Daily Word of God - 1 Peter 1:3

1 Peter 1:3-4 New Living Translation (NLT)

3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, 4 and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.

Easter Sunday - Mark 16:1-6

Mark 16:1-6 New Living Translation (NLT)

16 Saturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they went to the tomb. 3 On the way they were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4 But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside.

5 When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked, 6 but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body."

The Legend of the Jerusalem Donkey

One of our neighbors in the area has a Jerusalem donkey. He is a beautiful animal and seems happy most of the time. As Good Friday approaches, he seems to be sad. His face grows long and his head is bowed almost in reverence. He reminds me of the beautiful story from from Sue Weaver, The Donkey Companion (Storey Publishing, 2008). Below is the excerpt from her book. 

A poor farmer near Jerusalem owned a donkey far too small to do much work at all. He felt that he couldn’t afford to feed a worthless animal like this, one that could do him no good whatsoever, so at the supper table he told his family that he was going to kill the donkey.

His children, who loved the little donkey, begged him to sell it rather than harm it. But the farmer said, “It’s wrong to sell an animal that can’t do a good day’s work.”

Then his oldest daughter suggested, “Father, tie the donkey to a tree on the road to town, and say whoever wants it may take it for nothing.” And the next morning, that’s what the farmer did.

Soon, two men approached and asked if they could have the donkey. “It can carry almost nothing,” the farmer warned them.

“Jesus of Nazareth has need of it,” replied one of the men. The farmer couldn’t imagine what a great teacher would want with such a worthless donkey, but he handed it over.

The men took the animal to Jesus, who stroked the grateful donkey’s face and then mounted it and rode away. So it was on the day we call Palm Sunday, Jesus led his followers into the city of Jerusalem riding on the back of a small, common donkey.

The donkey so loved his gentle master that he later followed him to Calvary. Grief-stricken by the sight of Jesus on the cross, the donkey turned away but couldn’t leave. It was then that the shadow of the cross fell upon the shoulders and back of the donkey, and there it stayed. All donkeys have borne the sign of the cross on their backs since that very day.

The Legend of the Dogwood Tree

On our property, we have two beautiful dogwood trees that have bloomed. As I look at the trees, I reminded of a beautiful poem about the legend of the dogwood tree. As we approach that blessed Easter day, let us always remember the love of our Savior, Christ Jesus, and his sacrifice for us.

Legend of the Dogwood

There is a lovely story,
 A legend tho it be
It tells how blessed Jesus,
Was pitied by a tree.

T'was in the days when Jesus,
This earth He walked upon
The Dogwood tree was larger,
 It's wood was firm and strong.

How beautiful the story,
 The legend of a tree
That sorrowed for dear Jesus,
On that cruel mount at Calvary.

It proves that if we love Him,
A blessing we'll receive
Just as the lovely story,
 Of the lowly Dogwood tree.

At the time of the crucifixion, the Dogwood
grew the size of the oak and other forest trees.
So strong and firm was the wood of it,
that it was chosen for the timber of the Cross
to be used for such a cruel purpose.
This greatly distressed the tree.

And Jesus sensed this,
 and smiled upon it
And in His gentle pity for sorrow,
Jesus looked and said to it ...
Because of your great regret and pity for My suffering
I make you this promise ,,,,

Never again shall the Dogwood grow enough
to be used for a Cross.
Henceforth, it shall be slender and bent and twisted.
And blossoms shall be in the form of a Cross,
two long petals and two short petals.

And in the center of the outer edge of each petal
there will be the nail prints browned with rust.
And stained with Blood,
and the center of the flowers
will be an image of the Crown of Thorns.

And all who see it will remember
that it was upon the Dogwood tree I was Crucified.
And this tree shall not be mutilated or destroyed
but cherished as a reminder of My Death upon the Cross.

Two petals long, two petals short,
 a symbol of the Cross.
On each the print of nails and blood,
 which pictures Jesus' lost.

In the center of each flower,
 the Crown of Thorns can see,
And so it is told...
 the Legend of the lowly Dogwood Tree. 

Daily Word of God - Psalm 20:4

Psalm 20:4 New Living Translation (NLT)

4 May he grant your heart’s desires
    and make all your plans succeed.

Daily Word of God - Ephesians 5:14

Ephesians 5:14 New Living Translation (NLT)

14 for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said,

“Awake, O sleeper,
    rise up from the dead,
    and Christ will give you light.”

Daily Word of God - Psalm 61:2

Psalm 61:2 New Living Translation (NLT)

2 From the ends of the earth,
    I cry to you for help
    when my heart is overwhelmed.
Lead me to the towering rock of safety,

Good Friday - Romans 5:6-10

Romans 5:6-10 New Living Translation (NLT)

6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.

Good Friday Message - Humbled to the Point of Death

On Monday of this week, I had to make a trip to Carrollton, Georgia to complete some personal business. I had to leave our home in Newnan very early in the morning. Because of that, I didn't have time to make myself my usual country breakfast. So, before I could complete my business, I had time to visit the McDonald's in Carrollton on Bankhead Highway. While I was there and enjoying my breakfast, I was praying for the Holy Spirit to speak to my heart regarding the Good Friday message.

As all Christians know, Good Friday is the day when Jesus is crucified. He suffers the indignity of a trial with false accusations made by the Pharisees against him. While in the hands of the Roman soldiers, he is mocked, beaten and scourged. He is forced to walk through the streets carrying his own cross. These are the same people who just a week earlier celebrated him by laying down palms and shouting, "Hosanna in the highest." Streams of blood and sweat are running down his face as he creeps along that weary path to the place known as Golgotha.

At any moment, Jesus could have called upon legions of angels to level the earth, but he doesn't. While in the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prays, prior to being betrayed, that this bitter cup pass from him. However, he ends his prayer with a simple statement, "Yet not as I will, but as you will."

