Easter

Every year for the past 6 or so years during the Easter season, I have gone to a production that New Life Church puts on called "The Thorn" I'm sure many of you reading this have been to the Thorn sometime. It is one of the highlights of my year. Not only because I love good theater and drama, but because its almost like a refocusing on what Christ did for YOU and ME.


And while I could go on and on about that, there is something else I would like to focus on. A very small part that often goes un-noticed in the Easter story: Read here from Matt 27:15-26

 15Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted. 16At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. 17So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18For he knew that because of envy they had handed Him over.

      19While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message,saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous Man; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him.” 20But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death. 21But the governor said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Crucify Him!” 23And he said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they kept shouting all the more, saying, “Crucify Him!”

      24When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this Man’s blood; see to that yourselves.” 25And all the people said, “His blood shall be on us and on our children!” 26Then he released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified. 

So I'm sure we have all heard of Barabbas. How the crowd picked him over Jesus. But is there something deeper? In the Thorn it is referenced how possibly the 1st person to realize what Jesus was doing was Barabbas. He was supposed to be in Jesus' place. (We aren't specifically told that but can imply it from the text that he was a dangerous criminal and would have possibly been executed) He should have been the one to have been beaten and crucified. 


Aren't we are all Barabbas'. We have all done horrible things deserving (eternal) death. But Jesus took our place. 


"He who knew NO sin became sin on our behalf"
"By His stripes we are healed" 


As we enter this Easter season, While it is nice to think about the grave and the empty tomb let us not forget the price that Jesus paid for each and everyone of us. 
THIS is how much he loves us (here is a link to a friend's blog to a post that she did which is really powerful): Forgiveness

Footprints

One night I dreamed a dream.

I was walking along the beach with my Lord. Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, one belonging to me and one to my Lord.

When the last scene of my life shot before me I looked back at the footprints in the sand. There was only one set of footprints. I realized that this was at the lowest and saddest times of my life. This always bothered me and I questioned the Lord about my dilemma.

"Lord, You told me when I decided to follow You, You would walk and talk with me all the way. But I'm aware that during the most troublesome times of my life there is only one set of footprints. I just don't understand why, when I need You most, You leave me."

He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you, never, ever, during your trials and testings. When you saw only one set of footprints, It was then that I carried you."

Yes I know this was in a different post but i really like it so it gets it own spot 

I Walked

I walked through life like it was fading away
Putting on that plastic smile 
Acting like nothing was wrong
While my heart was breaking all the while

I walked through life as I did each day
“Pretty good” was the response I gave
Put deep within the hurt abounded
Though I’m not sure where it had founded

I walked through life not knowing myself
Sometime not know whether I could make it one more day
No one to build me up, or carry me along
Except Jesus, the answer to my song

I walked though life with Jesus beside
Through around was still a abyss of silence
Struggling through life with only Jesus
That’s all I need I know…

Tyranny of the Urgent

NR Johnson-Tyranny Of The Urgent

This is a article that a friend sent to me which I really liked.I really encourage you to read the entire thing. But here are a few excerpts to wet your appetite:

When we stop to evaluate, we realize that our dilemma goes deeper than a shortage of time; it is basically the problem of priorities.  Hard work does not hurt us.  We all know what it is to go full speed for long hours, totally involved in an important task.  The resulting weariness is matched by a sense of achievement and joy.  Not hard work, but doubt and misgiving, produce anxiety as we review a month or year and become oppressed by the pile of unfinished tasks.  We sense uneasily that we may have failed to do the important.  The winds of people’s demands have driven us onto a reef of frustration.  We confess, quite apart from our sins, “We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; and we have done those things which we ought not to have done.”




Prayerful waiting on God is indispensable to effective service.  Like the time-out in a football game, it enables us to catch our breath and fix new strategy.  As we wait for directions, the Lord frees us from the tyranny of the urgent.  He shows us the truth about Himself, ourselves, and our tasks.  He impresses on our minds the assignments He want us to undertake.  The need itself is not the call; the call must come form the God who knows our limitation.   




