Matthew 26:36-46

As we celebrate Christ, His death and resurrection, one of the most painful parts of the story is the Garden of Gethsemane. For it was there when the weight of all our Savior was about to endure overcame Jesus. Such was His anguish, that His soul was overwhelmed to the point of death. And falling upon His face, three times Jesus prayed that if possible, God would remove the cup from which He was to drink. 

Located at the foot of the Mount of Olives, the Garden of Gethsemane, (which literally means “oil press”) consisted of a small grove of olive trees. A fitting place since it was there that Jesus was spiritually pressed. You know it’s often said that our true nature is revealed during times of pressing. And how we face trials and suffering shows the depth of our relationship with God. At any time Jesus could have walked away. He could have returned to His glorious throne in heaven and never once suffered for our sins. But instead He choose God’s will over His own, and obedience regardless of the consequences. And when God didn’t remove His cup of suffering, Jesus let nothing stand between Him and that cup.

There will be times when we will find ourselves face down in our own Garden of Gethsemane. When God permits suffering and we are pressed spiritually to the point of agony. It’s then when we need to follow the example of our Lord. First, in fervent prayer we are to cry out to our Abba, Father. Emptying before Him our hearts filled with fear and sorrow. And when His answer is for us to endure, we are to humbly submit before God saying, “Not my will, but Yours be done.” Drinking the cup of suffering is never easy. But we need to trust that God’s plans are always best, and used for both our benefit and His glory. Most of all remembering that His grace is everything we need to carry us through. (2 Cor. 12:9)

Nowhere was Jesus’ humanity on greater display that in that garden. And because, to the glory of the Father, He drank the cup filled with our sins, He now stands at the right hand of the Father, as our perfect High Priest. So today if you are feeling spiritually pressed, bring it the Lord. For He understands sorrow and pain. Hurt and suffering. Betrayal and anguish. And let Him guide you through your garden of agony. 

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Today on Monday of Holy Week, Jesus returned with his disciples to Jerusalem. Along the way, he cursed a fig tree because it had failed to bear fruit. Some scholars believe this cursing of the fig tree represented God's judgment on the spiritually dead religious leaders of Israel. Others believe the symbolism extended to all believers, demonstrating that genuine faith is more than just outward religiosity; true, living faith must bear spiritual fruit in a person's life.

When Jesus arrived at the Temple, he found the courts full of corrupt money changers. He began overturning their tables and clearing the Temple, saying, "The Scriptures declare, 'My Temple will be a house of prayer,' but you have turned it into a den of thieves" (Luke 19:46).

On Monday evening Jesus stayed in Bethany again, probably in the home of his friends, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. 

Monday's events are recorded in Matthew 21:12–22, Mark 11:15–19, Luke 19:45-48, and John 2:13-17.

 Matthew 27:1-5

As one of the 12 disciples personally chosen by Jesus, Judas Iscariot was part of the inner sanctum. Yet the Bible tells us Judas was a devil, thief, unbeliever, and spiritually unclean. And as we all know, most famous for the betrayal of Jesus. So why, knowing all of this beforehand, did the Lord pick him? And more importantly, is there any Judas in us?

Even before He came to be the sacrifice for our sins, Jesus knew all it would entail, and all He would have to endure. Yet willingly and joyfully, the Lamb of God came. He came to perfectly fulfill the plans of the Father. Even though sadly, part of those plans included Jesus being betrayed. That’s why, in perfect obedience, the Lord chose Judas. A man who stole from the poor, betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, and ultimately hung himself in the potter’s field. But before we are quick to condemn, we should examine our own hearts. And look for any traces that might reveal a modern day Judas in us. 

The story of Judas teaches that an outward profession doesn’t mean genuine faith. We can play and look the part of a Christian, confessing all day long with our lips that Jesus is Lord. But unless we truly believe it in our hearts, and show it with our actions, we will not inherit eternal life. Judas also shows the destruction caused by the love of money and power. Because of his greed and desire of the worldly things money could buy, Judas committed the ultimate betrayal. That’s why the Bible warns us to run from the love of money and the deceitfulness of riches. For we can’t serve God and greed. And finally Judas painfully displays the difference between being sorry and repentant. Judas’ tragic end came not through regret of his actions, but because of the consequences they brought. His heart wasn’t grieved or repentant over the sin He committed against the Lord. 

