Countdown to Easter Celebration - Final Days

It's Good Friday.  A day of sorrow, mingled with joy.  For those who know how the story ends, we shed tears for the sins of man, yet rejoice for what is yet to come.  Celebrate what Christ did for you this weekend.  Share His love with someone who needs Him.  Below are three videos, one is a great explanation of the events that took place.  The other two, are songs put to clips from The Passion of the Christ, two songs that move me... a movie that I still can't bring myself to watch.  Happy Easter everyone! 

From the Last Supper, to the Garden, to the Cross...this video is a dramatic retelling of the events. 

Countdown to Easter Celebration - Day 6

Countdown to Easter Celebration - Day 7

Matthew 21:12-17, Mark, 11:15-19, Luke 19:45-48
After Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem via donkey,  Jesus enters into the temple, where people were gathering for Passover.  It was custom to purchase an animal to sacrifice.  In order to purchase these animals, anyone not "local" would need to exchange their currencies for the local currency.  It was not out of the ordinary to see moneychangers and those selling animals in the outer courts of the temple.  When Jesus becomes angry and begins to toss tables and chairs, He claims "it is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves!"

Thieves rob people.  Were the moneychangers and animal sellers robbing people?  Maybe they were charging outrageous rates because they could, because they knew people would need to purchase their sacrifice.  In the name of religion, they may have been robbing people. We do know that the profits made in the temple were governed by the Sadducee.... and we recognize the Sadducee as wealthy thieves. 

Does this have to do with the fig tree that Jesus cursed around the same time He cleansed the temple?  The fig tree looked innocent enough, but when Jesus wanted to eat of its fruit, He saw it had none.  It only had leaves.  The Amplified bible tells us that Fig trees bear fruit and leaves at the same time.  Most other fruit bearing trees bear leaves then fruit.  So we know this fig tree should have fruit since it had leaves.  Because it bears no fruit, but looks like it should, was it a fake? 

We see people who fake Christianity all the time.  They talk the talk, but don't walk the walk.  They sit in church on Sundays, make statements about how faithful they are, how blessed they are....but we know the decisions they make outside of the church walls.  We know we cannot call on them to help in times of need.  We avoid them because they are hard to get along with or maybe their constant negativity drains us. 

If we have leaves, we must bear fruit.  If we pray for blessings, we must be God's arms blessing others.  If we pray for healing, we must be the feet visiting the sick.  If we pray for forgiveness, we must be willing to forgive.  If you pray in Jesus name, does your conduct match that name?

Jesus wasn't angry in the temple, He was passionate.  He was passionate about His Father's house.  Today, the Father's house is inside you.  Are you as passionate about that house as Jesus was?

Countdown to Easter Celebration - Day 9 & 10

Mary, Martha, and Lazarus lived in Bethany, a town just miles outside of Jerusalem. Bethany was a town about to see the wondrous Glory of God at work in a man named Lazarus. 

 Mary and Martha cared for their brother Lazarus greatly, and when he became ill they sent for the One they knew could help him, Jesus.  Their message was simple:  "Lord, behold, he who You love is sick"  They didn't beg and plead, they didn't go into detail about symptoms, they simply stated the one fact, they simply stated a need...and believed God to meet that need His way.  They didn't tell Jesus how much Lazarus had loved Him or done for Him, they knew Jesus loved Lazarus, unconditionally.
 Two days after hearing the news, Jesus tells the disciples they will make their way to Lazarus, passing through places that desired to stone Jesus.  What did Jesus know about the two days He waited?  Did He wait so that He could perform a greater miracle than the healing everyone had already seen? Do we base God's love on the time it takes for Him to "pull through for us" ....

Martha, runs to meet Jesus as soon as she hears He is coming.  Lazarus had died 4 days ago. Martha says to Jesus " Lord if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You."  Jesus responds to Martha by telling her that her brother will rise again.  Martha knows understands the last day prophecies, she knows Lazarus will rise again in the resurrection of the last day.  Martha seems conflicted with doubt and belief.  She believes Jesus has the ear of God, but doesn't believe that her brother can be alive again until the last day. 

