Saturday

Saturday. I imagine it was the most difficult day for the disciples. Friday, even as Jesus was hanging on the cross there was a morsel of hope. I imagine the disciples held there breath like we do at end of a climatic movie. The building explodes. Fire and smoke are the backdrop. You think, no one could have survived that explosion. But then epic music is queued and from the...

Walking Through the Fire

My students were complaining about a decision I made. They said it was “unfair.” And because I am such a compassionate and loving teacher, my response was, “Life is unfair and then you die.” They were not exactly happy with my response. But the truth of the matter is, “Life is unfair.” Sometimes, spouses cheat, financial devastation occur, children get sick, natural disasters destroy, bosses fire, lives are lost. Sometimes...

When You Want To Give Up

Elijah prayed to die. Can you imagine being so frustrated with life, that you welcome death? But reading Elijah’s story may bring some insight. He was a prophet under a corrupt king. He stood alone in opposing this king. He called for a drought and the land was without rain for three years. The king put a bounty on his head. Elijah stood for what was right. Alone. Isolated. Finally,...

The Master Repurposer

With the popularity of Home Improvement shows and websites like Pinterest, Repurpose has become a popular term in our society. Repurpose – take something that is old, outdated, and unwanted and give it a make over and a new purpose. I was thinking this morning how God is the Master “Repurposer”. He can takes things that were designed to harm us, belittle us, break us and uses them to benefit,...

Let God Finish His Sentence

Mary and Martha were confused, distraught, grief-stricken. They could not understand why the One whom they loved, the One with whom they had entertained in their home, the One who had opened blind eyes, caused the lame to walk, and healed countless would not come when their brother was sick. As their brother became worse, they must have remembered how he healed Peter’s mother in law and thought “He will...

The Power of the Cross

Yesterday, the Holy Spirit showed me an empty interrogation room to represent Easter. His resurrection not only atoned for my sin, it removed all accusations, all guilt, all shame, all condemnation. He rose with all power and all authority. He made a spectacle of the enemy and sat down at the right hand of God with every evil, every principality under his feet. But then he conjoined Himself to us...

Don’t Cry

This had to be the worse day of her life. She walked slowly through the streets of Nain, leading the funeral procession. Her son was gone. No words could express her sorrow. No grand gesture could alleviate her pain. Her heartache was evident. Her tears real. Slowly, painfully, sorrowfully she walked. Each step ached. Each breath reminded her of his death. But Suddenly. Out of nowhere, He appeared. His eyes...

Resurrection

Two days Jesus waited. Now, this is the only time, when someone asked Jesus to come and heal a loved one, He waited. Even when Jarius, a religious leader, asked him to come heal his daughter, He immediately turned to accommodate. But when His home away from home family, His friends He loved, call for Him he waited two days. He waited until his friend died before He journeyed to...