sent St. Patrick to Ireland
to teach them about the mystery.
He wants you to know all about him.
He wants to reveal the mystery to you.
Receive Christ into your heart today.
He is your hope of glory.
(March 16, 2005 6:21 AM CST)
"As John watched Jesus walk by he said,
Point to Jesus.
'Look! There is the Lamb of God!'
The two disciples heard what he said
and followed Jesus.
When Jesus turned around and
noticed them following him, he asked them,
'What are you looking for?'
They said to him,
'Rabbi, where do you stay?'
'Come and see,' he answered.
So they went to see where he was lodged,
and stayed with him that day."
John 1:36-39
Point others to Jesus.
He knows the way.
He is the innocent Lamb of God.
Follow him.
Answer him when he asks questions.
Respond to him.
Stay near to him.
Learn all about him.
Learn from him.
(March 15, 2005 6:11 AM CST)
Well, I got sick.
"When they met again in Galilee,
Jesus knew that he was going to die.
I have a cold.
Ouch!
My relatives in Ohio "shared" with me.
My nose is running.
My head is hurting.
Pray that I get better.
Thanks.
Jesus said to them,
'The Son of Man is going to be delivered
into the hands of men
who will put him to death and
he will be raised up on the third day.'
At these words they were overwhelmed with grief."
Matthew 17:22-23
They would kill him.
He knew the future.
But God has a plan.
He would rise from the dead on the third day.
He knew that.
He had that hope.
Jesus is the resurrection.
Believe in Jesus.
He will raise you up.
He is new life.
(March 13, 2005 8:11 AM CST)
Here is another reading from the funeral.
"The souls of the just are in the hand of God,
Believe in Jesus.
no torment shall touch them.
They seemed, in the view of the foolish,
to be dead;
and their passing away was thought an affliction
and their going forth from us, utter destruction,
but they are in peace."
Wisdom 3:1-3
He gives you life everlasting.
He gives you never-ending hope and joy.
Death will come, but it is not the end.
You will find peace for your soul.
You will be at home with the Lord.
Believe.
(March 12, 2005 9:12 AM CST)
I made it to
Dayton, Ohio
and back.
This is one of the readings from the funeral yesterday.
"There is an appointed time for everything,
When someone close to us dies
We had light snow off and on yesterday.
I got to see many of my cousins.
Keep praying for my uncle's family.
It will be difficult for them.
My ears are still popping this morning
from the compression and decompression
of the airplanes.
We went through
O'Hare in Chicago
on the way there and back.
We did lots of walking in Terminals 1 (B,C) and 2(F).
Chicago at sunset Wednesday night was cool.
I saw that Sears Tower and Lake Michigan.
and a time for every affair under the heavens.
A time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant."
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2
it is not easy for us.
We don't want it to happen.
We say it can't happen to us.
The time comes.
We are not ready.
It is difficult.
It is tough.
We ask the Lord for courage and strength.
Lord, help us in our time of loss.
Stay close to us.
Comfort us.
We need you.
You are our hope.
(March 9, 2005 6:29 AM CST)
Jesus said,
With everything that is "you"
"You shall love the Lord your God
with your whole heart,
with your whole soul,
and with all your mind."
Matthew 22:37
love the Lord.
Give him all that you have.
This is very important.
Put your heart and soul into it.
Love the Lord.
(March 8, 2005 6:16 AM CST)
Yesterday I found out that my uncle had died.
"God is our refuge and our strength,
Go to the Lord.
Pray for him and his family.
God be with them at this difficult time.
an ever-present help in distress.
Therefore we fear not, though the earth be shaken
and mountains plunge into the depths of the sea;
Though its waters rage and foam
and the mountains quake at its surging.
The Lord of hosts is with us,
our stronghold is the God of Jacob."
Psalms 46:2-4
He is your refuge.
He is your strength.
Lean on him.
Trust in him.
Your world will be shaken,
but the Lord is there to comfort you.
(March 7, 2005 6:11 AM CST)
"Thus says the Lord who made the earth
Talk to God.
and gave it form and firmness,
whose name is Lord:
Call to me, and I will answer you;
I will tell you things great
beyond reach of your knowledge."
Jeremiah 33:3
Call on the name of Jesus.
He is there to help.
He will answer you.
You only know so much.
He is all-knowing.
He has the knowledge.
Call out to him.
(March 6, 2005 6:29 AM CST)
If you live in Nebraska,
It got up to 56 F degrees yesterday,
"Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
It is time for spring cleaning.
you can now get your
3 credit reports for free
.
I looked at mine yesterday.
so I swept out the dirt and sand
from my garage.
It was a cloud of dust and
I've been sniffling ever since even this morning.
It's time for spring cleaning.
in the greatness of your compassion
wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me."
Psalms 51:3-4
It is time to get right with God.
Ask him to forgive your sins.
You can have the floor cleaned.
Start over again.
The Lord makes all things new.
Create some dust today.
(March 5, 2005 6:34 AM CST)
Jesus said,
Is God number 1 in your life?
"Scripture has it,
'You shall do homage to the Lord your God;
him alone shall you adore.'"
Luke 4:8
Do you adore him alone?
Is he the most important thing to you?
Bow down to him.
He is the holy one.
Worship him.
Praise him.
(March 4, 2005 6:13 AM CST)
Pray for my uncle that is sick in the hospital.
"On their way out
You never know when you will be called to service.
God bless him and his family.
they met a Cyrenian named Simon.
This man they pressed into service
to carry the cross."
Matthew 27:32
Be ready to help.
Be set for action.
Be looking for opportunities.
In helping others you will be helping Jesus.
Carry the cross.
Be of service.
(March 3, 2005 6:21 AM CST)
"Happy are you who fear the Lord,
Have great respect for the Lord.
who walk in his ways!"
Psalms 128:1
He is awesome.
He is your best friend.
Praise him for his greatness.
He is wonderful.
Walk close to him.
Stay near.
He is your guide.
Be happy.
(March 2, 2005 6:13 AM CST)
"The Lord God says,
He is the first and the last.
'I am the Alpha and the Omega,
the One who is and who was and
who is to come, the Almighty!'"
Revelation 1:8
He is the beginning and the end.
He created all that you see.
He is all powerful.
He can do all things.
Go to him.
Praise him.
He is Almighty God.
Give glory and honor to him.
(March 1, 2005 6:14 AM CST)
"My God in turn will supply your needs fully,
The Lord will provide all that you need.
in a way worthy
of his magnificent riches in Christ Jesus.
All glory to our God and Father
for unending ages!
Amen."
Philippians 4:19-20
He is a loving Father.
You are his child.
He wants the best for you.
Go to him with your needs and wants.
Praise the Lord for his generosity.
