The Road To Recognition - Luke 24:13-35

13 On the same day, two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village called Emmaus. It was about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking to each other about everything that had happened.

15 While they were talking, Jesus approached them and began walking with them. 16 Although they saw him, they didn’t recognize him.

17 He asked them, “What are you discussing?”

They stopped and looked very sad. 18 One of them, Cleopas, replied, “Are you the only one in Jerusalem who doesn’t know what has happened recently?”

19 “What happened?” he asked.

They said to him, “We were discussing what happened to Jesus from Nazareth. He was a powerful prophet in what he did and said in the sight of God and all the people. 20 Our chief priests and rulers had him condemned to death and crucified. 21 We were hoping that he was the one who would free Israel. What’s more, this is now the third day since everything happened. 22 Some of the women from our group startled us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 and didn’t find his body. They told us that they had seen angels who said that he’s alive. 24 Some of our men went to the tomb and found it empty, as the women had said, but they didn’t see him.”

25 Then Jesus said to them, “How foolish you are! You’re so slow to believe everything the prophets said! 26 Didn’t the Messiah have to suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 Then he began with Moses’ Teachings and the Prophets to explain to them what was said about him throughout the Scriptures.

28 When they came near the village where they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29 They urged him, “Stay with us! It’s getting late, and the day is almost over.” So he went to stay with them.

30 While he was at the table with them, he took bread and blessed it. He broke the bread and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. But he vanished from their sight.

32 They said to each other, “Weren’t we excited when he talked with us on the road and opened up the meaning of the Scriptures for us?”

33 That same hour they went back to Jerusalem. They found the eleven apostles and those who were with them gathered together. 34 They were saying, “The Lord has really come back to life and has appeared to Simon.”

35 Then the two disciples told what had happened on the road and how they had recognized Jesus when he broke the bread.

Decide

                             

Resurrection Quotes

“If Jesus rose from the dead, then you have to accept all that he said; if he didn't rise from the dead, then why worry about any of what he said? The issue on which everything hangs is not whether or not you like his teaching but whether or not he rose from the dead.” Timothy Keller, The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism

“Jesus's resurrection is the beginning of God's new project not to snatch people away from earth to heaven but to colonize earth with the life of heaven. That, after all, is what the Lord's Prayer is about.”  N.T. Wright, Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church

“Optimism hopes for the best without any guarantee of its arriving and is often no more than whistling in the dark. Christian hope, by contrast, is faith looking ahead to the fulfillment of the promises of God, as when the Anglican burial service inters the corpse 'in sure and certain hope of the Resurrection to eternal life, through our Lord Jesus Christ.' Optimism is a wish without warrant; Christian hope is a certainty, guaranteed by God himself. Optimism reflects ignorance as to whether good things will ever actually come. Christian hope expresses knowledge that every day of his life, and every moment beyond it, the believer can say with truth, on the basis of God's own commitment, that the best is yet to come.” 
J.I. Packer

“For me the most radical demand of Christian faith lies in summoning the courage to say yes to the present risenness of Jesus Christ.”  Brennan Manning, Abba's Child: The Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging

“I know the resurrection is a fact, and Watergate proved it to me. How? Because 12 men testified they had seen Jesus raised from the dead, then they proclaimed that truth for 40 years, never once denying it. Every one was beaten, tortured, stoned and put in prison. They would not have endured that if it weren't true. Watergate embroiled 12 of the most powerful men in the world-and they couldn't keep a lie for three weeks. You're telling me 12 apostles could keep a lie for 40 years? Absolutely impossible.” Charles W. Colson

“A dead Christ I must do everything for; a living Christ does everything for me.” Andrew Murray, Jesus Himself

 

Thinking About Easter

PWC

                         

GROW - LOL

Listen

I Peter I:3-5

What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you’ll have it all—life healed and whole.

Yep!

Easter Sunday is March the 27th. Easter Sunday is everyday for followers of the Way 

                    

Large Or Small - Be A Great Church

Be A Great Church

When I Say - I Am A Christian

The Best And Free Employee Perk

The Best and Free Employee Perk

Where To Look For Hope And Growth

Pray For Your Pastor

Be In A Church

Love One Another

Stay At It

This was posted on FB.

A Lented Follower of Jesus Christ

Ash Wednesday, Madigras, Lent, Holy Week, and the Passion of Christ are in the news and on some people's mind these days. Over the years I have had some good and interesting conversations and discussions with friends, family members, colleagues and church members about Lent. I have even been asked if I participate and others have shared with me how they plan to participate.

