Check out this

http://blog.beliefnet.com/jesuscreed/2009/04/prayer-for-the-week-easter.html

Have Blessed Easter Today!

Have a glorious Easter today. Will post for this week's readings tomorrow. Have been on vacation this last week so I'll catch up with all you on Monday.

Peace!

Holy Week

When I taught my 6th grade Sunday School class years ago, I told them Easter is the main event in the life of a Christian. Without Easter there is no Sunday School class (some of them would have said 'amen' ). Without Easter there is no church. Without Easter there is no Christian community. This week - Holy Week - take some time to reflect on what Jesus really did. Write in a journal. Skip lunch and pray instead. Pray the morning and evening prayers. Listen to a podcast ("prayer on the go" is a good one). Read the Matthew chapters every day instead of just once.

This year, make Holy Week more than a name in the church calendar. Make it personal.

Blessings.

Matthew - Holy Week

I encourage you to read the Matthew chapters in one sitting this week. We have all heard the crucifixion story many times in our lives. I wonder if we’ve heard it so much we don’t hear it at all?

After you’ve read chapters 25 – 28 in one sitting, think about what you noticed in the story. Read the chapters in another translation or paraphrase like The Message or Good News. (These translations/paraphrases are found on line at http://www.biblegateway.com/) What surprises you in Matthew’s retelling of the events? What moves you in the crucifixion?

How do you respond to Judas? To Peter? To the woman at Bethany? To the Romans? To the high priests? To the resurrected Jesus?

During this Holy Week, ask God to speak vividly to you. Take the time to live with this passage of scripture. Allow God time to speak. Allow yourself time to listen. For one week, give God the time to make an impact on your life. I am praying for you.

Here are some further questions for your meditation or study:
1. The goats and the sheep. God will judge us on how we respond to those in need. He will not judge us by our achievements, our savings account or lack of one, our clothes, our fat bodies or our toned bodies, our house or our children. He will judge us by our simple response to simple needs of others. Our precious schedules of activities for our children’s well being will be tossed. He will judge us by our simple response to the simple needs of others. What will your judgment look like?

2. The woman at Bethany. When was the last time you gave an extravagant gift to someone you loved? When was the last time you gave Jesus an extravagant gift?

4. Peter’s Denial. Ouch. Can you recall a time you wept and wept because you denied Jesus? I can’t. Peter gives me hope. If this man who walked daily with Jesus freaks out and denies Him, but still hangs tough with his faith, then I can too. God will use me only to the extent I allow Him access to my life. My prayer: God have more access.

6. The Resurrection. The tomb is empty. The women worship Jesus for the first time. The guards are dumbfounded. Jesus mission is complete. On this Easter, where are you? Are you worshipping and rejoicing in the empty tomb? Or is it another non-event to you?

7. The Great Commission. The journey begins! God promises “I am with you always…” YES! Each day is a new adventure in my call to follow Jesus….where is He calling you?

Another Look at Joseph

Found this link today as I was looking for something else. I know we've read the Joseph story already, but this seemed relevant to what we are all living today. Let me know what you think.
http://www.freemoneyfinance.com/the_bible_and_money/index.html

For another look at things...

I was reminded of this site through some other readings...http://www.thebricktestament.com/index.html. If you are a legos fan or have children that build non-stop you might enjoy this!

Song of Solomon

If you had any doubt the Bible dealt with real life stuff, it should be gone by now. Through our readings we have covered almost every facet of life from dysfunctional families to war and injustice. This week we add one more to the list – love. This is not some abstract discussion of love; rather it is a series of explicit love poetry. You cannot read this book without feeling the passion and intensity of these lovers. We are reminded as Christians that all of our life has been created by God. This includes our sexuality.

While our culture has taken our sexuality and separated it from our spirituality, God reminds us He created us to have a full, complete life. This song is “a convincing witness that men and women were created physically, emotionally and spiritually to live in love.” (The Message Remix, Introduction to Song of Songs, Eugene Peterson, Navpress, 2003, page 1178)

This book not only speaks to the human side of love, but can give us some insight to the human-divine relationship. Throughout scripture our relationship to God is compared to marriage. Remember the prophets talk about Israel’s relationship to God is an intimate one like marriage. The New Testament refers to Christ’s relationship to the church as an intimate one. If we look at this book as a love story, it will reveal to us much about the man-woman relationship and about the depth of love God has for us.

Here are some questions for your consideration as you read this week.

1. We cannot help but notice throughout this book the total delight the lovers have for one another. Why not take a moment to tell your spouse how much you delight in and appreciate him or her?

2. How well are you honoring your marriage vows? Why not pull out the vows and read them again?

3. If we use the allegorical approach to the book (Christ’s love for the church), how is Christ’s love for you like the king’s love for his bride? Where have you experienced his painful, possessive, persevering and priceless love? (Question taken from the Serendipity Bible, Zondervan Publishing, 1998, Page 944)

4. What can you do this week to demonstrate this kind of love for your spouse? Your significant other?

5. What would happen if you read this book with your spouse? What discussion would take place?

Enjoy….