Sweet Aroma

2 Corinthians 2: 14 – 15

…Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God.

I fell in love with this scripture! The imagery is beautiful.

I learned that The Greeks and Romans always made a triumphal entry after they had won over the enemy. They rejoiced in victory and this is what Paul is using here to place in our mind how he was a victory for Christ!

He wants us to picture these men returning they would be making a grand entrance back into their town. Pompey when he was victor over Africa was lead in by elephants leading his chariot, Mark Antony was lead by lions, another by tigers, and Airelius was lead by deer. Also, the people may have been throwing either flower petals or burning incense to their Gods. So Paul was spreading the knowledge that he was spreading the knowledge of Christ just like a warrior did in his victory.

The word "euwdia" was used in the original text meaning a person or thing that was pleasing to God, they were grateful to God. One commentary shared that we are Christ sweet offering to God, which he continually makes to Him.

Are we Christ sweet offering to God?

Do we smell beautiful for God or do we stink?

Are we a beautiful sweet aroma or we a bad odor?

Well, with each step we take today remember we are to be a Christ-like fragrance everywhere….a sweet perfume.

Hope to smell of sweet perfume,

Debbie

Resting in His Comfort

2 Corinthians 1:4

He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others.

It's three in the morning. Trouble sleeping…hubby is hurting..I listen, I do what I can…God calls me to the Word…His Word…

It was as if God placed me in a warm blanket and once again handed me my own letter…He comforts me, so that I can comfort Kenny.

Is it easy? NO…but then again it's probably not easy for God to always comfort us either..but He does…

The Word goes on to tell me to stop relying on myself and to rely on Him! Oh how I needed to hear those words from Him this morning…I will be able to provide the comfort needed, because I know I am able to rely on my Father! Thank you Father for bringing me into The Word early this morning to be reminded just how much you love little old Debbie…the same is true for you!

Resting in his arms,

Debbie

Working together

Romans 8: 28

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

 

Have you ever worked on a project with someone that you don't normally get along with that well and things seem to just gel? What about someone that normally the friction is so much between you could light the room with your own electricity?

But in the end the project is the best ever? Did you think it was you? Well, it wasn't…

God is so good! I am amazed how God will work out situations and grow us right through for His mighty purpose! He manages to get us interested, then places someone in our path to encourage us to try, then we take one step that direction and two back and something else happens to encourage us to take the plunge…God does have a purpose for each of us and it is so amazing when we allow Him to work..

Journey of Sisters was born much like described in the paragraph above…I took the plunge with God and it is awesome. We have women coming together to serve and be about Kingdom building together. We come together from different churches, denominations, races, and economic means to encourage one another and to go about God's business by working together.

Give thanks today and every day that just like it tells us from Romans 8: 38 ~ absolutely nothing can ever separate us from God's love!

I request prayers today for Kenny. We left in a ambulance shortly after I posted yesterday for the hospital. The pain was terrible. The medicine is helping and they seem to think he may get out today, but we are thankful for the emt's that helped get him to the hospital, the nurses, the drs., and friends that helped us through their support and love!

 

Thanking God,

Debbie

Endurance

Romans 5: 3 – 5

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And hope will not lead to disappointment.

This morning my hubby, Kenny is really struggling with pain. He is in the other room as I write this enduring his pain. I do believe that endurance develops a strong character and that character strengthens our hope of salvation. I witness daily Kenny take one step and then another and most are not without pain. He struggles with very bad back pain, but he doesn't complain to most people. Most people never realize just how badly he hurts. On the other hand, I watch him when he lets his guard down…when he struggles to get out of the bed every day, when he struggles to move from room to room. He endures and hangs to hope that one day it will not hurt and I see him grow through the process.

Study of this scripture gave me the imagery of it being like a linked chain and that one link leads to another link…So, we have a problem or trial, we endure, endurance leads to stronger character..character to confident hope of salvation. Hope will not lead to disappointment…

Cling to the chain…endure..hope …All because of what Christ did for me and for you!

