“He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” Psalm 121:3-4 NIV Read full chapter
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”
“Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Luke 6:31 NIV Read full chapter
Did you know? Years before Christ, Rabbi Hillel was said to have instructed his pupils that they should not do to others what they did not want done to themselves. Jesus put this principle in a positive context. (Jeremiah Study Bible)
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” Luke 15:20 NIV
Do you know the story of the Prodigal Son? It is really the story of a father’s love. Jesus told this parable to a large crowd including Pharisees, teachers of the law, sinners, and tax collectors. The Pharisees were indignant that Jesus would welcome sinners. In response, Jesus told them what is known as The Parable of the Prodigal Son. (below)
I love this parable because I was once a “prodigal son” myself. This parable teaches me that the Father is compassionate, merciful, and forgiving. But I saw something today that spoke directly to my heart in a very personal way. I understand that even when I was a long way off, God not only welcomed me back, He saw me and came running after after me!
I confess I have wandered many times over the last 67 years. I can’t even put into words how this truth spoke to my heart and revealed the depth of His love to me today.
Even if you have never wandered, I encourage you to read the story of the Prodigal Son below and discover the depth of His love.
Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’” Luke 15:11-32 NIV Read full chapter
I want to thank Steve Brewer for his post, Yet In Distant Lands which inspired me today.
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”
“My people, hear my teaching … things we have heard and known things our ancestors have told us. We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done. … to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.” Psalm 78:1-7 NIV Read full chapter
Comment: This principle is as true today as it was long ago. It is our responsibility as parents to teach our children about Jesus Christ, our Savior and our Lord.
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.” Psalm 91:14-15 NIV Read full chapter
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”
… sometimes we can not see His hand or purpose in events. In these moments of uncertainty, we are called to have faith and trust God, to be assured that He is at work in these moments of our life. In the fullness of time, we are able to look back and see with fresh eyes what God has done for us.” Alan Kearns, Devotional Treasure, Read it HERE.
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 NASB
I have found this to be true in my life over and over again.
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”
“But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 11:3 NIV Read full chapter
“Satan disguises submission to himself under the ruse of personal autonomy. He never asks us to be his servants. Never once did the serpent say to Eve, ‘I want to be your master.’ The shift in commitment is never from Christ to evil; it is always from Christ to self. And instead of His will, self-interest now rules and what I want reigns. And that is the essence of sin.” (emphasis mine)
Dennis F. Kinlaw, “This Day With the Master”
“Personal autonomy” has become a popular theme in today’s society. Read Steve Brewer’s excellent post on how this relates to God’s Word HERE. I believe this message is essential for understanding today’s world.
Steve’s blog, The Brew Is Amusing, always brings an excellent message (and he does it in a few words!)
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”
I have been reading the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ crucifixion and the days that followed. (Matthew 27 and 28, Mark 15 and 16, Luke 23 and 24, John 19 and 20)
I was struck by a couple of things that I want to share with you.
1. Why didn’t the Jews realize that the O.T. prophecies about the Messiah were being fullfilled by Jesus right before their eyes?
Isn’t that a warning to the Church not to ignore prophecy about the last days?.
In Luke 24, we read about how after He rose from the dead, Jesus talked with two men on the road to Emmaus. He said,
“How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” Luke 24:25-27 NIV
When Jesus appeared to His disciples He said,
“’This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.’ Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.” Luke 24:44-45 NIV Read full chapter
Jesus warned the Pharisees,
“When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.” Matthew 16:2-3 NIV
2. The Pharisees loved money.
Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Matthew 6:24 NIV
The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.” Luke 16:13-15 NIV
Isn’t that a warning to the Church that loving money is dangerous? The love of money is detestable to God. The “Prosperity Gospel” is widely popular in the Church today even though the Bible clearly warns against it.
These are just a couple of things that got me thinking as I read the Easter story today. God bless you! He is alive!
Let me know what you think.
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6 NIV
What is faith? Hebrews, chapter eleven clearly explains what faith really is. Faith is believing what God has said even when it doesn’t seem possible. For example,
“And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise.” (vs. 11). Read full chapter
Simply put, faith is trusting God in all situations.
In His Love, Cindy
Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”
Real Christian Women 