Whirrled Peas

When do you feel at peace?

 

We've all been there...either early on in our lives or just recently.  We did something, embraced something...pursued something or someone...we sought that one thing opposite of God.  For me...as a young child, it was lying.  As I reflect on my childhood...I have GREAT memories.  I was carefree...loved...cared for...and a play seeker.  I wanted to play, play, play!  I also wanted to be important.  The center of attention....the world...the universe.

 

I cannot tell you exactly why...but, I never felt "important" enough...so I'd embellish things, make things up or blatantly tell huge whoppers of a story to gain my parents' attention...adoration...time...focus...interest.

 

And, at first...it would be way fun!  Woo hooo!  My parents were paying attention to me and listening to whatever fabrication I had concocted.  Then, things would start to fall apart.  I was a lousy liar.  Sometimes I'd get in trouble...sometimes I'd get a sympathetic look...sometimes I'd get nothing.  ALWAYS, however, I would start to sweat and get that huge knot in my stomach telling me things were NOT well.  Peace was nowhere to be found.

 

Pursuing sin gives us no peace.

Obedience to God gives us peace.

Trusting God gives us peace.

 

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 4:6-7)

 

Pursue peace....
 

PlanetWisdom.com Devotionals

Peace Week: Chase It Posted: 28 Apr 2009 03:02 PM PDT "Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it." (Psalm 34:14) Peace is not a virus. It's not something you catch if you're exposed to the right set of circumstances. It's something you catch if you chase it down and wrap your hands around it. Peace is real, and God wants you to have it. The problem is most of us are really lousy peace-hunters. A) We tend to run in the direction of evil. We make selfish choices to do wrong things. We won't find any peace that way. B) We're not looking for peace; we're just hoping it finds us. "God, please put some peace in my heart. And give me a pony." God says, "Run toward the peace, and you'll catch it. Run away from me, and you'll miss it." Peace isn't a toy God gives and takes away. It comes with trusting Him enough to obey Him and rest in His arms. Run toward Him and catch it. Think: When you can't find peace, do you ever check your life to see if you're running toward sin? Do you believe that doing wrong things can keep you from having real peace? Pray: Ask God to help you to look for peace and to pursue it and to catch it by trusting Him and doing good. Do: Notice this week how sinful choices impact your ability to feel peaceful. Visit PlanetWisdom.com for more great resources!

Peace Week: Good Sleep Posted: 28 Apr 2009 05:24 AM PDT "I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety." (Psalm 4:8) It didn't seem right to leave us all hanging at the end of Mad Week. So welcome to Peace Week! Peace isn't always the opposite of being angry, but it's close. Remember what David and Paul wrote about anger last week -- get rid of it before you go to sleep; lie down in your bed, think hard, and let it go. Today's verse from David is part of the secret to doing that. David was convinced that God was his protector. He didn't have to hold on to his anger to protect himself or get even with his enemies or stand against injustice. He believed God handled all those things far better than he ever could. So he stopped being angry and went to sleep in peace. Peace comes from trusting the God who loves us to exercise His enormous power to do what's best. Think: Have you ever noticed the connection between trusting God and letting go of anger? Have you ever noticed yourself become obviously more peaceful after consciously choosing to trust God about something? Pray: Ask God to help you to trust Him so deeply that you sleep in peace even when the things that make you angry or worried aren't fixed, yet. Do: Ever have trouble sleeping because you're angry or scared or stressed out? Try memorizing this verse and repeating it to yourself while you're trying to blink out. Visit PlanetWisdom.com for more great resources!

Wrong Way! Wrong Way!

Are you quick to listen?

I mean, REALLY listen?  Not the, "I look like I'm listening...but I'm actually already thinking about my response and point of view in this conversation/argument/debate!!!"

 

There is this gal at my work one would call a "chatty Cathy."  If you get her started, she'll just ramble on and on and on. There is no "nice" way to interrupt her and tell her how busy you are and how much work you need to get done.

 

One day, she was loitering in the doorway to my office and doing her usual dog and pony show on some non-work-related point of word verbosity.  All of a sudden, it was really quiet.  I refocused on her and realized she had stopped talking.  I did a fast rewind in my mind and think she had just asked me a question.

