Death...where is they sting?

Isaiah 25
8HE WILL SWALLOW UP DEATH FOREVER. THE SOVEREIGN LORD WILL WIPE AWAY THE TEARS FROM ALL FACES; HE WILL REMOVE HIS PEOPLE’S DISGRACE FROM ALL THE EARTH. Lord'

Jeremiah  8
18You who are my Comforter [a]in sorrow, my heart is faint within me.

My heart is faint within me. Yesterday I went to visit a friend. We met at church probably 30 years ago. We became friends instantly because we both had small children. She had three boys and one girl. I had three boys. We were both married and stay at home moms. 

We would take the kids to the parks together and do other activities. My husband and I eventually moved an hour away and changed churches, but Teri and I still tried to do some things together with our kids and we definitely talked on the phone frequently.

One day, she called and said her husband, an ordained minister, was divorcing her. We had several evening phone discussions as she worked through this period of her Christian walk.

My husband and I then moved to Texas and Teri and I lost touch for the most part. Thank goodness Facebook came into existence about four years and we were reunited long distance. At least we knew what the other one was doing. She had put herself through school as a para legal and was now working. Her oldest was headed to Bible college. She and her daughter were going to finish their four year degrees together!

Eventually, my sons married and started their families. Well, living 18 hours away from where two of the three boys still loved wasn't working for my husband and I. So, we started searching for jobs back in Indiana. I found one right away and we started the moving process. My husband finally had the chance to start his own business. God was in the whole situation, but that is another story!

Teri saw on Facebook that we were moving back and immediately started a house hunt for us. She even bicycled through her subdivision regularly to see if she could find anything for us and report back to us the information...wouldn't it have been fun to live near each other!

We did find a house only a ten minute drive away from where Teri lived. We were regular shoppers for our grandchildren and sometimes ourselves! Neither she nor I knew other people our age who had children and grandchildren and were Christians, so we were quite the pair! We didn't get to see each other often as we were both busy with work and grandchildren, but we'd call each other randomly to see if we could get together to shop, to watch a movie together, just to talk. 

We finally decided we needed to lose weight and started going to the community center together to "workout!" Things started to unravel quickly as she was called on to babysit her grandchildren at a moment's notice...which she was happy to do! Then she started having pain when we were able to get together to work out.  Christmas season came around and we were too busy to work out. 

The day after Christmas, I received a text from Teri's daughter. She said that Teri had been rushed to the hospital in severe pain. Then we found out Teri had cancer, and they did surgery. She went through chemo. They thought they had it. We didn't get together as much as our schedules just didn't match, but we still tried and succeeded on occasion.

Then she went in for a check up to see how "things" were and they found more cancer. Another surgery and radiation. This time the recovery didn't happen and her intestines revolted by shutting down almost completely. Their was damage from the radiation and she has been in and out of the hospital since. She finally gave up her job six to eight months ago as she can't even eat anymore and the pain is increasing. The pain is so great she can't walk anymore either. Her Mom moved in to take care of her as she needs 24 hour care.

They found out a month ago she has cancer yet again in three different places. They gave her radiation, but can't do surgery. She is in pain. Her children are bringing her grandchildren to see her at home in her hospital bed. She is alive right now because they are feeding her through an IV. I saw her last night and her pain is too great. Her children and her Mom just finished planning her funeral.

I say all of this to say one thing. Teri is a Christian. Although she is suffering much in this life time, she has great hope! She knows that when this life is over, she will be in heaven with the Creator and Savior of this world!!!! What joy to be able to walk and talk with Him unashamed of the mistakes we have made because they are already forgiven through Christ!

I read my devotional today, and it was about death's sting...or the lack of it. Because of Jesus Christ's sacrifice for our sins, and our belief in Him, we are made holy and can go to be with our holy Father in heaven when we die on this earth.

Death has no sting! Death has no victory! Sure my friend is in pain. Everyone who knows her is in great emotional pain and grief already. But victory is around the corner for her as she will enter Heaven's gates soon! Her children are Christians also, so they, in their grief, know this hope also!

