Terry K. – A Testimony of God’s Love July 17, 2011

I’m still weeping over watching God move in the life of a client on Friday… 52yr old Terry, who looks 72, has been homeless for 20+yrs. He has major health issues including diabetes. In the four weeks he’d been with us, the ambulance was called three times, the last of which he ended up hospitalized and could have been fatal. He’s been rejected from numerous housing opportunities over the yrs & we too had to put him back in the care of hospital social workers to find him appropriate care. On Thursday I prayed with Terry and told him he would be leaving us on Friday and that God said to tell him He had something big for him.

On Friday I packed him and all his belongings [everything he owns, packed in numerous garbage bags] into my car to take him back to the social worker but it turned out they dropped the ball and had no place for poor Terry. We unloaded his stuff at one place only to be rejected and told he could not stay. So we reloaded my car and I was supposed to drop him at the social workers office where they said “We have no idea what we’ll do with him. We have no options for him. Just drop him off and we’ll have to figure something out.” I couldn’t just drop Terry on Friday afternoon, unsure if they would let him fall though the cracks again. [they were supposed to have found him a personal care home while he was hospitalized and technically he wasn't supposed to have come back to our housing in the first place.] I couldn’t bear the thought of him facing the street yet again. INFURIATED, I refused to participate in treating him this way. I called my boss in tears and though Terry is a medical risk and our housing is not appropriate for him b/c we have no staff to monitor him, my boss agreed to let him stay the weekend. I would take him personally to this social worker on Monday morning while they found a place for Terry.

Once I stopped crying, I called the social worker to let her know I wasn’t bringing him, when she said she found a personal care home that would take him immediately! (THIS DOESN’T HAPPEN EVERY DAY! Usually there are applications and red tape… a real process to get in one of these places) Turns out it is a Christian personal care home for disabled men. He was supposed to have income to stay there, but the woman took him in! I said to Terry “TERRY! Look what God has done!” and he said “Yeah, and we prayed yesterday too, remember?” I HAD FORGOTTEN! LOL! I told Terry… GOD has moved mountains on YOUR behalf because of his great love for you. No matter how many people have ever rejected you or left you … GOD NEVER WILL! The look on Terry’s face in my rear view mirror was priceless. He had the look of “WOW, God really did do this… for ME.” TERRY SAW GOD THAT DAY!!!!!!!!!!!! Then I explained to Terry that we were never trying to “get rid” of him from our housing, that all along the reason he had to leave was to go somewhere that could serve him better, it’s just that they failed to find him a place. Now this new place will have medical staff, cook his meals and not put him on MARTA to take care of all his own business, but actually take him to his appointments. Terry said “WOW! Someone will really care for me. This is good because I tend to get confused a lot and seem to always end up in a bad way.” TERRY FELT VALUED for the first time in a long time… if ever in his life. Wow. You could see it on his face.

After getting Terry settled he said “You’re going to come visit me, right?” I said “ABSOLUTELY!” Then we joined hands to pray before I left. As we stood face to face praying with our heads bowed, Terry leaned forward and pushed the top of his head/forehead against mine and began to shake. After we prayed he said “I felt something going up both of my arms when you prayed!” I told him “That was the presence of God, Terry! HE LOVES YOU AND IS RIGHT HERE WITH YOU! HE WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU! I inquired if he had ever asked Jesus to be his Lord and Savior, and he said OH YES. But TODAY, Terry experienced God’s love for him like never before.

Within 30 minutes of dropping Terry, I got a call that Terry had been approved for his SSI back on MARCH 1 but they could not locate him! SO NOW TERRY HAS INCOME AND WILL BE ABLE TO STAY AT THIS HOME INDEFINITELY!

GOD YOU ARE AMAZING!!!!!!!!! ♥ ♥ ♥

Depression: Red Sky at Morning: Sailors take Warning, Red Sky at Night: Sailors Delight. January 1, 2011

Ever suffer from depression? Or know someone who does?

Today I saw a facebook status that asked “Is happiness a choice?”  The responses varied and led to a discussion of depression & chemical imbalances and now resulted in this blog post.  Having once suffered from depression myself, I know what it’s like going to counselor after counselor, taking medication after medication, drinking, drugging, and trying to fill the void inside of me in all the wrong ways. I desperately looked for relief from self-help books, people, and doctors.  Here is what I have found to be true and what finally took care of my depression FOR GOOD.

