It if finished

John 19:28-30

Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.”  A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips.  When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Easter is my absolute favorite holiday!  It is the holiday that gives us so much hope and reason to carry on.  Sometimes this world can be overwhelming and you might even get scared to think what the future holds.  The thing is, the Bible tells us that things are going to get ugly.  That this world is going to be a scary place to live.  All of this must happen to fulfill the promise that Christ will return. 

Just the same way, Jesus knew that in order to save us, he had to die on the cross.  It was too was rather ugly.  It was something that really never should have happened however to save you and I from our sins, it had to. 

Brothers and sisters in Christ, it is my prayer today that you will know the love of Christ and the sacrifice that took place so that you could have hope.  When you hear the words, “It is finished”, remember it is was for you, it was for me, and it is for our children and all who accept Christ as their Savior.

God's Intention

“But forget all that—
    it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.
For I am about to do something new.
    See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
    I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.
The wild animals in the fields will thank me,
    the jackals and owls, too,
    for giving them water in the desert.
Yes, I will make rivers in the dry wasteland
    so my chosen people can be refreshed.
I have made Israel for myself,
    and they will someday honor me before the whole world.”  Isaiah 43:18-21

One of the greatest lessons that I learned over this past year is how God has known what is best for me since day one. Even when I was not sure of the path I should go, God had made out the path already so that one day I would know He was there all along.  For example, I once was uncertain if my wife and I would make it together.  I share this acknowledging that I when we first got married I did not have a true relationship with God.  Now my wife is an amazing woman who I dearly love.  Yet somehow, I had gotten to a place where I wondered if perhaps we had made a mistake.  It was then that I found God, and began to follow His plan for me.  As the years past, my relationship with Him grew, and my marriage grew stronger with it.  Then I was in awe as it was revealed how well He knew me.  My wife was a perfect fit for me which God knew all along.  I am so humble that He placed her in my life, and she is the symbol of the joy only God can instill in one’s life.

Our journey of faith is one that we must follow trusting that the destination God has for us is worthwhile even when we cannot see it. I listened to a sermon talking about understanding how God intentionally uses people and situations to prepare us for future tasks needed for the building of His Kingdom.  In reading today’s verse, we are reminded of God’s amazing ability to change the path for His purpose.  In this case, it is the prophet Isaiah revealing of the coming of Jesus Christ to save us from our sins and restore the relationship between God and His people.  I love the description in verse 19, “For I am about to do something new.  See, I have already begun!  Do you not see it?”  How often do we go through life not seeing the end destination wondering if indeed we are going down the righteous path?  This is where we must be vigilant trusting in God and His word.  This is not to say it is easy because at times the path will seem unclear.  However if you grew up in a home like mine, you learned patience is always a virtue, and it is almost always rewarded.  Should we place our trust in God, we know we will be rewarded in ways we cannot see today but will be eternally thankful when it is revealed.

God’s love for us is unconditional. He cares for us infinitely, and protects us without fail.  He has proven it to us an endless amount of times.  As such, we are to be prayerful asking for wisdom of His plan for our lives and patience to be understanding when it may not fit into our wheelhouse.  History reminds us He has never failed us.  Why would He now?  Where are you questioning God’s faithfulness in your life?  How can you reassure yourself that God’s plan for your life is without fail?  My prayer is that we can rely with confidence on God’s intention for our lives.  Amen.

Tues Devo: What can they do?

Psalm 118:6-9 “The Lord is for me, I will not fear; what can man do to me? The Lord is for me among those who help me; therefore I will look with satisfaction on those who hate me. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.” (NASB)

Hello,

As we prepare for Easter this week, this Psalm stood out to me. The psalmist asks the question – what can man do to me? I think there are 2 points that we can take from this question being asked and see them in the light of the cross as well. The first thing that man can do to us is only what God allows. When we take this to the cross, Jesus could have called His legions of angels and been saved from the brutal death. But He knew that this was about the permanent long term plan, not the short term and temporary comfort. The second thing that man can do to us is cause physical harm or death. When we take this to what happened with the cross, we see that physical death is not bigger than God. We have a spiritual life that is eternal, and a God who reigns over physical death.

I pray you are encouraged today, and you will take refuge in the Lord – who is worthy of our trust and confidence.

Have a blessed day,

Will Hill

What was it like?

Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:

“‘I will strike the shepherd,
    and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’^[c]

But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”

 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”

But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.

