EASTER

 EASTER

Acts 2:29-33 (AMP)

“Brothers, I may confidently and freely say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. And so, being a prophet and knowing fully that God had sworn to him with an oath that He would seat one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke [prophetically] of the resurrection of the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), that He was not abandoned [in death] to Hades (the realm of the dead), nor did His body undergo decay. 32 God raised this Jesus [bodily from the dead], and of that [fact] we are all witnesses. Therefore having been exalted [d]to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured out this [blessing] which you both see and hear.

Good Friday

 

Good Friday

This is a day to truly reflect on the goodness of God toward mankind. Perhaps that is why it is Good Friday and not bad Friday? Scripture tells us that because God rescued His Jewish people and they were His, He had a confidence that they wouldn’t betray Him (Isaiah 63:7-8). But time and again God was betrayed, and loyalty was dismissed by those He cared for - through many many years.

The Psalmist describes the reward for loyalty in Psalm 85:9-11 (AMP).

“You (God) are ready to rescue everyone who worships you, so that you will live with us in all your glory. Love and loyalty will come together; goodness and peace will unite. Loyalty will sprout from the ground; justice will look down from the sky above.”

And here we are at Good Friday, when Jesus – over 2,000 years ago – paid our sin’s debt with His life on the cross. God’s love and loyalty to His created beings came together and He rescued us from the power of sin and death! It sprouted from the ground on a cross where Jesus hung. Sacrificing His life – for three days - that we might receive the goodness of God through salvation as determined with Jesus sacrificial blood and life. God’s goodness and Christ’s kindness deserve our loyalty and love from that day throughout eternity as we look on His glory.

[To review Jesus’ crucifixion and see how the heart of God most certainly suffered as His son went through one injustice after another and died cruelly, read Matthew 27. It is the reality of what Jesus did so that we can be rescued and share in the goodness, loyalty, and love of God.]

by Joy Pedersen

Maundy Thursday

 Maundy Thursday

Holy Week is filled with many traditions commemorating events that occurred before and after Jesus crucifixion and resurrection. The one day that is often overlooked is Maundy Thursday.  This is the day that relates to the last supper attended by Jesus and His twelve disciples. After eating together, Jesus washed their feet, prepared them for His going back to Heaven, and then He gave a mandate. Maundy is a shortened form of mandatum (Latin), which means "command."  

This is the day memorializing what Jesus left as a mandate with His disciples – and us. We read this command in John 13:34 ^(ESV):

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. “

It almost seems the same as Mark 12: 31 where the second commandment to love others as much as you love yourself is given. But this edict is  an even greater  challenge. Here the standard of love is Jesus – not us. Wow! These words ring in our hearts and our minds struggle to comprehend just what we must sacrifice to love everyone around us as He did.  He loved those with unclean hearts – and feet, the betrayers, the legalistic, the demon possessed, the diseased, the impoverished, the abusers, the rich, and all classes and races of people.

And the reason for loving in this way? Jesus tells us in verse 35:

^“ By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

He could have added: just like I have, but He is too humble. So we can ask ourselves: Do I want all people to know that I am Christ Jesus’s disciple? If yes, then I will focus on His love and reenact it as I engage with those around me. May your Maundy Thursday (and every day) be committed to loving as Jesus does.

by Joy Pedersen

Easter On Our Mind

 Easter On Our Mind

Easter is on the minds of Jesus’s followers. Surrounded by new life – budding flowers, emerging leaves, and a rejoicing sun, at springtime, we are drawn to contemplate the amazing kindness of God. Though we have so often failed to walk His way, His mercy rings out and His forgiveness calls softly saying we are His beloved children. Fixing our eyes on the wondrous cross, where Jesus sacrificed His life and recalling the empty tomb where He was once laid is cause to worship the One who gave up His son for our freedom from sin.  

God’s love so deep He designed a plan to preserve us for eternity. Jesus agreed to the plan giving His life’s blood for the forgiveness of our sin (Hebrews 12:2). It was required once and covered all that accept this gift of forgiveness. No matter our past, present, or future He has shed His innocent blood for our guilty soul. He remembers(d) us and with grace proves(d) His love. Easter – a time to consider deeply God’s riches at Christ’s expense.

by Joy Pedersen

Ephesians 1:7 (NLT)

He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.

On Being A Woman

 

On Being a Woman

 

Luke 8:1-3 (AMP): Soon afterward, Jesus began going around from one city and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve [disciples] were with Him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and diseases: Mary, called Magdalene [from the city of Magdala in Galilee], from whom seven demons had come out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means [as was the custom for a rabbi’s disciples].

Accepting who we are is often a journey. Like others, my personal struggle came as a result of being ‘mishandled’ by the opposite sex. It felt unsafe and somewhat scary being a girl - though it was God’s perfect choice. After processing and maturing more spiritually I came to accept myself as created. As a grown woman, I have a deep gratitude for His design for my life.

