Brother? Are You There?

In fulfillment of prophecy (Isaiah 62:11 & Zechariah 9:9), Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. The crowds lined the street shouting "Hosanna! (Save us) Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord." (Psalm 118:25-26) The crowds & children excitedly placed palm branches and robes in front of Jesus to make a path for him as he rode into Jerusalem sitting on a donkey's colt. This raucous celebration was particularly disturbing to the religious leaders who were jealous of Jesus. They demanded that Jesus silence the crowd, but he responded that even if the crowd were silent, the stones would cry out. (Oh, I love that?) Palm Sunday: Jesus Triumphal entry into Jerusalem. What a special moment….. You’d think Jesus would be surrounded by his family. I read through every translation I could get my hands on trying to see if I could find a hint of James (Jesus’ brother) in the crowd. Even though James was probably there for Passover there was no mention of it in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John). James, like the other brothers of Jesus, had not believed in Jesus during his earthly ministry (John 7:1-5). They had been concerned that their brother was "out of his mind" during a busy time in his ministry (Mark 3:20-21). They had also felt the sting of his words that seemed to suggest that he cared less for his kinfolk than he did for his newfound followers whom he called family (Mark 3:31-35). Even in Jesus home town the Nazarenes displayed obstinate prejudices against Jesus & His preaching! “Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joses, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him (Mark 6:3).

The events of the week between The Triumphal entry into Jerusalem and Resurrection Sunday would forever change the world. Jesus entered Jerusalem and the crowd welcomed him as a king. By the end of the week they were demanding his death. His followers abandoned him in fear. None of his close followers had really understood the events of Palm Sunday and Holy Week until after Jesus returned. They had all expected Jesus to be an earthly king, but God had given them something so much better - an open door into a Kingdom that would never end.

A pearl to string: I’m not a Biblical Scholar (not even close) but as I read & study God’s Word I think Jesus brother James was there. I think James witnessed the entire Passion Week and his brother’s death on a cross. I think the encounter profoundly changed James for all eternity. Look at this: *James begins his short epistle with these words: "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ ..." (James 1:1). So he came from being an unbeliever (John 7:1-5), to seeing himself as a servant (the word literally means "slave") of the Lord Jesus Christ. WOW!

There must be a tear of joy in Jesus eye for every life His Resurrection has changed.
May you be ever changed by Jesus love for you,
Lyndi


*The Epistle (letter) of James was written by James, also called James the Just, who is thought to be the brother (half) of Jesus (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3). There are three other persons called by this name in the New Testament. One was James, the Greater, the son of Zebedee, an apostle (Matthew 10:2) and the brother of the Apostle John. Another is James, the son of Alphaeus, who was also one of the twelve apostles (Matthew 10:3). The remaining James is the father of the Apostle Judas (Luke 6:16).

The Gift of Confrontation

By Mary Southerland of Girlfriends in God

"Faithful are the wounds of a friend" (Proverbs 27:6 NAS).