I Corinthians 5:15 - below is a commentary on this verse from Matthew Henry. Although it is very old English, it still explains the hope we have despite death!
I Corinthians 15:55

King James 2000 Bible O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory? Commentary Matthew Henry Commentary 15:51-58 All the saints should not die, but all would be changed. In the gospel, many truths, before hidden in mystery, are made known. Death never shall appear in the regions to which our Lord will bear his risen saints. Therefore let us seek the full assurance of faith and hope, that in the midst of pain, and in the prospect of death, we may think calmly on the horrors of the tomb; assured that our bodies will there sleep, and in the mean time our souls will be present with the Redeemer. Sin gives death all its hurtful power. The sting of death is sin; but Christ, by dying, has taken out this sting; he has made atonement for sin, he has obtained remission of it. The strength of sin is the law. None can answer its demands, endure its curse, or do away his own transgressions. Hence terror and anguish. And hence death is terrible to the unbelieving and the impenitent. Death may seize a believer, but it cannot hold him in its power. How many springs of joy to the saints, and of thanksgiving to God, are opened by the death and resurrection, the sufferings and conquests of the Redeemer! In verse 58, we have an exhortation, that believers should be stedfast, firm in the faith of that gospel which the apostle preached, and they received. Also, to be unmovable in their hope and expectation of this great privilege, of being raised incorruptible and immortal. And to abound in the work of the Lord, always doing the Lord's service, and obeying the Lord's commands. May Christ give us faith, and increase our faith, that we may not only be safe, but joyful and triumphant. 1 Corinthians 15:55 Commentaries

Thank you, loving Father in heaven, for Jesus Christ, our only way to heaven. Thank you for loving us so much that you want us with you even though we mess up all the time. Thank you that we are forgiven for ask of our mistakes and sins through Jesus Christ. What hope you have given us! Thank you for Teri's friendship. She has been a better friend to me than I have been to her. Please forgive me for that. Please open the hearts of those who do not know this hope. Let them understand this hope. I pray that you will ensure all my friends and family will be in heaven with me, please, father! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

What is going on in our country today?

I just finished a weekend of fun and celebrating as my son and daughter-in-law threw a big birthday party for my youngest grandson who is turning five this week. We had a great time. It was super exciting to watch our grandchildren play with other children and see how they have grown and matured in their social skills and their love for each other. The parents were exhausted at the end and so were we, but everyone agreed it was a great party. What a beautiful retreat from what is going on in our country today. 

Today we turned the TV on and glanced at Facebook and we were brought back to the tragic reality of the broken world we live in. What is going on?

I read my devotion for today. Here are the scriptures:
Ecclesiastes 3:1-15
1There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
 2a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
 3a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
 4a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
 5a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
9What do workers gain from their toil?
10I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race.
11He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet[a] no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
12I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live.
13That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.
14I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him. 
 15Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account.[b] 

John 16:33
33“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:20
 20Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.

So, we are supposed to have times of rejoicing. We are supposed to have times of sorrow. The world will be happy we are sorrowful sometimes. That sounds like right now, doesn't it? But there is more...in all things, "take heart!" for Jesus has overcome this world and our grief will eventually turn to joy. Amen! Now, the real work begins...What does that mean? How does that apply to us? How in this crazy mixed up world do we take heart, what about our grief, what about our joy?

Today, in our country, we are experiencing, what I safely believe to be a continual increase in the racial divide. Blacks are afraid for their lives; they fear they will be stopped by a policeman and killed. Policemen are afraid for their lives. True the data shows that there are more whites killed by policemen than blacks, but it also shows that more blacks are killed in "routine" stops than whites. There are lots of facts out there...all of which can be skewed to support which ever argument you want to make.

We are also experiencing the Black Lives Matter movement. It was originally intended, I believe, to bring attention to the fear blacks feel towards law enforcement...whether you feel that the fear is justified or not. Unfortunately, it has grown to encourage the killing of police officers just because they are police officers. So, now BLM is countered with All Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter. 

The media, is provoking and stoking the fires of fear and anger. They love a good story and the more anger they can instill, the more stories they will have. You ask, well aren't they just reporting what is happening? Are they? Or are they selecting what they want us to hear/see for their own agenda. If you disagree with me, tell me the good things that are happening in your area that were reported on the news last night! Was the focus upsetting or joyful news? Aren't there lots of good things happening?

So, what is the answer? Where do we go to find the facts? What are we to do?  Our nation is in a downward spiral, and we don't seem to be able to stop it! 

