Growing up in Joplin, Missouri, we had the pleasure of watching tornadoes go through the area.  Sometimes we would go to the south end of town and watch.  Most of the time, we would go outside and watch.  Yes, instead of seeking shelter, we went outside.  Twelve years ago, an EF5 tornado struck my hometown.  It was devastating.  No grass. No trees.  Trees that were left standing had no bark.  There is no official death toll.  The lingering effects of that tornado is still felt to this day.

 

There are times in our life where there is a divorce, death in the family or loved one, financial problems, loss of job, or split in the family occurs.  Nothing is left.  Everything is barren.  Nothing left, no one standing.  It is just empty.

 

It is during this time, if you let HIM, Jesus comes in and builds out of the rubble.  You will not know what it is, but HE will build something.  That something will be beyond your wildest imagination.  Right Beloved.

 

Let Jesus take the rubble of your life and build.  See what happens.

Everyone in Christianity is preparing for Resurrection Sunday.  There will be celebrations every day next week in some denominations.  For others maybe just a Good Friday service followed by Sunrise Service on Resurrection Sunday.  Lots of traditions.  Lots of parties, yes parties.  Lots of food.

 

With that said, one must remember the importance of next week, Beloved.  Everyone would say that the most important event would be the cross.  That would be correct, but to understand the depth of the cross, look at the whole of the week.  Jesus is preparing everyone for the cross with every action, every word, every touch. 

 

He is preparing everyone for the ultimate sacrifice (HIMSELF) and the closing of an Old Covenant and the beginning of the New Covenant.  The last words on the cross by Jesus were, “It is finished.”  What is finished?  HIS life.  HIS sacrifice.  The Old Covenant.  HE fulfilled the Old Covenant with HIS life and HIS sacrifice.  His blood is the New Covenant between God and man.  Now man can go directly to God through the blood of Jesus Christ.  This New Covenant is more powerful than the Old because it is based upon a perfect sacrifice, not an animal.  Sins are forgiven completely, not rolled back.  God dwells in HIS people, not in a temple made by human hands. 

Think about.

 

Back in the day, the B52’s came out with a song called Love Shack.  It was a upbeat song about a love shack and that is where love is at.  Like many songs of the time, it depicted love as physical, fun, emotional, and crazy.  The idea caught hold.  It became many expressions of love at the time.  What is love?  It is what ever you define it to be.  Emotional, that is ok.  Physical, that is ok also.  About self, that is even better.  Cars, women, men, things, whatever you desire can be love. 

 

 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant  or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.  So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

 

Love is a decision.  That no matter how difficult the times, the other person will come first.  No matter how long the wait, how difficult the transaction, the other person comes first.  That is love.  That is seen on the cross, when Jesus died.  He placed God’s plan for mankind above HIS own interests.  By loving God, we have salvation.  By loving God, Jesus gave us freedom. 

 

This is not written for you Beloved.  It is written for me.  Love sometimes will take the pain of another, just so that person can grow.  Love will sacrifice, so the other will prosper.  Love will die for another, so that they can live.  Hard lessons at time.  Harder is it to believe.  That is why so many people have a difficult time with the cross.  How can someone die for me?  Very simple.  HE loved the Father.  HE loves you.  When you see someone that loves, or is trying to love like Jesus, do not take it for granted.  Rejoice and be glad.  Think about it.

 

 

Yesterday in my travels, I stopped at a gas station for fuel.  Walking inside to pay, I heard the male cashier say to the female cashier, “MY wife does not understand, I am glad you do.”   Wow.  Me being me could not help but interject.  “So you don’t trust your wife,” I asked him.

 

He was stunned.  “This is not your conversation,” he replied.  “Yes it is, you are saying this stuff in public for all to hear,” I stated.  “Besides, why are you not telling your wife?  Why are you not spending time with her and helping to understand your views?”

 

The man became defensive,  Imagine that.  “I can talk to whoever I want,” he snapped back. 

 

“No you can not,” I responded.  “You made a promise to her that she would be your all in a woman and that no other woman would take her place,”  Glancing at the female cashier, I noticed her wedding ring.  “Besides, how do you think she feels another man telling her secrets about himself?”  

 

I paused.  “How would you feel if your wife was right now doing what you are doing?”  He snorted and walked away.  The lady cashier finished my transaction and thanked me.  She never looked at conversations that way before and had something to think about.

 

Anytime, a person comes up to you and states that they can only talk to you and not their spouse, they are looking for a way into your life that is destructive.  Seen it too many times.  Always place yourself in a position that your spouse would be proud of you.  Always live like you would want your spouse to live.  Let God guide your marriage, your relationship and make HIM first.  Right Beloved?

