jesus

Aww…some Monday’s Music Moves Me

Aww…some Monday

Last week we traveled about three hours north of home to visit my wife’s brother and family. It turned out that all three of her siblings were in town and we had a long visit. Time, distance, schedules, age, and health prevent us from seeing each other as often as we should. Aging teaches us life is short and time with family grows more precious with each passing year. During our visit we also got to see our grand-nieces play softball.

The trip to the athletic complex brought back memories of chasing our grand kids all over Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Kansas when they were playing soccer, baseball, and competing in dance competitions. I managed to capture a couple of images for the parents.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

This week the theme at 4M is Whatever Music Moves You. I am moved by a variety of music, from 60’s pop/rock, 90’s country, blues, Southern gospel, and contemporary Christian. In light of recent international events, I believe it is time to turn our eyes toward heaven and seek the will, mercy and grace of the Creator. Scripture tells us these things are going to happen in preparation for the return of Christ. Whether He returns tomorrow or a thousand years from now, these things still must take place. God’s people can rejoice in the security of their salvation and lift prayers to the Father that many more will come to know Him before Christ returns and signals the end of days as we know them and the beginning of the promises of an eternal existence that is free of pain, suffering, tears, terror, anger, jealousy, and all of those things that make us humans a rebellious lot.

Thank you Father for your Son and the gift of eternal life. I would ask you to fill the leadership of the nations with wisdom and understanding. I would ask that they lean on your wisdom, guidance and direction in these difficult times. Amen.

Aww…some Monday’s Music Moves Me

Holy Week

The two greatest events in human history are known as Christmas and Easter. The Old Testament told that God would send a Savior to this world. He even told us that Messiah would come from Bethlehem. The Gospel of Luke provides us with the testimony of the birth of Christ. The Old Testament is also the source of information regarding the fate of the Messiah. Isaiah 53 gives a wealth of information regarding Christ including the facts that He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. All four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John) give the details of Christ’s arrest, illegal trial, crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection.

Yesterday was Palm Sunday, the day Christ entered Jerusalem for the last time, knowing what was about to take place. During the course of the week He would cleanse the temple, teach the people, have the Last Supper with the apostles, be arrested, put of trial, crucified, and rise from the grave. Christmas and Easter are locked together as one is meaningless without the other.

Sunday April 20, is resurrection Sunday. It is the time of celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and fulfillment of prophecy. Take time to celebrate this occasion in the church of your choice.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

I am going to celebrate this week with a few songs that proclaim the miracle of the resurrection of Christ and the truth that He alone is the Savior of the world. In the book of John, Christ declares, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through me.” The gift of eternal life is free, but there is only one path to Paradise. Victory in Jesus is available to everyone.

Aww…some Monday’s Music Moves Me

Aww…some Monday

Spring is just around the corner and flowers will be in bloom. The Dogwood tree and it’s blossom is a reminder of Easter. The notches in the petals are a reminder to the crown of thorns and the nails placed in Christ’s hands and feet on the cross. The Dogwood flower is a symbol of rebirth and resurrection. According to information gleaned from the internet, the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified was made out of Dogwood, which is the main reason why this tree and flower is often linked to Christianity. It was cursed to be small forever, so it would never grow large enough to be used again as a cross for a crucifixion. Its branches would be narrow and crooked, which makes it no good for building. At the same time, however, the tree was blessed so it would produce beautiful flowers each spring, just in time for Easter.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

Continuing the above theme, the two greatest events in human history are the birth of Christ, the promised Messiah, and the death, burial, and resurrection of the Savior that validates God’s promises in the Old Testament. God’s inspired prophets of the Old Testament gave virtually all of the details surrounding the life of Christ hundreds of years prior to the arrival of Jesus. The fifth chapter of Micah declares that the Savior will come out of Bethlehem. When the wise men asked Herod where the king of the Jews could be found, because they had seen His star, Herod inquired of the Hebrew scholars and they said, “He’s supposed to be born in Bethlehem.” They knew the truth but did not act on it when Christ was born. The 53rd chapter of Isaiah describes the coming Savior as someone who looks like everyone else. There are no physical traits that set Him apart when He walks down the street. The same scripture says that God has laid the sin of the world upon the Messiah and that when He is led, as a lamb to the slaughter, He will remain silent. Christ did not defend His position during His trial, but when threatened by Pilot, the Savior told the governor that he had NO power over Jesus unless it was granted to him by God Almighty. From that moment forward Pilot sought to find a way to release Christ.

Easter brings the celebration of the resurrection of Christ and the Bible tells us that He will return to this earth one day to gather His church and take them home. That day is coming but no one knows when. New Testament prophets tell us He will return with a shout and a trumpet and in the twinkling of an eye the rapture of the saved with take place and those who are left will face the darkest days in the history of the world, followed by an eternity in a place prepared for those who reject the truth. Christ said that He did not come to condemn the world, but to save it! The world was condemned prior to the arrival of the Messiah and God has provided a way to escape judgment and spend eternity in His presence. Today’s music will celebrate that day.