Sandpaper people are no strangers to confrontation. However, that confrontation usually comes from an unclean heart and an angry spirit. In fact, inept confrontations can easily become just another notch in a sandpaper person's belt, giving them one more reason to be who they are - difficult people.
Confrontation is a gift we bring to every relationship - especially difficult relationships. When love and gentleness deliver correction, it is much more likely to be received and acted on. We can be caring and confronting at the same time. In fact, confrontation is a spiritual exercise and an act of spiritual obedience that changes lives and builds healthy relationships.
Before Dan and I were married, I noticed several "rough edges" in his character that needed to be sanded away and felt like I was just the one for the job. After all, that's what wives are for - right? I decided to lay low for a few months, lulling him into a false sense of security while giving him a chance to make the changes on his own before I stepped in with my brilliant plan for his life. The only problem was that my plan did not line up with Dan's plan. In fact, he seemed oblivious to the character flaws that were blatantly obvious to me.
After a few months of marital bliss, during which I was secretly fine-tuning my "Fix Dan Plan", a seed of discontent took root and began to grow in my heart. The strength I had so admired in Dan now resembled stubbornness. His ability to take a complicated issue, dissect it and boil it down to a practical three-step-plan now seemed patronizing and sometimes even meddlesome. What I had once embraced as his devotion to me now seemed like his need to control me. It was time for the execution of my now well-thought-out and sure-to-succeed plan of transforming my husband into the man God and I thought he should be.
It goes without saying that unity was the last thing on my mind or on my list of changes to be made. Looking back, I am certain I fit the bill of a sandpaper person deluxe at that point in Dan's life! But like most difficult people, I would not be deterred. The results were painfully disastrous.
Arguments over insignificant issues ensued as we battled for control of the relationship. Dan fielded each attack, confused and bewildered by the mysterious and not-so-wonderful change in his wife. Every area of our marriage suffered and we were both miserable. Thankfully, my young but wise husband was committed to me, I was committed to him and we were both committed to God's plan for our marriage. I will never forget the afternoon Dan confronted me in love and with amazing patience. I don't remember much of the conversation but I remember the words that broke my heart but saved our marriage, "Honey, I'm not sure what is going on between us. But I do know I want to love you like you need to be loved." And there you have the recipe for a successful marriage and healthy relationships.
I loved Dan like I thought he should be loved instead of how he needed to be loved, with my requirements and my expectations, hoping that he would have to do all of the changing while I did all of the controlling. I had a lot to learn about the art of confrontation, how it brings unity, peace and joy to any relationship where it is invited to work. There is a right way and a wrong way to confront. The success of any confrontation depends upon understanding the difference between the two.
• Always begin confrontation with affirmation. Encouraging words set the stage and prepare the heart to hear words of correction.
• Be willing to take your part of the blame. No conflict is ever totally one-sided. Taking your share of the blame often diffuses anger and steers the confrontation in the right direction.
• Express hurt...not hostility. It is important to keep emotions under control during confrontation. Volume negates listening. Raised voices and angry words slam the door shut on any possible good that can come from confrontation. Express your feelings with words - not volume or accusation.
• Make clear, direct statements. When facing confrontation, I will often write down what I plan to say; then read it aloud and sometimes in front of the mirror. I can then go back and eliminate unnecessary comments, inflammatory words or vengeful statements disguised as correction. In any confrontation, it is important to stick to the facts, refusing to become either hysterical or historical.
• Avoid using the words "never" and "always" because they tend to stir up emotions and fan emotional fires. These words are obviously untrue and accomplish little in a confrontation, destroying any credibility of the person doing the confronting.
•Learn to listen. One of my favorite tactics in confrontations is to use the time the other person is speaking to formulate my next point. As a result, I don't listen because I assume I already know what will be said. Difficult conversations require total attention.
Be solution centered. It is so easy to go for the "let's get this over" conversation instead of the "let's get to the heart of this problem" discussion. Make the decision beforehand to stay at the table of confrontation until a solution is found and restoration is achieved.
We were created to live in harmony. God calls us to wage peace in every relationship - the easy ones as well as the relationships that are difficult. Part of winning the battle is learning how to confront sandpaper people in the right way - God's way. Confrontation that is done in love changes lives, impacts relationships and honors God
Let's Pray
Father, I want to be a good friend. I want to please You through the relationships in my life. Give me the wisdom and strength to be honest with those I love but give me a gentle spirit as well. Guard my heart against pride and help me to see the things in my own life that need correcting. I pray that what I say and do pleases and honors You.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Do not succumb to the line of thinking that combat and confrontation are the same thing. Combat slowly corrodes and splinters while confrontation is an art that, when done correctly, improves and strengthens relationships. Let's wage peace!

It’s Who We Are

Are you having a bad hair day, feeling like God poured you out like milk and curdled you like cheese? I was having one of those tough to breathe days and wanted to remind myself just what my breath was…. that God was my breath. Well I started looking up scripture verses and found some that really inspired and refreshed me. I liked them so much that I layered several translations one upon the other and strung them together and look what fun thing happened.

Job 33:4 "The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life Psalm 139:13 For thou hast possessed my reins: My flesh was made by you; you created my inmost being; You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body; you formed my inward parts; You alone created my inner being; Thou hast covered me in my mother's womb; and my parts joined together in my mother's body; You wove me in my mother's womb; You knitted me together inside my mother. thou hast protected me from my mother's womb; Job 10:11 Clothe me with skin and flesh, And knit me together with bones and sinews? Job 10:12 Thou hast granted me life and favor; You gave me life and showed me kindness, You gave me life and showed me your unfailing love; You have granted me life and steadfast love; You have granted me life and loving kindness; You gave me life and mercy; You have been kind to me, and your grace has been with me; Thy visitation hath preserved my spirit; your providence watched over my spirit; My life was preserved by your care; your care has preserved my spirit; Your watchfulness has preserved my spirit; your care has kept my spirit safe. Psalm 119:73 Your hands made me and fashioned me; give me the sense to follow your commands and understanding, that I may learn Your commandments. Isaiah 44:24 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb, "I, the LORD, am the maker of all things, Stretching out the heavens by Myself And spreading out the earth all alone Psalm 100:3 Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