My answer to the question posed in the facebook status “Is happiness a choice?” was this: Happiness is based on what “happens,” JOY is an internal peace and excitement that only comes from Jesus. Therefore, I can have joy unspeakable even when I’m not “happy” about what’s going on around me. Joy changes your perspective on what “happens.”

So yes, I guess it is a choice. The choice lies in our spiritual perspective. If we are looking only to the natural, or attempting to fix our “unhappiness/depression” in only natural ways, the solution will only be temporary. Lasting freedom from depression requires a spiritual approach. Here is a great PDF article that explains it beautifully… click here

So what about depression medications? Medications can be helpful to level out chemical levels, while learning to apply the spiritual principles. But I don’t believe medication is the permanent solution. The Bible teaches that we are spirit, soul and body (1 Thess 5:23). They are interconnected and when we are not trusting God with our circumstances (spirit) it affects our soul (mind, will, emotions – anxiety, worry, etc) and then in it manifests in our body (heart palpitations, high blood pressure, digestive issues, ulcers, chemical imbalances, etc.) So by learning to trust God in our circumstances (spirit), we can stop the corresponding chemical effects on our soul and body.

Is it really that easy?… NO. Learning to trust God takes TIME and EFFORT.

First of all, none of us comes to know God unless He first draws us to Himself (John 6:44.) Perhaps reading this blog post is what God is using to draw you right now? He uses many ways to get our attention. In my own life, I can look back and clearly see God placing certain people, certain mail advertisements (for a new church) in my path as His way of getting my attention to turn toward Him. Once I realized it was Him, I made the choice to give my life to Him. (click here to learn how to do that)

Once you’ve made the choice to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you now must take the responsibility to get to know Him. Just like with any new relationship, you must spend time with Him. You do this by getting in the Word (the Bible) for it tells us in John 1:1 that “… the Word was God.”  You should also get involved in a life-giving church that teaches you how to apply the Word to your life. (not all churches do this. Some are just going through religious motions. Choose wisely.) Being part of a church family will also help you develop Christian friendships which will help you grow. The Bible tells in Proverbs 27:17 that “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Then when you have times of difficulty and have trouble trusting God, you have friends that can encourage you and help you see things from God’s perspective.

This past week, God gave me a vision of a pink sky and I heard Him saying: Red Sky at Morning: Sailors take Warning, Red Sky at Night: Sailors Delight. When I asked Him what He was trying to tell me He said this: The red sky represents difficult circumstances.  And when the circumstance first appears (red sky in the morning) it is frightening and overwhelming. We must heed the warning and recognize the storm, and take responsibility to approach it from God’s perspective.  If we do not, it has the potential to shipwreck us and lead us to sink into the great abyss (deep depression.)  And just like sailors take added precautions when they see the red sky in the morning, we must too. When we trust God, get in the Word, encourage ourselves in the Lord, ask for prayer from others, and give Him praise in spite of the situation, suddenly our perspective will change and AT THE END OF THE DAY (red sky at night,) we will be able to DELIGHT in midst of it, knowing that God is allowing it to do an inward work in us and that He will turn all things to the good for those that love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

I found this description of the “red sky” phrase on-line:  A reddish sunrise, caused by particles suspended in the air, often foreshadows an approaching storm, which will be arriving from the west, within the day. Conversely, a reddish sunset often indicates that a storm system is on the east side (opposite the sunset), travelling away from the viewer.

You can learn to rest assured that the storm shall soon pass, and God is always in control. It’s all about perspective.

So is happiness a choice? I say yes.

He has chosen you and is drawing you to Himself. Will you make the choice to follow Him today?

(Afternote: I understand that the word “choice” can bring controversy. The comments attached to this post bring up some great additional points to this topic. Please be sure to read the comments after this post, and feel free to share your thoughts as well.)

Do You Hate Christmas? December 24, 2010

In the last few days I have stumbled across numerous facebook statuses from people who don’t seem too excited about the fact that it’s Christmas. They’d just as soon be at work, like any other normal day, and avoid the whole season. As I saw these statuses, I was reminded of my own past experiences with Christmas and I began to ponder the source of my own past sadness during this time. Here are a few reasons I think people get sad at Christmastime:

1) Unmet Expectations:  In a world of commercialism, a standard has been set and whether we admit it or not, we are continually comparing ourselves to this standard. We look at what other people get for Christmas gifts, we look at how their family gets together to celebrate, we look at what others are buying for their kids/friends/family, we look at what others are wearing to the Christmas parties, single people look at those who are married and feel alone, married folks w/families look at single people and wish they could be so carefree & spontaneous… the list goes on.  We get caught up in the WRONG THINGS!

