Devotion..... Hillsong United

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkBh5ObVyww

We live in a world where some deny and some believe. Some try to work salvation down on their knees. There is nothing better in knowing that we are redeemed.

When Jesus speaks BIG things happen to some of us who choose to listen.

The stories on the arrest of Jesus in, Matthew 26: 45-56---Mark 14: 41-52—Luke 22: 46-53--- and John 18: 1-11, must have been very important to God to tell us each personal detail, written by what each of them experienced.

First they were told by Jesus to stay awake and pray. Well, they fell asleep… Judas betrays Jesus… Peter puts up a fight to defend Jesus and cuts the ear off a soldier named Malchus…. Jesus stops the fighting and heals the ear of Malchus….. Jesus speaks, showing His love and compassion, yet still showing His authority and some fall to their knees.

Re reading these stories again this Easter season, they each spoke to me in so many different ways. First of all, I always thought it was the Roman soldiers who went to arrest Jesus. But it wasn’t, it was the High Priest orders, the religious leaders. They sent their servant Malchus, leading an army of police and soldiers.

I had several different thoughts that I’m sure many of us can relate to at least one of them. First let’s take Malchus. He was the one who had his ear cut off by Peter, one of Jesus’s disciples. Malchus, who came to arrest Jesus, saw, heard, and felt the compassion and power of Jesus. Here he was, there to arrest Him, gets his ear cut off, and Jesus, instead of defending Peter, stops the fight and heals Malchus’s ear. He certainly didn’t make himself deserving if that, or even ask for it. In his least deserving moment Jesus still showed His love for those who hated Him, those who are lost and in need. WOW, as many times as I read and heard this story, that just jumped out at me!

Now Peter, the disciple of Jesus, can you imagine how he felt? Here he was trying to defend Jesus, and of course thinking Jesus had his back, he takes a bold step forward in front of a large army and cuts Malchus’s ear off. That could have started a riot, but Jesus tells him to put his sword away.  Sometimes I get this kind of anger inside of me when I am trying to defend Jesus and all He is to me. Once you’ve tasted and seen what only Jesus can do, you get so mad when people don’t believe.  A mistake I think a lot of us make. Then Jesus will speak to my heart and say, “ Just pray, and do all things in love, show compassion.” We can’t force anyone to believe or see their need for a relationship with Jesus. We have to trust God’s plan with family members and all whom we are praying for.

Of all the books that spoke about this scene, I love how John shows the power of Jesus when he speaks in verse 4, “Who is it you want? Jesus of Nazareth, they replied. I AM HE, they drew back and fell to the ground.” Can you imagine that!! Just maybe they were overcome by His obvious POWER and AUTHORITY. This is what we have to trust when we pray for people. Instead of wanting to cut someone’s ear off, pray and let Jesus speak to them. When they hear for themselves “I AM HE” just maybe they will fall to their knees.

Trust God in all things. He has a plan and He will complete it.

So just keep carrying your cross and follow Jesus. Show love and compassion never being afraid to speak the truth when prompted by the Holy Spirit.

NEVER cease praying God’s will in this world and our lives, and the lives of our loved ones. “ Your will be done God, on earth as it is in heaven.”

Jesus will speak and show His power. He brought us to our knees, He will one day bring them.

To the very end, before they took Jesus to be judged and executed, He still showed us He came to heal and save the lost, look at Malchus.

What do you think happened to Malchus, or anyone else in the garden that night? I think they will NEVER forget what they heard and saw Jesus say and do. I think some of them came to believe that night, especially Malchus.

PS.. If you haven’t seen “God’s not dead” GO SEE IT!!!! Great movie.

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Kim

Wonderful Cross, bids us come and die and find that we will truly live........Chris Tomlin...Matt Redman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtY1NvSWl_4

When you listen to this song, really think about what Jesus did for you, for me, for all of the world….. John 3:16

I like to think of sin like this….. God says “do it my way” (Obedient)…….. but sin says, “have it your way” (Pride)

Matthew 3: 8 "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance." Genuine repentance leads to change. Both attitude and your outright behavior. Just feeling sorry about something is not true repentance. It will only creep itself back up again. God looks beyond our words and religious activities, to see if our behavior backs up what we say. He judges our words by our actions that follow them. This is the meaning of "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance."

