THE EMPTY TOMB

TODAY IS A JOYOUS DAY . WE SEE BEAUTY AROUND US AND EVERYTHING COMING UP NEW AS SPRING UNFOLDS BUT MORE THAN THAT WE CELEBRATE A VICTORY OVER THE FACE OF DEATH ......... '' The angel said to the woman , ' Do not be afraid , for I know that you are looking for JESUS , who was crucified . HE is not here ; HE has risen , just as HE said. Come and see the place where HE lay . Then go quickly and tell all HIS disciples : ' HE has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you in Galilee . There you will see HIM .' Now I have told you ." MATTHEW 28:5-7 ............. WE DO NOT HAVE TO GRIEVE ANY MORE ............ THE TOMB IS EMPTY !! .......... JESUS CHRIST IS ALIVE ..........WE SERVE A LIVING GOD .............JESUS CHRIST HAS SUPREME AUTHORITY AS WE READ IN THE SCRIPTURES........... " Then JESUS came to them and said , ' All authority has been given to me . Therefore go and make disciples of all nations , baptizing them in the name of the FATHER and of the SON and of the HOLY SPIRIT , and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you . And surely I am with you always , to the very end of the age.' " MATTHEW 28: 18- 20 .........................HAPPY RESURRECTION SUNDAY !!..........................................SUMMER

BREAKING BREAD .....

AS WE APPROACH THE HOUR WHEN OUR LORD GAVE HIS LIFE SO THAT WE MAY LIVE ETERNALLY WITH HIM IN HEAVEN , I REFLECT ON WHAT IT REALLY MEANS TO HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST....... JOHN 13:1-9 STATES, " It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for HIM to leave the world and go to the FATHER. Having loved HIS own who were in the world , HE now showed them the full extent of HIS love. The evening meal was being served , and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot , son of Simon , to betray JESUS. JESUS knew that the FATHER had put all things under HIS power , and that HE had come from GOD and was returning to GOD ; so HE got up from the meal , took off HIS outer clothing , and wrapped a towel around HIS waist. After that , HE poured water into a basin and began to wash HIS disciples' feet , drying them with a towel that was wrapped around HIM. HE came to Simon Peter , who said to HIM , '' LORD , are you going to wash my feet ? " JESUS replied , " You do not realize now what I am doing , but later you will understand . " '' No" , said Peter , " YOU shall never wash my feet ." JESUS answered , " Unless I wash you , you have no part with me . " WHEN WE LOOK CLOSELY AT WHAT OUR LORD DID FOR US , IT IS CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT JESUS CAME TO SERVE AND NOT BE SERVED . THIS VERY MATTER STRIKES AT OUR HEARTS . ARE WE WILLING TO SERVE THOSE AROUND US AS JESUS DID , OR ARE WE QUITE THE OPPOSITE , MAKING DEMANDS ON THOSE AROUND US AS IF WE ARE ENTITLED TO SOMETHING ? .......THEN , WHEN WE DO SERVE OTHERS, DOES OUR ATTITUDE REFLECT OUR KING OR IS IT A MOCKERY OF HIM ? IN 2 CORINTHIANS 9 :6-8 THE LORD SAYS , " Remember this : Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly , and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give , not reluctantly or under compulsion , for GOD loves a cheerful giver .And GOD is able to make all grace abound to you , so that in all things at all times , having all you need , you will abound in every good good work . " YOU SEE WHEN IT COMES TO GOD ITS ALWAYS A MATTER OF OUR HEART !! .......... AND NO ONE KNOWS OUR HEART BETTER THAN GOD .......... WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN WE SERVE, IT NOT ONLY SUPPLIES THE NEEDS OF GODS PEOPLE BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY IT GIVES MANY EXPRESSIONS OF THANKS TO GOD AND GIVES HIM THE GLORY HE IS SO RIGHTLY DESERVES .......... SOME 2000 YEARS AGO OUR LORD JESUS BROKE BREAD WITH HIS DISCIPLES NOT ONLY AS A SAVIOUR BUT AS A SERVANT TOO........ ARE WE WILLING TO DO THE SAME ? ..............................SUMMER

THE SEEDS HAVE SPROUTED !!!!!!!!