Matthew 26:31-35

As we approach Holy Week, I would like for us just to reflect a little bit on what is about to happen.  Too often I think we speed through the week, busy with all of the activities and we forget to stop and reflect what is really going on. 

Have you put yourself in the shoes of Peter?  Here Jesus takes Peter with him to keep watch while he prays.  No doubt, Peter is tired, probably bored and so he falls asleep.  It’s not that Peter doesn’t love Jesus. 

Then Jesus gets taken away to be killed, Peter is probably scared that he too could be killed for being a follower of Christ so he disowns Jesus.  I’m sure we can all picture ourselves in a situation where someone we are with gets into some trouble and we pretend not to know them.  Maybe you haven’t done it however it’s not that hard to imagine how scary it would have been for Peter and to understand why he might have done it. 

As you go through this week, I’d like to have you just put yourself in the place of the different people involved.  Imagine what it would have been like for you and how you would have reacted.  Be honest with yourself.  Really feel the emotions and feelings that those people would have been going through. 

Don’t just the let week pass, eggs get colored and baskets given without really understanding the impact of what this week means for each and every one of us.

Our Journey to Adoption, Part XV - Completion

After the final piece of adoption paperwork was approved, our adoption hearing was set for October 24! It had been over 16 months since we met the kids, 11 months since we started keeping them on weekends, and 4 months since we had kept them full time. It had also been just over 9 years since our miscarriage, 7 years since God laid it on our hearts to consider adoption, and 2 ½ years since we officially started the foster license process (when we didn’t get locked out of the building J).

The morning of our adoption, James asked to pray at breakfast and thanked God that we were adopting them. He then added “and thank you God that we get to adopt Mommy and Daddy.” I smiled. I guess in a sense we were all adopting each other! We didn’t make them call us Mommy and Daddy, but they chose to call us that over time. James called us Alice and Joe at first, then Mommy Alice and Daddy Joe and then finally just Mommy and Daddy.

Jesus has always been able to call God “Father,” but we only have that right because Jesus completed the work of atonement so we could be adopted as God’s children and receive eternal life.

John 17:1-5   After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:

“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. ² For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. ³ Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. ⁴ I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. ⁵ And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

Jesus finished all of the work for our adoption. Have you chosen to accept it and call God your Father? If so, how well are you and I getting to know our perfect Father? Our eternal life starts now, as we get to know the only true God! How are you and I living in such a way that brings glory to our Heavenly Father?   

Alice

Tues Devo: Home field disadvantage

Hello,

As I have been reading through part of Acts lately, I was looking at the challenges faced by Paul, Barnabas, Peter and many other early church leaders. While nothing new, Jesus experienced this as well, these people faced some of the stiffest opposition from the home crowd. We often think of operating at home to be our advantage – and talk about that the most perhaps when it comes to sports. We expect locality to automatically equate to support. But, as we look to share the work of Christ and challenge others to accept Him this just is not true.

Acts 12:1-3 “Now about that time Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church in order to mistreat them. And he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword. When he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. Now it was during the days of Unleavened Bread. ” (NASB)

Acts 13:44-46 “The next Sabbath nearly the whole city assembled to hear the word of the Lord. But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began contradicting the things spoken by Paul, and were blaspheming. Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first; since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.” (NASB)

As I was reading 2 things about these challenges came to mind: 1) When we ask those who identify with us (locality or otherwise) to change and follow God it challenges everything inside of them – be ready for that challenge! 2) Everywhere on this earth is like playing in a visitor role – our real home field will be in heaven - these challenges are not unique to any one place or person.

But the challenges are worth it. James paid for it with his life, as did ultimately all of the disciples. What that meant for them was going to their home, and the opportunity to have eternal influence on many people – not just a temporary influence. Temporary influence is easy to have, not really challenged and not maintained…eternal influence gets the challenge, because it is maintained. One could argue that I shouldn’t call it eternal influence, but rather eternal impact.

Have a blessed day, I pray this challenges and motivates all of us.

Will Hill

Rest

Genesis 2:2-3

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.  Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

This week was “retreat” week for my department.  It is a very long week full of lots of team building and professional development.  By about mid-week, we are all getting tired.  Come Friday, we are all completely drained. 

I’m sure you have a time that you can relate to this feeling.  The Bible even tells us that the Lord, after working hard to create the world and all that is in it, needed to rest. 