So I must say, I think lent is a little ridiculous. Actually, I think it is absolutely preposterous. Yes, I am aware that this is "out there" for some and may cause your heart to stir and may even lead you to become a little bothered. Good. Now that the blood is pumping and the mind is stirred please read on because I whole-heartedly believe in the deeper meaning of Lent and think that Lent is a lifestyle not a season and I desire to be a Lented Follower.

This Blog is about hope so I must explain myself a bit. It seems Lent was started with good intent and yet "the drift factor" has occurred. Lent seems to have been a time for people to draw near to God and dwell on God and His love, sacrifice and power as Easter Sunday approached. The conversations and discussions I have been involved in are about giving up Coke, electronic devices, chocolate or even a fav TV program or other trite aspects of life during the 40 days of Lent. in these cases "The drift" factor has definitely taken place and therefore I do not care for Lent. Well, I guess I do like Lent if we as followers of the Way would seek to live it daily. Not the practice of giving up Coke, electronic devices, a TV show or even a favorite candy bar, but Lent in the sense that we draw near to God, dwell on and seek to walk in God's love, sacrifice, grace, holiness, and power on a daily basis as we follow Jesus Christ. Lent is a seasonal practice for many Christians yet it needs to be a daily expression for all followers of Jesus Christ. I do know of followers who practice Lent in its full intent during the season, but I also know that they practice Lent in it's intent all of the time. So they are Lented followers (in it's full intent) all of the time. I mean they fast, pray, give, serve, read Scripture, love people, seek after God, struggle with God, love God, converse with God, are Kingdom oriented and seek to live in Christ 23/6 (No one is perfect).

So I say, "forget Lent, the season." Enjoy your Coke, enjoy your candy bar, enjoy the TV show, use the electronic device in Christ. "In Christ", if not in Christ then move away from these things. I mean, I like my Dr Pepper, but if I drink the Dr. as much as I would like to there would be so much more of me (weight) than there should be. Catch the meaning. It's not just about health by the way, it's about "In Christ" which is "For Christ" which is "About Christ" which is "Of Christ" and is Lent. The early Church had a mantra long before Lent came along, "Jesus Christ is Lord." They got Lent without Lent, because they walked in the power of God and gave themselves fully to God.

So let's get the lint out of our pockets, purses, pillow cases, dryer vents and socks and get the Lent out of our lives so the Christ of Lent, the Christ of hope can increase in our lives and we can then experience His power in and through us which will bring others to Him. After all, Lent is about focusing on God and when we really do that others will be drawn to Him.

Desiring To Be Lented Follower,
Steve Nethery

Bible Study That Makes Disciples

Bible Study and Bible Studies are not just about information. They are to be about transformation and leading people to follow Jesus Christ.

Bible Study that Makes Disciples

Carefully Avoid

Carefully avoid in yourself those things which disturb you in others. T. aKempis

Go Old School - Healthy Relationships

Good and brief blog about building healthy relationships for the love month of February. Click on the link below and grow.

Go Old School - Healthy Relationships

Too Busy To Pray

Too Busy to Pray

Often when you fail to pray, you say it’s because you’re so busy. But in reality, it’s not your schedule that keeps you from praying. It’s your failure to realize the importance of prayer and make the time to pray.

And instead of relying upon the power of prayer in all that you do, you turn to your feeble wisdom and energy. You roll up your sleeves and get busy, turning to your own power instead of God’s.

If your life is so busy you can’t pray, have you ever considered it’s because you haven’t taken the time to ask God for help with your priorities? Turn to Him, and He will give you discernment that enables you to use your time well so that you are able to pray.

Prayer:

God show me-what have I prioritized above my time with You? What have I depended on instead of You? Help me assess my priorities today and keep prayer at the top of the list. Amen

 

Tyrone R. Lawton

As iron sharpens iron ...so does one man
sharpens another.                                                     
Prov. 27:17

My friend reads these devotionals and sends one out via email on Mondays. 

Revival

More Than

Worship

If Only

13 "If only you would prepare your heart and lift up your hands to him in prayer!

