GOOD FRIDAY

Once you have Jesus in your life, you would be hard-pressed to ever have him out of your life!  Inviting Jesus into your heart will cause a spiritual change in your life, 2 Cor 5:17  17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.  What a blessing!  


Why would anyone celebrate the death of our Lord on the cross??  Because in dying for our sins, Jesus made it possible for us to live forever with Him in eternity. God sacrificed His only begotten son --for us!  We can never imagine ourselves giving up a child.  And yet our God did this for us because he loves every single creation that he made.  If you have not given yourself over to the Lord, today is the perfect day.  Because He Lives ♫ I can face tomorrow,♫♫ 

(Verse 1)

God sent his son

They called him Jesus

He came to love

Heal and forgive

He lived and died

To buy my pardon

An empty grave

Is there to prove

My Savior lives

(Chorus)

Because he lives

I can face tomorrow

Because he lives

All fear is gone

Because I know

He holds the future

And life and is worth the living

Just because he lives

(Verse 2)

How sweet to hold

A newborn baby

And feel the pride

And joy he gives

But greater still

The calm assurance

This child can face

Uncertain days

Because he lives

(Chorus)

(Verse 3)

And then one day

I'll cross the river

I'll fight life's fi-

Nal war with pain

And then as death

Gives way to victory

I'll see the lights

Of glory and

I'll know he lives

(Chorus 2xs)

Jesus died on the cross but that was not the end of it by any means, He Rose from the dead after 3 days, Easter Sunday and ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father.  I cry to imagine my Savior's suffering and death on the cross but there is joy in my heart because he lives, I can face tomorrow.

  Pause at 3pm today and bow your head thanking Jesus for dying for us on the cross.  I am so thankful for Good Friday.  Blessings to each and everyone of you who read this today.  And I hope the hymn touches your heart...

My Christian heart to yours....

Palm Sunday and Miracles....

PALM SUNDAY


We learned that Jesus came into the city on a donkey and the people greeted him placing palm fronds before His path so the donkey's feet did not touch the ground.  And they shouted Hallelujah! And waved palms in praise.
I love finding out more and more of the meaning of things in the Bible!  Some of you prefer not to know the mysteries but the reason I do is that it strengthens my faith, it proves that things happened the way it was written in the Bible and is not myth.  A friend sent a message to me this morning with a link attached on The Parting of the **Red Sea and it was so profound, I have to share with you.


  There is so much archaeological evidence to prove the words of the Bible that it is staggering!  
   And the Bible tells of God speaking to Moses from a Burning bush.  I read about bushes that grow in the area that have so much oil in their leaves they spontaneously combust in the hot desert sun!  I am fortified, I know this is true and can happen.  The Bible is true.

Believe the miracles, they do happen.  We cannot command them to happen, however.  Only God and His Son have that power.  And our timing as you have been told before is not God's timing.


Thank you for visiting on this blessed Palm Sunday and I hope you took away some inspiration and enlightenment with you.

My Christian heart to yours...

Palm Sunday and Easter Bonnets

PALM SUNDAY, April 1st, already!

Palm Sunday is a Christian feast that marks the beginning of Holy Week and commemorates Jesus' triumphant entry to the city of Jerusalem. In 2012, Palm Sunday will be celebrated on April 1, 2012.

To celebrate the occasion, many Christian churches -- both Catholic and Protestant as well as the Eastern churches -- distribute palm leaves to congregation members who then carry them in a procession either inside or outside of the church. Often the palm fronds are knotted or woven into small crosses that can be kept by individuals in their homes. The palm leaves are often returned to the church to be burned in the next year's Ash Wednesday rituals. In parts of the world where palm leaves are not easily available, these are substituted by leaves of native plants.

When I was a little girl, the neighbors always put their Easter palms that were handed out at church, behind a holy picture hanging in their homes either of Jesus or the Blessed Mother Mary.  I have always loved the tradition of all christian churches giving out palm leaves on this Sunday.

What did Matthew contribute to the Palm Sunday story? (Matthew 21:1-11)

• Matthew's gospel is the only gospel that included children.
• Matthew and John are the only two who mention the prophecy from Zechariah.
• Matthew refers to two animals.
• Matthew has the crowd singing "Hosanna!"
• There is praise at the end of Matthew's story.

THE PARADE (Matthew 21:6-11)

The parade consisted of a very great multitude of several hundred pilgrims and residents. Many people were in Jerusalem for the Passover, the most memorable feast in the history of Jewish people. They sang:

"Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest."

THE PALMS (Matthew 21:6-8)

The people placed their cloaks and palms on the road for Jesus to ride on to honor Him. The branches of the palm trees symbolized Christ's victory over the devil and death.

