Pharisees and Teachers by James R. Coggins

Posted on May 10, 2022 by jrcoggins

While the crowds ran after Jesus, almost from the beginning the Pharisees and teachers of the law (sometimes called scribes) opposed Him. Why?

Teachers of the law were essentially rabbis—experts in the Old Testament law who taught in the temple in Jerusalem and in local synagogues.

Pharisees, on the other hand, were people who held a particular belief. We might call them fundamentalists today, people who were very concerned with rigidly following the moral laws and applying moral standards to others.

Some teachers of the law were Pharisees, but others were more liberal in their interpretations, such as the Sadducees. As it is today, the liberals were more often found among the wealthy and powerful people.

But the teachers of the law, both liberal and fundamentalist, had this in common—most of them opposed Jesus. This fact, alone, should give us pause in pursuing our current theological debates. While we can rightly see that our opponents are wrong, that does not automatically mean that we are right. We should consider carefully where we, too, might be out of step with Jesus.

The first we see of the teachers of the law in Mark is in 1:22, where the teaching of the teachers of the law is unfavorably contrasted with the authority with which Jesus taught. It is not stated that the teachers themselves heard this criticism, but it is likely, and they may have noticed the contrast themselves. If so, it means that the teachers’ antagonism might spring not from theological issues but from jealousy.

When Jesus began healing, He told those healed to recognize the authority of the priests (Mark 1:43-44), but the priests were not the teachers.

When the teachers next encountered Jesus (they seem to have stayed in the cities and towns and not gone out into the countryside to hear Jesus), they thought Him guilty of blasphemy because He forgave sins (Mark 2:6-7). This would have been blasphemy if Jesus was not God, but Jesus then demonstrated His divinity by healing (Mark 2:8-12).

Some Pharisees who were also teachers of the law next criticized Jesus for eating with tax collectors and known sinners (Mark 2:15-16). When the Pharisees asked Jesus’ disciples why He was doing this, Jesus took time to explain his actions, saying that, just as a doctor spends time with the sick in order to heal them, so He had come to save those who were spiritually sick (Mark 2:17).

Some people then asked Jesus why the Pharisees and the disciples of John fasted but His disciples didn’t (Mark 2:18). The Pharisees may have had the same question. Jesus responded that it wasn’t the time for that yet, but that His followers would fast later (Mark 2:19-20). But Jesus also warned people against trying to fit Him into some previous system (Mark 2:21-22) since He was establishing a new Kingdom of God.

The Pharisees next criticized Jesus’ followers for breaking the sabbath law, not fundamentally but only on a technicality (Mark 2:23-24). The disciples were not working, just eating, snacking on some grain as they passed through a field. Jesus told them that the sabbath law was meant to help people, not bind them (Mark 2:25-26), and that He was God and He would decide the proper way to observe the laws governing the sabbath (Mark 2:27).

By this time, some of the Pharisees and teachers were already antagonistic to Jesus, looking for ways to criticize Him. They found an opportunity when Jesus healed (did work) on the sabbath (Mark 3:2). By this point, they had totally lost perspective. For them, a minor legal question overshadowed a miraculous healing and the presence of God. It is interesting that Jesus was both angry with them and grieved that they were rejecting God, pointing out that they were condemning themselves (Mark 3:5).

The Pharisees then started talking with the Herodians (not tax collectors who worked for the Roman government but largely secular people who wanted a secular and independent nation) about killing Jesus (Mark 3:6). After criticizing Jesus for eating with tax collectors, they made their own deal with questionable allies. It is interesting that the Pharisees had already made their minds up about Jesus, mostly on the basis of a few quibbles about minor provisions of the law. Through three more years of Jesus’ teaching and miracle-working, they seem never to have wavered from that first impression. In the end, the Pharisees and teachers of the law supported the deal made with the Romans (the people they criticized Jesus for befriending) to kill Jesus.

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Would Jesus Go to Church? by James R. Coggins

Posted on May 4, 2022 by jrcoggins

“If Jesus came to earth today, he would be spending his time on the streets, helping the poor and the marginalized, not in churches.” I encounter such sentiments frequently on social media.

This ties in with other attitudes in modern Western society. A recent survey found that significantly more Canadians think evangelical Christians are detrimental to society than think evangelical Christians are beneficial to society. In television dramas and comedies, devout Christians are usually portrayed as self-righteous, judgmental hypocrites, and pastors usually turn out to be serial killers, sexual abusers, and greedy fraudsters. (While these are fictional stories, they reflect what television producers think is true about Christians.)

