God's Plan From the Beginning

 We have just celebrated Easter a couple of weeks ago.  In thankfulness for what He did for us on the cross and in celebration of His rising from the grave we should want to live for Him.   For this week's blog post I am again going to use a devotional which comes to my e-mail every day. It is by Pastor Rick Warren:

"“Your hearts and minds must be made completely new, and you must put on the new self, which is created in God's likeness and reveals itself in the true life that is upright and holy.”

Ephesians 4:23-24 (GNT)

From the beginning, God’s plan has been to make you like his Son, Jesus. This is your destiny. God announced his intention at creation: “Then God said, ‘Let us make human beings in our image and likeness’” (Genesis 1:26 NCV).

In all of creation, only human beings are made in God’s image. But the image is incomplete and has been damaged and distorted by sin. So God sent Jesus on a mission to restore the full image that we have lost.

What does the full “image and likeness” of God look like? It looks like Jesus Christ! The Bible says Jesus is “the exact likeness of God,” “the visible image of the invisible God,” and “the exact representation of his being” (2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT, Colossians 1:15, Hebrews 1:3 NIV). 

People often use the phrase “like father, like son” to refer to family resemblance. When people see my likeness in my kids, it pleases me. God wants his children to bear his image and likeness too. The Bible says, “You were . . . created to be like God, with a life that truly has God’s approval and is holy” (Ephesians 4:24 GW).

Let me be absolutely clear: You will never become God, or even a god. That prideful lie is Satan’s oldest temptation. Satan promised Adam and Eve that if they followed his advice, “you shall be as gods” (Genesis 3:5 KJV).

Many religions and new age philosophies still promote the old lie that we are divine or can become gods. This desire to be a god shows up every time we try to control our circumstances, our future, and the people around us.

But as creatures, we will never be the Creator. God doesn’t want you to become a god. He wants you to become godly by taking on his values, attitudes, and character.

As you work to fulfill your calling, remember that God’s ultimate goal for your life on earth is not comfort but character development. He wants you to grow up spiritually and become like Christ. 

In The Message paraphrase, Ephesians 4:22 says, “Take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you” (Ephesians 4:22). That’s what you are meant to do! "

When You are Running on Empty

 Easter is past already, but I wanted to share a devotional from Rick Warren.  In this devotional Rick speaks of Easter Sunday evening.  His devotionals come to my e-mail box each day:

“That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them!”

John 20:19 (NLT)

"Have you ever felt like you were running on empty—out of gas, fearful, or just plain weary? Do you ever get sick and tired of being sick and tired?

You’re not alone. After Jesus died on the cross, his followers were devastated. They gathered behind locked doors in fear of the Jewish leaders who had condemned him. They felt defeated, discouraged, disillusioned, demoralized, and depressed. In other words, they were running on empty.

But three days after Jesus died, on Easter Sunday, Jesus came back to life. And then something happened that changed everything: “That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! ‘Peace be with you,’ he said. As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! (John 20:19-20 NLT).

The difference was immediate. The presence of Christ turned their panic into a party, their fear into good cheer.

The presence of Jesus makes the same difference in people’s lives today. Cowards become bold and courageous. People who’ve felt empty start overflowing with joy. 

But how do you get Jesus’ presence in your life? You don’t have to go anywhere to get it—if you’re a believer, he’s with you already. You just need to acknowledge his presence. Notice that, in John 20, “Jesus was standing there among them.” When the disciples were running on empty, they didn’t have to go looking for Jesus. And you don’t either. He’s right there with you.

I love that the very first thing Jesus said to his followers was, “Peace be with you.” It makes me think of what he didn’t say. He could have walked into the room and said, “Why did you guys abandon me? Where were you when I needed you most?”

But he didn’t say that. He didn’t criticize, rebuke, or scold them. He didn’t put them down.

When you’re running on empty, Jesus doesn’t do that to you either. In fact, he does the opposite. He offers you his peace, “which is far beyond human understanding” (Philippians 4:7 GNT).

Are you running on empty? Does it feel like God is a million miles away? You can rest more easily today knowing that God cares. He has never left you. He is with you now. He has been with you all along. You are not alone!

Believe that today, and experience the peace that Christ brings.

• When have you felt like you were running on empty—letting fear or exhaustion keep you from experiencing God’s presence?
• What difference has it made when you have acknowledged Jesus’ presence and accepted his offer of peace?
• What do you need to do today to experience more of the peace Christ offers you?"

Holy Week

 

Sunday, April 13 through Sunday, April 20 is considered Holy Week.  Christians all over tne world celebrate and remember Holy week.  Easter falls late this year in 2025, so we are remembering this week later than some years.

On Palm Sunday we remember how Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey.  Crowds of people including children ran into the streets welcoming Jesus.  They were waving palm branches and praising Him as the King of kings. 

Sadly, some of these same people would reject Jesus and even put Him on the cross just a few days later.  On Thursday night of that week Jesus celebrated the Lord's Supper with His disciples.  Later that same night, Judas, one of His own disciples, betrayed Jesus ; and some of  His other disciples ran away in fear leaving Jesus all alone with His enemies.  Later Peter, another of His disciples, denied Jesus three times even though he had previously said he was ready to die for Jesus.