A pearl to string: My breathing remained difficult throughout the day but my time in the Scriptures was like playing with my Dad. Remember? Playing with your Dad? Didn’t it always make you feel happy? God’s Word fought off the many temptations labored breathing generates: fear, anxiety, panic, whining, complaining, anger, frustration and depression. Replaced them all with joy. So if you ask me what kind of a day I’m having my response would probably be – great! You would never know about the difficulty and fun I had getting to great! I just felt led to share my great with you today. I’m praying that whatever temptations you face God’s Word will be your joy in overcoming them.

You are loved,
Lyndi

The Invisible Woman

The "I Wills"

I will bless thee (Gen. 12:2).

I will not leave thee (Josh. 1:5).

I will heal thee (2 Ki. 20:5).

I will counsel thee (Ps. 32:8).

I will instruct thee (Ps. 32:8).

I will guide thee (Ps. 32:8).

I will deliver thee (Ps. 50:15).

I will help thee (Isa 4 1:10).

I will strengthen thee (Isa. 41:10).

I will uphold thee (Isa 4 1:10).

I will hold thine hand (Isa. 42.6).

I will not forget thee (Isa. 49:15).

I will comfort thee (Isa. 66:13).

I will pardon iniquities (Jer. 31:34).

I will restore health to thee (Jer. 30:17).

I will be your God (Ezek. 36:28).

I will put my Spirit within you (Ezek. 36:27).

I will save you (Ezek. 3 6:29).

I will love you (Jr. 14:21).

I will manifest myself (Jn. 14:21).

I will come again (Jr. 14:3).

I will sup with you (Rev. 3:20).

I will give thee a crown of life (Rev. 2:10).

Don't Come To Church

by Steve Ridgell

“Don’t come to church!” That is not something you will usually hear a
minister say, but sometimes it is true. I recently heard someone
talking about the troubles currently in their life and they mentioned
that maybe going to church would help. I am not sure it would. They are
looking for a “magic bullet” to make life better. That is not the
purpose of church. Attending worship services and being involved in a
church are outcomes of a decision to follow Jesus.

Jesus is the answer to the struggles of life. He is the one that heals,
restores, forgives, and gives meaning to life. He is where hope is
found. He is the way to God. He is the truth. He is life. When you turn
your life and heart to Jesus, then church makes sense. Church is one of
the outcomes of following Jesus. It is a gathering of family members
united by faith in the Son of God. It is where the community of
believers gathers to praise the God who loves them.

To hope going to church will help you is getting the cart before the
horse. Jesus is the first decision you must make. Maybe that is why so
many people misunderstand church. Church is not the answer. It cannot
save you. It is a fellowship, a community, a gathering, a family ... of
those who have been saved by Jesus.

So if you are expecting church to be the answer to your problems, don’t
come. You will be disappointed. But if you are looking for some good
news in your life ... let me tell you about Jesus. He is the answer.
Then, and only then, will church make sense.

So write steve at: steve@hopeforlife.org.
Or join their blog discussion at
www.hopeforlife.org.

Go to Jesus first.

Abracadabra

To me it’s a funky little incantation used by stage magicians and amateurs alike. I can’t seem to find a direct translation. Though I’m finding the word abracadabra dates back to pagan type stuff and medical spirits? My goodness too many Christian things have pagan strings.

Oh freaky fringe!

I’m just going to lay all that confusing stuff aside and go with the Hebrew word “Aberah KeDaber” which means I will create as I speak. That translation leads me on the Lords path which is the direction I intend to proceed. In my Scripture reading this week I camped on (Jeremiah 1:12) “Then said the Lord to me, You have seen well, for I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it”. When did God put that in my Bible? I’ve been reading Jeremiah for years and I don’t recall that phraseology. “watching over My word to perform it”. This Bible reading stuff is amazing. You read along in the same book day after day, year after year…. You’d think it would get old huh? But no, it does not. This happens to me all the time something new and fresh jumps off the page and hugs me. I love the Word of God…. It’s living!
“God is watching over His word to perform it”.
God creates it, God watches over it, God performs it! Now that’s abracadabra!

Are there times when you look back that you wonder how you got through the most difficult circumstances? “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps” (Proverbs 16:9)
Abracadabra “God is watching over His word to perform it”.