Would Jesus really avoid modern churches? It is a false dichotomy. Jesus spent a lot of time being with and helping lepers, prostitutes, tax collectors, the disabled, the demon-possessed, and other marginalized people. But the Gospels show that He went to the synagogue every Sabbath (Luke 4:16: “On the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom”), and He journeyed to the temple in Jerusalem to participate in major religious festivals.

When I look back at the churches I have attended regularly (about a dozen or so) over my lifetime, this is the reality:

• Several were strongly involved with halfway houses helping drug addicts and alcoholics get clean.

• Some have outreach programs to people in prison, bringing worship services, one-on-one friendship, and even meals.

• Several ran Divorce Care programs to help divorced people recover from the trauma.

• Several are involved with local public schools, offering everything from breakfasts for hungry children to after-school programs and volunteers to help run school events.

• At least one church supports an outreach to prostitutes, which offers friendship, basic necessities, and a residential program to help prostitutes get off the street.

• One ran a major program offering food, clothes, counseling, friendship, and even cars to single mothers. Other churches had similar but smaller programs.

• Several support outreaches to street youth.

• Most contribute heavily to food banks. The churches in one town banded together to guarantee that the local food bank would never run out of food.

• One church ran a “bread” program delivering donated bread to dozens of families and charities every week.

• Several sponsored refugee families to come to Canada. They provided travel money, financial support for at least a year, food, clothes, friendship, and help in finding accommodation, education, and jobs.

• Some offered English as a second language training to recent immigrants.

• At least two had attached congregations for ethnic groups who worshiped in another language. At the same time, the churches also encouraged interaction between the congregations.

• At least one helped build a Habitat for Humanity house for a needy family, and others have supported this organization in other ways.

• Most contributed dozens and even hundreds of shoeboxes full of basic necessities and Christmas gifts to children around the world every year.
• Most provided Christmas hampers of food and gifts to needy families in their neighborhood.

• All contributed (money and volunteer help) to flood victims, overseas orphanages, famine victims, war refugees, and a host of other needs.

• Some opened their church buildings as temporary shelters for the homeless and for those displaced by natural disasters.

• Most hosted AA programs, counseling programs, and other community social efforts.

• Most ran soccer camps, summer kids’ programs, clubs, and youth groups attended by children whose families did not attend the church as well as children whose families did.

• And, of course, every church had a “care fund” which provided food, rent money, and other support to needy individuals and families, both those in the church and those outside it.

These were just ordinary churches, and none would have claimed that they were doing anything remarkable. All would have admitted that they could have done more.

As well, although this is rarely mentioned in news coverage, many local and many major international charities were founded, supported, and run by Christians. Many are still run by Christians. On an individual basis, many churchgoers volunteer at Christian and mainstream charities. Many go out of their way to be good neighbors and befriend people who need friends. And, besides what they give to their churches, churchgoers apparently contribute to mainstream, “secular” charities at a higher rate than non-churchgoers.

Church is not a distraction or an alternative to caring for the poor and marginalized. It often provides the motivation and the organization to do so. What would Jesus be doing if He were to come to earth today? Likely what churches are doing (only more perfectly, of course).

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What’s Your Purpose?

Posted on May 3, 2022 by Author Mary Alford

Did you know that you were created for a purpose? It’s true. As Christians, God has a mission for each of us to fulfil. One that He specifically designed for us and only we can complete.

It doesn’t matter how unequipped you feel, God will prepare you for your mission. He will never send you out alone. He is always with you.

A few years back, Pastor Rick Warren wrote a book entitled, A Purpose Driven Life. In the book, Warren lists 5 purposes of The Purpose Driven Life.

Purpose #1: You Were Planned for God’s Pleasure (Christian Worship) Purpose #2: You Were Formed for God’s Family (Christian Church) Purpose #3: You Were Created to Become Like Christ (Discipleship) Purpose #4: You Were Shaped for Serving God (Christian Ministry)

But what happens if you aren’t certain what your God-purpose is? Well, there are many ways to help you discover your purpose.  

Pray. Ask God to show you what He wants you to do for Him. Communication with God is key to the Christian life and to finding out your purpose.  

Dig into His word. Psalm 119:105 says, Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. The Bible is filled with answers.

