"After The Sunrise"

After the Sunrise

Mark 16:2 (NKJV)
“Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.”

It was just after sunrise when the women, Mary, the mother of James, Mary Magdalene and Salome, gathered up their oils and spices to anoint Jesus’ body.  As they walked to the tomb they were still grieving over the death of Jesus.  Their whole world was turned upside down. Their Lord had been taken from them in an extremely brutal way and the picture of it hadn’t faded from their minds.

They were frightened because they knew the Roman soldiers were there guarding the tomb and you never knew what they would do.  Would they show a little compassion for the women by rolling back the stone so they could go in, or would the soldiers chase them away? 

When they reached to tomb, they were terrified because the stone had been rolled away and the soldiers were all gone.  They talked among themselves, wondering if they should go in.  Mary Magdalene finally said that she would go first. After living the life she had, there wasn’t much she was afraid of.   She hoped the open entry way to the tomb let enough light in so she could see where Jesus lay.

The other two women followed as she slowly entered the tomb.  A bright light filled the inside and they saw a young man in a white robe sitting on the right and they all cried out in fear.  But he quickly called out, “Don’t be afraid.”  They were so terrified they couldn’t have ran if they wanted to. The light that filled the tomb was emanating from the man sitting there. They were never sure if there was more than one angel because their eyes were almost blinded by the light.   They realized that it must be an angel sent from God. Salome was so terrified that she ran out of the tomb and left the other two women there.

The angel continued speaking and said to them, “I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified, but he has risen and is not here.”  He pointed to where Jesus’ body had been laid, “Now, go tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of them into Galilee.”  Then the angel disappeared.  The women were so frightened that they ran from the tomb and headed back to their homes. They agreed they would tell no one because they were sure no one would believe them.

Back in her home Mary Magdalene, still shaken, remembered that the angel told them to tell the disciples and the more she thought about it decided she had better go back to the tomb to make sure it was all real.  When she arrived at the tomb, she became overcome be grief and bowed down, she began to weep.  She noticed that someone had come close to her and she thought it was the gardener.  He asked her why she was crying and without looking up she answered, “They have taken away my Lord and I don’t know where they took him.”

Then she looked up and there stood Jesus.  She didn’t even recognize him until he spoke to her. “Mary.” Her eyes were opened and she knew it was Jesus.  As she reached toward him he spoke, “Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.”  Then he disappeared.

Then, Mary understanding it was the Lord and that he had risen from the dead, ran and told the disciples what he said regarding them.

This experience the women had on that first Easter morning would never be forgotten by them, nor by us who have come along 2000 years later.  Perhaps I have not heard his voice audibly, or seen him physically, but every Easter morning, I can still see him standing in the garden with the open tomb in the background.   He is standing there holding out his nail-pierced hands waiting for you to recognize him as your Lord and Savior, who died for you.  

Come Lord Jesus!

The Stubborn Donkey

The Stubborn Donkey

Jesus told his disciples, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to me.”  Matthew 21:2

Forty-some years ago, my children wanted a story about Palm Sunday and after some thought, I came up with this fictional story about the donkey that Jesus rode through the streets of Jerusalem.  The crowds lined the streets and threw down their cloaks on the ground.  They cut down palm branches and as He rode by they waved the branches and cried out, “Hosanna in the highest, Hosanna!”  Now for the rest of the story!

In a small village outside of Jerusalem, two donkeys stood in the heat of the day.  The larger of the two was the mother; the smaller was a colt that was her son. The mother donkey stood quietly and patient, but the colt stamped about; occasionally braying loudly.  “Will you ever learn to behave yourself,” asked his mother.  “The man who owns us will soon get rid of you if you continue to act like this.”

The colt refused to carry a rider or even a small load to the market place. He was so stubborn that many times he refused even move.  At other times, if someone came near he would kick up his hind legs just to frighten them off.  Yes, it was true; his owner would soon sell him if he was of no use.

This day the little donkey was even more restless than usual.  He had a feeling that something very exciting was about to happen so he stomped around and then he would bray loudly.  He told his mother how he felt, but she laughed and told him he had better calm down.  (It sounded like our parents and their children.)