Clinging,

Debbie

Jumping

Romans 4:18…20

Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping-believing that he would become the father of many nations.

Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God.

I began to ask myself Debbie does your faith grow stronger? Do I bring glory to God? Do I ever waver?

My faith is stronger and I am so thankful in saying these words. Almost a year ago, I started a journey through God's word. A journey that is probably the best thing that I've ever done for myself – in fact, I know it is! Every morning I get up and move into my office for quiet time with The Lord. Every morning without fail God showed me something that I needed desperately to get through that very day.

I am so thankful that I started this journey. Why? My faith is stronger! I have done something that truly allowed God to once again change me and make me better.

I challenge all of you to start this journey with me on January 1. I have Chronological Bibles that I am selling through Journey of Sisters Ministry or go get your own to start this journey. It is a wonderful journey that God shows us new things every day. I've found things that I didn't know, I've found things that someone told me a little different version on, but most important I've found God in a whole new way. I now have an intimate relationship with God ~ how you may ask? Through His Mighty Word opening my eyes to His desires for my life my relationship is stronger, more intimate and I feel God's love and hand in my life!

Read the story below:

During the terrible days of the Blitz, a father, holding his small son by the hand, ran from a building that had been struck by a bomb. In the front yard was a shell hole. Seeking shelter as quickly as possible, the father jumped into the hole and held up his arms for his son to follow. Terrified, yet hearing his father's voice telling him to jump, the boy replied, "I can't see you!"

The father, looking up against the sky tinted red by the burning buildings, called to the silhouette of his son, "But I can see you. Jump!" The boy jumped, because he trusted his father. The Christian faith enables us to face life or meet death, not because we can see, but with the certainty that we are seen; not that we know all the answers, but that we are known.

Donner Atwood.

I challenge you to jump right into God's word with me on January 1 or start your own challenge today….just jump!!!! Be like Abraham never waver believe God's promises and grow stronger!

Jumping in Faith,

Debbie

Hope Overflowing!

Romans 15:13 (New International Version)

¹³May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

I visited a new church yesterday and the message was about hope and thanksgiving! It was powerful and Dr. Masteller shared the scripture above with us. The amazing thing to me is that God really placed the word overflow on my heart about Christians and Thanksgiving. We have so much to be "thankful" for and we should be overflowing!

Are we?

We turn our televisions on and the words are very depressing, very inappropriate, very sad…but instead of turning the tv off we watch..

Our world isn't overflowing with hope according to the media ~ is it?

Today, I didn't follow the reading for today because it was heavy on my heart to share that God does fill us with hope, joy, and peace…if we keep our focus on Him. So during this holiday season let's all focus on God and continue with a choice every morning from now on to focus on Him rather than what the television news may tell us, what a friend that is down might share, or the devil just throws our direction…We are going to choose God and soon we will be overflowing with hope!

Hopeful,

Debbie

Stepping with enthusiasm!

1 Corinthians 15:58

…Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the LORD is ever useless.

 

Are you showing lively interest in the Lord, when you share about Him?

Do you show warmth? Zeal? Eagerness? Passion? Devotion? Ardor?

Would someone that doesn't know you think you were eager to share about the Lord with them? What about someone that does know you?

Are you passionate?

What are you devoted to? What cause are you devoted to?

When someone mentions you have zeal in your walk? Would it be about the Lord?

The scripture above tells us that we should always work enthusiastically for the Lord ~ do we?

Well, when I looked up the exact meaning for enthusiasm it mentioned all the words above and I began to think about people that did or do possess these qualities in their walk with the Lord and it does make a non-believer desire a relationship with Christ. After all, think back…if you were a non-believer would you rather join a surly, unhappy woman or a joyful, passionate woman in her task?

