God very gently tapped me on the shoulder this Saturday morning at 6:00 a.m. I was surprised when I woke up, it was still dark outside and
I knew I didn't have to get up. So, not recognizing the reason for the stirring, I rolled over and went back to sleep. Within 5 minutes, I felt it again. Tap, tap, tap then a quiet whisper in my spirit "Hey, it's ME. I am waiting on you, get up". I almost laughed. I remembered teaching this past weekend about how the Holy Spirit will start awakening you to spend time with Him. Funny how I was the one that didn't recognize His calling.
But on to what I learned this morning. I am studying the old Passover traditions celebrated by the Jewish people. It is so interesting.
I have realized lately how we don't use our Christian celebrations as a tool for teaching. We have a HUGE celebration at Christmas, but it has been so commercialized that we forget the reason for celebrating. We even dread the celebration. And at Easter, we concentrate more on new clothes and food and candy than we do Jesus offering us new life.
How awful.
God instituted in the Old Testament certain celebrations. When talking about the passover Exodus 12:14 says:
"This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord--a lasting ordinance.
He wants us to celebrate. But when it is time, we fall into a pattern that the world sets for us and we say things like "Oh, Christmas is right around the corner, I dread it". Shame on us!! We don't look forward to celebrating Christ's birth because if we are honest, His birth is not what we are celebrating. We are probably not celebrating at all, just going through the motions. Motions not ordained by God.
What if this year at Easter we taught our children and grandchildren and our neices & nephews about why we celebrate? What if we make it about more than new clothes and candy? What if everything in their Easter Baskets had meaning and we explained each meaning as they explored all the goodies inside? Do you think it could make a difference? I do! It is our responsibility as Christians to share our faith! Not just to our children but to each other. Psalm 78:4 says: We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power, and the wonders He has done.
This Easter I encourage you to share your faith with those around you.
Let this year's celebration be about our love for Christ and not useless motions the world has set in place. Let it be about new life in Christ Jesus!
Saturday 24 March 2007
Friday 23 March 2007
God is Faithful!
God is faithful. He never fails to deliver. This morning as I began studying out of my
book "The Excellent Wife", I felt God had a fresh word for me. Fresh it was!
I was looking at the biblical motivations for submission. The number two reason (out of 20)
was "A Wife should look to the example of Christ's submission to the Father". I began to
think about how Christ submitted to the Father, even in His death on the cross.
I began to read the gospels recollection of when Jesus was arrested in the Garden.
John chapter 18 tells a little different view. When Judas and the "troops" came to arrest Jesus,
He wasn't surprised. In fact He had just said "Well, let's go, my betrayer is here" (totally my
own paraphrasing). And, of course, they were there to "get Him". I think they got a little more
than they bargained for however.
Verse 4 tells us that He went to them and said "Who are you looking for?" They answered
saying "Jesus of Nazareth". And then He said something I'm not sure they expected. He said
" I AM HE". I love what happens next. They fell to the ground. John describes those who came after Him as a "detachment of troops and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees".
The troops and chief "big shots" hit the ground at the sound of His voice. I believe at the moment Jesus said "I AM HE", He was telling them "I am more than Jesus of Nazareth. I am God. With the same power that God answered Moses at the burning bush, when He said
"I AM". I believe they fell at the glimpse of His glory, just like we will do when we are face
to face with Him.
So why did they fall? The power and majesty of His voice, declaring who HE was overpowered them all. A commentary I read describes it this way. "It was the glorious effulgence of the majesty of Christ which overpowered them. "This, occurring before His surrender, would show His power over His enemies, and so the freedom with which He gave Himself up" [MEYER].
He wanted them to know one thing for sure, " I am God. And I can speak and you will fall down.
You are only taking me, because I am letting you.
You see, He willingly went to the cross for us. They, the troops, and big whigs, had absolutely
NO power over Him! NONE!!! All He had to do was speak and they would fall down. Can you imagine what it looked like that day in the garden. I would have loved to have been a fly on the olive tree when all those "troops" hit the ground. I wonder if Jesus tapped His foot as He waited for them to get up. I wouldn't be surprised if He reached out His hand and helped them up. After all, He was going to the cross for them too. While they were on the ground, He could have ran away and hid. But He didn't because He was not only willing, but determined to die for us.
So.. Jesus submitted to the Father even to death. He is my example of submission.
I should submit to my husband as Christ submitted to the Father.
Lord help me to be an Excellent Wife.
book "The Excellent Wife", I felt God had a fresh word for me. Fresh it was!
I was looking at the biblical motivations for submission. The number two reason (out of 20)
was "A Wife should look to the example of Christ's submission to the Father". I began to
think about how Christ submitted to the Father, even in His death on the cross.
I began to read the gospels recollection of when Jesus was arrested in the Garden.
John chapter 18 tells a little different view. When Judas and the "troops" came to arrest Jesus,
He wasn't surprised. In fact He had just said "Well, let's go, my betrayer is here" (totally my
own paraphrasing). And, of course, they were there to "get Him". I think they got a little more
than they bargained for however.
Verse 4 tells us that He went to them and said "Who are you looking for?" They answered
saying "Jesus of Nazareth". And then He said something I'm not sure they expected. He said
" I AM HE". I love what happens next. They fell to the ground. John describes those who came after Him as a "detachment of troops and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees".
The troops and chief "big shots" hit the ground at the sound of His voice. I believe at the moment Jesus said "I AM HE", He was telling them "I am more than Jesus of Nazareth. I am God. With the same power that God answered Moses at the burning bush, when He said
"I AM". I believe they fell at the glimpse of His glory, just like we will do when we are face
to face with Him.
So why did they fall? The power and majesty of His voice, declaring who HE was overpowered them all. A commentary I read describes it this way. "It was the glorious effulgence of the majesty of Christ which overpowered them. "This, occurring before His surrender, would show His power over His enemies, and so the freedom with which He gave Himself up" [MEYER].
He wanted them to know one thing for sure, " I am God. And I can speak and you will fall down.
You are only taking me, because I am letting you.
You see, He willingly went to the cross for us. They, the troops, and big whigs, had absolutely
NO power over Him! NONE!!! All He had to do was speak and they would fall down. Can you imagine what it looked like that day in the garden. I would have loved to have been a fly on the olive tree when all those "troops" hit the ground. I wonder if Jesus tapped His foot as He waited for them to get up. I wouldn't be surprised if He reached out His hand and helped them up. After all, He was going to the cross for them too. While they were on the ground, He could have ran away and hid. But He didn't because He was not only willing, but determined to die for us.
So.. Jesus submitted to the Father even to death. He is my example of submission.
I should submit to my husband as Christ submitted to the Father.
Lord help me to be an Excellent Wife.
Thursday 22 March 2007
Welcome!
Welcome to my new blog!
God has done so much in my life in the last year and half, I wished I had kept better journal
notes so I could share with others. This is an attempt to motivate me to keep better notes.
We will see how I do!
Starting today, Thursday, March 22, 2007, I want you to see how much God is working in my life.
It has been so awesome lately, I know He is not about to stop now.
I hope you are encouraged and blessed.
God has done so much in my life in the last year and half, I wished I had kept better journal
notes so I could share with others. This is an attempt to motivate me to keep better notes.
We will see how I do!
Starting today, Thursday, March 22, 2007, I want you to see how much God is working in my life.
It has been so awesome lately, I know He is not about to stop now.
I hope you are encouraged and blessed.
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