Simple Thoughts

The disciples, the women, the other followers, were distraught over the death of their Lord. They were fearful and in hiding. The women went to the tomb early Sunday morning, wanting to prepare the body with spices. When they arrived, the stone was rolled away. The body, gone. They run, in disbelief, to tell the apostles. The apostles, stunned and unbelieving, run to the tomb to see for themselves.

Imagine what is going through their minds. “The body was stolen.” ” The Romans are going to blame us.” Chaotic thoughts. Stressful thoughts. Fearful thoughts.

An angel calmed the women’s hearts by reminding them of Jesus’ teaching. That He would be crucified and be raised on the third day. The disciples were calmed when Jesus Himself appeared, asking “Why are you troubled and why do doubts arise in your minds?” Luke 24:38

On this Easter morning, Resurrection Sunday, what doubts, fears, stresses are weighing on your mind? Do we, as Christians, believe God’s word today without the gift of “seeing” and “hearing from” our Savior? Rest assured, we can hear and see today. God speaks to us through His word. Read and study to uncover His truths. He reveals Himself to us through the pages of Scripture. When Jesus declared, “It is finished,” (John 19:30) on Good Friday, He is telling us there is nothing we can do , nothing we can bring. We come humbly to the cross, bringing our sins, declaring our belief and faith at the foot of the cross. “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Galatians 5:24

Today brings the victory! He is risen. His victory over death is the hope of our salvation. Let this message today be one of hope, joy and bring you peace.

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9

The “I have to’s, the must do’s.” The daily grind. We are focused, intentional in the job at hand An attitude of work.

Then, a holiday weekend. A chance to relax and unwind. An attitude of cheer. A spring in our step. An “I can do this” attitude.

I have noticed as the weeks go by, I am tired. Here we go again, attitude. But when I have something fun planned, I am eager, energetic, hopeful. The attitude changes.

Should it be that way? Shouldn’t I be excited for every new day God has given me? A day to live for Him regardless of what lies ahead?

Lord, help me to be thankful, hopeful, excited for each new day on Your created Earth. Let my attitude be one of joy and expectation. I pray I am serving and working where You are that You may be glorified. Thank you for this new day, that I may say with my whole heart, “This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24)

According to Oxford Languages, the phrase “empty handed” means: having failed to obtain or achieve what one wanted.

You go into a meeting, a relationship and walk out empty handed. You didn’t get what you wanted, either from the job or other people.

How do we approach our relationship with God? Do we have an agenda, a preconceived idea of what we “get” from God? Do we go to church, walking away afterwards feeling “empty handed?”

What if we changed our attitude, our mindset when worshipping God. Come to Him with nothing but a humble, lowly attitude. Allow God to fill your mind. Let His word wash over you as you meditate on Who He is. The great I AM! Creator of heaven and earth. Our Redeemer. When we do, we will not walk away empty handed. God will reveal Himself to you, showing you He is all you need. Unto Jesus we come. Unto Jesus we cling.

Romans 4:4-5 “When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.”

As the year comes to a close, I find myself reviewing the year. The highs, the lows. The goals I set and finished as well as the goals I set but have not yet attained. I look at the things of the world, what has happened culturally, politically, economically.

But most importantly, I look at my life in view of a holy God. I am not yet who I want to be in Christ, but I continue to strive. I do no know all I want to know about God and His word, yet I continue to study. I continue to seek where God wants me to be so I am in prayer.

Where are you today in your relationship with God? Do you have one? Have you seen your sin in light of a holy God and repented? Today is that day. Are you a Christian yet see yourself falling short, walking away? Turn back. Today is that day.

Wherever you are today, it is a new day. A new day to believe God is who He says He is. A new day to read God’s word and believe its truths. A new day to walk with God and follow His commands.

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. “

1 Peter 1:3 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

Not snowflakes. Not flowers. Not even identical twins. I was reminded of this truth while doing some last minute shopping. A young woman, colorful hair, tattoos, large earrings. But, when she turned, her shirt proclaimed Christ. With probably not much else in common, Jesus brought us together. Today. To shine this truth in my heart. Not all Christians look alike and I do not know whom God is calling to Himself. I only know I am commanded to preach the gospel, wherever I find myself. Whether it be in a store or an online blog.

