One of the most amazing statements in Scripture is uttered in Matthew 28:6. It is made to the women who come to the bomb to anoint the body of Jesus. Arriving to the empty tomb an angel says to them, “He is not here; for His is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” The empty tomb is the proof that the death of Christ was sufficient to take away our sin. Jesus began teaching he disciples back in Matthew 16:21 that he would raise from the dead three days after his death. The resurrection demonstrated that Jesus was who He said, and that He truly had the power over death. 1 Corinthians 15 gives a vivid apologetic for the resurrection and its power. We are reminded every Easter/Passover season, that Jesus has the ability to transform us from death to life. We do not earn our transformation, it is imputed to us by the Power of Christ. Our service to the Lord is out of gratitude for that transformation, not to gain merit either for salvation, or for our service. God does not owe us for what we do to serve Him, we serve … READ MORE

Psalm 9:1-2 says, “I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works.  I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.”  We have so much to be grateful for in our lives.  Much of which we simply take for granted.  Just the privilege of getting up each morning to a new day to see the beauty of that day, and to seek to understand the plan and purpose of our God in providing for each breath we take.  I am in awe at all that the Lord does to make my life such a blessing to enjoy, and how I am privileged to be used by Him to minister in the lives of many.  May you have the wisdom and presence of mind to reflect on the things that God has done for you. … READ MORE

Last Sunday we celebrated Jesus’ Triumphal entry into Jerusalem. What a day that must have been! It was a day that the disciples had looked forward to for three years. Jesus riding into Jerusalem in a way that acknowledge that He was their King! The people responding with palm branches, and crying out as He makes his way across the valley and into the temple. Nothing could stop this amazing scene. Yet just a few days later the atmosphere had changed. Jesus was about to be betrayed! The longer the disciples watched the events unfolding on that Passover week, the more they began to realize that Jesus was still moving toward His plan of death, not establishing His throne in Jerusalem. The Disciples did not understand that Jesus was going to establish His Kingdom, but He would rule from on High, not from the throne of David Yet. He will establish His Kingdom on earth, but He must first establish His kingdom in the hearts and minds of the people. Jesus’ kingdom is more than an earthly reign, He died on the cross to bring about the Kingdom of God in the hearts of people. This was a bitter pill … READ MORE