We all found ways to celebrate Resurrection Sunday,
God IS with us, leading and guiding us through these difficult weeks, keeping us mindful of those who struggle.
It’s up to us to be those loving arms of Jesus.
It’s up to us to share words of encouragement, as best we can, with those who need a little lift.
We are the ‘Jesus’ that others cannot see or hear in their soul.
May we all find ways to be encouraged so that we can encourage others and bring them into the loving arms of our Lord.
Here are a few quotes before we continue with our daily meditations:
"There are two ways of knowing how good God is: one is never to lose Him, and the other is to lose Him and then to find Him.” Archbishop Fulton Sheen
"And let me make it quite clear that when Christians say the Christ-life is in them, they do not mean simply something mental or moral. When they speak of being ‘in Christ’ or of Christ being ‘in them’, this is not simply a way of saying that they are thinking about Christ or copying Him. They mean that Christ is actually operating through them; that the whole mass of Christians are the physical organism through which Christ acts—that we are His fingers and muscles, the cells of His body. And perhaps that explains one or two things. It explains why this new life is spread not only by purely mental acts like belief, but by bodily acts like baptism and Holy Communion. It is not merely the spreading of an idea; it is more like evolution—a biological or super-biological fact. There is no good trying to be more spiritual than God. God never meant man to be a purely spiritual creature. That is why He uses material things like bread and wine to put the new life into us. We may think this rather crude and unspiritual. God does not: He invented eating. He likes matter. He invented it.” C.S. Lewis, p. 64 Mere Christianity
April 16, 2020 First Thursday of Eastertide
Acts 3:11-26, Psalm 8; Luke 24:36b-48
Luke 24: 36 ff Then Jesus appears while they are talking about Him. “Peace be with you.” They were startled, terrified and thought they’d seen a ghost.
:39 Jesus said, “Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”
:41-43 “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence. :45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures . . . Jesus reminded them of all the prophecies from the Old Testament and how they had been fulfilled. He reminded them, (:48) “You are witnesses of these things.”
He reminded them.
The disciples, now huddled together, grieving over the loss of their leader, needed reminding?
They spent three solid years with Jesus.
Three solid years listening, observing, digesting, looking into His eyes, learning to ‘know’ Jesus.
To ‘know’ is relative. This word is used for married couples as well as for our intimate relationship with our Lord.
The disciples were close enough to Jesus to watch, listen and learn.
They were close enough to remember His every movement, digest every morsel of what He repeated many times . . . eleven of them . . . eleven minds that seem to be in a total vacuum.
One does not watch a brutal crucifixion of their most beloved leader and then expect to see him in a few days. The human brain is capable of retaining more than the average person can ever remember but it is difficult to wrap our minds around resurrection.
Yet, they saw the ‘resurrection’ of Lazarus.
Jesus purposely did this, not too long before His crucifixion, to show His disciples that it was possible. Yet, their brains could not grasp this phenomenon.
Jesus had to be very creative when He re-visited the ones He personally chose to learn, grow, grasp, digest and tell others what they’d learned in three years.
It’s like He had to start over from the beginning.
“Peace be with you,” was not a mere phrase that we use
“Peace . . . ” translates: “Don’t run for your life from fear . . . it’s OK . . . stay cool . . . b r e a t h e.”
This is not an apparition; this is not a ghost!
They heard His voice!
They heard the calming, loving, affirming voice of their Shepherd!
Listen!
Look and Touch!
“See My wounds.
Touch them.
Use all your kinetic instincts to KNOW that I AM.”
And then Jesus did what we do not recall Him doing before His death.
He asked for food !
And He ate it !!
Even with the feeding of the 5000 Jesus broke bread, blessed it and gave it away.
Not once do we read that He first took a bite for himself.
Perhaps at the end of his forty days in the desert, fasting, just when satan came into the picture, we read the words, “He was famished, starving.” Indeed He was but we do not see him turning the rock into bread to eat . . . which he could have done had he chosen to embrace His divinity.
Jesus knew this would be the ultimate affirmation that He was alive, well and quite able to remind them of all the prophecies they should have memorize from scripture [OT texts]. Jesus reminded his beloved disciples how all these prophecies have been fulfilled through His death and resurrection. He may have also informed these future leaders, evangelists, that He would only be with them a short time before He returns to the Father.
Jesus’ motley crew had to grasp all that happened, embrace all that needs to happen, and renew their strength to become the witnesses to the world they were groomed to become.