A woman who goes by the name Shontell wrote this on a blog today in response to a lengthy conversation about the current situation in our country-racism in particular:

"My prayer for this new generation is that they won't be so jaded that it hinders them from stepping up and standing firm. I'll pray for your boys, too. No doubt the enemy meant all of this to breed a little more fear. But no thank you, sir. We fear the Lord alone, so get behind me where you belong." - See more at: http://www.shannanmartinwrites.com/2016/07/dear-white-christian-women.html?m=1#sthash.aCwroMUe.dpuf

...and there I found my answer! How easily I forget to "take heart!" How quickly I forget to stay in God's peace. How maddening that I forget that there will be mourning and gladness and life happening all the time even though I may not be in sync with it. How sad that I forget that Jesus Christ has already overcome this world!

Instead, I, and the rest of my country, have let Satan have the upper hand. We have allowed him to create this division. We have allowed him to create anger amongst races. We have allowed him to turn a blind eye to police injustice when unjustly killing someone. We have allowed him to convince people that killing policemen is okay in retaliation. We have allowed Satan to rule the day with revenge from every side! We have become fearful, because we have allowed Satan's lies, trickery, and deceit to reign.

If we will cling to scripture, pray unceasing, all these fears will not be fears. They will still exist, but they will not be a fear for us, as our focus is on Christ! There would be no need for revenge. There would be no desire to kill...anyone for any reason.

We live in a fallen world and Satan is doing His best to create havoc. He us doing a great job in the states right now. We, all Christians, have to remember that Christ has already won this battle and that we need not be afraid. We should seek God's wisdom in everything, pray unceasing, and tell Satan "get thee behind me!"

Someone stopped me and said they have a word from God for me!

Yesterday, I was waiting in the truck for my husband who is a real estate agent. The woman he was showing a condo to came out, saw me, walked around to check out three place outside. My husband came out and we drove over too a second condo she wanted to see. They couldn't get in yet, so she flashed over at me again and came over to the truck...apps e early to say hi!

When she got to the truck, she said she had a word from God for me. I was excited, yet hesitant. She told me God told her to tell me He loved me, that everything would be all right, and something else I can't remember because she was talking pretty fast and my mind, quite frankly, was reeling. We spoke for a little while about our gratitude for God always having a plan and her having the feeling she should come over to talk to me. Then, with most eyes, she prayed a very considerate and compassionate and thoughtful prayer for me. We both said amen and she left to get into her car. She set up another appointment with my husband to try to get in to see the second condo next week. 

I was left to figure out what had just happened. I have not stopped thinking about this.I was so bowled over by her coming up to me that I wanted to try and understand how what she told me fit into what I was currently doing. I can't figure it out. I spent most of my conversation with her thinking in the back of my mind how this might apply to me. What is on the horizon? Is something good our bad going to happen? Is this preparing me for something bad? 

I spent so much time thinking about me that I didn't ask about her at all. I didn't find out anything about Ashley except she had a daughter and a little boy on the way.

Then she prayed for me. I had a nagging feeling I should have prayed palso, but I didn't. I sat and let it all sink in. Then we said our goodbyes. She was happy and a little overwhelmed to be used by God this way. Although I think she was probably used to it. I was in shock too be the recipient of a word from God through someone else...this hasn't happened before.

Since then I have been consumed with worry about what is going to happen. This morning, I think I am realizing that I handled the whole situation incorrectly. 

I considered this moment with Ashley, the young woman, all about me and something God was going to do for me or to help me through. In reality, maybe God had sent this young woman over to pray for me so that I could pray for her...which, sadly, I did not. What if she needed prayer? After all, she was pregnant, working, her husband travels in a Canadian baseball team, and she is looking for a condo.

What if I was supposed to ask about her life to see if I could be an encouragement to her as she was trying to be for me. What if God put us together so I COULD HELP HER? Or so e could help each other

Oh my! I have been perplexed since meeting her, worried, excited, concerned, puzzled, prayed for myself, prayed for people I know who are sick, prayed for people who have cancer, all to try to figure out why God wanted to tell me these things.  I could be all wrong, but after praying for Ashley, I think He wanted me to minister to her! 

My most frequent sin has happened again. I always think everything is about me. Everything is almost always about the other person when God is in control!!!!!

I will hopefully see her next week when my husband shows her another condo. I will pray with her next time for her, not me, and ask about HER instead of being consumed about me!