14 Get rid of your sins, and leave all iniquity behind you.

15 Then your face will brighten with innocence. You will be strong and free of fear.

16 You will forget your misery; it will be like water flowing away.

17 Your life will be brighter than the noonday. Even darkness will be as bright as morning.

18 Having hope will give you courage. You will be protected and will rest in safety.

Job 11:13-18 NLT

Planning To Get Things Done

Planning To Get Things Done

 

New Year Prayer/Poem

Another year is dawning

Dear Father, let it be,

In working or in waiting,

Another year with thee.

F. R. Havergol

Four Key Characteristics of Healthy Churches

Four Key Characteristics of Healthy Churches

A Prayer

Happy New Year

Just For A Giggle

Evangelism - Discipleship Continuum

Resolve

"I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made- I’m a disciple of His. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised regarded or rewarded. I now, live by faith, lean in His presence, walk by patience, am uplifted by prayer and I labor with power.”

From a friend and fellow follower of the Way - Thanks Tyrone

A Christmas Poem

The First Christmas

This is Mary
This is Joseph
This is their donkey gray.
This is the town of Bethlehem
Where they would like to stay.
This is an angel.
This is a shepherd.
This is a brand, new star.
Later came the wisemen
Travelling from afar.
This is a stable.
This is a manger
By a cattle stall.
This is the Baby Jesus
The Savior of us all.
This is the very first Christmas
That anyone did keep—
To honor Baby Jesus—
Shh! He's fallen asleep!
—DaLee C. James

You Might Be A Scrooge

YOU MIGHT BE A SCROOGE IF…

You turn on the lawn sprinklers on Christmas Eve
to keep carolers away;

You get your Christmas tree at a rest stop at night;

Your idea of holiday decorations is a rotten pumpkin;

Your favorite Christmas pastime is putting defective bulbs
in your neighbor’s string of Christmas lights;

Your favorite Christmas drink is rotten Egg Nog;

Your favorite Christmas song is
“Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer;”

Your idea of a staff or company Christmas party is
“O, just forget it;”

You like snow only because you know it will mean
there will be some cool car accidents;

Your favorite Christmas snack is one-year old fruitcake;

You don’t like the ending to “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “Miracle on 31st Street,” “The Grinch,” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”

You put a laxative in Santa’s cookies,
knowing and laughing about the outcome;

And finally, if your three favorite words are
“Ba Hum Bug”

A Great Christmas Prayer

Praying At Work

What does it look like to “pray without ceasing?” How might a prayerful heart oriented towards God express itself at work?
I Thessalonians 5:16-18 says,

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Mark Herringshaw, teaching pastor at North Heights Lutheran Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Nicole Symmonds, managing editor at UrbanFaith.com, recently created a helpful list of “21 Ways to Pray at Work.” They write,

Many of us will spend the majority of our waking hours behind a desk, having only one prayer – the one that we prayed in the morning – to keep us throughout the day.

Here are some of their tips. View them as suggestions for what “pray without ceasing” might mean – not as a list of rules which you have to follow.

1. Pray on your way into work in the morning:

Glance at the sign or logo of your organization. Thank God for his provision to you and your family. Ask God to bless all the individuals who are a part of this enterprise.

2. Pray while working on your office phone and contact list:

Pray the ancient Hebrew blessing for your contacts: “The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance on you and grant you his peace.”

3. Pray while you’re in a meeting:

Pray to focus on the message that is being delivered, that you will ask the necessary and appropriate questions and make sensible comments.

4. Pray when you hear of firings and layoffs:

Pray to not be taken by the spirit of fear or anxiety, but of calmness and peace. If you hear of colleagues getting fired or laid off, pray for their peace and provision.

5. Pray when you have to work late or travel:

Pray that God would protect your family in your absence and give them patience and understanding to adjust to your business and travel schedule. But also pray that he give you the courage to erect the proper boundaries so that you may not become more consumed with your work than you are with your family life.

You can read all twenty-one of Herringshaw’s and Symmonds’s tips here. These are just some of the ways we can begin to develop a habit of prayer while at work. It’s certainly not an exhaustive list, and you may have creative ideas for praying throughout the day (please share in the comments section below).
This list is also not meant to be a checklist, something we have to do out of obligation. It’s important that our prayer be Spirit-led. True prayer is “in the Spirit.” There is a difference between forced or rote prayer and spontaneous prayer led by the Spirit. Ephesians 6:18 says,

With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.

Our places of employment are the areas of responsibility God has called us to cultivate. We can walk and converse with God through our offices and construction sites and classrooms the way Adam walked with God through the Garden of Eden, in a spirit of total dependence on him to equip us with what we need to carry out our responsibilities.

