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This week’s devotions are based on this week’s message: Let Easter Change you: Input Godly Wisdom…his Word!  (WATCH HERE)

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“You had to be there.”

We were given an unbelievable view of the total solar eclipse and it certainly is a memory that will linger for a long time.  You try to capture it on a camera.  You try to put what you saw into words and you realize it’s hard to capture the event in its total grandeur, mystery, and awesomeness.

Let me try a little bit to share.

We live in Georgetown, Texas where the totality occurred from 1:37pm to 1:40pm – just over three minutes.  The big question mark was if we were going to be able to see it because a thick cloud cover was predicted with only 5% break…or 95% coverage.  We debated driving a bit west and north where there was to be 20% coverage.  But decided to stay put and go over to a park next to Georgetown Lake.  The clouds came and go.  As totality approached we would catch glimpses of the growing coverage through our glasses and a break in the clouds.  As the clock ticked, we wondered if we would get to see totality or just experience darkness with the sun and moon hidden behind the clouds.  As the time got closer we noticed a break in the clouds that was getting bigger and bigger.  By 1:25 there was clear skies above us which remained until about 2pm…a 30-40 minute window where God opened the heavens and showed us the glory of his creation.  Those at the dam (Georgetown Lake is formed by an Army Corp of Engineers dam) cheered when totality was realized.  The difference of 99% coverage and 100% coverage was almost night and day. For three minutes we looked around and heard birds chirping, saw the aura of a sunset all around us, looked up without our glasses to see the corona of the sun glowing with the moon covering it completely.  As the three minutes came to an end the “diamond ring” appeared and what a brilliance that was.  We all (my wife, younger daughter, sister and her two girls) spent the next hour just marveling at what we had just witnessed.  Certainly we live in a universe created with the brilliance and precision of our almighty Lord and Savior!

I thought I had seen a total eclipse before…but after the experience yesterday, I don’t think I have…I would have remembered it much more vividly.

Psalm 19 is what I would like to leave you with to meditate on today…especially if you witnessed the total eclipse first hand, but even if you look at pictures of others you did, you can say with King David:

1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
5    It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
6 It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other;
    nothing is deprived of its warmth.

…14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Our younger daughter already said, “I’m going to North Dakota in 2044.  This was so cool!”  

When you experience the glory of God, the work of his hands, and the magnificence of his creation…you just have to be there.

Apply: What testimony to God have you experienced in his creation?  If you experienced the eclipse, what was your meditation and reflection?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the awesomeness of your creation and the opportunity to see it clearly on display yesterday.  Every time I see your glory in creation, lead me to marvel at your power, love and grace for me and all people.  AMEN.

This week’s devotions are based on this week’s message: Let Easter Change you: Input Godly Wisdom…his Word!  (WATCH HERE)

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Happy Eclipse Day 2024!

What does the eclipse happening today, April 8, 2024 have to do with Sunday’s message?  Nothing really, but the next total eclipse on US soil is in 20 years in Dakotas and Montana, so the chances of having the opportunity to share some devotional thoughts on a day of a total eclipse are slim.

In Georgetown, Texas we are projected to have 3:14 of total eclipse…the challenge as of the writing of this, most of Texas will be under the clouds…so we will experience the darkness and rely on other places to provide the pictures.

Wait, let me take that back.  There is something about the eclipse and yesterday’s message.  As we considered the power of God’s Word to change us, the point was shared that God’s Word can make sense out of the current events of this world.  So what sense does the Bible give about a total solar eclipse?

First, we are reminded that the sun and moon and planet earth are all creations of God.  While some may pose other theories of the origin of all three, Genesis 1 states it clearly as the result of day four of God’s creating activity:

Genesis 1:14-19 And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. 16 God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. 17 God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.

Second, there is nothing random about the positioning and orbits of the earth around the sun and the moon around the earth.  Consider this, even back at the time of Jesus, there is evidence that individuals knew how to predict the eclipse of the sun.  With the precision of instruments and calculations, astronomers can know the exact position and time the eclipse will take place…YEARS before it actually occurs.  Something based on randomness would never be able to predict these things…but with the God of Creation and good order, we have the precision of the heavenly bodies.  What we witness in an eclipse may be spoken of as “random” but rather it is the detailed result of a divine creator.

Third, the distance of the moon to the earth and from the sun creates a perfect cover to the sun.  At totality, the sun proper is covered and just the corona is visible.  Random? Or designed that way? Let’s go with God’s design!