Father forgive me for thinking everything revolves around me. Thank you for the positive word from Ashley, maybe it means you already knew I would think about myself and not her and that you want to reassure me that everything will be okay...I will get a second chance to do the work you want me to do...talk to Ashlee about what is going on in her life and pray for her! Thank you for your generosity and your bigger plans that I cannot begin to understand. The next time I am perplexed about why someone is telling me what they are telling me, please, Holy Spirit, take over and show me that it is really about ministering to the other person! That you have a plan that includes me, but is for the other person! In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Heaven - what is it going to be like?

I Corinthians 15
35But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” 36How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. 39Not all flesh is the same: People have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. 40There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. 41The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor. 42So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”[a] ; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. 46The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. 47The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. 48As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. 49And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we[b] bear the image of the heavenly man.

I Corinthians 13
8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

From Bibleinfo.com:
"Heaven is a real place where the people of God will live one day. In fact, heaven is where God and the angels live. John 14:1-3 even says that Jesus is in heaven preparing us a place to live. In heaven, those saved by God, will have new bodies without the curse of sin! There will be no one who is blind, deaf or cannot walk in heaven. (Isaiah 35:5-6 and Philippians 3:21) Although Jesus builds houses in heaven the Bible also says that those saved will also build their own houses and inhabit them as well as plant and eat from vineyards. (Isaiah 65:21) Most importantly God will be in heaven. He wants to be your friend. He wants to dwell with you and wipe away all your tears. (Revelation 21:1-4)"

There is quite a bit more about Heaven at that link. I don't know that I agree about the part where we are dead in the grave until Christ returns and raises us. For some reason, I think we go to heaven without our bodies first, then when Christ comes, we are given our new bodies. I could be wrong. Either way, we end up in Heaven with new bodies and with Christ, God, and the Holy Spirit forever! Yes!

I also have been reading Randy Alcorn's book, Heaven. He confirms many of the same things the website above puts forth. There is so much I did not, and still do not know about Heaven. One thing I know for sure, it is going to be a fantastically cool place that we cannot even begin to comprehend until we get there. After all, the God who created everything about us, every minute detail of the universe, also created Heaven. It has got to be fantastic!

Here are quotes from some of his perspectives on Heaven:

"Despite my best attempts to be careful with Scripture, my understanding is far from complete and is without doubt incorrect in some areas. But if the reader diligently investigates the Scripture passages referred to in this summary, he may discover to his surprise (and either to his delight or discomfort) that some of his own notions and assumptions about heaven are in fact not biblical. In the process, he will gain a far greater understanding of this vital subject.

This summary of my understanding of the scriptural teaching on heaven constituted the guidelines around which I exercised my imagination to portray scenes in heaven:

1. Heaven is the dwelling place of God (Deut. 26:15; Matt. 6:9).

2. Heaven is the dwelling place of God’s angels(Luke 2:15; Matt. 28:2; Heb. 12:22).

3. Heaven is the dwelling place of God’s saints from earth who have died and now live there in his presence (Rev. 4-5; Luke 16:22, 25; Heb. 12:23).

4. At death, the human spirit leaves the body (Ec. 12:7) and goes either to heaven or hell (Luke 16:22ff).

5. There is immediate conscious existence after death, both in heaven and hell (Luke 16:22ff.; Luke 23:43; 2 Cor. 5:8; Rev. 6:9-11; Phil. 1:23). There is no “soul sleep” or period of unawareness preceding heaven. (“Fallen asleep” in 1 Thes. 4:13 is a euphemism for death, describing the spirit’s departure from the body, ending our conscious existence on earth.)

6. Heaven is an actual place, to and from which Christ (John 1:32; 6:33; Acts 1:2), angels (Matt. 28:2; Rev. 10:1) and in rare circumstances people, even prior to their deaths, have traveled (2 Kings2:11; 2 Cor. 12:2; Rev. 11:12).

7. Heaven is consistently referred to as “up” in location (Mark 6:41; Luke 9:51). We do not know whether it is a place “in the heavens” (the universe beyond the earth) or entirely outside the space/time continuum. We do know heaven is someplace, and presently that place isn’t earth.

8. Heaven is where Christ came from (John 6:42), where he returned after his resurrection (Acts 1:11), where he now is and from which he will physically return to earth again (Acts 1:11; Rev. 19:1-16).