Lord, I pray that I exemplify the passion that I feel in my heart for you in my daily walk. I pray for the forgiveness for the times that I let you down and I walk with little zip in my step. Amen

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Just Do It!

1 Corinthians 10: 31

….whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

 

Today, when you pull through a fast food window line remember whatever you do ~ do it for the glory of God! When you get behind the slowest car on the highway ~ whatever you do ~ do it for the glory of God! When you get in the grocery store line that limits items and the person in front of you exceeds the limit ~ whatever you do ~ do it for the glory of God!

 

Seems simple enough, doesn't it? Well, think back over the last week in your life. Did you do everything for the glory of God? Well, I failed…I didn't do everything for the glory of God!

My goal today is to remember this verse and do it for the glory of God!

 

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Measure of Judgment

1 Corinthians 4: 1 – 4

Again, I hope you will take the time to read this whole passage. It is so valuable and such a reminder about judging others or being judged!

Paul shares that he is a servant of Christ who is to explain God's mysteries to others and that a person in charge must be faithful. He goes on to explain in verse 3 the following ~ As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority. I don't even trust my own judgment on this point. My conscience is clear, but that doesn't prove I'm right. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide.

When you read the scripture above what goes through your mind? I had to admit after self examination that I have a way to go in this area. I have grown, but have much more growing to do when it states it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you….Why I can't seem to get past the point that everybody isn't going to like me or judge me unfairly is hard to explain. I intend to handle this better by giving it to God after all I will never be able to make it okay anyway…it tells us It is the Lord himself that will decide. So we need to let it go!

I read the following story about judging another and thought how appropriate..

In his little book Illustrations of Bible Truth, H.A. Ironside pointed out the folly of judging others. He related an incident in the life of a man called Bishop Potter. "He was sailing for Europe on one of the great transatlantic ocean liners. When he went on board, he found that another passenger was to share the cabin with him. After going to see the accommodations, he came up to the purser's desk and inquired if he could leave his gold watch and other valuables in the ship's safe. He explained that ordinarily he never availed himself of that privilege, but he had been to his cabin and had met the man who was to occupy the other berth. Judging from his appearance, he was afraid that he might not be a very trustworthy person. The purser accepted the responsibility for the valuables and remarked, 'It's all right, bishop, I'll be very glad to take care of them for you. The other man has been up here and left his for the same reason!'" Our Daily Bread.

We (or at least some of us) think we are above it, don't we? Well, we might need to take a better look at ourselves and take Paul's words of wisdom to heart!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Planting

1 Corinthians 3: 6-7

I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow.

Have you ever watched a new believer when the seeds are first planted? You watch the person attend bible study and the smiles, the joy in their hearts, and then the opening up to share and then before you know it God grew them into a whole new person?

Well, this verse is for all of us! We may plant a seed, we may water the knowledge, but it is always God that causes the seed to root and spring up and out! It is absolutely the most beautiful transformation that takes place. When God causes a person to finally come to life, it is truly amazing.

Watch a new seed take root and spring forth and give God the glory!!!

Praising God,

Debbie

Pantote Xairete!

1 Thessalonians 5:16

Always be joyful.

If friends were to describe you, would the word joyful be in the description? Do you carry joy with you wherever you go?

It is hard to be joyful always, isn't it? Life just up and happens and the joy is let out just like in a balloon when it is popped! The word is very clear it tells us to always be joyful. Pantote Xairete – always, forever at all time, rejoice and be glad. Pretty clear instructions, isn't it?

We are supposed to rejoice about good and bad things. What? Bad things too? How?

We are able to rejoice because our joy is not based in circumstances, but in God. Circumstances change, God never changes and for this we rejoice!!!

C. S. Lewis put it this way, "Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition, when infinite joy is offered to us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in the slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased." Is this you? Are you easily pleased so that you never reach the joy Paul is talking about here?