Seek out Godly people to give you guidance. Proverbs 11:14 tells us, Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. Choosing wise council to pray with us and give us advice is important.   

Sometimes, though, it is necessary to get alone with God and simply wait for His answer. God wants to guide us in every aspect of our lives, but sometimes all the noise surrounding us in our business lives makes it hard to hear His voice.

And when you have your answer? Trust God. He will put you where He wants you to be. Where you are needed. Where your purpose truly is.

All the best…

Mary Alford

www.maryalford.net

Among the Innocent – Coming June 2022

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Jeeps On the Beach by Tara Randel

Posted on May 2, 2022 by tararandel

Last weekend my husband and I drove over to Daytona Beach for Jeep Beach 2022. For those who aren’t into Jeeps, I can tell you that the weekend was all things Jeep!

We started our day at the Daytona International Speedway, a location we’ve visited frequently in the past when we attended NACSCAR races. On the day we visited there were no race cars in sight, just a sea of Jeeps, inside and outside the track. All different models and colors; some decorated with decals, some with crazy loud sound systems, many hoisting flags.

In the center of the infield were two long rows of vendors. Anything you wanted to outfit a Jeep was represented here. Also located here were obstacle courses for any brave person who wanted to drive their Jeep through the dirt. Believe me, many tried and made it.

You can see the stadium stands in the background.

You can’t have a Florida Jeep event without a sand sculpture.

Yes, some Jeep owners like to show off.

Once we were finished at the first event, we went out to the beach. From the vantage point at our hotel, we watched a steady stream of Jeeps parade up and down the sand. I’ve been to Daytona Beach before and seen cars on the sand, but never anything like this. It was quite an adventure.

It was a beautiful day and would have been a great time to brave the waves, but the water was too cold. These Florida toes of mine were about the only part of me to touch the foamy surf on the beach. Others must have felt the same because there were very few people in the water.

We had a wonderful weekend and would recommend it to any Jeep enthusiast. If you’re planning a trip to Florida next spring and you’re intrigued, check out jeepbeach.com. There is plenty to see and do and you just might decide to get a Jeep after the visit.

Tara Randel is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author. Family values, a bit of mystery and of course, love and romance, are her favorite themes, because she believes love is the greatest gift of all. Look for her next Harlequin Heartwarming romance, His Small Town Dream, available September 2022. For more information about her books, visit Tara at www.tararandel.com. Like her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TaraRandelBooks. Sign up for Tara’s Newsletter

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No Room at the Inn by Bridget A. Thomas

Posted on April 28, 2022 by Bridget

Recently I have been reading through the Gospels. When I came to the story of Jesus’ birth found in Luke 2, I was struck anew by the words found in verse 7. “And [Mary] brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

These words saddened me as I thought about Mary and Joseph being turned away. If the people had known that the Savior of the world was among them, would room have been made available to them?

But then I also thought about myself, and all of us in general. Do we make room for Jesus in our lives and in our hearts? Generally speaking, the society around us has continually pushed Jesus away. And the results are clearly seen in our deteriorating world.

But even among believers, do we always have time for Jesus in our day? Do we put Him first in our lives? Or are we distracted by our to do lists and devices? Do we seek other things that bring instant gratification or do we meet with the Only One who can truly fill us?

My one word for 2022 is Abide. My goal is learn to fully and wholeheartedly abide in Jesus. I have to wonder if my heart is often found abiding somewhere else – social media, work, my writing, books, television, etc.

Our flesh so quickly and easily seeks anything and everything that will please us for a time. But those things don’t last. And we find ourselves looking for something else to satisfy us.

I recently fasted from several things during lent, including social media. My aim was to lay aside anything that takes my attention from Jesus. Even good things in our lives can steal us away from the One who can truly keep us anchored.

Do we have room for Him in our lives and hearts? Or do we turn Him away because we are filling our lives and hearts with other things? Just like the people in the Inn so many years ago, will we miss out on beautiful miracles and time with the Savior because we don’t have room? I pray we all can learn to make room for Him, today and every day.

© 2022 Bridget A. Thomas

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I Forget to Breathe by Julie Arduini

Posted on April 27, 2022 by juliearduini

Last month I received a gift my family and I determined wasn’t a want as much as a need.

An Apple watch.

