EASTER SUNDAY RAMNIFICATIONS

As we approach Easter Sunday, non believers probably wonder what is all the fuss about

After all wasn't Jesus only a mortal man that was crucified for His different stand against conventional thinking of the Pharisees and their hardened hearts? He brought forth a new way to worship God. He even made new laws of the faith. In the eyes of the Pharisees, this was heresy and it meant death to any one that differed from their legalistic views. The only way to end this rebellion was to bring Jesus to trial and insure that it would end His rebellious concept of faith. And to top it off, they even enlisted the help of Pilate( a Roman Governor) of Jerusalem at the time who reluctantly went along with their plan. After all no one can come back from the dead as the Pharisees thought.

However, The Pharisees unwittingly fulfilled what was in the prophesies form the Prophets in the old testament.. Had they knew more about the old testament prophesies, they might have taken a different view of who Jesus really was but they were blind and could not see because of hardened hearts and jealousy.

Jesus ( the Son of God) died that Friday on the cross not because of the Pharisees but to forgive us of our sins as the ultimate sacrifice knowing full well that he would rise again and be at the side of God as our intercessor. The curtain in the temple was ripped apart, there was a rumbling of the earth,The angels in heaven were silent, and God spoke not. Jesus was laid to rest in a borrowed tomb and the boulder was rolled against the opening with Roman soldiers standing guard.

That fateful morning His followers came to the tomb to cleanse Jesus' body with spices but the tomb was open and the guards were gone. Jesus' body was also missing from the tomb. At the tomb stood two men in shining garments and asked the followers why seek the living among the dead? He is not here but has risen. Remember what He said while in Galilee. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of Jesus was also among the followers. They rushed to tell the apostles of what they had witnessed.

Jesus had indeed risen from the grave and lived again. In fact Jesus appeared to the disciples and His followers numerous times as well as bestowing the Holy Spirit on them to start their Christian ministry as witnesses not only to His Ascension but to His words of truth.

So lets look at the ramifications of this event. With the exception of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead after 3 days, I don't recall of any one in this day and time with our high tech science being able to do that super natural type of event. Yes this event was super natural, super powerful, God inspired, and hard for many to comprehend even to this day. Yet there were witnesses to this event. People that were commissioned by Jesus in person after his death on the cross to go forth to spread the gospel to the multitudes.How greater is it to have faith and believe in this event and with what was promised for the future.

That one action with Jesus rising from the grave and lived again set forth a movement that encircled the globe from a humble beginning to become what is called Christianity today so that ones seeking God and His loving grace can find it through Jesus Christ.

In Scriptures, there are 1000 prophesies. Over 600 have already been filled and we are heading into the times that more will be filled. Can you take heart that His words are truth and the way to everlasting life in Heaven as a follower of Jesus Christ?

I pray that all can take a moment to reflect on what happened in those times that changed the world and our future. Praise God and Happy Easter.

I AM SUCH A PATSY FOR THE NEEDY

Why me? During my wanderings this evening, I was urged to pull into the Walmart shopping center and noticed a lady in her 40s looking rather weak and devastated holding the typical sign that says "Please help me. I am homeless and need food money". Any thing will help.

Then I heard a voice that said to pull over and park. The wife looked at me rather puzzled but she also spotted the lady. We watched her for a minute or two then the wife said we need to help her. I agreed. I got out of my car and walked up to her and startled her. The wife was behind me and the wife said the Lord will take care of you. Don't be afraid. Then the voice ( God) said to me to give her ten times what she has in her pocket. I asked her if she was getting much help and she replied not much and she said she had only $4.00 tightly clutching it and showing the money to me. That wasn't enough to put gas in her car and pointed over to an old Chevy Cavalier that had seen better days.

I then said that I am sure the Lord told me to give you ten times what you have in money now. She looked at me in amazement as I pulled out the money and put it in her hands. With this offer she began to fall to her knees crying and thanked me but I said to thank God as he is looking out for you and loves you. We normally do not pay attention to people standing on street corners begging for money but you were different. The Lord intervened for you. She said through her tears thank God my prayers were answered. She went on to say that she was praying for the amount I gave her so she could get gas for the car and food for a few days.

We found out she has been living out of her car since she lost her apartment last month and this was going to allow her to get gas and buy food as she hasn't eaten the last two days. We also gave her a card for a local church that has a food pantry and may be able to find shelter for her too. As we were walking away she asked how can she repay us which was a surprise? I said you just did. Keep the faith in God and go the that church pantry. They can help physically and spiritually too. As we drove a way the disparity in her face appeared to be fading as she waved at us . We prayed that she can get help and find solace

This is a sample of how much of a push over I am for those that truly appear to be needy. My heart goes out to them. I only wished I could do more for them, but my finances are strapped just like every one else but if the Lord say give, I follow His guidance.

Why is it that we are the richest nation on earth and our own people are on the streets begging for hand outs due to hardships. Our own government dishes out billions of dollars each year in hand outs to other countries. Why not take care of our own first? Why aren't the churches reaching out to those that are like this lady that has an honest hardship instead of waiting for them to come in for help. To be effective in this type of ministry, I would imagine we need to wander out side of the church to see where they are and show our love for the down trodden and help them back up onto their feet.

Yep. I am a patsy for those that are less fortunate. My heart goes out to them.