Of the seven annual Jewish Feasts, three included festivals requiring the people to make a trek to the temple. And as Jerusalem sat upon a high hill, Jewish pilgrims sang beautiful songs of praise and worship as they climbed the road to the city. Psalm 121 is such a song. One the people sang with joy as they remembered all the times they cried out in despair, and how every time their help came from the Lord. For our God is always awake and watching over His people with infinite care.

Although we aren’t required to travel to Jerusalem, we too are on a trek. For until we are called home to heaven, we are to walk this earth on the path chosen for us by God. And whatever path that is we can have confidence that as His beloved children, our Father will never let our feet be moved. He is the mighty Keeper of our souls. Protector and Sustainer of His people. And as such, night and day, coming and going, God will keep us secure and steadfast. Always helping, guiding, and providing. 

Each of us has a calling. One unique to us alone. And with threats coming at us from all sides, following that calling can be difficult and dangerous. But God never asks us to go it alone. Minute by minute the Lord is watching and protecting us from all evil. And as our source of strength and security, we can look to Him for help from each adversity. This isn’t to say that life will be easier. But it is to say that no matter what we face, we won’t face it alone. For God promises to sustain us through every challenge.

We can’t protect ourselves from all of life’s dangers. And often we needlessly suffer from fear because we’re looking everywhere for help, except to the One who can. God loves us beyond measure. He offers us eternal care and protection. All we need to do is trust in Him and accept His help. And when our dependence is completely on God, we can experience a sense of peace and security even in the midst of difficult circumstances. Resting secure knowing our Father will never let us falter. 

Pause and Reflect -

Are you trusting in God's care and protection, or do you rely on your own strength? How can you cultivate a deeper sense of trust in the Lord, even in the face of uncertainty and danger?

Let’s pray together, 

Our dearest Father in heaven above, Ruler and Creator of all things, hallowed be Thy name. Oh Father we stand in awe over Your great power and protection of Your people. And we thank You for always watching over us. Lord we confess that at times we feel overwhelmed and uncertain, but are comforted by the help that You alone provide. For Father we trust that You will keep our feet from slipping. And that You will be our ever-present help in times of trouble. Father give us the courage to face the challenges before us, knowing that You are with us every step of the way. And may we always look to You as our source of strength and security. In Jesus' precious name we pray, Amen. 

Don't' forget to head over to our Facebook group at, https://www.facebook.com/groups/womenintheword2 to join in on the discussion. Also check out our public Facebook page at, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083156569388 and give us a like!

I can’t wait to hear your thoughts, and I pray your day overflows with love and blessings.

💖 Lisa

From Bethany, Jesus sent Peter and John ahead to the Upper Room in Jerusalem to make the preparations for the Passover Feast. That evening after sunset, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples as they prepared to share in the Passover. By performing this humble act of service, Jesus demonstrated by example how believers should love one another. Today, many churches practice foot-washing ceremonies as a part of their ​Maundy Thursday services.

Then, Jesus shared the feast of Passover with his disciples, saying:

"I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. For I tell you now that I won't eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God." (Luke 22:15-16,)

As the Lamb of God, Jesus was about to fulfill the meaning of Passover by giving his body to be broken and his blood to be shed in sacrifice, freeing us from sin and death. During this Last Supper, Jesus established the Lord's Supper, or Communion, instructing his followers to continually remember his sacrifice by sharing in the elements of bread and wine (Luke 22:19-20).

Later, Jesus and the disciples left the Upper Room and went to the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed in agony to God the Father. Luke's Gospel says that "his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground" (Luke 22:44,)

Late that evening in Gethsemane, Jesus was betrayed with a kiss by Judas Iscariot and arrested by the Sanhedrin. He was taken to the home of Caiaphas, the High Priest, where the whole council had gathered to begin making their case against Jesus.

Meanwhile, in the early morning hours, as Jesus' trial was getting underway, Peter denied knowing his Master three times before the rooster crowed.

Thursday's events are recorded in Matthew 26:17–75, Mark 14:12-72, Luke 22:7-62, and John 13:1-38.