Jesus responds with His famous words " I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in Me though he may die, he shall live.  And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die..."  Time is not an issue for Jesus. He was life, standing there in front of Martha. Even as this life on earth may pass, Christ offers eternal life. 

Martha secretly tells her sister, Mary, that Jesus has arrived.  Jews had come to mourn the death of Lazarus, the same Jews that wished to stone Jesus.  When Mary finds Jesus, she too makes the same claim as Mary, and falls to His feet.  Those that followed Mary were weeping too.  Jesus was troubled.  Jesus wept.  Jesus felt what we feel...he cared and He mourned as we do.  He knows the sorrow we feel....if He had not experienced this as a man, He could not by our sympathetic Saviour. 

Jesus moves toward the tomb that held Lazarus, and Martha, still struggling with her doubt informs Him that surely the body stinks now after 4 days.  Jesus reminds her that she needs to only believe to see the Glory of God.  Jesus moves forward with his intentions.  He lifts up a prayer of thanksgiving that the Father has heard Him, a prayer said out loud, so that those around heard His communication with God.  Then Jesus calls Lazarus forth. 

We know the rest of the story.  Lazarus is resurrected.  Death is turned to life. 
Thank you Jesus for calling forth life, for breathing life into us.  Thank you for offering us a new life after death, eternally.  Thank you for not blessing me based on my love for You but because you love me.  You know my needs today Lord, I trust you to meet them, Your way, in Your timing.  I will wait.
AMEN

This story leads us to Palm Sunday.  Instead of typing out another story for you to read, I thought I'd let you hear the story through these videos.  Enjoy!

Need a laugh?  Learn the Palm Sunday story through the skit guys.  Great one for youth!

Countdown to Easter Celebration - Day 10

Matthew 16:13-17:13, Mark 8:27-9:1 & 9:2-13, Luke 9:18-36

The 12 disciples have been travelling with Jesus, seeing miracle after miracle.  They've had turning moments, one moment in particular involved just the 12 and Jesus and a boat.  Many have turned their backs on Jesus, but the 12 remain.  They have now begun to believe that Jesus is the Messiah....but yet there is still disorder in the cities, in government, in families.  Many are questioning "who is this Jesus?"  In a quiet moment with His 12, Jesus asks of them "who do people say that the Son of Man is?" They respond with what they've obviously heard on the rumor mill "John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, one of the prophets..."  But Jesus asks them another question,  "Who do YOU say that I am?"

Who do the 12 followers remaining say that Jesus is?  Only Simon Peter claims him to be the Messiah, Son of the Living God.  Do the others believe the same thing?  Maybe they still have questions at this point...

Who do you think Jesus is? 

Let's move on to a significant event in Jesus' journey to the cross....His Transfiguration. 

Jesus leads Peter, James and his brother John up a high mountain.  Here he is "transformed in front of them, and His face shone like the sun.  Even His clothes became as white as the light."  There's another figure in the bible who's face shone like the sun.  Moses.  The glory of God was reflected on Moses (Exodus).  The disciples see here the glory of God reflected on Jesus. 

Guess who appears?  Moses and Elijah.  They appear and are talking with Jesus.  Then, a voice in the cloud says:
          "THIS IS MY BELOVED SON.  I TAKE DELIGHT IN HIM.  LISTEN TO HIM!"

The disciples fall on their face in terror. 

Jesus has the Glory of God reflected on Him, The Father claims Jesus as His Son.

Who do you think Jesus is?

We praise God because He is the God of order, we thank Him when He blesses us, we attempt to worship Him through the storms of life, we praise Him when we see the beauty of His creation, we recognize He put the moon and stars and sun in their place, we praise Him because He formed us in our mother's womb, We thank Him for sending us the Holy Spirit to convict us and guide us to the straight and narrow....

