He is risen, nothing to fear

The angel spoke to the women: “There is nothing to fear here. I know you're looking for Jesus, the One they nailed to the cross. He is not here. He was raised, just as he said …."  Matthew 28:5-6

This Easter Sunday I am humbled with the newness that the Risen Christ brings to our lives. Being reminded of how His death conquered all that drags us down and truly brings me back to the roots of our faith and our freedom. The daily routines, issues, challenges, and habits of our lives can easily distract and pull us away from the life changing truth that is ours on a daily basis.

With renewed commitment today I want to share with you the words of Hebrews 12: 1-2

”Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus.” 

1 Peter 1:13 shows us exactly how we can do this in our lives today and every day:

· Prepare your mind. Keep scripture fresh in your thoughts.

· Be self-controlled. Pay attention to where your focus lies.

· Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Let’s receive the grace offered to us on a daily basis, just for today, knowing that the trials of life are not the enemy. Rather the enemy of our soul tempts us to make the choice of becoming lost in the trail and fail to grasp the grace held out to us daily to sustain us through the trial.

So let’s run… with the grace given to us for today, and trust God with the tomorrows of our lives. His grace will meet us when we get to tomorrow.

Lord, Thank you that Christ is risen! Please help me today to walk in the power and grace of the risen Christ. Please let me always seek Your will and not be stifled by my own, Amen.

Jesus Sets You Free Forever by Tom Holladay

“You’ve no idea how much I have looked forward to eating this Passover meal with you before I enter my time of suffering. It’s the last one I’ll eat until we all eat it together in the kingdom of God.” Taking the cup, he blessed it, then said, “Take this and pass it among you. As for me, I’ll not drink  wine again until the kingdom of God arrives.”  Luke 22:15-18 (Msg) "The picture that some people have of heaven, that it is a boring place, but there will be parties in hell, that's the exact opposite of the real picture." This cup is full with promise because one day you and I are going to drink together with Jesus in the kingdom of God – in eternity, in heaven. One day there will be what is called the great wedding supper of the Lamb. That's quite a picture, isn't it? It's really a picture of Jesus Christ having a party with us for all of eternity; that we get to be with him and celebrate with Him for all eternity. So even that night before his death, Jesus says, “There is still promise.” There is the promise of how he sets us free. He sets us free from ourselves, he sets us free from tears and fears, and he sets us free from our sin and our guilt. And this fourth cup is a reminder that Jesus sets us free forever. This isn't a temporary freedom; it is forever. Jesus says, “One day we're going to celebrate together forever.” The picture that some people have of heaven, that it is a boring place, but there will be parties in hell, that's the exact opposite of the real picture.  That's one of the greatest lies of Satan because Hell is the boring place. Hell is a place of loneliness for all eternity. Heaven is a place of connection with God for all eternity and it is a celebration connection. We will be celebrating in ways that you and I cannot even imagine. And on the night before he died, Jesus, along with his disciples, looked forward to this celebration. Jesus says even today, “I'm going to set you free forever.”

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Trust in the Lord with all your heart...

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” Proverbs 3:5-6

How comfortable are you with uncertainty? Most of us agonize over decisions because we are afraid of making a mistake, but God doesn't promise to give us absolute certainty. He invites us to know and trust Him in the midst of uncertainty. 
That's what faith is all about! 
If you constantly worry about people, places, and things, surrender your fears to God. Instead of being determined to figure out what God wants you to do, focus instead on who He is.
As human beings we have finite minds and we do not always understand the eternal purposes behind events. Faith is trusting that our story will fit perfectly into His story.
Trust God's character in the midst of uncertainty and embrace the wisdom and goodness of God.
“Faith without works is dead.” Big Book pg 88 
 “…let me see your faith without your works, and I will make my faith clear to you by my works.” James 2:18 Have a blessed day y’all!  

First Five People Forgiveness Plan

“Resentment is the 'number one' offender. It destroys us more than anything else. From it stem all forms of spiritual disease, for we have been not only mentally and physically ill, we have been spiritually sick. When the spiritual malady is overcome, we straighten out mentally and physically.” Big Book pg 64

Sometimes forgiveness seems impossible and we become stuck in the quicksand of our own resentment. When everything else fails, we can try the "First Five People Forgiveness Plan."

Come on, give this a try! Each morning, make a decision to forgive the first five people you come in contact with who make you feel slighted or mad. Just forgive all five people without analyzing or deciding if they deserve to be forgiven. Immediately forgive each one of them without exception.

This simple plan can work wonders for those of us who tend to hold on to resentments and anger. Letting go of anger and resentment lets us feel our loving side. In learning to forgive others we can begin learning about how to forgive ourselves, too. Please also remember that you also deserve forgiveness.

 “And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespass” Mark 11:25 

Spring Clean Your Spirit

Spring is the time when many people deep clean their homes, unload unwanted junk, pull out the lawn furniture and spruce up the landscaping. It's also a great time to do a spring-cleaning of our spirit, especially pulling the weeds of unforgiveness and resentment. We continue to beat ourselves up for past mistakes, living as a prisoner to fear and old outdated thoughts.

I'm often amazed at the kind of garbage we humans choose to willingly drag around with us in the form of  painful memories, resentments, fears, and other types of mental and spiritual debris from the past that WE REFUSE to release. WE REFUSE to let go of the slights and unfairness of a situation with our families, friends, at work, church, or some other group we're a part of.  Think about it friends;

WE CHOOSE to hold onto these thoughts and feelings, WE REFUSE to let them go!

The costs of our unwillingness to let go are huge. On one level what we focus on tends to expand. So if we have something from the past that we have refused to let go of, we tend to recreate similar experiences for ourselves under the guise of “comfortable pain.”  We begin to focus on it intently and it dominates our thoughts, behaviors, and actions. This brings more misery upon ourselves. We stunt our spiritual growth and healing does not happen.

On a more rational level, why let someone or something from our past (whoever / whatever it is) continue to hurt us and potentially rob us of an extraordinary present and future? Remember, that which we hold onto, whether it be a hurt, resentment, fear, unforgiveness, and or pain is actually holding onto us...keeping us stuck in a never ending cycle of pain and misunderstanding. This thing that we are choosing to hold onto blocks the sunlight of the Spirit from reaching us.  The weeds of fear and negativity continue to grow and influence out heart and our thoughts. There have been studies—enough to fill volumes—on the health risks of unforgiveness: ulcers, heart problems, alcoholism, (your vice of choice here-ism), eating disorders and more...almost any physical ailment has the potential of being rooted in an unforgiving spirit. Dr. Paul said it best on page 449! “Acceptance is the answer to all my problems today.”

I would like to encourage you to do a thorough inventory of your spirit. Much like when we go through our closets at the beginning of a new season, weed out that which no longer fits. I would be glad to help! Please let me know!

Closing with one of my heroes! Dr. Paul

“And acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing or situation -- some fact of my life -- unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment. Nothing, absolutely nothing happens in God's world by mistake. Until I could accept my alcoholism, I could not stay sober; unless I accept life completely on life's terms, I cannot be happy. I need to concentrate not so much on what needs to be changed in the world as on what needs to be changed in me and in my attitudes.” Big Book pg 449 or 417