Archive for March, 2010

Good Morning Church family and Friends! We are in the middle of Passion Week. “Maunday Thursday”, the day commemorating The Lord’s Last Supper before he endured the cross the following day-”Good Friday” . We are planning a time of worship that will take us to the Lord’s Table and reflect on the gift of the Cross. We are setting a place for you! I hope you will not let anything else crowd out time together at His table.Then- Easter Sunday- this Sunday! I know we have a number of people within our church family who will be visiting family over the weekend. If you do not have to go out of town, I encourage all of you to not miss Easter Worship here at GraceView if at all possible. Invite your guest and family to be with you at one of the most important gatherings of the year. Invite your neighbors as possible. Invite your co-workers today. People you rub shoulders with. Your invitation could make an incredible difference in their lives for eternity! You may be their link that God has planned for bringing them to the cross and the empty tomb. We will have extra chairs anticipating you will be bringing guest with you. Love the Lord with all your heart and with all your soul today! Don’t miss your appointment with Him! Stop sometime today–and lift your voice to Jesus praising Him for Passion Week!

PASSION WEEK THOUGHTS After Jesus entered Jerusalem, known to us today as the “Triumphal Entry” (Palm Sunday), We discover one of his followers who had not yet embraced the full impact of the impending death of Jesus. In fact, his faith was somewhat tentative. He was noted as following Jesus “at a distance” when Jesus was taken before the high priest and the Sanhedrin and condemned for blasphemy. Where was Peter when these priest and self proclaimed judges spit in his face and struck him with ridicule and scoffing? –He was “at a distance”. Then Peter is confronted 3 times by various individuals whether he was a Christ Follower. All three times Peter denied he knew Jesus. Then came the Cross. Then came the Resurrection. Then came a new Peter! The power of the cross and the reality of the resurrection of this Jesus, who he had been following at a distance, had touched Peter’s heart and soul. The passion of Jesus became the passion of Peter. We are all guilty from time to time of following Jesus at a distance no doubt. But hopefully as we have engaged our minds and hearts at the foot of the cross and at the entrance of the tomb, we too have been infused with the Passion of Jesus the Christ. If not, I hope you as Peter did, will allow the Spirit of God to draw you closer to Him in full followship this 2010 Holy –Passion week, and that no longer will you follow Him “at a distance”. Peter became an incredible witness and disciple of Christ because of the passion and power of the cross and resurrection of Jesus. These few days before we commemorate the Cross (Thursday at 7 pm), you may be following at a distance. If so, come to the cross. You may be walking with Him in genuine fellowship today because you have been to the cross and the empty tomb already. If so- bless God today in your continued faith walk showing others the reality of the cross and resurrection in your life. And remember-“It’s the power of the cross! Power in the blood of the Lamb!”

“Listen to your body!” Have you heard those words from someone who is trying to give you good health advice? I sure have. And yesterday I had no choice but to listen to my body. Last week and especially this past weekend was one of those weeks physically, mentally, and emotionally. Sunday night after Home Group I literally came home and crashed in the bed. I listened to my body-though it took some time for me to hear what it was saying.  Monday morning came too early, which is not the norm for me. I normally love starting the week off fresh and renewed ready to run. Yet yesterday, it was an even putter—all day. Mondays are “study day” for me most of the time unless there is an emergency or something more pressing that needs my attention. I studied and took care of other miscellaneous business, but it was a continuous struggle. Pam took me out to eat that evening for our date night and that helped some, but very little. This morning, I am back to normal! Thank God for good health! I simply needed to rest. Rest my body, mind, and spirit. We all need this from time to time. In fact, we need regular disciplined rest if we are to make it the long haul. And as well, we need to learn to “rest” in the Father’s arms. I am reminded of the Scripture this morning that says, “Come unto me, all you who are heavy burdened and I will give you rest.” This verse has so many applications to our individual lives. He is our shelter. He makes us to lie down in green pastures, and he restores our soul. What an incredible asset we have in Christ! One who is there to still the waters and renew our strength to soar on wings like eagles. But Eagles need rest too. Rest child of God! In the end, you will go further!

Does a sovereign, all-powerful God need our involvement of prayer ? E.M.Bounds wrote, ” God shapes the world by prayer. The more praying that is in the world the better the world will be, the mightier the forces against evil…The prayers of God’s Saints (that would be us ) – are the capital stock of heaven by which God carries on His great work upon earth. God conditions the very life and prosperity of His cause on prayer.” Andrew Murray said, “ God’s giving is inseparably connected with our asking…Only by intercession can that power be brought down from Heaven which will enable the church to conquer the world.” Shortly after Daniel prayed for the end of Israel’s captivity after reading Jeremiah, the angel Gabriel was dispatched with a message for Daniel: ” Your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words.” Friends, We are called by our Father in Heaven to be involved in His Kingdom glory by “praying” for  those in need, for those who are lost, for ourselves even today, to be used to manifest His glory in every place we find ourselves. “Prayer’ is the vehicle He uses to communicate Himself through and to us. It is the vehicle He uses to connect us with His active working in people’s lives. And it is the vehicle He will use today to calm a troubled heart and to give security when things look all out of control. So today- run to Him. Talk to and with Him. And most importantly, listen to Him. His Word is waiting. His embrace is ready!

Paul’s words to believers in Romans 15: “May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Child of God- Trust Him today with your life! From this act of faith, will come joy and peace that nothing else in all the world can give you. Not the stock market, not your job, not your friendships, not your hobbies, nothing. Because out of faith and trust in God overflows hope that is delivered and protected in the power of the Holy Spirit! How do I get here? Go before Him today seeking Him through His Word and time alone with Him praying. This opens the flood gates of deliverance and faith. He is waiting for you. Turn the T.V. and radio off. Take the ear plugs out. And allow HIM to fill you with Himself today. Those who seek Him will find Him. He’s as close as the mention of His name.  – Blessings- Robbie