Friday...

I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. // No one can kill me without my consent--I lay down my life voluntarily. For I have the right and power to lay it down when I want to and also the right and power to take it again. For the Father has given me this right. John 10:11,18

Sunday!

The Passover was over...the ladies were ready to take the perfume and spices to Jesus' body. Of course, when they arrived at the tomb, He wasn't there. He was alive! Hope was restored!

The events of that weekend are more than just a story to me. Jesus' death and resurrection are everything to me. Because of what Jesus did on the cross, I now have access to God 24/7 and I now can live in freedom.

If you have visited this blog to learn more about me, know this,

HE IS EVERYTHING TO ME!

I hope you will make Him your everything this Easter.

Happy Easter - HE IS ALIVE!

Saturday...

I have been thinking this morning about what the Saturday after Jesus was crucified must have been like. What kind of day was it? How did everyone feel after watching all that had happened the day before? I wonder if they had lost all hope? Were they afraid for their own life? Were they doubting who He was?

Their thoughts were probably no different from some of ours the day after we have been through something tragic. Why did God let this happen? He/she was so good, why did they have to die? Why is this happening to me?

As I read in Luke about the women preparing spices and perfumes for His body, I see that Luke also tells us, "But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment". I wonder how much they really rested. Were they able to sleep? Were they able to pray? So much had happened they must have been exhausted and devastated. If they only knew on Saturday that tomorrow would be a better day! Yes ladies, Friday was bad.......but Sunday is coming!

Friday...

We despised him and rejected him--a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised and we didn't care. Yet it was our grief he bore, our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, for his own sins! But he was wounded and bruised for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace; he was lashed--and we were healed! We--every one of us--have strayed away like sheep! We, who left God's paths to follow our own. Yet God laid on him the guilt and sins of every one of us! From prison and trial they led him away to his death. But who among the people of that day realized it was their sins that he was dying for--that he was suffering their punishment? He was buried like a criminal, but in a rich man's grave; but he had done no wrong, and had never spoken an evil word. But it was the Lord's good plan to bruise him and fill him with grief. However when his soul has been made an offering for sin, then he shall have a multitude of children, many heirs. He shall live again and God's program shall prosper in his hands. Isaiah 53:2-6, 8-10

I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. No one can kill me without my consent--I lay down my life voluntarily. For I have the right and power to lay it down when I want to and also the right and power to take it again. For the Father has given me this right. John 10:11,18

Thursday...

Tomorrow is Good Friday. The day my Lord gave His life for mine. I wonder what He was thinking about on the Thursday before. I wonder if He let His mind wonder to what was coming throughout the day. I wonder if He had the urge to crawl back in bed and pull the covers over His head like I do sometimes when I am worried about upcoming events. I wonder if He struggled with being "snappy" with His family and friends, because He had other things on His mind...like I sometimes do.

I don't know what He was thinking, but I do know what He did. He served. Can you believe that! Let it sink in for a minute. The day before the worst day of His life, HE SERVED. He washed the feet of His friends. Stinky, nasty, dirty, soiled with just about anything you can think of including poop, feet. When literally the whole world sat on His shoulders, He served.

And then...His friend...Judas.. leaves to betray Him. But He didn't let that stop Him. He continued with the plan. The plan to redeem the world. The plan that would save my life.

I hope this Easter you will find time to reflect on all He has done for you. Thank Him, and say yes to whatever it is He is calling you to do. That is the least I can do for Him.

Another Last...

We have been talking a lot about "the last..." this year. The last pep rally, the last high school football game, the last semester of high school, the last choir trip, the last choir Christmas concert, and today we had another last.




The last prom.





It was not as sad as I thought it might be. You see, the year started off with Kori being sad about all the "lasts". But now, she is not sad at all. I hear her now talking about all the first. The first college class, the first church trip with the "college class", the first semester of college, the first time to vote, the first mission trip, the first time Daddy lets her stay out past midnight. All things that she now is very much looking forward to. "The first..." she is ready.