Resurrection is real!

Dearest friends:

These next few days are the most important and central to our faith. Christ was killed, buried, and He rose from the dead. Lazarus died, was buried, and Christ raised Him from the dead.

Loved ones die, our finances go to ruins and sometimes, things seem to get much worse, before they get better. At times, God allows our situation to go from bad to worse because he has bigger plans in store! Hold on! He has a greater purpose that will bring glory to God- and He's using us to get it done.

If Jesus can raise Lazarus from the dead, surely He will get that job. He will give you more than anything you can ever ask or dream of (I am a living testament!)

Believe in resurrection! The miracle of Easter and the Resurrection of Lazarus will happen for you too!

Have a blessed weekend,

K.

Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead - Bible Story Summary

Scripture Reference:

John 11:1-45

Story Summary:

Lazarus and his two sisters, Mary and Martha, were friends of Jesus. When Lazarus fell ill, his sisters sent a message to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick." When Jesus heard the news, he waited two more days before going to Lazarus' hometown of Bethany. Jesus knew that he would do a great miracle for God's glory and, therefore, he was not in a hurry.

When Jesus arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had already been dead and in the tomb for four days. When Martha discovered that Jesus was on his way, she went out to meet him. "Lord," she said, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died."

Jesus told Martha, "Your brother will rise again." But Martha thought he was talking about the final resurrection of the dead.

Then Jesus said these important words: "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die."

Martha then went and told Mary that Jesus wanted to see her. Jesus had not yet entered the village, most likely to avoid stirring up the crowd and calling attention to himself. The town of Bethany was not far from Jerusalem where the Jewish leaders were plotting against Jesus.

When Mary met Jesus she was grieving with strong emotion over her brother's death. The Jews with her were also weeping and mourning. Deeply moved by their grief, Jesus wept with them.

Jesus then went to the tomb of Lazarus with Mary, Martha and the rest of the mourners. There he asked them to remove the stone that covered the hillside burial place. Jesus looked up to heaven and prayed to his Father, closing with these words: "Lazarus, come out!" When Lazarus came out of the tomb, Jesus told the people to remove his grave clothes.

As a result of this incredible miracle, many people put their faith in Jesus.

Points of Interest from the Story:

• Jesus also raised from dead, Jairus' daughter (Matthew 9:18-26; Mark 5:41-42; Luke 8:52-56) and a widow's son (Luke 7:11-15).

Others who were raised from the dead in the Bible:
In 1 Kings 17:22 Elijah raised a boy from the dead.
In 2 Kings 4:34-35 Elisha raised a boy from the dead.
In 2 Kings 13:20-21 Elisha's bones raised a man from the dead.
In Acts 9:40-41 Peter raised a woman from the dead.
In Acts 20:9-20 Paul raised a man from the dead.

• Through the raising of Lazarus, Jesus showed the disciples, and the world, that he had power over death. Many believed that Jesus was the Son of God and they put their faith in him after seeing this miracle. It is absolutely essential to our faith as Christians that we believe in the resurrection from the dead.

• In this story of Lazarus, Jesus speaks one of the most powerful messages ever: "Whoever believes in me, Jesus Christ, receives spiritual life that even physical death can never take away."

• Jesus revealed his compassion for people through a genuine display of emotion. Even though he knew that Lazarus would live, he was still moved to weep with the ones he loved. Jesus cared about their sorrow. He was not timid to show emotion and we should not be ashamed to express our true feelings to God. Like Martha and Mary, we can be transparent with God because he cares for us.

• Jesus waited to travel to Bethany because he knew already that Lazarus would be dead and that he would perform an amazing miracle there, for the glory of God. Many times we wait for the Lord in the midst of a terrible situation and wonder why he doesn't respond more quickly. Often God allows our situation to go from bad to worse because he's planning to do something powerful and wonderful; he has a purpose that will bring even greater glory to God.

Questions for Reflection:

Are you in a difficult trial? Do you feel like God is delaying much too long to answer your need? Do you trust God even in the delay? Remember the story of Lazarus. Your situation could not be any worse than his! Trust that God must have a purpose for your trial, and that he will bring glory to himself through it.