I read a story about a church in Nebraska. The people were all given helium balloons and were told to release them at some point during the service when they experienced joy in their hearts given by the Lord. Well, when it was over and finished over 1/3 of the congregation still had their balloons. Some of you may say well the preacher didn't do his job, or the choir didn't sing good enough, but what about us? Did we have our hearts open to hear what God might want to share with us? Were we open to joy in the service and are we open to it today?

Whatever our circumstance, we are to rejoice! God does not change and for this we are thankful, so REJOICE!!!!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Panoiki

Acts 16: 16-40

Again, please read the above passage. Paul and Silas were arrested after Paul tired of a young demon possessed girl continually following them shouting after them and he demanded the demon come out. The masters of the girl were angry that their money from the profits of this young fortune telling girl was gone ~ demanded justice! So, Paul and Silas were beaten, and thrown into prison.

It tells us the hour was around midnight. Now keep in mind these men were in pain...the wounds would have been raw and painful, but….were they complaining?

No, it tells us that at midnight they were praying and singing hymns to God! Imagine, they were in pain, in the dark, alone in a cold cell and rather than seeking rest in the darkness they were singing to God. Still witnessing...just read the rest of the verse…the other prisoners were listening. So Paul and Silas were loud…so others could hear!

No shame, no worry of waking the others they were singing to their Lord. Wow….then suddenly a massive earthquake and the prison was shaken. Doors open, chains loosened and what's next? The jailer awakens fearing that the prisoners have run...he is about to kill himself when he hears…Stop! WE are here!

The jailer calls for light and runs to the dungeon. Falling to his feet trembling ~ what do I have to do to be saved? Imagine…He knows something is special with these men...they were wounded, hurting, saved and yet they stayed for him…Immediately he believed. He took them to his home and it tells us that even at the hour of the night, he cared for them and washed their wounds. The jailed showed "panoki" it tells us and you ask what is that ~ joy! He ran throughout his house sharing the panoki!

Wow, I am a morning person so this story really hit home with me. I can't imagine the pain of Paul and Silas, but yet they weren't sleeping and nursing their wounds they were praying and praising God! God provides when we are faithful!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Grace

Galatians 2:21

I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless.

The reading today was so full of information and so much to grasp, but the above verse jumped at me. Do I ever treat God's grace as meaningless? I beg forgiveness, if this is so…

Martin Luther said about this verse …if salvation is so difficult that it was necessary for Christ to die then all my works are good for nothing. He went on to put it like this ~ How can I buy for a penny what cost a million dollars? The law is a penny's worth when compared to what Christ did!

I thought this is a beautiful illustration for most of society … it puts into perspective what truly matters, but do we truly get it?

Another story about grace that Max Lucado wrote about Christina wanting to leave her poor Brazilian neighborhood, Christina wanted to see the world. Discontent with a home having only a pallet on the floor, a washbasin, and a wood-burning stove, she dreamed of a better life in the city. One morning she slipped away, breaking her mother's heart. Knowing what life on the streets would be like for her young, attractive daughter, Maria hurriedly packed to go find her. On her way to the bus stop she entered a drugstore to get one last thing. Pictures. She sat in the photograph booth, closed the curtain, and spent all she could on pictures of herself. With her purse full of small black-and-white photos, she boarded the next bus to Rio de Janiero. Maria knew Christina had no way of earning money. She also knew that her daughter was too stubborn to give up. When pride meets hunger, a human will do things that were before unthinkable. Knowing this, Maria began her search. Bars, hotels, nightclubs, any place with the reputation for street walkers or prostitutes. She went to them all. And at each place she left her picture--taped on a bathroom mirror, tacked to a hotel bulletin board, fastened to a corner phone booth. And on the back of each photo she wrote a note. It wasn't too long before both the money and the pictures ran out, and Maria had to go home. The weary mother wept as the bus began its long journey back to her small village. 

