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EASTER ~ A NEW DAY

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FRANKLY SPEAKING,

30 When JESUS had tasted it, HE said, “IT IS FINISHED!”

Then HE bowed HIS head and gave up HIS SPIRIT. ~ John 19:30 NLT

EASTER ~ A NEW DAY! ~ Why is EASTER such a big deal to followers of JESUS CHRIST? No doubt some of you will dismiss the question, but think about all the people who have no idea why our sacred holiday is such a big deal. There are specific reasons for which we cannot merely settle for a bunny, flowers, and a feel-good holiday. We believe in the cross & the empty tomb!

For the Christian, EASTER is the proof of our faith because, without the resurrection, JESUS could not be the ONLY BEGOTTEN SON of GOD. However, the truth of this event goes so much deeper. Our great hope comes from the words, “HE IS RISEN JUST AS HE SAID!” EASTER morning gives us confidence and makes us seek JESUS to guide us daily. C. S. Lewis said it so well:

“I believe in CHRIST, like I believe in the sun —

not because I can see it, but by it I can see everything else.”

We each fall so far short of earning heaven every day.  Our sin divorces us from GOD and HIS love. Nevertheless, the BIBLE says,

“When we were utterly helpless, CHRIST came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But GOD showed HIS great love for us by sending CHRIST to die for us while we were still sinners.”              

(Romans 5:6-8 NLT)

This is why EASTER is so important to us! Now, the choice is yours:

“The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of GOD.”

(I Corinthians 1:18 NLT)

Have you started A NEW DAY by giving your life to GOD and be saved? 😊

Living in THE SHADOW of the CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST

Pastor Wes

I Peter 3:15

FEAR NOT!

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FRANKLY SPEAKING,

16 “Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” 17 Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes and let him see!” THE LORD opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.

II Kings 6:16-17 NLT

FEAR NOT! ~ II Kings 6:8-23 ~ Does it bother you? Inflation is on the rise more quickly than we have seen in decades. I find myself sounding more and more like my parents… “I remember when a gallon of milk only cost…” We recently considered buying a new car until we grasped the truth that we would have to take on another house payment for the cost of a car. Suddenly, our older cars looked so much better. 😊

Hurricane season has taken a toll on many parts of the world this year. Wars and strife are in the news every day. Concerns about our borders, drug wars, school shootings, and so much more are constantly reported. Violence is on the rise. People seem more and more angry as time goes by. For some, it seems everywhere we look we see trouble on every side. Over the years, it seems little has changed. These truths are exactly what Elisha’s servant saw in his day until his eyes were opened:

15 When the servant of THE MAN OF GOD got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. “Oh, sir, what will we do now?” the young man cried to Elisha. ~ II Kings 6:15 NLT

When looking at our troubles, we forget that there is much more happening than we can possibly see with just our eyes. In the opening verse above, Elisha begins speaking by telling his servant: “FEAR NOT!” or “Don’t be afraid!”  Elisha reminds his servant that there are more on our side than theirs. Did you know this is still true today? You are not alone! The GOD WHO created you has not abandoned you to your troubles. HE is watching over you, especially on the days you don’t see HIM. ~ JESUS wins! ~FEAR NOT!

Living in THE SHADOW of the CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST

Pastor Wes

I Peter 3:15

PS~ The more you miss church, the less you miss church. 😊 (Thanks Mikey)

16 “Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!”

LIFE IN CRISIS!

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FRANKLY SPEAKING,

44 And when they gave it to the people, there was plenty for all and some left over, JUST AS THE LORD HAD PROMISED.                                     II Kings 4:44 NLT

You Matter to GOD! {Life in Crisis!} ~ I find myself reflecting on two differing philosophies of life this week. One says, “life is a dream.” In other words, everything is wonderful, and there are never any real worries or concerns. The other is this, “life is just one crisis after the other.” Of course, this means that everything is bad, and the sky is falling. You may see it as the glass half-full or half-empty. Although, some might say, “the glass is broken!” If that’s you, then you have my heart and my prayers. I feel this way because some people seem like they just can’t catch a break. I know people, through no fault of their own, who just seem to have one life shattering event after another. In your case, I agree: “Life is hard!”

If you’re in a pit, and you can’t see the top, look up! The passage above is written during a famine. There was little or no food to eat. The first group tries to fix what might be their last meal only to find that the food is poisoned. The second group does not have nearly enough food for one hundred people with no way to get more food. So, what happens? Does someone decide, “Well, life is short, and we’re just going to die anyway!” NO! They are wise enough to seek the ONE who made the earth and all the food contained therein. HE PROVIDES! ~ HE always has a plan, and it’s a great one (especially given that we can’t see all of it, yet). 😊

Often the OLD TESTAMENT clearly points to JESUS in the NEW TESTAMENT in such a way that none of us should miss it. This is one of those times. Elisha the prophet prays for GOD to provide/multiply loaves of bread so that all the people can be fed. Sound familiar? It should! JESUS does the same thing several times in the NEW TESTAMENT. In fact, on one occasion, HE even states the reason for the allusion to the bread and the miracles so often in HIS ministry. (Matthew 16:11-12)

11 Why can’t you understand that I’m not talking about bread? So again I say, ‘Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.’”

