Archive for April 2009

April 10, 2009

Jesus is Alive!

"I know that you are looking for Jesus, the one who was killed on the cross. But he is not here. He has risen from the dead as he said he would." Matthew 28:5-6 (ICB)

Jesus is alive! Easter means resurrection. The American Heritage Dictionary says resurrection means: "The act of rising from the dead or returning to life."

Back in the Old Testament, if people wanted to seek God or ask for forgiveness, they had to sacrifice or give something up as an offering to God. Messages from God were shared through prophets and priests.

God the Father wanted to change that. He wanted to give every person an opportunity to know and talk to Him rather than depending on a prophet or priest.

So He sent His Son Jesus to earth. The Son of God, left Heaven, the most perfect place where there is no sin, pain, sadness or tears. Jesus would come to earth to show God's people how much He loved them. The amazing thing is that Jesus did it willingly. He knew what He was leaving and where He was going, but He still came. Some people hated Him and some adored Him. He loved God’s people, spending time and blessing them, and giving them hope.

Jesus lived for 33 years on earth, before He became the "Ultimate sacrifice." As the Son of God, He knew what God’s plans were. He knew what being the "Ultimate sacrifice" meant for Him and for us.

One night, Jesus went to a place called Gethsemane to pray.

"He prayed, 'My Father, if it is not possible for this painful thing to be taken from Me, and if I must do it, then I pray that what you want will be done." Matthew 26:42 (ICB)

Jesus knew the suffering that He was going to face and He was probably scared, but He did it anyway. He knew that He would be mocked, spit on and beaten, but He did it anyway. He knew that dying on the cross would hurt, but He did it anyway. Why? Because He knew God’s plan. In three days, He would be resurrected. He would be alive again! He knew that no one would ever have to sacrifice another offering to seek God or depend on a prophet or priest to hear from God. He knew that because of Him, the "Ultimate sacrifice," anyone that wanted to talk to God would be able to.

"If you use your mouth to say, 'Jesus is Lord,' and if you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, then you will be saved." Romans 10:9 (ICB)

It's that simple. Say with your mouth that Jesus is Lord. Believe in your heart that He is alive again. Once you've done that, you’ll have a personal relationship with God. You can call on Jesus any time any day.

There's more. There was absolutely no life left in Him when he was in that tomb. He was dead for three whole days lying in a tomb with a heavy rock blocking the doorway. No one on earth could do a thing to help Him. People thought He was dead and there was "no" hope.

On Easter morning, God brought Jesus back to life. God put breath back into his lungs. He was walking and talking just as He had done before. Now, if God can resurrect or bring back to life a completely dead person, then I know for sure that He can give life back to my "dead marriage" when there is still life in it even as small as a mustard seed.

"The mustard seed is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. But when you plant this seed, it grows and becomes the largest of all the garden plants." Mark 4:31-32(ICB)

Your parent’s marriage may be considered "dead" by some people. People do not always have the same thoughts and ways of the Lord.

"The Lord says, "your thoughts are not like my thoughts. Your ways are not like my ways." Isaiah 55:8(ICB)

God is in the resurrecting and hope business. Where there is hope, there is still life.

"He is our great hope."When God is our great hope then we know for sure that "all" things are possible. Titus 2:13(ICB)

"This is something that men cannot do. But God can do it. God can do all things." Mark 10:27(ICB)

Pay attention to the three letter word before "things." God can do "all" things, not some or most things, but "all" things. If He can do "all" things and give His dead Son life, then He "can" raise your parent's marriage from the dead and give it life.