THE PRAISE (Matthew 21:9-11)

When Jesus had come into Jerusalem, the entire city was moved. In other words, there was praise. 

Palm Sunday, the first Sunday in Holy Week commemorates Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem shortly before his arrest and crucifixion. As he rode into the city on a donkey, people cheered his arrival and laid palm fronds on the ground to avoid having his donkey's feet touch the ground.

 Here is my original cartoon of my character, Pooky's Grandma wearing her finest Easter Bonnet

My Christian Heart to yours...

Thinking like God....Giving and EASTER

 In Isaiah 55:9, He tells us, "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts."

  The more we learn about God's ways, the happier we are when we have to wait upon the Lord for things to happen, for blessings to come, for prayers to be answered.  As humans, we are always wanting things to happen in a hurry, especially in today's harried world!  But God has no time lines, no deadlines to meet.  Genesis tells us that He created the world in 7 days.  He did not say, I will create a world in seven days, he made the world one day at a time, each day seeing his work and contemplating what to add the next until he was satisfied and rested on the 7th day.


Many times we do not wait and contemplate the result of our actions or take the time to see if we are pleased with results before we move on.  Dr. Charles Stanley had a very interesting devotion on DEBT yesterday (www.intouch.org) And I was inspired to write about having patience and not acting out of impulse in all things but especially regarding debt.  The Lord's prayer says, "and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors".  Accumulating too much debt creates more and more problems so that in the end, you are a slave to what you owe.  All because you did not wait for God's timing for you to have things that you want NOW, instead of praying to God for his will and timing in these matters.


And do you really need the things that you desire and go in debt for?  Always sleep on it before purchasing a new item, especially if it is a big decision, such as a new car, new house, new appliance.  First, really think about the need.  Do you just feel like you want "new" or do you really need to replace the old item?  Are you trying to keep up with the friends and neighbors?  Do you justify random purchases with the thinking that you work hard and deserve it?  Sometimes you spend so much on material things but when giving back to God on Sundays, your gift is as little as you have left and want to part with and is by far much, much less than a tithe.  Give where you are nurtured and what you truly can afford.  Would you give God the dollars you would have spent on a new dress, a new golf club, a restaurant dinner?  Just compare what you spend on yourself to what you are willing to part with for the Lord.  


The Bible teaches us that what you give to the Lord will be rewarded ten-fold. Giving to the Lord is like an investment.  You make it possible for the Lord to work through churches, missionaries and all good works that the churches do for others.  Churches have mortgages, overhead, payrolls and taxes just like you do.  They rely on your generosity to keep going and spreading the Word of God.  And Yes, like I have told you before, God CAN hear you in your closet when you pray and talk with him if you are unable to go to church but we all need the fellowship and support of other believers when in church.  I liken it to the burning coals in a fireplace.  They will glow for hours and give off warmth TOGETHER.  But take a coal out of the fire and set it aside and soon it will cool and the glow will fade and go out without the support of all the others.

This is the best time of year to get back into church and giving.  EASTER, the Lord gave his only begotten Son for YOU, won't you give of your time, your support and your love back to Him?? May God bless each and every one of you with showers of blessings in this holy time of year.  I love you my friends!

My Christian heart to yours...

Impact of one---Paul

Your faithfulness to God never goes to waste--it's making an eternal difference in someone's life, whether you know it or not.  This was very true of the Apostle Paul.

The Apostle Paul's Strengths:

Paul had a brilliant mind, a commanding knowledge of philosophy and religion, and could debate with the most educated scholars of his day. At the same time, his clear, understandable explanation of the gospel made his letters to early churches the foundation of Christian theology. Tradition portrays Paul as a physically small man, but he endured enormous physical hardships on his missionary journeys. His perseverance in the face of danger and persecution has inspired countless missionaries since.

Life Lessons:

God can change anyone. God gave Paul the strength, wisdom, and endurance to carry out the mission Jesus entrusted Paul with. One of Paul's most famous statements is: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," (Philippians 4:13, NKJV), reminding us that our power to live the Christian life comes from God, not ourselves.

Paul also recounted a "thorn in his flesh" that kept him from becoming conceited over the priceless privilege God had entrusted to him. In saying, "For when I am weak, then I am strong," (2 Corinthians 12:2, NIV), Paul was sharing one of the greatest secrets of staying faithful: absolute dependence on God.