A short time later two strange men came walking up to the donkeys and began to untie them.  The owner came running out of his house shouting, “What are you doing with my donkeys?”

“The Master sent us for them,” replied one of the men.

“And who is your master?” asked the owner.

“Jesus of Nazareth”, they answered.

The owner’s face softened and with a big smile he happily agreed they could borrow the donkeys as long as they were needed. You see, the owner had heard of Jesus and knew that he must have wanted his donkeys.  The men led the two donkeys down the road until they came to a large group of people standing around a tall, dark, kind-looking man.  The disciples told him, “Here are the donkeys, Master.  We think you should ride the big one who is quiet and well trained, but this colt is very frisky and has never been ridden.”

The Master looked at the donkeys as the mother donkey stood patiently waiting to carry the rider, but the colt pawed at the ground and brayed loudly.  Then Jesus laid his hand gently on the young colt.  “This is the one I will ride,” he said.  “No one is going to ride on me” thought the colt to himself.  Then the colt felt a gentle touch and heard a soft voice; he quieted down and stood still while the disciples placed their cloaks on his back.  He felt the strange weight when the Master carefully sat on him.  However, without a word of command the young donkey started down the road toward Jerusalem.

As they neared the city, crowds of people joined them shouting, “Hosanna in the Highest; Jesus, the Christ, the King of Israel.”  They went through the city waving palm branches and singing.  The little donkey held his head higher and began to prance.  He was so proud that he had been chosen to carry the King.

In the evening the colt was returned to his home.  He was so happy to see his mother and nuzzled her, then stood quietly.  His mother was amazed at the change in her son. “I can’t believe you would carry a man on your back,” said his mother.  The colt looked up at his mother with shiny eyes, “Mother, he wasn’t just a man.  He was the Son of God, Jesus Christ, our Lord.” 

At times we are like that little donkey, stubborn and restless.  Yet, when we feel the Master’s touch, our hearts are filled with love and joy, we too will wave palm branches and sing, “Hosanna to Jesus, King of the world.”

This is one of my favorite days at church, waving a palm branch and singing “Hosanna”.  Closing my eyes, I am taken back in time; I hear the crowds, feel the dust rising from the press of people.  I gaze on the face of Jesus as he goes by; my heart is thrilled and my faith is full.

"Why Should You Be Born Again?"

Why Should You be Born Again?

                             “Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you                                                unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”   John 3:3

Jesus had been preaching during his 3-year time of ministry on this earth and for many of the people who listened, some of the things he said didn’t make any sense.  One of those people was Nicodemus, a Jewish Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin.  The Sanhedrin was the ruling body of judges who laid down the laws for the Jewish people and judged the people as well.  It was similar to our Supreme Court. 

Nicodemus was a very wise man and one who wanted to understand more of Jesus’ teachings.  He slipped away at night to meet with Jesus because the Sanhedrin were not happy with Jesus and his teachings.  So he said to Jesus, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”  [John 3:2] Apparently there were others who wanted to understand Jesus and perhaps Nicodemus was their spokesman.  Jesus knew what they were curious about and so he said, “You will never get to heaven unless you become ‘born again’. 

Nicodemus was puzzled by this remark.  Anyone who has logical thinking understands that you can’t crawl back in your mother’s womb and come out again.  Jesus explained it to him, “Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.”  John 3:5-7 (NLT)

This answer seems pretty plain, but raises more questions like, “Are you born again when you get baptized?”  The answer to that is ‘no’! Baptism is just an outward sign of an inward experience. There is one way and one way only to be ‘Born Again’ and that is to accept the fact that you are a sinner and ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins and come live in your heart (spirit). (John 3:16)

Another question comes to mind. Why does a person need to be born again?  “Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.” (John 3:5) So without being Born Again’, when you die you will not go to heaven!  I don’t think that can be any clearer.

