Make Me Strong

I belong to a gym that has a pool where I do aqua fitness classes five days a week. One year I worked with a trainer on the gym equipment. I've done yoga classes also but I've never lifted weights. We do work with water weights during aqua fitness. That has helped me stay strong.

Doing some sort of exercise is good for the body. It is good to get your heart rate up and feel strong. I'm sure if tested I would not be very strong. 

"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong," (2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV).

Sometimes I feel especially weak, physically or mentally. That's when I turn to Jesus with open arms. He is my strength for whatever situation I'm in. What a confidence He gives me! He is at my side and makes me strong. Thank you, God, for loving us enough to give us Your strength when we need it most.

Keep Going

It is track season. So that means cold evenings in the bleachers. It amazes me how they can run in tanks and shorts when it is so cold. Our granddaughter runs distance races. So sometimes that means a race early in the meet and one late in the meet.

The team is good about spreading out around the inside of the track and cheering on the long distance runners. They are on the track so long that it can get lonely out there. They need encouragement to keep going and giving it their best.

It is that way for Christians also. Sometimes we feel discouraged or we fail to pick up our Bibles to find scriptures to boost our energy and our spirits.

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching," (Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV).

Lord, be with us today and make us aware of Your presence. Help us be strong in our walk with You as we are encouraged to keep going on our path with You. Amen.

 

Sunday School

Every Sunday morning I went to church with my family. Along with church services there was Sunday school. Volunteers would teach groups divided by age. There were partitions that divided the church basement into classrooms. And tables and chairs were size appropriate in each class.

Teachers would share Bible stories using a variety of methods including reading, felt pictures, songs and acting. The songs often had actions to go with the words making the music memorable. There were crafts to go with the story that children would work on and take home. Sometimes there were printed flyers that shared the story again that children would take home. The repetition of the Bible story helped the children remember what they had studied.

I had wonderful teachers for every class I moved through. They taught from their hearts and were loving and kind to all the children, even the ornery ones. 

"Though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil," (Hebrews 5:12-14 NIV).

April Surprises

Yesterday, it snowed all afternoon. There was one point when the ground was covered with snow as the big snow flakes were falling faster than they could melt. Eventually the warm ground won the battle. It is not surprising that there was snow in April.

I remember a big snowstorm that hit in early April when I was a teen. The snow filled our lane fence top to fence top. It was no match for dad's tractor and blade. Dad finally ended up calling a local contractor who had a bulldozer. That machine pushed the snow out of the way and made huge mounds in our barnyard.

April snow is never welcome but it usually doesn't last very long. No matter what the weather, the Lord is in control.

"Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them-- the Lord, who remains faithful forever," (Psalm 146:5-6 NIV).

May your Monday be blessed by April surprises of the good kind. Thank you, God, for the unexpected moments of our days. Amen.

The Joys of Spring

Yesterday was the first hot windy day we have had this spring. It brought everyone outside to enjoy the warmth. The neighborhood children were all outside in our cul-de-sac. There were bikers, kids on gliders and roller blades, all racing each other down the street. There were moms and dads with strollers and others walking their dogs. 

The warm day reminded me of being a child on the farm many years ago. I had a bike that I rode up and down the long driveway that led to our house. I loved the cool breeze that my bike's speed would make. Even on a hot day, it was cool riding my bike. Our dog would run along until he got hot and tired.

We've been waiting for spring to arrive and we hope that no more winter weather surprises us. Though it is too early to plant seeds, folks are cleaning off flower beds and gardens in preparation. We're looking for buds and leaves coming forth - signs of new life.

"He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy," (Acts 14:17 NIV).

Let us enjoy the summer temperatures again today and prepare ourselves for the real spring temperatures that return at the end of the week. Thank you, God for the changing weather of Iowa.

Hallelujah! Christ is Risen!

"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. "        (1 Corinthians 15:3-8 NIV).

Jesus is alive! Yesterday we celebrated Resurrection Sunday. Jesus broke free of His death wrap and returned to life. Paul explains above that many people saw Jesus after His resurrection. They told others because they could not keep it inside! Good news is made to be shared with others and that is just what the people did!

How wonderful that Jesus rose from the dead after three days! It was a miracle! Only God could make this happen. He did just what He said He would do. We just didn't understand what He was saying.

Rejoice! Jesus is alive! He lives for us. He set us free of our sins by dying on the Cross. Hallelujah! Amen.

Three Times

As the end of the week arrives, Jesus predicts his death to the disciples for the third time. 

"Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, "We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!"" (Matthew 20:17-19 NIV)

Three times. Still the disciples didn't understand what Jesus was saying. It had come to the time when Jesus asked the disciples to prepare the Passover meal so they could share this last supper together. Jesus lifted the bread and broke it, gave thanks, and said, "Take and eat; this is my body." (Matthew 26:26 NIV) Then he took the cup and said, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins," (Matthew 26:28 NIV).

Jesus went to the garden called Gethsemane to pray. The disciples followed and were instructed to keep watch but all they could do was sleep. Soon Jesus' betrayer arrived with a large crowd of people to seize Jesus and arrest him.

Today is the day when our communion services were established. We can always remember this Last Supper each time we partake of communion. Let our minds focus on this night of togetherness and betrayal by Judas. Would we have understood the significance of each action any better than the disciples? I doubt it. But today we can remember it all and give thanks to God.

Lord, focus our thoughts on You today and all that you gave for us. Amen.

Walk Through the Darkness

This week is Holy Week for this is when our Lord suffered through the highs of Palm Sunday to the blessing of communion with His closest friends, the disciples; to the lows of being arrested, beaten, and given His own cross to carry, then nailed to the cross, to die for our sins. It is a week of darkness. A week of sadness and bleakness. It seems like all hope is lost.

We know that next Sunday brings rejoicing and the Resurrection, but the early believers didn't understand that this would happen. We aren't there yet. We must walk through the darkness to see the glory of the Lord.

"Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:4-6 NIV).

This week is a time to reflect on all that Jesus has done for us, to consider the darkness of humankind before Jesus, and to hope for the light that is coming after three days.

Lord, we come in sorrow as we remember all that you endured. We remember what you promised the disciples as we work our way through the painful week of suffering. Be with us, O God, as we remember the events of this Holy Week, preparing for the greatest day of all. Amen.