Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Give your child the everlasting Easter gift

For those of you that know the true meaning of Easter, this will be a refresher for you. But for those who go year after year hustling to Walmart to buy the fake grass, an egg dying kit, $40 worth of chocolate and jelly beans, and baskets because last years didn't quite make it, and you want to surprise your children on Easter Sunday, but not sure why. I just wanted to share, that Walmart also has reputable children's bibles, and Lifeway Christian Stores have several at a reasonable price. Give your child the gift of Jesus through word of God. Please share the true meaning of Easter with your children.
Good Friday is around the time Jesus had died on the cross, which could have been late Thursday night, early Friday morning when He died, and then three days later, He resurrected from the tomb/grave. Which is supposed to be Easter Sunday.  Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross, shedding His blood for man that our sins shall be forgiven. He paid the ultimate price by becoming the offering for sin to conquer death. He who knew no sin, died for sin, creating a new covenant with God through Christ's blood.

If you are not familiar with Scripture, this is a good place to start on the story about the crucifixion,death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 26:1-19 NASB

When Jesus had finished all these words, He said to His disciples, "You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man is to be handed over for crucifixion."  Then the chief priests and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, named Caiaphas; and they plotted together to seize Jesus by stealth and kill Him. But they were saying, "Not during the festival, otherwise a riot might occur among the people." Now when Jesus was in Bethany, at the home of Simon the leper, a woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume, and she poured it on His head as He reclined  at the table.  But the disciples were indignant when they saw  this,  and said, "Why this waste? For this  perfume  might have been sold for a high price and  the money  given to the poor." But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why do you bother the woman? For she has done a good deed to Me.  For you always have the poor with you; but you do not always have Me.  For when she poured this perfume on My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial.  Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her."  Then one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, "What are you willing to give me to betray Him to you?" And they weighed out thirty pieces of silver to him. From then on he  began  looking for a good opportunity to betray Jesus. Now on the first  day  of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?" And He said, "Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, 'The Teacher says, "My time is near; I am to keep the Passover at your house with My disciples."'"  The disciples did as Jesus had directed them; and they prepared the Passover.

Matthew 26:20-29 NASB

Now when evening came, Jesus was reclining  at the table  with the twelve disciples. As they were eating, He said, "Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me."  Being deeply grieved, they each one began to say to Him, "Surely not I, Lord?" And He answered, "He who dipped his hand with Me in the bowl is the one who will betray Me.  The Son of Man is to go, just as it is written of Him; but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born."  And Judas, who was betraying Him, said, "Surely it is not I, Rabbi?" Jesus *said to him, "You have said it yourself."  While they were eating, Jesus took  some  bread, and after a blessing, He broke  it  and gave  it  to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is My body."  And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave  it  to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you;  for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.  But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."

Keep reading and it will take you to the betrayal and crucifixion of Jesus.

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Spring is here..

Spring is here and it's real.. I love to see the grass starting to grow, trees and flowers budding, and the sight of new calves, colts, and kids(goats) on the ground. I love the new time change, crappie biting, clover on the ground. Everything seems to come back to life in the spring. It kind of reminds me of a new beginning to a new year..

The part of spring that I hate.....  The pollen flying around like a cloud, the sneezing, itchy eyes, and runny nose that spring brings..
I've been on allergy shots for the last 6-7 months, I hope they've paid off and lessen the wrath of my allergies..
Winter isn't gone yet, but it's definitely on it's way. But we always have that Easter snap that shows up every year.

Isaiah 61:11 NASB

For as the earth brings forth its sprouts,
And as a garden causes the things sown in it to spring up,
So the Lord GOD  will cause righteousness and praise
To spring up before all the nations.

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Nothing like a glow of a campfire

Nothing like the glow of a campfire. The smell of the smoke bellowing up to the heavens, the sound of the crackling wood as it turns to ashes and embers. The warmth of the fire as it burns long and bright.
People all over the world are gathering around a fire tonight. Some are celebrating a new beginning, drowning an old memory, roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, making smores, some are gathering around the fire to fellowship with friends... Some are huddling the flames to stay warm tonight because it's their only means.. 
What ever it may be, a fire always makes me think who else out there is doing the same as I am..
Sitting around the fire is a good time to do some bonding with God.. and to watch the fireflies dance off the flames..
Godbless

Proverbs 26:20-21 NASB

For lack of wood the fire goes out,
And where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down.  Like  charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,
So is a contentious man to kindle strife.