Tag: Bible

Posted in Uncategorized

What’s so Good about Good Friday?

Posted on by Paula Davis

Do you ever find it odd that we call today Good Friday when very little good that happened that day? Jesus started His week entering Jerusalem to shouts of praise and “Hosanna to the King!” but by Friday He stood bruised and beaten before a judge, awaiting His sentence of death.

None of this was a surprise to Jesus. This was the culmination of His mission – His ultimate purpose in coming to earth, but knowing the purpose didn’t make it easy or less painful. Remember Jesus was fully & completely man. He was as human as you and me.

Jesus felt every time the whip hit His skin and broke it open.

The air stung his wounds but they didn’t stop.

Over and over He was lashed.

Jesus felt the thorns press into His scalp, burying themselves into His skin for the duration of the day.

He felt each fist that struck His face

…but He never showed anger towards His enemies. He stood there and took it.

The mocking of the soldiers hurt too. While Jesus had the love of God and knew that the words weren’t true they still impacted Him. Perhaps the worst pain of all was watching each of His disciples flee from those who arrested Him, fearing the same fate for themselves. And then Peter. The friend who just the day before had declared his allegiance to Jesus denied that he knew Him three times.

It’s difficult to comprehend the physical pain Jesus went through, but when I stop and think about it I am so grateful He went through with it all.

He didn’t have to, you know.

Then there was the long walk up the hill towards the place He would die. Think of the pictures and films you’ve seen of Jesus carrying, or perhaps dragging the cross to Golgotha. That cross, likely weighing over 100 pounds, pressed down on an already weakened Christ as He moved toward His last hours. At the top of the hill Jesus stopped walking and allowed nails to be pounded into His hands and feet, hanging Him on that same cross He carried.

Jesus walked that road for you and for me.

At any time Jesus could have called an end to all of this. All the while Jesus hung on the cross people taunted and teased Him to save Himself, or call the angels to take Him down off the cross. What His mockers didn’t realize that Jesus could have. At any moment He could have proven He is God and didn’t have to hang there.

But He didn’t.

When Jesus Christ called out from the cross “It is finished!” He was speaking of death’s curse over the earth. The curse of death came when Adam and Eve chose to sin. From that moment on we have been separated from God’s perfection by sin – our sin. Jesus lived His life on earth without sin, then allowed Himself to be killed as the final sacrifice for each of us.

This is the GOOD that came from Good Friday!!

Any man, woman or child who believes Jesus is Christ our Savior and accepts Him as Leader of his or her life will also conquer death and will live forever in a perfect Heaven.

On this Good Friday, take some time from your Easter preparations to relive the events of Christ’s crucifixion and reflect on the price Jesus paid. He paid that price for you! I’m so grateful He did.

Oh Jesus, how could You have made that long walk to Your death? You were weak from beatings, weary from mocking, and weighed down by both the cross You carried and the sins of every person who ever lived or will live.

I am humbled and so grateful You made the choice to endure this for me and for each one who believes. Thank you hardly seems like enough.

Lord, please never let us forget the price You paid and the pain You endured to save me from eternal death. I can never fully comprehend and thank You seems like hardly enough, but it’s all we have to offer. Thank You for the cross. Thank You for the price You paid. Thank You for loving us more than we can comprehend.

 

As Easter weekend approaches with the Easter eggs, chocolate bunnies, and family time, please take some time to consider the price Jesus paid to make this Easter more than a celebration of Spring. If all of this talk of the cross, Jesus’ sacrifice and the free gift of Salvation doesn’t make sense to you, please ask me, or seek out someone who can answer your questions.  Make this Friday the best Friday you’ve ever experienced, and this Easter one you’ll never forget.

Blessings to you all!
Paula

 

 

 

Posted in Uncategorized

Walking to Jerusalem

Posted on by Paula Davis

Luke 19:29-44

The Sabbath was drawing to a close as Jesus and His disciples walked toward Jerusalem where they would celebrate Passover together. Jesus sent two of His disciples ahead to bring a colt back. He was thankful they didn’t ask a lot of questions, simply did as he asked.