ONE THING IS FOR SURE , TRUSTING IN THE LORD IS DEFINITELY NECESSARY WHEN YOU TAKE A SEED , PLACE IT UNDER AN 1/8 " OF ORGANIC SOIL IN AN EMPTY EGG CRATE , WATER IT JUST TO KEEP IT MOIST ( YOU KNOW THAT ABSOLUTE BALANCE OF SOMEWHERE BETWEEN NOT TOO DRY & NOT TOO SOGGY ) , GIVE IT AT LEAST 16 HOURS OF COMBINATION SUN & ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT , AND WAIT FOR THE TIME BETWEEN 5-10 DAYS TO SEE GODS "BEHIND THE SCENES " WORK IN ACTION................. IN THE BOOK OF GENESIS CHAPTER 1:11-12 , " Then GOD said,"Let the land produce vegetation : seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so . The land produced vegetation : plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds . And GOD saw that it was good ." ...............LOOKING AT THESE TINY SHOOTS IN THE CRATES MAKES ME FEEL SO DARN SMALL ................ LIKE A GRAIN OF SAND ON A BEACH ....... LOOKING AT THESE SPROUTING PLANTS ALSO MAKES ME THINK EXACTLY WHAT KIND OF SEEDS I AM SOWING FOR GODS KINGDOM ......... THE KIND OF SEEDS I SOW WILL REVEAL TO OTHERS WHO MY SAVIOUR REALLY IS ............WILL I SOW SEEDS OF DECEPTION OR WILL THE SEEDS I SOW REVEAL THE TRUE WORD OF GOD ?........... LIVING FOR JESUS IS NOT ALWAYS EASY.....IT MEANS I NEED TO HUMBLE MYSELF AND DO WHAT HIS WORD TELLS ME TO DO ............. AM I PERFECT ? BY NO MEANS .......BUT DO I HAVE THE ABILITY TO LIVE BY HIS WORD ? ONLY WHEN I WALK IN HIS WILL.......... REMINDING ME ONCE AGAIN , JUST HOW GRATEFUL I AM FOR THE LOVE OF MY SAVIOUR ...................HOW ABOUT YOU ......................WHAT KIND OF SEEDS HAVE YOU SOWED TODAY ? .............................................................SUMMER

" WAKE - UP OH SLEEPER "