When they first came on the scene I made fun of them because all I saw was people answering texts and calls as if they were VIP status, not regular folk most likely replying back to their parents. Last year, my opinion started to change. A young friend fainted and she was home alone with her pre-schooler and newborn. She had help in minutes. Why?

Her Apple watch had fall detection. The watch triggered her emergency contacts, and her husband was at her side in minutes.

Last November, I took a fall. I was on my way to the garage with packages taller than my line of vision. I figured I knew what I was doing, so I went by feel down the steps. Thing is, there is a railing I reach for, and I missed it. I grabbed air and down I went. Packages flew and of all the ways to land, I straddled our walking mower. Yeah.

That kind of spooked me, and working a decade next door to the Office for the Aging has not helped me. I remember the fall statistics. I have a bad knee. I do not want to fall, but I realize it could happen, and there are times I’m alone, or somewhere around the house the others wouldn’t notice my absence unless they got hungry, LOL.

Enter Apple watch.

It has really helped me with fitness goals, and of course, fall detection is activated.

The watch has also helped me in another area.

I don’t breathe.

There’s a prompt several times a day for me to stop and breathe. One minute is all it asks of me. Rarely do I oblige. I keep thinking I’ll get to it. But I don’t. Last year the stress and grief I was experiencing manifested in severe anxiety. One thing I learned, when I start to freak out, I hold my breath. Not only am I trying to unlearn that, I’m trying to practice deep breathing. When I actually employ that skill, it helps. But I struggle to breathe. How crazy is that?

Does anyone else struggle with breathing? Do you have a watch that reminds you? I’d love to hear from you in the comments. Just remember to breathe. 🙂

***

Anchored Hearts is available for pre-order!

This is the first book in the new Surrendering Hearts series about the Hart sextuplets and their desire to discover their own identities and find a love like the one their parents shared.

Can two go-getters surrender their need to control and find a happily-ever-after?

Jordyn Bell Hart succeeds in everything she does. Her promotion to morning show co-anchor blossoms her career in the same way her mother’s work had. Jordyn keeps tabs on her family and enjoys helping them grow. When life around her starts to change, can she surrender her desire to control?

Spencer Collins knows how to balance a busy life. He has his work as a reporter, his time caregiving for his grieving father, and looking out for his little brother. When he learns he’s the new co-anchor of a morning show with Jordyn Hart, can he handle working with a celebrity who brings a lot of challenges to life on and off the set?

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Followers of Jesus by James R. Coggins

Posted on April 26, 2022 by jrcoggins

We sometimes think of the Twelve apostles as a group and suppose that Jesus called them all at once. This is not so.

According to Mark 1-2, Jesus first walked along the shore of the Sea of Galilee and called Peter, Andrew, James and John—four fishermen, a homogenous group.

Then, after settling in Capernaum and doing some ministry trips to the surrounding area, He reached out to a whole new group of people—Levi and a group of tax collectors. Now fishermen and tax collectors, faithful Jews and servants of the Roman oppressors would not be expected to get along. But Jesus brought them together.

Perhaps the fishermen (at least, Peter, James, and John) formed Jesus’ inner circle because they had seniority—they were called first.

Since Matthew was a tax collector (Matthew 9:9, 10:3), it is often assumed that Matthew and Levi were the same person. If so, then Levi also became one of the Twelve (Mark 3:18).

One of the other apostles was James, the son of Alphaeus (Mark 3:18). He was also called “James the Less” (Mark 15:40)—perhaps because he was shorter or younger or less prominent than James, the son of Zebedee. In Mark 15:40, this James is described as the son of Mary, another of Jesus’ followers from Galilee. But Levi was also called the “son of Alphaeus” (Mark 2:14). If Matthew was Levi, then Matthew and James could be brothers, sons of Alphaeus and Mary. This would be a third set of brothers among the Twelve (along with Peter and Andrew, James and John). If Levi was not the same person as Matthew, James could still have been the brother of Levi and might also have been a tax collector; at any rate, he could have been part of the tax collector crowd.

Philip and Nathanael, on the other hand, appear to have been friends (John 1:43-51), not brothers, and they were from Bethsaida, the same town as Peter and Andrew (John 1:44). They had Greek names and may form a third group among the Twelve, that is, Hellenized Jews (Jews influenced by Greek culture but not necessarily working for the Roman government).              