 

"You weren't even listening to me, were you?"  She accused.

 

Caught, I chose honesty, "Actually, I'm sorry, I wasn't."

 

There was no easy way to explain to her how hard it is for me to get back into my "grove" and focus on my work when she is continually interrupting me and chatting away about non-work related things.  But, praying for continued patience, I tried once again to explain these things to her.  Now, she loiters in other co-worker's doorways and generally labels me "grumpy."

 

This gal is quick to speak (and speaks quickly) and slow to hear.  I've come to the conclusion she isn't really interested in my thoughts or opinions, she just wants to manipulate everyone's time.  Maybe it gives her this false sense of control or something.  Or something.

 

The following PW Devotional keys in on another part of the verse, "slow to anger."

 

Read on!

 

I hope to see all of you at Youth Group on Wednesday night!!!  And, for those of you going to Guatemala...we ARE meeting at 6 p.m.  Be sure to bring your type-written testimony.

 

I love you all and pray for you daily!

Me

 

PlanetWisdom.com Devotionals

Mad Week: Wrong Way! Posted: 26 Apr 2009 12:52 PM PDT "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires." (James 1:19-20) Have you ever noticed those Wrong Way signs on a divided highways or one-way streets? They're almost funny -- until you realize they're talking to you. It's like the Department of Roads is saying, "If  you've missed all of our other signs pointing you in the right direction, this is our last attempt to keep you from having a head-on crash with another car." We should almost always think of our anger like one of those Wrong Way signs. It's a warning that the way we're going won't get us to our destination. As Christians, anger should tell us, "You're on the path away from the life God wants for you." The warning also tells us that if we don't turn around soon, we're probably going to get hurt. Or hurt someone else. Or maybe both. Usually, our U-turn option includes shutting up. Thinking hard. And putting anger away, hopefully before we make eye contact with another driver. Think: What's your most common reaction to feeling angry -- to hit the brakes or step on the gas? Why do we so often do the opposite of what's wise when we feel angry? How can we change that? Pray: Ask God to help you to remember to hit the brakes the next time you start getting angry, before you do any damage to yourself or others. Do: Look for Wrong Way signs when you're driving around this week and use the reminder to ask God to help you to listen to and control your anger. Visit PlanetWisdom.com for more great resources!

Mirror Mirror...What do I see?

I hope all of you are planning to come to Youth Group on Wednesday!  AND...we have a movie & chicken taco night planned at our house on Friday (April 24th)!  Everything starts at 6:30 p.m. so plan to come & plan to bring your friends!  If it cools off enough, we'll probably sit out back and have a fire in the firepit and do that thing we do when we are unplugged from the TV, Computer and our phones: talk! =D

 

I'm taking a slight detour from the Planet Wisdom Devotional today....

 

As some of you know, I found out yesterday my loving cat, Allie, probably has a tumor in her stomach.  Other emergencies, moving, unbugeted expenses, etc., have forced us to put off taking Allie to the vet.  Now, we pay the ultimate price for neglecting her health: she is going to die.  We have a small grain of hope the fluids we are giving her and some other meds will keep her comfortable and might allow her to rally some.  As you might imagine, I was a mess yesterday evening when I found this out.  I felt guilty.  I felt evil.  I felt useless as a human being.  My poor cat was suffering all this time and I didn't do anything about it.  I'm a terrible human being!

 

Just like I KNEW there was a problem with Allie, many of you KNOW there is a spiritual health problem in your life.  And yet, you put off dealing with it.  There are truck-loads of reasons why we put off dealing with something.  Unconfessed sin is the cancer that eats away at our thriving, vibrant relationship with the Lord and each other.

 

What is your spiritual temperature today?

 

And, check out what PW Devos have to say today about what we were BEFORE we trusted Christ as our Savior.

 

Hope to see you all on Wednesday!