Their tiny brains had to expand exponentially in order to grasp all that Jesus taught them in order for each of them to . . .
GO into all the world,
TELL everyone they meet the Good News of resurrected life with Christ Jesus.
Think about it: We are disciples of Christ . . . learners . . . leaders?
Are we prepared to go out into the world and tell others our own story of resurrected life?
Calculate the number of years you have told others that you are a Christian.
First, are you letting others know?
How many years have you felt you were ‘one with Christ Jesus’?
In what ways have you matured in this period of time?
Can you recall the first steps you took in your journey beginning with Baptism?
In what ways did you grow after you made the step to ‘confirm’ your vows, when you took the responsibility, on your own, to say “Yes” to following Jesus as Lord?
What types of bible study have you embraced and for how many years?
What type of worship have you embraced with other Christians?
In what ways has your worship experience changed over the years? [Create a ‘worship’ chart on one page of your journal. Track the changes.]
What does receiving Holy Communion mean to you?
Has your concept of 'communing' with Christ changed over the years? What do you see, feel, know when you receive the bread and wine?
What type of accountability groups have you embraced and for how long in each group?
Are you currently in a weekly small group with people you trust to love you no matter what challenges you share with them?
Seek to ‘know’ our Lord in new ways.
Seek . . . find . . . Go . . . . Tell others.
That’s our calling if we choose to be known as ‘Christian’ . . . Christ follower.
Alleluia! Christ is Risen! . . . .
The Lord is Risen indeed!
Alleluia!
April 17 First Friday of Eastertide
It must have taken Peter just as long to swim ashore as it did the rest of the crew to bring the boat to shore.
Acts 4:1-12, Psalm 116:1-8; John 21:1-14
John 21:1 ff Jesus appears to seven disciples near the Tiberius sea: Simon Peter, Thomas (the twin), Nathanael of Cana, the sons of Zebedee and two others. :3 Peter said, “I am going fishing.” Others joined him that night but they caught nothing. :5-9 At daybreak Jesus stood on the shore and called out, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” Not knowing who this man was, they yelled back, “no.” Jesus then said, “Lower your nets down the right side of the boat.” They did so and immediately there were too many fish to haul in. The disciple, whom Jesus loved, said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard this he put on his clothes and jumped into the sea. The others came in the boat, not 100 yards away, dragging the net full of fish. On shore they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread.
:11 Peter went on board, hauled in the fish and 153 were counted. The disciples know this was Jesus but said nothing. :13-14 Jesus took the bread and gave it to them and did the same with the fish. This was the third time Jesus appeared to the disciples (after He appeared to Mary).
Another unexpected visit.
Just like Jesus to surprise His disciples at 0-dark-hundred as dawn was breaking.
He was good at that.
Naming the disciples is important because this is the first
time Nathanial’s name is mentioned since Jesus’ resurrection.
Jesus needs to make many appearances in order to meet-and-greet all of his disciples.
Peter has had enough of this wallowing in the upper room.
He is getting back to the life he knows.
Nothing like hard work to help with his grief.
Of course, his mind is not on his job.
Who knows why he put down the nets where he did but, after an entire night of fishing . . .
Nothing, nada, zip
What a waste!
And then there is this person on the shore yelling at them about no fish!
Go figure . . . and who is that guy a hundred yards away that could see that there are no fish!
Why would the man on shore use the intimate family term, “children” as if the disciples had grown up with him?
John knew!
John was that very one who had the deepest, most intimate relationship with Jesus.
Immediately, he blurted out his knowledge, “It’s the Lord !”
John knows and speaks.
Peter learns and acts. He put on his clothes and jumped into the water.
Why on earth would Peter put on his clothes when he should be taking them off to swim?
First, fishing was hard work and clothes might get caught in the reams of netting as they cast and retrieved. It was best to take off nearly every garment for this heard work.
However, when meeting one as prominent as a Rabbi, much less the Lord whom they loved and highly esteemed, they would ‘dress’ . . . be made presentable . . . no matter where they were . . . to show honor toward their Master. This was a given.
Peter did not think twice.
The one he Loved was on shore and he had to greet Jesus . . . immediately!
But, that was Peter.
He was first to greet Jesus, who was ready for the hungry crew.
Once again, food is offered . . . reminding them of the feeding of the five thousand.
Charcoal, broiled fish, bread . . . no convenience store . . . baked bread was not even a thought in most households at that hour.
This ‘banquet’ just ‘happened’ . . . another meal shared . . . as they communed together in celebration of Life!
And what about the 153?
Why that curious number? What would they do with 153 fish?
They can’t even sell that many fresh fish in a day.
It’s not even practical to have that many.
One can only eat so much fish in a day.
Jesus shows us that He not only provides but He provides in abundance, beyond what one needs, beyond the basics, beyond what is necessary, beyond what is practical.
Beyond our expectations.
Think about it: Jesus appears at the craziest times and places.
He is there for the disciples who are so dizzy with grief that they catch nothing.
He is there to reassure them that He is indeed alive!
Jesus is also there for us . . . daily . . . all day . . . all night . . . all the time.
Jesus is with us, providing for us, able to lift our spirits, IF we choose to stop, look, listen.
Can we hear His voice as we read scripture?
Can we ‘see’ Him in each scene portrayed before us?
Can we stop for a moment, breathe deep, and give thanks for His provision?
Some days it is hard to ‘see’ our Lord working in and through our every movement, from cooking to cleaning to caring for ourselves and others.
It’s hard to imagine Jesus with us as we exercise and eat the right foods.
It’s hard to feel Jesus’ loving embrace when we fill our souls with worry and anxiety over the future, concerns that present themselves daily.
Today, sit in a special place that reminds you of all the blessings the Lord provides.
Just sit there.
Breathe deep.
Wait. Look around. Wait some more.
B R E A T H E slowly. EnJOY!
Jesus is ALIVE !
Jesus wants to fill your net to overflowing . . . your net of memories . . . your net of blessings.
Let Him fill your net to the brim, beyond your expectations.
EnJOY!
from whom he had cast out seven demons :12 after this he appeared in another form to the two who were walking into the countryside :14 He appeared to the eleven as they sat at table and He exhorted them for their unbelief. :15 Jesus said, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.” :20 And they went out and proclaimed the good news while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the signs that accompanied it.”
looser in the eyes of those who knew her before she was healed. She gave her entire self away to sordid actions in the darkness of the night. Yet, when healed by the loving words and touch of Jesus, became a new woman.
Are you growing closer to our Lord daily through scripture reading, prayer and meditation, and worship?
We are the ones who are able to support the ministry of
others who are ‘called’, set apart, for specific ministry.
Remember, we are all Mary Magdalenes.
Are you ready to take the next step of faith, to release more baggage so you have space to accept being yoked to Jesus, the Christ?
The leaders left with each group of new Christians were most likely new Christians themselves. They may have been leaders in commerce or well known to that group.
There are other versions so memorize whichever version sounds best to you.
Not for one minute did those who loved, honored and obeyed the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, those who saw Jesus as their savior, think Jesus would silently submit to being crucified.
Sometimes there are verses that draw us right into the presence of our Lord.
Each time I read this passage I stare at this word as the Lord opens my heart.
Read a few lines of scripture and let the words soak in very slowly.
This morality story is so famous that we hear it in many versions from childhood.
April 18 First Saturday of Eastertide
Acts 4:13-21; Psalm 118:14-18; Mark 16:9-15,20
Mark 16:9 Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene,
Are we repeating ourselves in this passage?
Yes.
We reflected on each of these stories in earlier meditations, sort of.
We read about Jesus’ reconnecting with those most devoted to Him after His resurrection from the dead . . . from the perspective of the different Gospel writers.
The Gospel of Mark is considered to be the first, and shortest, of the ‘Synoptic’ Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke.
Each of these writers follows about the same timeline yet from a different perspective.
For instance, Mark’s rendition refers to Mary Magdalene whereas the Gospel according to Matthew mentions Mary Magdalene and Mary, wife of Cleopas.
Luke, the physician, shows us a detailed account of how Jesus helps the disciples re-member, come together with Him, re-group, as He shows them He is alive!
Jesus takes this time to help all his disciples as well as those He set apart for specific ministry, to remember.
And then there is the Gospel of John, a love story that shows us the deep bond John had with Jesus. We read stories that may be out of sequence or in odd geographical areas because John’s gist is to show that deep love relationship we all are invited to embrace as we learn to ‘know’ the Christ, the Son of the Living God, as intimately as John knows Jesus.
Although Mark’s Gospel touches on three stories we’ve already read, we learn new details.
Ever wonder why we know so much about Mary Magdalene when we read the Gospel of John, with almost no detail?
Because we learned about her through the Gospel of Mark or the other Gospels.
Who would guess that this Mary, one of too many to count, is the sister of Martha and Lazarus?
Who would know that Mary Magdalene, once filled with seven demons, is the same ‘Mary’ who anoints Jesus with very expensive oil?
Who knew that Mary Magdalene was brave enough to remain in sight of Jesus as He suffered on the Cross?
Who knew that Mary Magdalene helped to support Jesus in His ministry after she was healed?
Who knew that Mary Magdalene is the one who lingered at the feet of Jesus each time He visited their home.
Who knew this Mary, with her brother and sister, provided hospitality to a huge band of people each time Jesus stayed with them, which was many times.
Mary Magdalene, filled with sin, seemed to be a real
She bloomed!
Mary Magdalene would never be as perfect as Jesus’ Mother but, through her devotion and commitment to Jesus, the Christ, with sins totally forgiven, with demons gone, she was seen by God as pure and sinless as the Mother of God, as pure and sinless as Jesus.
Think about it: Whether we who read this are men or women, we are all Mary Magdalenes.
We may not have sinned to the extent of this woman but, as it says in Isaiah, “We, like sheep have gone astray, each to our own way. . . “
We all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Yet, by believing in Jesus, who took our sin upon Himself on the Cross and shed His blood to cover those sins, we also can experience resurrected life as fruitful as that of Mary Magdalene.
Scripture repeats itself in the same way Jesus repeated His teaching from town to town. Scores of people followed Jesus as He taught and healed others.
In fact, the twelve spent three years following Jesus, hearing the same stories many times over.
Yet it took time beyond those three years,
time beyond the resurrection,
time until the Holy Spirit was given to them, to enlighten them and seal those stories within their souls.
time beyond the resurrection,
time until the Holy Spirit was given to them, to enlighten them and seal those stories within their souls.
We learn by repetition . . . slowly . . . by chewing on each word, digesting each concept and applying the principles we learn to our own lives.
These are not just stories that we read once . . . . and done.
These are lives we can emulate so that we also can be called ‘disciples.’
Remember, a disciple is a learner.
Jesus spent time with hundreds of ‘learners’, disciples.
The eleven “Apostles,” whom Jesus sought out after His resurrection, scattered between Jerusalem and Galilee, are those specifically chosen, bathed/baptized through their foot washing, filled with the Holy Spirit before pentecost, and set apart to lead Christ-followers into the renewed kingdom of God.
These Apostles were given the ‘command’ to love God and neighbor, to “eat My body and drink My blood” . . . of the New Covenant, Jesus, the Christ.
Were these Apostles different than people like Mary Magdalene?
Not really.
Yet, Jesus chose these men for a specific purpose.
They were dedicated, set apart, for ministry that would lead each one, except John, to be martyred for the sake of the Gospel.
Hopefully, Mary Magdalene continued her support of this new movement, first called The Way.
Hopefully, the generosity of Mary and her family continued to support the spread of the “Christ-life” we now call Christianity.
Since we say “yes” to following God in Christ and, through profession of our faith and baptism, are seen by God as sinless, we also can live a new life like Mary Magdalene.
Are you growing closer to our Lord daily through scripture reading, prayer and meditation, and worship?
Are you sharing your ‘gift of hospitality’ as you embrace the community of other followers?
Are you open to listening to, sharing with and helping another grow in Christ?
Are you open to listening to, sharing with and helping another grow in Christ?
Are you providing support with tithe and offerings in order to further the Gospel of Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, alive and as powerful today as Jesus was with Mary Magdalene?
Are you ready to share your story in just a few minutes so that one more person can choose to enter the Kingdom of God through His Son, Jesus Christ?
[average attention span is three minutes.]
Jesus wants ALL to come to Him but some need to hear the message several times, in several different ways.
We are the message bearers to those in our sphere of influence.
We are the message bearers to those in our sphere of influence.
We are the ones who are able to support the ministry of
Or, perhaps, we are one whom Jesus already set apart for ministry who need the rest of us to support you in the same way Mary Magdalene and siblings supported Jesus’ ministry.
Remember, we are all Mary Magdalenes.
It’s up to us to confess our sin, be forgiven, become new creations through Baptism and commit our lives to furthering the Gospel of Jesus Christ . . . THE Way, THE Truth, THE Life.
Got it?
Got it?
Go for it!
April 19 Second Sunday of Easter
Acts 2:14, 22-32; Psalm 16; 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31
John 20:19-31 The evening of Sunday, Jesus came through the locked doors in the midst of the disciples, “Peace be with you.” Jesus showed them His hands
and His side and, again said, “Peace be with you, as the Father has sent Me so I send you.” :22 He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” :24-29 Thomas was not with them . . . but . . . eight days later Jesus again appeared and said, “Peace be with you,” and invited Thomas to touch His wounds but Thomas instead said, “My Lord and My God!” Jesus then said, “Because you have seen Me, you believe. Blessed are those who do not see yet believe.” :30-31 Many other signs which Jesus has done are not written in this book. These have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that believing, you might have life in Jesus’ Name.
And then there is the Gospel of John.
It’s a new beginning that mimics God’s new creation in Genesis.
However, in John, humanity is already alive and well.
The disciples are trained and . . . ready?
It’s like John is telling the world, “Let’s have a do-over.”
But first God needs to gather the ‘flock’,
affirm the forsaken,
breathe new life into deflated souls.
“Peace be with you,” a familiar greeting from a ‘stranger’ who chooses to disarm the fearful.
Repeated three times in one passage, John’s words emphasize the power of The Presence.
He reminds us dramatically that the ‘Three in One’ is present.
God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit . . . One Lord . . . the big reveal . . . the reality of the power that just entered this upper room filled with grieving disciples.
This phrase, “Peace be with you,” is repeated many times throughout the forty days that Jesus remains on earth before His ascension.
“Peace be with you,” . . . do not fear . . . I am friend . . . I am here for you . . . I AM.
I AM the One who is fully alive and well and walking among
you even as I move through locked doors.
I AM the One who was crucified but who is now what it is to be resurrected from the dead.
I AM the One who brings affirmation of My presence.
I AM of a different substance at this juncture but fully visible, able to converse give My disciples affirmation that God is with us.
I AM the One who still shows the skin-punctures where the nails penetrated flesh and sword sliced through organs to discover my body had no life . . . for a mere moment in God’s time.
I AM the One you can see, hear, touch, laugh with, cry with, eat with and taste new life.
I AM the Breath of life.
It’s a new beginning.
It’s a do-over.
It’s time to breathe new life into these deflated souls.
In just a few sentences this Gospel reveals the power of new life, the breath of God.
Jesus B R E A T H E D new life into His beloved leaders.
“Ruach,” a breath filled with power from on high that would remain with the Chosen.
Jesus re-inflated the de-flated.
Jesus breathed LIFE into the life-less.
Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit into each one present.
Jesus breathed His full power into these who saw and believed.
These dedicated few had to see in order to believe.
How much more would Jesus empower those who believed without seeing?
And where is Thomas?
Where is the one who was willing to die in order to walk with Jesus on His last journey to Jerusalem when all the other disciples, in fear, warned Jesus not to go.
Where is Thomas, once so brave, so willing to die with Jesus until reality hit?
Why did he leave his ‘community’ during this dreadful time when life seemed to be sucked out of all of Jesus’ followers?
When the going gets rough a few like Thomas flee, hide, sulk off to hide under a bush when it is of greater importance to remain within the tight community of Jesus followers.
Thomas missed it all.
Thomas missed the blessing of new breath, of “Ruach”, the Holy Spirit.
Think about it: Thomas missed a powerful turning point
in the lives of the disciples.
Yet, Jesus would show Himself when Thomas was ready.
Jesus know what Thomas needed so he waited until Thomas was ready to receive, to know, to be filled with new breath.
Jesus waited.
Remember that Jesus still worked within the confines of ‘time’ and ‘space’ while roaming this earth.
Waiting for Thomas took up precious moments . . . it took time.
How much time did we take to make up our minds to follow the Lord, to receive new Breath, to say ‘yes’ and embrace the Breath of life, the Ruach, the power of the Holy Spirit?
This is not the first time Jesus would call on the Ruach, the Holy Spirit, to enter into His disciples.
This part of our Triune God would still come and go, breathe in, breathe out, float around and in and through the disciples.
The disciples would need to wait for God’s timing to receive the power that would remain within them forever.
They would have to learn to wait just as Jesus waited for one, then another, then still more, to see, discover, accept, say “yes” and breath in the new life offered them by Our Lord.
Too often we think we are ‘waiting on God’ for an answer, for a revelation, for new breath.
It’s truly the other way around.
Jesus waits for us.
Are you ready to take the next step of faith, to release more baggage so you have space to accept being yoked to Jesus, the Christ?
Are you ready to dig deep, breathe deep, be filled and go forth with new life?
Are you ready to be that miracle to someone else by telling your story of new life?
Are you ready to breathe the life of Jesus that you inhaled into the life of another?
B R E A T H E new life into yourself first.
Then ask forgiveness for having Jesus wait so long for you to take the next step.
Now GO into all the world and breathe new life into all whom Jesus brings to you who have been hiding and now want to be part of the community of Christ . . . Christian.
Breathe
Go
Tell your story . . . pray . . . see what happens.
April 20 Exodus 14:21-31; Psalm 1,2,3,4,7; 1 Peter 1:1-12; John 14:(1-7)8-17
1 Peter 1:1-2 “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen and destined by God the Father and sanctified by the
Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ and to be sprinkled with His blood; may grace and peace be yours in abundance. :8-9 Although you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
It’s not often that we look at a letter written in Peter’s name, now the leader of the Christian movement.
Theologians say that the Greek used in this letter is among the most literary and sophisticated in the New Testament. That would seem strange for this fisherman/Apostle of Jesus.
Peter may have had a highly educated secretary write this since this letter was meant to cover a vast territory, from Rome, through vast territory, to Israel.
As we begin to read this letter, we are reminded that new Christians were bucking up against fellow Jews, Greek scholars and all sorts of nay-sayers.
Life for the new Christian was not easy.
Peter refers these Christ-followers to prophesies in Scripture (Old Testament).
Letters from Paul, Peter, James, John and a few others kept the Christian movement alive when well-known leaders were not present.
The leaders left with each group of new Christians were most likely new Christians themselves. They may have been leaders in commerce or well known to that group.
Yet, they may have begun leading the moment they said, “yes” to Christ Jesus as Lord.
Villages and small cities from Jerusalem to Rome were being awakened to the same God but with new awareness.
God sent His son, Jesus, who loved, cared, was filled with grace, healed the sick, soothed the poor.
This was ‘revelation’ to dead souls.
New Life was beginning to peak out of the dark abyss around them.
Just as Jesus told Thomas and the disciples right after His resurrection, Peter now tells all who read this letter: “Although you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even
though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
Think about it: In the true form of discipleship, once we understand our own salvation, a personal relationship with Christ, we begin to teach others.
Once we say, “Yes” to Jesus, leave all our sin at the Cross, receive Him into our lives, are baptized and join a Christian community, we are ready to Go and Tell others.
If we memorize John 3:16 we have all the information we need to share with another.
If you have not yet memorized this, do so now: “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall never parish but have eternal life.”
Share the verse.
Share the ‘indescribable and glorious joy’ of coming into the grace-filled, loving arms of Christ Jesus.
Share your own personal story: What drew you into God’s presence through His Son?
Where was your life going before this new revelation?
What was the specific ‘event’ that triggered your Spirit to seek a concrete relationship with Christ even if you feel you have been a ‘Christian’ since your first memory?
What has Jesus changed in your life since giving your whole self to Him?
Write it down.
Put it into your heart.
Share it.
You are now a disciple-maker.
That’s it.
Peter and all the Apostles tagged hundreds of ‘disciple-makers’ to Go, Tell the story, draw just one more into the loving arms of Christ. By sharing your story and the affirmations in Scripture with just one other person, you also become a Disciple-maker.
April 21 Exodus 15:1-21; Psalm 5,6,10,11; 1 Peter 1:13-25; John 14:18-31
Exodus 15:1 “I will sing to the Lord, for He has
triumphed gloriously; horse and rider He has thrown into the Sea.” :3 The Lord is a warrior. “:17 You brought them in and planted them on the mountain of your own possession, the place, O Lord, that you made your abode, the sanctuary, O Lord, that your hands have established. :18 The Lord will reign forever and ever.”
The destruction of Pharaoh and the Egyptian army is celebrated in two hymns.
Moses’ hymn, above, and Miriam’s hymn which she sings with tambourine in hand and with women dancing. Her song repeats verse one. :21 “Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously, horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.”
God has triumphed over the god of Egypt, Pharaoh.
God used Moses to lead the Hebrew people into this triumphant salvation experience.
God conquered the Red Sea to bring all those fleeing from Egypt into safety, into new life, into ‘resurrected’ life.
This song of triumph would be repeated at the annual celebration of the Passover for centuries to come.
God, the warrior, triumphs over evil and oppression and frees God’s chosen people from slavery.
Sounds good at the moment.
Once these millions of Hebrew people get settled on dry land and begin their decades of wandering, they will change their tune.
Yet, for the moment, God, their warrior, is Great!
The Lord will reign forever and ever.