How about the times you were ready to quit, but didn't? “So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed. I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done. I spread out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land”. Selah (Psalm 143:4-6)
Abracadabra “God is watching over His word to perform it”.

Have there been days, weeks, or months when you wondered if God was listening only to later realize not only was He listening He was orchestrating events and circumstances for your good? “… my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God”. (1 Corinthians 2:4, 5)
Abracadabra “God is watching over His word to perform it”.

A pearl to string: Who knew? Now you know!
"God watches over His Word to perform it."
All He is waiting for is for you to use the power that is in His word.
Are you faced with a challenge right now?
Your weapon of battle IS the Word of God . . . it has power . . . but only if you use it.

Abracadabra! Every day in God’s Word if you want the power
You are loved,
Lyndi

"So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11)

Caption under March Madness Photo

-- a team that wasn't even supposed to be playing basketball on Saturday night -- gave defending state champion Regis Jesuit a scare that had the Raiders' student section chanting "The Lord's Prayer" during crunch time.

OK, how many times do you read a caption like that? High School basketball, local paper -- town over one hundred thousand. I was pulling for the team that lost but what a caption - just thrilled my heart that students would chant the Lord's Prayer to help their team. Imagine in this day in age that students believe in prayer. Warms my heart.... gotta love thoes kids...congrats to all. Just could not resist sharing this.

Temporary Home

Jesus Through The Bible

In GENESIS, Jesus is the Ram at Abraham's altar
In EXODUS, He's the Passover Lamb
In LEVITICUS, He's the High Priest
In NUMBERS, He's the Cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night
In DEUTERONOMY, He's the City of our Refuge
In JOSHUA, He's the Scarlet Thread out by Rahab's window
In JUDGES, He is our King
In RUTH, He is our Kinsman Redeemer
In 1st and 2nd SAMUEL, He's our Trusted Prophet
In KINGS and CHRONICLES, He's our Reigning King
In EZRA, He is our Faithful Scribe
In NEHEMIAH, He's the Rebuilder of everything that is broken
In ESTHER, He is the Mordecai sitting faithful at the gate
In JOB, He's our Redeemer that ever liveth
In PSALMS, He is my Shepherd
In PROVERBS and ECCLESIASTES, He's our Wisdom
In the SONG OF SOLOMON, He's the Beautiful Bridegroom
In ISAIAH, He's the Suffering Servant
In JEREMIAH and LAMENTATIONS, it is Jesus that is the Weeping Prophet
In EZEKIEL, He's the Wonderful Four-Faced Man
In DANIEL, He is the Fourth Man in the midst of a fiery furnace
In HOSEA, He is my Love that is forever faithful
In JOEL, He baptizes us with the Holy Spirit
In AMOS, He's our Burden Bearer
In OBADIAH, He's our Savior
In JONAH, He is the Great Foreign Missionary
In MICAH, He is the Messenger with beautiful feet
In NAHUM, He is the Avenger
In HABAKKUK, He is the Watchman that is ever praying for revival
In ZEPHANIAH, He is the Lord mighty to save
In HAGGAI, He is the Restorer of our lost heritage
In ZECHARIAH, He is our Fountain
In MALACHI, He is the Son of Righteousness with healing in His wings
In MATTHEW, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God
In MARK, He's the Miracle Worker
In LUKE, He's the Son of Man
In JOHN, He is the door by which everyone of us must enter
In ACTS, He is the Shining Light that appears to Saul on the Damascus road
In ROMANS, He is our Justifier
In 1st CORINTHIANS, He is our Resurrection
In 2nd CORNITHIANS, He is our Sin Bearer
In GALATIANS, He redeems us from the law
In EPHESIANS, He is our Unsearchable Riches
In PHILIPPIANS, He supplies our every need
In COLOSSIANS, He's the Fullness of the Godhead Bodily
In 1st and 2nd THESSALONIANS, He is our Soon Coming King
In 1st and 2nd TIMOTHY, He is the Mediator between God and man
In TITUS, He is our Blessed Hope
In PHILEMON, He is a Friend that sticks closer than a brother
In HEBREWS, He's the Blood of the everlasting covenant
In JAMES, it is the Lord that heals the sick
In 1st and 2nd PETER, He is the Chief Shepherd
In 1st, 2nd, and 3rd JOHN, it is Jesus who has the tenderness of love
In JUDE, He is the Lord coming with 10,000 saints
And in REVELATION, He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords

When Love Sings

Nicole Walters
Singing for Jesus









Someone long ago wrote of sitting by a fire and hearing love songs. The writer imagined the noises which came from the wood as it burned were imprisoned songs, finally brought to freedom by the flames. They reasoned the birds had sung while sitting on the branches of the tree. The wind had pushed its way through, making its own music. The rain had written a melody which sank deep into its roots. A child had played and sang in its shade. All these notes soaked into the wood, hidden away in the trunk. They were hidden away until the flames set them free one evening chilly enough to warrant an open fire.

