Sunday Words of Encouragement April 4, 2021 Happy Ressurection Day!

Our church celebrated three baptisms this morning. Then Pastor shared his Easter message of Celebration. 

Celebration of new lives; celebration of secured lives. We Celebrate Jesus!
Jesus left the tomb without the captive.
Now we share in the celebration of the gift of salvation, not the Easter bunny.
The Good News was shared in all four gospels by the Apostles, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
They witnessed this event in person!

If Jesus had stayed in the tomb, His story would be over.  But here is the story:
John 19 and 20:1-18.

Jesus proclaimed: “It is Finished.” John 19:30.
Angels from Heaven said “Dear woman…” John 20:13. Jesus said to Mary: “Dear woman…” John 20:15.
Who is He calling today? “Dear woman” “Dear man” “Dear Child” He is calling each one. He is calling you!

You have a choice: return to the old promises of ashes to ashes with nothing more. Or choose the promise of the empty grave; choose the resurrected life!
Proclaim for yourself: “It is finished!” The work may not be complete in you yet, but the old life is finished, and you have a hope and a future. Celebrate in the Risen Lord!

I found this beautiful song video today. "It Was Finished Upon the Cross"

Verses for Today:
John 19:30
30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
John 20:17
17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

 

Sunday Words of Encouragement April 12, 2020 Happy Easter!

 

Pastor's online message this morning was from Luke 24. Jesus bore our sin on the cross. He conquered death and rose in glory! We cannot find help in the things of this dying world. We can only find healing and life through the redeeming blood of our Risen Lord.
What do you turn to for help, hope or purpose?

Proverbs 14:12 and Proverbs 16:25
There is a way that appears to be right,
but in the end it leads to death.

Stop looking among the dead.

The Point: Stop looking among the dead. Turn to Jesus!

Praise God - Christ is Risen!
He paid the price for my sin.

Verses for Today:
Luke 24:5-7 (NIV)
5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ”


Thank you, God, that through belief in the living Christ, I have the joy of eternal life.

Sunday Words of Encouragement April 5, 2015 - Happy Resurrection Day!

We attended a different church this morning to be with our daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren. We greatly missed the worship and praise music from our church but we did enjoy the sermon.

The message focused around 1 Corinthians 15 and most specifically verses 16-17: 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.

The Pastor reaffirmed several times that the event was supernatural. He rebuked ridiculous arguments and theories such as Jesus was poisoned to appear dead but didn’t really die, there were mass hallucinations, there were visions, they had the wrong tomb. He noted that the witnesses of the women who arrived at the open grave was consistent with their knowledge. They were present when Jesus was buried and the stone rolled to close the grave. They were alarmed by the stone being rolled away and meeting an angel. If Christians wanted to make up a story of resurrection couldn’t they have a made a more realistic story instead of one that relies on women who weren’t accepted as witnesses in that culture? (From Dr. Sinclair B. Ferguson speaking on the authenticity of the Resurrection Story.)

The angel told the women ‘He is not here. He is Risen; go tell His disciples’. We are each responsible to do the same. We must believe that He is Risen in order to be Christian. If we believe, then we should go and tell others.

I came upon this song several months ago and set it aside for today!

Mercy Tree

Verses for Today:
Romans 6: 8-10 (NIV)
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

I believe and thank God. Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

Sunday Words of Encouragement April 24, 2011

Is Resurrection Day real and relevant today? We hunt for eggs, give Easter baskets and wish Happy Easter, but do we stop and remember what we are really celebrating? Pastor's message today reminded us that the resurrection is not a myth but is supported by history.  The execution of Christ is historically recorded not only in the Gospels but by historians, Josephus and Tacitus. The resurrection was witnessed by an empty tomb (Matthew 28:1-15), the risen Christ was witnessed by at least 500 at one time (1 Cor 15:6) and a living Christ is witnessed by the Spirit living in the heart of believers, like me.

Without the Cross we are lost and would not know redeeming love.
Without the resurrection we are without hope and dead in our sins. (1 Cor 15: 12-18.)

This is one of the songs that we sang for our service this morning.
I particularly like it being an attorney and recognizing:
the punishment needed for crime,
the authority of the Judge,
and ultimately the pardon or paid debt.

The most wonderful thing to remember about Easter Week (from crucifixion to resurrection) is that Christ's sacrifice paid the price for us and gives us this ending for our lives:

A Verse for Today:

Mark 16:6 (New International Version, ©2011)

 ⁶ “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.

I pray today that all may know the hope and joy of Easter.

Enquiring Minds - Meme Week 34 PLUS Comment Giveaway + Winner

Interesting responses this past week. Thank you to everyone who participated!  Most of us do not have regular beauty salon visits - much less massage or spa visits! Do you think the fact that we are busy reading and on the internet says something about our priorities? Are we book and computer nerds who disdain fashion? LOL
Mystica reminded me that I like pedicures but I only do that about twice a year too.