 

I love you & pray for you daily,

Mary

 

PlanetWisdom.com Devotionals

The Ugly Mirror Posted: 18 Apr 2009 06:29 PM PDT "Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior." (Colossians 1:21) For the first time this week, we take our eyes off of Jesus in His natural state as fully God and in His completely human state as the perfect sacrifice -- and we take a good look at ourselves in our natural form. And what we see is ugly. We were alienated from Him. He created us, but we rejected Him. Why? Because wanted to do whatever we wanted to do whether He liked it or not. We chose sin. We chose self. We did evil and became His enemies. We were hopelessly lost, and we didn't want His help. Why didn't He just let us get what we deserved, what we earned with our evil choices and arrogant thoughts? He had ever right to give up on us. He didn't owe us a thing. Why pour His only Son into a body and into time and into pain and suffering and heartbreak for us? Thank God He did. Think: If someone exploring Christianity asked you the questions above -- why would God sacrifice Jesus to save people who were rejecting Him? -- how would you answer that question? Pray: Thank God that He did. Ask Him to help you to be honest with yourself about the fact that you did nothing to earn a moment of eternity in His presence. Do: In your favorite online dictionary, look up and personalize the words "alienated," "enemy," and "evil." Visit PlanetWisdom.com for more great resources!

Peace

How was your Saturday?

Did you spend it meditating on the fact that Jesus is fully man and fully God?

Or, that He holds everything together?

Or, that He is the Head of the body (the church)?

 

Have you taken a moment to think about the fact Jesus was the long-ago-promised Messiah?  Woven throughout the tapestry of the Old Testament are pictures, pointers and blatant references to the coming of Messiah.

 

I visited a Messianic Jewish Congregation yesterday with Debbie & my dad.  It was not their normal service.  They were remembering "The Day of Calamity."  It was Holocaust rememberance day.  Throughout the Old Testament up and to this day, the Jewish Nation has been oppressed, persecuted, had genocidal warfare waged upon them and been scattered around the world.  And yet, God has NEVER forgotten His people.  God is not finished with His promises to the nation of Israel.  I've heard some scholars say if the church is the bride of Christ, then the nation of Israel is the wife of God. 

 

If you haven't spent a study reading through the prophecies about Jesus in the Old Testament, I would highly recommend it!  As someone mentioned last night, the Old Testament gives such a full picture of God's character and loving, faithfulness to His own.  I was moved by the horrific images of the holocaust.  But, like my dad, I was more moved by the passages read at the conclusion of the service descriving God's love, faithfulness and plan for the redemption of His people, which includes you and me, as gentiles, being grafted in to God's redemptive plan.

 

Because of Jesus, we can have permanent peace with God.

 

Read on to find out why.  Praise God for HIs plan.  Praise God for reaching across the chasm of sin, through the perfect sacrifice of Jesus, to us and rescuing us from His wrath upon sin.  At the same time, it should humble us at what cost we were redeemed.

 

Praise God for the Lamb that was slain.

Who was, and is, and is to come!

 

PlanetWisdom.com Devotionals

Peace through Blood Posted: 17 Apr 2009 07:08 AM PDT "For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross." (Colossians 1:19-20) Even more gargantuan ideas about Jesus as both man and God: 1) All of God's "fullness" lives in Jesus. Not only is Jesus the image of the invisible God, He is full of God on the inside, as well. In other words, Jesus is what Bible scholars call "fully God" -- God inside and out. 2) Jesus is the agent God used to reconcile "all things" to Himself. Another way of saying it is that Jesus was (and will be) the way God chose to fix all the broken things in the universe -- to end every conflict forever. 3) God fixed (will fix) everything broken thing by breaking Jesus, by crushing Him, by allowing Him to bleed as the sacrifice in place of all who deserved to bleed, instead. He brought peace by killing His Son. Think: Would Jesus have qualified as the ultimate sacrifice for sin -- the peacemaker who fixed every broken thing -- if He had not been fully God? Could He have been the reconciler of "all things" if He was not also fully man? (Hint: No and no.) Pray: Thank God that He was pleased to have His fullness live in Jesus. Thank Him that He will eventually bring peace forever through what Jesus did on the cross. Do: If you started a list yesterday of all the things we've learned about Jesus this week, add today's 3 points to it. Visit PlanetWisdom.com for more great resources!

