Good Friday…so why is the day that Jesus was tortured and crucified called “good?”
As we look at how Jesus was treated, I think we definitely can say that what He endured was not good.
So again…why is this day called Good Friday?
There is no Easter Sunday without Good Friday. There is no Resurrection without the Cross.
Sometimes it’s difficult to understand that what we consider a “bad” thing could actually end up achieving good results.
Jesus chose to suffer the Cross to bring about our redemption…to reinstate our position with God that was lost in the Garden. There are consequences to sin. What an awesome Love that Jesus chose to bear the consequence of our sin on the Cross. No, the suffering of Jesus wasn’t a “good” thing – but it was necessary to bring about our good standing with God once again. The result of the Cross was definitely good!
Because Jesus understands the importance of being willing to lay down our lives for a new life, He instructs us to take up OUR cross and follow Him.
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever losestheir life for me will find it.”
Matthew 16:24-25 NIV
No, we don’t have to be nailed to a physical cross to be a disciple of Jesus – but, He does call us to be willing to exchange our old life for a new life in Him. And this can be a difficult thing indeed!
Are we willing to let go of our plans, our desires, our way and allow Jesus to place His life in us? If we want to have life eternal with God – then we must embrace the cross – His and our own.
Good Friday – a day to remember the GOOD that was accomplished through the absolute LOVE of JESUS!! He took our sins upon Himself so we could have eternal life with Him. And that was indeed a “good” thing!!
Ahhh, Jesus! I am overwhelmed with the revelation of what You were willing to endure for us. You chose the Cross. You chose the Cross for us so we wouldn’t have to pay the price/penalty for our sin. Lord, help me to choose to pick up my cross and follow You. May I place all of my selfish desires and my self-focus on the cross and follow in Your footsteps of humility and love. May I join You on this Day of the Cross and follow You to the Day of Resurrection! Amen!
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8 ESV Well, the days of quarantine and staying at home continue. As we are separated from others physically and separated from participating in some things that give us pleasure, it is easy to dwell on those things that make us frustrated or angry or sad. We are instructed in God’s Word to take control over our thoughts! We are not to let our thoughts control us – to control how we feel – but we are to control what thoughts we allow to “hang around.” [2 Corinthians 10:5] If we allow God to guide and direct our thoughts – we will discover that we can change our focus from thoughts of doubt, negativity, blame, frustration, and hopelessness to thoughts that focus on those things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy. In other words, what are things that we are THANKFUL for? May we take each day and write down those things/people/circumstances that are commendable and deserve our praise. Let’s not just write them down once a day, but let’s have a running list that continues throughout the day as we are proactive in bringing our thought life into alignment with God’s thoughts. LORD! We are so thankful that You are with us 24/7 as we journey through this quarantine season. Help us, Lord, to take control of our thought life. May our thoughts and our words be full of life and love and praise. Help us to see others through Your eyes and may we be vessels of honor and truth and love. Oh LORD!! YOU are the One at the top of our list who is worthy of our praise!! And we praise You each and every day! HALLELUJAH!! ~Tina K. Roach
What a time we are experiencing in the world! The Coronavirus is causing us to be quarantined from our “normal” day-to-day lives. I know many are experiencing financial hardship as they are not able to return to work. Some that are working are having to find child care for their children because of school closings. We are praying for you!
I am hearing a lot of negative talk going around on social media and from people that I have encountered on my short trips to pick up supplies. I hear you…I understand the frustration and the fear that is trying to surround us. In the midst of this “storm” I am reminded that God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and love and a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)
I do not speak against those that are having fear, but encourage you to look to God to help you overcome it. I have to admit that I have moved from the initial feelings of fear and frustration to seeing the spiritual implications of what’s going on spreading out before me.
I do not believe that the enemy of our souls, Satan, has caused this virus. However, I do believe that Satan is taking the opportunity to release a spirit of fear to paralyze the church and world. He is trying to separate and shut down God’s people and cause anxiety and depression.
I come against that right now, in the mighty Name of Jesus! I rebuke and root out the spirit of fear. I command it to GO and I release God’s POWER and LOVE to rise up within God’s people! I thank You, LORD, that we have the mind of Christ, a SOUND MIND…a mind that is not filled with what the world says, but with YOUR TRUTH, O God!! I thank You, LORD, that out of our sound mind we make decisions and choices based on Your Guidance and Your Word. May we honor and heed the guidance and directions of those that are positioned to stop the spread of this virus. May we look past ourselves to those that are vulnerable and need to be protected. Help us, LORD, to be on the front line of defense – through our actions and through our prayers.
I also believe that God has not caused this virus. However, I do believe that He causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)
I see God using this time to wake up His Church!! What are we turning to in reaction to what’s going on? Are we comforting ourselves through things of the flesh or are we turning to God? Where does our hope come from?
What are we doing now that we are forced to be at home? Oh Brothers & Sisters!! What an opportunity we have to connect more deeply with the Lord! I hear the Lord calling us to DRAW NEAR!! How can we journey through this time and come out on the other side stronger?
