WITH HIS LOVE... SING HOLY...

SUNDAY IN THE SON

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WITH HIS LOVE - SING HOLY

as sung by David Phelps

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Who am I that the Son of God would shine on me
And bring His light into my dark.
Even though I’m a runner and I like to hide
He found His way into my heart.
So I sing…

Chorus

Holy to the Lamb of God who made me good enough
Glory to the King who captured my heart with His love
With His love.

Now and then I forget that I belong to Him
And I strike out on my own
Faithful is the One who called me by my name
And gently leads me back home.
So I sing…

Chorus

Holy to the Lamb of God who makes me good enough.
Glory to the King who captured my heart.
Holy to the Lamb of God who makes me good enough.
Glory to the King who captured my heart
With His love, with His love.

No matter where I go I know
No matter what I do I know
I will never be too far away
From You, I sing.

Chorus

SHINE JESUS SHINE...BECAUSE YOU ARE MORE THAN ROYALTY...KING of kings...

It's a really BIG DAY! Many eyes are glued right now to the royal wedding... I AM SO EXCITED!!!! Not necessarily about the wedding, but that Jesus is getting a voice... over and over again. Scripture is repeatedly being quoted, challenges are being given to live "in the Spirit of Jesus Christ", our God is being honored, and amazingly this blog's memory scripture for the month has been quoted. Wow! Wow! Wow!

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It will still be "a really BIG DAY" once the wedding is over. It's time for great family fellowship among my sisters in Christ! We all belong to the Kingdom of God. Our annual ladies retreat is this weekend. Although the topic is not SHINE JESUS SHINE, our theme for the weekend will certainly be connecting to that concept. As women, we have many words to speak everyday. We can use those words for good or evil. This weekend Isabelle and Alicia Williamson will lead us in a study of THE POWER OF WOMEN'S WORDS.

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Our words? A powerful way for Jesus to shine through you and me! Royal speech! Kingdom words!

This year, our "retreat" will be a little different. It will be locally in our new church building. Although it is not a cathedral, it is where christian royalty meet together to worship our King. Last year, our women's retreat entitled WOMEN REACHING OUT IN FAITH was overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. I wrote several posts from and about last years retreat on this blog.
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Here are some excerpts, in italics, from one of those April 2010 posts:

As I sit overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, I am reflecting on the powerful weekend we have had so far at our WOMEN REACHING OUT
IN FAITH retreat. We have worshipped together in song, heard God speak through Becky Holton, and fellowshipped in multiple amazing ways. During a period of silence, the 90 women attending the retreat wrote anonymous reflections. I will post a few for your encouragement today and then keep posting them over the next week.
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Here are some specific reflections on loving God and spending time with Him:

"The only way to deepen my love for God is to place myself in God's presence daily!!! I must do this for my sake and for the sake of my family! Please help me to discipline myself!"

"When Becky said, "I encourage you... no, I beg you, to spend time with the Lord everyday... I was struck by her honesty and caring. We live in a world where no one is supposed to tell anyone else what to do anymore. I am glad Becky had the courage to be real. She is right."

"Quality time with our Lord will transform us!"

"Today I commit to buying a purse size Bible. I will carry it with me at all times in my purse and read during my short breaks of activity in the day. I pray this will keep my mind on my Lord so that I may love Him with all my mind, heart, soul, strength."

"Becky, thank you for reminding me! How important it is to spend time with God daily by loving and giving God the attention He deserves daily. It will change my life. Everything will fall in place. Give God the glory."

"My Aha moment came when Becky said, 'The hard truth is without daily time with God, we will deteriorate spiritually.' I am reminded of John 15:5, 'Abide in Me and you will bear much fruit; for apart from me you can do nothing.'"

"I'm beginning to realize that to have a deeper love for Jesus, I must visualize the scriptures more. A deeper love will then keep me to following His teachings. I want to follow Him but it is easy to go astray."

STAY TUNED FOR MORE... for now, I'm headed back to
fellowship with this amazing group of sisters in Christ.... WE LOVE THE LORD!!!!

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That was last year! Stay tuned for more from our spiritual feast of this weekend - a feast of the King of kings and LORD of lords!

~BLESSED~

SHINE JESUS SHINE... YOUR MERCY SHINING THROUGH US...

TRANSFORMING THURSDAY

When is the last time you gave someone a break?

Do you give people the benefit of the doubt?

How are you at giving 2nd, 3rd, 4th chances?

How about 490 chances?

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I majored in Special Education back in the early '70's because I had a passion for the "underdog". It didn't take me too long to understand that not everyone thought like me. Yet, the more I have studied and worked with people, it has become increasingly obvious to me that most people are in need of some form of "special education". In general, people don't often get things right the first time!

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Yes, there are people who have challenges in their thinking from maybe background experiences or even a specific learning disability. For them, it might take explaining something over and over again in multiple ways before they make the connections and "get it". Our fast paced, instant gratification society has no patience for that!

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How can Jesus shine through you? Forgive! Be merciful! In so doing, you are lighting a candle... you are piercing the darkness.

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The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.[g]

23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold[h] was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins.[i] He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.

29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’

30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.

32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
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"BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL,

FOR THEY WILL RECEIVE MERCY."

Matthew 5

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SHINE JESUS SHINE... WE SEE YOUR MERCY...

ROMANS 11:32-36

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For God has bound all men over to disobedience
so that He may have MERCY on them all.
33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out!
34 "Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been His counselor?"
35 "Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?"
36 For from Him and
through Him and
to Him are all things.
To Him be the glory forever! Amen.

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ROMANS 12:1-2

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1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers,

in view of God's MERCY...

to offer your bodies as living sacrifices,

holy and pleasing to God-
this is your spiritual act of worship.

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2 Do not conform any longer

to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed

by the renewing of your mind.

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Then you will be able to

test and approve what God's will is-
His good, pleasing and perfect will.

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VIEW - God's mercy

OFFER BODIES - as living sacrifices

OFFER BODIES - holy and pleasing to God

DO NOT CONFORM - to the pattern of the world

BE TRANSFORMED - by renewing your mind

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THEN, DO THE TEST - of God's will

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VIEW - ______________

OFFER BODIES - _______________

OFFER BODIES - _______________

DO NOT CONFORM - _______________

BE TRANSFORMED - _______________

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THEN, DO THE TEST - _______________

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~BLESSED~

SHINE JESUS SHINE... IN THE MIDST OF THE DARKNESS... FROM JARS OF CLAY...

MEDITATION MONDAY

&

GRATITUESDAY

As I approach the end of the my semester, my time online will be limited. There will be days that I will need to combine my posts. I must say that, for me, this post might be sufficient for the next few weeks, months, and years for me to meditate on. Let me share with you why. It includes a few of my FAVORITE THINGS!

1. ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS: How JESUS lived out what He taught - specifically His teachings on the SERMON ON THE MOUNT.

As I "walked" through Christ's last week, on this blog - I was convicted! He was neck deep in people on His way to the cross. His attitude towards those people was not one of indifference, even though He knew it was crunch time. I saw Him shine! He did shine loud and clear:

1. His humility!

2. His focus on His objective - to rescue humanity!

3. His willingness to be led by the Father!

4. His hunger and thirst to do that which was right... righteous...

5. His grace and mercy to all those He came in contact with and even those who He didn't...

Oh, how I love how He shines in that last week!!! He illuminated those first five BEATTITUDES - didn't He?!?!!!

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2. ANOTHER ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS: Our theme song of this week - SHINE JESUS SHINE!

Lord the Light or Your Love is shining,
In the midst of the darkness shining,
Jesus light of the world shine upon us,
Set us free by the truth You now bring us,
Shine on me. Shine on me.

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Shine Jesus shine
Fill this land with the Father's glory
Blaze, Spirit blaze,
Set our hearts on fire
Flow, river flow
Flood the nations with grace and MERCY
Send forth Your word
Lord and let there be light.
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Lord I come to Your awesome presence,
From the shadows into Your radiance,
By the blood I may enter Your brightness,
Search me, try me, consume all my darkness,
Shine on me. Shine on me.