2) A Deep Emptiness:  While we can make everything look great on the outside, we all know what it’s like to feel a “void” inside, like something is missing. And we all know what it’s like to try and fill it, only to find temporary relief which soon fades.  While this correlates well with the unmet expectations above, we have to take a minute to see what it is we are really expecting. After all… for an expectation to be UNMET, we must recognize that something is missing and then figure out just what WILL meet it. Have you ever tried to decide where to go out to eat, and you can’t decide what you want but you know what you don’t want? Well this is sort of the same. When we have that deep yearning for a need within us to be met, we must stop and ask “What am I expecting? What really would bring the satisfaction I am looking for?” 

3) Emotions: One thing is for sure, God gave us emotions. They are indicators of things going on deeper within. The problem with the world and with many Christians is that they allow their emotions to lead them.  Remember, they were only meant to be INDICATORS of what was going on inside, but they were never intended to be in charge. So as I think about emotions and Christmastime, I immediately think about anxiety regarding finances, buying things on a whim because it “feels good,” comparing ourselves to others as stated above and feeling “less than” or simply being frustrated by the process. If we allow these emotions to be in charge, they will surely bring us down. We will feel a constant tugging deep within even when we put on a good front. This is the indicator that something is wrong. When we say “I hate Christmas” we are really saying “I hate the way I feel at Christmastime.” Another thing that always stirred my emotions was Christmas Carols. I recall year after year I could barely stand to sing or hear them because it would stir my emotions and make me cry. I never understood that, but now I do and I’ll explain it at the end of this post.

4) Unmet Needs: The truth of the matter is, we all are longing for SATISFACTION, SIGNIFICANCE and SECURITY. These are the three most basic needs of all human beings as identified by Kenneth Boa in “Conformed to His Image.” (great book by the way)  Imagine feeling satisfied and at peace deep inside, regardless of your outward circumstances. Imagine knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are valuable, important and that you matter regardless of how anyone treats you. Imagine feeling a sense of safety and security so deep within that nothing moves you. Wow. With these three basic needs met, you can find the fulfillment in life you have always dreamed of.

5) The Big Picture: The ultimate reason people tend to be sad at Christmas time is because they do not see the big picture. They forget (or were never really taught) what this season is all about, and that is Jesus:

• Your unmet expectations are the result of a standard created by man, not God. You must renew your mind to God’s standard so you do not have false expectations that are impossible to fulfill.
• Your deep emptiness is from a God-sized hole that only He can fill. And He longs to fill it! Invite Him in!
• Your emotional instability is from a lack of understanding that God sent the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you so you don’t have to be led by emotions. This season, remember that your emotions are INDICATORS and when you feel them stirring,  turn toward Christ to help identify the root (possibly unmet expectations, anger, unforgiveness, etc.) Ask God: “Why do I feel this way at Christmastime? Why do I hate Christmas?” Only Jesus can bring you true peace. God wants to heal your emotions so you can enjoy and celebrate the day He was born into the earth.
• And those Christmas Carols? Well… when you sing them, you are singing about the Lover of Your Soul, the One who loves you so much that He came to the earth as a man, laid down His life to die on a cross, and was resurrected back to life, therefore paying the penalty for your sins so you could be free. There is a supernatural anointing on those songs when they are sung and it stirs up that God-sized hole inside of you that is crying out to be filled. This season, let the stirring of your emotions cause you turn toward Jesus. After all, He is drawing you to Himself! Think about the song JOY TO THE WORLD which says “Let every heart, prepare Him room”… I never understood those words. Now I understand that the emotion I would feel when I sang them was God Himself beckoning me to prepare room for Jesus in my heart! Wow!
• And even if you’ve already accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, many times we still look to the world to give us the SATISFACTION, SIGNIFICANCE and SECURITY we all need. But GOD Himself is the only one that can meet those deep needs within you. When we learn to find our contentment IN HIM, our value IN HIM and our security IN HIM, then nothing in this world can move us. We have spent years looking for fulfillment from OUTWARD SOURCES, when all along it’s been JESUS we need. And when you invite Him into your life, He comes to dwell inside of you and you no longer have to look OUTWARD for your needs to be met. While He was born into the earth as a baby, He is no longer a baby. We must see Jesus for who He is: KING OF KINGS, LORD OF LORDS, PRINCE OF PEACE, ALMIGHTY GOD! He is seated at the right hand of the Father and is ruling and reigning over all the earth. Let Him rule and reign over your life and your emotions today!

