Spiritual Thoughts

It is often when night looks darkest,   it is often before the fever breaks that one     senses the gathering momentum for change,       when one feels that resurrection of hope           in the midst of despair and apathy. -Hillary Clinton  Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise.   You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy!     For your dew is a dew of light,       and the earth will give birth to the dead.    -Isaiah 26:19 

No matter how devastating our struggles,   disappointments, and troubles are, they are only temporary. No matter what happens to you,  no matter the depth of tragedy or pain you face,    no matter how death stalks you and your loved ones, the Resurrection promises a future of immeasurable good. -Josh McDowell  But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers,   about those who are asleep,     that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven    with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel,        and with the sound of the trumpet of God.           And the dead in Christ will rise first. Therefore encourage one another with these words.    -1 Thessalonians 4:12-16 

Our Lord has written the   promise of resurrection,     not in books alone,       but in every leaf in springtime. -Martin Luther   Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,   which according to His abundant mercy has begotten      us again to a living hope by the resurrection          of Jesus Christ from the dead.  -1 Peter 1:3 

Carry the joy of the resurrection    with you throughout the year. -Therese Borchard  The angel answered and said to the women,    "Fear not, for I know that you seek Jesus,      who was crucified.  He is not here: For he is risen, as he said.  .....go quickly and tell his disciples      that he is risen from the dead...." And they departed quickly with fear and great joy,  and did run to bring his disciples word.  -Matthew 28:5-8  

John 19:14-15 (NASB) Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. And he *said to the Jews, "Behold, your King!" So they cried out, "Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!" Pilate *said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar." These Jews indeed spoke the truth. They did not accept Jesus as the Messiah. Yet, even more stark than that, they did not even acknowledge God as their King. They proclaimed to be subjects to the kingdom of man only... selling out not only their sent Messiah, but ultimately their God also. Where is our allegiance ? Do we deny Christ our King in our daily lives? Do we fully acknowledge that no authority is given over us unless our Father has allowed it? Let us all pray that the Lord may grant that Jesus return soon to establish the only kingdom of justice and righteousness... His kingdom on Earth. Cynthia Pavia...

Our doubts are traitors, and   make us lose the good we often    might win, by fearing to attempt. -William Shakespeare  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God,    who gives generously to all without reproach,      and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting,  for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea      that is driven and tossed by the wind.  -James 1:5-6 (ESV)