Easter (Part 1)

Easter, for a child of God, is a time of rejoicing. Yet many people's thoughts turn to bonnets and spring, sweet chocolate bunnies, or some stuffed, soft fuzzy thing like a rabbit or baby chick.

Children dream of a basket of goodies or an egg-hunt in the back yard like we always have with our grandchildren. Family gatherings are special at this season of the year. 

But Easter is more than a bright card, sporting new clothing, or a new style for our hair. It's more than daffodils, tulips and lilies or the smells of new life in the air. The reason for Easter is that Christ rose on that morning giving meaning to life everywhere.

Jesus is God. He descended from heaven to live humbly on earth as a man. He suffered, and died as a criminal,
fulfilling God's redemption plan for all who would believe and receive.

We will we know of the depth of Christ's suffering or His anguish and pain. Yet it was for us He was tortured, forsaken, went to Hell, then ascended again. Jesus never failed in His mission to die for the sins of all men. He ascended to the right hand of the Father to make intercession for us. He is the reason for Easter.

So while we celebrate this Easter season, just keep in mind this bit of advice: There would be NO Easter without His Great Sacrifice.

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

Why Should I ( Part 1)

-Why should I lack when I know that God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19)?

-Why should I fear when the Bible says God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7)?

-Why should I lack faith to fulfill my calling knowing that God as allotted to me a measure of faith (Romans 12:3)?

-Why should I be weak when the Bible says that the Lord is the strength of my life and that I will display strength and take action because I know God (Psalm 27:1; Daniel 11:32)?

-Why should I allow Satan supremacy over my life when He that is in me is greater than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4)?

-Why should I accept defeat when the Bible says that God always leads me in triumph (2 Corinthians 2:14)?

-Why should I lack wisdom when Christ became wisdom to me from God and God gives wisdom to me generously when I ask Him for it (1 Corinthians 1:30; James 1:5)?

-Why should I be depressed when I can recall to mind God's lovingkindness, compassion, and faithfulness and have hope (Lamentations 3:21-23)?

-Why should I worry and fret when I can cast all my anxiety on Christ who cares for me (1 Peter 5:7)?

-Why should I say I can't when the Bible says I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13)?

Fool's Gold

Funny things happen when you drive a convertible. You see and hear things on the road that might not get your attention otherwise. I live about a mile from the Interstate here in SC and right before you get on there is a stop light. It's been like spring the past few days, so I was out driving the other day and had this experience

The stop light turned yellow and I slowed to a stop. Suddenly, a very expensive vehicle screeched to a halt next to me.  I looked to my left to admire the beautiful car and saw the owner was yelling into what must have been a Bluetooth connected cell phone and slamming his hand on the steering wheel as he scowled at the red light. After a minute the light changed and he gunned his engine and sped away with a frown as big as his face and I could hear him yelling at whoever he was talking with on the phone. I drove on shaking my head and said a prayer that the owner of that expensive car would one day realize the true treasures in life.

That miserable man reminded me again of the worthlessness of wealth and the pricelessness of love in the eyes of eternity. His automobile cost at least 5 times more than my Ford, yet his expensive car hadn’t put a smile on his face. All of his things apparently hadn’t given him peace. All of his wealth hadn’t filled his heart with happiness or brought meaning to his life. He seemed lost, separated from love, and separated from God. He was trapped in a golden cage and didn’t even know it.

Don’t spend your life in the pursuit of the worthless "fool’s gold" that our society holds dear. Don’t try to gain the whole world and in the process lose your soul. Instead spend your days here building up the treasures of heaven in your heart. If you do then your days will be blessed with sunshine, smiles, and sweet laughter. Sure you'll face problems but with God on your side the journey does get a little easier.

You will not only fill your soul with love but you will also scatter joy to the world around you. If you do then you will be able to give God the most priceless gift of all: your life lived with love, mercy, and grace.

You Are

1. You are strong when you take your grief and teach it to smile.
2. You are brave when you overcome your fear and help others to do the same.
   