It was a few weeks later that young Christina descended the hotel stairs. Her young face was tired. Her brown eyes no longer danced with youth but spoke of pain and fear. Her laughter was broken. Her dream had become a nightmare. A thousand times over she had longed to trade these countless beds for her secure pallet. Yet the little village was, in too many ways, too far away. As she reached the bottom of the stairs, her eyes noticed a familiar face. She looked again, and there on the lobby mirror was a small picture of her mother. Christina's eyes burned and her throat tightened as she walked across the room and removed the small photo. Written on the back was this compelling invitation. "Whatever you have done, whatever you have become, it doesn't matter. Please come home." She did.

Never ever must we treat God's grace meaningless. The original word used was ayetw ~ means to abolish, then to make voice, to render null – we must always share the words about God's grace and that we will never earn it that Jesus gave us this gift that we could never earn!

Loving God, Debbie

Jump to your feet!

Acts 14 ~ 8-20

When you have a moment please read the story of the crippled man being healed. This morning the story really brought to my spirit the words ~ Why don't we all jump to our feet and start walking?

When we hear a message like Paul must have given, why don't we jump to our feet?

The man was crippled from birth; he was so disabled that he could put no weight on his feet at all. He was listening intently to the message and Paul looked up and the man's countenance had so changed that Paul knew he had the faith to be healed. Imagine the look of the man said it all!

We hear powerful messages today. Do we leave with a look that the Power of God shows immediately? Do we leap and walk with such power that there is no denying God's power?

We may not be physically disabled, but we are all disabled at some point mentally. We may be stuck in depression, doesn't that disable you? We may be dealing with illness that disables us, right? Well,

The message this morning that I felt so strongly was why aren't we leaping and looking different to others? Why don't we show in our very being that we have been changed? Why don't others want what we have?

Oh, Lord let me be the person that shows you today in my face, in my walk, in my very being…You are powerful and through you anything is definitely possible!

Believing,

Debbie

Praying

Acts 12:5

But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.

 

Many of you may have received this story in your email at some time about a baby.

Dr. Helen Roseveare, missionary to Zaire, told the following story. "A mother at our mission station died after giving birth to a premature baby. We tried to improvise an incubator to keep the infant alive, but the only hot water bottle we had was beyond repair. So we asked the children to pray for the baby and for her sister. One of the girls responded. 'Dear God, please send a hot water bottle today. Tomorrow will be too late because by then the baby will be dead. And dear Lord, send a doll for the sister so she won't feel so lonely.' That afternoon a large package arrived from England. The children watched eagerly as we opened it. Much to their surprise, under some clothing was a hot water bottle! Immediately the girl who had prayed so earnestly started to dig deeper, exclaiming, 'If God sent that, I'm sure He also sent a doll!' And she was right! The heavenly Father knew in advance of that child's sincere requests, and 5 months earlier He had led a ladies' group to include both of those specific articles."

Source Unknown.

We all have our moments that feel like a prison and for some it may be a prison. We need the people that care and love us to pray hard for us during difficult times, but also in the good times.

The verse above reminded me how one that is in a prison will feel the prayers being lifted during the difficult times and receives strength and encouragement. We know at times we seem helpless to help a situation, but we are never helpless because we have prayer. God hears the prayers always.

The word used here is ~ektenhv, is found only one other place in the bible when earnest is used. 1 Peter 4:8: Have fervent charity among yourselves." The idea being that it must be constant. So we must have constant prayer and charity for each other. Not bad things to have for one another, is it?

Today, pray for those around you. The person that checks you out at the grocery store, your veterans that fight and fought for us, the neighbor and our loved ones. Today, let's pray for others!

Praying,

Debbie

 

Instrument of God

Acts 9

 

Please take the time to read about Saul's Conversion today in verses 1 – 19…I believe that Saul shows us that God will indeed use anybody including me and you!

