INDEED, IT IS FINISHED!

3-29-2013. . . .INDEED, IT IS FINISHED!

 "When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit." (John 19:29-30 NIV)   What was thought by some to be a certain end, was really the beginning of something that would never end.  It is finished did not refer to the end of His life, but to the end of His assignment.   From Servant to Savior and from Savior to Sovereign Lord!  Indeed, IT IS FINISHED!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for finishing your earthly assignment and opening for all mankind endless heavenly opportunities!  Praise be to your name forever!   Amen.

Eph 4:8-10. . . .The psalmist tells about this, for he says that when Christ returned triumphantly to heaven after his resurrection and victory over Satan, he gave generous gifts to men.  Notice that it says he returned to heaven. This means that he had first come down from the heights of heaven, far down to the lowest parts of the earth.  The same one who came down is the one who went back up, that he might fill all things everywhere with himself, from the very lowest to the very highest. TLB

FORGIVEN AND NOT FORGOTTEN!

3-28-2013. . . .FORGIVEN AND NOT FORGOTTEN!

"And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"  (Matt 27:46 KJV)  God and sin cannot coexist.  Sin has and always will bring about separation from God!  No need to single out this sin over that sin, ALL unrighteousness is sin!  It was necessary for Jesus to be forsaken because He became sin for us although, He knew no sin.  Thankfully, He was forsaken, but not forgotten.  He rose from the grave with all power to save!  In our sins we are separated and forsaken. . . .In His Grace we are forgiven and not forgotten!

PRAYER:  Lord, how grateful we are for your grace!  Were in not for your grace, we would forever remain separated from you.  Where sin abounded however, your grace did much more abound!  Amen!

2 Cor 5:21. . . . For God took the sinless Christ and poured into him our sins. Then, in exchange, he poured God's goodness into us!  TLB

NEVER FORGET!

3-27-2013. . . .NEVER FORGET!

"When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!  Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home." (John 19:26-27 KJV)  Destiny's call does not release us from our responsibility to care for those that care and have cared for us!  Although, destiny may require that we separate, we can do so in peace knowing we've made provision for them.   God never forgets our labor of love, neither should we! 

PRAYER: Lord, thank you for loving caring parents that position us for our purpose!  Keep your loving arms around them always and never forget their labor of love to us.  Amen!

Heb 6:10. . . . For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. KJV

NOT PUNISHMENT BUT PARADISE!

3-26-2013. . . NOT PUNISHMENT BUT PARADISE!

"And Jesus replied, "Today you will be with me in Paradise. This is a solemn promise." (Luke 23:43 TLB)  There is an old adage that goes, "You made your bed, now lay in it!"  In other words, you get what you deserve!  Jesus completely flip the proverbial scrip on that adage and gave a confessed criminal what he did not deserve.  He did the same for us and remains willing to do the same for any sinner who with a contrite spirit, asks for his remembrance.  In return   He grants not punishment, but paradise in an instant!

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you for loving us enough to give us better than we deserve.  Thank you for the privilege of living with you forever in paradise.  Amen!

Ps 34:18. . . . The Lord is close to those whose hearts are breaking; he rescues those who are humbly sorry for their sins. TLB

FATHER FORGIVE THEM!

3-25-2013. . . .FATHER FORGIVE THEM!

"Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."  (Luke 23:34 KJV)  Forgetting, if it were possible, is not a part of the forgiving process, but remembering is!  To remember one's offense against us and not allow our behavior towards them be affected by what we remember is the essence of forgiveness.  At any moment on the cross, Jesus could have summoned legions of angels to come to his rescue and deal harshly with his offenders.  Instead of remembering and responding to their offense, he opted to remember and stay true to his purpose.

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you for giving us the greatest example of how to forgive.  In spite of what we remember, help us to not allow our behavior toward our offenders to be affected by what we remember and to opt for your greater purpose.  Amen.

Matt 6:14. . . .Your heavenly Father will forgive you if you forgive those who sin against you; but if you refuse to forgive them, he will not forgive you.  TLB

THEIR DEEDS WILL NOT SUCCEED!

3-22-2013. . . .THEIR DEEDS WILL NOT SUCCEED! 

"Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:  But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way."  (Matt 13:24-25 KJV)  Always expect the enemy to be the enemy and to do what enemies do.  It should come as no surprise that they often do their dirty work behind our backs.  Fret not however. . . .their deeds will not succeed!

PRAYER:  Lord, thank you for giving us wisdom to know our enemies!  Thank you also for being in control and our strong tower against all of them.  Amen.

Isa 54:17. . . . No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.  KJV

THEY WON'T KNOW WHAT HIT EM!

3-21-2013. . . .THEY WON'T KNOW WHAT HIT EM!

"When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. (Prov 16:7 KJV)  One sure way to deal with our enemies is to let the Lord handle them!  If we simply focus on pleasing the Lord through our actions, not only towards Him, but towards our enemies as well, the Lord Himself will cause our enemies to be still and they won't know what hit em!

PRAYER: Lord, you have such a cool way of handling things!  If we were left to our own devices as it relates to dealing with our enemies, it would be nothing less then a big mess.  Continue teaching us yours ways and may our ways be always pleasing to you.  Amen.

Ps 3:5-7. . . .Then I lay down and slept in peace and woke up safely, for the Lord was watching over me. 6 And now, although ten thousand enemies surround me on every side, I am not afraid. 7 I will cry to him, "Arise, O Lord! Save me, O my God!" And he will slap them in the face, insulting them and breaking off their teeth.  TLB