Fourth, the experience of the eclipse is going to be a memorable one…clouds or clear.  Some have even suggested that the impact of total eclipse is realized even more with cloud cover because the visual is one of that like midnight.  It will be odd for sure.  Eerie? Probably.  What makes it cool is we know the light will return…we don’t have to live in the darkness of an eclipse for very long and that’s a good thing.  Perhaps a day of an eclipse where the sun goes dark for a few minutes is intended to remind us of a spiritual truth recorded in John 1:1-4

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

When the “diamond ring” effect appears as the sun reemerges from behind the moon, we are reminded that light overcomes the darkness.  The jewel of our Savior Jesus is that his grace, love and forgiveness shines as a bright light in a world darkened by evil, sin and unbelief.  Just as the darkness of an eclipse will not overcome the light, so the darkness of evil will not overcome the light of Jesus.

So enjoy the eclipse today from wherever you get a chance to view it.  Be reminded of the power and precision of God to create the sun, moon and earth and make them move as accurate time keepers.  Most of all remember that Jesus is the light of the world and the one who came to overcome all darkness of sin in your heart and life!

 

Apply: Make sure to wear proper eye protection to keep your eyes safe!  Enjoy the eclipse and marvel at yet another aspect of God’s creation.

Prayer: Lord God maker of the heaven’s and the earth.  Thank you for reminders of your power and precision along with your love and grace.  AMEN.

This week’s devotions are based on this week’s message: Shadows: A Glimpse of a Savior!  (WATCH HERE)

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Just a week ago, we marked Good Friday, the day we remember the suffering and death of Jesus on the cross.  This Friday…it’s just another day.

Or is it?

Maybe we have moved on, but I’m curious what the disciples were doing that first Friday after Jesus’ resurrection.  We don’t know exactly, but the fact that on resurrection evening, the disciples were locked in a room for fear of the Jews and the next Sunday they were still locked in a room for fear of the Jews…my guess is they weren’t doing a whole lot but sticking together in a safe room because there was still great tension in the streets of Jerusalem against Christ and his followers. We know the events of Good Friday spread quickly as the Emmaus Disciples in Luke 24 were surprised Jesus “didn’t know” about what happened…since it seemed like EVERYONE knew.  However, there is maybe a difference with the resurrection.

Remember the guards at the tomb?

They witnessed the resurrection of Jesus firsthand.  But the leaders DID not want the message of Jesus’ resurrection to spread like his crucifixion.

Matthew 28:11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day. 

The leaders wanted ALL to know the criminal that Jesus was and that he was worthy of crucifixion.  But they wanted no one to know that Jesus was alive…despite all the evidence to the contrary.

Matthew wrote his Gospel about 20 years after Jesus’ resurrection and added the comment… “This story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.”  The reality was Jesus was alive, but Satan was going to work hard to make sure people didn’t know.

It still happens today.  The reality of Jesus’ resurrection can be clouded over by the lies of Satan.  He was defeated on the cross and trounced by Jesus’ resurrection…but he continues to find ways to get our focus off of the reality of Jesus’ resurrection.

Perhaps it’s easy to point to the secular aspects of the Easter bunny and eggs detracting from the real meaning of Easter.  Perhaps we can point to the recent “Transgender Day of Visibility” being pronounced louder on March 31 than Easter Sunday.  We can see many businesses open as usual on Easter Sunday, and more.

But what about us?

Perhaps like me, I have no question about the bodily resurrection of Jesus.  Where I, and maybe you, struggle is living that reality every day.  Life gets busy with work, sports, kids, yardwork, vacations, and more.  All of these are good things, but what can happen is they push out time for the most important thing…to let Easter continue to affect our hearts and lives…each day.  

As we’ve mentioned, Easter is very personal.  Perhaps where it became personal was at our baptisms.  The Apostle Paul was inspired to write:

Romans 6:5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. 

8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 

11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 

So, let’s not let the reality and truth of Jesus death and resurrection fade in the background or be clouded by the lies of Satan or the business of life.  Rather, let’s live in the joy of knowing Jesus lived, died and rose again for me!  And with that reality in history and in my heart, each day is a real Easter to celebrate!

 

Apply: What challenges you to keep the reality of Easter at the forefront of your heart and mind each day?  Perhaps try for the next week to ask, “Jesus lives for me!  What difference will that make today?

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for your death and resurrection.  Help me to never forget it, believe Satan’s lies about it, or fail to live it.  Forgive me when I do.  Restore your resurrection to the forefront of my mind each and every day!  AMEN.

This week’s devotions are based on this week’s message: Shadows: A Glimpse of a Savior!  (WATCH HERE)

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John 20:16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

 

It’s personal.

Perhaps we have been encouraged in life at times, “Don’t take it so personally.”  Usually this is after someone makes a negative comment about some aspect of your appearance or behavior.  Their statement can be general, but has direct link to you…but you aren’t supposed to take it personally.  Which is hard to do.