I was touched this morning by verse 15…Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. God knew Saul's past, his present and his future…his future was to be God's instrument. In the past he had murdered people that were doing God's work and now he would be a leader in taking the message to the people. Wow, is God not the most amazing….

I just imagine the trust and faith that Ananias had to be able to go to this man called Saul. He knew what people said about Saul and for him to go into that home and perform God's miracle - he walked the talk. He lived the faith; he exemplified the faith and was obedient to God.

He went. He knew that God had a plan.

The plan was for Saul to communicate the gospel. Saul was selected. God tells us what to do with only assurance that it is just and for a good reason. Two men, two very different paths being used to communicate the gospel; one that was a believer without a miracle the other that needed a miracle to believe…. God is truly amazing. The eye for detail never ceases to amaze me. God is in to the details.

In verse 18 it tells us the scales that blinded Saul fell off. I had to look this up. I wondered is this like fish scales. Exactly what does this mean…well the original word was ~wseil~ which mean "as it had been". So the commentaries all believe that there was not a true scale on Saul's eyes. He was just in darkness. Just in darkness – can you imagine? A man with so much power who lived in such a dark world suddenly literally placed in a dark world for real!!! Wow….God wanted a miracle for Saul. He wanted absolutely no doubt in Saul's mind that God healed him. No questions allowed it was God. Saul was instantly healed and regained his sight.

I find this all so interesting that once again God used light and darkness ~ this time in a miracle that left little doubt about who Saul was going to be an instrument for in the future. What about us? Are we going to be His instrument in our dark world?

Be a light today!

Shining,

Debbie

Healing please

Acts 3: 1 -11

Wow!

I just love Peter…don't you? Hopefully, we all see a little bit of ourselves in Peter and he gives us hope! Who doesn't need a little hope?

The reading today was beautiful because God spoke to me…once again. I love the times when I so desperately need a word from God and He gives me one…

I want all of you to read the whole story from Acts 3 about the crippled beggar at the Temple. The focus for me was …verse 2

Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple.

Think of a time in your life when you allowed others or yourself to put you in a situation that wasn't good. You allowed something someone said or did to make you do things that were just as wrong as the action they took against you…Did you allow them to put you beside the gate? Did you beg for others to support you or did you beg for others to hear your side of the story?

I did.

The Word goes on to say…Look at us! The original word means perceive for yourself, discern things for yourself. Look deep into the situation and give it to God for true understanding.

I did.

Get up and walk! Again, original words mean cause to be born or aroused..Look at things a little differently. Walk was "peripateo" to make one's way...to conduct oneself. Change the place you have been put or where you put yourself.

I did.

Instantly healed and strengthened.

Made solid is the meaning. God will make us solid, if we allow Him to work in our situations and we take it to Him. He will help us perceive things truthfully and He will make us solid!

I am trying!

Debbie

Right with me!

Acts 2:28

You have shown me the way of life, and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.

Jesus knew the paths of life and now he would have the fullness of God's presence.

Jesus was the first to take this path of resurrection and then in the fullness of you, Christ, as a man, is in, possession of, being exalted to the right hand of God, and crowned with glory and honor, and he has all the joy …this is one commentaries words about this verse.

When I read it this morning ~ it spoke to my heart.

It was as if God said Debbie, sometimes the roads are bumpy, with many twist and turns that you don't necessarily like or want, but I am always with you! I never leave you.

It warmed my heart that the word joy was in this verse. It reminded me that joy is part of even the most difficult seasons of our paths, because of Jesus and what He did for me and you. Jesus does show us the way.

In Psalms 16 it says similar words

I will bless the Lord who guides me:

Even at night my heart instructs me.

I know the Lord is always with me.

I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.

No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice.

My body rests in safety.

Thank you Father for always giving me the Word that I need, if I just open my heart to hear it!

Thanking God for His Wise Counsel,

Debbie

Did you know Him?

Luke 24:31

Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him.

Don't you know that God wonders, when are they going to get it? How often do they have to take that step, before they open their eyes?