9. Heaven is described as a city (Heb. 11:16; 12:22;13:14; Rev. 21:12). The normal understanding of a “city” is a place of many residences in near proximity, the inhabitants of which are subject to a common government. “City” may also connote varied and bustling activity. 

10. Heaven contains for believers a permanent inheritance, an unperishing estate specifically reserved for us. (1 Pet. 1:4).

11. Heaven is the Christian’s country of citizenship(Heb. 11:16; Phil. 3:20). Christ is our King. We are his ambassadors, representing his agenda on earth (2 Cor. 5:20). While on our brief stay here, we are aliens, strangers and pilgrims (Heb. 11:3). Ambassadors, aliens and pilgrims identify themselves and plan their lives with a focus on their home country. Should they become too engrossed in the alien country where they temporarily reside, they can easily compromise their allegiances to their true King and true country.

12. God’s people should long for heaven. This pleases our Lord, who has prepared a place there for us (Heb. 11:13-16; 2 Cor. 5:2). We should be ever-motivated by the anticipation of heaven (Phil. 3:14; 2 Tim. 4:8).

13. Heaven and all that it represents should be a central object of our attention in this life. Our hearts or minds are to be continuously set on these “things above” where Christ is in heaven, not on “earthly things” (Col. 3:1-4).

Note: The popular notion of Christians being “so heavenly minded they’re of no earthly good” is a myth. On the contrary, most of us are so earthly minded we are of no heavenly or earthly good. C. S. Lewis said, “It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this one.” God commands us to be heavenly minded, and doing so will give us the perspective and motivation to live on earth as he has commanded us (Heb. 11:26-27).

14. There is a sense in which believers are currently in heaven with Christ (Eph. 2:6; Col. 3:3). Our intimate link with Christ in his redemptive work somehow makes us inseparable from him. As we walk with him and commune with him in this world, this reality makes it sometimes possible to experience a faint foretaste of heaven’s delights and wonders.

43. In heaven, we will serve God (Rev. 7:15). Service implies responsibilities, duties, effort, and creativity to do work well. (Work with lasting accomplishment, unhindered by decay and fatigue, and enhanced by unlimited resources.)

44. In heaven, we will be given rest from our labors on earth (Rev. 14:13). The rest granted us when by Christ on earth (Matt. 11:28-29), paradoxically, is a rest we now must “make every effort to enter” (Heb. 4:11). Heaven’s labor will be refreshing, productive and unthwarted, without futility and frustration. Perhaps it will be like the Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 2:15), before sin brought the curse on the ground, with its thorns (Gen. 3:17-19).

45. In accord with our service for Christ while on earth, we will reign with Him in heaven (2 Tim. 2:12;Rev. 3:21; 22:5). This implies specific delegated responsibilities for those under our leadership (Luke 19:17-19). We judge or rule over the world and we judge and rule over angels (1 Cor. 6:2-3).

46. At the center of the future heaven will be the city of the New Jerusalem.  The exact dimensions of the heavenly city are measured by an angel and reported as a 12,000 stadia (1500 mile) cube (Rev. 22:15-17). This base of over two million square miles would stretch from the west coast to the Mississippi river, and from the borders of Canada to Mexico, covering two thirds the entire land mass of the United States. More astounding is its 1500 mile height. By present standards, that would be 780,000 stories. It is apparently within this vast city that we will have personal dwelling places, which Jesus has prepared for us (John 14:2; Luke 16:9; Rev. 21:2).

Note: While the dimensions and proportions may have symbolic importance (e.g. the Holy of Holies, God’s dwelling place, was a cube), this does not mean the dimensions are not literal. In fact, Rev. 22 goes to great lengths to express these exact dimensions and to emphasize they are in “man’s measurement”–if the city really were these dimensions (and there is no reason it couldn’t be), what more could we expect God to say to convince us of this?

47. Heaven’s New Jerusalem is filled with magnificent beauty, including streets of gold and buildings of pearls, emeralds and precious stones(Rev. 21:19-21).

48. Heaven has light, water, trees and fruit (Rev. 22:1-2).

49. The heavenly city’s gates are always open, and people will travel in and out, some bringing wonderful things into the city (Rev. 21:24-25;22:14). Travel outside the city suggests the city is not the whole of heaven, but merely its center.