Make wise choices

Dear Friends:

As we focus on the final days of Christ this week, reflect on His temptations and His decisions. We're faced with temptations and decisions every day and the consequences can set the tone for personal and professional lives.

Who do you go to when you need to make a decision? Do you act on emotion, logic, or your world view? Who or what informs your world view?

In Matthew 4, when Christ was led into the desert and tempted by the enemy, He knew the Word. Shouldn't we do the same? When Jesus was hanging on the cross, He called on His Father. As Christians, we have the same access. Maybe we should call on God before calling a friend.

Review the verses below and think about making wise choices. If you rely on the Word, you won't go wrong.

Stay blessed and make wise choices,

K.

Proverbs 2

The Benefits of Wisdom

¹ My child,^[a] listen to what I say,
and treasure my commands.
² Tune your ears to wisdom,
and concentrate on understanding.
³ Cry out for insight,
and ask for understanding.
⁴ Search for them as you would for silver;
seek them like hidden treasures.
⁵ Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord,
and you will gain knowledge of God.
⁶ For the Lord grants wisdom!
From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
⁷ He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest.
He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.
⁸ He guards the paths of the just
and protects those who are faithful to him.

⁹ Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair,
and you will find the right way to go.
¹⁰ For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will fill you with joy.
¹¹ Wise choices will watch over you.
Understanding will keep you safe.

¹² Wisdom will save you from evil people,
from those whose words are twisted.
¹³ These men turn from the right way
to walk down dark paths.
¹⁴ They take pleasure in doing wrong,
and they enjoy the twisted ways of evil.
¹⁵ Their actions are crooked,
and their ways are wrong.

¹⁶ Wisdom will save you from the immoral woman,
from the seductive words of the promiscuous woman.
¹⁷ She has abandoned her husband
and ignores the covenant she made before God.
¹⁸ Entering her house leads to death;
it is the road to the grave.^[b]
19 The man who visits her is doomed.
He will never reach the paths of life.

²⁰ Follow the steps of good men instead,
and stay on the paths of the righteous.
²¹ For only the godly will live in the land,
and those with integrity will remain in it.
²² But the wicked will be removed from the land,
and the treacherous will be uprooted.

Pray about Everything

Dear Friends:

Happy Holy Week!

I pray that all has been well and that you remain in perfect peace. Today's message is brief but designed to help us maintain a peaceful presence to the outside world.

In all things, pray. There is so much to do and so much to worry about but if you know who you are (and whose you are), you can rest assured that God answers prayers.

Don't worry about the outcome, God knows your needs and He knows how to respond. He will handle the situation so that others will see the good He's done and be drawn to Him. Our responsibility is to stay faithful and know that God's will will be done. No need to fret or worry- just trust and know.

In the meantime, stay blessed. It's good to be with you all again.

K.

EPHESIANS 6:18 (NIV): And pray in the Spirit on all

occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With

this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying…

PHILIPPIANS 4:6 (NLT): Don’t worry about anything;

instead, pray about everything.

Prayer: Dear Father, I know You

care about every aspect of my

life and that You want to guide

me in every decision and

choice I make, so I come to

You daily, as a spiritual act of

discipline, seeking Your insight

and perspective because You

have the answer to every unanswered

question in my life.

Adapted from: http://www.cccinfo.org/uploads/consecration-fast.pdf

A word on Haiti

Psalm 23:4

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.

Acts 20:35
I have shown you all things, how that by so laboring ye ought to support the weak and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, `It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

Dear Friends:

There are no words to describe the devastation and the depth of my sorrow about this tragedy. It is so difficult to fathom why and how this could have happened to our brothers and sisters in Haiti and because of that, I haven't spoken on this issue before today. All I can do is ask three favors from you as Christians:

1) Don't believe the hype about Haiti. Haiti is a CHRISTIAN country filled with resiliant people who rely heavily on their faith in God. Please don't allow stereotypes, false prophets, and the media prevent you from seeing this catastrophe in the way that Christ would.

2) Pray incessantly. Imagine if your family members were a few hours away and you think they could be hurt or worse- but you had no way to reach them. Imagine seeing images of your hometown destroyed, children unattended, and your neighbors begging for water. You can't imagine it, even if you are in this situation. Pray as if your life depended on it because prayer changes things.