Someone once told me that I didn’t have to worry about going to heaven because I was a good person and never did anything really evil and was not a sinner.  Then I read in Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”.  I realized that I was dead in my sins and had to ask the Lord to forgive me of all my sins and He did.  He took that load of sin and regret I carried for so long and “He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” Psalm 103:12 (NLT)

 When that load of sin was removed by me repenting I became a new person.  Instantly, my heart was changed and even my thoughts.  I felt as innocent as a new born and by God’s Spirit, I was ‘born again’.  “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

The Title of this Blog is, Why Should I be Born Again?  I think it is explained clearly in the Bible and I suggest if you are not, you should try it because the benefits are the best you’ll ever have; you will live forever in heaven.  The alternative is not so good; going to hell to burn forever.  It’s a choice only you can make and no one can do it for you. I pray that you will make the right decision. 

"Seven Things a True Christian Doesn't Do"

Seven Things a True Christian Doesn’t Do

                               “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain                                  for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.”

Deuteronomy 5:11

After listening to hours of the election debates, it is so discouraging to see that all the present candidates are no longer discussing issues that face our country, but have fallen into tearing each other’s characters apart. Oh, they say they are going to do this and that, but don’t get into the details of how they plan on accomplishing what they say they are going to do.

1)       When candidates have to swear to get a point across and then claim to be a ‘Good Christian’, flags go up.  If they don’t know that a person who is a Christian tries to set a good example for others by keeping their speech pure, then they don’t have a relationship with Christ.

2)      Name calling – Matthew 5:22, tells us that, “If you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.” Why do people think that by belittling others it makes them seem like a better person?  Actually, the opposite is true; it makes you appear less of a person who thinks very highly of themselves.  This is someone who cannot be trusted.

3)      Lack of Love or Respect - I love what the Bible says in John 13:35, “By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”  What we need to understand is that we are going to have love for other Believers if we truly belong to Jesus!  Showing hatred by ripping someone apart does not show Christian values and lack of respect.  This scripture is pretty plain – ‘if you don’t love others, you are not my disciple!

4)      Judgment – This is a hard verse in the Bible, because most of us are so quick to judge people.  Maybe we don’t like the way they look or talk.  Maybe it’s how they dress, like wearing sandals in the winter instead of shoes, or having their hair cut different than most. God gives us a stern warning about this. “Judge not that you be not judged for with what judgment you judge, you will be judged.”  Matthew 7:1-2. Most nonbelievers see this in the church and don’t want to be part of it.  They feel judged.  People don’t really understand what it means to judge others.  “It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. God will judge those on the outside.” 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 (NLT) This says it pretty plain.

5)      A Proud Look – There is so much more to this statement in Proverbs 6:17.  It speaks of someone who looks down on other people.  A person like that is overconfident and listens to no one.  A word for that kind of person is a ‘Narcissist’ and one we have already dealt with too long in America. God looks at that type of person as an abomination.  Need I say more?

6)      A Lying tongue – In all my years I have never heard candidates accusing each other of lying as much as in these debates.  Most continue to push the fact that they are Christians.  Let me remind you of God’s outlook on this in James 3:5, “Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!” It makes a person begin to wonder if any of them are capable of telling the truth. 

7)      “One who sows discord among brethren” is one whom God hates.  [Proverbs 6:19]  When these debates began I had great respect for several of the candidates, but as time has passed, they all appear to be losing their integrity.  There has been only one man who stood up for his belief and did not shame himself as so many of the others have.  He has now had to drop out of running because the American people as a whole, do not want our country run by faith and freedom.

All of the above boils down to the fact, who do we vote for?  We have two choices, 1) Vote for Experience or 2) Power.  Both parties have experienced candidates and both have powerful people.  We apparently cannot vote for Christian values because we don’t know what they really stand for.  Pray about it, because we have several months before we actually vote and ask God to direct us.  The Bible says he puts rulers in place and takes them down.  At times God sends us bad rulers because a country needs to be shook up

. 

How this is going to end up is anyone’s guess, but listen to your heart.  God is still in control!

"Winter Doldrums"

“Winter Doldrums”

“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God;    
      for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”  Psalms 42:11

Doldrums is defined as a gloomy feeling, low spirits, or a time of inactivity. There another meaning of ‘Doldrums’ that were common in the days of sailing ships.  When sailors came to a place in the ocean where the Pacific and the Atlantic met, there was a low-pressure around the equator and the winds became calm. Without winds the ships could not move and was stranded there for days or weeks until the trade winds began to blow again.  Sailors called this the ‘Doldrums’.

For us today an example may be stuck in your house during a weeklong snow storm.  Not being able to get out to attend church or other weekly activities can actually bring on mild depression.  You may feel stagnant physically and spiritually.  Those who are recovering from surgery or disabilities tend to feel useless and may even feel that God has deserted them.

Don’t be discouraged – You are able to get past this and I am going to tell you how to do it.  First you need to get out your Bible and see that God has not forsaken you.  In Deuteronomy 31:8, God gives you this promise which is as good today as it was in the Old Testament, “It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” You can always count on God’s promises because He can’t lie.  What he says is true. Read this several times and believe it.

Now in the New Testament in John 16:33, Jesus knew that you were someday going to go through hard times, maybe even the Doldrums and so Jesus sent these words to you today. “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”  You see, Jesus wants you to have peace in your heart, because when you have peace, you still have hope in tomorrow and for the days to come.

It says it even more clearly in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”  I don’t care if you are 20 years old or if you are 80 or 90, God has a plan for you or you wouldn’t even be here. He gives you hope and yes, even a future because you are part of His plan.  Every day you should give God thanks for what he has given you.

Now to the next step which is to get past yourself.  Quit dwelling on yourself and your own problems. It is time for you to start thinking about helping others.  It is what God wants you to do.  2 Corinthians 1:3-4 shows us how and why we should do this.  “God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”  Surely you know another person who is troubled, sick or filled with sadness.  Call them and encourage them with a scripture like Psalm 34:17, “When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.” 

How many times in just this past year or two I wished that someone would call me or write to me with an encouraging word and sometimes they do.  But, because I love the Word of God, I can get encouragement from the Bible.  So because of that I can call to encourage others.  My husband and family are great encouragers. I thank God for each of them.

Today, I thank God for each of you and I pray that you will be encouraged by the words I have written in these Blogs.  I feel it is the Lord who gives these to me so I might pass them on to you, the reader.  You see, I can’t do all the things I used to do when I taught Bible Classes for so many, many years.  I can no longer play piano for church, or direct choirs, or even sing, but God has a plan for me, just as He does for you.  I found I could set down to my computer and send these messages to others who need to hear them.  This is my ministry for this time in my life’s journey and I love doing it. 

This is part of the plan God has for me, and it may be different than yours, but I have hope in my future and that hope is in Jesus Christ. 

If you are suffering from the Doldrums, follow these instructions and you will find yourself filled with hope and joy.

"Call Our Children Home"

Call Our Children Home

“I will say to the North, ‘Give them up.’ And to the south, ‘Do not keep them back’.  Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth.”  Isaiah 43:6

I don’t believe there is a person who doesn’t have a family member living away from God.  They may be children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews or cousins that have chosen a life style without God.  These are the ones that the Enemy has stolen from loving arms and dragged into a life of darkness. 

Anyone who follows a road away from God is travelling toward the pit of Hell.  Let’s talk plainly here and not make a life of sin attempt to look good.  Second Timothy 3:1-4 gives us explicit choices that people may follow. “But know this, that in the last days, perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.

Another plainly spoken scripture says this in Romans 1:-24-32 “For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.  Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”  

This is the type of world that we live in today and for those who are true believers, it grieves their very spirit.  As we watch those people we love, wander away to live sin-filled lives, we may feel helpless.  Far from it – there is a power within us that is available to do what may seem impossible.  Many years ago, I heard Mother Angelica make a statement I have never forgotten, “You do the ridiculous and God will do the miraculous.”  Remember this statement because you may have to use it in the future.

In fact, go back to our theme verse in Isaiah. God speaks to Isaiah to do something that probably seemed ridiculous to his ears.  He said, “Isaiah, I want you to speak to all directions and say, “Give them up!” Then say this, “Do not keep them back; my sons and my daughters!” These are the instructions from God when he was gathering a remnant in.  In verse 8 he calls for those who are blind, but have eyes and those who are deaf, but have ears.  How many of our loved ones have been blinded by Satan and their ears are closed up so they can’t hear from God?