It can be hard to take Easter personally.

After all, maybe a few days past, the reality of Easter has faded and you may already be forgetting what you did or what you had for lunch or who was even at your house.  Maybe you are back into the routine of a fairly normal week after a busy Holy Week and preparation leading up to Easter.  And so the impact of Easter is waning…a bit.

Easter is easy to see as an “event” on the calendar, a day off of work, or opportunity to get together with family and friends.  We enjoy the break, treasure the memories and yet are often “glad Easter is done.”

But like a comment that someone makes and you take it personally is hard to get out of your mind, in a positive and more impactful way, take Easter personally.

It’s not a corporate or church event, it is an even that Jesus meant precisely for you to take personally, very personally.

My daughter texted me yesterday morning and asked, “Have you ever heard the theory of how Mary at the tomb mentions Jesus as the gardener as he came back and is making peace with the world again like kind of referencing the garden of Eden?”  To which I responded, “No” and she responded that someone at a bible study this week had brought it up and said, “I do think it is interesting what Jesus was doing while he was just meandering around his tomb…lol.”

I love that she asked and it made me think.  Was Jesus just meandering around the garden restoring the creation of the garden to wholeness?  I have never heard that nor have I seen biblical teaching for this. (Yes, when he returns a second time he speaks of a new heaven and new earth, but not at his resurrection.)

What I did respond was this, “I haven’t thought of Jesus meandering in the garden, but intentionally appearing there for Mary, just like he appeared to the disciples suddenly in the locked room that night.”

There was a time for a group appearance.  The Apostle Paul mentions 500 at once, but in the garden of his grave he had one purpose, to make it personal for Mary.  Jesus wanted MARY to know he was alive.  He wanted his resurrection to impact HER.

The same is true for you.  The events of Holy Week Jesus certainly did for the world, but most importantly he did for YOU.  Jesus suffered and died for YOU.  Jesus rose again for YOU!

The impact isn’t to be just one day out of the year, but every day of the year.  Every day, Jesus wants you to know he loves you and lives for you!

 

Apply: How can you keep the impact and importance of Easter in front of you every day?

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for coming to live and die and rise again…for ME! AMEN.

This week’s devotions are based on this week’s message: Shadows: A Glimpse of a Savior!  (WATCH HERE)

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John 20:11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 

Why are you crying?

If you have lost a loved one or close friend, tears come easily at the funeral and if you visit the grave.  Memories of times together give way to tears because no new memories will be made.  Conversations have come to an end.  Being in the same room together will not happen on this earth again.  All these realities bring tears.  It’s sad when we lose someone close to us.

So we can’t be too hard on Mary Magdalene for shedding tears outside of Jesus tomb.  So why was she crying?

Sometimes a question like this covers a two-fold purpose.  One, it informs the person asking with information they can then respond to or act on and two, it gives the person asked an opportunity for some self-reflection as to what is causing the emotion that is being exhibited.  What is a bit ironic about Mary’s answer is that she is not crying because Jesus died on the cross in a horrific way.  But rather she assumed when she saw the open grave that Jesus was still dead AND someone had stolen the body.  She couldn’t even finish paying her final respects to the man that changed her life and the one she had been following and supporting.  Before the angels could respond, this happened:

14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

The “gardner” repeats the question and adds a second one, “Who is it you are looking for?”
Mary answers the first and ignores the second.  She wasn’t looking for a person, she was looking for a body.  The “gardner” should know.

The irony is is the “Gardner” wasn’t looking for a body, but he was looking for a person.  He came for the very purpose to let Mary know he was alive.

16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

Suddenly the question didn’t matter anymore because the question was answered.  There was no body…just a living Jesus!

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

Mary found the answer to her questions and the solution for her tears…Jesus.  Or should I say, Jesus found Mary and gave her the answer to her question and the solution for her tears.

Will he not do the same for us?

Sometimes we look in the wrong places and carry the wrong perceptions which can create worry, stress, heartache and sadness.  We try to answer life’s questions on our own, solve life’s problems in our own way, and try to find Jesus in places he never promised to be.

And Jesus shows up and says our name.

And the questions get answered and the tears dry up and the heart becomes filled with peace.

Because when Jesus is with us nothing else matters.

And he is…just like he was for Mary.

 

Apply: What is causing sadness and tears in your heart and life?  Visualize Jesus coming to you and asking, “Why are you crying?  Who are you looking for?”  After you answer, he says your name.  Does the sadness go away?  Does peace return?

Prayer: Lord Jesus thank you for loving us personally.  It changes everything and brings peace.  AMEN.