THE 1ST BOOK OF JONAH IS FILLED WITH SCRIPTURES THAT DEPICT GODS CHILD , JONAH , ON THE RUN .ISN'T IT TRUE THAT EVEN THOUGH WE KNOW GODS LAWS AND COMMANDMENTS , WE TOO RUN AWAY FROM OUR LORD AT TIMES DURING OUR STRUGGLES WITH LIFE ; ONLY TO FIND OURSELVES IN AN EVEN BIGGER MESS THAN WHEN WE FIRST STARTED TO RUN . AS JONAH RAN , HIS ESCAPE ROUTE LANDED HIM ON A SHIP. SOON AFTER THE SHIP SET OFF TO SEA , A VIOLENT STORM WAS SENT DOWN BY GOD. AS THE VESSEL THRASHED ABOUT, THE MEN BEGAN TO FEAR THE WORST ,WHILE JONAH TOOK REFUGE BELOW DECK WHERE HE FELL ASLEEP !! ISN'T THIS HOW WE REACT TO OUR LORD AT TIMES ? WHEN WE ARE FACED WITH TOUGH DECISIONS TO MAKE , FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER , WE CHOOSE TO IGNORE THE GODLY CHOICE AND FALL INTO A SLUMP , SLEEP OR SLUMBER ( WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT ).....WE WONDER THEN WHY DO WE HAVE SO MUCH AGONY , PAIN OR TROUBLE ......WHEN THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THAT WE REFUSED TO OBEY THE LORD'S INSTRUCTIONS !! WHEN THE CAPTAIN WENT BELOW DECK HE SAID , " How can you sleep ? Get up and call on your GOD ! Maybe HE will take notice of us , and we will not perish . " ch.1 vs.6 AS THE OTHER MEN BEGAN TO QUESTION HIM JONAH KNEW WHAT HE HAD DONE (RUN FROM THE LORD HIS GOD ) AND WENT ON TO TELL THEM ,"I am a Hebrew and i worship the LORD , the GOD of heaven, who made the sea and the land. " ch.1vs.9 ...... ISN'T IT TRUE TO SAY, AT THE LEAST , THAT WE KNOW WHO THE LORD JESUS IS AND YET WE STILL REFUSE TO OBEY ?..... AS THE STORM CONTINUED JONAH ASKED THE MEN TO THROW HIM OVERBOARD RELYING ON GODS WILL TO CALM THE SEA........ THEY OBLIGED AND IMMEDIATELY THE SEA GREW CALM . WITH THIS THE LORD GAINED FAVOR WITH THESE MEN, BUT AS FOR JONAH ..... HE SPENT THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS IN THE BELLY OF OF A WHALE !! ......YOU MAY SAY WHY DID THE LORD HAVE A FISH SWALLOW HIM ?? JUST THE WAY YOU MAY SAY WHY DOES THE LORD ALLOW THIS OR THAT TO HAPPEN TO ME OR SOMEONE I KNOW ? WELL THE ANSWER IS FOUND IN CHAPTER 2 OF THIS PROFOUND BOOK .......JONAH'S PRAYER . ( I SUGGEST HIGHLY THAT YOU READ THIS CHAPTER FOR IT IS REVELLING !! ) JONAH WAS FINALLY WILLING TO LISTEN TO THE WORD OF THE LORD IN CHAPTER 3 AND OBEY THE INSTRUCTION TO GO TO NINEVEH. ...........NOW NINEVEH WAS A VERY VERY POWERFUL CITY ,BUT A MENACE TO THE ISRAELITES . WHEN JONAH ARRIVED ,HE PREACHED THE WORD FROM GOD AND THE NINEVITES CAME TO BELIEVE IN GOD !!!!! ISN'T THIS WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW GOD, WHEN WE ARE OBEDIENT AND PREACH THE WORD FROM THE LORD JESUS ? BUT YOU SEE SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENED HERE ," When GOD saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, HE had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened. " ch.3vs.10..........GOD SHOWED THE NINEVITES HIS UNFAILING AND EVERLASTING MERCY........ DOES NOT THE LORD JESUS SHOW US HIS UNFAILING AND EVERLASTING MERCY WHEN WE REPENT OF OUR SINS , COME TO BELIEVE HE IS LORD AND TURN FROM OUR EVIL WAYS ?THE BOOK OF JONAH IS TRULY A BOOK OF THE OLD TESTAMENT THAT I CHERISH..........................SUMMER

GOD SPEAKS........................

HE SAID, " If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your GOD and do what is right in HIS eyes , if you pay attention to HIS commands and keep all HIS decrees , I will not bring upon you any of the diseases i brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD , who heals you." EXODUS 15:26...........................DO WE LISTEN ?..............................................................SUMMER

1:22 P.M.................

