Sunday, March 24, 2024

Jesus and the Cross

 

Jesus and the Cross

“He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world” 1 John 2:2.

Easter...is so much more than chocolate, eggs, and cute little bunnies. As Christians, we have a reason to rejoice. The very essence of the entire New Testament is Jesus sacrifice on the cross. What better way to celebrate Easter than to remember Jesus and the cross. It wasn’t nails that held him to the cross but his love for you and me. Easter is the time to rejoice and be thankful for the gift of life, love, and joy. As we celebrate Easter, it’s impossible to emphasize too strongly the importance of remembering the true meaning of the miracle of Jesus rising from the dead. For Christians this should be a source of great encouragement, strength, and joy, knowing that we will one day rise into our eternal heavenly home. Jesus death and resurrection assure that fact. This week, whatever you may be facing, remember that in three short days, the disciples and family of Christ went from hopelessness to hopeful - from devastation to celebration, from defeat to victory! Because of the cross and the tomb, you have a hope in Christ! Without the resurrection, we would have nothing except perhaps morality. Jesus has defeated the grave. The Easter message tells us that our enemies, sin and the curse of death are beaten. Thank you Jesus! 

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11.

“We shall never understand the extent of God's love in Christ at the Cross until we understand that we shall never have to stand before the judgment of God for our sins.” Billy Graham

Sweetest Blessings,
Jo

Sunday, March 17, 2024

Heavy Heart

Heavy Heart

"I am the Lord your God, is anything too hard for me?" Jeremiah 25:17.

Heavy Heart... Are you facing something that seems bigger then you can cope with and you find yourself waking up with a heavy heart? While our hearts hold love and joy, they also hold pain, worry and sadness. Take heart, this happens even to a true believer. If your heart is involved, you're carrying a weight of something too heavy. You know your heart is heavy when the great challenge in your life settles in during your first conscious thought when you wake. When the dread of another day splashes over your mind before you can splash water on your face. When the darkness of night is your companion during the day. Dear ones, what weighs heavy on your heart may never change but know this... a heavy heart does not have to be a prison. (A house you live in).What weighs you down is not yours to carry. When your heart feels so heavy, only the Lord has the strength to carry it, let Him. He can do far more with it broken than you can with it whole. Your great challenge may still be with you at the end of the day, but so is God and He desires to carry your heavy load. Hand over what troubles your thoughts and sleep-in peace. Yesterday's impossibilities can be today's miricles. 

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26.

Stop telling God you have big problems. Tell your problems you've got a big God! 

Sunday, March 10, 2024

Supernatural Joy

Supernatural Joy

"Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom!" 2 Corinthians 3/17.

Joy...This beautiful little three letter word seems to grow more elusive with each passing season. We find ourselves looking for more things to give us the feeling of joy. What we are really looking for is happiness for the moment. Like buying something new or eating a delicious meal. Short lived. The next day the empty feeling is back. There is a difference between happiness and joy of which the Scripture speaks. I think of  the Apostle Paul who  went through all kinds of hardships, including beatings, stoning, a shipwreck, and getting lost at sea. He was hunted down, betrayed by his own countrymen and thrown in prison. Despite all this, Paul still wrote in the Book of Corinthians, "I count it all joy!"  This my friends  is called Supernatural joy! Supernatural joy means that we are to remain steadfast in our knowledge that God is our only source of contentment and joy. No amount of shopping or money can buy it. Joy lives in the heart that is anchored in a loving relationship with God. Our God is so good. He loves to lavish His love on us. He loves to see us happy. Wake up every morning with these words on your heart. "Today is the day the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it." 

"These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full." John 15:11.

"If love is the foundation of the Kingdom of God. Joy is the currency.

Sweetest Blessings,
Jo