He is Alive!

 

Christmas is The Promise.

Easter is The Proof.

 

 

Knowing Judas would soon

betray Him, knowing Peter

would soon deny Him,

knowing the disciples

would hide in fear,

Jesus still washed their feet.

 

 

HE CAME.

HE DIED.

HE AROSE.

HE ASCENDED.

HE IS COMING BACK.

 

 

He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

Isaiah 53:5

 

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

1 Peter 2:24

 

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 3:23

 

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:23

 

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8

 

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

Romans 10:9-10

 

for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Romans 10:13

 

And because Jesus is alive and coming again, may our thoughts, words, actions, deeds, and lives be a reflection of our belief and trust in Him and these truths!

Intentional Helpers

Joshua Castleberry was concerned when he heard about the wildfires in the Panhandle of Texas.  The fires were consuming hay and feed for the livestock and the animals were having to be relocated.  Castleberry knew they needed help and quickly.  He spread the word and ranchers in Crockett and Houston counties came together and donated hay and feed.  Vulcraft/Nucor provided haulers and took 3 semi loads with 102 round bales of hay.  In addition, Lucas Stapleton and First County Feed, in Nacogdoches, donated a semi load of feed and other products from Lonestar Feed. According to Pastor Leon Wallace, the ranchers have continued helping these past few weeks.

Corey Simmons entered the subway, with a folder in his hands.  Once seated, he opened the folder and stared at the sheet of math problems.  Denise Wilson, sitting across from the man, thought he was a teacher working on papers.  Soon a man asked if he could take the empty seat next to Simmons.  It soon became clear to the gentleman that Corey was having a difficult time with the math sheet he was trying to correct.  Simmons explained to the man that his son, Corey Junior, had failed a test on fractions and was struggling with math.  It had been years since Simmons worked with fractions, but he wanted to be able to help and encourage his son.  Denise noticed that the man, “was explaining to him the things his son got wrong and breaking it down to him so he could get a better understanding.  e even qHIt was heartwarming and amazing to me.”  The gentleman even quizzed Corey to make sure he could explain the concepts to his son when he helped him. 

 

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, NBA Hall of Fame, sold 3 MVP trophies, 4 championship rings and other memorabilia for 2.8 million dollars.  He gave the money from the sales to a youth education program.  Kareem commented, “When it comes to choosing between storing a championship ring or trophy in a room, or providing kids with an opportunity to change their lives, the choice is pretty simple: Sell it all.”

 

May we, too, be quick to respond with intentional actions and deeds.

 

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

James 1:22

 

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

1 John 3:18

Irish Blessings

May God give you,

For every storm a rainbow,

For every fear a smile,

For every care a promise,

And a blessing in each trial.

For every problem life sends,

A faithful friend to share,

For every sigh, a sweet song,

And an answer for each prayer.

 

 

May joy and peace surround you,

Contentment latch your door

And happiness be with you now

And bless you evermore.

 

 

May the sun always shine

on your windowpane;

May a rainbow be certain

to follow every rain;

May the hand of a friend

always be near you;

May God fill your heart

with gladness to cheer you.

 

 

May love and laughter light your days

And warm your heart and home,

May good and faithful friends be yours

Wherever you may roam,

May peace and plenty bless your world

With joy that long endures,

May all life’s passing seasons bring

The best to you and yours.

 

 

May you live a long life

Full of gladness and health,

With a pocket full of gold

As the least of your wealth.

May the dreams you hold dearest,

Be those that come true.

And the kindness you spread,

Keep returning to you.

 

 

May your life be filled with laughter,

May your heart be filled with song,

May your eyes be filled with beauty,

And may your soul always know

to whom you belong.

 

 

May the road rise to meet you

May the wind be always at your back

May the sun shine warm upon your face

The rains fall softly upon your fields

And until we meet again

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

 

 

Irish or not, may God use us to be a blessing with our words, actions, and deeds.

