Rejoice - He Lives!

​

​Let us not

​dare to ​

drink your morning coffee or eat our toast

​today

without a serious and thoughtful pause at the final hours before

​our sin-debt was paid in full.  After His betrayal and arrest, during a very long night, Jesus was moved from Annas to Caiphas to Pilate to Herod then back to Pilate - bound, beaten, and deprived of sleep.  Driven by political ambition and public outcry, Pilate finally condemns Jesus to death by crucifixion, reserved for the vilest of criminals

​ ​

-

​ ​

a slow, painful, and tortuous means to

​ ​

death.  Severely weakened, Jesus begins the journey from the Praetorium (Pilate's palace) to Golgotha, outside the city walls.  Jesus falls beneath the

​painful ​

weight of the cross

​, and ​

Simon of Cyrene is ordered to carry it the rest of the way. Affixed to the cross by Roman spikes

​, ​

Jesus is ridiculed and mocked.

​ ​

​He

struggled for

​ ​

every

​ ​

breath

​ ​

as death dr

​ew near.

​ ​

From noon to three o'clock, darkness

​settles over

Jerusalem and in one final gasp and cry,

​ ​

Jesus commits His spirit to The Father

​, ​

our sin-debt paid in full.

​ ​

The Jewish Sabbath

​ ​

near,

​ ​

Joseph of Arimathea, "a good and righteous man,"

​ ​

takes the

​Savior's ​

body and

​ ​

wraps

​and

lays

​it

in a

​ ​

new

​ ​

tomb

​. The stone in place, an eerie silence must fallen but not so in the temple where the curtain had been completely torn in two - from top to bottom - fully exposing the holiest of temple chambers.  ONCE AND FOR ALL TIME man is given access to God through a newly declared and perfect High Priest – Jesus Christ!  Three days later, the tomb is empty!  As promised, the Messiah lives!  Death is defeated!  And, as promised, His return is imminent and sure!  We may

be living in a world that resembles "Good Friday,"

​ ​

but those who

​ ​

believe in the Risen One

​ ​

are gloriously declared Easter People!  We can and do rejoice in the finished work of Jesus Christ – the Risen Lord!
Hallelujah! Praise the Lamb!

Have a blessed Resurrection Weekend!
Until Monday, April 9 --

​ ​

Miles of Smiles, Beverly ​

Words Enough

​ There are times when words cannot describe beauty or sorrow or even love; at those times, we find ourselves ... well, speechless.  Can you imagine if words would have come to you as you watched Jesus die?  We often feel a sense of real justice when a criminal pays for his crime, but what about Jesus? He received the same penalty as two criminals - one on each side of Him - yet Jesus was no criminal! Actually, God "made Christ Who knew no sin to [judicially] be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we would become the Righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:21).  You and I - spiritual criminals, enemies of God - who deserved spiritual death were instead pronounced innocent - made acceptable, justified - by Jesus' sacrificial death.  Read that again.  Wow! What about such love?  No words.  May the lives we live tell be evidence of genuine gratitude and devotion - that's words enough.​

Watch Yourself

It's become quite the common to be entertained by video clips of everything from animals to people or a combination of both. My personal favorites are those of any one of my five Grands!  Psalm 119:9 says, "How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to Your precepts]."  The issue of personal purity is a real struggle among Believers.  I'm referring to more than physical purity: I propose mental and emotional impurity strike at us all.  Now, here's the question: how does one actually watch himself?  The psalmist answers this question: "according to Your word." Scripture is the lens through which we watch ourselves.  We read a few verses later, "Your word I have treasured and stored in my heart, that I may not sin against You." (V.11).  Are you struggling to think on "whatever is pure and wholesome" (Philippians 4:8)?  Make sure you have a regular intake of God's word, then watch Him at work in you!

Your Place

A good friend and I used to take morning walks "around the block."  There's just something about walking with someone - it makes the time go faster and it's just more fun.  That's how it is when Believers walk together in faith.  When we read about Church beginnings, we see what God had in mind for the Body: "And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common ... Day after day they met ... Continuing with one mind and breaking bread in various private homes ... eating their meals together with joy and generous hearts, praising God continually ... Having favor with all the people ... The Lord kept adding to their number daily those who were being saved." (Acts 2:44, 46-47).  Sadly, of course, this doesn't describe all congregations but it's God's design nonetheless for His Bride - the Church.  Personally, my church family is one of my most precious treasures on earth.  The joy is immeasurable - the walking together, side-by-side and hand-in-hand, as we struggle to persevere in difficult days.  We are wise to hear God's words: "Two are better than one ... For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion ... Woe to him who is alone when he falls and does not have another to lift him up ... A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." (From Ecclesiastes 4:9, 10, 12). There's no more right, safer and joyful place for the born-again Believer to be than faithfully among God's People in devoted worship, study, service and fellowship.  If you are in your place - rejoice and be glad!  If you are not, find your place and be in it!