If you have never accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you can do so today. Follow this link for more details: http://www.maryloveslife.org/A-Gift-for-You.html

This Christmas season, take your eyes off the OUTWARD things and focus your heart on the INWARD peace that comes only from Christ. Don’t let gifts, shopping, family issues, etc. bring you down! Stay focused on the fact that you are celebrating your Savior being born in the earth to set you free… the greatest display of Love ever! ALL FOR YOU! Jesus came to the earth and died on the cross because you are that valuable to Him. YOU MATTER! You are not a mistake. He loves you and wants to bring you the SATISFACTION, SIGNIFICANCE and SECURITY you so desperately desire.

So don’t let the holidays bring you down; purpose in your heart to have a Merry CHRISTmas and keep your eyes on the BIG PICTURE. When you REALLY see the big picture, Christmas will make you JOYOUS, not sad! If you’re still having trouble seeing it, ask God to help you. I promise He will.

Merry Christmas to all!

The Highway Byway Revival September 4, 2010

I thought this might bless you. I first heard this in 2004 (on a CD without any video) and it moved me so deeply it is what began my ministry in the streets. I sobbed like a baby when I heard it and it shook me for days. It comes up in my media player rotation occasionally and it did this morning… and I sobbed all over again. I’m relfecting on how, after a 2 1/2 year hiatus from street ministry, God has brought me full circle, and it is He who created this deep passion in me to reach the last, the lost and the least.

In my new role at Atlanta Outreach Project (http://www.atloutreach.org) it’s amazing when I look at our efforts in the natural to take people from the streets and put them in earthly housing, and the frustrations we have with a lack of people to volunteer, fund it or even many homeless not desiring to come in for help. On our small scale we can imagine how Jesus feels as He longs for laborers to go into the highways and byways and fill His heavenly house. It’s an amazing parallel.  

Our Savior truly understands our frustrations and our plight, for He experiences it Himself. Wow. He truly is our ever-present help in time of need.    

Do You Have A Problem??? June 26, 2010

WHAT PROBLEM COULD I POSSIBLY HAVE, you ask?

THE SAME PROBLEM that EVERYONE on this EARTH has (or had). And the even greater problem is that many people have the problem and don’t even know it’s a problem! There is something MISSING in all of us when we are born. But many people have no idea anything is missing. Yet others have reached the point of knowing that somehow, someway, their life is incomplete….there is a missing piece. AND IT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF ALL!

So what is it?  Let’s start with the problem and then I’ll give you the solution.
THE PROBLEM

1. Man (mankind) has a natural desire to GO HIS OWN WAY and to ignore God’s principles for living.

Because Adam & Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, we are all born into a state of sin by default. This “sin nature” causes us to live selfishly.

2. Because of our “sin nature” we believe the LIES of our enemy just like Adam & Eve did.

“Look out for #1.  Do your own thing.”

“If it feels good, do it – regardless of what God says about it.”

“It’s my life and I’ll do what I please!”

3. Because of our “sin nature” we have a BROKEN relationship with God.

“All of us, like sheep, have gone astray, and each of us has turned to his own way.” Isaiah 53:6

“If we say that we never sin, we are only fooling ourselves, and refuse to accept the truth.” I John 1:8

“The trouble is that your sins have cut you off from God.”    Isaiah 59:2(LB)

“All have sinned and fall short of God’s glorious ideal.”   Romans 3:23

4. When our relationship to God is not right, it causes PROBLEMS in every area of our lives.

Marriage / Relationships

Career / Finances

Eternal Destination: MOST IMPORTANTLY: If we are separated from God, we cannot go to Heaven when we die. Therefore we need a way to be restored back to God.

5. When people have problems, they often try many different ways of COPING before turning to God.

“There are ways that SEEM right to man, but they only end in death.”  Proverbs 16:25

Worry / Anxiety / Fear

Drugs/Alcohol

Sexual Promiscuity

Spending Money / Acquiring Possessions

Just trying to live a “good and honest” life

WHAT’S THE SOLUTION?

