March 29, 2013

Good morning all-

The Lord is with us!  Have you thought about that lately?  In the US the History channel has been airing the Bible.  It is a historical recount of the Old and New Testament and everyone is saying that the scenes of Jesus being beaten and on the cross are violent and not for children's eyes.  I find it interesting one, that they have even been advertising on television and two, that people are seeing from a historical perspective that Jesus was persecuted, beaten and hung on a cross.

As I watched the clip that they were showing, I thought of the stripes and the nails.  Every time I think I'm getting a stripe, it just can't compare to Jesus and the stripes he bore for me.  Many of my stripes are self-inflicted, maybe even deserved but His stripes were for our sins, not His.  Humbling!

I hope as we enter into the last days before Easter, we all will take some time and reflect on what Jesus did for us.  We really didn't deserve Him and yet, He fulfilled the promise by sacrificing Himself for those He loved.  It's easy to sacrifice for good people.  We do it all the time but He sacrificed for the murderer, the adulterer, the liar, the cheat and the prostitute.  He didn't need them to be perfect, He knew they weren't and yet, He gave His life anyway.

Jesus is my Savior and I want to shout it from the rooftops!  Are you?  That's a question we must ask ourselves every day.  People all over the world need us to speak of a Father that gave His life for the sinner.  We have to take care of our commission and remember that those stripes are part of a covenant, one we must participate in to further the kingdom.  If you can't travel the world, then find something near you and work to do His work.  As I write, I wonder who is coming to this site.  Who reads it and sees the hand of God.  For every time I write, the Holy Ghost is with me and I am so very humbled.  He knows my faults, my sins and my circumstances and yet, my fingers type so fast I can hardly remember what I wrote from one paragraph to another.  Why?  Because He is my Maker and I give Him all the credit.  I am only a servant, no glory should come my way, for it's His sacrifice that allows me to be in His presence and it's His stripes that gave me life.

I hope this day finds you well and I pray that the lost will see Jesus on Easter.  I am praying that God would move people and that a revival would take hold.  I'm praying for my country and yours that God would place His hand on our land and guide us and bless us.  We must trust that He will do so.  So with that, I pray for you and ask God to bless you today.  May you be strong in Him my sisters.

Isaiah 53:5 NKJV:

      But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

My prayer today:

O, Lord, as I think upon the stripes your back carried for me, I am in awe.  I don't deserve You and I definitely didn't deserve You hanging on a cross for my sins and yet, You did.  You are mighty in my eyes, with all authority and majesty.  When I think about You I see a great angel with a beauty beyond my imagination.  The mighty will fall before You and every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess You are Lord.  Come before us today and prepare our hearts for Easter.  Give us the desire to hear from You and to minister to Your people.  I pray that thousands will open their eyes to You and confess with their mouths that Jesus is!  I have family that still don't know You and as I think upon that I'm asking You to take the blinders off and reveal Yourself to them.   I love You Lord and I thank You for Your sacrifice.  I know it wasn't easy and often we disappoint, but thank You anyway.  Forgive us of our sins and right our paths as we seek You daily.  In Jesus name, AMEN