In verse 7, the Lord declares that he has created and formed these people for His glory.  He wants them back!  This is not the first time this has happened.  In Exodus chapter 5, God told Moses to go to the Pharaoh and say, “Let my people go!” The Hebrews had been made slaves in Egypt and God wanted them free, because Egypt and the Pharaoh are symbolic for Satan. Moses, however, stood his ground and kept telling the Pharaoh “Let my people go” and in time they were let go and free.  It didn’t happen the first time or the second, or even the third.  Moses stood against the evil one until he broke him down and then the Hebrew people were freed.

If we want Satan to give back our children who are lost, we must declare to him as Isaiah did, “Satan, let them go!”  We must tell him over and over again, “Give them up!”  “Give them up!”  It may seem to be ridiculous, but if we mean it and shout it out, God will do the miraculous.  This is exactly what Moses did over and over again and every time the pharaoh refused, God caused plagues to happen.

So let us continue to shout to our enemy to ‘give them up’ and ‘do not hold them back’. God will take care of the rest of it and do the miraculous.

Please click on the link below, copy and paste and to listen to Don Potter song, “Give Them Up.”

https://youtu.be/KK2dBHaRwdE?list=PLD00F7077AC536B6D

"My Funny Valentine"

My Funny Valentine

“There is a time to weep, and a time to laugh.”

 Ecclesiastes 3:4

My funny Valentine is my husband, Jerry.  He can always make me laugh and has never once in our 41 years of marriage made me cry.  There have been many times I have cried over other people or circumstances, but never over our relationship.  I could write a full page or more on his character and the amazing husband he is, but I will only list a few.

How about when I was going through a difficult time in my work and came home to a rose in every room of our house?  There has always been an anniversary card; some were handmade (which I loved the most), some beautiful and some funny.  There was the first Christmas together that I came home to find an entire wardrobe of new clothes; he had a great taste for what I looked best in.  His goal was to make me happy and he did. 

Here we are all these years later and he is still looking out for my happiness and comfort.  I’ve had many health issues in these last few years, and he does all he can to encourage me and help me.  He does things like making the bed, so I don’t have to struggle with it.  He does it because he knows it makes me happy.  He fixes our meals on the days he knows I can’t and so many more things. 

He still makes me laugh, although I don’t laugh when he reads to me from the Sunday paper comic strips.  We don’t always agree on things and we irritate each other at times, but we both know how much we love each other.  We never go to bed angry because we always pray together before we go to sleep.  We always wake up in a good mood.

We love to play cribbage and both of us play to win (no mercy).  We call each other silly names and always end up laughing no matter who wins.  My funny Valentine is my best friend, my hero, my caregiver and my lover.  No matter the things we go through we stand together.  “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.” [Luke 6:21]

The greatest thing in our marriage is our faith in God Almighty and our Savior, Jesus Christ.  It is through trusting in Him, we have come this far.  We also understand what love really is and what it’s not.  It is not about self – it’s about others and includes sacrifice, kindness, trust and assurance in each other.  “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” [I Corinthians 13:13]

There is one word that is critical for a good marriage and that word is “CONTENTMENT”.  Being content means to be satisfied and not always reaching for greener pastures.  When you reach those greener pastures they are not always what you thought they were.  If you or your spouse are not content with each other, your marriage will flounder.  Paul said in Philippians 4:11, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content”. If you aren’t satisfied with what God has given you, you need to wonder what it is that you are searching for. If you have no peace in your life, then you are not trusting God. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t try to better yourselves, but be content knowing that God will give you whatever you need.

My funny Valentine encourages me in faith and we have been through some rough times financially, work related and health issues, but he has always said, “God will take care of it” and he has. His dumb jokes always make me laugh even if I don’t think they are funny. “Above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins.” [I Peter 4:8]

I love you, my funny Valentine and keep making me laugh. You have made my life worth living.

www.wanda-ritter.blogspot.com