I know in my own journey I will take the wrong curve and at the end I think when am I going to realize that God does know what is best…

When am I going to just recognize it is God's way and life will make more sense?

I am better now than I was, but I still have such a long way to go…

Do you ever wonder these questions? Do you ever think wow how dumb can I be?

Here these two men spent the day walking with Christ, talking about Scriptures with Him explaining them and discussing them…He went to eat with them and suddenly it tells us that their eyes were opened. The original word was "dihnoixghsan" which means to open the mind, to cause to understand, to open the soul. Wow, Christ opened their soul to finally recognize Him or to understand who He was and still is..

After Christ vanished, they suddenly realized how their hearts were burning when he was sharing and explaining the scriptures with them. Think back, have you had those moments in your studies where you are so excited that The Word gave you exactly the answer to your prayers?

Well, did you recognize Him? Did you realize that He opened your soul to understand?

Isn't Jesus the coolest?

What an awesome journey this is, when you share it with the one that saved us!

Enjoying this amazing walk,

Debbie

At, Last and First!

At, Last and First

Today, in the reading of the death of Jesus, the burial of Jesus and finally The Resurrection of Jesus I was struck with something the women. The women stayed at the cross, they were the last to leave Him at the tomb and the first at the tomb when they discovered He was alive!

Women that were poor and humble were chosen to be the first witnesses of the resurrection. The scriptures from Luke tell us they followed and saw the tomb where they placed his body. They left and went home to prepare spices to take care of his body. These women followed him during his ministry and they wanted to continue to care for him in his death. They prepared spices that they could anoint his body. The spices were important to these women and they wanted to scatter sweet spices on their Lord and Savior. Yet again, I was amazed with the scripture it tells us ~ But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. So they went in, but they didn't find the body of the Lord Jesus. As they stood there puzzled…

Once again, early in the morning was mentioned…not later in the day after other chores were done ~ early. Don't waste a moment to be obedient to God. If you feel God tugging at you get up and take care of it! God probably wants to share something very special with you!

Another thing that grabbed my attention was the stone was rolled away. Now you know this had to grab their attention..it tells us they were puzzled. What stone do you have in your life that only God can move away? What habit or choice is standing in your way that only God can push to the side? Give it to Him.

Now down to verse 6 of Luke 24 ~

He isn't here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee

Well, these ladies traveled with Jesus right along with the disciples and heard him share what was about to happen to Him. These ladies remained with Jesus throughout and were the first to witness the resurrection and then to go and share the good news. Imagine…Just Imagine…The pain, the heartbreak, the sorrow, the grief, the fear, the sheer joy and they were the first to witness that Jesus indeed conquered the grave.

Why we wonder? After all, women were not first class citizens, but Jesus always treated them with such honor. The woman at the well was the first to hear of the Living Water, Mary of Bethany was the first to realize just how special spending time with Him was and these women were the ones to witness God's Grace through Jesus for all of us.. Amazing Grace how sweet the sound…

Sweet Blessings,

Debbie

Trying to Grasp

John 19:30

When Jesus tasted it, he said, "It is finished!" Then he bowed his head and released his spirit.

The cry of victory is heard in the hour of defeat. Jesus knew his death meant redemption for us. The law was fulfilled, prophecy was accomplished, and God is reconciled to man. Awful yet glorious finish is what one commentary called it.

This act opened up the Kingdom of Heaven for all of us. Jesus was obedient unto his death for all of us.

The original word for finished was "teleo" which meant to bring to a close or to fulfill. The mention of he bowed his head is only found in John. John used the word "klinw" for bowed his head he wanted it very vivid for all of us to visualize. Jesus stated It is finished and he bowed his head and died. According to Luke the last words uttered from Jesus were from Psalms 31:5 "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit".