The Winner from Enquiring Minds Week #33 is: #19. Jolene (who is lucky to have a sister do her hair *G*). Jolene, please pick a book from the Love Books List for Giveaway or remaining Christmas Giveaway Books and let me know your choice, your address and a choice of bookmarks if desired.

This meme is hosted by Dollycas Thoughts for Thursdays - which are hard for me to make.  The goal is to get to know our fellow bloggers and visitors better. Each week Dolly asks some questions for us to answer and then link up. I am late doing the post but I am trying to to participate as I would like to learn more about blogger and follower friends.

WEEK 34 QUESTIONS

1. What is your favorite Easter candy?

Hmmm - I had to really think what qualifies as Easter candy since it's my daughter's turn to celebrate with her kids and we don't have to do baskets anymore. :-) I like the Reece's peanut butter eggs but I think my favorite would be jelly beans.

2. Do you recycle, reuse, and reduce?

We definitely reuse around our house and reduce or conserve on power and paper etc. Having lived on boats and in the RV we have learned to minimize waste where possible. We are not so good on recycling perhaps because we rarely have aluminum cans - not too many soft drinks for us.

3. Do you have any special traditions to celebrate Easter or Earth Day?

I wish I could say we get new dresses but - nope.  I guess our biggest tradition is coloring eggs for the kids. I have to go right now and help my daughter do the eggs! We don't do anything special for Earth Day although we do get trees for Arbor day. :-)

Your turn to share: What is your favorite Easter candy? Do you recycle, reuse and reduce? Do you have special Easter or Earth Day traditions?

Enquire Comment Winners can choose a selection from  Valentine and "Love" books or the remaining Christmas Giveaway Books. 

Rules: a) Must be a follower; b) Share a comment on any (or all) of the three questions above.
Open internationally and an international winner may get a smaller book or a $5.00 GC if I decide the mailing is too much.
I will pick a Comment winner from all comments made by Friday, April 29 at 10PM central. 

Sunday Words of Encouragment April 4, 2010

HAPPY RESURRECTION DAY!

We had a powerful service today with wonderful Choir songs and a brief but meaningful sermon.
Pastor noted that the Greek word for "finished" is the word a servant would use to say to his master " I have completed the task you assigned me; it is good and ready for inspection."  When Jesus said on the cross "It is finished" He was saying to His father that He had completed the assigned task.  He did it voluntarily - He gave His life; no one took it from Him.  He did it for us.

I spent several hours yesterday looking for the song I wanted for Easter -
I found this song that I had never heard but it presents the meaning of Easter for me!

Words and Music by Stuart Townend

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom
(REPEAT)

Verses for today:
John 10: 17-18

“The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again.

No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.

I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again.

This command I received from my Father.”

I thank you and praise you Lord for your sacrifice.

Winners of Easter Packages!

Thank you everyone for commenting and sharing your Easter/holiday traditions.  It is so interesting to learn about other traditions and customs. 

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS OF THE EASTER GIVEAWAY!

#1 QUACK the DUCKY 

(who quacks when you push the patch on his chest!)

with a candle, a dish towel and treats

#2 MISSY BUNNY
(a cute old fashion look!)

with a ceramic bunny house
decoration that opens,
Easter window decals/stickers
and treats

#3 CARROT BUNNY (so soft and plump)

with a bunny bell, a dish cloth and treats

And for the International Gift Certificate:

Please try to get your snail mail addresses to me right away so I can send the packages out as soon as possible!  mesreads@gmail.com

Giveaway Packages for Easter

I am sorry I never got the March Gift post up. I had one Celtic book and some St. Patrick day magnets to giveaway but I misplaced which computer the picture was on!  I was going to add another Irish related book.  Then I gave the magnets to a local group for last Saturday's St. Paddy event since I knew I could not get them mailed out in time for March 17.
Ah well - to make up for it I'll have four prizes for Easter. Three packages for US/Canada and one for International entries.

Now it is time to get the Easter Gift Post up before that gets here as fast as time is going by for me!

I have three little Easter packages for the US/Canadian entries:

Here they are in separate picutres:

#1 QUACK the DUCKY 

(who quacks when you push the patch on his chest!)

with a candle, a dish towel and treats

#2 MISSY BUNNY (a cute old fashion look!)

with a ceramic bunny house decoration that opens,

Easter window decals/stickers and treats

and #3 CARROT BUNNY (so soft and plump)

with a bunny bell, a dish cloth and treats

To enter you must comment telling me if you have any special Easter tradition.  Or if you do not celebrate Easter but some other celebration at this time of year tell me what tradition you have for that.

US/Canada entries may enter by telling me whether you want #1, #2 or #3.  You may enter for all three but you will only be allowed to win one package.

International visitors are entering for a chance to win a gift certificate of your bookstore choice for $8.00.

Okay- I hope those rules are all clear.

The giveaway will run until 10pm Central March 28.  Hopefully that will allow the packages to arrive near Easter!!