Tag: God

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

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

Autumn Comfort

Posted on by Paula Davis

There’s a chill in the air where I live in Central New York State. The beauty of fall surrounds us as the foliage treats us to a kaleidoscope of color. Neighborhood lawns and porches are dotted with pumpkins and colorful mums. Ovens are filled with apple pies and pots of chili simmer on stovetops. As the first hard freeze of the season hit last night minds turn to comfort – comfort foods, cozy blankets and a cup of something warm. I joke that it’s time to hibernate as my thoughts change from outside activities to those inside.

Many people love this time of year as temperatures drop and sweatshirts come out of the closet. But even they will cozy up to a fire and enjoy the comfort of a warm bowl of soup or chili.

What happens when the comfort of earth is not enough for us? What happens when the sadness or chill in our hearts and spirits can’t be warmed by a blanket? Are you experiencing a time in your life that is overwhelming you and the things and people can’t provide enough comfort?

Perhaps it’s not you but someone close to you who needs comfort. You’ve tried everything but you can’t help.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, Who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ,so also our comfort abounds through Christ.                                                             2 Corinthians 1:3-5

Although we can’t see Him, God is all around us. Some say we can’t feel Him either, but if you ask He will truly hold you close, comforting your spirit in a way nothing on earth can.

Do you know this God of comfort? Even if you don’t need Him today I believe there will be a time when you will. If you have questions about getting to know Him please ask.

What are your favorite comforts of Autumn? Apple cider, a cozy fire? I’d love to hear about them. Maybe you have a favorite others have never tried or heard of. I’ve listed one of my favorites below. It’s my grandma’s apple squares. Maybe I’ll make some today.