He Rules!

As you march into your weekend - meditate on the following devotional!

Love in Christ,

Mary

PlanetWisdom.com Devotionals

Firstborn from the Dead and the Head Posted: 16 Apr 2009 02:01 PM PDT "And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy." (Colossians 1:18) Two more huge ideas about the Jesus who is fully God: 1) Paul often described the church -- all of us who believe in Jesus and follow Him -- as a body. We are one thing with many parts. Your part is based on your spiritual gift or gifts. I'm a toe. You're a spleen. We're all one body. Paul now identifies the above-the-neck portion of that metaphorical body. Jesus is our head. We are his arms, legs, toes, and spleens. He is the brain in the skull that signals us to action. Or reaction. Or inaction. It's His call. 2) He is the first graduate of death. As we learned all over again during Easter week, He is the bandleader marching out of the tomb with an army of future-resurrectees following from our own graves. Because He lives, we will, too. He rules. All. Think: How is Jesus' supremacy over the universe the same or different from His "headship" over the church? How is a body's connection to a head different from any random citizen's connection to a king? Pray: Thank God that Jesus is the head of the church and the first of all those Jesus-believers who will also be resurrected. Do: Quickly review the Colossians 1:15-22 in your Bible and make a quick bullet-point list of what it tells us about Jesus as God. Visit PlanetWisdom.com for more great resources!

Way Bigger...and then some!

Thanks to all of you who were so understanding of our canceling Youth Group last night.

I am at work today (still sick, however).  This devo is JUST what I needed today!

I am so thankful Jesus is beyond my puny understanding...and yet, He desires for us to know & understand Him on an intimate level.  Can you wrap your mind & heart around that?

I almost barely can.

Your very next breath is only guaranteed by Jesus.  The fact that gravity holds today, is guaranted by Jesus.

 

Wow.

 

Big WOW!

 

Meditate on that today!

 

I love you all & pray for you daily,

Mary

PlanetWisdom.com Devotionals

Holding It All Together Posted: 15 Apr 2009 01:54 PM PDT "He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." (Colossians 1:17) Every verse we read this week seems to double and triple my small-minded ideas of the power and glory of Jesus Christ. It's mind-numbing enough to realize that "all things" were created by Him and for Him. I can't even begin to process that. But today's verse piles on: All things "hold together" in Him. It's not just that He made it all or that it all had His name on it. His power is active right now. In this exact moment. Holding it all together. Without Him, in other words, "all things" would fly apart in an instant. No wonder we're more comfortable with Jesus with his sandals and disciples and even His hard words. His "other" identity is a terrifying. We need to see His humanity so we can start to believe that a God like that could care about momentary specks in the cosmos like us. Think: What must it have been like for Jesus, as God, to be trapped in space and time and flesh and blood like a regular person? Imagine the perfect patience it would take to put up with all of our sinful human foolishness and frailty. Pray: Thank God for Jesus' power in holding all things together and for the love He showed in living and dying as a mere human. Do: Make your mental picture of Jesus even bigger. Visit PlanetWisdom.com for more great resources!

It ALL Belongs to Jesus

Today is my early day at work.

And, I was up pretty late last night wrestling with some issues in my spirit.  Plus, I'm still sick.

 

Then, I prayed about my "issues."  Then, I thought about the little devotional Mike Kell brought at the Guatemala team meeting last Wednesday on Ezekiel.  For those of you playing along, he talked about Ezekiel Chapter 4.  Let me put it in "Mary verse" for you:

 

What would you do?  God tells you to do the following:

 

Hey created being...pay attention to Me.  I have something I want you to do.  And, know from the outset, no one is going to listen to you, no one is going to pay attention to you (well, except to make fun of you...or try to get the authorities to come and cart you off to the looney-bin).  In fact, everyone around you will have hard hearts and not hear anything you are trying to say or demonstrate.  But, do it anyway.

