He Lives!

 

Earth’s saddest day and 

gladdest day were just…

three days apart.

 

 

The real symbols for Easter are the CROSS and an EMPTY TOMB.

~ Steve Daniels

 

 

At the cross, man was at his worst, but God was at his best.

~ Steven Lawson

 

 

This Holy Week has reminded us, once again, of God’s great love for mankind.  He desires a relationship with us.  Since prophets and kings were not able to convince the people to obey and follow God, He sent the ultimate gift of His Son, Jesus, to redeem His people.  After three years of ministry, Jesus knew His time on earth was coming to a close.  He yielded Himself to His Father’s will, over His own, and became the sacrifice to pay for our sins.  After Jesus’ death on the cross, three days later He rose from the grave.  He is now seated at the right hand of God in Heaven.  Romans 10:9  assures us, “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.”

 

“Because He Lives”

William J. Gaither and Gloria Gaither

 

God sent His son, they called Him, Jesus

He came to love, heal and forgive

He lived and died to buy my pardon

An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.

 

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow

Because He lives, all fear is gone

Because I know He holds the future

And life is worth the living

Just because He lives.

 

Because Jesus rose from the grave and lives today, we have the promise of salvation for all who accept Him as Lord and Savior.  And that gift of love should make a difference in the way we choose to live.  Like Jesus, may we desire, “Not my will, but yours be done.”

 

 

But 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.

We all, like sheep, have gone astray,

     each of us has turned to our own way;

and the LORD has laid on him

     the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 53:5-6

 

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

 

 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 14:6

 

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

Luke 22:42

 

And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:15, 21

Preparations for Growth

 

SPRING:

A LOVELY

REMINDER

OF HOW

BEAUTIFUL

CHANGE

CAN

TRULY BE.

 

 

In preparation for the “Big Freeze” of 2021, Larry covered the plants and pipes, in hopes of protecting them.  After days of freezing temperatures, snow, and wind, time would tell how the plants, grass, and pipes would survive.  These first few days of Spring have had some surprising results.

 

* What we considered to be delicate rose bushes have thrived and continued to sprout new growth during these days.

* Some plants needed to be pruned so the healthy parts had the potential to grow.

* Some species of plants remained healthy while others, of the same kind, did not.

* Even after a month, it is obvious that some plants will need to be removed and replaced because there is no evidence of life or growth.

* The grass appears to be greener, thicker, and growing.  Larry is already needing to mow more often.

 

People also have the opportunity and choice to do what is necessary to bloom and grow.  There are times one needs to protect and be cautious when challenges arise.  Prayer and waiting for the right timing can make a difference.  There are times when changes need to be made for growth to continue.  And sometimes it is necessary to uproot and get rid of something that is not helping us do and be our best.  With God as our gardener, may He give us the wisdom to know when to remove, revive, restore, renew, or replace.  And in faith, may we be obedient and do as He directs.

 

 

He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

John 15:2

 

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

2 Peter 3:18

 

Heart Choices

 

Hagen and his mom and dad flew to Dallas, Texas, and then rented a car to drive to a family funeral.  As they traveled away from the airport, they soon realized that Hagen’s favorite Buzz Lightyear figure had been left on the plane.  They found out that the doll had not been turned in and the plane was now on its way from Love Field to Little Rock, Arkansas, the final destination of the day.  In Little Rock, Jason, a Ramp Agent at LIT, was making the final check of the plane for the day when he noticed Hagen’s buddy.  Jason’s eye caught something written on the bottom of one of Buzz’s boots: Hagen.  After some investigation, he found that only one Hagen had been a passenger on the plane that day.  Jason then began to take action, knowing he would be mailing Buzz back to his friend.  He wrote a letter to Hagen and told him about Buzz’s adventures on his Southwest flight and time in the Little Rock Airport.  He also included pictures of Buzz at the various places.  Before mailing, Jason hand-decorated the box.  A few days later the surprise package arrived at its destination.  There was a joyous reunion with young Hagen and Buzz.  Ashley, Hagen’s mother responded, “There’s definitely not enough good in this world, and for someone to take the time out of their day to do that for strangers means the world to us.”

 

Randy Smalls, from South Carolina, was contacted by Richauna Reese to let him know of a problem she hoped he could help remedy.  Smalls 7^th grade daughter, and some of her friends, had been making fun of and bullying Ryan Reese because of the way she dressed, her choice of shoes, and her hairstyle.  After the recent death of her father, grandfather, and aunt, the bullying was weighing heavily on Ryan.  Upon learning of his daughter’s involvement, Randy remembered his feelings of being bullied and laughed at in school.  He knew something needed to be done to correct the problem and make an impression on his daughter.  Randy was planning to take his 13-year-old daughter shopping on Saturday for new clothes.  He decided to contact Richauna and ask if Ryan could go with he and his daughter.  His daughter soon found out that the money her dad was planning to give her to shop would now be spent on new clothes for Ryan instead.  Smalls stated, “I think that’s the perfect punishment because my daughter likes to dress.  So if they’re picking on a student because of the dressing, then I take away from her and give it to somebody else.”  Randy’s daughter was not pleased, but did eventually decide to help Ryan choose outfits.  The more time the girls spent together, the better the conversations.  Smalls also made a hair appointment for Ryan for that day.  He then told her he would be paying for hair appointments, each month, to the end of the year.  With Randy Smalls’ daughter’s encouragement to her friends, the bullying stopped.  Smalls concluded, “I believe as a parent, we have to take responsibility for what our children do. 

 

Katherine Hepburn tells the story of going to the circus with her father when she was a teenager.  It finally came down to just one family in front of them in line, waiting to purchase tickets.  The family consisted of a father, mother, and eight  children all under the age of 12.  The children were lined up, two by two, and holding hands.  From their excited chatter, it was obvious that this would be their first time to see the circus.  As the father stepped up to the ticket booth, the lady asked how many tickets were needed.  The man proudly stated, “Two adults and eight children.”  When told the cost, the man realized he didn’t have enough money.  At that moment, Hepburn’s father reached in his pocket, took out a $20 bill, dropped it on the ground, tapped the man on the shoulder, and told him the money must have fallen out of his pocket.  With a tear streaming down his face, the man thanked Mr. Hepburn, realizing what he had done.  After that, Katherine and her dad walked back to the car and went home.  The money that had been given to the family was what would have purchased their own tickets to the circus.  Katherine remembered, “Although we didn’t get to see the circus that night, we both felt a joy inside us that was far greater than seeing the circus could ever provide.  That day I learned the value to give.  The importance of giving, blessing others can never be over emphasized because there’s always joy in giving.  Learn to make someone happy by acts of giving.”

 

May we too experience the joy and value of giving from the heart, especially when it is unexpected.

 

 

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Philippians 2:3-4

 

Love is patient, love is kind.

1 Corinthians 13:4a

 

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Colossians 3:12