Walking along, Jesus listened to the other remaining disciples prattle on about mundane things. These men were precious to Jesus, walking faithfully with Him for three years. Jesus knew they were looking forward to the Passover celebration, yet they had no idea what this year held in store for them. He knew the challenges ahead would test them all and ultimately be too much for some.

The group stopped briefly as the two disciples approached with the borrowed colt. Placing their cloaks on the colt’s back and seating Jesus there they continued on the road to Jerusalem. Celebration was in the air as peoplespread their cloaks and branches on the roads shouting, “Hosanna!” Children waed palm branches and sang to Jesus. Many of these people were present when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, and began to follow Him. They shouted praises to Jesus and recalled the miracles He had done, praising God. They cried, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!”

Jesus took it all in yet He could not celebrate with them for as He looked through the crowd He also saw the unbelief. It cause Him to weep for the city of Jerusalem, knowing the time had come for His purpose on earth to be completed yet those in authority didn’t recognize Him. They exchanged the peace that comes with knowing Jesus as Lord for earthly power and recognition. Their desire was to be acknowledged by their peers more than embracing the truth that a better reward was in store for those who believed in Jesus.

Some of the Pharisees, very upset by this display, told Jesus to quiet His followers. Jesus replied that if they kept quiet the very stones would cry out. (Luke 19:40)

The procession reached the temple area in Jerusalem. Jesus looked around, saddened by what He saw. Since it was late He walked on to Bethany with His disciples for the night, preparing for the challenges of the days ahead. Jesus knew that in just a few days He would be deserted by many of the same people who were praising Him today. People who were weary of Roman rule and the Pharisaical regulations were looking for an earthly king. They wouldn’t understand the sacrifice He was about to make that would give them a new freedom and power that cannot be attained on earth.

As this Holy Week begins, how is your heart? Will you go through the week declaring the miracles Jesus has done in your won life or will you be part of the crowd that causes Jesus to weep as He looks your way? Is the desire of your heart to serve Him and not seek the pleasures of this world and the power and pleasures of this earthly life?

It can be easy to praise God and welcome Jesus as leader o our lives when we see miracles and other good things happen. It’s also easy to turn away from Him when we don’t understand how He will bring god from a difficult situation, or when He doesn’t work quickly enough.

As you walk through this week of remembrance and celebration, join me in allowing God to examine our hearts and intentions. Let Him erase your fauts and cleanse your heart so you can cry, “Hosanna to God” to these around you with a sincere and joy-filled heart.

Prayer

Lord, the week ahead will be filled with preparations for Easter. The culture around me doesn’t celebrate You or Your resurrection. Cleanse my heart as I begin this week, Lord. Examine me and expose any areas where I need to repent. Cause me to reflect on You and express Your grace and love to those around me. May I be a light for You, showing those around me that Easter is abut more than colored eggs, chocolated bunnies and baskets filled with treasure. May I, through my words and actions show the real Easter treasure is You.

Posted in Uncategorized

Onward Christian Wounded Soldiers?

Posted on by Paula Davis

There are a lot of wounded people in the world today. People who have been lied to, talked about behind their backs, spoken about negatively in public arenas, and who pour out their hearts to someone they think is in their corner just to have their stuggles passed from one person to the next, with their story changing or embellished from one person to the next like a game of telephone.

Unfortunately, I’m not talking about politics, your workplace or complicated family dynamics. I’m sorry to say this is about Christians. Yes, Bible believing, Jesus loving Christians – online, in our communities, maybe in your own church…dare I say, maybe in the mirror?

Why do we wound our own?

It’s perfectly normal to have differences, but when we do, are we taking our cues to resolve them from the world, or from the One who created it (and us)?? For that matter, are we taking our conflicts right to the world, or to the One who holds all wisdom???

When we have conflict with someone, do we jump to conclusions and presume they set out to anger or harm us, even when their actions may not have anything to do with us?

Philippians 2:3 tells us:
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves

There is so much noise all around us telling us that if we don’t watch out for ourselves no one else will. It seems like we are encouraged to be offended! I’m afraid we have become conditioned to quickly have an opinion about every situation, each word spoken, and not consider carefully the person’s motives or heart behind what irritates us. Scripture points us in the opposite direction.