 

The LORD bless you

and keep you;

the LORD make his face shine upon you

and be gracious to you;

the LORD turn his face toward you

and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26 

Doing the Extra

Phineas’ young son had been saving his money for over a year and now had $120.  He finally decided what he wanted to do with the money and went to talk with his parents.  Phineas recounted, “Saturday morning, my son walked into my room and said he wanted to use his money to help the homeless.  I asked him what he had in mind, and he said he wanted to make them lunches.  I have to be honest, I almost tried to talk him into just holding on to his money and having mom and dad pay for it, but the light in his eyes told me to just roll with it.”  The family went together to buy groceries and then came home to make sandwiches and pack the lunch bags.  After loading the car, they went to an area in Houston, Texas, where their son happily passed out lunches to people in need.

Each week, Rachael Rediger makes extra meals and delivers them to her neighbors.  At different times, she also gifts snack items, arranged in a plastic container to keep them fresh.

 

Amber Anderson has a creative way to encourage a cashier who might be having a tough day.  When checking out, Amber seems to be undecided about what candy bar to choose.  She’ll turn to the cashier and ask, “What’s your favorite?”  Amber then commented, “I buy whatever they say, then hand it to them after the sale and tell them they’re doing a great job and to have a great day.  It perks them up every single time.  It’s my little thing.”

 

Today, Jonathan and Katy Anne Nabors Brack and their family will remember and honor their daughter, Esther Colleen.  In 2017, while expecting twins, the Bracks lost precious Esther on March 9.  Each year on this day, they choose to do random acts of kindness and service in her memory. This morning their family is making breakfast and taking it to their local fire department. They have made gift baskets to deliver and share with families who have a baby in the NICU.  As a tradition, Esther’s twin, Julianne, gets her hair cut and they give the stylist a big tip to honor Esther.  For dinner, they will go out to eat, find a family dining at the same place, and anonymously pay for their meal.  On this special day, the Bracks also invite family, friends, and others to join them in doing random acts of kindness in memory of their daughter, Esther Colleen.

 

Whether it’s participating in an act of kindness, or supporting and encouraging someone else in theirs, may we all be willing to do our part to make the world a better place.

 

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

1 John 3:18

To Think About and Act Upon

 

Nothing can dim the light

that shines within you.

~ Maya Angelou

 

 

Life is 10% what happens to you

and 90% how you respond to it.

~ Lou Holtz

 

 

Throw love around

like confetti!

~ Jo Wright

 

 

It is a little embarrassing

that, after forty-five years

of research and study, the

best advice I can give to

people is to be a little

kinder to each other.

~ Aldous Huxley

 

 

WHEN THINGS CHANGE

INSIDE YOU,

THINGS CHANGE

AROUND YOU.

~ Olivia Rink

 

 

It’s not how much

scripture you know.

It’s how much

scripture you live.

~ TobyMac

 

 

REMEMBER THAT

HARD WORK IS A CHOICE.

ATTITUDE IS A CHOICE.

DISCIPLINE IS A CHOICE.

DOING EXTRA IS A CHOICE.

EXCELLENCE IS A CHOICE.

~ Allistair McCaw

 

 

God gave you a

fingerprint that no one

else has, so

you can leave an

imprint that no one

else can.

~ Steve Patterson

 

 

Sometimes what

looks like an

obstacle in your

path is actually a

gift meant to move

you in a different

direction.

~ Jane Lee Logan

 

 

WHAT YOU DO TODAY

CAN IMPROVE

YOUR TOMORROWS.

~ Ralph Marston

 

 

Be aware of what others are doing,

applaud their efforts,

acknowledge their successes,

and encourage them

in their pursuits.

When we all help one another,

everybody wins.

~ Jim Stovall

 

 

Leave

footprints of

love and kindness

wherever

you go.

 

 

May our thoughts lead to actions that make a difference for good to those we encounter.

 

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.

Philippians 4:8

 

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:17