 

I want you to sit in the middle of your school campus, or office, or house, church, whatever.  I want you to take this brick and make a replica of the place where you are (use legos if you need to).  And, I want you to lie down on the right side for a little over a year to represent the years this certain group of people have dishonored Me, disobeyed Me and chased after false gods.  THEN, after that period of time, I want you to lie on your left side for about 40 days to represent the other group of people and the period of years they walked away from Me.  Oh yes, you can only eat this gross barley grain bread cooked over human dung.  Oh okay, cause you've kept yourself pure for Me, I will allow you to cook the bread over cow dung instead, during this year and 1/2 time period.  And, you can only drink a little bit of water.  That's it.

 

Wouldn't you kinda wonder, "what's the point God?"

 

Does it really matter?

 

What does God call us to do?  To obey Him and to be faithful.

 

This world.  These people.  These "things."  All of them exist because Jesus created them and holds them together.

 

It ALL belongs to Him.

 

And so do you & I.

 

What is God calling you to be faithful with today?

PlanetWisdom.com Devotionals

It's His Universe Posted: 14 Apr 2009 11:36 AM PDT "For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him." (Colossians 1:16) Have you ever heard or used that expression: "It's so-and-so's world; we're just living in it."? This week you might hear someone say, "It's Miley Cyrus's world; we're just living in it." It's a funny thing to say, but of course it's true for only one being: Jesus. He made everything. Every living thing. Every non-living thing. Everything you can see or can't. Every being that breathes or exists somehow without breath. And it was all made "for him." It's literally His universe; we're just living in it. Hearing that can either make you feel jealous and small and angry about the inequality of a universe where one being has all that power -- or it can make you feel deeply grateful that such a being is also a person who would willingly sacrifice Himself on a cross to include you in His plans for that universe. What's your response? Think: How much power would it take to create everything in the universe? How much control would the Creator have over all that exists in His universe? Why, again, would Jesus let Himself be mocked and killed by a handful of His tiny, weak creatures? Pray: Thank God for letting you live in His universe and then thank Him again and again for including you in His family through your faith in the Creator Jesus. Do: Read more about this big idea in Romans 11:33 - 12:2. Visit PlanetWisdom.com for more great resources!

Why Jesus? Posted: 14 Apr 2009 11:36 AM PDT "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation." (Colossians 1:15) Could anyone else have done what Jesus did -- dying for our sins on that ugly cross and rising from the dead to secure the victory? Nope. It had to be Jesus. Period. He is unique in all of the universe; without Him we would be lost. We're going to find out this week what makes Him so special. First, you can't see God -- but many people saw Jesus. We know Him though the Word and so we have seen the Father. Jesus is the exact essence of the Almighty. Nobody else is God. Second: Jesus existed before one molecule of creation came into being. He is everlasting. He has priority over everything and everyone because He was here first. More tomorrow. Think: How well do you know who Jesus really is? Does the idea of knowing Him better excite you or does it feel like homework? Why? Pray: Thank God for letting you know Jesus through faith and through studying Him in the Bible. Thank Him that Jesus allows you to "see" the Father -- and that Jesus has always been. Do: If you've got a minute, go back and read all the verses linked to above. Visit PlanetWisdom.com for more great resources!

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Just Jesus

Why is Jesus so special?

Why is He so critical to our salvation?

Why does knowing Jesus really matter to you & me?

 

Planet Wisdom is going to take a few days to discuss these things and more!  If the Bible is God's story of redeeming love, then Jesus is the principle "hero" in God's story.  Do you think of the Bible as God's love letter to you?  Why or why not?

 

I know many of you are off this week for Easter/Spring Break.  So...you have ooodles of free time to dive into the Bible and check out all of these verses!!! =D  In fact, why not try reading the whole Book of John?  Try to jot down some amazing Truths you learn about Jesus along the way.  Ponder John 15...where Jesus says, "Apart from me you can do nothing..."  What did Jesus mean when we said that?

 

Great stuff to meditate upon & mull over in your heart!!!

 

Hope to see all of you at Youth Group on Wednesday Night.

 

And, the Guatemala team is meeting at 6 p.m. again.  See you then!

