Jesus

The Life of Jesus

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It is Holy Week.  The time of year when we are to reflect on the events towards the end of Jesus life here on earth.  His entire time here was the plan of God the Father, in order to reconcile sinners with God.  His birth, his baptism, his time in the wilderness, his teachings, his miracles, his hard lessons and the events of this week, his death on the cross and his resurrection.

There is no person you will ever meet on earth who loves you as much as Jesus and no person on earth that will do as much for you as Jesus has done.  There is so much anger, violence and hatred among the human race and for some reason people love to display this darkness.  There is also love, joy, peace and contentment if you have taken the time to invite Jesus into your heart and you have followed that up by showing your commitment to Him.  He is available to all of us…he even told us so when he was here and had it written down in the bible.

I pray we all take the time to invite or re-invite Jesus into our hearts this week and be open to God’s plan for our own life.  When you look at Jesus time on earth there was evil, suffering and difficult decisions…there was quiet times in prayer, time to help and serve others and at the end of it all there was eternal joy!

God’s peace be with you…Jesus said:

“I am the vine; you are the branches.  If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up and thrown into the fire and burned.  If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you.  This is my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

John 15:5-8

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado)

He Understands Suffering

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“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin.  Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Hebrews 4:15-16

(This photo was taken in July of 2015 in northern Colorado)

Reconciliation

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“For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!”

Romans 5:10

(This photo was taken in June of 2013 in Badlands National Park in South Dakota.  The shadow was produced by our son standing with his arms opened wide)

He Will Come Again

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When Jesus was speaking to his disciples…

“Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God; trust also in me.  In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, i would have told you.  I am going there to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.  You know the way to the place where I am going.”

John 14:1-4

(This photo was taken in the summer of 2015 on a lake in central Minnesota)

The Way

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“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.  If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well.  From now on, you do know him and have seen him.’ “

John 14:6

(This photo was taken in December of 2013 in northwestern Wisconsin)

He Is The One

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“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.  And be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.  And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Colossians 3:15-17

(This photo was taken in the fall of 2014 at the Nakalele Blow Hole on the north shore of Maui)

Music and Life

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I have said many times how music has played a significant role in my faith journey.  Every so often a song or hymn comes to mind as a message and because of technology I can go find it and listen to it.

This morning it was a song that was popular about 10 years ago but the message is still very true today.  The story behind the music is the original composer wrote the song as an instrumental and asked his favorite novelist to write the lyrics.  The composer then had the song performed for the first time at his mother’s funeral.  It’s intent became that you can relate to it by applying it to your own personal life…I chose to use it as a worship hymn to God because in the end we can do nothing without Him.  Here are some lyrics from “You Raise Me Up”…

Original composer Rolf Loveland, Original lyrics by Brendan Graham

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up… To more than I can be.

When Jesus was teaching his disciples he said:

“As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you.  Now remain in my love.  If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

John 15:9-11

Today how does our Lord raise you up?