Crucifixion on the cross  on what we call Good Friday was a horrid way to die.  Jesus experienced all God the Father's wrath and justice for our sins on the cross.  Jesus willingly paid  the punishment for all of our sins on the cross.  He suffered hell for us on the cross.

Then on Easter Sunday morning Jesus rose from the grave!  He rose victoriously over sin, death, and the devil!  Satan had not won this battle!  Jesus, the Son of God, had won the battle!  Because of Jesus rising from the dead, we too will one day rise from the dead to meet the Lord in the air!  What a day the will be when my Jesus I shall see!  These blessings will only be ours, however, if we have accepted and not rejected His free gift of grace and forgiveness. 

The "How Longs?" and "Whys?"

 

In times of struggle, grief, and trials, Christians tend to often ask the questions, "How long, Lord?" and  "Why, Lord?"  It is not an act of unbelief to ask these question of the Lord God.  The Lord wants us to ask Him our  honest faith questions  Even Jesus on the cross asked "Why?" of His heavenly Father.  

In Psalm 13 the Psalmist in faith also asked multiple "How long, Lord?" questions of the Lord God. The psalmist wanted to know how long it would be before he again sensed the Lord's presence in his life.  He also wanted to know how long it would be until he would no longer be tormented by his own thoughts and by his enemies.

Yet through all his questions and through all his trials and grief  the psalmist of Psalm 13 expressed his trust in the unfailing love of the Lord.  He also continued to rejoice in his salvation and praise the Lord for his salvation and goodness.

The Lord promises us that one day we will be free from all trials and grief.  All of our sorrows will end.  (See Isaiah 60:20.)  Yet even in this life God will begin to heal many of our sorrows in his grace and by His healing hand.

Honest With Our Emotions and Struggles

 

It is important to be honest with our emotions whether in active grief, or if we are just facing the every day challenges of life. Below is a devotional from one of my GriefShare messages which come daily to my e-mail box:

Do you embrace honesty as a foundational principle in your life?

If yes, then honestly evaluate your emotions right now. What emotions and struggles have you experienced from the first moment of your grief until now, including those you have not admitted to others? Be honest with yourself and with other people.

“When you are suffering, you may sometimes tend to withdraw, pull back, and pull away,” says Anne Graham Lotz. “I do think there is a time for that, and each day you should spend time alone with the Lord. But don’t forsake other people, because other people can give you comfort and encouragement and help you keep your focus. Sometimes you can get so preoccupied with the problem that it consumes you. Other people can help give you a balance.”

God wants you to be truthful with yourself and with other people. He wants to free you from the debilitating effects of withdrawing and hiding your emotions. Jesus says in the book of John that “the truth will set you free.” Read the book of John to learn more about Jesus' teaching, His truth, and true freedom.

“Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free…. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:31-32, 36).

Lord Jesus, I want to be set free. Amen.

Moving On or Moving Forward?

 

Does one move on, or do we or move forward to a larger life with and in the Lord after the death of a loved one?  Is the healthy path to grief healing mean we need to emotionally disconnect from the loved one who has passed, or is it or something else?  The answer is that for emotional healing to take place one has to gradually move forward in one's life.  This does not mean we deny that our loved one has died, because we will always hold on to them emotionally to some degree through our thoughts and memories.  We will also continue to  be ambushed by grief at times maybe even years later especially on special days like anniversaries and birthdays. 

 Further, our personalities and values are often formed by the people who came before us and influenced us.  God has sovereignly shaped us to be the people we are by the grandparents, parents, spouses, and circumstances that He has orchestrated in our lives. We become the people God has planned us to be and whom He is shaping us to be largely by the people He has allowed in our lives.  So treasure the memories and cherish the good values instilled.  They are a gift and part of whom we are.  

Helen Keller is quoted saying this, "What we  have once enjoyed and deeply loved we can never lose, for all that we love deeply becomes a part of us."  Our memories of them are also a continued connection with our loved ones while we are still on this earth and until we reunite with them in Eternity.  

Grief Letter

 

Dear Friends and Family,

I am part of a community grief share group, and it was suggested that we share a letter with our friends and family.  A few months ago I suffered the lost of my husband.  This was the second husband that the Lord has asked me to bury.  It will take me awhile to live with my loss once again, although one never completely gets over a  grief lost.  One just learns to live with it.  it becomes more manageable,  and it becomes part of who one is.  Grief is not a sign of weakness or lack of faith.  It is God's gift to me to help me process my emotions.   Please be patient with me especially when grief at times causes me to feel unfocused.   More than anything else I need your understanding and prayers.  You don't always have to know what to say, or even have to say anything.  Your touch,  hugs, and assurances of prayer for me are wonderful.  Pray for me that I can come to see meaning in my loss once again one day.   Thank you for caring for me and praying for me.  It is a wonderful gift to me for which I am thankful.