Mar 27, 2016
Why do you celebrate Easter or is it Resurrection Sunday?
Good Friday and Easter Sunday can mean something different for me then is does for you. The fresh air of spring, warm sunshine and flowers coming up are all signs of spring. But is that all there is to Easter? There are people that look forward to painting eggs and hunting for them after; but is there more meaning behind this day than what we think? Easter may mean nothing more than another holiday to possibly go to church for some. But to me, this day stands for much more than that.
The real reason for Good Friday and Easter is Jesus’ Death and Resurrection!
Now before you say, what is so exciting about a death and how could that be better than the excitement of spring, colourful Easter eggs and chocolate?? Don’t get me wrong I like spring to and the beautiful weather and flowers. Let me tell you about something that is more exciting than that! It is about Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday. The death of Christ is what brings joy and meaning to this season. What is so exciting about a death? This wasn’t just any death; it was the death of Jesus Christ! But he didn’t stay dead, he rose victoriously! To give eternal life to anyone that would believe and accept his gift.
Jesus died to give us Eternal life. This is wonderful news, which should cause us great excitement! Good Friday may have ended sad; but Resurrection Sunday changed everything! Jesus lived a perfect life so that he could pay the price for our sins. To be able to celebrate the Resurrection should bring us great joy and peace. Our sins have been forgiven; we have been made right with God the Father. HALLELUJAH!
To have heard him say “IT IS FINISHED” on the cross and die; but praise God he did not stay dead, he arose! Jesus was willing to go through all that because of the great love he has for us. Now we may hear him say “come unto me, all ye who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” Matt 11:28. What glorious words!
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” 1 Peter 1:3
—School of Discipleship student
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Mar 25, 2016
“For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for his sake.” Philippians 1:29
What a blessing to have studied the book of Philippians and “The Calvary Road” in class the past couple weeks. I certainly feel like I have a greater understanding of suffering and the glories thereof. Time and time again the Holy Spirit has brought me to a place of sweet brokenness, as I am reminded of my Lord Jesus Christ hanging on a cross for me. It remains a mystery to me that God would go about bringing redemption to the world, through the ultimate sacrifice, our Lord Jesus Christ. Seeing as though I will never figure out God or His ways with my mortal mind, I am coming to a place of acceptance and faith realizing that in suffering is a hidden fellowship with God that will not be experienced in any other manner. O WHAT GLORY! WORTHY IS THE LAMB THAT WAS SLAIN!
—School of Discipleship student
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May 19, 2015
I’ve been asking myself a bunch of questions lately, questions like, How do I come before God when I pray? What would be the first thing that would come out of my mouth if I saw God with my own eyes? Do I trust God enough with my problems to come before Him on my knees instead of trying to change things in the flesh?
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord” Isaiah 55:8
Hearing the testimonies of the staff and what they willing left behind to follow Christ is mind blowing. Also, hearing field reports of individuals giving their life to become a missionary and suffer in the flesh to preach the gospel in an unreached village, having only the cross before them, giving their whole life, holding nothing back. Then hearing the amount of people that are baptized and added to the church daily, and all the lives that are transformed for eternity. It is challenging me to not hold on to anything besides the cross and trust God with everything and every detail of my life, to follow Him wherever He leads me and evaluate myself in the light of eternity. What will have truly mattered in my life?
I can build a reputation if I want. I can become famous for something and use up all my time and efforts for that. There are so many different dreams to chase but it will all come to an end sooner or later. I want to invest in something that will last. I want to be a good steward with the time, resources and talents God has entrusted me with. I don’t want to chase after dreams that will end and wake up at the end of my days with empty hands to present to Jesus. I want all of my life to belong to Jesus, because holding back is not worth it. There is no better place to be than in the center of God’s will even when I don’t understand His ways or see the whole picture.
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Jun 10, 2014
Hello!
I am currently studying at the Master’s College for my Bible Certificate. Right now my class is New Testament Survey. Every week I have to write a blog post on the Scripture. So this time I thought I would share my thoughts with you all : )
Romans 12:9-21
Paul starts this section off by saying “Let love be genuine.” So I was going to write about the whole passage but seriously this verse alone is enough to write a whole book on. Like WOW!!!
I am sure it would be easier for each of us to let our love seem genuine, to walk around with the façade of love instead of the real thing. In my own life I am very good at being nice to people and listening to what they have to say, but at the end of the day can I really say that I love them? In many cases I would have to answer no. I am nice, however, not because I genuinely care or love people but because if I’m not, what would people think of me?!? (aka: the motive behind my actions is pride, not love.)
In John 13:34 Jesus gave His disciples a new command which was to love one another. Then in verse 35 He told them that by their love for one another the world would know they belonged to Him. Love was their identifying badge; the act that set them apart.
Real love cannot help but be noticed. It is practically like putting a giant billboard in the sky for all to see. It glorifies the Father and allows Him to show Himself to the world.
However if we masquerade as people who “love” each other, no one will really ever know because a fake seed cannot bear fruit.
As I get older and study the Bible more and more, I am finding love, genuine, all out love is neither easy nor comfortable. It is, however, vital! It requires that we remain humble, lay down our self, be vulnerable and honest. It may be received and equally given back or it may be rejected and thrown in our face. Either way it is not a suggestion that will help us change the world, it is a command that is guaranteed to change the world.
So while it is hard, it is not impossible. We have the perfect example in the Father and the Son, we have the Word and Spirit to lead and guide us and we have the joy of knowing it will glorify the Lord as it puts all the spotlight on Him, which is exactly what we were created to do. Plus, just think how our brothers and sisters will blossom and flourish if we give genuine love freely, how it will strengthen the body and allow us to grow in the process!
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Jun 10, 2014
“… if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself.” 2 Timothy 2:13
“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6
“The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.” Psalm 138:8
“… just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love…” Ephesians 1:4
“Now to Him who is able to keep youfrom stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy…” Jude 24
How many more promises need to be made by a God who is incapable of lying before I will believe Him? My Friend has promised that He will always be with me, yet somehow, I would rather try to do things on my own. The work I’ve been called to do is not mine, but His. He will perfect everything that concerns me. He will do it because He is faithful.
So, what role do I play in this?
“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” Jude 20-21
“For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.” Hebrews 12:3
“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” Hebrews 3:15
“Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.” – 1 John 2:24-25
Abba, convince us of Your goodness, please. Convince us that You are for us, that You love us, and that no matter what we do, Your heart towards us never changes. Convince us that Your grace is true, and that all You require of us is to be weak, and willing to receive You in our weakness. Convince us, Papa, that when we are weak, You are strong. It’s what You’ve promised.
Teach us to believe You, and teach us to receive Your love. Teach us that you are trustworthy.
Thank You for allowing us to come before You in complete confidence. Thank You for sending Jesus to be our Hope, our Redemption, our Sanctification, our Righteousness, our LIFE.
Faithful Father, teach us how to love you. Through Jesus I ask this, amen.
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Good Friday and Easter Sunday can mean something different for me then is does for you. The fresh air of spring, warm sunshine and flowers coming up are all signs of spring. But is that all there is to Easter? There are people that look forward to painting eggs and hunting for them after; but is there more meaning behind this day than what we think? Easter may mean nothing more than another holiday to possibly go to church for some. But to me, this day stands for much more than that.
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