Matthew 3:11 " I (John the Baptist) indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He.... will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and Fire."

The Holy Spirit brings God's judgment on any of us who refuse to repent. Everyone will one day be baptized. Either now by God's Holy Spirit, or later by the fire of His judgment.

There are something's we just cannot do by ourselves, and that is change our sinful nature. Christians can tell you the truth of God's word, you can go to church every Sunday and hear a preacher preach a sermon on a change of behavior leading to a changed life a thousand times, but until the Holy Spirit comes and reveals the truth to you, drawing you to repentance, only then you will be changed, made new, a new creation. Your talk will match your walk. We become a reflection of Who He is in us.

We will always have a sinful nature, but when you allow Jesus to come into your heart, and ask Him to guide you each day, only then the sin that breaks God's heart will break yours too. Psalms 31: 3 "Since You are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of Your name lead and guide me." There is such comfort in knowing that Jesus is at my side guiding every step, restraining me in areas, and leading me in others. When you come to the fork in the road, how do you know which way to go?

When we focus on the cross, it bids us to come and die to our sinful nature and find that only in Jesus Christ can we truly live. He wants to be our everything, undivided!! What is it that you can’t seem to break free from? What addictions are stopping you from being FILLED with the Holy Spirit? You can’t live a consistent changed life style unless you dive in and go deep. God is holding your hand pulling you forward, while the enemy has a hold of your feet. Who will you let win?

"Love so amazing so divine, demands my soul, my life, my ALL"  "Oh the wonderful cross" Thank You Jesus!

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Kim

Completely Free..Thank You Jesus..Big Daddy Weave

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNNXuojh550

Psalm 22

Everyone loves the joy of Christmas time. At that time I always pray that everyone never the forgets the reason why He came. An innocent baby that came to teach us how to live, love, and pray for our enemies, and even die for our sins as we hurled insults at Him as He was dying on the cross for us all . That is why Easter just rips at my heart and soul, and I pray it does yours too, year round! This way, just maybe, we could live, love, and pray, even for our enemies who hurl insults at us for being who we are, and for "Who" we serve.

Psalm 22:14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint.

Broken and poured out, Jesus paid a price for us all that He didn't owe. Our sins cost Him everything so we can be "Completely free."

God didn't spare His own Son. So to think we even stand a chance by giving Him only the pieces of our life that we choose to, we won't stand at all before a Holy God!

It's so hard for me to believe that anyone could hate in such a way to actually enjoy, actually smiling as they beat such a loving, innocent man, and our Savior. How beautifully done, the part of the video where Jesus is focusing on the feet of the soldier beating Him. Even he needed the cleansing that could have come to him too, if only he realized his own need for the very One he was beating. John 13: 8 "Unless I wash you, you have NO PART with me."

As I look at the evil in this world and often wonder why it continues. I go to a place deep inside myself where I find peace in the sorrow and ugliness of sin. Only God's word and believing that it is the truth, gives hope for what looks like a hopeless world.

Here are just a few facts from God's word that always help me to get a glimpse of understanding the evil in some people. I hope they help you too, and see the great need to pray for such lost people.

2 Timothy 2:19 "Gods solid foundation stands firm. The Lord knows those who are His, and everyone who confesses the Name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness." It really isn't rocket science why evil continues FOR NOW.
Read this scripture for yourself and see what Jesus says. John 8: 42-47, "You belong to your father, the devil, and carry out your fathers desire." Murder, lies, you would think that evil would be dealt with severely. But when you look more deeply into God's word you will get a better understanding.

Only a loving parent disciplines their children. Hebrews 12: 5-11 "the Lord disciplines those He loves"... This is love that teaches us right from wrong. Who loves a child more, the parent who allows the child to do what will harm him, or the one who corrects and punishes. Discipline is a sign of deep love.

2 Corinthians 4: 4 tells us that "Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe." You see, this is Satan's world FOR NOW. So his children are running wild, not being disciplined. He is the type of parent that doesn't care, even influences evil. What we do with free will that God has given us, shows who we serve.
So FOR NOW, God is only tolerating those who misuse free will to harm others and themselves. But not forever!! Psalm 37: 10-11 "Just a little while longer, and the wicked will be no more...the meek will possess the earth".....