One might realize that, if the Hebrew people remember this song of triumph every year through Jesus’ lifetime, these same expectations would be laid upon Jesus.
If, indeed, Jesus was seen as more than a prophet, as miracle worker, as one who could heal the blind, He truly could be as ‘divine’ as God.
Therefore, we can see the logic behind the expectation the Jews had regarding Jesus.
Jesus, warrior, could find a path for the Jews to escape into another place.
Jesus, warrior, would overcome the Roman persecution.
Jesus, warrior, would slay those who arrested Him and condemned Him to death.
This was not possible.
Everything in their memory of the first Passover knew that Jesus could stop this messy process at any moment.
No matter how many times Jesus tried to show how prophecy would be fulfilled, the disciples did not understand.
History had not prepared them for this.
That’s why, when Jesus was crucified and resurrected, it took Jesus forty days to convince His disciples that, indeed, He had to die so that they . . . and we . . . might live a triumphant life.
It’s because Jesus was NOT a warrior, because He was sent to be the sacrifice for us that we also can sing this song, “I will sing to the Lord for He has triumphed gloriously . . . “
Jesus ‘triumphed’ in a very different way than any would expect.
In fact, Jesus’ triumph over death is the greatest gift God could ever give humankind.
Think about it: Triumph! It’s a powerful word.
By our faith in Christ Jesus, we are assured that, on days which seem too challenging to overcome, we can triumph over any given situation.
We can turn tragedy to triumph when we call on Jesus to walk through the challenge with us.
We can Triumph over evil which pulls us away from the Lord.
We have the power, because of our salvation experience,
because of our faith, because of His power working within us . . . to sing a song of triumph.
On those days when you feel like you are slogging through life, remember.
Remember Jesus’ final, triumphant, entry into Jerusalem.
Remember Jesus’ gift of Himself when He washed the disciples’ feet.
Remember Jesus’ gift to us when He allowed his body to be crucified.
Remember the incredulous wonder of the women at the tomb when they realized Jesus was no longer in the tomb but had resurrected from the dead.
Remember Jesus walking through a bolted door and then said, “Peace be with you,” to His disciples.
It’s all triumph!
Tough day?
Know that the Lord is always with you.
With Him, even slogging through the day is Triumph!
April 22 Exodus 15:22 —16:10, Psalm 119:1-24, 12,13,14;
1 Peter 2:1-10; John 15:1-11
John 15:1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. :4-5 Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit because apart from me you can do nothing.”
This firmly plants me in the arms of Jesus.
This is the last of the “I Am” statements in the Gospel of John.
Each time we read an ‘I Am’ statement, Jesus reveals a little more of His divinity.
“I am the True Vine,” The Vine from whom all branches suck life-giving elements that make us grow sweet and plump and ripen into maturity.
Jesus is the Vine.
The Father prunes, shapes, cuts away the dead bits and nurtures the branches that suck life from the Vine.
The Father prunes, shapes, cuts away the dead bits and nurtures the branches that suck life from the Vine.
We are the branches that grow forth from the One who gives us new birth, new life.
We are the branches that suck the life-presence from the Vine.
We are the ones who ‘abide’ or cling to the Vine.
I am reminded of the first time I chewed on these words. I was a new Christian and spent hours ‘sucking’ the nutrients of God’s Word as if I needed to know everything in one sitting.
Indeed, I have spent years meditating on this one, simple word, “abide.”
The word “abide” seemed to me to be a quaint word, as if it belonged to another generation.
“Abide” is a continuous, active verb.
Abiding does not end as long as we choose to be one with Christ Jesus.
We are called to ‘cling’ to Jesus in the same way the branch clings to the vine that feeds it.
In the same way our body needs to be feed continuously, so does our soul.
As a ‘branch’ I cannot create my own nutrients.
I am merely a ‘conduit’ for the powerful presence of the Lord to flow through.
Apart from the vine I am worthless, dead.
Likewise, we cannot grow and bear fruit apart from the body of Christ.
Our job of continuously, actively “abiding" means that we cling to Jesus while we also gather in Christian community in order to maintain a balanced life in Christ.
Think about it: Abiding is as continuous and active as our daily, focused, time with Jesus.
In order to actively cling to the Lord, seek to know as we grow in Christ, and become ripe as we share our lives with others, it is important to create a daily plan.
Wake in prayer giving thanks for the new day.
Sing a tune or listen to soft music draws us into Jesus’ arms.
Read it again and ask what the Lord is telling you.