3) Give. Give until it hurts. Give to organizations that are on the ground doing the work. Did you know that people are being rescued, only to die later on from a lack of adequate care? Broken bones and contusions are resulting in death because, without proper care, our brothers and sisters are dying from blood borne diseases. One such organization trying to help is the Association of Haitian Physicians Abroad. This is an American organization of Haitian doctors (or Haitian descent) volunteering to care for survivors of this disaster. These doctors can hit the ground immediately and bypass the language barriers that hinder quality care.

There is a description of the organization below, along to a link to their website. PLEASE, please consider donating to this organization. 100% of your donation goes directly to patient care.

Dear friends, these catastrophes can happen and we feel helpless. I send this message because as Christians, we are activists for Christ. With this information, consider yourself equipped to help.

Stay blessed,

K.

http://www.amhe.org/

Haitian Physicians Abroad Working at General Hospital HUEH in Port-au-Prince Dr Marnell Moore Dr. Moore's group, Association of Haitian Physicians Abroad, is working at the Port-Au-Prince General Hospital. The hospital, by a miracle of God, is still standing and in good condition. This building is very close to the Haitian White House, which was destroyed by the earthquake. She mentioned that they do not have lighting in the hospital, making it more complex to help those in need. Marnell told me that different doctor groups from around the world are now showing up, and many of them present themselves as “being in charge”. This is very frustrating for Marnell's group, because these groups are coming in and assuming that her group are unqualified local doctors, not highly trained Haitian-American physicians from the United States. So, they come in barking orders, and these doctors spend all of their time arguing with each-other, trying to prove they're in charge, while the Association of Haitian Physicians Abroad group hastily tries to take care of all the wounded. There are about fifty Haitian-American Doctors from the Association of Haitian Physicians Abroad group, and they are able to speak the language – and they know the people. Marnell feels that a Haitian doctor (from the hospital) needs to be put in charge, but there are too many egos involved to get things running smoothly. She informed me that the level of care at the hospital before they arrived was very bad. Many of the patients treated after the earthquake did not receive the proper follow-up care, and have wounds that will likely cause them to die. Association of Haitian Physicians Abroad nurses are busy delivering babies (she told me at least 12 were born last night), many premature. Many broken bones had gone untreated since the earthquake, even on patient's that have already been seen by doctors prior to the group's arrival. Dr. Moore is putting out a plea for assistance. She has informed me that their group in Haiti DESPERATELY needs pain medications (narcotics) and wound care products. Without them, they cannot do the work that needs to be done. If you have some way of providing these products, please contact Paul Nacier MD pnacier@aol.com or Eric L. Jerome, MD FACP eljerome@pol.net Also, please visit http://amhenj.org/Update.html for more information. This organization is MAKING A DIFFERENCE NOW. If you have the means to donate to this organization, I am being told that 100% of the funds are being used to help Haiti. Please visit http://amhenj.org Also, she mentioned that they desperately need news coverage on the ground for their Association of Haitian Physicians Abroad group currently in Haiti in order to increase awareness of their situation at the hospital. - Scott

A great example to follow...(please read)

Dear Friends:

Today's scriptures are so powerful (especially in the Message translation of the Bible) that I'm going to refrain from additional commentary. Please be blessed and guided accordingly!

Hallelujah!

K.

Luke 11 (The Message)

Keep Your Eyes Open

^{29 -30}As the crowd swelled, he took a fresh tack: "The mood of this age is all wrong. Everybody's looking for proof, but you're looking for the wrong kind. All you're looking for is something to titillate your curiosity, satisfy your lust for miracles. But the only proof you're going to get is the Jonah-proof given to the Ninevites, which looks like no proof at all. What Jonah was to Nineveh, the Son of Man is to this age.

^{32 -31}"On Judgment Day the Ninevites will stand up and give evidence that will condemn this generation, because when Jonah preached to them they changed their lives. A far greater preacher than Jonah is here, and you squabble about 'proofs.' On Judgment Day the Queen of Sheba will come forward and bring evidence that condemns this generation, because she traveled from a far corner of the earth to listen to wise Solomon. Wisdom far greater than Solomon's is right in front of you, and you quibble over 'evidence.'