Truth

Well, it's another Best-Seller I've added to my study collection!  I'm referring to another copy of God's Word.  In all of book-selling history, it's estimated more than 5 billion copies of the Bible have been sold, easily making it the best-selling book of all time. Given this fact, it's somewhat amazing, however, it is most likely the least read of all books.  In a society where tremendous amounts of time-effort-money are devoted to seeking truth at every level, the source of the most profound truth receives little-to-no credence.  Amazing!  As He prayed to The Father mere hours before His crucifixion, Jesus said, "Your word is truth." (John 17:17).  How genuinely do you care about truth - truth that saves, that transforms, that encourages, that frees, that captivates, that strengthens, and so much more?  Know this: your progress in becoming holy [as God is holy] will never exceed your relationship with the Word of God and Its Author!  Read - Study - Meditate - Memorize the eternal truths of God's Word.  It will change your life.

The Burning Heart

It's hard to believe 20 days ago my bare toes were in the warm sands of the Island, and today my toes are kept warm only by socks!  Another thing hard to fathom is the struggle to sense the same closeness to The Father now that I am back at home.  Luke tells of two men who walked with Jesus toward the village of Emmaus but didn't even recognize Him as the Risen Jesus; they later said to one another, "Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?" (Luke 24:32).  What an appropriate description - a burning heart - the fiery oneness of personal time with God.  Oh, how easily and quickly the burning wanes: "It is the simple, dreary day, with its commonplace duties and people, that smothers the burning heart - unless we have learned the secret of abiding in Jesus." (Oswald Chambers). Truth is, Christ is omnipresent - He is everywhere.  Hear Jesus' words, "Abide in Me, and I in you." (John 15:4). The women at my church are studying how we can live a life of personal holiness, and "abiding" is a fundamental part.  It's keeping this main thing the overall main thing at all times, in all places, through all circumstances.  Abiding in Christ keeps the burning passion for righteousness - the burn - alive!  How's your burn?​

The Radiant Christ

There's a new measure of light for me! Mr. Bill installed LED bulbs in my dressing area, and I've never known such brightness. Do you ever ponder the Beauty yet to be revealed of the Risen One, Jesus Christ?  Time spent in His Presence through study, prayer and quiet meditation is the best of times here, but only a mere glimpse of what we will know on that day when sin no more separates Creator from creature.  Hebrews 1:3 says Jesus is "the Radiance of the glory of God," and Song of Solomon refers to Him as "altogether lovely" and "sweet companionship." (8:14).  The veiled moments here should make us long for more of our Bridegroom, our Beloved, He Whom our soul loves.  Do you desire to kno

​​

w the Beauty of The Savior?  If you want to truly experience Holy Week this year, ask God for eyes to see The Lamb as you've never seen Him. Be prepared [then] for Radiance like you've never known it!​

God of Mercy

My usual breakfast is scrambled eggs and juice, but this morning I added grits to the menu.  Imagine my surprise - and disgust - when I found a stink-bug swimming in the water!  Instantly, I thought of how a new-mercies-day ("They are new every morning," Lamentations 3:23) is quickly ruined by sin!  We are clearly warned that Satan "prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8).  I'm so glad God is merciful and full of compassion; He knows our weakness and He promises forgiveness to those who confess (admit, agree with God) and repent of (turn away from) their sin.  Is there stink in your life?  You'll never be that fragrant aroma of Christ until you humble yourself before Almighty God.  Do not ignore your sin; remember, He's a God of Mercy!​

Love Me

​ With the introduction and use of email, we learned email etiquette dictates words typed in ALL CAPS means you are yelling or screaming the words. There are many things in Scripture that should be in ALL CAPS to get through to Its readers.  Early, God told us to love Him with all our heart, soul and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5), and Jesus echoed the same during His ministry.  This love is to supersede all other loves even the things we hold so dear here on earth: "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple." (Luke 14:26).  Of course, Jesus wasn't telling us to hate our loved ones, but His point was we are to LOVE HIM MORE than those dearest to us. The command is a call to separation; a separation from all other loves, even beyond understanding or reason.  Do you love God like that?  He says LOVE ME!​

