Week 10 Easter thoughts

 

This Sunday is Easter. I am not sure what your church does during the week from Palm Sunday thru Easter, but mine – well, they have a Thursday service and a Good Friday service and a Sunrise service on Easter. We also have a fast and meditation time from sundown Friday thru Easter morning service when we celebrate all that Jesus has done for each of us individually and my church as a whole.

 

Instead of covering more on discipleship this week, you can see I am concentrating on Easter and its meaning in our lives.

 

Jesus – the ultimate show of unconditional love.  Love for you and for me; for everyone - no matter who you are or what you may have done or will do.  Jesus set an example throughout the four Gospels.  Examples:

  • Casting out demons – Luke 4:31-37, Lk 8:26-33
  • Healing the sick
    • Peter’s mother Lk 4:38-39
    • Luke 4:40 – anyone that was sick or had demons  Jesus cured them
    • A woman – Lk 8:43-48
    • A woman – Lk 13:10-13
    • A man Lk 14:1-4
  • Lepers cured Lk 5:12-14, Lk17:11-19
  • Paralyzed enabled to walk – Lk 5:18-20
  • A withered hand restored – Lk 6:6-10
  • Centurion’s servant healed Lk 7:1-10
  • Curing children 
    • A widow’s son Lk 7:11-17
    • Jairus’ daughter Lk 8:40-56
    • Lk 9:37-43
  • Calming the storm Lk 8:22-25
  • Feeding thousands Lk 9:10-17
  • Giving sight to the blind Lk 18:35-43

 

Even as Jesus was being arrested, someone got a bit anxious and struck out cutting off an ear of one of those that came to arrest Jesus.  Jesus healed the ear.  There would be no violence in His defense (Luke 22:47-53).  Even on the cross as Jesus hung dying, He forgave a thief (Luke 23:39-43).

 

This weekend is a time of reflection for me, my ministry and my church mission.  You see if Jesus can fast, so can I.  I don’t fast often, but when a disciple needs direction – I recommend fasting and mediation.  What will I meditate on? Or would you ask me, how do you meditate?  You see I find that meditation is a combination of reading the Bible and prayer. 

 

This Saturday I will read a few Psalms that praise God and declare God’s abilities.  Do I have them selected already?  No, I let the Holy Spirit help me choose them.  Then I will reread Luke this year.  It is different every year, but this year I am going to use that which is familiar to help me better understand discipleship and I how I need to improve my skills in this area.  You see, I don’t see me going out and healing the sick or calming the storm or feeding thousands at one time, but there is some much I can do at my level of skills and abilities.  So I shall ask for direction in my life as to the ministry and out reach God wishes me to do.  God had led me to writing this blog and preaching at my church.  I am enjoying all these things and hope to continue.

 

Then I will turn to my attention to my church and pray and mediate about my church’s ministries.  Why?  Because all churches need every member to become involved and use the skills that God gave each of us.  Also a church should examine their ministry and outreach to make sure that 1) God is in the center of it all and 2) that the church is following the direction God wishes it to.  My church asks all members to become involved in this.  Since it is the church members acting together as a family that makes a church a God centered ministry, all members should be involved.  So during my fasting day, I will pray and mediate on how everyone’s abilities working together can minister to our members and to the community in a God centered manner.  So I will pray about my church and its direction.

 

So what will a day of mediation, fasting and prayer produce?  I don’t know, but it has never failed to produce a clearer picture and understanding of God and God’s direction for my life, as well as insights about my church.

 

I hope you will take this week as we approach the anniversary of Jesus the Christ’s death and resurrection and the gift of a Holy Spirit to be with us always.

 

Just to share a bit, since the last time I wrote we had a few tornados go thru the state of Georgia.  The one the hit downtown Atlanta made national headlines.  It is amazing the stories that you hear of God’s mercy.  Just think, a basketball game was sent into overtime, keeping thousands for exiting into the storm.  Some will say, how lucky that was, but I will say how blessed everyone in there was.  Please don’t lose sight of all the blessings that happen around you. 

 

Today I had another example of God working I would like to share. I know a couple that is trying to adopt a child.  The just found out that they have 2 months before they will have a baby.  They have much to do and such a short time to get ready.  I had an idea, why don’t I pool the resource of all the employees and get a work day arranged to get all those things done that need to be done.  I asked them if it would be ok.  They told me that they were told not to get ready until they were sure the adoption was complete.  Since there was a mother who had decided to give up their unborn child for adoption, that she may change her mind and keep the child.  They were told to try to arrange to make a call while they are out of town finalizing the adoption, when they were certain that the child was 100% theirs, and have everything prepared for their and the baby’s return.  I had no idea that my idea was exactly what was needed for them.  They can dream, they can pick out what they would like to get and POOF, it will be done when they get back.    This is an example of God working. 

 

Isn’t it amazing how blessings occur??

Jesus came to show love to all He encountered.  Jesus lived and showed God’s power to all.  May we each one be awed and amazed this week.   May God show love to each of you in ways that boggle your mind, just so you know God is in your life, even if you don’t want God there.

 

Rejoice this weekend, Easter is here!!!!