^{33 -36}"No one lights a lamp, then hides it in a drawer. It's put on a lamp stand so those entering the room have light to see where they're going. Your eye is a lamp, lighting up your whole body. If you live wide-eyed in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar. Keep your eyes open, your lamp burning, so you don't get musty and murky. Keep your life as well-lighted as your best-lighted room."

Frauds!

^{37 -41}When he finished that talk, a Pharisee asked him to dinner. He entered his house and sat right down at the table. The Pharisee was shocked and somewhat offended when he saw that Jesus didn't wash up before the meal. But the Master said to him, "I know you Pharisees burnish the surface of your cups and plates so they sparkle in the sun, but I also know your insides are maggoty with greed and secret evil. Stupid Pharisees! Didn't the One who made the outside also make the inside? Turn both your pockets and your hearts inside out and give generously to the poor; then your lives will be clean, not just your dishes and your hands.

⁴²"I've had it with you! You're hopeless, you Pharisees! Frauds! You keep meticulous account books, tithing on every nickel and dime you get, but manage to find loopholes for getting around basic matters of justice and God's love. Careful bookkeeping is commendable, but the basics are required.

^{43 -44}"You're hopeless, you Pharisees! Frauds! You love sitting at the head table at church dinners, love preening yourselves in the radiance of public flattery. Frauds! You're just like unmarked graves: People walk over that nice, grassy surface, never suspecting the rot and corruption that is six feet under."

⁴⁵One of the religion scholars spoke up: "Teacher, do you realize that in saying these things you're insulting us?"

⁴⁶He said, "Yes, and I can be even more explicit. You're hopeless, you religion scholars! You load people down with rules and regulations, nearly breaking their backs, but never lift even a finger to help.

^{47 -51}"You're hopeless! You build tombs for the prophets your ancestors killed. The tombs you build are monuments to your murdering ancestors more than to the murdered prophets. That accounts for God's Wisdom saying, 'I will send them prophets and apostles, but they'll kill them and run them off.' What it means is that every drop of righteous blood ever spilled from the time earth began until now, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was struck down between altar and sanctuary, is on your heads. Yes, it's on the bill of this generation and this generation will pay.

⁵²"You're hopeless, you religion scholars! You took the key of knowledge, but instead of unlocking doors, you locked them. You won't go in yourself, and won't let anyone else in either."

Are you hungry enough to throw it all away?

Hello Dear Friends!

I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday week and looking forward to the weekend. I read this scripture yesterday and I started thinking about all of the plans (and pressures) we place on ourselves.

Goals are fine. Pressure isn't even a bad thing. But how far are you willing to go to feed hunger? Are you willing stay in an abusive situation because you hunger for companionship? Is your hunger for financial security hindering your ability to make clear (and ethical decisions)? What's you're hunger driving you to do?

This passage is not meant to pass judgment (because we're all hungry for something) but don't give away your birthright to satisfy your immediate needs. Stay the course. Work it out. Rely on God to see you through.

Stay blessed,

K.

Genesis 25: 22-34 (The Message)

Two nations are in your womb,
two peoples butting heads while still in your body.
One people will overpower the other,
and the older will serve the younger.

^{24 -26} When her time to give birth came, sure enough, there were twins in her womb. The first came out reddish, as if snugly wrapped in a hairy blanket; they named him Esau (Hairy). His brother followed, his fist clutched tight to Esau's heel; they named him Jacob (Heel). Isaac was sixty years old when they were born.

^{27 -28} The boys grew up. Esau became an expert hunter, an outdoorsman. Jacob was a quiet man preferring life indoors among the tents. Isaac loved Esau because he loved his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

^{29 -30} One day Jacob was cooking a stew. Esau came in from the field, starved. Esau said to Jacob, "Give me some of that red stew—I'm starved!" That's how he came to be called Edom (Red).

³¹ Jacob said, "Make me a trade: my stew for your rights as the firstborn."

³² Esau said, "I'm starving! What good is a birthright if I'm dead?"