Run With Purpose

​ Years ago, amused, I watched Danny go through the pitching sequence; no mound, no ball, no batter - just a methodical move through the steps, the wind-up and delivery. Paul instructs Believers to be focused in how we live: "Therefore, I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air." (1 Corinthians 9:26). Evangelist, Dr. Sam Cathey, used the phrase "plowing water" to describe living aimlessly or without purpose.  Paul urges fellow Believers to "run in such a way that you may win." (V.24).  The prize of living on purpose with purpose is a pleasing life unto God - "a pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing." (2 Corinthians 2:15).  Consider your goal for each day, and run with purpose! ​

Time With God

Unlike those who don't function well without their first cup of morning caffeine, my decaf and flavored coffee is strictly for pleasure.  The psalmist wrote, "O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day ... How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (119:97, 103).  Those are not the words of one who approaches God's Word with duty or dread!  It is also clear he absolutely understands how critical God's Word is to righteous living: "Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (V.107).  Do you find yourself hungry for God and His Word?  Christians should be anxious for God's Presence and to read-study-memorize and meditate on His words.  It's the only book where the Author is always present!  Do you take pleasure - delight in - time spent with God and in His Holy Word?  I hope so because He takes great pleasure in time with you!​

Altogether Lovely

How do you measure lovely?  Oh, we understand lovely: we travel to places to enjoy

​​

lovely sunsets-beaches-quietness, and we spend tremendous time-money-effort

​for a

lovely appearance.  There's nothing inherently wrong with those things, but there is a

​genuine

measure of what is lovely. Of the Savior
  Solomon writes, "His mouth is most sweet, and He is altogether desirable." (Song of Solomon 5:16). The Hebrew word "desirable" means precious and valuable, a treasure and a delight

​ ​

​- yes, lovely. I fear [as Christians] we fail to comprehend the exceeding beauty of our Savior; we overlook the

Supreme

​ ​

Loveliness of the Beloved One.  Perhaps man's insatiable desire for beauty is actually the deep yearning of the soul for The Beautiful One, placed there by God Himself.  

​Perhaps this

explain the psalmist's longing for God's Presence all the days of his life, "to behold the beauty of the Lord." (27:4)

​.​

  Jesus is the perfect measure (standard) by which all others are

​referred to as

lovely.  What are your own

​ ​

lovely thoughts

​ ​

of Christ?

​ Truly, there's none other so lovely as He - He is altogether lovely!​

​

One or the Other

Have you 

ever seen a turnip truck

​ or anyone "fall off" a turnip truck​

?  

​Neither have I!

​ ​The 

psalmist wrote about man's folly

​:

 "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.'"

​ (Psalm 14:1). 

Isn't it amazing God loves and puts up with us?  David continues in Verse 2, "The LORD has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God." The Creator

​,​

 

​Who ​

knows 

​and sees all things, soon enough reveals a person's foolishness in choosing to live 

apart from God (Ecclesiastes 3:18).  

​Most people would never 

be so 

​bold as 

to say "there is no God," but what do

​es our living reveal

?  Do we live and breathe AS IF God is dead or at the very least not 

​looking

?  Ecclesiastes 10:2 says the wise man chooses the right way, but the fool chooses the wrong.  Being wise really has nothing to do with 

​being on or off ​

the 

​proverbial ​

turnip truck, but it has EVERYTHING to do with 

​living in a faith relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.  Does your life reveal you as one who is wise or fool-hearty ? Your life surely reveals one or the other!

Do You Believe?

As I write, a blend of essential oils is being diffused into the air.  Although I do not see it, the air I'm breathing is infused with good things for me.  As Christians [obediently] pursue personal holiness, our focus must be on having a pure heart.  One thing that hinders purity-of-heart is unbelief. Jesus scolded His disciples for this very thing in Mark 16: "... He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen." (V.14).  Clearly, Jesus links the two sins of unbelief and hardness of heart. Thomas Watson writes, "Unbelief first pollutes the heart and then hardens it."  The more we practice unbelief - failing to truly trust God - the more our unbelief is strengthened.  In contrast, as we begin to practice belief  in God's promises - applying them day-by-day, circumstance-by-circumstance - our lives are spiritually infused and our faith is emboldened - yes, made stronger.  This cause-and-effect [in turn] helps to purify the Believer's heart.  So, do you believe - I mean, really believe?  Let us pray as the man in Mark 23:24, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!."​

Building

This was just cute: "I'm 21 years old today so I bought myself a big set of LEGO blocks."  Does anyone actually outgrow playing with LEGO blocks!  Jude encourages believers to build themselves up "in your most holy faith." (V.20).  I fear many Christians have either suspended such building or never actually begun building.  There's a special group of ladies at my church who have strengthened my own goal toward spiritual growth by seriously building up their faith; together, we are digging into the Treasure of God's Word, and what amazing treasures we are finding!  How about you: are you moving forward in your faith-building or are you stuck in neutral? There's no time like now to begin: get building!