Brothers and sisters in Christ, how often do you take time to rest and refresh yourself?  We live in a world that is always on the go.  While we may have a couple of days off during a week, we rarely fill it with rest.  Instead we have different stuff that we have to get done.

I want to encourage everyone to find some time, even if brief, to take time to truly rest.  To reconnect with themselves and with God.

Thursday Devotional - Alone?

John 16:27-33        No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.²⁸ I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”

²⁹ Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. ³⁰ Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.”

³¹ “Do you now believe?” Jesus replied. ³² “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.

³³ “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Where do you feel alone? Or when have you felt alone? Jesus has felt your pain. Being a child of God, though, we don’t ever have to be alone!

James was explaining to both sets of grandparents (and aunts and cousins) about accepting Jesus as His Savior and having Jesus in his heart. (Of course, I had already told them, but we were all together for Sarah’s 3^rd birthday and James was talking about it). As James was explaining it in his own words, he declared “Jesus is there to stay and won’t ever leave!” Yes, as a believer, God will never leave us nor forsake us!

Joshua 1:5    No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.

Where do you and I need to cling to that truth today? What peace can you and I experience now, knowing Jesus has already overcome the world and it’s prince and all our pain?

Alice

God's Masterpiece & You

“But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem!  And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.”

But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.  And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.”

So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”  Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized.  Acts 9:13-18

It was an opportunity.  I thought that I could write devotions.  When someone asked me why, I shrugged.  No way would I be qualified enough to write on biblical topics that many people studied years for.  Some were well versed in writing, and others had greater biblical understanding of God’s word.  Neither of these were things I possessed.  To be honest, it had been a long while since I had even been to church regularly.  So I answered, “If you have someone who has a better spiritual understanding, giving them the opportunity (to write devotions) would be great, and I would be happy to continue learning more for when it will be my time.  But if no one does answer the call, rest assured I will take this on and do well.”  That’s a pretty bold statement for someone who had never written a devotional before.  To be honest, I do not remember even writing that last part, but perhaps it was a case where God knew my heart.  That’s when my relationship with God really started.  That was over twelve years ago.  I have learned so much since then, and God has been so good to me.  Yet, it is this, my most bold and humble beginning, that remind me that I am but a mere instrument in God’s master painting.

We are all part of God’s plan.  Our mission is to be brave enough to live it out.  The story of Ananias and Paul is always one to remember when seeking one’s journey of faith.  On one side, it talks about Ananias’ faithfulness to follow the instruction of God.  The other speaks to Saul finding his true calling from God.  Both are compelling for we can see two paths converge.  First, the very beginning of Paul’s journey that would lead him toward being arguably the most important figure in the New Testament.  By the same token, would there even be a Paul had there not been the faithfulness of an Ananias?  Maybe, but as the saying goes, “Sometime you choose the moment, and other times, the moment chooses you.”  You see, God has all of us playing a role in His masterpiece.  Our job is not to play idle and simply absorb knowledge of His word and Kingdom.  Ours is to bring His word to life through actions and deeds.  We are to be humble in His calling of us and bold in our response to it.

God does not just call on a select few.  He looks for all of His people to lay their troubles down at His feet, and pursue His will for our lives.  It may be a scary proposition, but David answers it best in the 27^th Psalm saying:

The Lord is my light and my salvation—
    so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
    so why should I tremble?  Psalm 27:1

So let us be encouraged by a God who can handle any obstacle we can imagine, and move forward toward being the people God always intended us to be.  Where can you show greater courage through trusting in God’s plan for your life?  What bold idea has God placed on your mind, heart and soul?  My prayer is that we submit to God’s will to become part of God’s masterpiece.  Amen.

A gift

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This verse is so simple, yet so powerful.  It really breaks down to two simple things:

1)      If you sin, you are going to die.

2)      God has offered us a gift of eternal life.

We all know that every single one of us has sinned.  Therefore, we know that we will all die.  It’s that simple, we are guaranteed to die.

As we travel through the Lenten season, we draw closer to the gift that God has offered us.  Some will choose to accept it, while others will not.  This second part of the gift being offered, is not a guarantee of the future the same as the first gift.  This part, requires each of us to actually accept the gift.  To believe in the gift.  To want the gift. 

Brothers and sisters in Christ, do you want the gift?  Do you believe in the gift?  Then by all means, accept the gift!  And just like a child when they get a new gift, be excited about it and share the gift with others!