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As we gaze on Your kindly brightness.
So our faces display Your likeness.
Ever changing from glory to glory,
Mirrored here may our lives tell Your story.
Shine on me! Shine on me!

3. Yet, another of my favorite things are my favorite flowers - TULIPS! Red tulips!

For those who have been in our home, there are red tulips throughout our kitchen and den. There's something so inspiring for me about a red tulip! I was gifted with a bouquet of them from my secret sister yesterday. The tulips along our front walk were once bulbs. They had their own graves under the dirt. Then, light and water coaxed life to spring forth. Tulip transformation had begun long before the green leaves peeked up through the dirt!

4. A FOURTH FAVORITE THING OF MINE IS THE SCRIPTURE BELOW. IT IS MY FAVORITE! There is something about this scripture that is fuel for my day... light for my fire... a match for my candle. I confess to you that the last few months have not been easy for me. I have been spent... discouraged... and empty. I confess to you that this scripture has not been in my tank the last few months, either. I'm not sure why! I commit to changing that! Please join me in reading it all the way through:

Therefore,

since through God’s MERCY

we have this ministry,

we do not lose heart.

2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways;

we do not use deception,

nor do we distort the word of God.

On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly

we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience

in the sight of God.

3 And even if our gospel is veiled,

it is veiled to those who are perishing.

4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers,

so that they cannot see the light of the gospel

that displays the glory of Christ,

who is the image of God.

5 For what we preach is not ourselves,

but Jesus Christ as Lord,

and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

6 For God, who said,

“Let light shine out of darkness,”

[a] made His light shine in our hearts

to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory

displayed in the face of Christ.

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7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay

to show that this all-surpassing power

is from God and not from us.

8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed;

perplexed, but not in despair;

9 persecuted, but not abandoned;

struck down, but not destroyed.

10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus,

so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

11 For we who are alive are always

being given over to death for Jesus’ sake,

so that His life may also be revealed in our mortal body.

12 So then, death is at work in us,

but life is at work in you.

~BLESSED~

SHINE JESUS SHINE

SUNDAY IN THE SON

Lord the Light or Your Love is shining,
In the midst of the darkness shining,
Jesus light of the world shine upon us,
Set us free by the truth You now bring us,
Shine on me. Shine on me.

Shine Jesus shine
Fill this land with the Father's glory
Blaze, Spirit blaze,
Set our hearts on fire
Flow, river flow
Flood the nations with grace and MERCY
Send forth Your word
Lord and let there be light.

Lord I come to Your awesome presence,
From the shadows into Your radiance,
By the blood I may enter Your brightness,
Search me, try me, consume all my darkness,
Shine on me. Shine on me.

As we gaze on Your kindly brightness.
So our faces display Your likeness.
Ever changing from glory to glory,
Mirrored here may our lives tell Your story.
Shine on me. Shine on me.

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SUNDAY

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1. THE EARTHQUAKE - 28,000

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2. WOMEN to sepulchre to anoint body and talk to angel - 28,16,24,20

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3, MARY finds tomb empty - 000,20

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4. MARY MAGDALENE tells Peter - 0,16,0,20

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5. JESUS appears to MARY MAGDALENE - (1 Corinthians 15:4) - 0,16,0,20

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6. JESUS appears to other women - 28,0,24, 0

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7. The report to the WATCH - 28,000

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8. PETER and JOHN to sepulchre - 00,24,0

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9. JESUS appears to PETER (1 Corinthians 15:5) - 00,(24),0

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10. JESUS' discourse #34 with Cleophas and another disciple... on the way to Emmaus - 0,16,24,0

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11. JESUS appeared to His disciples in the evening - 00,24,20 ... THOMAS is absent (1 Corinthians 15:5)

~BLESSED~

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BRIGHTLY BEAMS OUR FATHER'S MERCY... ON SATURDAY...

KETCHUP AND MUSTARD SATURDAY

Catch Up and Must Do

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It was the Saturday after Jesus had been laid in the tomb. Many people had a lot to think about... a whole lot on their minds....

• 
  
  Judas, overcome with what he had done, had gone out the day before and hung himself ...



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  Peter grappled with the knowledge that he had denied his LORD 3 times.



• 
  
  John was sobered with the realization that Mary had lost her son and she was now John's responsibility.



• 
  
  Other followers wrestled with the truth about their own humanity... their sins...

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It is now over 2,000 years later. We continue to come face to face with THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. He illuminates the same truths about Himself and our lives as he did with His followers of old.

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One of the things that I have pondered, this week, is the idea of "lower lights" (as sung in our theme song for the week). When the light from the lighthouse is blocked by clouds or a storm, it just might be "the lower lights" that give sailors their safe direction to the lighthouse.

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In a spiritual sense, Jesus is THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD and His followers are "the lower lights". What happened to "the lower lights" during Jesus' last week? One by one, they stopped fulfilling their purpose.

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Over ten years ago, a fellow Christ follower asked me to use a song that he had written, in any way that I could, to bring others to the LORD. I haven't done that as much as I could and/or should. So, today, as we consider the most magnificent act of all time, let this song by Ray Overholt lead us to consider Jesus' love, grace, and mercy... and our roles as "the lower lights"...

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1.

They bound the hands of Jesus

in the garden where He prayed;

They led Him thro' the streets in shame.

They spat upon the Savior

so pure and free from sin;

They said, "Crucify Him; He's to blame."
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Refrain

He could have called ten thousand angels

To destroy the world and set Him free.

He could have called ten thousand angels,

But He died alone, for you and me.
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2.

Upon His precious head

they placed a crown of thorns;

They laughed and said,

"Behold the King!

"They struck Him and

they cursed Him and

mocked His holy name

All alone He suffered everything.
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Refrain

He could have called ten thousand angels

To destroy the world and set Him free.

He could have called ten thousand angels,

But He died alone, for you and me.
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3.

When they nailed Him to the cross,

His mother stood nearby,

He said, "Woman, behold thy son!"

He cried, "I thirst for water,"

but they gave Him none to drink.

Then the sinful work of man was done.
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Refrain

He could have called ten thousand angels

To destroy the world and set Him free.

He could have called ten thousand angels,

But He died alone, for you and me.
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4.

To the howling mob He yielded;

He did not for mercy cry.

The cross of shame He took alone.

And when He cried, "It's finished,"

He gave Himself to die;

Salvation's wondrous plan was done.
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Refrain

He could have called ten thousand angels

To destroy the world and set Him free.

He could have called ten thousand angels,

But He died alone, for you and me.

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~BLESSED~

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BRIGHTLY BEAMS OUR FATHER'S MERCY... ON FRIDAY...

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Take your family along today, as you look as Jesus' walk that Friday:

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EARLY FRIDAY MORNING:

• Jesus bound and led through streets to Annas - 000,18




• Jesus led to Caiaphas and Council - 26,14,22,18




• Jesus before Governor Pilate - 27,15,23,18




• Jesus before Herod - 00,23,0




• Jesus led away to be crucified - 27,15,23,19
  



• Jesus is offered wine - 27,15,00
  



• Jesus placed upon the cross at about 9 a.m. - 27,15,23,19
  

• Jesus hears the Jews mock & one thief's confession - 27,15,23,0
  



• Jesus tells John to take care of His mother Mary - 000,19
  
  



• Jesus dies as darkness prevails around 3 p.m. (1 Corinthians 15:3) - 27,15,23,19

• Jesus hangs on cross as veil of temple splits, graves open, and centurion confesses - 27,15,23,0
  

• Jesus taken from cross before 6 p.m. and buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimethea - (1 Corinthians 15:4) - 27,15,23,19
  



• Jesus in tomb while a "watch" takes place - 27,000

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If there hadn't been a "Good Friday" ... full of MERCY and GRACE, we would not be family!!! Jesus could have called ten thousand angels to rescue Him from death on a cross, but it was His faithful merciful love that kept Him there...