1. Good News! JESUS has already taken care of your sin problem!

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Romans 6:23

“I AM THE WAY, the Truth, and the Life.  No one comes to the Father, except THROUGH ME!”  John 14:6

“God is on one side and all people are on the other side, and Christ Jesus is between them to bring them together, by giving His life for all mankind.”  1 Timothy 2:5 (LB)

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8  

2. GOSPEL means “Good News!” Jesus is the way back to God! That’s the Good News! 

The Way is a Person! God Himself came to earth as a human being to bring us back to Himself.  If any other way would have worked, Jesus Christ would not have had to come.    God did this for us because He loves us and wants us to know Him. 

3. It’s up to YOU to receive and accept this free gift! God has already done His part to restore our relationship to Him.  He took the initiative.  Now He waits for each of us to individually accept what He has done for us by receiving this salvation and accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

4. Even when we realize that our deepest need is GOD, we often try wrong ways of getting to know Him:

“My grandmother/mother was a Christian so…”

“It doesn’t matter what you believe, just be sincere…”

“I’ll just give up all my bad habits…”

“I’ll work real hard and earn it…”

“I’ll be religious and go to church, then I’ll be okay…”

5. SALVATION is the only way!

The GOOD NEWS is that our relationship to God CANNOT be restored by anything we do, but only on the basis of what Jesus already did for us!

 

SO HOW DO I RECEIVE SALVATION?

1. CONFESS that God has not had first place in your life and ASK Him to forgive your sins.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”    1 John 1:9

2. BELIEVE in your heart that Jesus died on the cross to pay for your sins and that He rose from the grave and is alive today.

“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”   Romans 10:9

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”  Acts 4:12

3. INVITE Jesus Christ to be the SAVIOR of your soul and the LORD (director) of your life.

“To all who receive Him, He gives the right to become children of God.  All we need to do is to trust Him to save us.  All those who believe this are reborn!… not a physical rebirth… but from the will of God!”  John 1:12-13

“Jesus says, ‘Listen! I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in…. ’” Revelations 3:30

4. ACCEPT God’s free gift of salvation!  You cannot EARN it!

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith– and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast.”  Ephesians 2:8-9

 To accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, here is a sample prayer… just pray it and mean it in your heart:

Lord, I admit that I am a sinner. I invite You to come into my heart and into my life and change me. I believe that You are the Son of God and you died for my sins. I repent and ask forgiveness. I want to be reunited with my Heavenly Father and live my life according to the plan You had for me when You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I believe I was created by You for a purpose and I want to spend the rest of my days living that purpose. I commit myself to You now and surrender my life to You. Please forgive all of my sins and cleanse me from my past. In Jesus Name, AMEN.

If you just prayed that prayer and meant it, you are now a Child of God and have been redeemed from your sinful nature! You now have the power of God inside of you to overcome your past. He heals our lives from the inside out! Get yourself an easy to read version of the Bible and start with the book of John. You will begin to learn about who God is and build a relationship with Him.

It is important that you get plugged in to a life-giving church and build Christian relationships – you have to nurture and cultivate the Seed of God that has been planted inside of you. God’s pure and Holy Spirit now lives inside of you and the goal is to learn to recognize the Holy Spirit and let Him lead and guide you.  (If you need help finding a life-giving church in your area, please let me know and I will try to help locate one for you. Just because the sign says “CHURCH” doesn’t always mean its producing life-change in people.)

God is real and he wants to have a personal relationship with you. It’s not about rules and regulations, it’s about taking time daily to sit quietly and talk to God. Be sure to take time to listen too. Soon you will begin to sense that still, small voice putting impressions on your heart and mind. He loves you so much that He sent His Son do die so He could have this relationship with you!

What Are The Odds? Interesting Facts about Resurrection Day (Easter)… April 4, 2010

Its Resurrection Day morning (Easter Sunday) as I’m typing this and I thought I would share a few interesting facts about this day in history.  While it is significant because its the day Jesus rose from the grave, this day is also the historical day of many other events too.  My brief investigation has yielded some interesting facts, however a more scholarly study is definitely in order. But here are a few tidbits for you today…

It’s amazing to realize that the Israelites practiced various feasts and festivals for thousands of years before Jesus was ever born, and they had no idea the prophetic significance of what they were doing. Here are a couple of interesting facts you may enjoy. The symbolism to Christ and the evidence of God’s sovereignty are AMAZING!