James 1:19 encourages us:
“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” 

How often do we have a conversation, seeking to understand with an open heart and mind before becoming upset? Sometimes if we’re honest with ourselves, we’re just upset because someone else set boundaries we wish we had the guts to set for ourselves, or we are jealous at what appears to come easily to them, and we let those emotions spill out into conversations with friends, or sometimes even online. If we actually sat down with an open mind and heart we would find they the one you are judging is struggling with insecurities too and doing the best they can to put one foot in front of the other each day.

We say we love each other (and I believe we at least want to love our brothers and sisters in Christ), but how does that love play out when we disagree with someone?

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 says:
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

This is not a verse to be tucked away and pulled out during a wedding ceremony! These words are intended for all believers. We are called to protect one another, not participate in slander, or to stand by while it’s happening. Love does not dishonor others or delight in evil.

Friends, we don’t have to agree with someone to protect them from slander. We don’t have to take sides to love them with the agape love of Christ. (Trust me…I need this reminder too!)

We are called to be different, and the world is watching. Christians are supposed to on the same side of the battle – the side of Christ. When Christians harm their own, unbelievers notice, and new believers get the wrong kind of mentoring (yes, mentoring can be negative as well as positive). We tarnish the name of Christ and His message of salvation and the reconciliation He offers between us and God.

Can we focus more on loving each other and understanding someone’s true motives before judging or criticizing? Can we spend more time praying for others than gossiping about them? Maybe return to the old adage, WWJD (what would Jesus do?). Remember how Jesus interacted with those who did wrong while He was on earth – he ate with them, cast demons out of them, and cared about them apart from their sin. We should do no less for those who walk and serve beside us…or serve us!

2 Timothy 2:3-4 reminds us:
“Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.”

The world around us is getting uglier by the day, and we have got to be more vigilant to not contribute to the ugliness but be set apart for Christ. Let’s remember as Christians we are on the same side and stop wounding our own.

Posted in Uncategorized

The Night Before…

Posted on by Paula Davis

As the sun sets on the night before Good Friday, when we remember Jesus’ crucifixion, I am pondering what He might have been experiencing. I think it was a night He felt His humanity perhaps more than any other time while He was on earth.

In the garden, the garden where You went so many times to pray and spend time with Your Father, but this time was different. Your time with the Father was filled with anguish and pleading for another way. I don’t know if You were ever more human than in the garden that night.

You needed Your friends – already feeling the weight of what was in front of You, wanting companionship and partners in prayer. But what You found were sleepy humans oblivious to Your pain. Of course they didn’t know what was coming. You tried to tell them, but they just didn’t get it.

They didn’t get it at supper either. Again, they didn’t know their worlds would soon be turned upside down, but they spent that precious time together arguing about who was the most important and where they would sit in Your eternal kingdom. They boasted and bragged about how much they loved You and would defend You, not knowing they would soon fail at showing their love and devotion to You.

I shouldn’t be hard on them though, Lord. What about me? How many times do You call me to sacrifice my time to intercede for others, but I am too tired or preoccupied with my world? When have I been more concerned about proving my devotion to You through words and service but missed the person next to me who needed a touch from You through me?

Help me to remember more often, Lord, and not just on this Thursday once a year. Help me to think of the garden, Your prayers, and consider Your plans for me and how You want to touch others through me.

Posted in Uncategorized

Truth ~ Words Worth Remembering Week #9

Posted on by Paula Davis

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
                                                                                           John 8:32

Truth.

It can be defined:

  • sincerity in action, character, and utterance
  • the state of being the case : fact (2) : the body of real things, events, and facts
  • a judgment, proposition, or idea that is true or accepted as true <truths of thermodynamics>

And it can be debated.

In this passage Jesus says we will know the truth and it will set us free. So what is He talking about?

How do we know the truth?

Jesus was with His disciples and other Jewish leaders (who wanted to kill Him) as He was speaking. Just before the above statement Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.” (vs. 31) But the Jewish leaders debated Jesus’ statement saying they had never been slaves to anyone. This is a sentiment we might share.

So how can we be set “free” if we have never been slaves?

