Monthly Archives: April 2014

A Satisfied Spirit is Persistent

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Do you find yourself annoyed at those who ask for the same thing over and over?  Well yes, we all do.  Jesus used this very human characteristic in the Parable of the Persistent Widow (Luke 18:1-8) to show us a picture of prayer.

It sometimes appears that the Widow was using the old adage-the squeaking wheel gets the grease-to her advantage.  Meaning the one who complains the longest and loudest gets what they want.  That wasn’t Jesus’ intent.  If you look closely at verse 1 Jesus says (my words) pray, pray, pray.  Although the widow knew the only way to get the desired result was to seek justice, she also knew she needed God to lend a hand.  She was persistent in her quest.

In 1 Corinthians 15:58 Paul tells us to stand firm and let nothing move us in our work for the Lord.  This kind of persistence leads to having no doubt that our work for the Lord matters.

Galatians 6:9 says do not become weary in doing good.  We are to be persistent in every opportunity to be the ‘light in the darkness’ to both those who believe and those who don’t.

If Paul McCartney had not persisted we might have a song called “Scrambled Eggs, oh my baby how I love your legs”.  Instead through rewrite after rewrite.  We got,  “Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away”.  “Yesterday” has been played on the radio more than 6 million times, more than any other record in history.  It is also McCartney’s favorite song.

The difference between failure and success-between the widow and the judge-between “Yesterday” and “Scrambled Eggs”- is persistence.

Heavenly Father, let us persist in all the ways that will show the world that You will always answer.  Let others see Jesus in us.  Make it so!

God’s Beautiful Woman of Strength…..

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My dear Aussie frind Anne write beautifully about the woman God uses to inspire the world around her, modeling only that beauty that comes from a true relationship with her Lord.

Freedomborn's avatarFreedomborn

Woman 1 We wanted today to share an uplifting message for Woman who seek to live faithfully and in obedience to God, who care for their families and show Love, Kindness and Compassion to others, who offer Hospitality and support to those in need. You are in no way inferior to Men or other Woman in prominent positions and in terms of your worth, you are indeed God’s Beautiful Woman of Strength and cherished by Him, your value beyond earthly reckoning.

Your Beauty is also shown in  your focus and  integrity and your acceptance of God’s chosen role for you as your Husbands Helpmates and for seeking to encourage and help other Men that God has placed in Authority over you in the Church or Christian Ministries, respecting them as their Brothers in the Body of Christ and in their Leadership position.

You are to be commended for the inward Beauty you…

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Sunday’s Coming!

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While studying for a class I was teaching I came across this sermon.  It was written by S.M. Lockwood.  This is not the whole thing but just a part.  I hope you’ll take the time to read and reflect and allow it to precede your joyous worship on Resurrection Sunday!

It’s Friday. But Sunday’s coming—

It was a simple sermon, starting softly, building in volume and intensity until the entire congregation was completely involved, repeating the phrases in unison. The sermon went something like this.

Jesus prayingIt’s Friday. Jesus is arrested in the garden where He was praying. But Sunday’s coming.  (Luke 22:39-46)

It’s Friday. The disciples are hiding and Peter’s denying that he knows the Lord. But Sunday’s coming. (John 18:15-27)

Jesus before the high priestIt’s Friday. Jesus is standing before the high priest of Israel, silent as a lamb before the slaughter. But Sunday’s coming. (Matthew 26:57-67)

 

 

Jesus beatenIt’s Friday. Jesus is beaten, mocked, and spit upon. But Sunday’s coming. (Matthew 26:67)

 

 

220px-Flagellation-of-christ-_RubensIt’s Friday. Those Roman soldiers are flogging our Lord with a leather scourge that has bits of bones and glass and metal, tearing at his flesh. But Sunday’s coming.  (Matthew 27:26)

 

 

438px-Christ_Carrying_the_Cross_1580It’s Friday. The Son of man stands firm as they press the crown of thorns down into his brow. But Sunday’s coming. (John 19:5)

 

 

694px-Titian,_Christ_Carrying_the_Cross._Oil_on_canvas,_67_x_77_cm,_c._1565._Madrid,_Museo_Nacional_del_PradoIt’s Friday. See Him walking to Calvary, the blood dripping from His body. See the cross crashing down on His back as He stumbles beneath the load. It’s Friday; but Sunday’s a coming. (John 19:17)

 

471px-Gustave_Doré_-_Crucifixion_of_JesusIt’s Friday. See those Roman soldiers driving the nails into the feet and hands of my Lord. Hear my Jesus cry, “Father, forgive them.” It’s Friday; but Sunday’s coming.  (John 19:16-18)

 

 

dark skiesIt’s Friday. Jesus is hanging on the cross, bloody and dying. But Sunday’s coming.

 

 

Jesus on the crossIt’s Friday. The sky grows dark, the earth begins to tremble, and He who knew no sin became sin for us. Holy God who will not abide with sin pours out His wrath on that perfect sacrificial lamb who cries out, “My God, My God. Why hast thou forsaken me?” What a horrible cry. But Sunday’s coming.  (Matthew 27:46)

 

veil_tornIt’s Friday. And at the moment of Jesus’ death, the veil of the Temple that separates sinful man from Holy God was torn from the top to the bottom because Sunday’s coming.  (Mark 15:38)

 

inferno-295131_640It’s Friday. Jesus is hanging on the cross, heaven is weeping and hell is partying. But that’s because it’s Friday, and they don’t know it, but Sunday’s a coming.

 

And on that horrible day 2000 years ago, Jesus the Christ, the Lord of glory, the only begotten Son of God, the only perfect man died on the cross of Calvary. Satan thought that he had won the victory. Surely he had destroyed the Son of God. Finally he had disproved the prophecy God had uttered in the Garden and the one who was to crush his head had been destroyed. But that was Friday.

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Luke 24:1-8

Now it’s Sunday. And just about dawn on that first day of the week, there was a great earthquake. But that wasn’t the only thing that was shaking because now it’s Sunday. And the angel of the Lord is coming down out of heaven and rolling the stone away from the door of the tomb. Yes, it’s Sunday, and the angel of the Lord is sitting on that stone and the guards posted at the tomb to keep the body from disappearing were shaking in their boots because it’s Sunday, and the lamb that was silent before the slaughter is now the resurrected lion from the tribe of Judah, for He is not here, the angel says. He is risen indeed.

It’s Sunday, and the crucified and resurrected Christ has defeated death, hell, sin and the grave. It’s Sunday. And now everything has changed. It’s the age of grace, God’s grace poured out on all who would look to that crucified lamb of Calvary. Grace freely given to all who would believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross of Calvary was buried and rose again. All because it’s Sunday.

– See more at: http://apologetica.us/2009/04/10/its-friday-but-sundays-coming-2/#sthash.Wo85rKBg.dpuf