The room was still dark when Mary awakened. For a moment the events of the past days seemed like nothing more than a horrible nightmare. As she rose and lit the oil lamp, she caught a glimpse of her reflection in the polished water pitcher sitting on a table nearby. A tear stained face with swollen eyes, stared back at her. And instantly Mary knew it was no dream. She fell to her knees as the horrific images of her Savior being crucified came rushing back, and the tears began to flow once more.

Jesus Christ, Mary’s Master, Teacher, and Friend, had been arrested and sentenced to death. He was beaten beyond recognition, wearing a crown of thorns, and hung on a Cross. Many others who had followed this Man now deserted Him in fear. But not Mary. Her heart wouldn’t allow her to leave. And so there she stood at the feet of her Savior, whom she loved so dearly. She witnessed His unbelievable grace as He forgave those crying out for His death. She felt His amazing love as He turned the care of His mother over to His dearest friend. And with a broken heart, she heard Him take His very last breath. 

When it was over, Mary watched from afar as Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea removed the body of Christ from the Cross. And after they had wrapped Him in linen filled with spices fit for a king, Mary followed behind as they laid His body in a tomb. And only after the tomb had been sealed with a stone rolled across it, did Mary return home to grieve her terrible loss.

That was two days ago. And now, in the early morning hours, Mary was off to meet the mother of James. Together they were going back to the tomb where her Lord laid. Oh how Mary had longed to go yesterday, but as it was the Sabbath, she had to wait. But at last, today, she could return to her Messiah. Loving and gently, she would properly anoint His body with spices she had so painstakingly purchased.

As she walked in the darkness, Mary’s mind wandered back to when she first met this Jesus of Nazareth. Her life then was one of agony and suffering. Being possessed by seven demons, Mary was battered and bruised, both physically and mentally. She was considered an outcast and shunned by society. But then Jesus came. And instead of turning away in disgust as so many others before Him, He turned toward her. “Mary”, He called. Mary looked into His face and suddenly felt a wave of love wash through her that she had never before experienced. Finally she was free! The demons that had ravaged her life for so many years had left at the command of this Man! And from that moment on, in loving thankfulness, she had devoted her life to following and serving Jesus. But now with His death, all of that had been ripped away.

As Mary neared the tomb, she wondered aloud who would help roll the stone away so the women could get inside and perform the anointing. But when they arrived, to Mary’s horror, she found the stone already removed and no body inside. The linens Jesus had been wrapped in laid crumbled on the ground, but His body was nowhere to be found. Instead some strange man dressed in a white robe stood inside. “Jesus is not here”, said the man. “He has risen, just as He said.” Confused and afraid, Mary ran back to tell her fellow disciples what had just happened. 

Racing back to the tomb with Peter, Mary stood to catch her breath while the disciple looked inside. After seeing for himself that the Lord was gone, Peter left to tell the others, leaving Mary alone at the tomb. This was just all too much for her, and Mary collapsed in a pile of tears. In the midst of her grief, she heard a man ask, “Woman, why are you crying?" Who is it you are looking for?" Thinking this man the gardener, she pled, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him." Then suddenly the voice became the same familiar and loving one she heard calling her name all those years ago. “Mary”, He said. Instinctively she turned and answered, “Teacher!”

How could this be? Standing in front of Mary was Jesus, alive and talking to her! “Mary”, Jesus said again snapping her out her wonderment. “Pull yourself together and deliver my message to My disciples. For I have not yet ascended to My Father.”

Although she was pained to again leave her Lord, Mary obeyed. And as she left to share the good news, tears once again filled her eyes. But far from tears of pain, the tears she now cried were of joy and gladness. For her Savior had returned and had chosen her to be the first one to appear before. 

As she walked Mary now had a pep in her step, for she couldn’t wait to tell everyone of Christ’s return, His great love and His ability to rescue anyone from even the greatest depths of darkness.

Matthew 4

After being baptized by John, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. The Lord fasted for forty days and nights. Without His disciples and hungry, Jesus was approached by the tempter himself, Satan. Three times the Enemy tried to entice the Lord into disobedience. And three times Jesus overcame the temptation to sin, sending the devil to slither away.