We sometimes think Jesus calls individuals, and He does. But those individuals come with their connections and baggage, their families and their friends. As it was with Jesus’ first followers, so it is today. When one person becomes a follower of Jesus, one result is that his friends and family members are often given an opportunity to become followers as well.

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Small Gifts by Nancy J. Farrier

Posted on April 25, 2022 by Nancy J. Farrier

When I go walking in the desert, I travel down a wash and over hills. There are so many rocks. I have to be careful not to trip or fall, because the rocks will shift under my feet. Thus, I don’t usually notice individual rocks because I have to concentrate on keeping my footing as I walk.

More than once I’ve fallen when something caught my eye or I glanced to the side and didn’t see a pitfall. I was out walking with my husband once, and he called me to look at something. I lifted my gaze to see what he wanted just as I was taking a step. I didn’t see the hole on the far side of the rock I was stepping over and ended up with a sprained ankle. Having to walk more than a mile back to the house reminded me how necessary it is to take care to watch my surroundings and avoid problems.

There have been times I’m so busy keeping an eye on where I’m going that I forget to take in the beauty of what is around me. I’m focused on getting through—going from point A to point B—and ignoring everything else along the way.

Isn’t that how we do things in life. Especially in our Christian walk. We get so focused on what God has given us to do that we forget to take those moments and enjoy the little gifts God has given us. In fact, we often miss the small things God does for us every day. 

We are not so different from those people recorded in the Bible. Think of the Israelites who complained to Moses about their thirst and hunger when God provided food and water when needed. Think of the crowds of people in Bethlehem on that crisp evening who didn’t notice when the heavens opened and angels sang of God’s glory and a son born to save mankind. Think of the men who accompanied Saul (Paul) on the road to Damascus and missed hearing the voice of God as He spoke to Paul and changed his life forever.

We all get caught up in what we are doing or need to do and forget to take a moment to see what God is doing for us and around us. It takes determination on our part and constant reminders to watch for His gifts. 

“Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8 (NKJV)

Being pure in heart is a matter of keeping one’s focus on God. When we do that we often see what we would otherwise miss—the beauty and majesty of God’s gifts. Even the small ones that are easily ignored.

On my walk this past Easter Sunday morning, I glanced down as I headed home through that rocky wash. For the first time, I noticed the rock pictured below. That rock had been there all the other times I walked through the area, but I missed the beauty of the picture God painted on this rock. I had to smile at that small gift of beauty He’d given me, the butterfly a picture of new life. A reminder that he is with me wherever I go.

I urge you to look around you. What small gift of God’s are you overlooking? He has something incredible for you.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” James 1:17 (NKJV)

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More Famous Coggins Quotations by James R. Coggins

Posted on April 20, 2022 by jrcoggins

After a writer is dead, some anonymous scholar often collects the best quotes from all of his written works, reducing his laboriously written tomes to a few sound bites. A while back, I decided to save this anonymous scholar some work, compile quotations from my writings myself, and post them in a blog. I soon realized that I had many more important things to say than were in that first compilation. Here are more nuggets of my enduring wisdom.

“It was a small town where change comes slowly and news travels fast.”

“If MENSA members are so smart, why do they waste their time doing those pointless puzzles and quizzes?”

“I am the family member my family counts on to be tall enough to reach things off the top shelf and strong enough to open the pickle jar. My family is in deep trouble.”

“The reason men don’t use their wedding anniversary as their password is that they don’t want to risk forgetting their password.”

“Last night, I had a healthy meal of fruit, nuts, cocoa beans, honey, and dairy. Also known as a banana split with chocolate sauce and honey-glazed peanuts.”

“Bible teachers should not boast in their insights or their novel interpretations. They do not create anything. Rather, they are students of the Bible who just see what is already there and shout, ‘Wow! Look at that!’”

“A Canadian is someone whose primary loyalty is to the nation from which his ancestors fled in order to escape persecution or poverty.”

“Drummers travel to a different beat. They are flakey, like hockey goaltenders. I remember a time when our high school bandmaster stopped our band in the middle of practice to ask the drummers, ‘Is that what is written in your music?’ The drummers stopped, looked at each other and then opened their music book. They didn’t care what they were supposed to be playing or whatever the rest of the band was playing. They just played what felt right to them.”

“My beard, which used to be red, is now white. It seems appropriate somehow. My kids have been convinced for a long time that I’m Santa Claus.”