Taken from www.tifwe.org

Christmas Again

Isaiah 9:6-7

Psalm 116:1-7

1 I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. 

2 Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. 

3 The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.

4 Then I called on the name of the LORD: "O LORD, save me!"

5 The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. 

6 The LORD protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me. 

7 Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you. 

Thankful and Remembering

O God, when I have food,
help me to remember the hungry;
When I have work,
help me to remember the jobless;
When I have a home,
help me to remember those who have no home at all;
When I am without pain,
help me to remember those who suffer,
And remembering,
help me to destroy my complacency;
bestir my compassion,
and be concerned enough to help;
By word and deed,
those who cry out for what we take for granted.
Amen.

-Samuel F. Pugh

Thank God - 30 Days - 12

Thank God - 30 Days - 11

Thank God - 30 Days - 10

Thank God - 30 Days - 9

Thank God - 30 Days - 8

A Thankful Heart

Stewardship

Thank God - 30 Days - 4

Oops. Skipped a day. 

Thank God - 30 Days - 7

A Prayer of Thanks To God

Lord I come before You, desiring to provide thanks.
Father, I have so much to be thankful for, things unseen and seen,
that You have done in my life.

Lord, mostly I am thankful for the relationship that I have with You.
Lord, You initiated this relationship, by what Your Son endeavored to accomplish,
paying the price for my sin, redeeming and reconciling me.

Dear Heavenly Father, You know the times I have been ungrateful, held ill thoughts toward You and my fellow humans. You know the times I complain and grumble about life and its circumstances, about suffering, going through what seem endless trials and tribulations. Even yielding my members to unholy deeds.

Yet God You are and always will be there with me, even when it seems like I am forever in the wilderness, running further and further from You, You, my God are there guiding me back to Your loving arms.

I am thankful Lord for everything that You allow to cross my path. Thankful for the decisions that You allow me to make and the lessons that come from these decisions.

I’m thankful, Lord, that I do not have to live under condemnation anymore, that You have truly set me free, that I am a new creation that I need not live under the law anymore. Thankful Lord that You have given me joy unspeakable. Thankful Lord that You are longsuffering, allowing me to mature in You!

Lord, words do not express my thankfulness. For Your mighty power is at work in me, transforming me, renewing my mind. To You Lord belong thanks eternal.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

allaboutprayer.org

Thankfulness

Thank God - 30 Days - 6

Thank God - 30 Days - 5

Thank God - I Chronicles 29:10-20

10 Therefore David blessed the LORD before all the assembly; and David said: "Blessed are You, LORD God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever.

11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, And You are exalted as head over all.

12 Both riches and honor come from You, And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all.

13 "Now therefore, our God, We thank You And praise Your glorious name.

14 But who am I, and who are my people, That we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, And of Your own we have given You.

15 For we are aliens and pilgrims before You, As were all our fathers; Our days on earth are as a shadow, And without hope.

16 "O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have prepared to build You a house for Your holy name is from Your hand, and is all Your own.

17 "I know also, my God, that You test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things; and now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here to offer willingly to You.

18 "O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep this forever in the intent of the thoughts of the heart of Your people, and fix their heart toward You.

19 "And give my son Solomon a loyal heart to keep Your commandments and Your testimonies and Your statutes, to do all these things, and to build the temple[fn] for which I have made provision."

20 Then David said to all the assembly, "Now bless the LORD your God." So all the assembly blessed the LORD God of their fathers, and bowed their heads and prostrated themselves before the LORD and the king.

Thank God - 30 Days - 3

Thank God - 30 Days - 2

Thank God - 30 Days - 1

Thank God

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2

Thank God

Thank God - Count Your Blessings

Oh taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Psalm 34:8

 

   When you are asked to count your blessings, your list may not be overwhelming. You struggle to make ends meet; your days are hard. You are grateful for much, but weariness clouds your vision.

   Pause to think of this: when you have the Lord Jesus Christ, you have the greatest blessing possible. That is not spiritualizing; it is the bedrock of your existence now on earth and one day in heaven.

   In Christ Jesus you have the Source of true life. He gives love, joy, peace, strength, comfort, hope, and patience. He nourishes your soul and energizes your spirit. Possessions are nice, but they can not impart life- only Jesus can.

   In Christ you have a Friend for all seasons. He understands your disappointments, rejoices in your triumphs, and stands with you in your trials. You can confide in Him, weep before Him, and celebrate with Him.