How are you living with the freedom you have right now? Who you serve is how you live. I pray we never forget the truth of why we are free.

We only view minutes of our Saviors agony, but it was hours!! Deserted by His Father, and as the hours got darker and darker for our Lord, taking on the sins of us all, He Himself cried out, "Father why have You forsaken me?" What will our cry be if today was our last?

Until we humble ourselves and let the Lord Jesus wash us, realizing it is ONLY BY HIS BLOOD we are free. Only then you are free indeed. To be resurrected to a new life because of Jesus!

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Kim

Passion of Christ.... Can you view this video and still say, "I see nothing wrong in ________. Fill the blank yourself.

Subject: Can you sit and view this video, and still say, "I see nothing wrong in_______________. Fill the blank in yourself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jii9sArCKWQ

Why would anyone suffer as He did? Either He was a lunatic, or He was Who He said He was. “I AM the Son of God.” He could have cried out at any time and ended what was happening to Him, but He didn’t. Think about that!

I am not sending out a song for Easter. I feel led to send this video of my Savior. Is He yours?

Please watch this to the end if you can. Then read Romans 1: 18-32. I pray when you are done with both, you will look at sin with NO EXCUSE.

There are so many of us who call ourselves believers, or Christians, and yet we agree with the world, or see nothing wrong with things that Jesus died for.

I pray if you don’t believe, blaming God for everything, that you take a good look at these verses, Romans 1: 18-20. You will have no excuse when Jesus comes again to judge the living and the dead. You may be a very intelligent person, have a lot of money, drive a fancy car, and maybe have a big house. What good is any of that if you are Spiritually ignorant. Romans 1: 21, If your thinking has become like that of the world, Romans 1: 28, you must not be retaining the knowledge of God. Whose fault is that? Hosea 4:6, God tells us “my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, because YOU have rejected”…. Not because He doesn’t love you, the video clearly shows you how much He does!! But because YOU have rejected. We exchange the truth of God’s word for a lie, Romans 1: 25.

God doesn’t send people to hell. Our choices, and what we choose to believe about sin does.  Some of us have been given a raw deal in life. Stop making excuses like “I wish I wasn’t born this way” or “I never had parents who cared” or “I never even knew my real parents” I’m sure you could think of a lot more, and I sympathize with each and every one of them, and you. We have to come to realize the meaning and importance of when Jesus says, “You must be born again” We can make our own heaven or hell right here on earth. Like a friend of mine at work told me the other day, he never knew his parents , and still doesn’t. He always had an emptiness but he won’t make excuses anymore for his anger he once held onto. He wants to press on and forget the past that he can’t change. He said he found Jesus, or better said, Jesus found him and he’s never been the same since then. Born once from the flesh of parents he doesn’t even know, to being Born again Spiritually. He said he feels the LOVE of a Father. The Spirit of God alive inside of him, changing him every day for the better. He said the more he gets to know God and His unchanging love for him, this is what keeps him pressing forward instead of going back to how he was, and how he used to think. We all have issues that can send us further away from God and belief, or we can use them to draw us to the cross and believe. It’s a personal choice that we all will be held accountable for.

You can have your opinion, but God has the fact! Jesus suffered and died for our sins. It is written in His word for us to acknowledge it and seek change. He is our Father and we are His creation. His desire is for us to become His children. What is holding you back? If it's the sin you know you are in, turn from it to Jesus. He is always there, waiting with open arms. To say it is impossible for God to free you or love you, than you are not trusting in His word. God says with Him "ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE"

Some of us don't seek change because we want our way. We live for the here and now. When that glorious day comes, when Jesus comes to judge the living and the dead, I hope your now is worth your eternal destination. It will be too late to change your opinion, your way of living, or even what you think there is nothing wrong in doing or being. Being a good person isn’t what Jesus died for, He died for sinners. We will never be good enough, but what breaks the heart of God, should break ours and move us towards change.

So take a good LONG LOOK at the cross and His suffering, and think about your way of living, or even your opinion on what you see nothing wrong in.

We could all make excuses for being who we are. But God desires for us to be who He created us to be.

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Kim