Tuesday, April 23, 2019

BREAK FORTH IN SINGING

Photographer Renie Brandow 

Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break 
forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD 
hath comforted his people, and will have mercy 
upon his afflicted. But Zion said, The LORD 
hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten 
me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, 
that she should not have compassion on the 
son of her womb? yea, they may forget, 
yet will I not forget thee.  Behold, I have 
graven thee upon the palms of my 
hands; thy walls are continually before 
me.  Thy children shall make haste; thy 
destroyers and they that made thee waste 
shall go forth of thee. Lift up thine eyes 
round about, and behold: all these gather 
themselves together, and come to thee. As I 
live, saith the LORD, thou shalt surely clothe 
thee with them all, as with an ornament, and 
bind them on thee, as a bride doeth.

Isaiah 49:13-18



Monday, April 22, 2019

LOOK TO ME

Photo provided by Steve / Donna Rogers 

Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them 
take counsel together: who hath declared this 
from ancient time? who hath told it from that 
time? have not I the LORD? and there 
is no God else beside me; a just God and 
a Saviour; there is none beside me. Look 
unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of 
the earth: for I am God, and there is 
none else.

Isaiah 45:21-22


Sunday, April 21, 2019

THE NAPKIN TELLS A STORY



…..and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself.  John 20:7  

Today being Easter weekend we heard many songs and sermons about the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  It is so easy to get caught up in purchasing new Easter clothing, coloring eggs, and planning a picnic with the family that we miss out on important things.

Have you ever thought about the napkin that was left folded inside the tomb?  

Have you ever wondered why the Savior of the world would come out of the burial cloths that were wound around his body and then take the time to stop and fold the napkin that covered his face? 

Does it matter what this piece of fabric looks like laying there?

Yes, it does matter.

Why not just leave the napkin laying on top of the heap of burial cloths already lying there?

Why not wad it up and throw it over into the corner?

Why not take it with him as he was leaving for later use?

Why fold it?

The Jewish boys that were being trained knew the meaning of this napkin being folded neatly and laid aside. 

Today we rush past everything in life toward the next event.  The Jewish people learned the symbolic meaning of everything and didn't live their lives in a haphazard way. 

As a Jewish boy was training he would learn that serving a master was a great privilege and the boy was to keep his eye on the master. As the master would sit to eat he would use his napkin and when he finished he would wipe his beard, face and hands with the napkin.  He would then lay it aside and when he laid the napkin on the table without a word being said the young boy knew his master had completed his meal and it was time for the boy to enter and clean the table up. 

The young Jewish boy was also trained to watch and if the master folded his napkin and laid it on the table, it meant the master was going to do something and would return, so the young boy was not to clean the table.  The boy was to leave the table as is.  For himself, he was to stay and watch until the master returned to complete his meal.  

When Jesus rose out of the burial clothes, he turned, picked up the napkin and took the time to fold it and lay it to the side.  

When he died on the cross, He said, "It is Finished."  but at this point he is telling us something very deep.  "My friend, I am coming back again so keep your eyes on the master." 

Where do you have your eyes fixed today?  

There are many who will miss the Master's message but the greatest m

The message for us to learn isn't where the golden egg is hidden but what has caused our eyes to be hidden from the truth of the gospel of Christ.  

He will return and he told us so in many ways!

Will you be watching and waiting for the master when he comes?

Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.  Matthew 24-42-44

Friday, April 19, 2019

BEHOLD THE FATHER'S LOVE

Photo provided by Donna Long 

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath 
bestowed upon us, that we should be called 
the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth 
us not, because it knew him not.  Beloved, 
now are we the sons of God, and it doth not 
yet appear what we shall be: but we know 
that, when he shall appear, we shall be like 
him; for we shall see him as he is. And 
every man that hath this hope in him 
purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

I John 3:1-3


Tuesday, April 16, 2019

HE PROMISED US ETERNAL LIFE

Photographer Geoff Fierce 

Monday, April 15, 2019

REMEMBERING WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED

Photo provided by Bettina Buch Booth


Whosoever denieth the Son, the same 
hath not the Father: (but) he that 
acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father 
also  Let that therefore abide in you, 
which ye have heard from the beginning. 
If that which ye have heard from the 
beginning shall remain in you, ye also 
shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
And this is the promise that he hath promised 
us, even eternal life. These things have I
 written unto you concerning them that seduce
 you. But the anointing which ye have received 
of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any 
man teach you: but as the same anointing 
teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is 
no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall
abide in him.  And now, little children, abide 
in him; that, when he shall appear, we may 
have confidence, and not be ashamed before 
him at his coming.

I John 2:23-28

Sunday, April 14, 2019

MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR THEE

Photo provided by Leroy Ochoa 

For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, 
that it might depart from me. And he said 
unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: 
for my strength is made perfect in weakness. 
Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in 
my infirmities, that the power of Christ may
rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in
infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities,
in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s 
sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

II Corinthians 12:8-10