 

Love in Christ,

Mary
 

PlanetWisdom.com Devotionals

Why Jesus? Posted: 13 Apr 2009 01:16 PM PDT "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation." (Colossians 1:15) Could anyone else have done what Jesus did -- dying for our sins on that ugly cross and rising from the dead to secure the victory? Nope. It had to be Jesus. Period. He is unique in all of the universe; without Him we would be lost. We're going to find out this week what makes Him so special. First, you can't see God (John 1:18) -- but many people saw Jesus. We know Him though the Word and so we  have seen the Father (John 14:9). Jesus is the exact essence of the Almight (John 14:9). Nobody else is God. Second: Jesus existed before one molecule of creation came into being. He is everlasting (John 1:1). He has priority over everything and everyone because He was here first. More tomorrow. Think: How well do you know who Jesus really is? Does the idea of knowing Him better excite you or does it feel like homework? Why? Pray: Thank God for letting you know Jesus through faith and through studying Him in the Bible. Thank Him that Jesus allows you to "see" the Father -- and that Jesus has always been. Do: If you've got a minute, go back and read all the verses linked to above. Visit PlanetWisdom.com for more great resources!

Belated - Happy Easter!!!

Howdy!

This should have gone out yesterday...but, it didn't.  Maybe it IS more fitting it reaches you today.

 

Have you ever had one of those life events that turns your world upsidedown?  Hopefully, one clear life event for all of you is the point you trusted Jesus as your Savior.

 

How amazing would it be to be one of the women who went to the tomb!  

 

The angel said to the women,

"Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.

He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.

Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead;

and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him;

behold, I have told you."

And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples.

And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them.

And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.

(Matthew 28:5-10)

 

This would have to be one of those serious "pinch me so I know I'm not dreaming" moments.  Just 24 hours earlier, these women were grieved and lost.  

 

So, here we are about 24 hours after we all (I hope you all did), went to church and celebrated Easter.

 

You know, you should celebrate Easter EVERY day!  We worship a risen Savior.  No other religion can make that claim!

 

I hope you had a blessed Easter!  I hope you celebrate Easter each and EVERY day. 


 

PlanetWisdom.com Devotionals

Risen Indeed Posted: 12 Apr 2009 03:00 AM PDT "But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. . . . For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive." (1 Corinthians 15:20, 22) Happy Easter Sunday. We celebrate today the hinge weekend not just in Christianity, but in all of human history. The battle still rages, but the victory was secured once and for all on that first Easter morning. The resurrection of Jesus was the promise of a million resurrections to follow. Paul calls it here the firstfruits of those who would die and be freed from the grave again. Christianity does not offer the world a grand self-improvement strategy or the secret to a happy life. In Jesus' name, we offer the world nothing less than eternal life after death. Through Him, we offer resurrection. Happy Easter Sunday. Think: Do you think the universal impact of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead gets lost in all of our church and family traditions? Is there anything we can do to amplify it? Pray: Praise God for the power and love He demonstrated in raising Jesus Christ from the dead and making it possible for you to be resurrected, as well. Do: If you're wondering how and when the resurrection will happen -- and/or what our resurrected bodies will be like -- read through the rest of 1 Corinthians 15. Visit PlanetWisdom.com for more great resources!

Not Good Enough Posted: 11 Apr 2009 11:35 AM PDT "If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men." (1 Corinthians 15:19) Nobody should become a Christian to give themselves a better life on Earth. Why? Because our lives on this side of heaven still suck, especially when compared with what we were built for. Too harsh? Listen to what Paul wrote in another letter: "The whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for . . . the redemption of our bodies." He's talking about our resurrection. And then he writes, "For in this hope we were saved." (Romans 8:22-24) Yes, being a Christian gives power, purpose to our lives, hopefulness in hard times, joy, gladness, and great connectedness with other believers. But none of that is possible -- or good enough in this pain-soaked vapor life -- to make faith in Jesus worth it if there is no sinless resurrection life and body waiting for us on the other side. Think: Do you think it's possible to put too much hope in what God might do for us in this life and not enough hope in what He'll definitely give to us in the resurrection? Pray: Thank God that we do not have hope in Christ only for this life, that nobody needs to pity us because Jesus is alive. Do: Get your heart and mind ready to celebrate the resurrection personally and with your Christian family. Visit PlanetWisdom.com for more great resources!