Many are the lessons we can learn from the disgraced disciple. Because if we’re honest, we too have sinned and at times betrayed the Lord. But if we come before Christ in search of humble forgiveness, and in true repentance, the Lord is quick to forgive and restore. So today I challenge you to look deep inside. Do you go to church and with your mind say Jesus is Lord but not with your heart? Do you call Him King only as a way to achieve your own throne? Or do you thank Him from a heart overflowing for His great love, sacrifice, and gift of eternal life? 

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Matthew 22:34-40

As we ease into the new month and the Easter celebration, I’m so excited to be celebrating Christ. For His is the greatest love story ever told. All Jesus did and endured was because of His great love for us. And when approached by a Pharisee who asked what was the greatest commandment of all, the Lord’s answer? Love. Love for God, and each other. 

Love is so vital, Jesus adds, upon this is the foundation of the Law and the Prophets. But loving as Jesus loves can only happen if our love for Him, is greater than our love for ourselves. And the proof of this is in the way we treat others. For as the apostle John points out, to say that we love God and yet not love others, makes us liars. (1 John 4:20) So hearts that put Christ first, no longer demonstrate a self centered, sinful love, but the completely selfless and sacrificial love of Jesus.

That kind of love may seem impossible. But the closer we get to Christ, and the more we experience His unconditional love, an amazing thing happens. Our heart begins to change. Once hardened, selfish, and worldly, through the work of the Spirit, it becomes softened, open, and overflowing with gratitude. Gratitude for all that God has done for us. And from that thankfulness, springs forth the ability to see, and more importantly, love others as Jesus does.

Our goal as Christians, is to become transformed into the image of Christ. To mirror His unconditional love, loving one another just as He has loved us. (John 15:12) 1 John 4:9-11 powerfully reminds us, "God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love another."  This is the message echoed throughout the Bible and especially in the teachings of Jesus. And to me, it is the greatest love story of all!

So today I challenge you to examine your heart. Is it Jesus that fills your love tank? Is your love for Him so strong, that people know you are His by the love you have for others? (1 John 13:15) 

 Mark 11:24-25

Prayer is a wonderful thing. Because it allows our souls to connect with the One who created them. Yet there are things that can keep us from having a successful prayer life. Stumbling blocks that dam up the flow of communication between us and God. And unforgiveness is one of them. So much so, Mark warns us that before we pray, we need to be free of unforgiveness towards others. Why? So that we in turn can receive the forgiveness of God.

Forgiving others is hard, messy, and painful. Yet no matter how many times, or how badly we’ve been betrayed, hurt, or disappointed, Jesus says we are to forgive. In fact, forgiveness is so important to the Lord, when teaching the disciples to pray in Matthew 6, He includes in His prayer, “forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” How many times do we recite the Lord’s Prayer with unforgiveness harbored in our hearts? 

Having a spirit of unforgiveness hinders more than just our prayers. It affects our relationship with God. For not only does it keep us from receiving His pardon for our own sins, but also His peace, grace, and mercy. And it grieves the very Spirit of God living inside of us. Because unforgiveness is a toxin of the Enemy, poisoning our minds, hearts, and souls. 

In our own strength such forgiveness is impossible. But through God’s transforming power, we can pull the weed of unforgiveness, stopping it from taking root and spreading. And when we are free from its stronghold, we can approach God with the assurance that when we come Him in prayer, all things we ask will be granted according to His goodness and perfect will.

Today I challenge you to really search and be honest with yourself. Are there any unwanted plants of bitterness, or tares of unforgiveness choking off your path of prayer? Ask God to weed the garden of your heart. To prune away the thorns and dead limbs of old grudges, hurts, and anger. Leaving in its place a fruitful, bountiful, Christlike heart, and a prayer life free from stumbling blocks!  

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 Matthew 21 

Here it is only two days until Christmas and we're reading about Palm Sunday; another special day of celebrations for all Christians everywhere! How perfect! With only two days until Christmas let us take a moment to rejoice in all our Savior has done for us! Let our hearts be light! Let's pause a bit from our busy schedules and  praise the mighty name of Jesus today! Let's turn this day into a day of celebrating our King of kings and Lord of lords! And let our hearts prepare to worship Him this Christmas! 

Are you ready?

“Jesus, You are Lord! I want to honor You as the Lord of all creation. You are Jehovah (Yahweh), the God of all the peoples of this world!