^{33 -34} Jacob said, "First, swear to me." And he did it. On oath Esau traded away his rights as the firstborn. Jacob gave him bread and the stew of lentils. He ate and drank, got up and left. That's how Esau shrugged off his rights as the firstborn.

You can plan for tomorrow but live for today

Dear Friends:

I hope everyone is enjoying a wonderful day with little stress. I started to write my message for the day and was blessed to find this old message about the importance real living. I hope that the message blesses you in a new way and moves you ahead.

My love to you all.

Stay blessed,

K.

Dear Friends-

I'm watching a television listening to people who claim to have had a spiritual awakening as a result of recently released book on spirituality. Without focusing on the actual book, I began thinking about the principles-and why I wasn't so awestruck by the "new" information I had heard. The reason was because the principles weren't new. They were God's words repackaged. The authors used buzzwords to make the principles sound more mysterious than they really were. God gives us instructions for our lives. However, when we view His principles, from OUR perspectives, and make them more palatable to follow, we've made our needs more important than serving God.

A few years ago, I had a mentor who told me that cancer was one of the best things that had ever happened to her. It took me a few minutes to "get over myself" and really hear her. Regina believed that it wasn't until she received a seeming death sentence that she understood what it meant to be fully alive. Regina had a way of talking to you that made you feel like what you had to say was the most important thing in the world. She stopped, looked you in the eye, and HEARD you. She didn't answer her cell, she didn't think ahead to her next appointment, she listened and heard. Every event, every activity, every conversation was the most important thing to her at the time because she was so intent on living every moment that she didn't want to miss anything.

I'll never forget that lunchdate. She told me not to worry or spend too much time concerned about the future because it was a bad habit that was difficult to break. God gave Regina the gift of cancer to wake her up and make her LIVE (even though she didn't consider it a gift at the time). We never stop making plans or looking to the future but, if you MUST look ahead, live while you plan. Be present with your spouse. Be present with your children. No matter how real it feels, our lives and problems aren't really real because they're actually the sum total of our choices.

Your faith and obedience to God, your engagement in relationships and your service to others is all that really matters.

Don't wait for your "cancer" to snap to attention. Consider this you wakeup call. Live!

Stay blessed,

K.

Matthew 6:

²⁵ "That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life more than food, and your body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are? ²⁷ Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

²⁸ "And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, ²⁹ yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. ³⁰ And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

³¹ "So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' ³² These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. ³³ Seek the Kingdom of God^[d] above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

Stop and be at peace...

Good Morning Dear Friends:
Today's Word was very timely for me and I hope the passages are a blessing to you too.
I've decided to stop fighting in 2010- no more petty arguments, no more proving myself and no more fighting for other people's respect (or approval).

As long as God is pleased and my loved ones are blessed, that's all I care about. If you take a step back and ask yourself "will this matter in 10 years?" and the answer is no, stop fighting.

Love you all,
K.

Luke 6 (The Message)

You're Blessed

17 -21Coming down off the mountain with them, he stood on a plain surrounded by disciples, and was soon joined by a huge congregation from all over Judea and Jerusalem, even from the seaside towns of Tyre and Sidon. They had come both to hear him and to be cured of their ailments. Those disturbed by evil spirits were healed. Everyone was trying to touch him—so much energy surging from him, so many people healed! Then he spoke: You're blessed when you've lost it all. God's kingdom is there for the finding. You're blessed when you're ravenously hungry. Then you're ready for the Messianic meal. You're blessed when the tears flow freely. Joy comes with the morning.
22 -23"Count yourself blessed every time someone cuts you down or throws you out, every time someone smears or blackens your name to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and that that person is uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—skip like a lamb, if you like!—for even though they don't like it, I do . . . and all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company; my preachers and witnesses have always been treated like this.
Give Away Your Life

24But it's trouble ahead if you think you have it made. What you have is all you'll ever get.
25And it's trouble ahead if you're satisfied with yourself. Your self will not satisfy you for long.
And it's trouble ahead if you think life's all fun and games. There's suffering to be met, and you're going to meet it.
26"There's trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contests—look how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true, not popular.
27 -30"To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously