Forty days had passed since the empty tomb. Jesus had told them more than once He’d have to leave them, and had done His best to prepare them for His ascension:
Called to Love
This is not the first time Jesus filled the nets of the fishermen. On the first occasion Simon Peter was so astounded he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me Lord; I am a sinful man!” (Luke 5:8). It had dawned on him who Jesus really was. Then he, Andrew, James, and John promptly left their nets to fish for men.
Jesus in Every Book in the Bible
I love the story of Cleopas and his companion, as Jesus joined them the Sunday of His resurrection on their way home from Jerusalem and its ensuing hubbub: “We had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel” (Luke 24:21).
Believing is Seeing
Eight days later—so much to take in.
Jesus didn’t play hide-and-seek with His friends for long. The empty tomb alone was not the crux of the story. The truth of who He was and what He had accomplished lay in His appearing, alive. So He began to reveal Himself first to those closest to Him.
He Is Risen Indeed!
The contemplations of Easter week tug at my heartstrings each and every year. From the joy and Hosannas of Palm Sunday, to the cleansing of the temple courts, to the ire of the religious leaders, to the betrayal and arrest and trial and beating and the awful agony of the crucifixion—the horror of that Friday hurts my soul.
Full Circle Love
“Your mother was my teacher. When I discovered I was pregnant, I transferred to her school. She helped me through a very hard time in my life. It is an honor for me to care for her during this difficult time in hers.”
Love in Action
Occasionally, my father would tell us an action-packed story from his WWII experiences. My favorite ones described the so-thick-you-could-walk-on-it shrapnel that brought down his B-17 bomber. As the pilot, to save his crew, he bailed out last.
Love and Grief
I am, unfortunately, all too experienced at saying these goodbyes! But, I was not prepared for six granddaughters to simultaneously wail so loudly that their mothers came running!
The Touch of Love
She spoke reassuringly, “I believe in the power of human touch, and I will be holding your hand during the surgery.”
A Song of Love
I could recognize the melody but not the words. It was my son singing his seven-year-old daughter to sleep.
What Should You Do?
In John Chapter 2 we find the first miracle the Lord performed. They were faced with a situation they had no control over, and they needed help. Jesus’ mother instructed the servants with these words, “Whatever He says to you, do it”. Stop. Read it again. Let that sink in.
Do Not Trade What You Do Know for What You Do Not Know
The Lord helped me to recall things that “I did know”. Because I am a list maker and a visual learner, I grabbed my notebook and turned the page from all the information the doctors had just delivered (which prompted my list of things “I did not know”) and I began my new list of what “I did know”.
So Much More!
I love asking the Lord to direct me to books of the Bible He would like me to study. However, I was less than thrilled when He directed me to…Lamentations. Seriously? Who studies Lamentations? Well, YOU do if that is what the Lord says do.
Demonstrating Courageous Faith
I never felt “good enough”. I have made mistakes. I have regrets. But I am thankful those things do not disqualify me from being used by God. I love how God chose certain women throughout scripture when He needed a job done. If you are like me, then you too want to be used by God and “picked” to fulfill his Divine Purposes. For many of us that desire might also come with feelings of insecurity and inadequacy.
The Impact of One Woman
I am a life that was changed by one woman stepping into the life of one woman.
Leave Some
The incorporation of frugality into one’s life has its place. Greediness does not. Many of us make sure we get everything we have earned because we believe we deserve it. God’s Word surprises me, at times, because his instructions are very practical and specific.
A Little Bird Told Me
My Grandmother had a funny way with words in order to get her point across. Some of her favorite sayings were: “This is how the cow ate the corn” as she grabbed your knee to get your attention, “Well, shoot a monkey” when things did not go her way and “A little bird told me” when she was curious about something she had heard.
Could More Be Better?
Recently one word out of this verse hit home: advisers. Plural.
Notice it does not say adviser.
In fact, the verse says many.
Reframe
Have you ever had a conversation that helped you reframe a current circumstance? Recently my husband’s comments about a difficult situation provided me much-needed perspective.
Press On
A much younger friend works out with me to help me improve my health. She regularly reminds me that I “pace myself” when I’m doing any given physical challenge. While she would like for me to exert myself fully throughout, instead I start slowly and gradually increase my effort. She says I hold back.