THE LAMB OF GOD

Spring has arrived and uplifting words abound…. Painting, planting, pleasant….but most of all praying, praising, and worship and adoration and rejoicing!  Spring brings wonderful words – emotions – and enjoyment.  This coming Sunday, we celebrate Palm Sunday…. Jesus triumphant entry into Jerusalem.

John 1:29 (NLT) The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

Have you ever thought about all that is involved in that phrase, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world?  It is all about sacrifices.

The sacrificial lamb was an important part in Israel’s religious practices. The offering of lambs figured in the worship at the temple and was practiced daily.  When God gave his children the law at Mount Sinai that law included instructions for the Day of Atonement; on that day the high priest was to kill a lamb for the nation and then take its blood within the veil into the Holy of Holies, where it was sprinkled upon the mercy seat.

So, when John the Baptist identified Jesus as the “Lamb of God”, he was pointing to Jesus as the innocent substitute who would die in place of all of us who have sinned.  Jesus came, and John role identified him as one lamb for this world.

Palm Sunday is not about Jesus presenting himself as King to the people of Jerusalem only to be surprised several days later by their rejection of him. Palm Sunday is the prelude to the day of the crucifixion.
At Calvary Jesus died as God's Lamb. Palm Sunday was the day on which that Lamb was led into Jerusalem. Palm Sunday was the day on which Jesus offered himself as our substitute in a triumphant march into Jerusalem!

Psalm 24:7-10 (NLT)  Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter. ⁸ Who is the King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty; the LORD, invincible in battle. ⁹ Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter. ¹⁰ Who is the King of glory? The LORD of Heaven’s Armies— he is the King of glory. Interlude

Joyfully,
Yvonne

Spring Forward!

 

Spring is a lot like New Year’s for me…. A chance to evaluate where I am in my Christian journey… an opportunity for new growth!   I can choose to spring into fresh spiritual growth!

Here are some ways to renew our faith-walk:

One – Hang out with people who boost your faith.  Stay around those who trust the sovereignty of God and share their faith with you. Those who trust God in lots of circumstances and share what God is doing in their lives.   The flip side? Don’t hang out with complainers, worriers, negative Nellies!  Plus, you be that kind of person for others. You can influence the spiritual growth of your friends through your attitude, your behavior, and your conversation. Those are the ABCs of your influence: attitude, behavior, conversation.

Proverbs 13:20 (NLT)
²⁰ Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.

TWO – IMMERSE YOURSELF IN SCRIPTURE. We see God more clearly when we consistently and daily throw ourselves into God’s Word.  My suggestion – try reading a new translation during the Spring season.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NCV)  All Scripture is given by God and is useful for teaching, for showing people what is wrong in their lives, for correcting faults, and for teaching how to live right. ¹⁷ Using the Scriptures, the person who serves God will be capable, having all that is needed to do every good work.

The steady, on-going intake of Scripture transforms our actions, our thinking, our trust.

THREE - KEEP A JOURNAL

Maybe start a “Spring Thoughts” Journal; record what God is teaching you.  Faithfully maintain a journal of thanksgiving. Giving thanks transforms our faith and our walk.

When we maintain the habit to remember; to be mindful; to think; to keep in mind ….the things of God it is a stepping stone to a life that is becoming more and more like Jesus.

 John 14:26 (NLT)
²⁶ But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

FOUR - STRETCH

Put yourself into a new ministry project.  Read a book that stretches your understanding. Stay in spiritual shape.  Continue learning.

Psalm 119:33-35 (MSG)  GOD, teach me lessons for living so I can stay the course. ³⁴ Give me insight so I can do what you tell me— my whole life one long, obedient response. ³⁵ Guide me down the road of your commandments; I love traveling this freeway!

FIVE - KEEP ON

Pursue the spiritual disciplines continually.  George Goodman wrote: "It is not a present experience that ensures fruit unto maturity, but a patient continuance."

2 Timothy 3:14a (NLT) But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught.

One more week until Spring is officially starting!  How will you refresh your journey?

Joyfully,

Yvonne

SIN'S POWER PUNY

As a follower of Jesus Christ I live in union with Him and His Death...THEREFORE, I have a totally new relationship to sin. SIN HAS NO POWER OVER ME!

Galatians 2:20 (NLT)
²⁰ My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

PRECIOUS PROMISES!!

These words of Jesus really touched me this week-end: Matthew 10:29-31 (NCV)
²⁹ Two sparrows cost only a penny, but not even one of them can die without your Father’s knowing it.   ³⁰ God even knows how many hairs are on your head. ³¹ So don’t be afraid. You are worth much more than many sparrows.