~BLESSED~

BRIGHTLY BEAMS OUR FATHER'S MERCY... ON THURSDAY...

TRANSFORMING THURSDAY
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Jesus embodied MERCY! It was Thursday, the day before His crucifiction. It went something like this:

• Jesus' discourse #31 - to the disciples at the LAST SUPPER - 26,14,22,13
  


• Jesus' discourse #32 - to PETER & HIS OVERCONFIDENCE - 26,14,22,13
  
  


• Jesus' discourse #33 - on the LOVE OF GOD & THE COMFORTER - 000,14



• Jesus prayed - for Oneness in the Garden of Gethsemane - 000,17
  
  



• Jesus' agony - in Gethsemane - 26,14,22,18
  


• Jesus betrayed - at midnight - 26,14,22,0








• Jesus' miracle #34 - the healing of Malchus' ear (John gives his name) - 00,22,18
  

On Thursday, His MERCY beamed brightly...

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~BLESSED~

BRIGHTLY BEAMS OUR FATHER'S MERCY.... ON WEDNESDAY....

On the Wednesday after "Palm Sunday", most scholars agree that there is no specific record of what Jesus did. What I do know is that He was living the "cross walk" long before that Friday at the cross:

1. He was humbly loving the Father (as He depended on Him and let Him lead)



2. He was humbly loving His neighbor - with mercy



3. He was not sinning, but seeking righteousness

As we look at part of our memory work for April today, let it connect to this last week of Jesus' life. That week, gives us a huge view of HIS MERCY.

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1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers,

in view of God's MERCY,
to offer your bodies as living sacrifices,

holy and pleasing to God-
this is your spiritual act of worship.
2 Do not conform any longer

to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed

by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve

what God's will is-
His good, pleasing and perfect will.

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1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers,

___ ______ of God's MERCY,
to offer your bodies as _______ ______,

holy and pleasing to God-
this is your spiritual act of ________.
2 Do ___ _________ any longer

to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed

by the __________ of your mind.
Then you will be able to _____ and ______ what God's will is-
His good, pleasing and perfect will.

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1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers,

in view of God's ________,
to offer your bodies as living sacrifices,

______and pleasing to God-
this is your ________ ____ of worship.
2 Do not conform any longer

to the _______ of this world,
but be transformed

by the renewing of _____ _______.
Then you will be able to test and approve

what God's will is-
His ______, _________and perfect will. .

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's MERCY,
to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-
this is your spiritual act of worship.
2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-
His good, pleasing and perfect will. .

~BLESSED~

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers,

__ ____ __ ______ ________,
to offer your bodies as living sacrifices,

____ ___ ______ __ ____-
this is your spiritual act of worship.
2 Do ____ _________ ___ ________

to the pattern of this world,
but __ ___________ ___

___ _____________ __ ____ _____.
Then you will be able to _______ and ________

what God's will is-
His ____, _________, and ________will. .

BRIGHTLY BEAM OUR FATHER'S MERCY... ON SUNDAY, MONDAY, AND TUESDAY....

It was the last week of His:

SUNDAY:

• Jesus entered Jerusalem (21,11,19,12) to much praise
  



• Jesus spent the night in Bethany (21,11,00)
  

MONDAY:

• Jesus cursed the fig tree in His 33rd recorded miracle (21,11,0,0)
  


• Jesus cleansed the temple the 2nd time (21,11,19,0)



• Jesus healed in the temple (21,000)



• Jesus left Jerusalem in the evening (0,11,00)
  

TUESDAY:

• Fig tree dries up (21,11,00)
  


• Jesus taught in the temple and His authority was questioned (21,11,19,0)
  


• Parable #40 - Two sons - Will & Won't (21,000)
  


• Parable #41 - Two husbandmen - (21,12,20,0)
  


• Parable #42 -Marriage of King's sons - (22,000)
  


• Discourse #28 - on the 8 woes against Pharisees (23,12,20,0)
  


• Discourse #29 - on the necessity of Faith (000,12)
  


• Discourse #30 - on the destruction of Jerusalem (24,13,21,0)
  


• Parable #43 - leaves of fig tree and other trees (24,13,21,0)
  


• Parable #44 - householder watching (24,13,00)
  


• Parable #45 - ten virgins (25,000)
  


• Parable #46 - talents (25,000)
  


• Parable #47 - sheep and goats (25,000)
  

Jesus knew that this was the week! He was on a MISSION OF MERCY! He must continually die to Himself... His needs... His wants... His desires... so that He might rescue others. There was a planet full of people (past, present, and future) depending on Him.

I am so thankful that His focus, His love for the Father, His work ethic, His persistence, and His endurance kept Him, that week, on His MISSION OF MERCY... a mission of healing that would reconcile us to our Heavenly Father. After all, it was God's idea! Brightly beams our Father's mercy! Brightly beams the love of our Savior!

NOTE: In 1978, my mother-in-love, Robbie Sikes and family friend, Johnnie Luker, published a booklet entitled THE GOSPEL TRAIN. The idea originated with Johnnie in the 60's. Further years of prayerful study and development by Robbie (transformed mom of 13 children) birthed a graphic organizer to help others in studying the life of Christ and put it to memory. Within this study is the concept of GOSPEL ZIP CODES. Above, in parentheses, you see different strings of numbers. Here are some examples to aid you in the meaning and use of GOSPEL ZIP CODES:

• 25,000 means the story is found in Matthew chapter one, but not in Mark, Luke, or John
  


• 24,13,00 means the story is found in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and not in Luke or John
  


• 24,13,21,0 means the story is found in Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, and not in John
  


• 0,11,00 means the story is only found in Mark 11
  

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~BLESSED~

BRIGHTLY BEAMS OUR FATHER'S MERCY... THROUGH US...

MEDITATION MONDAY

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How does mankind get a clear and bright picture of Jesus? Yesterday, Steve asked us two questions in his sermon:

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1. Is seeing believing?

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2. Is believing seeing?

On the Sunday before His crucifixion, as Jesus came into Jerusalem, there were people who saw Him differently... different perspectives... multiple levels of seeing. ..

Seeing Jesus with eyes of NO FAITH were the Religious Leaders in Luke 19:39-44 - Perfect eyesight does not mean perfect insight!

Seeing Jesus with eyes of LITTLE FAITH were the Apostles in Matthew 20:17-28 (often looking at HIm asking, "What's in it for me?"); the Crowd in Matthew 21:8-11 (Curious! Asking, "What can He do?")

Seeing Jesus with eyes of GREAT FAITH were the Blind Men in Matthew 20:29-34; the Children in Matthew 21:14-17; and Mary in John 12:1-11

Seeing Jesus with eyes of NEW FAITH were the Greeks in John 12:20-26. They requested, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus..."

What was it that they saw? He was a man who, like the seed in John 12, had died to Himself...

A humble man

A man who mourned over sin

A meek/gentle man

A man hungering and thirsting to be righteous

A man of mercy

By faith... great faith... renewed faith... let us believe in Jesus and upon believing and seeing, let's allow Him to transform us into His likeness...

Humble women

Women who mourn over sin

Meek/gentle women

Women hungering/thirsting for righteousness

Women of mercy

BRIGHTLY BEAMS OUR FATHER'S MERCY... THROUGH US...

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~BLESSED~

BRIGHTLY BEAMS OUR FATHER'S MERCY...

BRIGHTLY BEAMS OUR FATHER'S MERCY .

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Brightly beams our Father’s mercy

from His lighthouse evermore,

But to us He gives the keeping

of the lights along the shore.

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Let the lower lights be burning!

Send a gleam across the wave!

Some poor fainting, struggling seaman,

you may rescue, you may save.

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Dark the night of sin has settled,

loud the angry billows roar;

Eager eyes are watching, longing,

for the lights, along the shore.

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Let the lower lights be burning!

Send a gleam across the wave!

Some poor fainting, struggling seaman,

you may rescue, you may save.