50. Heaven contains some animals (including wolves, lambs, and lions), at least in its millennial phase (Isaiah 65:25). Even before the millennium, there are horses in heaven (Rev. 6:2-8; 19:11), enough for the armies of heaven to ride (Rev. 19:11;2 Kings 6:17).

51. In heaven, we’ll eat and drink at a table with Christ and the redeemed saints from earth, communicating and fellowshipping and rejoicing with them (Matt. 8:11; Luke 22:29, 30; Rev. 19:9)."

Thank you, Father, for creating a place for us for eternity. Thank you for sending your Son, so that we can all deserve tho go there even though we are really messed up here on earth. Thank you for providing the Bible, the Holy Spirit, the wisdom of others, to help us learn more and more about you and your plan for all of us. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Jesus conquered sin AND death - what does that mean really?

From shereadstruth.com - Easter 3/27/2016
Jesus Christ, God’s eternal Son, present at creation, came in the flesh to be the mediator between God and man. He lived the life of perfect righteousness that all people have failed to live. He died as a lamb led to the slaughter, offering Himself up as the perfect sacrifice to atone for the sins of the world, once and for all. He rose from the grave defeating death itself (1 Corinthians 15:54). Bearing all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18), He lives as the appointed heir of all things (Hebrews 1:2). Jesus rules over every corner of creation, putting every enemy under His feet, while making alive—by His grace through faith—those who were dead in their sins (Romans 6:11).

I have been learning so much the past month as I studied about Jesus Christ and His death and resurrection.  God has opened my eyes to many new truths and the complexity of His plan. 

Today, as I read my devotion and praised Him during the Easter service,  I realized I had not fully comprehended the meanings of His death AND resurrection.

His death, his body, was for atonement (He took the punishment) for our sins. His resurrection, His blood? Conquered death! I have heard these phrases spoken multiple times, but today they have such a clearer meaning.

(Quoted from shereadstruth.com Easter 2016)
 If Jesus has not risen, those who trust in Him are to be pitied because their hope extends no further than their wishful thinking. Their faith is futile, and they remain in their sins (1 Corinthians 15:16-19). But if Jesus has risen, then His disciples are born into a new hope—because just as death entered the world through one man, Adam, now resurrection has done the same through the incarnate Son of God, who has prevailed over the power of the curse (Romans 5:12-17). The last enemy, death itself, has been destroyed (1 Corinthians 15:26).

Luke 22:19-20
And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me. In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

Doesn't forgiveness of sin and being raised to live eternally in Heaven parallel Jesus last supper with His disciples? 

Bread=body=broken=forgiveness for our sins! Cup=blood/life=raised from dead=so we can also be raised from the dead to spend eternity in heaven!

So, I understood He DIED for my SINS. I know He was RAISED by God and He now lives forever with Him in heaven. I didn't fully comprehend He was raised on the first Easter to ensure all Christians would never die eternally but also go to heaven (be raised from the dead also) to be with God FOREVER! That is perfectly symbolized by the Last Supper. Did you know that?

Athiesm and Agnosticism - what are they? How to respond

In class today, we were studying John 16:5-18. We discussed how the final sin, the reason people will go to hell is not believing in Jesus Christ. The teacher suggested we find RC Sproul's comments on Athiesm and Agnosticism. So, here it is!  Very interesting!

http://www.hopefortheheart.org/pdfs/OLQR-pr-Atheism%20&%20Agnosticism.pdf 

In Bible studies.com:

Everything Designed Has a Designer

The design of the human body demands the existence of a designer.

Have you ever pondered all that’s involved in the simple act of seeing? Scientists tell us that the delicate engineering of the eye's cornea and lens make the most advanced camera seem like a child’s toy by comparison. The tiny rods and cones in the eye change light into electro-chemical impulses through processes the most sophisticated laboratory can’t reproduce. And brain cells transform these electrical impulses into the miracle of perception – something no high-tech computer can come close to doing.

Engineering, chemistry, information processing – all are involved every time we open our eyes. Charles Darwin once stated that the thought of the eye, and how it could possibly be produced by natural selection, made him ill. Here’s why:

The human eye could not have evolved over long periods of time, because it is absolutely useless unless complete. The lens, which focuses light, would be useless without the retina, which senses light. And all the light received would serve no purpose without the nerve fibers which carry signals to the brain.

Vision involves a complete system of organs – all interrelated, all thoroughly designed. That’s the way it is with the whole human body. Lungs and heart, nerves and muscles, all perform incredibly complicated tasks that depend on other incredibly complicated tasks.

