Easter

Good News From the Dead

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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? Luke 24:5 ESV

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One spring day when our boys were small, I brought home a turtle I had found on the road. They excitedly helped as we made up a box with a water dish, grass, and stones. But our turtle wanted nothing to do with his new home. He never drank the water, nor ate a single piece of bread. Each day he grew weaker, until by the end of the week he lay motionless. We felt the best thing was to return him to the swamp where he could spend his final days in peace….

To read the rest of the story click on the link to Christian Devotions US February 18th for the full article…

Good News From the Dead

Getting Ready for Easter

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In preparation for Easter some of us choose to separate the 40 plus days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday as a time to refocus our spiritual lives. While there is neither a command in scripture nor a New Testament example, it can still be a valuable time of both repentance and renewal. We certainly can enter into this season in the same way that Paul instructs us to prepare our hearts to receive the Lord’s supper.

Examine yourselves, and only then eat of the bread and drink of the cup.  For all who eat and drink without discerning the body,[i] eat and drink judgment against themselves.       1 Corinthians 11:28-29

Some of us love devotional guides as a supplement to our daily Bible reading. This year I am offering a large print edition for those who like me appreciate a larger font. I hope this may be a blessing to you as with God’s help each of us prepares our hearts for Him.

Easter Reflections – This 46 day Lenten devotional is now in large print. In addition the readings have been re-edited both in content and to conform to the dates for 2019. Easter Reflections is available in both print and E-book format on Amazon.

Easter Reflections

Easter Reflections

 

 

My Easter Miracle – Part Two

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How Easter Found Me

How in the world I ended up 3,000 miles from home was a tangle of events ranging from a broken home where my parents seemed to me as confused as I was. Adding in plenty of recreational drug use and my decision at 17 to move out on my own and you might begin to get the picture of how I ended up sitting in that pew owning nothing more than a guitar and two changes of clothing in a back pack.

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Photo by Lucas Allmann on Pexels.com

The church service began with some happy singing and clapping. That was definitely something I had missed at the Lutheran and Congregational churches my parents had brought me on occasion.

Once the singing ended the pastor gave a message but the words of his sermon really weren’t what connected with my heart. What really penetrated was the love that I felt all day from the people around me. Here were folks who seemed genuinely concerned, not just looking for some angle to get something out of me. When I had traveled through California I had met others who had told me about Jesus. Some even invited me to church but I was afraid to commit myself. It all seemed strange and though the idea of believing in Jesus was appealing, it also seemed like too simple of a solution. Could finding the most important thing in life really be so easy? It would take a miracle to break through all my fears and excuses and regrets.  But it was Easter and on Easter miracles happen.  Continue reading →