Sunday, April 12, 2009
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!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
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.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
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?
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?
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