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“…He has risen! He is not here.” Mark 16:6 These words were spoken by the angel that greeted two women that came to Jesus’ grave early on the morning following the Sabbath. These two faithful women did not, at first, understand or comprehend the full meaning of these words. They like us, heard with human ears and felt with human hearts. It wasn’t until Jesus himself appeared to one of them, (Mary Magdalene) that she began to grasp what had actually happened. Jesus had been crucified and died. He had been placed in a tomb and now He was not there — He had come back to life! Human minds could not and can not fully comprehend how and why this had happened. Although Jesus had tried to tell His…

“Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” Matthew 21:9b Today is Palm Sunday. On this Sunday before Easter we rejoice and remember Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The scriptures tell us that crowds gathered and followed Jesus as He rode into the city on a donkey. They worshipped and praised Him. They waved branches, laid their cloaks on the ground for Him and children sang. What a wonderful image this brings to mind! Everybody was worshipping Jesus and praising the one that would soon give His life for them.  The joy of worship and praised soon changed though, and this same crowd of people were shouting for Jesus to be crucified. What caused this change? Were…

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.” Matthew 23:37 Jesus always spoke the truth with divine love. As He was confronted by the pious religious leaders of His day He spoke these words to them, which are also found in Luke 13:36.  Although Jesus went about doing only good, the religious leaders sought to find fault with Him and reasons to destroy His message. In the prior verses in Matthew 23, Jesus calls out the hypocrisy of these so called godly men.  Jesus exposes their motives and misuse of the laws, yet He ends His reprimand with a loving…

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Mark 12:30 When Jesus was questioned by one of the learned men of His day about what the greatest commandment was, Mark 12:30 records His answer. Jesus said we are to love God with our whole being — heart, soul, mind and strength. Why did Jesus give this answer and what does it mean?  Jesus wanted the people then, and now, to understand that God must be the number one priority  in our lives.  This reiterates the first commandment that says, “You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:2)  God loves us dearly and wants to have a close relationship with us. When we…

“See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth ; the season of singing has come…” Song of Songs 2:11-12 The season we call spring has arrived.  Many of us look forward to this time of the year when the grass starts to turn green again, flowers bloom, and birds can be heard singing as they build their nests in the budding trees. Baby animals are born. New life is everywhere we look! We are certainly blessed to know that our awesome God planned the seasons when He created the world. (Genesis 1:14) But nature is not the only place we can see these changes. Through God’s plan of salvation, we too can be renewed and receive a new life. Paul says in…

“I am the Lord your God…  You shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:2-3 In the book of Exodus we find in chapter 20 what we refer to as the Ten Commandments. These were rules given to the Israelites to live by. They still apply to our lives today. In this first commandment, God tells us that He alone is God and there should be nothing more important than Him in our lives.  He alone is worthy of our praise and adoration. He alone is almighty, all knowing, ever present, and always loving. He provides for our needs, heals our sicknesses, blesses us with good things and gives guidance. Most of all, God provides salvation through His Son, Jesus.   Why would we want another God? Our Lord…

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you.” James 4: 7-8  Most Christians would say that they want a closer walk with God. The majority of people would acknowledge that there is evil in the world that causes problems and tempts mankind. In the book of James we find words of advice to help us deal with the world and it’s evil; and learn how we can have closer relationship with our Lord.  First of all, we are to submit ourselves to God. In other words, make God our priority. Read His word, pray and meditate on it and let His will be done in our lives.  Secondly, resist the devil. Rebuke the…

In His Praise! Good News from East Point C.P. Church February 27, 2022 “… the joy of the Lord is your strength.”  Nehemiah 8:10b In the book of Nehemiah, we read about the rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem. This was a great undertaking, which was dangerous at times and required much hard work and cooperation from the people. God’s people were happy when this project was completed. After the completion of the wall there was a day of celebration. Ezra, the priest was asked to read the book of God’s law to the people. As the people heard God’s word, they realized they had sinned and not kept the law as they should. They repented. They shed tears and were truly sorry for the failures.   Ezra encouraged them by…

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”  Luke 6:38  At first glance one might think this verse is all about getting blessings for ourselves. In a way it is, but a deeper look at these words and the verses before and after it reveal that Jesus was once again trying to teach people how to treat each other and how to walk like Him. Beginning in verse 27 of this same chapter Jesus repeats the words that so many have grown up hearing — “Love your enemies’, “Do good to others” and “Treat others like you want to be treated”, “Do…

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”  Psalm 118:24 These words can mean different things to different people in a variety of circumstances. They can be spoken as words of celebration at events such as a graduations or birthdays. Just as often these words can be repeated quietly in a personal devotion, or as an act of worship to welcome a new day.  At times this verse can  be read to encourage, strengthen and give peace to the broken hearted or troubled. This passage has even been set to music in a popular children’s praise song. God’s word is full of wonder. As we read and meditate on such passages, God can speak to our hearts. His love  and goodness will…