The Greatest News

I've had a problem with the computer for the last few weeks.  It finally decided that it would not open any websites even though it claimed to be connected to the internet.  Technology is great until it's not.  LOL  Thankfully a really nice neighbor came and reset everything for me and we are back up and running.  I'm so grateful.  

We are coming to the end of our Bible Study Fellowship season.  It's always sad when I know I won't see my classmates regularly for the next few months.  And these studies have so much treasure in them, from the study book itself, to the lectures and the different viewpoints, but especially from God's Word and the Holy Spirit.  It's amazing how many littl jewels come from spending time with our loving Father and Savior.  I highly recommend joining a Bible Study Fellowship group in your area, even if you can only find the on-line groups.  It is worldwide and so we all get to study the Word together.  Next seaason we will be in the book of Romans.  Classes start in September.

Okay, that's it for my BSF plug.  LOL   

Anyway, this past week we were in the book of Malachi.  And God had His word just reach into my heart and make it grin from ear to ear. 

Malachi 3:16-18 Then those who feared the Lord spoke with each other, and the Lord listened to what they said.  In His Presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared Him and always thought about the honor of His Name.  "They will be my people," says the Lord of Heaven's Armies.  "On the day when I act in judgment, they will be my own special treasure.  I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child.  Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not." 

So many things flooded my mind as I read this verse.  I was in Exodus lately and reading about the plagues the Lord send on Egypt.   Here we repeatedly see the difference between serving God and being His people and resisting Him and serving false gods.  Exodus 8:20-23 20 Then the Lord told Moses, “Get up early in the morning and stand in Pharaoh’s way as he goes down to the river. Say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Let my people go, so they can worship me. 21 If you refuse, then I will send swarms of flies on you, your officials, your people, and all the houses. The Egyptian homes will be filled with flies, and the ground will be covered with them. 22 But this time I will spare the region of Goshen, where my people live. No flies will be found there. Then you will know that I am the Lord and that I am present even in the heart of your land. 23 I will make a clear distinction between my people and your people. This miraculous sign will happen tomorrow.’”

Revelation 20:11-15 11 And I saw a great white throne and the One sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from His presence, but they found no place to hide. 12 I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. 14 Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. 15 And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.

Could it be that the scroll mentioned above in Malachi is part of the Book of Life?  I honestly don't know.  But I do know that God has written down the name of each of His children and has promised us eternal life in His Presence and justice from this evil world.  And I celebrate that!  Hallelujah!  What a loving and awesome God we serve!  

So many in this world live for today, live for their flesh and for material possessions, emotional fulfillment, and comfort.  They don't feel God is worth living for.  "Why serve a God we can't see and wants to take away all our fun." they say.  They are blinded by the god of this world, Satan.  Lord, help them.  They will miss out on the richest of rewards by serving themselves and not submitting to the Lord who writes us on His scroll of rememberance.  The One who calls us His own special treasures.  I want this!  I pray for all of us that we recognize the gift He offers and desire to be called His special treasure more than anything else.  Thank Your Lord. 

I hope this verse jumped into your heart as well when you read it.  I pray it brought you the same joy and confidence it filled me with.  

Lord, thank You.  I am so grateful to be treasured by You.  Keep us in the place of knowing there is nothing better than serving You.  It's in the Name of the One who made it possible for us to be Your people, Jesus Christ I ask.  Amen.  

Resurrection Day!

 

HAVE A BLESSED RESURRECTION DAY !!!

Remembering Good Friday

Luke 22:19  And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

1 Corinthians 11:23-26  For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”  26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

I was listening to a song on the radio recently.  Being we have Passover and Good Friday this week it spoke to my heart about remembering God's love, kindness and sacrifice.  

We have so much to be grateful for and as we call to mind the Cross today, we also call to mind all that went into it and came out of it.  I'm reminded of Jesus in Gethsamane and in the garden as He was about to be arrested.  Matthew 26:42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.”  Matthew 26:52-54 52 But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53 Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? 54 How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?”

Jesus could have walked away any time.  Delivered Himself.  But instead He chose not to, for our sake.  Matthew 27:42 “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him.

The love and sacrifice, the desire for our restoration was the force that pushed Him onto the Cross.  The results was our saving and restoration to our Father.  The way was opened for us to once again draw near to our God.  Matthew 27:51  Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split,   Romans 5:10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

This is a day of reflection.  Of repentance.  And of joy and celebration.  It is the day of our salvation, the day the price was paid to bring us back to God.  What a wonderful day!  Today I worship in deep gratitude knowing my Savior, in spite of all my failings and sins, has showed me kindness and paid the price for my debt.  No matter the darkness of our sins, His love washes it way.  Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.

Thank You.  These words will never be enough, but Lord they are all we have to give.  Thank You.