The 1st Feast, Passover, originated back in Exodus 12 when the Lord was delivering the Israelites from Egypt. The night before he delivered them He instructed them to sacrifice a lamb and put the blood on their doorposts so the Angel of Death would “passover” their home and not kill the first born males in their household. Of course this is symbolic of the blood of Jesus that would cause death to “passover” us so we could have eternal life. The details are incredible:
-  They had to keep the lamb in their home for 4 days before killing it. The purpose was to form a bond with the animal so it was truly a sacrifice.
-  The lamb had to be without defect.
-  They were to eat the meat along with bitter herbs and bread without yeast. (The bitter herbs were symbolic of the bitterness of slavery and the yeast was symbolic of sin)
-  They were to eat the meal in haste “with their cloak tucked into their belt and their sandals on their feet”. (This was an act of faith, expressing their belief that the Lord was truly about to deliver them from slavery and they needed to be ready to leave at any moment.)

The 2^nd Feast is the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The Lord told them that for seven days following the Passover, they should not eat bread with yeast (or leaven). They should only eat unleavened bread.  The Lord then led them out of Egypt via the Red Sea, even though it was not the shortest route, for in His sovereignty He knew the shortest route would have put them in danger. When they came to the Red Sea, they thought they were doomed. They immediately got angry with Moses and complained they wished they would have never left Egypt. This complaining and murmuring delayed their journey by 40 years!

The 3rd Feast is the Feast of Firstfruits. There was an “Early Firstfruits” and a ‘Latter Firstfruits.” The days in between were known as “counting the Omer” and they would count the 50 days until the Latter Firstfruits which was the 4^th Feast known as the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost.  During Early Firstfruits the firstfruits waved before the Lord were in the natural state—an omer of barley (and wheat, grapes, olives, etc.). During Latter Firstfruits (the Day of Pentecost) the firstfruits waved before the Lord were in the prepared state—two loaves of bread (and wine, oil, etc.).

Some interesting facts about the day that Early Firstfruits is celebrated are that it was also the very same day (Nissan 17) that:
-  Noah’s ark came to rest safely on Mt. Ararat (Gen 8:4)
-  The Israelites entered Egypt INTO a life of slavery (Ex. 12:40-41)
-  The Red Sea was parted and they crossed over on dry land (finally delivered OUT of slavery from the Egyptians) (Ex. 3:18 5:3)
-  Joshua led Israel into the Promised Land (Josh 5)
-  God promised to give them the city of Jericho and they began their 7 days of marching (this was during the Feast of Unleavened Bread). (Josh 5: 13-6:20)
-  Hezekiah cleansed the temple (800 years after entering the Promised Land) (2 Chron. 29:1-28)
-  Queen Esther saved the Jews from elimination. (Esther 3:12, 5:1)
-  The Resurrection of Jesus!

The odds of just two of these things happening on the exact same day of the Hebrew calendar are 1 in 129,000. The odds of ALL of them happening on the same exact day are 1 in 783,864,876,960,000,000 (783 quadrillion, 864 trillion, 876, billion, 960 million!)

Coincidence?

I think not.

Throughout history and throughout the biblical accounts, God has been pointing to Jesus and setting up His plan that could never be manufactured by man.  So as you reflect on this day that He rose from the grave I ask you… how can you deny His existence or His love for you? Receive Him today as your Lord and Savior and let Easter be more than candy, eggs and bunnies, but truly a day of celebration for you from this day forward!

(For information on how to receive the incredible gift Jesus provided for you, click on this link: http://www.maryloveslife.org/A-Gift-for-You.html

HAPPY RESURRECTION DAY!

(All of these facts were taken from http://heartofwisdom.com/Acrobat/BHPreview2.0.pdf )

Who Killed Jesus? April 1, 2010

(Written on the Thursday before Easter, 2010)

My heart is burdened tonight with the overwhelming love and devotion that Jesus has for us. I pray you will read on and take a moment to reflect on the importance of this week. While there are differences in beliefs as to exactly what happened on which day of the week, I’m asking you to look beyond those details to the greatest love story ever told… the story of the One who laid His life down for you. I don’t want you to think of Jesus in terms of “He died for the sins of the world,” I want you to read this and think in terms of “He died for YOUR sins.” Make it personal… because it is.

Scholars estimate that over 2000 years ago tonight (Thursday), Jesus began to drink from the cup that He wished could pass from Him…..