Christ is pointing out five powerful yet precious facts:

1)     GOD’S PROVIDENCE IS PRESENT: Our God is omnipresent! God sees, knows, cares, and oversees all the events and happenings on earth—just as He knows all about the little sparrow that is so common and forgotten , He knows everything that is happening everywhere AND WHAT IS NEEDED!

2) GOD’S KNOWS EVERYTHING: Our Heavenly Father is omniscient; He knows every little happening to the minutest detail. He knows when a single sparrow falls to the ground…and He knows when we trip, stumble, or fall.   Jesus assures us that nothing in our lives is a surprise or is unimportant to Our God.  He knows our hair….the color, the style, and yes, even the number of hairs we have on our heads (we don’t even know that about ourselves or about those we love dearly!).

3)  GOD’S POWER IS SUPERNATURAL: Our God is omnipotent!   He is able to control all circumstances and events that happen to both the believer and nonbeliever… no matter how detailed and minute. What touches me the most is for His children - He controls our life’s events and works them out for good to such an extent that there is no need for any believer to fear.

4)  GOD’S LOVE AND CARE IS PRACTICAL: God cares about every hurt, every sorrow, every joy that is a part of our lives.  As believers we can confidently put our trust in His love and place our lives in His care

5)  GOD’S PERFECT LOVE HAS A PURPOSE:  God is able to take every aspect of my l life and work it out for His perfect will  – that I become more and more like Jesus!  I am loved and my life has an eternal purpose!  (Romans 8: 28-30)

Thank you Jesus for that illustration. I know I AM LOVED BY MY HEAVENLY FATHER!  There is no better love than His!  This is my love message for you today and it isn’t even Valentine’s Day!
Joyfully,
Yvonne

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD!!

No problem has been so great that God in His power has not overcome it.  What He has done in the past, He will do again today....REMEMBER HIS WORKS:

•    Joseph ws in the dungeon, but God released him
•    The Hebrews were in slavery, but God delivered them.
•    David was overwhelmed by the guilt of his sin, but God forgave him.
•   Daniel was in the lion's den, but God preserved him.
•     Jonah was in the belly of that really big fish, but God retrieved him.
•    JESUS was in the tomb, but God raised Him!

Through God's power, we can live our lives wit power, assurance, and certainty!
   

LET GO!

I read this wonderful quote from the godly missionary, Jim Elliot, this morning: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

Those words made me think about what I am hanging on to that might hinder me from growing spiritually, serving sacrificially, and cause me to worry senselessly!  Some lessons that Jesus taught come to my mind as I ponder letting go of things.

Matthew 6:19-21 (NLT)
¹⁹ “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal.
²⁰ Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.
²¹ Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

Lesson to remember: My earthly treasures are uncertain and tentative…you never know when your car will be totaled; your house will be robbed; the stock market will plummet downward…. 

Lesson to remember:  My heavenly treasures are secured in God Himself – no chance of losing them… these are the investments I make that have eternal spiritual value :

§         A gift to someone in need…. These gifts can include gifts of time, work, and prayer as well as of money and physical goods.

§         Any selfless deed of kindness, consideration, and thoughtfulness for another person.

§         My own practices of spiritual disciplines…time spent in prayer, meditation, Bible study, and worship.

§         Simplifying my own lifestyle and my own needs.  I cannot possibly give more to God, to fellow Christians, and to the needy without self-denial and self-sacrifice.

Lesson to remember: My earthly treasures are subject to putting first things first..

Jesus is not telling us to never save money for the future or to have no assets and “treasures” in our homes that we value.  He is telling us that money and possessions cannot be more important than the kingdom of God!

Lesson to remember: What I hold most dear is what controls me

My mind, my emotions, and my actions are controlled by what I treasure the most. I must honestly ask myself is anything more important to me than my relationship with the Lord?

Lesson to remember:  I store treasures in heaven by focusing on things that have eternal value…  three things come to mind:

1) Tithing my money

2)  Sharing Jesus with others

3)  Obeying God

The rewards of letting go of things are many but joy and contentment rank high among them!

Joyfully,

Yvonne

HIS PLANS

One of my favorite verses is Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord.  "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

What I have learned is to READ ON...verses 12 and 13 hold the key to knowing and understanding God's plans for my life...STAYING CONNECTED TO THE ONE WHO KNOWS AND IS IN CHARGE!

Jeremiah 29: 12-13, "In those days when you pray, I will listen.  If you look for me in earnest,you will find me, when you seek me."

His plans are not chance happenings that float around and if we are lucky we catch one.  GOD'S PLANS ARE SPECIFIC...we must talk to Him about them.

Ask, "What do YOU have planned for me today as we journey together?"