The body of Christ is like that to me. God has given each one of us gifts to serve in His kingdom. Life can lock a song away until your heart breaks for someone else’s need and you are moved by the Holy Spirit to extraordinary actions as well as serving joyfully in the mundane and everything in between. We are a body made up of parts each valuable and glorious when God directed. Scripture tells me so. The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:12) Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. (Romans 12:4-5)

I thank God for the incredible people who serve in the trenches of life and on the front line. This world we live in is so blessed to have them working for God. They face extraordinary circumstances, persevere through great difficulty and suffer enormous personal loss. Oh yes there is personal joy for them too but they couldn’t do it without God – it’s way too hard and the cost is way too great. I have many friends who serve in the trenches and on the front line – our son Marc is serving in Haiti right now - it’s my awesome privilege to pray for them and encourage them and love them with everything God gave me along with praying for hundreds I don’t even know.

Have you ever seen one of those “trench serving” people sitting at a concert where Nicole Walters is singing? I am a witness to such a beautiful sight. Some years ago while attending a concert at Faith Church in Arvada I was mesmerized as I gazed over at a woman I knew was tired and nearly to the end of spent on hiatus from the mission field. As Nicole’s sassy, passionate angelic voice reached her ears her head leaned back, her eyes slowly closed and tears trickled softly down her cheeks. I watched as this precious woman’s body seemed to sigh with healing relief. My eyes kept wandering over to check on how this woman was doing throughout the concert. By the end of the concert the woman seemed animated, energized and refreshed. Seems like such a little thing….. but

A pearl to string: Nothing is little with God. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Ephesians 4:16) God uses our earth arms and songs to build each other up for glory in His love.

Know your worth to Jesus -
He loves you with His life,
Lyndi

Quilt of Holes

Out of Our Own Keeping

Earlier this week I came across a quote from Laura Ingalls Wilde: “Things and persons appear to us according to the light we throw upon them from our own minds. How unconsciously we judge others by the light that is within ourselves, condemning or approving them by our own conception of right and wrong, honor and dishonor! We show by our judgment just what the light within us is”.

Our own conception of right and wrong…….? Whoa, that brings light to my hindrance. Darn me! I’ve got all this stuff inside me that I think is right or wrong but if it doesn’t line up with God’s Word then….. really …… it’s worthless. It would behoove me to remember I don’t have to believe everything I think!

"Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ give yourself up to Him, [take yourself out of your own keeping and entrust yourself into His keeping] and you will be saved". —Acts 16:31

This is what Paul and Silas told the Philippians jailer who asked them, "What must I do to be saved?" This is what salvation really means—giving ourselves up to God, taking ourselves out of our own keeping, and entrusting ourselves into His keeping. God wants to take care of us. He can do a much better job of that if we will avoid a problem called independence, which is really self-care.

The desire to take care of ourselves is based on fear. Basically, it stems from the idea that if we do it, we can be sure it will be done right. We are afraid of what might happen if we entrust ourselves totally to God and He doesn't "come through" for us. The root problem of independence is trusting ourselves more than we trust God.

String a pearl: We love to have a back-up plan. We may pray and ask God to get involved in our lives, but if He is the least bit slow in responding (at least, to our way of thinking), we are quick to take control back into our own hands. What we fail to realize is, God has a plan for us too—and His plan is much better than ours.

Jesus said: "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12) Oh Lord, please help me take myself out of my own keeping.

Be in Sonshine and remember
You are loved,
Lyndi

ISRAEL, YESHUA IS YOUR MESSIAH!

10 profound minutes that can change your life for eternity
Psalm 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

The word for trust (take refuge) is chasah Strong number H2620. Doing a search of all its occurences shows clearly that is used exclusively for the Lord GOD of Israel, exceptions, Deu32:37, trust in idols, Jud9:15, trust in Abimelech, Isa30:2, trust in Egypt.

If God is asking to put our trust in His Son, it is because he is also God.

Bible verses from the Old Testament proving without any shadow of doubt that Jesus fulfilled all prophecies regarding the suffering of the Messiah by His death on the cross. Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of Israel, He is God incarnated, mighty God.