Yet we know from experience that only by this means can we escape the tyranny of the urgent.  This is how Jesus succeeded.  He did not finish all the urgent tasks in Palestine or all the things He would have liked to do, but He did finish the work which God gave Him to do.  

Trust

Trust: Reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, ect of a person or thing; Confidence (as defined by dictionary.com)


I never really understood the concept of actually trusting in God completely until recently. Do you ever have that issue/problem/request/decision that you are constantly praying about but you don't seen to see an answer? Well for me in the past couple of months it has been the issue of a job. Since the end of last summer I have been looking for part-time work while I attend classes at PPCC. From about Sept to Oct I put in probably over 30 applications at different places. I actually had a couple interviews but nothing seemed to pan out. I was pretty bummed out but in the middle of November I ended up picking up some work with Honey Baked Ham seasonally for Thanksgiving and Christmas. (Something I did in 2009 also) After Thanksgiving the manager mentioned he was going to be hiring a few part-time positions and was wondering if I might be interested. So I was pretty excited because it seemed like my prayer was finally being answered. 
Then after New Years I called them to ask about the positions and the manager informed me that those positions were no longer open due to budget restrictions. 


I was crushed. Coming on the heels of some other stuff that had been going on, I was just devastated. I cried out to God, asking why?? Why me?? 


Shortly after this I was at the MILL and something said there  really rocked my world. I don't remember what was actually said but I got me to just thinking how God had been providing for me. 1st it was through doing a side job for my Dad's business where I was making just about enough to get me by ever month. Then through Honey Baked Ham enough to have some extra over the holidays. And through some snow plowing which has put me a little ahead right now. All in all God has been answering my prayer every day. I just couldn't see it. He did have something better in store for me, He just wanted me to learn about trust.

Trust can be really hard. Take a min and think about that 1 person (God/Jesus excluded) you REALLY trust. If you really have a problem who do go to 1st? How many other people do you really confide in? My guess is that your list is pretty short. A quote I really like: When you die, if you've got five real friends, you've had a great life. ~ Unknown


But trust in God? That can be a whole different adventure! That's something I was really challenged to face. Take something and put it completely in God's control. 


It wasn't easy. I had my nights of "arguing" with God. Trying to explain why "We" should do it my way. But every time I would stop talking long enough for Him to get a word in edgewise, it always came back; "Do you trust Me? Then prove it" 


So I gave my job situation over to Him. Completely. For a good week I didn't do anything about a job. Didn't look, didn't put in any applications. Nothing. Then in the middle of January, Emily was like "Hey Trevor I saw they were hiring over at Mardel." At that point I still was like, "Ok God this is still your deal. Make it really clear that I should apply for this job." And within a week 2 other people mentioned it to me. At that point I was like "ok I'll apply" So I submitted an application online and within 24 hr I was called in for an interview. So I went to the interview and I thought it really well but they said they were going to be interviewing more people so it would prob be 1-2 week before they got back to me. So after I left there I was like "Well God It's up to you now. I'm not going to worry about it. If you want me to get this job then I will get it." 


So today I got a call...... I GOT THE JOB!!! (WOO HOO!!)


But this was a long time in coming. I kinda feel like Isaiah when he says: 
"Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver;I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. Is 48:10 


You know the old saying "Hindsight is 20-20" but looking back on the past half a year I really can see how true that is. God's plans are so perfect they totally boggle our minds. We could never wrap our minds around just how awesome God is. There is just no way to describe how great He is!

Trials and Tribulations

Romans 5: 1-5

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

These past couple of months have been pretty hard for me for a variety of reasons. And I'm sure we have all gone through this some time or another but we end up having a pity party for ourselves. (And I throw a mean pity party...) But it's during those time when God is trying to teach us something. This is something that Paul had a good grip on; both trials and tribulations as well as how to respond. (See passage above) So the next couple of posts will be centered on what God has been teaching me. And while it has been painful at times, I know that the end result is just being drawn closer and closer to my savior

In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

1 Pet 1:6-9

hmmmm....

“A true friend is someone who sees the pain in your eyes while everyone else believes the smile on your face.”