I would encourage you (and me) to dig deeper into God’s Word. I would encourage us to spend quiet time just resting in His presence – feeling His love and expressing our love to Him. Take this time to LISTEN. God wants to speak to you. I believe that as we press into the Lord, really press in, we will begin to receive answers to questions we have had unanswered. We will receive deeper revelation of what God wants us to do during this time of separating ourselves from the world and abiding in Him.
God is calling us to HOLINESS! I see this time as a time of “cleaning house.” May we physically clean house and get things in order…but even more importantly…may we spiritually go through our homes and get rid of those things that God says to remove. Get out the anointing oil and (re)dedicate our homes as places of spiritual safety, health, love, and rest.
We also need to “clean house” in our own lives. What has God been calling us to stop doing or to begin doing? What things are causing us to move away from God instead of drawing near? Brothers & Sisters, the time is NOW! No more putting it off until later…
Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. (Matthew 25:1-4). *I invite you to read through verse 13*
WE ARE THE CHURCH!! We are just as much the church even when we are not physically able to meet in the church building. May we focus on the LORD during this time. May we position ourselves to become the Church He has called us to be. May we use this time to be wise and “fill our oil lamps!” Allow the Holy Spirit to fill you to overflowing! May we burn brighter and brighter as we are filled more and more with the oil of the Holy Spirit!! When we are released from this quarantine may we be LIGHTHOUSES shining brightly for the LORD!!! GLORY!!
We are in this journey together!! You, me, and Almighty God!! Trust and KNOW that He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:57)
2020 – a time of coming together with unity of heart and purpose…a time of seeking God for clarity of vision and direction in our own lives and in the life of our churches and ministries. We are on mission together!!
JESUS! What a powerful, precious name to be on our lips and in our hearts. There is something about just speaking that name in all of our circumstances and wherever we are. There is power in the name of Jesus!
God Himself gave Jesus His name. His name holds power, grace, love, redemption, healing, deliverance and much more.
“…God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11)
As we speak the name of Jesus, our thoughts and attention are drawn away from all the turmoil around us and we are able to focus on the One who can calm the storm…and has given us the authority and power to calm the storm in His name!
Oh my friends! Do you carry the name of Jesus? Do you carry His presence? Are you walking as an ambassador of Christ?
Vision: I see a huge rubber stamp like one that is used to stamp a signature onto a letter or official document. I see the name of JESUS being stamped upon me! And dear friends the name of Jesus is upon you if you have accepted Him as your Lord and Savior.
Prayer: Dearest Jesus, thank You for calling me Your own! Thank You for placing Your name upon me and inviting me to walk this journey with You! Amen!
Sitting at the kitchen window peeling eggs for deviled eggs. I am really enjoying the peaceful view and observing the occasional shadow of a large bird passing overhead. Yesterday, I glanced out this same window and observed a fox running full kilter past the window and then he was gone!
I speak peace and joy over you dear friends & family as you prepare for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Remember the reason for the season – celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. HE is our PEACE…our JOY…our HOPE…our LOVE!!
Don’t let the “busyness” of the day draw your focus away from Him. Breathe deep and KNOW that He is beside you, behind you, before you, and within you. REST in that assurance, dear friends!! I love you…but HE loves you even more!! CELEBRATE JESUS!! ❤️💥💥❤️
The Lord keeps reminding me that I/we are in a new season in His Kingdom.
I have been trying to go through my clothes and donate those that do not need to go with me in this new spiritual season of ministry and life.
A few days ago I felt a strong call to get my desk and file cabinets in order (I have one 4 drawer and one 2 drawer). Oh, the precious nuggets I am finding – lost and hidden in all of the miscellaneous “stuff.”
How many precious things of the Lord are lost and hidden among all of the things we felt needed to be held onto?
I feel that the Lord is calling me to sift through a lot of things of the past because I need to make room for all of the things He is bringing into my life NOW!! PRAISE GOD!!
I find myself becoming excited as I organize past sermons, devotions, teachings, prophetic words, prayers, and ministry events that the Lord used me to minister in for His glory and for the equipping of His Church! I am excited because as I am doing this I KNOW that I am making room for what is coming!!
Brothers & Sisters! Do you have room in your life for the NEW that the Lord wants to bring you? Is it time for you to do an inventory – physical and spiritual – and CLEAN OUT those things that will hold you back from receiving God’s abundance?
LORD!! Help us to weed out all of those things that clutter up our lives to the point that we can’t move quickly and freely with You into our future. Help us to prune our lives of “dead things” that do not promote NEW LIFE! Help us to speak LIFE to others and also to ourselves!
LORD!! You are the most precious thing in our lives!! May we not let anything take YOUR place!! May every decision we make come from embracing YOUR heart, YOUR perspective, YOUR love, and YOUR will!!
LORD!! We are ready to go forward with You!
Leaving old things behind…
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV
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