And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM" Exodus 4:14 NASB He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. Matthew 28:6 NASB "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." Revelation 22:13 NASB Resurrection Sunday ... the hope for all of us. Our God IS ... He is alive. He is risen. He is sitting at the right hand of the Throne of God. He is the Conqueror of death. He is the Victor over sin. He is our Hope, our ... [Read More]
Holy Week Meditations: A God Who Is Present even in Silence
My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning. O my god, I cry by day, but Thou dost not answer; And by night, but I have no rest. Yet Thou art holy, O Thou who art enthroned upon the praise of Israel.Psalm 22:1-3 NASB A GOD WHO IS PRESENT, EVEN WHEN HE IS SILENT. Saturday must have been a long day for those women longing to go to the tomb, the normal tasks that kept life busy and minds occupied left undone as they waited for Sabbath to ... [Read More]
Holy Week Meditations: A God Who Understands Our Pain
And at the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SARACHTHAN?" which is translated, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME?" Mark 15:34 Have you ever felt forsaken? Has pain threatened to crush your heart, your spirit? Today, Good Friday, this One who is Good, this One who helps us, prays for us, forgives us ... this God who calls us friend, He gets it. Really gets it. He hurt. His body was beaten, bruised, crushed. Scripture says He was wounded for our ... [Read More]
Holy Week Meditations: A God Who Helps Us
For I am the Lord your God, who upholds your right hand, Who says to you, "Do not fear, I will help you." Isaiah 41:13 Lately, I've been trapped in a worn out frame of mind ... can't focus, can't think, can't process, can't go another step. Can. Not. I've watched lives torn apart by sin, hearts broken by words carelessly spoken, storms raging all around me, and I have felt helpless. No, more than just feeling helpless ... I have been helpless. The truth is, much as I hate to admit it, ... [Read More]
Holy Week Meditation: A God Who Catches Tears
I had an ugly cry a few weeks ago. The kind that gives you a headache and leaves your eyes puffy for a couple of days ... yeah, that kind of ugly cry. I was mad and hurt and frustrated and utterly helpless. As tears rolled down my face, words streamed from my lips: Lord, why? Why this? Why now? Haven't we all been through enough? This hurts too deep. And, God, this just isn't fair. Where are You? Where is Your hand in this? What good can possibly come from this pain? In the midst ... [Read More]
Holy Week Meditations: A God Who Forgives Me
But Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Luke 23:34 NASB "I said NO! Do not ask again." I turned back to the project I had been working on before I was so rudely interrupted and mumbled, "Why is this so hard? When I say no the first time, I mean it." Sighing in frustration I looked up at my daughter walking away. Her head was bowed and, even from behind, I could see that she was broken, hurt, and unsure. Leaning over my desk, the tears ... [Read More]
