Something to Think About

Ever since I came upon this quote I have been unable to get it out of my mind. While we as Christians may not be the greatest single cause of atheism, I can't help but wonder how greatly we have contributed.

"The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips then walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable."

Brennan Manning

What do you think about this quote? I am interested to hear your thoughts.

He Is Risen

It had been two days since their beloved Jesus had been mocked, beaten and crucified.  Praised with palm branches waving one day and treated as a criminal the next.  How quickly things had changed.   

The chief priests and Pharisees had gone to Pilate and told him that Jesus said that after three days He would rise from the dead.  So Pilate gave the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day.  Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead.  This last deception will be worse than the first.  He told them to make the tomb as secure as they knew how and they put a seal around the tomb and posted a Roman guard outside.

On the third day, both Marys went down to the tomb.  There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and rolled back the stone and sat on it.  Then the angel told the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. 

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid, yet filled with joy, and ran to tell the disciples.  Suddenly Jesus met them.   "Greetings," he said.  They came to Him, clasped His feet and worshiped Him.  (Matthew 27:62-28:9)

Christianity is the only religion that serves a living God.  Jesus is alive. He loves you and desires to have a relationship with you.  If you have not yet done so, ask Him into your heart and life to be your Savior.

Praying that your Easter is blessed and that you will always be amazed and grateful for the empty tomb. 

A Dark Day

When I woke up this morning I couldn't help but think about what it must have been like on this day 20 centuries ago in Jerusalem.

Just the day before, Jesus had been tried illegally on trumped up charges by those who feared and hated Him.  He was then beaten mercilessly, most of His skin stripped off by the instruments of torture wielded by the Roman soldiers.

And if that wasn't enough, He was crucified like a common criminal.  And then He died.  Strange things began to happen.  A deep darkness covered the earth for several hours in the middle of the day.  Evil thought it had triumphed and it blanketed the land.  The curtain of the Temple was torn in two.  The earth shook and the rocks split.  Tombs broke open  and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.  (Matthew 27:51,52)  Can you imagine being a citizen of Jerusalem and experiencing these strange things?  Would you be terrified?  Would you be like the Roman centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus and immediately know that Jesus was in fact who He said He was, the Son of God?

Can you imagine being a follower of Jesus, a friend who saw Him on a daily basis?   Can you imagine standing under the cross looking up at your beloved Jesus?  What  they must have been feeling!   Can you feel their despair?   Their anxiety?  The raw grief that gripped their hearts?  Life as they had known it had forever changed.  How could they go on without Him?They couldn't fully understand.    It was beyond  human comprehension.

That evening, Joseph of Arimathea, who had become a disciple of Jesus, asked Pilate for Jesus' body.  He took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock.   Can you imagine how  gently he treated Jesus' precious, broken body as he prepared it for burial.  Then he rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. (Matthew 27:57-60).  But this was not the end.  Stay tuned.

 

And the Winner Is.......

My sweet husband was almost asleep but kindly got up and drew the winning number.

Congratulations to Bren at Seeking Grace on the Narrow Path! I will mail your Crazy Love book as soon as I get your contact information.

Scripture for the Week

My Scripture memorization theme continues to be on guarding my mouth. I plan to stay with theme until I have control over my mouth. I could be on this theme for a long time.

Here is my memory verse for the week:

He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity. Proverbs 21:23

Keep learning the Word of God.