Abraham was declared righteous by God because of his faith.

And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous.  (Romans 4:22 NLT)

 Abraham had a right relationship with God because of his faith, not because of anything he had done.

We too can have a right relationship with God because of our faith.  We cannot earn our salvation and we certainly do not deserve salvation.  It is a gift from God.

 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. (Ephesians 2:8 NLT)

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  (Romans 10:9 NLT)

Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. (Ephesians 2:9 NLT)

Are you experiencing the joy that comes from a right relationship with God?

“Oh, what joy for those
    whose disobedience is forgiven,
    whose sins are put out of sight.
Yes, what joy for those
    whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.”
(Romans 4:7-8 NLT)

You may also want to read “Whoever Believes”.

It is a great blessing when the Lord accepts people   as if they are without sin!”
(Romans 4:8 ERV)

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The Goldfinch have come back to Atlanta.  The trees in our backyard are full of these brightly colored birds.  From morning until evening their songs fill the air.

These small birds are a good reminder to all of us that we have an awesome creator and God.

Then God said, “…. Let the skies be filled with birds of every kind.”   So God created … every sort of bird—each producing offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good.  Then God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply. Let … the birds multiply on the earth.”  (Genesis 1:20-22 NLT)

These little birds also remind us of other things.  Here are three more reminders these little birds can bring to our thoughts.

• Even the smallest details matter to God.

What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.  And the very hairs on your head are all numbered.  So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. (Matthew 10:29-31 NLT)

•  Worry doesn’t accomplish anything.

 Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear.  For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing.  Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds!  Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?  And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things? (Luke 12:22-26 NLT)

•  God cares about you.

Give your burdens to the Lord,
and he will take care of you.
He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.
                                     (Psalm 55:22 NLT)

 Remember:

• Our God is an awesome God.
• Even the smallest details matter to God.
• Worry doesn’t accomplish anything.
• God cares about you.

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. (1Peter 5:7 NLT)

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Springtime is a time of new life.

Springtime is a time of transformation.

Springtime is a time when we see new growth all around us.

Springtime is a time when we are reminded that we have an awesome creator.

He (Jesus Christ) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. (Colossians 1:15-16 ESV)

Springtime is a great time to be reminded of Christ’s offer of salvation to all who believe in Him.

^… everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.  (John 3:15 NLT)

 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!  (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT)

 “In him (Jesus Christ) was life …” John 1:4

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“Why do you seek the living among the dead?  He is not here, but has risen.”

(If you have not read the Good Friday post I suggest that you read it now.)

The Resurrection

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.  And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.  While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel.  And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?  He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” (Luke 24:1-7 ESV)

 More than 500 people saw the resurrected Christ.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,  that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,  and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.  Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.  Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.  Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. (1 Corinthians 15:3-8 ESV)

40 days after Easter Christ was taken up into Heaven and is now seated at the right hand of God.

So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. (Mark 16:19 ESV)

Christ is now preparing a place for all Christians in Heaven and will come again to take all believers to be with him.

 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.  In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. (John 14:1-3 ESV)

Do you believe this?

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26 ESV)

… because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. (Romans 10:9-10 ESV)

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13 ESV)

You may also want to read “Whoever  Believes”

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Good Friday is the Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. Jesus died on a cross a little more than 2000 years ago.  Jesus suffered the slow, public, painful, humiliating death that was generally reserved for those who had committed heinous crimes.

• Scripture tells us that Jesus is the Son of God.

And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;  and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I (God the Father) am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:16-17 ESV)

And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them …  And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” (Mark 9:2-7 ESV)

• Scripture tells us that Jesus created the world.

He (Jesus Christ) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. (Colossians 1:15-16 ESV)

All things were made through him (Jesus), and without him (Jesus) was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:3 ESV)

• Scripture tells us that Jesus is God.

In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word (Jesus) was with God, and the Word (Jesus) was God. (John 1:1 ESV)

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). (Matthew 1:23 ESV)

I (Jesus) and the Father are one.” (John 10:30 ESV)

• Jesus Christ, God the Son, out of obedience to God the Father, died on the cross.

… but (Jesus) emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:6-8 ESV)

For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.  No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” (John 10:17-18 ESV)

• Jesus died on the cross for our sins.

He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. (Romans 4:25 NIV)

… but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  (Romans 5:8 ESV)

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the creator of the universe, God the Son, willingly came to earth in human form to die on a cross so that our broken relationship with God could be restored.

