Counting Down

There are many events in these next few weeks. Let me list them for you --

This Thursday and Friday will be Isaiah's "midterm exams".

May 1st and 2nd will be his final set of "practice tests".

May 10th will be his tennis tryout.

BUT what we are counting down to is the weekend of his BIG exams -- May 17th and 18th.  We are 27 days from those tests which will decide what high school he will attend.

For Abby, her next set of exams will be May 13th and 14th.  On the afternoon of the 14th, she will be having her 8th grade badminton competition. Last Friday, she went with her class for a volleyball competition and they won third place.

On May 15th she leaves for an overnight wilderness experience trip.  So, she will be away for May 15th and 16th.



Seek Him First!

The Obedience of John 21:5-6

He has risen!

What joy to know that He is alive!

As I come to the close of the book of John, I see one more glimpse of Jesus through John 21:5-6

So Jesus said to them, "Children, you do not have any fish, do you?" They answered Him, "No." And He said to them, "Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch." So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish. 

As the disciples obeyed, they caught more than they could have imagined. In fact, the catch was so big that they were not able to haul it in.

So, that's the resurrected power in action.

I need to listen to His instructions. And what He tells me to do, I need to obey.  

I worship the Risen Savior who speaks to His people each day.

Glorious. His heart is for His children to live in the power of His resurrection.  Indeed, the tomb is empty. 


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The Wait of John 19: 42 and 20:1

I often wonder what was going on in the minds of the followers of Jesus.  There aren't many details between John 19:42 and 20:1.  They laid Jesus in the tomb nearby and then Mary Magdalene came early while it was still dark and saw the stone rolled away.  Not only aren't there details about the mindset of Jesus' followers, there aren't any details about what was happening in heavenlies!

John 19:42  

Therefore because of the Jewish day of preparation, 

since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there. 

John 20:1  

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, 

while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb. 

I think God intended it that way. Sometimes, the narration stops, but God's work has not. That's true of things in life. I think the wait between John 19:42 and 20:1 is to help us to see life in light of God and how He is always at work. I need to trust Him when the narration stops.  I need to see life through eyes of faith and His promises. What He has promised, He will fulfill.  The empty tomb brings me back to that Truth.  And the wait is worth it!



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The Simplicity of John 11:25

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life;"

In Eugene Peterson's book, Living the Resurrection, The Risen Christ in Everyday Life, he writes, "The resurrection of Jesus creates and then makes available the reality in which we are formed as new creatures in Christ by the Holy Spirit."  On the back of the book, he had this sentence, which I totally agree with --
If you celebrate Christ's resurrection only one day of the year, you're missing something BIG.

He indeed is the Resurrection and the Life and because of Jesus I am made new -- every day and in every way.



Let's celebrate His resurrection EVERY DAY!

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The Truth of John 20

The Resurrection just blows me away. Each time I read the accounts of the Resurrection, I try to imagine what the women and the disciples might have felt as they went to the tomb.  The dialogue and the details just captivate me. No one expected it. No one could have imagined it. No one understood what Jesus had said would happen.

John 20:9-10 For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. So the disciples went away again to their own homes. 

The disciples went to the tomb, saw that the body was gone and then went home.  Mary stayed and talked with the angels and then saw Jesus!

John 20:18  Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord," and that He had said these things to her. 

How fast did Mary Magdalene run?  How loud was her voice when she announced the truth, "I have seen the Lord"?  How fast did she talk trying to repeat all that transpired?

And then for the disciples to see Jesus... 

The Resurrection just amazes me. And I want to live each day with the truth of His resurrection shining forth in my life.  And like Mary, I want to daily say, I have seen the Lord!

Timothy R. Valentino had this to say in one of his sermons entitled, Running on Empty, John 20: 1-31

Consider the figures mentioned in John 20, and how Jesus interacts with them—both before and after his resurrection:

JOHN is the portrait of an EASY-COMING faith. His personal struggle seems to be, “I need significance in my life.” And John discovers that the risen Christ gives his people a new identity and purpose.

PETER is the portrait of a GUILT-RIDDEN faith. His personal struggle seems to be, “I need forgiveness for my sins.” And Peter discovers that the risen Christ gives his people a new freedom and power.

MARY MAGDALENE is the portrait of a GRIEF-STRICKEN faith. Her personal struggle seems to be, “I need comfort for my despair.” And Mary discovers that the risen Christ gives his people a new intimacy and hope.

THOMAS is the portrait of a SHOW-ME faith. His personal struggle seems to be, “I need irrefutable evidence to believe.” And Thomas discovers that the risen Christ gives his people a new assurance and confidence.

Because of his humility, Jesus does not coerce faith, but because of his authority, he deserves it. The risen Christ still gives open-minded and tender-hearted people what they need to believe in him.
What is it that you still need to believe?

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The Joy of John 13-17

During this time, I enjoy reading John 13-17 and the words are just so powerful.

Let me highlight a few verses from John 16 --

John 16:7-14
"But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. "And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. "I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. "He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.

John 16:23-24

"In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full. 

John 16:33

"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." 

Take the time to meditate on these chapters, especially before Resurrection Sunday!  

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The Beauty of Romans 5:1-6

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;  and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 

May these words speak to you as we consider the Truth of His death and RESURRECTION!

Seek Him First!