“My daughter was going to take her kids to see Santa Claus, but the mall was charging $30 so she decided not to. I told her that was okay—I would put on a red coat and make the kids cry for free.”

“You can learn something new every day. This morning, the news reported that woodpeckers were disturbing homeowners by pounding on roofs and chimneys during mating season. I didn’t even know homeowners had a mating season.”

“There is no cure for insomnia equal to the sound of the alarm clock going off.”

“I don’t belong to any organized religion. I’m a Baptist.”

“Do you remember when having an infectious laugh was considered a good thing?”

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Easter Wasn’t the End of The Story!

Posted on April 19, 2022 by Author Mary Alford

This past Sunday, we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus. After being betrayed by one of His disciples, enduring mockery by Roman soldiers, and suffering a beating to the point of being unrecognizable, He died an excruciating death on the cross. His body was taken by Joseph of Arimathea with the help of Nicodemus and was laid in a new tomb. The grave was sealed with a rock.   

Many believed that was the end of the story. But Sunday was coming.

When Mary Magdelene went to the tomb early on the morning of the third day, she soon learned the truth as did the rest of His followers. The grave couldn’t hold Him.

For 40 days after His resurrection, Jesus appeared to many more followers, starting with Mary Magdelene and other women followers, the two Disciples on the Road to Emmaus, His disciples without Thomas and then with Thomas. And again, to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias.

1 Corinthians 15:6 says; After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

And then He ascended into Heaven to sit at the right hand of God.

Before his ascension, in Matthew 28:18-20, He gave the Great Commission:

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

As they watched Him ascend into heaven, I wonder if they thought, this is the end. It wasn’t. Not by a longshot.

That small band of followers spread out from Judea to Samaria and to the “ends of the Earth.”

But the cost was great.

Peter was crucified in Rome, upside down at his request, since he did not feel he was worthy to die in the same manner as his Lord.

Andrew preached in modern-day Turkey, and in Greece where he was said to have been crucified.

Thomas was active in the region east of Syria. He was believed to be preaching as far east as India, where he was pieced through with the spears of four soldiers.

Philip was believed to have a ministry in Carthage in North Africa and then in Asia Minor, where he converted the wife of a Roman proconsul. In retaliation the proconsul had Philip arrested and cruelly put to death.

Matthew ministered in Persia and Ethiopia. He was believed to be stabbed to death in Ethiopia.

Bartholomew traveled to India with Thomas, then back to Armenia, and Ethiopia and Southern Arabia. He, too, was martyred for the gospel.

James was reckoned to have ministered in Syria. James was stoned and then clubbed to death.

Simon the Zealot ministered in Persia and was killed after refusing to sacrifice to the sun god.

Matthias, the apostle chosen to replace Judas. He was believed to be in Syria with Andrew where he died by burning.

John was the only one of the apostles believed to have died of old age. He was exiled to the island of Patmos. There he wrote the book of Revelation. An early Latin account has him escaping unhurt after being cast into boiling oil at Rome.

John’s death wasn’t the end either.

Today, the gospel is still spreading throughout the world. The work stared by those first followers continues to change lives.

 But one day, the end will come. Revelation 1:7 says; Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

Until then, Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

All the best…

Mary Alford

www.maryalford.net

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Reverence Part 4 by Bridget A. Thomas

Posted on April 14, 2022 by Bridget

Over the last several weeks I have been writing about the subject of reverence and ways we can show God our respect. When you hear the phrase “fear of the Lord” – this means to have reverence for Him. and having reverence for God means that we respect Him. R.T. Kendall said, “What is missing in the church more than anything in the world at the present time is the fear of God and a sense of sin.” I do believe this is true and I believe that is why our world is in a whole lot of trouble right now. We need to turn our hearts back to Him. And one way we need to revere Him is through obedience.

Philippians 2:12 tells us to “…[obey] God with deep reverence and fear.” I find it very telling that when Paul wrote this, he associated obedience with reverence. When we obey the Lord, we are showing Him that we fear Him and respect Him. I understand that sometimes obedience can be scary, especially if God is asking us to take a big step or do something that seems unreasonable. But when we do what He asks, we are proving our devotion. We are telling Him that we are committed to Him.

Obedience is an important aspect of our relationship with God. But it is also a key that will unlock the doors we have been struggling to open. Do you remember the hymn “Trust and Obey?” Obedience and Trust go hand in hand. When we trust God, we obey Him. When we obey God, we will see that He is trustworthy. Trust increases our obedience and obedience increases our trust. It is a beautiful cycle that grows stronger over time.