Just Believe

How frustrating it is when an electrical cord won't stay in the receptacle; of course, when it falls out, there goes the power!  In his book, The Pure In Heart, Thomas Watson describes an unbelieving heart as "the root and receptacle of sin."  The writer of Hebrews cautions Christians about "an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God." (Hebrews 3:12).  To say "I believe" yet act in "unbelief" is evidence of an unbelieving heart.  While not all receptacles are the same, all hearts are the same: "desperately sick" (Jeremiah 17:9).  And, just like when a new receptacle is installed and the power cord secured, God - through Christ Jesus - cleanses and heals and secures the hearts of those who believe on Him: "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you ... I will put My Spirit within you." (Ezekiel 36:26-27).  What a merciful and loving heavenly Father Who not only cleanses and forgives but also "heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." (Psalm 147:3).  Are you suffering from or a victim of sin's toxins?  There is One - Jesus Christ - Who is willing and able to purify and heal your heart.  He is the spiritual receptacle to genuine Healing and Peace and Joy.  Just believe!​

Consider the Source

Have you ever considered how many words you use in a lifetime?  One source estimates the average person uses the equivalent of the King James Bible (Old and New Testaments) 1,110 times.  That's a lot of words! More importantly, however, is the quality of words we speak. Proverbs 22:11 makes it clear the wise person's speech is directly tied to a pure heart. Ecclesiastes 10:12-13 says, "Words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious;" and, in contrast, the "lips of a fool consume him ... the beginning of his talking is folly ... the end of it is wicked madness."  Are you not amazed - as I am - at what passes our lips?  There's no real mystery from where those words come - from a sin-sick heart. Purity (holiness) is Priority #1 with God (He says be holy as I am holy), and Jesus said, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." (Matthew 5:8). Now, I'm not suggesting we begin to count our words or even attempt to measure their content. Christians should, however, carefully examine the wellspring of what we say (and do).  Yes, seriously consider the source!​

Persevere!

Our little 11-month old Harper, Grand #5, seems to be contemplating taking steps. While it's critical every Christian have a vision for reading and studying God's Word, the vision doesn't end there; it becomes applicable as we put into practice Its principles. It's rightly the "next step" - the doing of the Word: "be doers of the word and not hearers only" (James 1:22).  While at the beach, there were times I was overcome with the beauty of the Island and the incredible sweetness of God's Presence.  That is not where life happens, however. Life is unpleasantries and woes and worries that can lead to brokenness and despair.  Paul writes of a steady perseverance: "But in everything commending ourselves in servants of God, in much endurance ..." (2 Corinthians 6:4). When life is unsteady, we stay focused on the steady: "The only way to live an undefeated life is to live looking to God." (Oswald Chambers). No doubt, Harper will soon take steps and even fall a few times but she will keep getting up and give it another try, take another step.  Perhaps you've taken a tumble and to persevere seems a bit much.  Stay in the Word. Stay true to the vision to live out the life you've been given. Persevere!​

Heart Lips

One of Larry's silliest songs goes like this: "If my lips ever left my mouth - Packed a bag and headed south - That'd be too bad - I'd be so sad." (VeggieTales - Silly Songs with Larry, "I Love My Lips").  Before we quickly agree how incredibly silly and and irrational these words are, consider how much we really do love and rely on our lips.  While lips [themselves] do not function alone, they are the mechanism by which we communicate so many things: love-hate, joy-sorrow, delight-disgust, etc.  The reality is our lips do nothing on-their-own.  How is it possible then that "my lips will praise You" (Psalm 63:3)?  From where come this spiritual desire and God-honoring words that pass our lips?  The truth is, all that passes our lips originates in the most secret place of the heart.  Jeremiah warns us the heart is deceitful above all things (17:9), and Solomon counsels above all things guard your heart  (Proverbs 4:23). One of the best ways to know the current condition of your heart is to measure what passes your lips.  It may be silly - even irrational - to say the heart has lips then, well ... maybe not.  How are your heart's lips?​