   Begin with all you have in Jesus Christ when you count your blessings. Then you will lose count.

 

Jesus, You are my greatest Source of blessings. You are my life. You give love, joy, peace, strength, comfort and hope. You nourish my soul and energize my spirit. Thank You Lord!

 

From:

Tyrone R. Lawton

"As iron sharpens iron so does one man sharpens another"                                                            Prov. 27:17

Thank God

Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20

Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving,Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. Psalm 95:2

Thank God

This was done during worship on Sunday, November 1, 2015. 

Be Still

A Missionary...

A missionary is one sent by Jesus Christ as He was sent by God. The great dominant note is not the needs of men, but the command of Jesus. - My Utmost...

Christmas Already

A Christmas Rap (When Sacred Love Came Down)

By Gwen Smith

 

A long time ago an angel told a girl

That she would have a baby and He would save the world

Now Mary was confused ‘cause she hadn’t known a man

But her innocence was a part of God’s plan

 

The angel said the Spirit of the Lord would make it happen

“He’ll be the Son of God. He will be a man of action!”

“May it be as you have said, I’m a servant of the Lord.

Blessed among women! I can’t wait ‘til he is born!”

 

So nine months later on the night the babe would come

A twinkle in the sky brought attention to God’s Son

The shepherds, they were chillin’ in the fields with their sheep

When the Angel of the Lord came and stirred them from their sleep

 

“Do not be afraid! I bring good and joyful news

That will be for every man, this will be a sign to you.

For unto you is born, in the town of David

The Christ! The Messiah! And He will be your Savior!”

 

“Now listen, there is more – and you might find it stranger

You will find this baby, lying in a manger.”

Then suddenly the sky was filled with angels singin’ praise

Joyful songs to celebrate the One who came to save

 

The shepherds said, “No way! Let’s go and check it out!”

They ran to see the babe that the angels sang about

They came upon the child then ran to spread the word

And people were amazed at the story that they heard

 

O what a holy night, when sacred Love came down

To wear a suit of skin, to wear a thorny crown

For God so loved the world that He sent His only Son

To reconcile hearts. It is finished! It is done!

Thanks to Anita for sending this my way. 

Acts 1:8

November Approaches - THANK GOD

As November approaches may we all evaluate ourselves. In Horizon Community Church our November Theme will be THANK GOD. We are going to form a long line of people thanking God.

In Thy Hand

Brotherhood

A PRAYER FOR BROTHERHOOD:

God, my Father; Jesus, my King; Holy Spirit, my Counselor . . . I

need men in my life. I know it’s not good to be isolated, no matter

what my instincts tell me. I’ve turned my life over to you, and

I need men in my life who are willing to do the same. I need to

know other men, and I need men who know me . . . truly know

me. I want to commit myself to other men, and I need other

men who are willing to commit to me . . . to make me a priority

in their lives. I want to be honest and transparent, and I need

men who are also willing to do the same. I need men in my life

to whom I can confess . . . and they to me. I need men who will

encourage me and help me to keep focused on you . . . fueled

and aflame. I need men who will stand with me through hardship

. . . and I with them. I need men with whom I can search

for my true identity . . . the one you dreamt of, so long ago. I

need brothers.

Holy Spirit, lead me to the right men or bring the right men to

me. You know who they are; I do not. I trust you, not my own

worldly instincts. I pray that you build a brotherhood that will

stand apart, that will stand in your name.

Amen.

 

Tyrone R. Lawton

"As iron sharpens iron ...so does one man sharpens another"

                                                                      Prov. 27:17

One Touch

If I can put one touch of rosy sunset into the life of any man or woman, I shall feel that I have worked with God. - George Macdonald

Right On!

5 Things The Church Did Not Do For You

http://careynieuwhof.com/2015/03/5-things-people-blame-the-church-for-but-shouldnt/

What Have You Gained - Prayer

This Is Christianity

The Calling of Everyday Work

“We must dispense with the myth that commitment to Christ means becoming a clergyman, or that work done inside a church building or in a church organization is more holy, somehow, than work done in the marketplace. Christ came to give us a sense of calling in everyday work. This is where the world is changed, and where the kingdom is built.”   Bruce Larson

Not mine, but Yours

Lord, it is far too easy to chase my own desires andpassions. Forgive me for my selfish wants and pursuit ofself-centered activities. Help me to place You first and tolook for what You are doing and want to do in my life.

ODB 2-19-15

THINK