No wonder the Psalmist concluded that the human body speaks loud and clear of a wonderful Creator:

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”  —Psalm 139:14. (Unless otherwise noted, all Scriptural texts in the DISCOVER guides are from the New Inter

Depression

Mark 5
21When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. 22Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” 24So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. 30At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” 31“You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” 35While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?” 36Overhearing[a] what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” 37He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Today, in my devotions, I read this passage. It shows how Jesus could take two grossly serious situations, one person sick for decades and another dead, and turn them around. In Acts, it also shows how the apostles were able to do the same thing. All if this was done through faith, either the person doing the healing believing God would heal the other person or the person themselves believing God would heal them. Where does that faith come from?

At the end of the devotional, one of the comments asked for prayer. The person suffered from depression and wanted prayers as she felt she was far from God today (don't we all have that feeling sometimes?). She stated she knew God would see her through, but really needed prayers right then. There were several responses stating they were praying for her right then. Other responses praying that Satan would be bound and she would be released from her depression. Requests that God would help her through this. 

For me though, I noticed that in the midst of her depression she wrote that she knew "God will see me through" this and that she knew she needed prayer. Wow! What faith! I responded and thanked God for her faith and her strength to ask for prayer! Here is a women in the middle of depression, and she KNEW God would see her through it. She KNEW to reach out to others for prayer. She may be depressed, but she has great faith! I think she will be just fine. God has plans for her. But then, God has plans for all of us, doesn't He...even if we can't see it.

So where does her faith come from? Romans 12:3, Ephesians 2:5, 8, 9,16 state that God gives us faith. We may be messed up, depressed, making wrong choices, in the middle of sinning right now, but God gives us faith to know He will see us through! He still loves us. He will not give up on us. He knows we are sinners, but then that is why He sent His Son to die for our sins...So we can be set free from those sins. Since we are free from those sins, we can glorify God for sending His son, for forgiving our sins, for giving us everything we need...including the faith we need everyday. The faith to know we can get through anything, everyday!

Father, we praise you and thank you today for tending to our every need: our sin, our weakness, our need for prayer, our need for faith in you. We thank you for sending your Son to forgive our sins so that we can move ahead today. We thank you that we are seen as holy in your eyes through Jesus Christ. We thank you that you have given us the Holy Spirit to keep us with you, to have faith, to cry out for prayer. Thank you. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Doing God's will not ours.

Acts 5 - just after the apostles were freed from prison by an angel of the Lord and continued preaching about Christ. They were ordered too stop which resulted in the following reply:

29Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!

33When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 34But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” 

...If it is from God, you won't be able to stop them. Or as Romans 8:31 states, if God is for us, who can be against us! You can't argue with that! If the maker of the entire universe is on your side because you are doing His will, well there is no stopping you. That is very empowering, don't you think so?

That doesn't mean there won't be any hardship. These apostles were beaten before they were released in order for the Sanhedrin to save face! Yet they rejoiced after their beatings, because they knew they were doing what God, the master of the universe, wanted them to do. They were beaten for telling people about Christ, and they were fine with that. They didn't ask to be beaten. They didn't want to be beaten for the fun of it (really?). They rejoiced in being beaten because it was in response to their telling everyone about the saving grace of Jesus.

If God is for us...don't forget it has to be for God's will not ours. The apostles were rejoicing after being beaten because the KNEW they were beaten for doing what Jesus told them to do.  How will you know if it God's will and not yours? While doing something, you will be thinking about God/Jesus/Holy Spirit rather than yourself! If it is about how you will look, how you will feel, how you will help someone, then it is about YOU! If you are thinking about how you don't want someone to be condemned to hell and you instead want them to be in heaven someday and during their time on earth to have joy and peace and love, then that is God's will! You are thinking about them and their eternal destiny!

Jesus, please keep me attuned to the Holy Spirit's leading. Don't let me listen to my pride or want of self importance. Keep me focused on you and your plan. In your name I pray. Amen.

Is it true that God won't give us anything that we can't bear?

I Corinthians 10:13 -  No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. wGod is faithful, and xhe will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

I have always believed God will not give me anything that I can't bear, because He will give me a way out of it or through it. It seems pretty simple to me. Then I hear other people talk about how this is a horrible thing to say to people in times of sorrow or pain. So, maybe I am naive? Why wouldn't it make you feel better to know God is going to help you get through things? I was confused!