I COULD NOT BELIEVE MY EYES AS I PULLED BACK THE CURTAIN EARLY THIS MORNING...... THERE HE WAS BRIGHTER THAN EVER , WITH NOT A CLOUD IN THE SKY , BEAMING DOWN INTO THE GARDEN , GLISTENING ATOP THE WATER , WARMING MY FACE , CAUSING A STIR IN MY MIND AND A DESIRE IN MY HEART...... MR. SUNSHINE WAS HERE FOR A VISIT !! FROM THE LOOKS OF THINGS I COULD TELL HE WAS BRINGING ALONG A GOOD FRIEND ...... SO I KNEW I NEEDED TO GO THROUGH MY DEVOTIONS , FINISH MY CHORES AND GET DRESSED AS QUICKLY AS I COULD ..........AS THE MORNING ROLLED ON I FOUND THE PRETTIEST SWEATER AND SKIRT, PUT ON A LITTLE ROUGE AND LIPSTICK ,TOSSED MY HAIR UP IN A BUN AND PUT ON MY STRAW HAT .......I WAS JUST ABOUT READY AS THE CLOCK TICKED AWAY TOWARDS THE TIME SHE WAS TO ARRIVE ........ SHE ARRIVED AT 1:22 P.M....... YEP !! MR. SUNSHINES' GOOD FRIEND WAS FINALLY HERE , RIGHT ON TIME , DECKED OUT IN HER FINEST ARRAY AND LOOKING HER BEST....... SHE TOLD ME SHE'D BE STAYING FOR 3 WHOLE MONTHS ......AS I ASKED HER HOW SHE HAD BEEN AND CHECKED HER INTO THE GUEST ROOM , I ASKED HER WHAT HER NAME WAS AND SHE SAID, "MY NAME IS SPRING ; I'VE BEEN WAITING SINCE LAST YEAR TO MEET YOU AND I AM VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE ! " "LIKEWISE ! ", I REPLIED.WITH THAT SHE WENT ON TO TELL ME THAT THE MASTER HAD A WORD FOR ME WHICH WAS , " And why do you worry about your clothes ? See how the lilies of the field grow. they do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how GOD clothes the grass of the field , which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire , will HE not much more clothe you , O you of little faith. So do not worry saying 'What shall we eat ? ' or What shall we drink ? ' or 'What shall we wear ?' For the pagans run after all these things , and your heavenly FATHER knows that you need them .But seek first HIS kingdom and HIS righteousness , and all these things will be given to you . " MATTHEW 6:28-33..... WITH THAT I WAS QUITE HUMBLED TO SAY THE LEAST BUT VERY GRATEFUL THAT SPRING HAD FINALLY ARRIVED !! HOW ABOUT YOU ? ....................SUMMER

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE SPRING !!

TODAY WAS SIMPLY A GORGEOUS DAY FILLED WITH A CRISP MORNING BREEZE , BRILLIANT SUNSHINE , PLENTY OF EARLY MORNING MUSIC FROM THE BIRDS AND MOST OF ALL THE AROMA OF SPRING IN THE AIR . SIR JACK RABBIT WAS HAPPY TO FILL HIS TUMMY WITH SWEET SIGNS OF THE SEASON & OF COURSE OL'MR.SQUIRREL WAS NOT ABOUT TO CALL IT QUITS JUST BECAUSE THE FEEDER WAS OVER CROWDED WITH DOVES, CHICKADEE'S AND SPARROWS ! MORNING DEVOTIONS COME EASY ON DAYS LIKE THIS , MY THOUGHTS PROMPTING ME TO A BOOK OF THE OLD TESTAMENT ,SONG OF SOLOMON. IT IS HERE WHERE WE READ " SEE !THE WINTER IS PAST ; THE RAINS ARE OVER AND GONE. FLOWERS APPEAR ON THE EARTH ; THE SEASON OF SINGING HAS COME, THE COOING OF DOVES IS HEARD IN OUR LAND . THE FIG TREE FORMS ITS EARLY FRUIT ; THE BLOSSOMING VINES SPREAD THEIR FRAGRANCE . ARISE , COME , MY DARLING ; MY BEAUTIFUL ONE , COME WITH ME ." SONG OF SONGS 2:11-13 .WHAT A GLORIOUS DAY TO TURN TO THE SON AND GIVE GOD THE GLORY , WOULDN'T YOU AGREE ?...........................................SUMMER