God became one of us.  He put on flesh and walked this earth in human form.  That's a hard thing to comprehend, a hard thing to recognize Him for. 

I can just imagine Peter's revelation as he watched Jesus transfigure into the glory of God and heard the Lord's voice... "This man who encouraged me to go on, this man who sat with me when I was lonely, this man who dried my tears...I have touched Him.  I have walked with Him. All along... I was with God!  Jesus is God!  ...."   Can you feel the excitement welling up inside just as it probably did in Peter? 

Who do you think Jesus is?

I pray that you continue in your search for who you believe Jesus is.  No man comes to the Father, but by Jesus Christ.  Seek first the Kingdom of God...  You'll find your answers in God's Word.  We need to see His Glory reflected in others.  We are blessed to have a place to meet and share with each other that Jesus is God! 

Today:  Make it a point to attend a church service this weekend.  Put it on your calendar if you don't already, regularly attend.  There are people there who want to worship with you and proclaim who Jesus is with you.  When you've prepared in your heart who Jesus is, then you are ready to comprehend exactly what He did for you.....

Countdown to Easter Celebration - Day 11

Jesus fed the 5000, walked on water, and upon arriving on shore, was bombarded by people who just wanted a touch.  All that touched the hem of his garment were healed.  Those that had been fed by the 5 loaves came seeking Jesus.  Knowing he hadn't boarded the boat with the disciples, they are in wonderment when they find him on the other side of the sea.  Maybe they came expecting another meal, maybe they came ready to see Jesus lead a revolt and be crowned as king. 

Jesus begins his famous sermon on the Bread of Life. 
 Jesus says:  I did not come to fill your belly.  I came to be the bread of life. Do not seek the food that spoils, but the food that gives everlasting life. 
 The crowd asks:  What must we do?  What are our works?
Jesus replies:   The works of God are simple:  Believe in the One God sent. 
The crowd asks:  What will be your sign?  What miracle will you perform?  Our ancestors ate manna from heaven as their sign....
Jesus answers:  Moses did not give that manna, but my Father in Heaven did.  The bread of God is He who comes down and gives life.   
The crowd demands:  Give us this bread always!!
Jesus gives these words to the crowd, and to us
                 I have come to give life.  He who comes to me will never thirst, never hunger.  You have seen me, yet do not believe.  I have all that my Father gives me, and I will not cast out anyone who comes to me.  I came from heaven to do the will of my Father, not my own.  His will is that I lose none he gives me.  My Father's desire is that all who believe in the Son shall have everlasting life and will be raised on the last day. 
                  I am the bread of life.  The bread I shall give is my flesh. 

From this sermon, many of his disciples no longer followed Jesus.  Many no longer walked with Jesus. Why remain if this is not the man to make everything here on Earth right?   He's not going to overthrow the rulers and feed us daily, why keep following?  

Jesus asks the 12 if they too will walk away.  Simon Peterrises and speaks. He says "Where else will we go?  You have the words of eternal life.We have come to believe that your are the Christ, the Son of the living God"
Why did the disciples stay?  They were worldly, expecting a new kingdom here on earth.  They'd seen the miracle of the 5000 just as the crowd that had now turned their backs.  Why did the 12 stay?  If you read the story of Jesus walking on the water, the 12 were the only ones there in the boat, in the middle of the sea.  They had a turning point there in that boat.  Maybe they recognized they were the kingdom to come.  They were the change they desired in the world.  Remember their turn of hearts when all was calm that night, they went from questioning to worshipping Jesus. 

Near the end of Jesus' Bread of Life sermon, he tells the crowd that he will give of himself, that he would give up his flesh for the world.  He would die.   

Today:  Have some bread.  Bake some bread.  Think of that bread as the flesh Jesus gave us to give us eternal life.