Obedience also brings us blessings. God has a reason for each thing He asks us to do. With our human eyes, we might not be able to see the big picture. But God always sees the big picture. He sees the beginning and the end. He knows what is best and He works things out for our good. So even when what He asks seems difficult, we have to have faith that He knows what is best.

“Walk in obedience to all that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.” – Deuteronomy 5:33

We also obey God out of love. Just think about how much God pours His love, blessings, protection, guidance, comfort, care, and strength over us. How can we not want to honor Him and love Him in return with our obedience? Remember the words that Jesus spoke in John 14:15, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” That statement alone makes me want to show God my reverence, honor, and love through obedience.

I pray we all can turn our hearts towards Him, with proper reverence and respect. I pray we all can learn to wholeheartedly trust and obey Him. Humbling ourselves before God, and clinging to Him through each day, will ultimately bring us a sense of peace. We will know that our lives are in the hands of Almighty God, and that is the safest place to be.

I hope you all have a Happy Easter!

I will leave you with a song: Trust and Obey performed by Big Daddy Weave

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Originally posted on bridgetathomas.com © 2021 Bridget A. Thomas

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Anchored Hearts Cover Puzzle by Julie Arduini

Posted on April 13, 2022 by juliearduini

I’m so excited to announce the first book in the Surrendering Hearts contemporary Christian romance series, Anchored Hearts, releases next month. This book was full of delay, but on the other side I have to say the issues that took me away from writing healed my heart and improved my writing. I’m so excited for you to see this book.

My newsletter subscribers receive “first dibs” on all things Julie Arduini books. Earlier this month they got first peek at the Anchored Hearts cover. Tomorrow they will be the first for exclusive news regarding the book. So until they get that surprise, I have for you…a cover puzzle.

—Julie Arduini

You can follow THIS LINK to assemble the puzzle and then you’ve got the Anchored Hearts cover.

I can also give you a summary on the series and a blurb about Anchored Hearts.

Surrendering Hearts series:

Nationally celebrated sextuplets each discover their own identity and find that special true love like their parents shared.

Anchored Hearts:

Can two go-getters surrender their need to control and find a happily-ever-after?

Jordyn Bell Hart succeeds in everything she does. Her promotion to morning show co-anchor blossoms her career in the same way her mother’s work had. Jordyn keeps tabs on her family and enjoys helping them grow. When life around her starts to change, can she surrender her desire to control?

Spencer Collins knows how to balance a busy life. He has his work as a reporter, his time caregiving for his grieving father, and looking out for his little brother. When he learns he’s the new co-anchor of a morning show with Jordyn Hart, can he handle working with a celebrity who brings a lot of challenges to life on and off the set?

If you’d like to be one of my newsletter subscribers, visit Link Tree. I send out a newsletter twice a month. The first is writing related. Readers asked for excerpts, character interviews, exclusive content. The second is a family update. I also include giveaways, recipes, and more. Once you successfully subscribe, you receive a thank you digital copy of Entrusted AND Entangled from my Surrendering Time series.

Have fun with the puzzle, and have a blessed Resurrection Sunday.

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Right and Left by James R. Coggins

Posted on April 12, 2022 by jrcoggins
“The King Returns for His Crown” by Larry Onifrichuk. Used with permission.

In Mark 10, the apostles James and John came to Jesus and said, “We want you to do for us whatever we ask” (Mark 10:35 NIV). In other words, they wanted Jesus to give them an answer before they told Jesus what it was they wanted. They wanted a blank check from God. Sadly, many modern Christians want the same thing. But God doesn’t operate that way. We don’t have enough knowledge or wisdom to know how to fill in the blank check. It is God who has the requisite unlimited knowledge and wisdom, and it is He who demands a blank check from us.

When Jesus asked them what it was they wanted, the responded, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”

Jesus was on the way to be Jerusalem to be crowned King (with thorns) and to inaugurate His kingdom. James and John knew this, except for the thorns part. Therefore, they asked for (perhaps even demanded?) the places of honor on Jesus’ right and left. They pictured themselves ruling on thrones beside Jesus. But Jesus said those places of honor were reserved for “those for whom they have been prepared.” When Jesus ascended, it was to a cross, not a throne, and the places of honor on Jesus’ right and left were reserved for two thieves, who died with Him (Mark 15:27). In the descriptions given to us, there are no thrones in heaven on Jesus’ right and left hands. There is no one even close to having Jesus’ power and honor. All power and honor belong to Jesus, and all the rest of us are His servants.