Like me, for many the story of the temptation of Jesus raises some questions. Like, “How could the Lord be tempted if He was truly God?” Or, “Why did Satan even try to beat the Lord if he knew he would only fail?” And finally, “Why did God allow it to happen in the first place?” So to find the answers, I dug into scripture.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us.” (John 1:1,14) The Bible teaches that Jesus is both fully man and fully God. And it was the flesh side of the Lord that Satan was targeting. Like us, Jesus felt hunger, loneliness, and hardship. Yet instead of those feelings leading Him to sin, the Lord stood on the Word of God to stop the enemy in His tracks. And when we too stand on God’s Word, we can have that same victory over temptation. For when we resist the devil by turning to God, the devil will run from us. (James 4:7)

So why did the Enemy start a losing battle? I’m reminded of the old saying, “Give the devil his due, but don’t overpay him.” While Satan is many things, the one thing he is not, is God. That means he isn’t omniscient. He doesn’t know the future, nor has he ever. We have the benefit of the Bible, so we know the story from beginning to end. But at the time Satan didn’t. “You said in your heart, I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God.” (Is. 14:13-14) Remember, the devil tried to rise a rebellion against God and was thrown to the earth in judgement. Why wouldn’t his ego allow him to think that he could defeat Jesus? His failed efforts show us how rebelling against the will of God only leads to failure and destruction.

Jesus faced many trials when He walked this earth. So why did God put Him through this one? Like with all of the challenges Jesus overcame, the purpose wasn’t for His benefit but for ours. Hebrews 2:17 tells us, “He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and high priest.” Any temptation we face, Jesus knows. Any pain we suffer, Jesus knows. Any trial we experience, Jesus knows. And because He knows there is no one better to intercede for us before God. I love how Dr. Charles Stanley says, “Jesus left heaven and became a man not only to become a sacrifice for our sins but also to experience what we feel and to know exactly what it’s like to be one of us. That’s what makes Him our perfect representative on the throne of grace.” Oh how very thankful I am for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and to Him goes the glory forever and ever!

Revelation 6

God’s heavenly scroll contains His divine sentence against the world. Held together by seven seals, the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, is the only One holy and worthy to unroll the scroll. And with each seal broken by the Lord, a new judgement is unleashed upon the earth. Chapter six of Revelation brings us to the beginning of God’s wrath poured out upon a wicked and unrepentant world.

The first four seals come in the form of four divine horsemen.

Rider On The White Horse- This rider is no other than the Antichrist. He sets forth to conquer the world, quickly rising to power. Many fall under his spell as he brokers a false peace between Israel and the world, lasting 3 1/2 years. During this time he leads many away from God.

Rider On The Red horse- The moment the abomination of desolation occurs, the red horse and rider are set loose. This rider takes peace from the world causing wars like never before seen. The great sword he is given drips with blood as the people of the earth slaughter each other.

Rider On The Black Horse- Back in ancient times, scales were often used to weigh something precious. As this rider brings with him worldwide economic collapse and famine, the precious thing being weighed is food. Except for the privileged few, food will be both scarce and expensive.

Rider On The Pale Horse- Called death, and bringing hell along with him, the pale horse and rider are responsible for the deaths of 1/4 of the world’s population. No one will be immune to the war, famine, and wild beasts of earth at his disposal as he wipes out the peoples of the earth.

The fifth seal releases the cries of the tribulation saints. Even facing certain persecution and death, many will receive Jesus as their Savior and be saved during the seven year tribulation. These martyred believers, clothed in white, plead for God to avenge their spilled blood. And in yet another example of the love and grace of God, He tells them they must wait and rest a bit longer until all of His children have had the opportunity to be saved.

The Final seal of the chapter wields forth nuclear war and devastating cosmic occurrences. Fired nuclear weapons decimate the lands. Asteroids, and meteorites rain down from the sky, and a shaking of the earth so great occurs, it causes all peoples to hide themselves, “in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of the their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?’(vs 16-17)

On that great day, no one will be able to hide from God. But in His goodness and love, God gives each of us the opportunity to escape His wrath to come. When we receive His free gift of pardon through the blood of Jesus Christ, before the tribulation occurs, the Lord will call us to meet Him in the sky in the Rapture, sparing us the judgement to come. The Bible tells us that those who go through the tribulation know the judgements they incur come from the most high God, yet their hardened hearts still reject Him and His Son. 

The days are growing short my friends. I truly believe we are living in the season of the Lord’s return. Won’t you save yourself from the wrath to come, and receive God’s gift of eternal life filled with love, joy, and fellowship with the Lord forever?