The last few days have been so difficult to read. We move between Matthew, Luke, Mark and John and read the story over and over with a few detail changes, but it is hard reading. I have had such a difficult time with the reading the last few days and sometimes I think it is because we like to focus on what is coming next. After reading this time I don't ever want to skip over what Jesus did for us. I believe it is easy for us to focus on after the cross, but because of the cross We live!

I don't think we ever grasp truly what Jesus did for us. I know I don't and for this I beg forgiveness.

Trying to grasp,

Debbie

Silence is golden

Matthew 27:12

But when the leading priests and the elders made their accusations against him, Jesus remained silent.

 

The quiet. Imagine the quiet in the crowd all waiting for Jesus to defend himself and how does he reply? Silence.

What about us? When we are accused do we remain silent?

I imagine Our Savior quietly standing waiting to take on my sin.

Yes, He knows what is coming and he makes no reply.

All we hear are accusations and the crowd, nothing but quiet from Our Savior.

Standing waiting to receive the sentence of death for me and for you. Silence.

Next time I feel unjustly accused, I want to remember how Our Savior replied ~

SILENCE.

Reminded,

Debbie

 

Are we all in denial?

Matthew 26:75

Suddenly, Jesus' words flashed through Peter's mind: "Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me." And he went away weeping bitterly.

The reading the last few days has been so difficult. I don't know, if it is because we know what is coming or the fact that the disciples walked with Jesus and still messed up. The pain that Peter must have felt knowing that he did exactly what Jesus told him he would do and the realization of how badly he failed and disappointed.

The word "deny" in the original text was aparnhsh, which means to deny, to affirm that one has no acquaintance with someone. How could this happen to the man that walked on water? The man that watched miracle after miracle?

Imagine the pain Peter felt the moment the words left his mouth! The word for weeping was "klaio" which means to weep in grief, weep for to mourn. Peter was in pain like the death of a loved one. He knew how badly he messed up and he was hurting so bad.

How often do we deny Jesus? Oh, maybe not in the exact way like Peter did, but what about the time that you feel the Spirit tell you no and you proceed anyway? What about the time that you turn your head to a wrong rather than speak the truth? Do I walk away feeling klaio? Do I mourn like I've lost a loved one? The absolute truth is no, I don't….I pray that in the future I will be diligent to the wrong that I committed… by remembering the other scripture from Matthew about taking the plank out of my own eye???

Loving Jesus,

Debbie

Are we sleeping on the job?

Today, we are in the garden. Yes, the Garden of Gethsemane. Today's picture is an ancient olive tree and I want you to picture Peter, James and John resting along that tree and place yourself right along them.

Jesus is very upset. He request that we wait here and keep watch over him. Jesus is described as crushed with grief, deeply troubled, distressed and his one request that we keep watch over him. What do we do? We don't totally understand, it's been a really long day. We are emotionally and physically tired, it's dark, it's quiet and we fall asleep on our job. It seemed simple enough, didn't it? Keep watch..

Jesus returns to find us all asleep. Imagine the pain of finding those he counted on to watch over him asleep on their job. Not only does Jesus know what is about to happen ~ his closest friends have fallen asleep. Betrayed and being denied are about to happen and Jesus is praying to His Father ~ Abba, Father everything is possible for you. Please take this cup from me. Yet all I want his for your will to be done…Still Jesus stays in God's will not his own.

Next you hear a crowd approaching and Jesus realizes what is about to happen. He steps forward and ask who are you looking for? Jesus the Nazarene and he replies I AM he…Jesus stepped forward and replied I AM HE…He once again stepped into God's will and where are the ones who accompanied him?

One book tells us the deserted him and ran away..another they deserted him and fled..How often do we desert Him and run? How often are we just like these disciples?

At the beginning, I requested that you place yourself at the base of that olive tree with those disciples because all too often we sleep, we desert and we run…and all Jesus says is Come to me all who are weary…Come follow me…Come in the difficult times come to me …

Thank you Father for loving me,

Debbie