Paul's teaching that people are saved bygrace, not works: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-" (Ephesians 2:8, NIV) This truth frees us to stop striving to be good enough and to instead rejoice in our salvation, gained by the loving sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Source: http://christianity.about.com/od/newtestamentpeople/a/Apostle-Paul.htm

Paul did not know at the time how far reaching his writings to the early church would impact the world of Christianity.  But he was second only to Jesus himself for spreading the Gospel and although he had infirmities that the Bible does not share with us, he was able to do this.  Never underestimate your influence and power in spreading the word of the gospel to others.  If you reach even one other human being and save them from sin because you shared the gospel with them, you have completed the Great Commission given by Jesus to his followers.  The more you study the word, the greater your ability to share will be.  Go, share the good news as it is written!

Faithfully in Christ

My Christian heart to yours...

Never Give Up

 It has been only one month today since I lost my sweet William and yet it seems a lifetime!  I miss his presence so much.  My doc says it will take a long time for my getting past this mourning stage because he knows how much in love Bill and I were.  So many people loved him and he touched so many lives.  One of the young women at my doc's office just cried and cried when she saw me and we cried together for a time.  I had worked with her several years ago at this facility and both Bill and I had shared our skills when asked to help her out with different projects.  These experiences are not sad to me but more uplifting to know that Bill will never be forgotten.
We shall never forget our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Who would not want to receive Jesus love for us and when we leave this earth, would we not want to live in heaven for all eternity with him?  If you do not know the Savior or you would just like a closer relationship with him, start with the Bible Chapter of Matthew.  It is like life's little instruction book for us with a BIG message.  And remember that you ARE worthy to have a personal relationship with God.  He welcomes you into his arms no matter what your past has been.  And when you confess your failings and wrongdoings, God forgives and never thinks of them again.  How wonderful that you do not have to think of them again either!


"I -- yes, I alone -- will blot out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again." (Isaiah 43:25 NLT)


If it were not for our mutual faith, I could never have made it through the 7 yrs. of suffering that my hubby endured, I would never have been strong enough to be his caregiver without divine help.  Are you going through a crisis in your life that you feel you cannot handle?  Let Go, Let God.  There is nothing that will happen today that you and GOD together cannot handle.


Lord I pray for all of my friends and family to grow closer to you, to feel the comfort of your great hand upon them.  And thank you for letting little Rylen touch so many of our lives as we pray for him and prolonging his little life to bring us closer together in corporate prayer for his being and his parents dedication.  Amen.

My Christian Heart to yours.....

SOWING SPARINGLY...

Painting by our Son, Daniel Marquart

Good Morning dear Christian hearts, may the Glory of the Father, Son and Spirit bring you peace and tranquility today as a silent, soft snowfall....

Adjustment to a "me" life is not easy at all after being a "we" life for 52 years.  I know many of you can identify with me as I walk through the rest of my life alone.  With God's ever present help, I will continue on but with a heavy heart.

I subscribe to In Touch Ministries and get a daily message from Charles Stanley Ministries each morning.  I was inspired to post this morning after reading the last paragraph of his message below:

"Have you hindered your spiritual growth by sowing sparingly? If you become a generous giver, God promises to "increase the harvest of your righteousness" (v. 10). There are needs in the church and the world that He wants to meet through your generosity. Let His blessings flow through you."

For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visitwww.intouch.org.

Used with permission from In Touch Ministries, Inc. © 2009 All Rights Reserved.

"Let His blessings flow through you."  For me, nothing is enjoyed unless it is shared.  When I took the 2-year Bethel Bible Teacher's Course, it was totally based on "Blessed to be a blessing."

Teacher's course, it was 

  Genesis 12:1-3 ¹The Lord and said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. ²"I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. ³I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed ³I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."

¹

^{Don't you just love that??}

In other words, when you are blessed by God, you become a blessing to others by sharing His word, His love, His giving spirit.  That is why I personally am not a rich person in so much as money or material goods because my husband and I always believed that it is more blessed to give than to receive!  And we would never have done it any other way.  

I am not saying give everything away and live in Poverty, although many great Christians of old and present day, have done so, e.g. Mother Teresa.  However, share where you can of your time, your money, your material goods.  " To whom much is given, much is expected."  

For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.  Luke 12:48

What, you say you have nothing?  Oh But you do!  You have a Christian loving spirit that you can share the word of God with all you meet.  Let the spirit of the Lord be in your heart and on your lips and the love of Jesus shine forth in your eyes.  I have had persons in the past tell me that I had a light in my eyes.  I truly believe they could see the Christ in me...  Are you not worthy?  Oh yes, you ARE worthy.  God treasures each and every one of you and delights in reaching others through you.

What do others see in your eyes??  You are a BLESSING just waiting to be bestowed upon someone.  God Bless you all!

Sketch by Son Daniel Marquart of Bill and me
from a photograph...Thank you Danny ♥

Thank you for coming, and do come again soon.