3. You are happy when you see someone down and out and give them your blessing.
   
4. You are loving when your own pain does not blind you to the pain of others.
   
5. You are wise when you know the limits of your wisdom.
   
6. You are true when you admit there are times you fool yourself.
   
7. You are alive when tomorrow's hope means more to you than yesterday's mistake.
   
8. You are growing when you know what you are but not what you will become.
   
9. You are free when you are in control of yourself and do not wish to control others.
   
10. You are honorable when you find your honor is to honor others.
    
11. You are generous when you can take as sweetly as you can give.
    
12. You are humble when you do not know how humble you are.
    
13. You are thoughtful when you see me just as I am and treat me just as you are.
    
14. You are merciful when you forgive in others the faults you condemn in yourself.
    
15. You are beautiful when you don't need a mirror to tell you.
    
16. You are rich when you never need more than what you have.
    
17. You are you when you are at peace with who you are not.

Why Should I (Part 2)

1. Why should I ever be in bondage knowing that there is liberty where the Spirit of the Lord is (2 Corinthians 3:17)?
2. Why should I feel condemned when the Bible says I am not condemned because I am in Christ (Romans 8:1)? 
3. Why should I feel alone when Jesus said He is with me always and He will never leave me nor forsake me (Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5)?
   
4. Why should I feel accursed or that I am the victim of bad luck when the Bible says that Christ redeemed me from the curse of the law that I might receive His Spirit (Galatians 3:13-14)?
   
5. Why should I be discontented when I, like Paul, can learn to be content in all my circumstances (Philippians 4:11)?
   
6. Why should I feel worthless when Christ became sin on my behalf that I might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21)?
   
7. Why should I have a persecution complex knowing that nobody can be against me when God is for me (Romans 8:31)?
   
8. Why should I be confused when God is the author of peace and He gives me knowledge through His indwelling Spirit (1 Corinthians 14:33; 2:12)?
   
9. Why should I feel like a failure when I am a conqueror in all things through Christ (Romans 8:37)?
   
10. Why should I let the pressures of life bother me when I can take courage knowing that Jesus has overcome the world and its tribulations (John 16:33)?

All That I Am

"All that I have, All that I am, I all shall ever be;
Cannot repay the love debt I owe, I surrender to Thee."

We spend much of our lives creating a thick layer of "achievements." We climb the career ladder, push our kids to excel, move to a better neighborhood, pursue another degree, all in the hope that we will somehow become more popular, wealthy, powerful, or influential. 

Like a thunderstorm in spring our conquests and achievements cover us, deposited one tiny raindrop at a time until we are totally covered. For many of us, self- esteem and self-worth come from what we have accomplished or how much we can buy or who we know.
Yet one day we will awaken to a new reality, an endless day in which all our values will be turned upside down. All that we have done, said, created, bought, and built will be brushed away, melted like snow under the gaze of our eternal Father. Deep within each one of us He will seek the one thing, the only thing He truly cares about:  The imprint of the cross, the mark of His Son.

Nothing else matters to Him. And on that Day of Judgement, nothing else will matter to you. Do you possess the one thing that really matters? Do your know who Jesus is?

You can.....Just ask!

Surrounded By Beauty

I am a blessed man that has been surrounded by beauty all of his life. From my very first love as a young man to my wife of 44 years, my daughter-in-law, and my three wonderful granddaughters from 16 to 7 weeks old make this 62 year old man feel honored by the Lord everyday. God has truly blessed me to be in the presence of such beautiful ladies.

Yet, the most beautiful face I've ever known, belongs to my eighty one year old mother. Each time I see her, I am struck anew by the depth of her loveliness. The joy in her journey, her struggles with sorrow, the threads of wisdom she's bent down and picked up along the way, are present in each line of time on her face, in her voice, and the way she presents herself. She gave me birth and has been there with advice when I wanted it and even when I didn't want it. She has been my one constant in life.

How could anything ever be more beautiful?

We're taught to dread wrinkles and sags and softening of the skin, the inevitable proof of the time we've spent here on earth. Yet, the more time we put in, the more reason we find to celebrate each passing year. Character is forged, integrity strengthened and gratitude becomes a feeling so deep the word no longer conveys a strong enough meaning.

I don't see an aging sixty two year old face when I look in the mirror. I see a person growing 'into' her face, finally understanding the process of filling it out. Mom has always known what her convictions are and has built up enough strength to live them even at the age of 81. I just hope I can live long enough to do the same.

The best of my youth is gone. 45 years ago my dad and I were putting shingles on a cabin that no longer exists on our SCCOG Campground. Teen Talent was coming up and Youth Camp was on the horizon. Those days are past and never coming back. The best of here is now, and the best of aging is yet to come.

The face of youth is a blank canvass. As Forrest Gump said, "Life is like a box of chocolates-You never know what you're going to get." It is through the physical brushstrokes of aging that a masterpiece is created. Thank your Lord for my masterpiece.