You are my God; my personal God, and I want to exalt You and praise Your name, for in perfect faithfulness You have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.

There is nothing too hard for you. O Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You.

Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You. I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my hands and cry out, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Yes, bless Your holy name!

With the Prophet Isaiah, I will also declare, The LORD of Heaven’s Armies has spoken–who can change His plans? When His hand is raised, who can stop Him?”

Oh, Lord, You are Almighty God; when You speak, may we be quick to listen and quick to act upon Your word, for we want to bless You, Jesus! You, who are so worthy of all our praise and worship. You are the King of kings and Lord of lords! The Alpha and Omega; the Beginning and the end; who was and is and is to come!

Abba, precious Father and Lord,

Please make a way for all us to know you better; more deeply and intimately in 2021. O please, bless us incredibly and enlarge our territory in all areas in our lives! Let Your hand be with us constantly to strengthen us and keep us from all harm and may we bring you honor and glory in the coming year! For it's in Jesus precious name we pray. Amen

Merry Christmas! 

sue

Matthew 14

When Herod the Great died, each of his sons became a ruler, also called a “tetrarch”, over 1/4 of his kingdom. His son, Herod Antipas, governed over the areas of Galilee and Perea. Herod had a half brother named Philip. While in Rome visiting Philip, Herod met Herodias, the wife of Philip, and the two fell madly in love. And that forbidden love led Herod to make a decision that resulted in the murder of a beloved man of God, John the Baptist. a decision Herod deeply regretted.

John the Baptist had a ministry near the Jordan river. There he preached the coming of the promised Messiah, and baptized people in the name of the Lord. When John learned of the union between Herod and Herodias, who had since divorced their respective spouses to marry each other, he preached against the marriage. Such a union was forbidden in Jewish law. Herodias was furious over John’s public disapproval, and had Herod throw John in prison. In her hatred, Herodias wanted John dead, but Herod, being afraid of a rebellion by the Jews, refused. And so Herodias tricked Herod into murdering John and presenting his head to her on a platter. Caught up in desire and running on passion, caused Herod to make a decision that would haunt him the rest of his life.

Even the best of us fall victim to making mistakes in the passion of a moment that can lead to a lifetime of consequences. I think of Moses who in a fit of anger sinned against God and lost his chance to enter the promised land. (Deut. 32:51-52) Or David who in the heat of desire slept with another man’s wife, resulting in murder and the death of David’s son. (2 Sam. 12:13-18) And Samson who in a moment of frustration told the secret to his God given strength, causing him to be captured, blinded, and killed. (Judges 13-16)

We all make decisions in the heat of the moment that end up as mistakes. We all fall short and need forgiveness daily. Fortunately, God’s grace comes in an abundant supply. The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to anger, and filled with unfailing love. He does not accuse, nor remain angry forever. He does not deal harshly with us, but instead is faithful to forgive our never-ending sins. (Psalm 103:8, 1 John 1:9) And although God may let us reap the consequences from the decisions we make, His unfailing love for us is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. A love in full display through His Son Jesus Christ who, regardless of the mistakes we’ve made, stands ready to welcome us with open arms and not a pointed finger.

  Matthew 11

There is a weariness that requires more than eight hours of sleep each night. The rest Jesus is speaking about here is a spiritual rest. Since the seventh day of creation, God has demonstrated our need for rest, but many haven't heeded His invitation. It was rest that He promised His children in the wilderness, but "They failed to enter that rest because of their disobedience" (Hebrews 3:19). 

We see in the verses prior to Matthew 11:28, Jesus is rebuking the different towns which have refused to follow Him in spite of the many miracles He has already preformed in them (Mt. 11:20-24). God longs for His children to enter His rest. How about you?

I'm sure you thought, "Of course!", but do your recent actions convey that same sentiment? Remember, Israel refused even after wandering in the dessert!

We have a God who loves us so much that He desires to take our burdens off our own shoulders, place them on His, and give us His peace in return. I call that a great exchange; my burdens for His peace, but I've discovered in the past that I haven't always made the exchange so quickly. 

Do you feel buried under the burdens of this world? Stressed? Anxious? Is your heart at peace, or are you bombarded by worrisome thoughts? God is offering you HIS peace today if you will take some time to be “yoke” to Him and His teaching.

His ways are different from the world’s ideas. The world tells us we can only have peace when we’ve completed the job, life is settled, or we've gained the approval of man. God tells us over and over in His word to stop working in our own strength, yoke ourselves to His teaching, and get rid of all the stress and pressure of the world. “casting all your anxieties on him, because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) You have a God who cares about you!

He wants us to, "be still (let be, cease from striving), and know (recognize and understand) that I am God." (Psalm 46:10) He is able. Not even our best efforts can come close to all HE can do through us!

David knew this when he wrote Psalm 23, 

Song of Solomon 2:10-13

 My beloved speaks and says to me:

‘Arise, my love, my fair one,

   and come away;

 for now the winter is past,

   the rain is over and gone.

 The flowers appear on the earth;

   the time of singing has come,

and the voice of the turtle-dove

   is heard in our land.

 The fig tree puts forth its figs,

   and the vines are in blossom;

   they give forth fragrance.

Arise, my love, my fair one,

   and come away.

I did not hear these words spoken audibly, mind you, but they would come as a thought, and I would climb out bed, grab my Bible and journal and meet with Him out in my favorite chair in the living room. We'd read the Psalms and I shared all my concerns and questions, and He'd reassure me each time, and then I'd go off to sleep again until morning. We'd sometimes spend up to two hours in that chair, but I always woke refreshed and ready for the day, as if I'd slept for eight hours straight!

If you'd like to, or need to make a great exchange, here are three steps that should help:

1. Think about your life for a moment. In what areas do you need God’s peace today? 

2. Tell Him. Offer that area of your life to God and ask Him for His advice, (Js 1:56) Listen as you read His Word and keep listening throughout the day. 

3. Surrender yourself to Him; your thoughts, ideas, actions and invite Him to come take over.

 And remember He desires for you to enter His rest just as much, if not more, than you do!

Blessings, 

sue

 Today's Scripture passage: Matthew 6

If you ever took Psychiatry 101 in college you most likely learned that when you or I choose to believe lies about ourselves they tend to fall into one of three categories: 

• 1. I'm helpless
• 2. I'm worthless
• 3. I'm unlovable

  It seems easy to grow anxious at times and let anxiety rule in our hearts and heads, but it's at those times we should stop to ask ourselves just what are we focusing on, in that moment?  

 Jesus tells us not to worry, and for good reason. He goes into great details here explaining how the Father knows our needs and has promised to take care of us. Our job is to lay all our anxiety, worry and fear at the Father’s feet and seek His kingdom, trusting that He will take care of us just like He promised.

So exactly how do we do that?

 Seeking God’s kingdom means trusting that He will take care of our needs, despite our circumstances. We start here because Jesus started here. When He is teaching the crowd about how to combat anxiety, He acknowledged the people’s needs and His Father’s ability to provide for those needs. The birds and flowers are taken care of, so we can trust that God will take care of us too. 

Jesus gives us the example of the birds and flowers, but I also find it helpful to find Scripture passages that we can claim when those anxious thoughts come. Like:

Isaiah 41:10 says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” or

Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” 

1.      Seeking God’s kingdom means worshiping Him in midst of our circumstances. We're often anxious over the things we cannot control. And believe it or not, anxiety can actually be a form of control that can also bring much harm to our own bodies and other relationships around us.  Worshiping while we wait on the answers/outcome is challenging, but if we approach God believing His promises and acknowledging that He is God, who is able to do immeasurably more that all we can ask or think (Eph. 3:20), we can worship. Even with imperfect faith, we can worship.

2.      Seeking God’s kingdom means finding where God is working around you and joining Him there. Trust Him and  turn your attention outward. We need to stop focusing on our needs and fears that God won’t provide, claim the verses that prove to us what Jesus has already assured us it will happen,  and ask Him how we can partner with Him in that work.  To seek God’s kingdom first we need to cultivate a heart that says we not only want to experience God in our own lives, but we want our world to experience Him too!

I I  I know I'm making it sound so simple, and I know anxiety can be an ongoing struggle that can last for years, but if you will begin to take every thought captive, measure them up to His truths He's given you, pray; seeking His help with turning all those thoughts over to Him and rising to walk in faith with Him to minister to others, I can promise you it will grow easier and the anxiety will decrease over time. 

L  Let your anxious thoughts become a barometer sort of speak that will point you to our King! 

B Blessings!

  s Sue

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