Resurrection Sunday and Holy Communion

Matthew 26 While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body.’ ²⁷Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you; ²⁸for this is my blood of the^* covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. ²⁹I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.’

30 When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Yours Because He Lives,

Child-Like Praise

After Jesus had overturned the tables of the moneychangers in the Temple and chased them out; he established a healing clinic and the blind and lame were the first patients. Afterwards the Word tell us when the priests and scribes saw the wonderful things Jesus did and heard the children shouting praises to the son of David, they were not very happy. They asked Jesus if his hearing was sharp because they couldn’t believe the children referred to him as royalty and he didn’t correct them.

What he did was question their Bible Study retention or if they attended by asking if they had read Psalm 8:2. It was already decreed that out of the mouths of babes come perfected praise. The praise of children is undaunted by hypocrisy and fear. They speak a truth that is sometimes hard for us to hear. As we witness the ‘perfected praise’ of the young people that will bless us during our first Youth Sunday; let’s put on our child-like praise. I guarantee it will be freeing!

Yours Because He Lives,

Give It Up

In our Bible Study class we are using a book entitled, “Give It Up”.  Each Thursday, during this Lenten season, we have looked into our 21^st Century lives and discussed the author’s weekly deletion.  The first week, we were asked to give up mirrors.  The author wanted us to not look in mirrors for six days!   

Dr. Reed facilitated this lesson and she began by passing a mirror around to each of us.  We were to look in that mirror and write down what we saw.  When all had completed the task, we were then asked to share what we saw.  Afterwards, our class members were asked to share what they see when they look at us.  In all cases, we never saw what everyone else did.  That speaks volumes!  I’m not sure about the rest of the class; but I certainly left there wondering if I would find my actions a reflection of God’s mirror.

Yours Because He Lives,

Unconditional Love

I had a student many years ago that was dear to my heart.  He was an average student, but he always tried his best and had great manners.  The circumstances of his life, which he wasn’t responsible for, found him being raised by his maternal grandmother.  Years later he would visit me and during one of those visits I questioned how he was able to walk through the neighborhood without anyone bothering him. 

You see, our school wasn’t located in the safest ‘hood’ and though I enjoyed his visits; I was very concerned for his safety.  This student that was dear to my heart; that always tried his best and had the best manners looked me in my eyes and said, “I’m running it!”  He further explained after my quizzical look that he was in charge of the gangs in theneighborhood and therefore he could walk where he wanted in this particular ‘hood’. 

My heart sank and for a moment, all the good thoughts I cherished about him almost went out the window.  But a still, small voice spoke very clearly in my heart and said, “How can you stop loving someone just because they no longer fit your image of them?”

As fate would have it, this story didn’t end well, but God taught me something that has been irrevocable and that is ‘unconditional love’.  This scene occurred nearly 25 years ago and I have never been the same.  My initial thoughts were that I needed to change him, to save him, to convince him of his wrong.  And though all of this needed to occur, the first thing that needed to happen was to love him. 

I believe that’s what God did when he gave his only begotten Son so that we might not perish, but have everlasting life.  I believe my student changed, but not my will but by God’s awesome unconditional love shared with me that day.  I believe my student changed and though it didn’t happen while I could still see him; I believe that some of that love I tried to show him during subsequent visits might have found him calling on the name of Jesus in those last dark moments.

Yours Because He Lives,

God is Still Working

My days require that I read several devotionals and meditate on the word of God fervently. I'm probably preaching to the choir as I know that these are some trying times for many. If it's not in our personal lives; it's the news reports that should be called, 'the bad reports'. Life can be challenging, but well worth the living if we're doing it for Christ! I read a powerful message several days ago that I keep going back to for two sentences that I'd like to share with you.

The first is, "Tenacity is more than endurance, it is endurance combined with the absolute certainty that what we are looking for is going to transpire".

The second one is, "If our hopes are being disappointed just now, it means that they are being purified".

Both of these quotes came from "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers. In a nutshell, I believe these statements are reminding us to keep on believing what God has said regardless of what we see or hear. If it seems to be taking too long to manifest; it just means God is still working it out for you in Jesus’ Name!

Yours Because He Lives,