I think I finally understand why people are upset about I Corinthians 15:13. I think some people believe that this means God won't let them go through anything bad! Other people think it means God will make sure they don't have a bad outcome! Well, if they believe this passage means nothing bad will ever happen to them and they are suffering or sad because of a death or depressed, then, yes, they are going to be mad about someone saying this to them. It will not comfort them. 

However, this passage does NOT mean God will put a protective bubble around you and nothing bad will ever happen!  It means something entirely different and something very hopeful and promising.Here is how John Piper explains it:

From a John Piper broadcast:

http://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/will-god-ever-give-us-more-than-we-can-handle

Whether that statement — “God will never give us more than we can handle” — is biblically correct depends on what we mean by “we” and “handle.”

What does “we” mean? Does “we” mean God takes into account our independent possibilities based on our track record of handling trouble and, thus, measure out that trouble to us so that it doesn’t go beyond what “we” independently by our own resources can handle? Is that what “we” means?

Or does “we” mean what we can handle it if we receive it by faith in divine assistance and that God knows what he himself will give us by grace in enabling us to handle what he gives us — so he is not thinking of we as independent, but “we” as dependent on the grace that comes with the difficulty? Which of those two does this statement ask about?

And “handle.” What does “handle” mean? Does “handle” mean you never collapse under it? Does it mean you never fail in any task? Does it mean you never mess up? Does it mean you never fail to get a B+ on every one of life’s tests? Or does “handle” mean you never fail so that you never recover or repent or restore reconciliation and that you are finally lost because you failed? Which does “handle” mean?

So to answer all of that and give my answer to the question, let’s just look at the key texts that I think he probably has in mind.1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation” — or “test,” it is the same word in Greek — “no test has overtaken you but what is common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted — tested — beyond your ability — or beyond what you are able — but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

When Paul says, “he won’t give what is beyond what you are able,” he means, “not beyond what you are able with God’s help.” We know that because of a couple of other things he says, for example, in2 Corinthians 9:8: “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” In other words, in every test or temptation, the question is, “Will I do what I ought to do?” And Paul says, “There will be grace,” not just, “I am depending on you to use your resources without depending on grace.” “I am giving you grace so there will be grace to do it, not you independent of my powers to help.”

And he said in 1 Corinthians 15:10, “By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.” In other words, if I survive any test or accomplish any work when I am tested, it is grace, decisively grace, not decisively me.

So my answer to the first query, “What does ‘we’ mean in this statement: ‘God will never give us more than “we” can handle’?” is that “we” means we who are helped by sovereign grace, not we independent of the power of God’s help.

And then the question is, “What does ‘handle’ mean? Never stumble? Never fail? Never get a C- or an F on a particular test that God gives?” And my answer is, “No, it doesn’t mean that.” If we had perfect reliance on all that he is for us in Christ, we would pass every test glowingly. But God does not promise that kind of perfect reliance on his omnipotent grace.

Well then, what is being promised when he says that we will always have with every test an escape and when he says that we will have grace for every good work? And I think what is promised is ultimately this: He will never let us so stumble or so fail that we don’t recover and repent and are restored. In other words, he will never let us sin our way into apostasy and damnation. He will enable us to bear the fruits of genuine faith and perseverance to the end.

And here are the texts that make me think that:

• Philippians 1:6, “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Christ.”
• Romans 8:30, “Those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” He is going to keep you.
• Luke 22:31–32, “Simon, Simon,” Jesus says to Peter, “behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat” — get your faith out of you. “But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” I prayed for you. Yes, you are going to deny me tonight, but I am bringing you back. You are going to get an F on this test tonight and I am going to make you pass your life test.
• 1 Peter 1:5, “By God’s power we are being guarded through faith for our salvation.” God’s power is guarding me. He won’t let me fail in any test utterly.
• 1 Corinthians 1:8, “He will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of Christ.”

So, here’s my conclusion: God will never give us more than we can handle. Is that biblically correct? Yes, if we mean God will never give his people trials in which he will not sustain them and bring them through to everlasting glory. We will be enabled to do all we must do to get there.

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John Piper (@JohnPiper) is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. For 33 years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is author ofmore than 50 books, including A Peculiar Glory.

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