12 Then at last they understood that HE wasn’t speaking about the yeast in bread, but about the deceptive teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Please remember, THE REAL BATTLE is not the crisis you’re in. THE REAL BATTLE is about your attention, your passion, your heart, your faith, and your very soul! “Cry Out to JESUS” if you “Need a Miracle.” Tell your heart to believe again! 😊

Living in THE SHADOW of the CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST

Pastor Wes

I Peter 3:15

Please remember, THE REAL BATTLE is not the crisis you’re in. THE REAL BATTLE is about your attention, your passion, your heart, your faith, and your very soul!

HELPING HURRICANE IAN VICTIMS

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FRANKLY SPEAKING,

1 One day the widow of a member of the group of prophets came to Elisha and cried out, “My husband who served you is dead, and you know how he feared THE LORD. But now a creditor has come, threatening to take my two sons as slaves.”                                                                                                          II Kings 4:1

You Matter to GOD! {A Poor Woman!} ~ This week, we watched with heavy hearts as our friends endured loss and pain during Hurricane Ian. The aftermath has proven to be devastating. God reminds us to help those in need both purposefully and as an ongoing part of our lives.

12 Then HE turned to HIS host. “When you put on a luncheon or a banquet,” HE said, “don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will invite you back, and that will be your only reward. 13 Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14 Then at the resurrection of the righteous, GOD will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.” ~ Luke 14:12-14 NLT

However, we live in a time of untrustworthiness and potential charlatans seeking to take money without providing any help to those who are hurting. So, what can we do? Of course, a great need is prayer ~ always! However, Samaritan’s Purse provides an honest and dependable way to help:

HELP VICTIMS OF HURRICANE IAN ~ https://samaritanspurse.org/our-ministry/hurricane-ian/?utm_source=Ggl&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=m_YGHI-B22V&utm_content=USDR&gclid=CjwKCAjw7eSZBhB8EiwA60kCW5ZHQN0p3-0oEEG-XefM1jACQXR2p24BsFnfFT6n5KhBxuf9NSNbgRoCV10QAvD_BwE

1 In Caesarea there lived a Roman army officer named Cornelius, who was a captain of the Italian Regiment. 2 He was a devout, GOD-FEARING man, as was everyone in his household. He gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to GOD.                                        ~ Acts 10:1-2

Living in THE SHADOW of the CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST

Pastor Wes

I Peter 3:15

Please go to http://www.samaritan’spurse.org to give and help victims of Hurricane IAN. 🙂

True North!

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FRANKLY SPEAKING,

In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.

~ Judges 21:25

THE BOOK OF JUDGES! ~ FAILURE! Have you ever used a COMPASS CORRECTLY? In the northern hemisphere the needle of a working compass will always point north. If you are lost or confused on your journey, then a COMPASS will lead you in the right direction to get you where you need to go. You simply need to know where you are and where you need to go.

It may seem too easy. Of course, it should be. Before the nation of Israel had a king, GOD sent JUDGES or DELIVERERS to Israel to RESCUE the nation from the oppression and suffering they continually found themselves in because they failed to listen to GOD. It was a vicious cycle of disobedience, bondage, misery, liberation, and compromises. It is painful to watch as we read about them.

Do you remember, Deborah, Gideon, and Samson? Each of these BIBLE characters were renown throughout our Sunday school classes in years past. Each tale is filled with GOD’S rescue plan for the nation during the JUDGE’S reign. However, each shows a horrible weakness in the lives of those GOD called to be JUDGE. Barak’s failure leads to Deborah’s Song.  Gideon’s Fear leads to GOD’S great victory. Samson’s pride leads to Israel’s fall. ☹

Despair naturally follows disobedience. It’s so much easier to follow the LORD. It makes us think, “Why didn’t they just do better?” “Why didn’t they just honor GOD and follow HIS rules?” Every day, I find myself asking as I watch people struggling to hold it together and look up: “Why don’t they just honor GOD and follow HIS rules?” “What’s wrong with them?”

Then, in my quiet time with GOD after days of busyness it hits me: “Why don’t I just honor GOD and follow HIS rules?” “Why don’t I meet with GOD more often and pray and read HIS WORD?” Henry Blackaby tells us that when GOD speaks to us, HE is inviting us to join HIM. Then, we must adjust our lives to follow HIS PLAN. Remember, your BIBLE is your COMPASS! 😊

Living in the Shadow of the Cross

Blessings in CHRIST

Pastor Wes

I Peter 3:15

A journey of EXPERIENCING GOD by Henry Blackaby & Claude King