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Trim your feeble lamp, my brother,

some poor sailor tempest tossed,

Trying now to make the harbor,

in the darkness may be lost.

.

Let the lower lights be burning!

Send a gleam across the wave!

Some poor fainting, struggling seaman,

you may rescue, you may save.

.

~BLESSED~

MERCY CAME RUNNING... IN THE FORM OF THE BODY OF CHRIST....

. Our friends in Japan need our mercy. They will continue to need it for many days to come. Those who have survived face much loss, destruction, and sorrow. .

• Our Japanese friends have been rescued from one or more storms. Who will rescue them from the over the top storms of life that so many are now experiencing?


• Who will provide comfort for the broken hearted of Japan?


• Who will give a hand-up to so many who are down and out in Japan?


• Who will patiently wait, pray, work, and stand in the gap for the lost of Japan - who are in need of a Savior?


• Who will help to heal their hearts, minds, bodies, and souls in the face of so much loss?

.

True, complete, eternal healing comes with the cross of Jesus! May the living breathing body of Christ, the church

show the people of Japan the love and mercy of our LIVING LORD. There are so many people worldwide who worship the created instead of the Creator. There are those who pray to a statue because they don't understand the height, depth, and breadth of the love of Jesus Christ.

.

In the past few weeks, christians have worked tirelessly as the hands and feet of Jesus to run with mercy to the people of Japan. We are the body of Christ! A big thank you to Jon, Joel, Ben, Chad, Dwight and their families! Thank you for getting us jumpstarted; for keeping us informed!

. .

The children in our church family are leading the way in collecting thousands of dollars to care for the Japanese.

.

Please join us in working together to continue to run with mercy as the body of Christ! As a mother, lead your children in missions of mercy! Lemonade stands, hot chocolate stands, selling toys or services, and asking for donations are all ways for your children to participate. One of our elementary school girls told her grandmother, in another state, about our effort to collect money for Japan. The grandmother collected $2,000 from her church and sent it to us. Another of our girls spoke to her principal and the principal is on board for the school to now help. These young girls have been the hands and feet of Jesus... voices crying out to prepare the way for the LORD. . .

Colossians 1:15-18 says,

15 He is the image of the invisible God,

the firstborn over all creation.

16 For by Him all things were created:

things in heaven and on earth,

visible and invisible,

whether thrones or powers

or rulers or authorities;

all things were created

by Him and for Him.

17 He is before all things,

and in Him all things hold together.

18 And He is the head of the body,

the church;

He is the beginning and

the firstborn from among the dead,

so that in everything

He might have the supremacy.

. . It is not just Japan who needs the loving mercy of our LORD! It is every people, every tribe, every nation... Recently I received an email from a sister in Christ who had been on business to India. Her message read:

See attached photo.

I am guessing you can find a way to use this. :)

Now here is "the rest of the story."

I have seen a lot of "religious" bumper stickers

but had never seen this before -

displayed on the back of a car window.

(It does not belong to anyone at Pitman!)

Unusual?

Well, considering this was on a car window in....

INDIA........

YES!

India is...

• 80% Hindu


• 13% Muslim


• only 2% Christian (primarily Catholic).

.

Oh, how this message needs to be understood by the people of the world. Today, I pray especially for the people of Japan and India... that they come to know the love and mercy of our LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.

.

Link here to see ways you can help in taking Christ's love and mercy to Japan:

http://www.workingandprayingforjapan.org/donate-or-volunteer-today/

.

GIGATTAATTGIG

~BLESSED~

.

MERCY CAME RUNNING... THE FEET AND HANDS OF GOD...

TRANSFORMING THURSDAY

. Being merciful like Jesus was merciful, takes denying yourself. It's a: . Being merciful comes from Jesus living in the heart:

1. How is your comfort for the broken-hearted?

.

.Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy!

.

.

.

.

2. Are you offering a hand up for the down and out?

Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

.

. .

. 3. Do you rescue others from the storm?

.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy!

. 4. Are you patient in waiting for the maturity and transformation of another?

.Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

. .

~BLESSED~