Read it again and ask the Lord how you are to apply it to your life today.
That’s abiding.
Then just talk to the Lord about any concerns that might come to mind.
Really talk.
Muse.
Linger in conversation.
Then Listen . . . wait . . . wait some more . . .
Can you hear that slight whisper from the Lord?
That’s abiding.
Cling to the Lord, our sustenance, our very life, the One who keeps our souls from starving.
Let’s grow plump and feed others with our fruit, the fruit gleaned from Jesus, as we ‘abide.’
April 23 Exodus 16:10-22; Psalm 18; 1 Peter 2:11-25; John 15:12-27
Exodus 16:14 -20 “When the layer of dew lifted, there on the surface of the wilderness was a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground. What is it? [man-hu] For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the Lord
has given you to eat as much of it as each of you needs, an omer to a person according to the number of persons, all providing for those in their own tents. The Israelites did so, some gathering more , some less. But when they measured it with an omer [1-2 liters], those who gathered much had nothing over, and those who gathered little had no shortage; they gathered as much as each of them needed. And Moses said to them, “Let no one leave any of it over until morning.” But they did not listen. . .”
We all know this story.
I love it each time I read it.
“What is it?” . . . It’s “What is it?” man-hu is Hebrew for “What is it?”
When transliterated in english it sounds like “Mannah.”
Throughout scripture, OT and NT, you will find puns, anagrams, word puzzles and some of the best literature one can study.
God’s sense of humor flows from those dedicated to our Creator, our Lord.
After all, if we are made in the image of God and we can find a sense of humor in dire circumstances it’s the best way to prove that God is the creator of our sense of humor.
Indeed, the Hebrew people are beginning again.
They can laugh or cry.
They might as well throw a pun into this situation now and again.
It’s like they are a new creation, learning to totally rely on God, our Provision.
From Genesis to Revelation we see, repeatedly, how God provides and how those with too much somehow manage to be on equal footing with those who have too little.
God’s people are allowed to glean all the ‘What is it?’ they want and eat to their hearts content.
Those who may be feeble or unable to pick up much seem to have more than enough to fill themselves.
Everyone has more than enough but not too much.
Everyone has their mannah . . . daily.
They cannot hoard it.
They cannot make it last longer than a finite period of time that God allows.
It becomes inedible, useless, a waste of time and energy to gather if it cannot be consumed.
During this unique time of sequester, we know it well.
Because some took too much, there is not enough for others.
Because so many have no awe, no fear of God, they do not feel the shame or have any sense of wrong-doing when they empty an entire store shelf for themselves.
Those who are one-with-God are blessed with guilt, an active conscience, a murmuring within our souls that tells us when we take too much ‘What is it?”
What a blessing!
There is a ‘measuring rod’ within our souls that tells us if we have too much and rarely measures if we have too little.
Think about it: Can you sense when you consume more than your body can handle or purchase more than you would need in a month or tend to stock-pile certain items because they attract the eye?
Is there anything in your soul that ‘rings a bell’ and nudges your conscience?
Our Lord wants us to have all we can eat at each meal but not gorge unnecessarily.
It’s OK to purchase large amounts of supplies if there is plenty for everyone.
It’s fine to enjoy items of beauty but we don’t need to purchase something, take one look at it and stuff our treasure in a closet with all those other purchases.
Actually, the ‘manna’ our Lord wants us to consume endlessly is the ‘daily bread’ of God’s presence.
We are called not only to consume our fill of Him daily but, no matter how much we consume in one day, it does not count for the next day.
We cannot consume in one day that which we need for a month.
Our soul will sour if we consume a huge helping one day and then do not worship or read scripture or meditate for several days at a time.
Our time with the Lord works the same as did the ‘manna’ for God’s wanderers in the desert.
Life can be a desert but God’s daily provision is ample to meet our soul-needs.
“Give us today, our daily bread . . . “
Give us today what we need to remind us to cling to our Lord.
Help us to consume fresh “What is it?” each day . . . tomorrow . . . the next day.
Just as the manna in the wilderness must have become boring over the forty years God’s people wandered, so may our daily spiritual time with the Lord seem tasteless sometimes.
That’s OK.
Just keep consuming . . . not too much, not too little . . . but just right portions.
We all have insightful days and mundane, “What is it?” days.
Just keep tucking manna into your soul, one day at a time.
You’ll be amazed how the Lord will use you to teach others how to collect and consume the perfect amount of
“What is it?”
“What is it?”
Manna!
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