Photo source:  allrecipes.com

Lord In Heaven, I thank you that you drew me near, that you gave me to Jesus. God, thank you that all you ask of me is to believe in your Son in order to have eternal life.  Jesus I thank you that you are my guide, my protector, food for my soul.  I thank you that you gave yourself for me.  Help me remember the bread you give Jesus, and because of that bread I must serve you by serving others.  AMEN

Countdown to Easter Celebration - Day 12

Matthew 14:22-33, Mark 6:45-52, John 6:16-21

After feeding the 5000, Jesus sent his disciples in a boat across the Sea of Galilee. Jesus, however remained behind.  He sent the multitudes away and retreats to a mountain to be alone, to spend time in prayer.  Even Jesus, in all his majesty, had to find time to be alone with his Father. 

In the night, the disciples encounter a storm on the water. The boat was already in the middle of the sea and the disciples began to struggle with their rowing.  We know these men to be experienced fishermen.  Very well capable of navigating a boat, but they find themselves in the middle of the sea, rowing for miles, maybe for 8 or more hours. 

You will recall a similar story.  These men have been in a storm on the water before.  In that instance, Jesus was present, in the boat with with them.  They believed then, that he could surely do something.  But here, we find the disciples in a storm on the water, and Jesus is on the mountain, away from them. 

But Jesus spots them and their struggle....Jesus comes to them, walking on the water. It is the 4th watch of the night (sometime between 3am and 6am). Terrified, the disciples cry out "It is a ghost!"  In the midst of the storm, the disciples did not recognize Jesus.  Its dark, and though they do not recognize Jesus, he knows exactly where they are in the middle of the sea.  He saw them from the mountain, and came at supernatural speed at just the right moment to be with them.   

Jesus immediately replies:  "Be of good cheer: It is I, do not be afraid"

Peter still unsure yet in a panic state of mind, knowing his safety resides in being near to the Lord, says, "Lord, if it's you, command me to come to you on the water." ...asks for a command, and waits for the Lord's answer....

 

  Jesus invites Peter to come. Peter gets out of the boat and begins walking on the water toward Jesus. When Peter takes his eyes off Jesus to look at the boisterous winds and waves, he begins to sink. Peter cries out "Lord save me!"  and Jesus immediately reaches out his hand and catches Peter. Jesus asks Peter, "oh you of little faith, why did you doubt?"

 

The disciples knew Jesus could overpower demons, feed 1000's with very little, command the winds and waves...they'd been present for all these miracles.  What they still lacked, was Faith.  Faith that Jesus loved them, Faith that he was their protector. 

 

As they climb into the boat together, the storm immediately ceases. Then the disciples worship Jesus, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." They no longer questioned, they believed.   The boat was already at the shore they had intended. 

Today:  Examine what you are most fearful of.  Write it down.  Write them all down.  Write them in marker for best results.  Once you've written them, crumple the paper up.  Toss it in a sink of water, a glass of water, a bowl or a tub if you need more room.  Watch the water wash away the ink. 

Lord, I thank you that you took on all my fears.  I ask that you command me in the direction I should take and I wait, Lord, I wait for your Word.  Holy Spirit, well up inside of me a faith that can walk on water.  I pray that my eyes remain on Jesus and my feet above the storm.  In Jesus name AMEN. 

I did this activity with the kids after telling them the story of Jesus Walking on Water. 

 

Countdown to Easter Celebration - Day 13

Today's story is from all 4 Gospels.  It is the only event in Jesus' ministry recorded in all 4 New Testament Gospels. 
(Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44, Luke 9:10-17, John 6:1-15)

Jesus had recently recieved news that his dear friend and kinsmen, John the Baptist had been beheaded.  The 12 disciples had just returned from a journey.  They all were in need of some rest.  Jesus took them to the Sea of Galilee where they boarded a boat and headed for a secluded location.  However, the crowds still found them, and having compassion on the people, Jesus healed their sick and taught them about the Kingdom of God. 

When evening fell, the disciples asked Jesus to send the multitudes away so that they may eat.  But Jesus wanted to feed the people. He said "You feed them" Those people counted 5000 men.  According to Matthew, that count did not include women and children. 

