LETTING GO IN ORDER TO FIND HIM AGAIN

LETTING GO 

IN ORDER TO FIND HIM AGAIN

By Dwight Cunkle

Old ideas and things hindered Mary until Jesus spoke her name.

Is there anything we need to let go of from the old in order to go and find Jesus? One evidence of resurrection life in us is a deep love. Jesus’ love for us. Our love for Him. And our overflow of love to share with his brothers and ours in the church and the world.

John 20:11 Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you    weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

John 20 twice Mary was asked at the tomb, “Why are you weeping?” yet not unto Jesus spoke her name did she recognize it was He, risen from the dead.

  

How much I let weeping and fear caused by my own limit and lack of perception, hinder me from seeing Jesus, and being aware of His good gifts, especially in trouble or difficulty.

She fell in adoration and relief and held his feet-the very feet she had poured perfume on and dried with her hair. But he asked her to go and share the news with his brothers. And so she went.

Do we love Jesus? As we speak of seeking our Father’s heart this year, are we asking, seeking and knocking for a deeper knowing of Father, Son and Holy Spirit?

Mary went to the tomb. She needed closure in her grief. Are there things we need to close and let die so that we can find him whom our soul loves?

Mary then had to let go of the risen Jesus because He was going to the Father but had waited to personally awaken her heart from despair. Are we holding on to any form of religion or worship or memory of religious experiences and even good encounters with Jesus? Could He be personally speaking to us to awaken our heart and mind and spirit into a fuller union and new obedience? 

Can we hear Him speak our name with love and respond to his love?

When we have this fresh and full encounter with the living, present Jesus, we will see his love for his brothers and we will also go and tell them. 

HE IS RISEN!

HE IS RISEN!

By Dwight Cunkle

When Jesus shared breakfast with Peter He was teaching us that Resurrection is less about what we can do for God; it is more about being with Jesus, and responding to the Father, and being more aware of our union in Holy Spirit with him because He loves us so.

PAYG Remember that after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, his sister Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with oil worth an entire year’s wages. Rereading the passage (John 12:1-11) reminds me of first time through the Ignatius retreat, when we were asked to prepare some gift as expression of our love to give Christ. So, I wrote the song, “You thought of Me.” In my weakness, limited time, emotional and mentally drained state, what can I give You as an offering? Make a cross? Write a poem? You give all to us, and all good things we receive are gifts of your grace, so what can we offer back to you as token of our love?

Last Sunday service there was a beautiful moment of surrender when many in the congregation held out there hands, palms up, desiring Jesus more than anything. It came in response to Jeffrey’s word of loving him instead of self-centered and self-serving love. Then we confessed sins and received the body and blood of Christ together. Since it was Palm Sunday my message told the story of Scriptures fulfilled, to the very day of Christ being proclaimed as Messiah and his triumphal entry.

Perhaps one of our "gifts" to Christ in this season is to both receive the love for which we are asking and believe that as we are seeking and knocking on the door of His heart, we truly are finding his heart - especially regarding the building the revitalization of this congregation in his love.

Immediately after the meeting Richard shared prophetic words which he received during my message which confirmed what I also had received from the Lord - that our sowing was not and is not in vain, whether we are the ones who reap or someone else does, but God’s word will accomplish his purpose and bring fruit as we seek Him and his will.

As we think on Resurrection and a renewal of our “First Love” relationship with Jesus I remember the Christmas poem by Christina Rosetti, “In the bleak Mid-winter."

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him
Nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When He comes to reign:
In the bleak mid-winter
A stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty,
Jesus Christ.

What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb,
If I were a wise man
I would do my part,
Yet what I can I give Him,
Give my heart.

Grace and peace to you in the power and love of Jesus, the Risen Lamb of God, who reigns over all.

WHY PALMS ON PALM SUNDAY?

WHY PALMS ON PALM SUNDAY?

By Jack Zavada

Palm branches are a part of Christian worship on Palm Sunday, or Passion Sunday, as it is sometimes called. This event commemorates Jesus Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, as foretold by the prophet Zechariah.

The Bible tells us people cut branches from palm trees, laid them across Jesus' path and waved them in the air. They greeted Jesus not as the spiritual Messiah who would take away the sins of the world, but as a potential political leader who would overthrow the Romans. Their shout "Hosanna" meant "save now."

In ancient times, palm branches symbolized goodness and victory. They were often depicted on coins and important buildings. Solomon had palm branches carved into the walls and doors of the temple (1 Kings 6:29). Again at the end of the Bible, people from every nation raise palm branches to honor Jesus (Revelation 7:9).

Today, many Christian churches distribute palm branches to worshipers on Palm Sunday. The people remember Christ's sacrificial death on the cross, praise him for the gift of salvation, and look expectantly to his second coming.

Scripture Reading for Holy Week:

Palm Sunday: Philippians 2:6-11

Monday: Isaiah 42:1-4

Tuesday: Isaiah 49:1-4

Holy Wednesday: Matthew 26:14-16

Maundy Thursday: John 13:12-16

Good Friday: Isaiah 53:1-5

Holy Saturday: Romans 6:3-11

Easter Sunday: John 20:1-9

VALUE BASED LIVING

VALUE BASED LIVING

By Rick Warren

Let your life be a stepping stone to Christ and not a

stumbling block. 1 Cor. 8:13 & 10:31

Everything you do is influenced by your values. Even if you've never actually sat down and made a list of what's important to you, your actions in life are largely determined by the values you hold. Every time you make a decision you're relying on your values to tell you what to do.

Unfortunately, some of the values you operate by are counter-productive to your success and a hindrance to your satisfaction in life. You see, many of the unconscious values you live by you didn't choose. They were imposed on you by parents, peers, and the culture around you. (Today, television is the #1 values shaper in our society.) You may be operating on incorrect information and values that don't stand up under pressure.

Just like the ‘set of the sail’ determines the direction of a sailboat, your values chart the course for your life. The questions are: In what direction are your values leading you? Are they going to deliver what you hope or will you eventually be disappointed?

Here's another fact about values: they cause a lot of your stress! Stress occurs when what you say you believe and what you actually do don't line up. For instance...

When you SAY "My family is important to me.”

             But you're always too busy or too tired to enjoy them.

When you SAY "I value my health."

             But you overwork, overeat, and never exercise.

When you SAY "I'm not materialistic."

             But you become so in debt you must worry constantly about finances.

When two of your values conflict, that's called a dilemma. A Gallup Survey recently revealed that incongruent values is the #1 cause of emotional tension among Americans. What's the solution?

1.    IDENTIFY WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT IN LIFE. "...We should choose to follow what is right. But first we must define what is good." Job 34:3-4 You need to come up with a personal definition of success - not someone else's definition, but your own. Remember this: Success is the feeling I get when I live out my values. It is not a destination. You can be successful at any stage of your life, based on your own personal values and goals. Begin by making a list of what you value most in life. Ask yourself "What is going to last!"

2.    BEGIN BY ELIMINATING THOSE THINGS THAT REALLY AREN'T IMPORTANT. "Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but be a new and different person with a fresh newness in all you do and think. Then you will learn from your own experience how God's ways really satisfy you." Romans 12:2

© 2003 Purpose Driven Life. All rights reserved. Adapted from a column by Dr. Rick Warren