Everyone is searching for peace.  No where is there peace.  At work, at home, in our finances, relationships, hobbies, no peace.  We find temporary peace in several of the before mentioned items, but it is temporary.

 

Ok, now preacher you are going to say look at Jesus.  Well, yes.  Why not?  Every claim that Jesus makes, does not change.  Every promise He makes, does not change.  Every word spoke is true, it does not change.  Is there not peace in something that is consistent, unchanging, sure?  Yes, there is. 

 

“I will give you strength,” promises peace in the midst of trouble.  “Follow me,” gives peace in the midst of life’s storms and celebrations.  “I am with you always,” promises peace in the midst of loneliness and depression. 

 

Peace is not found in things, but in the very life of Jesus Christ.  Think about it.

It is raining here in Indiana.  Has been for the past three days.  Not complaining.  We need the rain.  Water tables are low.  Rain replenishes.  We will take the rain, won’t we Beloved?

 

We need rain.  We need rain spiritually also.  Rain can come in many different ways.  Quiet times with God or reading HIS word, temptations, difficult times, waiting times, whatever time it may be God can bring rain.  What about you?  Going through a drought?  Having difficulty hearing God’s voice, following a command, or letting life stress you, wait.  God will always bring the rain.  Always. 

 

One other short thought: rain refreshes, rain cleanses, rain gives growth.  Never look at the rain as a hindrance, for it is a blessing.  Think about it.

Beloved, Jesus walks into Jerusalem on Monday morning.  He notices a fig tree.  Fig trees are common in the region of the world.  It is one of the main stays of their economy.  Yet, this fig tree was bearing leaves out of season.  It should have been dormant.  It was not.  Seeing this, Jesus cursed the tree and it died.

 

When we live our lives as followers of Christ outside of the realm of HIS teachings, HIS example, sooner or later HE will bring either discipline or curse us.  The fig tree was alive when it was not suppose to be.  We do things sometimes, when we are not suppose to be.  We take life into our own hands, believing we can create our own existence.  Our existence comes only from the Creator.  Therefore, HE dictates when we grow, blossom and bear fruit, not ourselves.

 

Look at your life today.  Does it feel out of place?  Maybe you are operating out of season of GOD’S timing.  To get into GOD’S timing is very simple, pray.  Talk to GOD daily.  Seek HIS will.  Bloom in HIS timing.  Think about it. 

When walking into Jerusalem, Jesus saw a fig tree without fruit.  He cursed it.  When leaving Jerusalem, the disciples noticed that the fig tree was dead.  They commented to Jesus.  Jesus’s response was simple,  “Have faith in God.”  What a response.  He did not say, “look at what I did,” or “I have the power.”  He brought everything back to God.

 

In Mark 11: 20 – 26, is the record of this event, Beloved.  In this Scripture Jesus starts with faith.  Curious thing about faith, it is living.  There is no such thing as a stagnate faith.  Faith is always action.  Hebrews 11 demonstrates this simple fact  God told men and women what to do in faith they did it.  However, notice God told them what to do.  They obeyed.

 

Faith is rooted in obedience.  If there is not obedience, faith does not grow.  Sooner or later, faith dies. 

 

Think about it.  Pray about it.  If your faith is not growing, are you being obedient?  

Someone asked me, so what do you keep?  I looked over the last devotion and thought, hey that’s a good question.  So here is the short answer.  What one keeps with all their heart is their relationship with Jesus Christ.  That is the most important relationship in the world.  Nothing and no one should ever interfere.  Keep in the Word daily.  This is morning devotions, evening devotions, or just anytime that you have a free second.  Try giving up electronics and replace it with the Word.  Prayer.  Prayer is the communication with God.  Meditation is when HE talks back.  Love.  Love your neighbors, the brethren.  Forgiveness.

 

I think you get the idea.  Anything that is of God’s you keep.  Anything that is not of God, needs to go.  Tough I know.  I know this from personal experience.  But that of God is eternal.  That is what is worth keeping.  Right Beloved?  Just a thought.

Someone asked me, so what do you keep?  I looked over the last devotion and thought, hey that’s a good question.  So here is the short answer.  What one keeps with all their heart is their relationship with Jesus Christ.  That is the most important relationship in the world.  Nothing and no one should ever interfere.  Keep in the Word daily.  This is morning devotions, evening devotions, or just anytime that you have a free second.  Try giving up electronics and replace it with the Word.  Prayer.  Prayer is the communication with God.  Meditation is when HE talks back.  Love.  Love your neighbors, the brethren.  Forgiveness.

 

I think you get the idea.  Anything that is of God’s you keep.  Anything that is not of God, needs to go.  Tough I know.  I know this from personal experience.  But that of God is eternal.  That is what is worth keeping.  Right Beloved?  Just a thought.