Scatter-bunnies, The Resurrection & Eyewitnesses

If you ask Christians which holiday is their favorite, you might get the answer, "Easter."  Up and to a few months ago, my answer would have been, "Thanksgiving."  And, it may still be the holiday I look forward to as the Fall is my favorite time of the year.  However, Easter is more precious to me now than it has been at any other time in my life.  On the one hand, it is sad it takes the loss of my mother to really appreciate Easter...but on the other hand, I am thankful God has allowed me the opportunity at this point in my life to fully understand and be thankful for what Easter is really all about.

 

As much as I LOVE furry, cute, huggable, lovable, adorable bunny rabbits - they have NOTHING to do with Easter.  Personally, I think bunnies should be celebrated in March (ahem, MY birthday...) or May.  Rabbits have more of an appeal to me of the coming of Spring....or babies being born.

 

In fact, if you really dissect what a bunny is all about...I can't even remotely get any symbolic reference to Jesus, the Resurrection or New Life in Christ.  The cuteness, warmth and charm of hopping bunnies are a direct opposite to the agonizing death Jesus suffered on my behalf when He willingly submitted to God the Father's will and was crucified.  Bunnies scatter at the mere hint of danger (kinda like the disciples).  Jesus didn't scatter.  He endured the scorn, shame, abandonment, ridicule, horrific scourging, ripping/tearing away of His flesh...and ultimately the wrath of God poured out upon Him for my sin...and your sin...past, present & future.

 

Yesterday, we looked at the resurrection being crucial to our faith.  Today, we get more information regarding eyewitenesses and the blessing of having faith without seeing Jesus.

 

By the way, it has been 2 months since we buried my mother.  I still cry when I linger too long on thoughts of her...or when my dad breaks down...or when I hear certain songs...or just because I miss my mom.  Though I fully believed Jesus was resurrected, and I know that makes my resurrection certain at Jesus' return, it is the sweeter to me now with the passing of my mom.  My only hope to endure the time of my mom's diagnosis, fading away and eventual death was based upon the rock solid Truth of Jesus' death, burial & resurrection.

 

Where is your hope placed today?

Don't be a scatter-bunny.

I love you all & pray for you daily!

-M

 

PlanetWisdom.com Devotionals

They All Saw Him Posted: 07 Apr 2009 03:13 PM PDT ". . . and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep." (1 Corinthians 15:5-6) He'd been burned too badly to believe in Jesus any more. He was done. He'd put all his hope — willingly risked his own life — to follow Christ. And then Jesus just died up there on that cross. Thomas was scared and angry because a dead Messiah wasn't what he'd signed up for. Paul tells his readers in Corinth that the Gospel is not complete without Easter. The story could not end with the cross and still have any meaning. The resurrection is so important, he said, that if they wanted evidence — as Thomas demanded when the other disciples came and told him they'd seen Jesus alive — they could go and ask some of the other firsthand witnesses. Paul wanted them to know that believing in Easter was reasonable. We don't have even that option available, beyond reading the 2,000-year-old testimony of a few of those men. Thomas got his proof, but we must take it on faith that Jesus walked out of that tomb. It's still a reasonable faith, but it's also an act of trust, one for which God blesses us with the promise of an escape from our own tombs. "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20:29) Think: Can you blame Thomas for wanting proof? Can you explain to someone why you believe in the resurrection without firsthand evidence of your own? Pray: Thank God for giving you the faith to believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Ask Him to help your everyday choices to reflect your belief that Jesus is alive-again Son of God. Do: Read Thomas's exchange with Jesus in John 29:24-31. Visit PlanetWisdom.com for more great resources!

Doesn't get ANY cuter than this!!!

My friend, Troy (from Michigan)...is a fellow bunny lover.  She emailed me these absolutely ADOREable bunneh pictures.  It's official...I am getting rabbits when all of my current critters pass into the golden meadow (okay, NO, I don't believe all dogs go to heaven...just the ones I have known..I cannot confirm the final resting place of cats.  I'll ask Frank what he thinks!). He.he.he.heh!