Jesus asked Philip, "where can we buy these people something to eat?"  Jesus already knew how he would feed these people, but he questioned Philip to test him.  Philip answered that they did not have enough money to buy enough food for the amount of people gathered with them. 

Andrew (Simon Peter's brother) brought a boy forward who had 5 loaves of bread and 2 small fish.  But still Andrew was unsure how this would feed 5000 men. 

Jesus organized the crowd into groups of 50.  He took the loaves, looked to Heaven, blessed the bread and broke the bread.  He did the same with the fish.  The disciples dispursed the broken bread and fish to the multitudes of people.  Not only did the men eat and were full, but the women and children as well. 

When all had been fed and were full, the lefovers were collected in baskets, 12 baskets full to be exact. 

Focus on Christ's words:  "YOU FEED THEM"  What is He saying to you right now?

YOU FEED THEM. 

 Feed them what Lord? 

ME. 

How do I do that?  I'm a broken person myself.

MY BODY WAS BROKEN ON THE CROSS FOR YOU. YOU FEED THEM.

 Who Lord?

 THE BROKEN.

So, you want me to feed the broken? ? the needy? the hurting? the lonely? You want me, a broken human, to feed the other broken humans?

YOU ARE SPECIAL, YOU KNOW ME.

Yes, I know you.  I believe in you.  I put my Faith in you.

 TAKE WHAT LITTLE YOU HAVE, GIVE OF YOURSELF,
AND SEE YOUR JOY MULTIPLY

Today:  Make a meal, dessert, or loaf of bread for someone who needs Jesus. Or maybe invite someone hurting over for tea/coffee.  Give of yourself, as little as you may have, and watch your Joy multiply. 

Lord Jesus, I pray that as each Woman of Joy, gives of herself today, that you bless her offering and multiply her joy.  You fed us Lord, you were broken for us, allow us to feed others who need you.  

AMEN
 

 

Countdown to Easter - Day 14

Easter is quickly approaching and I want to emphasize the Lamb to my children more than the bunny.  It's something we always say is our goal, and we always have a family discussion about what Easter and Christmas are really about, but we still get caught up in the chocolate bunnies and colored eggs.  I guess in order to pass the True story on to my children, I really need to start with myself. 

This is and should be celebrated as the most important holiday of the year!  This is why we have Joy, because Jesus took all of our sins to the cross and tore the veil that separated us from God the Father.  We live because He died and rose again.  Rejoice!  He Lives!

Spend the next 14 days Intentionally celebrating Easter.  I'll post an Easter Challenge each day.  I'd love to see pictures and updates.  If you email me your picture of you doing the Easter celebration, I'll post them on the blog to encourage others!  I need to know I'm not the only one out there doing this!!

DAY 14 - Plant an Easter Garden. 
Don't run away!  This is a small, simple tabletop garden.

Here's our lil' garden.  I'll update with pics as the grass grows in.  I'm sure it will look a whole lot prettier then.  

 

You can do this in any plant base or basket you have you have.  You just need enough potting soil to fill it and make a mound.  Fit a small pot, laying on its side into the mound so that only the opening is showing.  This will be your tomb.  Add small rocks or pebbles in front of your tomb and a large rock to be the "stone that was rolled away".

Search for small twigs or sticks that can be shaped into a cross by breaking away some of the outer limbs. We couldn't find any so we made crosses with sticks and a glue gun.  You will need 3 crosses.  Place these on your hill. 

Add grass seed. Shade grass will do best. Sprinkle it over your mound. Spray a mist of water over the seed several times each day. Keep in a warm, sunny spot and your seeds should sprout in a week or more.

Here's another Easter Garden.  I love all the greenery! Check out the full story on this Easter Garden at A Holy Experience. 

This one is from Velvet on the Page!  Doesn't it look fantastic?  I hope our grass comes in as pretty!

pic source: Velvet on the Page