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (v 34-36)

As followers of Christ our truth comes from God’s Word and is interpreted for us by His Holy Spirit. The Spirit convicts us of sin and compels us to confess and be forgiven. The more we know God’s Word the better we are able to listen and follow the truth.

truth next exit

The challenge comes when we choose to create our own truth because we don’t like what God’s Word tells us or we ‘adjust’ His truth to make it easier for us to accept and follow, perhaps to make it easier to get along with others who don’t believe God Word is the truth.

But watered down truth is no truth at all.

The consequences of watering down the truth are a less intimate walk with God and a slippery slope towards believing the lies of the evil one. It can happen slowly so that we don’t even realize what is happening. That’s part of the plan.

If you are a follower of Christ I encourage you to take some time today to consider whether you are consistently following the truth of the Bible or are watering it down so that you ‘fit in’ with those around you. It is difficult to be challenged and chastised by those who don’t think as you do. Jesus was killed for following God’s truth. But He did it so that we could be set free.

I’m so thankful for God’s truth. Even when it’s difficult!

blessings and peace to you today!
Paula

Posted in Uncategorized

Balancing Act ~ Week #7 Words Worth Remembering

Posted on by Paula Davis

But the Lord is faithful,
and He will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.
                                                                                                     2 Thessalonians 3:3

I am on a quest for a healthier me and discovering how parts of our body work together to create the person who was ”fearfully and wonderfully made.’ (Psalm 139:14) There are so many elements it can be overwhelming to think about how intricately we are made by our Creator.

Lately I am learning a lot about balance including balancing the forms of exercise, how often to exercise, and measuring in the right amount of stretching, eating right and sleeping enough. The comparisons to other areas of our lives are almost endless and have been addressed by many others.

balance

The part of balancing that I hadn’t spent much time thinking about before is the idea of core strength. In order to properly balance our body our cores must be strong. Our body’s core is the abdomen and lower and mid-back regions – the center of us. The stronger our core, the better our balance will be, thus the less we are apt to fall.

In our spiritual lives our core is our relationship with the Lord
and the truth of His Word living in us.

The stronger our relationship is with the Lord and the more we know and live out His word the healthier our spiritual lives will be and the less apt we are to “fall” into the ways of the world and struggle in our daily lives. We make God our core and depend on His strength to bring balance when we feel off-balance.

Strengthening our physical core is not necessarily easy. While the range of exercises has become broader than the old-fashioned crunches, those exercises are not always fun and can cause a bit of pain in the process. But the pain (if it’s not extreme) means the exercises are working our muscles and making them stronger. As we are consistent with our exercises and increase our balance we are able to do things we never could before.

The same is true with our spiritual core. As we consistently spend time in prayer and God’s Word He will become our core and give us strength against the difficulties in life. As we rely on His strength to keep our balance we will find ourselves able stand up against anything the evil one tries to throw at us.

What are you working on balancing in your life? Can we help you find your balance and strength in Him?

blessings & peace to you!
Paula

Posted in Uncategorized

Words Worth Remembering

Posted on by Paula Davis

I have hidden Your Word in my heart
that I might not sin against You.
Psalm 119:11

As Christians God’s Word is one of the most important tools we have. It is what we base our words, actions and hopefully our thoughts on. His Word provides wisdom, comfort, and direction. The Bible is a gift from God to help us know His desires for our lives and as a tool to share Him with others.

Photo12291343

Unfortunately we don’t always have a Bible with us and even when we do there isn’t always time to look up an appropriate verse for the situation. I have been challenged by how few verses I have hidden in my heart and one of my goals for the coming year is to put more there. My goal is to memorize a verse every week of 2013 and to understand the context of each verse and how it can apply to my life and the lives of others.

I’m inviting you to join me!

Photo12291336

Early each weekend I will post a verse to memorize along with some context and perhaps a few personal thoughts. I’d love it if each of you would add your thoughts and if you are familiar with the verse perhaps how the verse has helped you along life’s way.

The older I get the more difficult I find it to memorize things so if anyone has suggestions or methods as we go along please share those too.

I’m excited to think that at this time next year I will know over 50 new verses! I really hope you’ll join me!

blessings and peace to you!
Paula