The night before his so-called trial, he and his disciples share their last meal. During the course of that evening, Jesus humbly washes the feet of each of his disciples. He tells them in John 13:14-15, "14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you."

Jesus became and remains our example of what it means to have a servant attitude. This brings me back to that McDonald's in Carrollton. While there, I had an opportunity to meet a dedicated young man who handled the facilities there at that store. We talked about his job and responsibilities which he took very seriously. The young man threw himself into his position and enjoyed what he did. He did not boast that his job was the most important or that he was currying favor with his supervisor. His desire and passion were driven by one thing alone, to give the customers the best experience possible in that store. Although many would look at his position as being menial, he humbly did the tasks that would give the customer a wonderful feeling about the cleanliness of the restaurant.

When I thanked him for all that he did while I was there in making sure that the floors and tables for dry for me to enjoy my breakfast and coffee, he responded, "It is what I enjoy doing. I serve the customers and want them to feel special." No better words could have been spoken by such a wise and dedicated young man.

There was another man who refused to be served but served others. Jesus made it a point to make people feel special by showing them the love of our Heavenly Father. He did not make a distinction between rich or poor. All were welcomed by him. 

In Paul's letter to the church in Philippi, he tells us in chapter 2 of the elements of a Christ-like attitude. Last year, I spoke on what it means to have a Christ-like attitude in a message series. If you missed it, it is still available on our podcast site. One of the key elements that Paul tells us about is humility. Starting with verse 7 and running through verse 8, Paul writes, "7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross." In two verses, Paul sums up Jesus and his sacrifice for us. He humbled himself in obedience to God's will and was crucified for our sins. He became a servant. Looking back at the supper he shared with his disciples, he became a servant and washed their feet. During those times, that was the lowest position of any household. Any servant who had to wash the feet of the guests did not enjoy doing it. In Jesus's case, he humbled himself before his disciples and in one act showed them how much he loved them.

So as you go through this Good Friday, I ask that you to remember not only the sacrifice of Jesus and his crucifixion but also his attitude and character trait of humbling himself in obedience to God and His will. We, as Paul tells us in verse 5 of Philippians 2, "must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had." That means we must not "be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves." When we exemplify a Christ-like attitude to the world, we can stand firm in His grace.

May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace. 
~ Numbers 6:24-26 New Living Translation (NLT)

Good Friday - Isaiah 53:3-4

Isaiah 53:3-4 New Living Translation (NLT}

He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins!

Daily Word of God - Galatians 5:22-23

Galatians 5:22-23 New Living Translation (NLT)

22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Daily Word of God - Matthew 7:12

Matthew 7:12 New Living Translation (NLT)

12 Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.

Daily Word of God - 1 Peter 2:9

1 Peter 2:9 New Living Translation (NLT)

9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

Daily Word of God - Revelation 21:4

Revelation 21:4 New Living Translation (NLT)

4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.

Mid-Week Message - If You Had Been There

“Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.”  Luke 24:5-7 (NLT)

If you had been there when Jesus was arrested, what would you have done?  How would you have reacted?  Would you have stepped up to defend Him or would you have sunk into the background out of fear?  

If you had been there during His trial, would you have spoken up for Him?  Would you have shouted for His innocence or been silent as the crowd screamed for Barrabas to be released?  Would your belief that Jesus was the Christ have allowed you to rush to His aid?  

If you had been there as He was forced to carry His cross to the place of His death, would you have offered to help Him carry it or stood back in horror and tears as you witnessed His struggle while so terribly wounded?

If you had been there as the hammer pounded the nails into His flesh, seen the crown of thorns pushed cruelly down into the skin of His brow, seen the mocking and the insults hurled at Him, seen Him denied a fresh drink of water and then witnessed the spear thrust into His side, how would you have handled it?  

The Easter story is one most of us grew up with.  We know what happened to our Savior.  It has become something that is talked about almost matter-of-factly.  We understand it was God's way of uniting us to Himself by providing His Son, His perfect Lamb, as the sacrifice which bought our forgiveness and freedom.  We know, but do we experience it?  Is it personal?  

Now, what if you had been there with the women who discovered His body missing?  What would have been your reaction?  Would you have remembered that He said He would rise again and rejoice, or would you have assumed it had been stolen?  I can't think of anything more glorious than the open tomb of the Son of Almighty God.  I would like to think that I would have fallen to my knees at that moment and begun praising.  But I would also like to think that I would have stood up for Him, fought for Him, been willing to lose my own life for Him.  

Easter is a time of personal reflection as we remember all He did out of His love for each of us.  It is wonderful to know the story, to read the scriptures, to hear the sermons.  However, in order to really appreciate it, we need to place ourselves there.  We need to take part and allow it to become more than a story.  We need for it to be personal and real.  May God bless you as you experience His love on Easter and every day.  

Daily Word of God - Exodus 34:10

Exodus 34:10 New Living Translation (NLT)

10 The Lord replied, “Listen, I am making a covenant with you in the presence of all your people. I will perform miracles that have never been performed anywhere in all the earth or in any nation. And all the people around you will see the power of the Lord—the awesome power I will display for you."

Daily Word of God - Proverbs 15:8

Proverbs 15:8 New Living Translation (NLT)

8 The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked,
    but he delights in the prayers of the upright.

Daily Word of God - Hebrews 12:1-2

Hebrews 12:1-2 New Living Translation (NLT)

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

Daily Word of God - Matthew 22:37-39

Matthew 22:37-39 New Living Translation (NLT)

37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’"

Daily Word of God - Revelation 3:20

Revelation 3:20 New Living Translation (NLT)

20 "Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends."