Behold!

Behold the cross!
The Lamb has died.
God in flesh
Now crucified.

They did not take
His life away.
He laid it down
Our debt to pay.

He bore it all–
Rejection, shame,
The hate, the jeers,
The body’s pain.

So all who would
Redeemed might be
And free from sin–
Forever free.

Behold the tomb!
It’s empty, bare
Except for grave cloths
Lying there.

Jesus rose,
Proved He’s the One–
Messiah, King,
God’s own Son.

Come, He calls,
And follow Me.
Life from above
You can receive.

Full life now
And ever more
With our triune God,
Savior, Lord.

GIVING THANKS EVEN WHEN IT’S HARD

I’m just now getting a chance to read Pastor Tom’s Thanksgiving sermon, and even though it’s after Thanksgiving, I’m re-blogging it since I believe it’s a timely message for any time of year.

Clear Bible

Giving thanks is a way to really take hold of, and receive, what God has done and who he is. It is a key component in faith, grace and peace.

To listen to the sermon, click the play button:

To download, right click on the link (or do whatever you do on a Mac) and save it to your computer: Download Thanksgiving 2014 Sermon

THANKSGIVING

Thanksgiving has become an American holiday and tradition, but it does originate from deep, Christian spiritual roots. One of the things that I find interesting is that many of significant Thanksgiving celebrations early in the history of America took place in the middle of very difficult times.

The “original thanksgiving” took place in the New England settlement of Pilgrims during the sixteen-hundreds. It is true that at the time they celebrated, they had a good harvest. But they had just gone through an incredibly difficult…

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Link to “Why Crucifixion?” by Pastor Tom Hilpert

This is an excellent sermon by Pastor Tom. http://revth.wordpress.com/2014/04/18/why-crucifixion/
I think his closing remarks are powerful: He says that God’s grace is free to us, but it wasn’t free to God. He compared it to a diamond engagement ring being free to the girl who receives it, but it still costs a lot. And when a girl accepts an engagement ring, she’s accepting the marriage proposal. She’s entering a new relationship. Likewise, accepting God’s grace means giving your life to Jesus, committing to Him forever and entering a growing relationship with Him.

Jesus feelings about His last weeks of earthly ministry

A powerful blog post by Tanya about what Jesus did for us.

God Speaks I Listen

Oh how He loves you and me

We all know why Jesus did what He did…but do we know at what cost to Himself?

Jesus prayed to His Father before He was crucified…..

Like 22: 41-44 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, ⁴² “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” ⁴³ An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. ⁴⁴ And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

Mathew 26:36-39   Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.

³⁷ And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.

³⁸ Then saith he…

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Link to Did Jesus Really Come to Bring Peace on Earth?

I’m just now reading Pastor Tom’s Christmas sermon,

DID JESUS REALLY COME TO BRING PEACE ON EARTH?.

It focused on Jesus’ mother Mary and really got me thinking. What a price Mary paid to submit to God’s will and plan! Oh that I would have such humility, trust, and submissive spirit! What a crown she must have!

The sermon reminded me of the hymn, “I Gave My Life for Thee”-

http://www.smallchurchmusic3.com/index.php?StartLetter=I%20gave%20my%20life%20for%20thee

The song talks about what Jesus gave up to ransom me and the glory He left in order that I might have eternal life with the triune God. It asks what I’ve given up or left for Jesus. I look at how I’ve lived, and I’m afraid that all too often I’ve clung to my comfort or “walked according to my flesh” instead of according to the Spirit. So I asked for God’s forgiveness and prayed that through the mighty power of His Holy Spirit working in me, He would change me. I asked Him to teach me the humility and sacrificial love of Christ.

 

What Jesus Siblings might have thought of Him

Wonderful post by Tanya on “God Speaks, I Listen.”

God Speaks I Listen

Mathew  13:55-56 Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? ⁵⁶ Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” ⁵⁷ And they took offense at him.

 Jesus was about 16 years old when His brothers and sisters were at home while He was out teaching in the synagogue. 

James:  You know we have to do not only our chores but His too!  It’s not fair!!

Simon:  I know ….all this teaching and preaching stuff because He’s supposed to be… the Son of God!  Yeah right!

Sister 1:  Who’s His real daddy anyway?  Our father is Joseph and mother says Jesus Father is God.  How in the world could that be possible?  Come on now!

Judas:  I think He’s just their favorite child and I am not going to bow down…

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Wise Men

Excellent post by Lori Schultz telling the account of the magi’s visit to Bethlehem and reminding us of the purpose of Jesus’ coming.

Lori Schulz

It’s always neat to hear the story of the wise men at Christmas time.

The wise men saw a special star shining brightly in the sky the night that Jesus was born.  They knew it meant something important, but they didn’t know what.  Until they did some research.  As they studied they learned that the star marked the coming of a new King.  When they realized how special this new King was, that He was the one that God had promised to send to show everyone in the world how much God loves them, they wanted to go see Him.  They were willing to do whatever it took to find that baby that was born to be King.  They packed up their things and followed the star for months.  And months.  And months.  They kept following that star in the sky.  Until finally the star was above them and they…

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Note to My Blog Readers

Note to my readers, and especially those who’ve encouraged me by “liking” or commenting on my posts:

I plan to get back to posting devotions on my blog in a week or two. Like many, I’ve been busy with Christmas activities (including preparing, printing and mailing my annual “Journal Treasures” booklet in lieu of Christmas cards).

Thanks to all those who follow my blog, and may you have a truly blessed “Holiday Season” (I would say Christmas, but that was yesterday.). And may 2014 be a time of your drawing nearer to Christ and growing in receiving and sharing His love.

With prayers for blessings for each,

Tricia

Is Jesus the reason for YOUR season?

Tanya expresses some excellent thoughts about Christmas.

God Speaks I Listen

Is the season the reason for your celebration?

Has this turned into a season without a reason?

Such questions to ponder….

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

Jesus Christ commands us to celebrate one thing and that was to always remember His sacrifice on the cross.  There is no command to celebrate Christmas or a specific birth date.   I know that God does not mind that we do celebrate Christmas because it brings glory to the name of Jesus.   Even though historical evidence points to another time of the year for Jesus birth, I feel it’s OK that we celebrate it on December 25^th.  No bah hum-bug here!   We  Christians do celebrate Christmas and we’re just so excited that Jesus Christ came to save mankind!

It was a tremendous event….Jesus Christ the Son of…

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Thanksgiving Day Reblog

Yes, how wonderful that we Americans do have Thanksgiving Day set aside to thank the Lord who has heaped blessings upon blessings on us. Unfortunately, much of Thanksgiving is now overshadowed by focus on financial gain or getting the best deals, to wit, Black Friday to Cyber Monday, starting the sales Thanksgiving morning or even the week before and ending some time around New Year’s Day. Nevertheless, for those of us who still remember that Thanksgiving is a time for giving thanks to God and that Jesus is the reason for the Season, these days acknowledged are great reminders of the One from whom everything good comes. Thanks Anne for this excellent post.

Freedomborn

One Thanksgiving Day a family was seated around their table, looking at the annual holiday Turkey. From the oldest to the youngest, they were to express their praise.When they came to the 8-year-old in the family, he began by looking at the turkey and expressing his thanks to the turkey, saying although he had not tasted it he knew it would be good.After that rather novel expression of thanksgiving, he began with a more predictable line of credits, thanking his mother for cooking the turkey and his father for buying the turkey. But then he went beyond that. He joined together a whole hidden multitude of benefactors, linking them with cause and effect.He said, “I thank you for the Checker at the grocery store who checked out the turkey. I thank you for the grocery store people who put it on the shelf. I thank you for…

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