Now I can see the beauty of God’s design and His hand of protection, care and provision for me as a woman. There is the enjoyment of friendships that focus and communicate the things God spoke in His Word.  Listening and talking over the challenges, sharing victories, weeping over loses, rejoicing at the little things in life, and having coffee/tea while discussing the great and small things that trouble women is my favorite thing. How I love spending time with my children, listening and sharing life with them as a mother is so precious's.

Jesus sees our troubles and offers loving help through God’s Word. As women He speaks to each of our roles whether wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and /or friend with wise guidance. His loving respect of and value of women can be seen as He ministered with them during His teaching on earth.

If you haven’t resolved how God chose to design you, ask God to show you His love and make a list of what is great about being you!

by Joy Pedersen

PEACE

PEACE

Philippians 4:8-9(ESV) “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Something that we each want and search for is peace. To get it, there is a price to pay. When there is war, the sacrifice of lives is devastating. The world tries to attain it through negotiations and compromise. But the personal war we are faced with through illnesses, divorce, abuse, aging, and oppression will rob us of peace if we don’t also manage our thinking and focus. In this case the cost is dying to self and absorbing the peace that only God can give. So, how do we gain peace? We learn from God’s Word, and fix our mind and heart on Jesus Christ.

Personally, Philippians has been a great teacher on the subject. Coming to the One (God) who knows and cares about our troubles is the only way I have found peace. Yes, it is necessary to face the valleys in life honestly with truth and reckon with our limitations. It is necessary to process the physical and emotional issues that seem debilitating at times. Having experienced an unwanted divorce and illnesses creating limitations, sacrificing self-pity and grumbling is my sacrifice to obtain peace. I have found it is impossible to experience peace unless I can refocus on those things that are honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, or excellent. For me, these are found enjoying a simple meal, writing, examining scripture, reading, playing a game, and especially being with loving people. Learning to be content wherever I find myself is the most peaceful place. Accepting the way things are, and allowing God to give me the  strength to handle my weaknesses brings internal peace even if external things don’t change.

Contentment and peace walk hand in hand. Reframing our thinking and rejoicing over the things that are true (His truth), honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praise worthy is the key. Practice turning the darkness off and the light of truth on – it has made all the difference for me – and it can for you as well. 

by Joy Pedersen

Life's Surprises

 John 16:33 (NIV) “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.”

Life holds a variety of surprises! We love the pleasant and resist the difficult. Each of us face challenges and joys. We either hope the day will never end or that we can turn the clock back and start over. When we are in a season of difficulties, we may wonder “why me”? Unfortunately, since the disobedience of Adam and Eve, the world and all that is in it face painful things.

Health issues have left me limited. I have dealt with smaller things like a skinned knee as a child, and larger ones like being abandoned by a spouse. Some were the result of poor choices that have brought pain. Others were the by-product of others and their wounding. Situations and circumstances can feel overwhelming in this world. Sometimes self-pity is banging at the door. It isn’t a surprise, however, that the world is troublesome.

Listening to people relate their problems, it often sounds surprising that they experience troubles.  Jesus spoke to his twelve disciples about the trouble they would face. Referring to his own crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension back to heaven. It seemed unimaginable that trouble was on its way. So, Jesus explained in simple terms what they needed to prepare for, “In this world you will have trouble.”  Thankfully He didn’t stop there. He ended with an encouraging promise that spoke to them and us, “But take heart, I have overcome the world.”

He didn’t say trouble was ending. He reminded them and us that there is nothing in the world that He is unable to see us through. He is greater than our troubles. He is our overcomer! In the whirlwind of life, He is able to do more than we can imagine. Go without fear of what lies ahead, He is already the victorious One over the world and the trouble in it.

John 16:33 (NIV) “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.”

Life holds a variety of surprises! We love the pleasant and resist the difficult. Each of us face challenges and joys. We either hope the day will never end or that we can turn the clock back and start over. When we are in a season of difficulties, we may wonder “why me”? Unfortunately, since the disobedience of Adam and Eve, the world and all that is in it face painful things.

Health issues have left me limited. I have dealt with smaller things like a skinned knee as a child, and larger ones like being abandoned by a spouse. Some were the result of poor choices that have brought pain. Others were the by-product of others and their wounding. Situations and circumstances can feel overwhelming in this world. Sometimes self-pity is banging at the door. It isn’t a surprise, however, that the world is troublesome.

Listening to people relate their problems, it often sounds surprising that they experience troubles.  Jesus spoke to his twelve disciples about the trouble they would face. Referring to his own crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension back to heaven. It seemed unimaginable that trouble was on its way. So, Jesus explained in simple terms what they needed to prepare for, “In this world you will have trouble.”  Thankfully He didn’t stop there. He ended with an encouraging promise that spoke to them and us, “But take heart, I have overcome the world.”

He didn’t say trouble was ending. He reminded them and us that there is nothing in the world that He is unable to see us through. He is greater than our troubles. He is our overcomer! In the whirlwind of life, He is able to do more than we can imagine. Go without fear of what lies ahead, He is already the victorious One over the world and the trouble in it.

by Joy Pedersen