The gospel accounts tell us that Jesus had just finished the Last Supper with His disciples. (Today we call this the Lord’s Supper or Communion. He was sharing with them the bread and the wine and telling them the symbolism to his body and blood.) He then washed their feet and told them that His appointed time was near. They were very confused and unsure of what He meant by all of this. And then He told them that one of them would betray Him. Just imagine yourself in Jesus’ shoes… you’re sitting and having this meal with 12 of your closest friends, yet you know that one is about to betray you and bring you great suffering. Even so, you wash his feet and serve him…

Late in the evening they go to the garden of Gethsemane and Jesus asks them to pray with him. While He prays, they fall asleep. And at the same time His once devoted follower, Judas Iscariot, (who just shared a meal with Him and had his feet washed by Him) is in the process of leading the Pharisee’s to arrest Him, in exchange for 30 pieces of silver.

He [Jesus] withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”  An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.  And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. Luke 22:41-44

Suddenly they were there to arrest Jesus. Judas Iscariot had led them to him. The gospels tell us that Peter jumped up and pulled out his sword, cutting off the ear of one of the arresting soldiers. But Jesus stopped him… (and healed the guys ear by the way!)

Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?” John 18:11

Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” Matt 26:53-54

NOTHING was going to stop Jesus from fulfilling the will of His Father! NOTHING! Remember, Jesus is God. He had the power to stop it all at any moment. But He didn’t. Why not? Hebrews 12:2 tells us that it was for the JOY set before Him… and that JOY was YOU. He knew that without a Savior you would be eternally separated from the Father. You would experience eternal damnation to the pit of hell. He HAD to shed the blood necessary to atone for your sins… YOU are the JOY set before Him!

So the next day, now known as GOOD FRIDAY (good for us, not so good for Jesus), He proceeded on His journey to Golgotha, the Place of the Skull.

Everything was coming against Him.
Peter, James and John had just fallen asleep after He asked them to pray.
Judas had betrayed Him for 30 pieces of silver.
Simon Peter would deny even knowing Him three times!

Throughout the wee morning hours and into the (Good Fri) day…

His enemies would beat Him, whip Him and scourge Him.
His enemies would mock Him.
His enemies would lie about Him.

He had every opportunity to turn away.
He had every opportunity to do His own will.
But…for the joy set before Him, He endured the cross and was crucified….

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34

Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. Luke 23:46

Then they buried Him in the tomb. The disciples weren’t sure what to make of this. How could this be? They believed He had come to be their Savior and King, yet it appeared He had been defeated.

But on the third day, He rose from the grave! Jesus appeared before them and said:

“This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Luke 24:44

Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”  Luke 24:45-49

And soon He ascended into Heaven to the right hand of the Father. Because of the blood that He shed, death was conquered forever just as He said it would be!  Fifty days after his crucifixion, on the Day of Pentecost, He sent the Holy Spirit as promised to lead us, guide, comfort us, teach us and remind us of all we need to know.

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.  John 14:25-26

Interestingly enough, I had to go to church every Sunday as a child. But never once did anyone explain to me that I needed a Savior. Sure, I heard about Jesus. But He was nothing more that some religious figure. He certainly had no bearing on my life day to day. I personally thought that all those people who went to church just needed to get a life! What was the point, I wondered? I certainly couldn’t see one.

Then one day… January 31, 1999 I heard the story. That Adam and Eve sinned in the garden of Eden and all of mankind from that point on was born with a sinful nature. A sinful nature means that you are separated from God.  And I don’t care who you are… if you haven’t invited Jesus Christ into your life as your Lord and Savior to forgive your sins, you are still separated from God.

Being a good person or living a nice life won’t reconnect you to God. And if you’re separated from God, you will not go to Heaven when you die. Children who are not old enough to understand and make a personal decision will go to Heaven. But once you are able to decide for yourself, you must acknowledge His love, His grace and His forgiveness of your sins and receive this in your life. And while sin entered the world in one garden, you must acknowledge what happened in another garden… Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus sealed His commitment to the Father’s will to save your soul… where they arrested Him and He began His journey to the Place of the Skull. There must be a moment of surrender in your heart where you truly acknowledge Him as Lord. This is the only way to no longer be separated from God.

This is why Jesus had to endure the pain He endured! It was the ONLY way! And remember… it IS personal. He did this for YOU. God may be pulling at your heart right now as you are reading this… He may be saying… “I love you, I died for you, I long to be part of your life and no longer be separated from you.” It doesn’t matter where you’ve been or what you’ve done. He loves because He loves you. Not because of your performance. (In fact the majority of the New Testament was written by someone who used to murder Christians!)

