Spiritual Thoughts

You brought me up from the grave, O LORD.     You kept me from falling into the pit of death. [Psalm 30:3] On this coming Sunday, we celebrate the defeat of death. Psalm 30 gives us words to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and its implications. The images of Psalm 30 take on new meaning in light of the resurrection of Jesus. When God raised Jesus from the dead on that morning, the power of death itself was defeated. Jesus broke out of the cage that keeps us in bondage, inviting us to follow him from death into new life. Thus when we read Psalm 30, we think of Jesus and his resurrection. But we can also think of ourselves. As Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 15, the resurrected Jesus is the “first fruits” of the harvest. We who put our trust in him will one day be raised, even as he has been raised. We will join him in the new creation, in the resurrection of heaven and earth. So, on this Sunday, we not only look back with awe at the resurrection ...

Luke 23:1-34 “Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing.” It makes sense that the first word of Jesus from the cross is a word of forgiveness. That's the point of the cross, after all.  Jesus was dying so that we might  be forgiven for our sins, so that we  might be reconciled to God for eternity. It’s our choice to follow him. Unknown “Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing.” Luke 23:1-34

Men try to fix problems with duct tape.    God did it with nails. -Anonymous Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Jesus, that the body of sin may be destroyed,     to the end that we may serve sin no longer. Romans 6:6

  "Belief in the Resurrection is not      an appendage to the Christian faith;             it IS the Christian faith."      - John S. Whale    And if Christ has not been raised,    your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead,     the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep. 1 Corinthians 15:17,20

"God can mend a broken heart if we give Him all the pieces." - J. Sidlow Baxter O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. Psalm 63:1-2