Jesus told James and John that they didn’t know what they were asking for. If they had known, they wouldn’t have wanted it.

Jesus asked James and John if they could drink the same cup as He did and undergo the same baptism. They said yes. But the cup is a biblical image for the wrath of God, and baptism is a symbol of death. Jesus was talking about taking all the sins of the world upon Himself and dying on the cross to satisfy the righteous wrath of God. James and John did not understand this and wouldn’t have wanted what they were asking for. In fact, when given the opportunity to die with Jesus, they ran away.

The other apostles were incensed by the power grab and backroom dealing by James and John. They wanted the same places of honor and power for themselves and probably wished they had thought of it first. But they also did not know what they were asking for and would not have wanted it if it had been offered to them. In fact, when it was, they also ran away and hid.

But Jesus also promised, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with” (Mark 10:39). Many of the apostles (and many later followers of Jesus) did follow Jesus in being martyred—and they died with Jesus at their side and ascended to join Him before the throne of God (Acts 7:55-56). James was the first of the apostles to die this way (Acts 12:1-2).

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Kids and Their Activities by Tara Randel

Posted on April 11, 2022 by tararandel

Did you notice when your children were growing up, or if they’re involved in sports or hobbies right now, that their interests become our interests? Driving to practices or sporting events, music lessons, after school programs, dance, gymnastics or cheerleading, it’s hours of time and energy. For us, it was sitting at the soccer field and at some traveling games. Giving up Saturday mornings just becomes the norm.

And then they grow up and they’re gone. We get our time back.

Or do we?

In the last year, my thirty-year-old daughter decided to take horseback riding lessons. She’s always loved horses, loves to ride the trails when we go on vacation in the mountains. She’s done well and when the owners at the stable suggested she learn how to show jump, she was all in. This starts with the rail on the ground, then working up in height as you master the skill. So of course, when she had her first official show, my husband and I showed up to support her.

She had to show her skill of sitting on the horse, control and moving over the rail, as well as other commands from the judges. All this on top of getting the horse with a mind of his own to listen. She did well for her first time, came home with some ribbons. After her event, we watched the other contestants show off their skill levels. There were four different arenas with on-going events all day long.

Her interest has opened up a whole new world for me, which I can use in my writing. As a an author, no experience goes to waste. Anything and everything goes into storytelling. And as it happens, the book I just finished and the one I’m working on right now has horses in it, so now I have a go-to person for research.

Goes to show, we’ll always be there for our children, no matter the age or the activity. We had just as much fun watching her master a new hobby she loves as we did when she ran up and down the field kicking the ball. She might not ever jump a cross rail located three feet off the ground, but she’s excited about the beginning steps and we’re along for the ride.

Enjoy the activities your kids or grandkids are involved in. Who knows, you might learn something new.

Tara Randel is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author. Family values, a bit of mystery and of course, love and romance, are her favorite themes, because she believes love is the greatest gift of all. Look for her next Harlequin Heartwarming romance, HIS SMALL TOWN DREAM, available SEPTEMBER 2022. For more information about her books, visit Tara at www.tararandel.com. Like her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TaraRandelBooks. Sign up for Tara’s Newsletter and receive a link to download a free digital book.

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Ungrateful Kids by James R. Coggins

Posted on April 6, 2022 by jrcoggins

“Lord,” the man prayed, “it’s these kids you gave me. They’re driving me nuts. They’ve phoned me fourteen times this week, and not once was it anything positive. They only called me to complain or to ask for something: ‘I hate my job.’ ‘My boss is a jerk.’ ‘I can’t stand this heat.’ ‘What do you do when the baby is teething?’ ‘Can you lend me a hundred bucks?’ ‘Can you babysit the grandkids while we go to the movies?’ ‘Can you fix our car?’”

“It is very frustrating,” the man continued. “You’d think that just once they would phone me up to thank me for something I’d done for them or to tell me some good news or to offer to do something for me. But no, it’s all asking and complaining. Lord, I taught them better than this. You’ve got to do something! Do you even know what I’m going through?”

“Oh,” came the answer, “I know.”

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