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  John 3:16

…if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Rom 10:9

Put your trust in Him today. Here’s how: http://www.maryloveslife.org/A-Gift-for-You.html

No one killed Jesus. He laid down His life for YOU.

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

He loves you more than anyone else ever will (or can.)

Happy Resurrection Day…. truly the most important day of all.

PS) The enemy will use people to try and stop God’s plan for your life, and he may make things difficult for a season. But God will allow certain things to bring Himself glory in the end. Learn from Jesus to say “Forgive them Father for they don’t know what they’re doing (or what they’ve done)”  Keep pressing on for the JOY set before you…. the fulfillment of God’s will in your life and God getting the glory!

If an earthquake or tsunami hit your home today would you go to Heaven? Are you 100% sure? February 27, 2010

If an earthquake or tsunami hit your home today would you go to Heaven? Are you 100% sure????

Matt 24:3-8  “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you.  For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.  You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.  Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.

(interestingly enough, the city this earthquake struck in Chile is called “Concepcion” which means ‘to conceive.” and look a this historical record of earthquakes since the year 2000 and how they are increasing in number each year… http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_21st_century_earthquakes )

The economy, earthquakes, tsunami’s…our foundations are being shaken. You CANNOT depend on anything except the One True God… Jesus Christ.  

Heb 12:25-27 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?  At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken-that is, created things-so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

Prov 10:25 When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever.

When you have eternal life through Jesus Christ, even death can’t have you!

1 Cor 15:53-55 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”

Make sure you’re going to Heaven today –> http://www.maryloveslife.org/A-Gift-for-You.html

PUT YOUR HOPE AND FAITH IN HIM TODAY! It’s not about what you can do to earn His love and forgiveness, it’s about what He’s already done on the cross at Calvary. Receive eternal life today by putting your trust and hope in Jesus.

Enjoy your comfortable home and lifestyle, but DO NOT depend on it or take it for granted. These things cannot be your foundation of peace, hope and security. Without a relationship with your Creator you will perish sooner or later. (and I’m not just talking about “going to church”. There are plenty of people who are going to church that do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ… see below)

Time is short, and I believe there is a message in this shaking:

As in Hosea and Joel, the book of Amos warns of God’s impending judgment on sin. It begins with Israel’s enemies and continues with Judah and Israel themselves. God has reached his breaking point and will not tolerate sin any longer. He calls us to account for our sins. He is even tired of the “religious show” in churches and He’s looking for sincere devotion. Simply coming to “church”, paying tithes and going through the motions isn’t cutting it.

He reminds us that He is the reason our cupboards are bare and the water has dried up. He is trying to make us hungry and thirsty for Him. No matter what He does… earthquakes, droughts, or plagues, many continue to ignore Him, going through the motions and leaning on their own strength and understanding.

But while giving His severe warnings, He continually reminds us all: SEEK ME AND LIVE! He reminds us of who He is…and who we are. We exist in the midst of a cosmos He created, and we only wake each morning because of His divine sovereignty. And He can destroy it all as easily as He made it.

I think it’s interesting that He says “They abhor him who speaks with integrity” (Amos 5:10) or as the Message puts it… “People hate this kind of talk. Raw truth is never popular.” This is so true today that leaders and pastors who walk in integrity and challenge the church with the bold, raw truth are not popular. Too many today prefer a church where they can come and hear a word to tickle their ears and then stay friends with the world and the world’s ways. The Message says in 5:14 “You talk about God… being your best friend. Well, live like it, and maybe it will happen.”

God is fed up with church being about everything but Him. It’s all a performance. It’s all a place to showcase talent rather than Him. It’s all about living the high-life and making ministry a luxury profession. The church used to be about Him and He’s letting it all fall apart to call them back to himself.

But God gives in to our cries for mercy. The remnant which does put Him first needs to pray and intercede for the rest of the church. And it is powerful how Amos makes it clear that he never sought for this job of prophet. But when God spoke, he had to obey, BECAUSE GOD WAS FIRST in his life, not the church, priests or people. And he delivered this message of judgment which brought him criticism, isolation and rejection at every turn.

In spite of God’s judgment, He still promises never to wipe out Israel (the church) completely. But He does promise to wipe out the sin. And He promises to restore the ruins left in the wake of sin. He promises the church will once again be strong, overflowing with blessings, and be fruitful… and once again accomplishing God’s purposes and not their own.