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.  Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good.  But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.  (Romans 5:6-8 NLT)

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Maundy Thursday is the name given to the day on which Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples. Many people refer to this event as the Last Supper.

Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread arrived, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed.  Jesus sent Peter and John ahead and said, “Go and prepare the Passover meal, so we can eat it together.”
When the time came, Jesus and the apostles sat down together at the table.  Jesus said, “I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins.  (Luke 22:7, 8, 14, & 15 NLT)

The word Maundy is derived from the Latin word for “command.” During the Last Supper Jesus gave his disciples a new commandment.

“ …. Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. … So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.  Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”  (John 13:33-35 NLT)

Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.  But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.  God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.  This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.  Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.  (1 John 4:7-11 NLT)

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Important dates to remember.  Holy Week is almost here.

Sunday, March 20, 2016
Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday commemorates the Messiah’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem to complete the work God the Father sent his Son to accomplish on earth.

The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors  took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted,
“Praise God!
Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hail to the King of Israel!”  (John 12:12-13 NLT)

Thursday, March 24, 2016
Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday is the name given to the day on which Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples, known as the Last Supper.

Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread arrived, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed.  Jesus sent Peter and John ahead and said, “Go and prepare the Passover meal, so we can eat it together.”
When the time came, Jesus and the apostles sat down together at the table.  Jesus said, “I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins.  (Luke 22:7, 8, 14, & 15 NLT)

Friday, March 25, 2016
Good Friday
Good Friday is the day of the crucifixion and death of our Lord.

^… He (Jesus) said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. He will be killed, but three days later he will rise from the dead.”  (Mark 9:31 NLT)

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.  Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good.  But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.  (Romans 5:6-8 NLT)

Sunday, March 27, 2016
Easter Sunday
Easter Sunday is day we celebrate Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the grave.

But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.  They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.  So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus.  As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes.
 The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive?  He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.”  (Luke 24:1-7 NLT)

Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.  Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this…?” (John 11:25-26 NLT)

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Easter is the celebration of Jesus Christ’s victory over sin and death.

From the beginning, God’s plan was for Jesus to give His life in order to rescue His people from this evil world.

Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live. (Galatians 1:4 NLT)

And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save His people from their sins.  (Matthew 1:21 NLT)

Jesus died a painful, humiliating death for us.

¹⁷ They dressed him in a purple robe, and they wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head. ¹⁸ Then they saluted him and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!” ¹⁹ And they struck him on the head with a reed stick, spit on him, and dropped to their knees in mock worship. ²⁰ When they were finally tired of mocking him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him away to be crucified. (Mark 15:17-20 NLT)

Jesus Predicted His Death.

From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead. (Matthew 16:21 NLT)

Jesus suffered this agonizing death out of obedience to God the Father.

⁶ Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
⁷ Instead, he gave up his divine privileges
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
⁸     he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.  (Philippians 2:6-8 NLT)

Jesus was raised from the dead on the third day.

He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. (1 Corinthians 15:4 NLT)

Jesus died so that we could live.

He personally carried our sins
    in his body on the cross
so that we can be dead to sin
    and live for what is right.
By his wounds
    you are healed. (1 Peter 2:24 NLT)

But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
(1 Corinthians 15:57 NLT)

⁹ If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. ¹¹ As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” ¹² Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. ¹³ For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”  (Romans 10:9-13 NLT)

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Vote for someone you believe is well-respected and is known for his/her wisdom and understanding.

 Choose some well-respected men from each tribe who are known for their wisdom and understanding … (Deuteronomy 1:13 NLT)

You certainly want to be a part of the process of electing your leaders because the scriptures tell you that you are to submit to whoever is elected.

 Everyone must submit to governing authorities. (Romans 13:1 NLT)

Whatever the outcome of these elections, remember that those who end up in positions of authority are ultimately placed there by God.

 For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. ^… 4 The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. (Romans 13:1 & 4 NLT)

Always remember to pray for all who are in authority.

 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.  This is good and pleases God our Savior,  who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-4 NLT)

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT)

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Prepare your “Today’s To-Do” list thoughtfully.

What are your plans for today?  Is your “To-Do” list in order?

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
(1 Corinthians 10:31 NLT)

How much have you thought about your agenda for today?  Does today’s “to-do” list provide opportunities for God to be glorified?

Work willingly at whatever you do,
as though you were working for the Lord
rather than for people.
(Colossians 3:23 NLT)

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