"The Lord is not slow in doing what he promised – the way some people understand slowness. But God is being patient with you. He does not want anyone to be lost. He wants everyone to change his heart and life." 2 Peter 3:9(ICB)

Waiting for our resurrection,
Colleen in Virginia

Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc.
Post Office Box 10548
Pompano Beach, FL 33061
http://rejoiceministries.org


	Archive for April 2009 April 10, 2009 Jesus is Alive! "I know that you are looking for Jesus, the one who was killed on the cross. But he is not here. He has risen from the dead as he said he would." Matthew 28:5-6 (ICB) Jesus is alive! Easter means resurrection. The American Heritage Dictionary says resurrection means: "The act of rising from the dead or returning to life." Back in the Old Testament, if people wanted to seek God or ask for forgiveness, they had to sacrifice or give something up as an offering to God. Messages from God were shared through prophets and priests. God the Father wanted to change that. He wanted to give every person an opportunity to know and talk to Him rather than depending on a prophet or priest. So He sent His Son Jesus to earth. The Son of God, left Heaven, the most perfect place where there is no sin, pain, sadness or tears. Jesus would come to earth to show God's people how much He loved them. The amazing thing is that Jesus did it willingly. He knew what He was leaving and where He was going, but He still came. Some people hated Him and some adored Him. He loved God’s people, spending time and blessing them, and giving them hope. Jesus lived for 33 years on earth, before He became the "Ultimate sacrifice." As the Son of God, He knew what God’s plans were. He knew what being the "Ultimate sacrifice" meant for Him and for us. One night, Jesus went to a place called Gethsemane to pray. "He prayed, 'My Father, if it is not possible for this painful thing to be taken from Me, and if I must do it, then I pray that what you want will be done." Matthew 26:42 (ICB) Jesus knew the suffering that He was going to face and He was probably scared, but He did it anyway. He knew that He would be mocked, spit on and beaten, but He did it anyway. He knew that dying on the cross would hurt, but He did it anyway. Why? Because He knew God’s plan. In three days, He would be resurrected. He would be alive again! He knew that no one would ever have to sacrifice another offering to seek God or depend on a prophet or priest to hear from God. He knew that because of Him, the "Ultimate sacrifice," anyone that wanted to talk to God would be able to. "If you use your mouth to say, 'Jesus is Lord,' and if you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, then you will be saved." Romans 10:9 (ICB) It's that simple. Say with your mouth that Jesus is Lord. Believe in your heart that He is alive again. Once you've done that, you’ll have a personal relationship with God. You can call on Jesus any time any day. There's more. There was absolutely no life left in Him when he was in that tomb. He was dead for three whole days lying in a tomb with a heavy rock blocking the doorway. No one on earth could do a thing to help Him. People thought He was dead and there was "no" hope. On Easter morning, God brought Jesus back to life. God put breath back into his lungs. He was walking and talking just as He had done before. Now, if God can resurrect or bring back to life a completely dead person, then I know for sure that He can give life back to my "dead marriage" when there is still life in it even as small as a mustard seed. "The mustard seed is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. But when you plant this seed, it grows and becomes the largest of all the garden plants." Mark 4:31-32(ICB) Your parent’s marriage may be considered "dead" by some people. People do not always have the same thoughts and ways of the Lord. "The Lord says, "your thoughts are not like my thoughts. Your ways are not like my ways." Isaiah 55:8(ICB) God is in the resurrecting and hope business. Where there is hope, there is still life. "He is our great hope."When God is our great hope then we know for sure that "all" things are possible. Titus 2:13(ICB) "This is something that men cannot do. But God can do it. God can do all things." Mark 10:27(ICB) Pay attention to the three letter word before "things." God can do "all" things, not some or most things, but "all" things. If He can do "all" things and give His dead Son life, then He "can" raise your parent's marriage from the dead and give it life. "The Lord is not slow in doing what he promised – the way some people understand slowness. But God is being patient with you. He does not want anyone to be lost. He wants everyone to change his heart and life." 2 Peter 3:9(ICB) Waiting for our resurrection, *Colleen in Virginia* Rejoice Marriage Ministries, Inc. Post Office Box 10548 Pompano Beach, FL 33061 http://rejoiceministries.org
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