2 Corinthians 5:20 “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”

May the love of Christ dwell in you richly and may you boldly proclaim Christ in your quiet, every day life. Like the girl in the store, quietly going about her business but calling attention to her Savior through the message on her shirt.

Colossians 3:16-17 “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.  And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Our church has been visiting our shut-ins each Christmas in an event called “Ring and Sing.” We make up baskets and cards, have a list of whom we will be visiting and decide on the carols to sing.

The joy, tears, fellowship is worshipful. By showing up, they realize they are not alone, they are not forgotten. We receive joy by greeting them, singing with them, praying for them. There are people in our circle of influence who are feeling alone, forgotten, in need of comfort. Let us bring love to them.

For God did not forget us when we were at our lowest, when our eyes were opened to our sin and our need of a Savior. Jesus, the Son of God, the promised Messiah. God did not forget us when He sent His Son into the world, born of a virgin, in a lowly manger. Jesus did not forget us at the cross when He became the sacrifice for our sin. When He redeemed all mankind. We are not forgotten. God has given us the Holy Spirit and as children of God, we have the Holy Spirit guiding and directing our paths.

Praise God for His great love for us that we may be called children of God and as such, let us live as children of the light. Let us shine bright in a world filled with despair, anxiety, loneliness. Let them know they are loved, they matter. They are not forgotten.

2 Corinthians 4:5a; 6 “ For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, … For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.”

1 John 3:1 “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

It’s not about a place. The glistening sandy beaches or snow-filled mountains.

It is not about what is under the tree or how beautifully your home is decorated.

It is about the heart. Jeremiah 17:9-10 “The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked; Who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind,
Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.” Have you humbled yourself before God, confessed your sins and come to Him in faith?

For it is about a place… Bethlehem… the promise fulfilled by God. Micah 5:2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

It is about Who was born in the lowly stable… Jesus, the Messiah, Son of David. Matthew 1:1 “This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham;” The long awaited Messiah, whose birth was heralded by angels. Luke 2:13-14 ” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

And it is about the cross. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Wherever you are, wherever you find yourself, the message of Christmas: God’s love for all mankind, God fulfilling His promises, God giving us His Son as a ransom for many. The message this Christmas is what God has done… for us, for you, for me.

This Christmas, open your heart. See with your eyes the wonderful promises of God and His unconditional love for you.

My morning routine in the kitchen. I look up and see the Christmas lights reflected in the microwave door. I am reminded of Christmas’ past. First one up turns on the lights. Shopping in downtown department stores. Admiring the creative Christmas displays in the windows. Singing “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” after dinner each night while lighting the advent candle on the table. Going to church on Christmas Eve, driving around afterwards to see the Christmas lights and luminaries.

During this advent season, I am also reflecting on the birth of my Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. The promised Messiah. God’s son in human form, born to live the perfect life. Born to die as the sacrificial Lamb. Thankful for God’s promise back in the Garden, that as a sinner saved by grace, I may enjoy fellowship with Him now and for all eternity. Reflections… looking back and remembering. Looking ahead with a thankful, redeemed heart.

Meditate on it. On what? God’s word. That means to read God’s word, study it thoughtfully. When? 24/7. Once you read a passage, a verse, it lingers in your brain. The Holy Spirit will bring applications across your path and you will be reminded of the passage or verse you have just studied. Why? God gives us His word to know Him more. To honor Him, to follow Him, to worship Him. He wants us to observe His word- in all that we do, say, think. When we saturate our whole mind, body and soul into God’s word, our mindset is heavenly and we can do as the Bible commands: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

Anchored. Secured. Firmly planted. Rooted in the ground. For some plants, roots run deep, grow in size, supporting with a firm foundation. While others have a shallow root system and cause the plant to sway, fall, and be carried away by a strong wind.

When you first trusted and believed by faith in Jesus as your Savior and Lord, your faith-roots began to grow. As you have read the Bible, studied His word, your faith-roots have grown deeper and stronger. You hear preaching, read devotions with care, only accepting biblical truths, not accepting cultural truths.

As Christians, we are called to examine the scriptures, examine our faith, grow in knowledge and wisdom, share these truths, stand firm, even as the world may mock and laugh at our beliefs. Let us have a heart to share God’s message to the world. John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Let us stay firmly rooted in His word.