Sunday’s Coming!

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.

sky-195430_640

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

The B… I… B… L… E…

A Bible that is worn and tattered usually belongs to someone who isn’t. Jeanne writes from the heart. I hope you enjoy her words.

The Telephone Game

call-15924_640Did you play the Telephone Game in elementary school?  It started with the teacher whispering a comment in your ear then it got passed to the next student until it went all the way around.  It was often funny what the last person thought they heard.  Gossip is like that.  The first whisper is rarely the same as the last.  I makes me remember a time when Ray, my husband, was having a cath procedure done to see what what going on with his heart.  By the time it got back to us he was having a heart replacement.  Of course, we had to assure everyone who had heard the news that at the most he might have a stent placed.  That’s what happens, isn’t it?  Our words are repeated and repeated until they in no way resemble what was originally said.

The 9th Commandment says do not bear false witness.  Do not lie.  Do not speak untruths.  It could also say…QUIT GOSSIPING!  Over and over the Word tells us to bridle our tongues (James 1:26).  Perhaps a bridle should be part of the Armor!  Look at some of the verses I’ve put into my own words.

Proverbs 21:3  Keep yourself out of trouble by thinking before you speak.

Matthew 12:37  You will be both justified and condemned by every spoken word.

John 1:1  God is the Word!  Always has been and always will be!

Luke 6:35  What the mind is really thinking the mouth says!

Proverbs 18:13  Listen before you say anything.

Psalm 118:17  Live and talk about God!

evilThere is a song I remember singing as a child that says it all – – Oh, be careful little mouth what you say, for the Father up above is looking down in love, oh, be careful little mouth what you say.

One more thought…It is perfectly OK and perhaps even scriptural (see Titus 1:10 below) to ask the person who says to much, the gossip who shares to much, the abuser who is demeaning…to just Shut Up!

Titus 1:10  For there are a lot of rebels out there, full of loose, confusing, and deceiving talk. Those who were brought up religious and ought to know better are the worst. They’ve got to be shut up!  (The Message)

My fervent prayer is this:  Oh, LORD, My rock and my Redeemer, may the words of my mouth and the thoughts I am thinking be acceptable in Your sight.  (Psalm 19:14)

 

 

Psalm 23

 

Psalm 23

There was once a Shakespearean actor who was know far and wide for his one-man show of readings and recitations from the classics.  He would always end his performance with a dramatic reading of the Twenty-third Psalm  Each night, without exception, as the actor began his recitation–The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want–the crowd would listen attentively.  And then, at the conclusion of the psalm, they would rise in thunderous applause in appreciation of the actor’s incredible ability to bring the  verse to life.

But one night, just  before the actor was to offer his customary recital of Psalm Twenty-three, a young man from the audience spoke up  “Sir, do you mind if tonight I recite the Twenty-third Psalm?”

The actor was quite taken back by this unusual request,  but he allowed the young man to come forward and stand front and center on the stage to re cite the psalm, knowing that the ability of this unskilled youth would be no match for his talent.

With a soft voice, the young man began to recite the words of the Psalm.  When he finished, there was no applause.  There was no standing ovation as on other nights.  All that could be heard was the sound of weeping.  The audience had  been so moved by the young man’s recitation, that e very eye was full of tears

Amazed by what he heard, the actor said to the youth,  “I don’t understand.  I have been performing the Twenty-third Psalm for years.  I have a lifetime of experience and training–but I have never been able to move an audience as you have tonight.  Tell me, what is your secret?”

The young man humbly replied, “Well sir, you know the psalm…but I know the Shepherd.”

Get Some Rest

baby rest

God says on the seventh day He rested from His work(Genesis 2:2) and since we are created in His image we need rest too.  In the 23rd Psalm David said, “He makes me lie down…”  Job’s friend Jophar gives him a crumb of reassurance saying, “You will lie down without fear…” (Job 11:19).  With great wisdom Solomon wrote these words, “…when you lie down your sleep will be sweet” (Proverbs 3:24b).  Jesus recognized the need for quiet rest when he said to the disciples, “Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” (Mark 6:31)

In my career as a teacher and principal I learned just how important rest was.  Long hours and a great deal of stress do not help anyone’s health.  Burning the candle at both ends, ends up with nothing when the flames have consumed all the wax.  I finally came to my senses and retired early.  The job was consuming me and I heard the Spirit clearly say this is NOT what I want for you.  You see, even though I prayed every morning that I would keep Him close all day, when I walked through the school doors I quit focusing on Him and started focusing on kids, teachers, parents and all the issues and stress a high poverty, inner city, school brings.  I ended up quite ill from lack of rest, poor diet, and high stress.  When my awesome husband was hospitalized and in a chemically induced coma for 20 days from a Traumatic Brain Injury I had much time to pray, think, and reflect. The conclusion–my career was killing me.  Once the decision was made, a calmness came over me that I had not known before.  I knew without question this was exactly what God wanted.  I needed adequate rest and He already knew this was the only way I was going to get it.  Praise God! I listened! and rested!

God’s word says in the 23rd Psalm “…He makes me lie down in green pastures,…”  He doesn’t just suggest that we rest He makes us rest.  He created us and He knows what we need.  We have to pay attention and not try to do it our own way.  Remember what happened to Jonah?  God said go to Ninevah and say to them what I want you to say.  What did Jonah do?  He did it his way, ran away, jumped ship and ended up in the stinky belly of a whale.  When God says do it He expects that from those who say “Oh, God, You are my God”.  Now that’s not the end of the story.  God told Jonah, after he got to Ninevah, to walk the city, proclaim His word and then sit on the hill and rest.  There’s that word again.  REST!  He’s serious about it!

Heavenly Father, thank You! for making me aware.  You deserve my total, rested attention.  I want to do that.  Make my life more and more about You.  In Jesus Name make it so!

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