He's Alive!!!

He's Alive
by Don Francisco


THE GATES AND DOORS WERE BARRED AND ALL THE WINDOWS FASTENED DOWN
I SPENT THE NIGHT IN SLEEPLESSNESS AND ROSE AT EVERY SOUND
HALF IN HOPELESS SORROW AND HALF IN FEAR THE DAY
WOULD FIND THE SOLDIERS BREAKING THROUGH TO DRAG US ALL AWAY

AND JUST BEFORE THE SUNRISE I HEARD SOMETHING AT THE WALL
THE GATE BEGAN TO RATTLE AND A VOICE BEGAN TO CALL
I HURRIED TO THE WINDOW AND LOOKED DOWN INTO THE STREET
EXPECTING SWORDS AND TORCHES AND THE SOUND OF SOLDIERS FEET

THERE WAS NO ONE THERE BUT MARY SO I WENT DOWN TO LET HER IN
JOHN STOOD THERE BESIDE ME AS SHE TOLD US WHERE SHE'D BEEN
SHE SAID THEY'VE MOVED HIM IN THE NIGHT AND NONE OF US KNOWS WHERE
THE STONE'S BEEN ROLLED AWAY AND NOW HIS BODY ISN'T THERE



WE BOTH RAN T'WARD THE GARDEN AND THEN JOHN RAN ON AHEAD
WE FOUND THE STONE AND THE EMPTY TOMB JUST THE WAY THAT MARY SAID
BUT THE WINDING SHEET THEY WRAPPED HIM IN WAS JUST AN EMPTY SHELL
AND HOW OR WHERE THEY'D TAKEN HIM WAS MORE THAN I COULD TELL

SOMETHING STRANGE HAD HAPPENED THERE JUST WHAT I DIDN'T KNOW
JOHN BELIEVED A MIRACLE BUT I JUST TURNED TO GO
CIRCUMSTANCE AND SPECULATION DIDN'T LIFT ME VERY HIGH
'CAUSE I'D SEEN THEM CRUCIFY HIM, AND THEN I SAW HIM DIE

BACK INSIDE THE HOUSE AGAIN THE GUILT AND ANGUISH CAME
EVERYTHING I'D PROMISED HIM JUST ADDED TO MY SHAME
WHEN AT LAST IT CAME TO CHOICES I DENIED I KNEW HIS NAME
AND EVEN IF HE WAS ALIVE, IT WOULDN'T BE THE SAME

SUDDENLY THE AIR WAS FILLED WITH A STRANGE AND SWEET PERFUME
LIGHT THAT CAME FROM EVERYWHERE DROVE SHADOWS FROM THE ROOM
JESUS STOOD BEFORE ME WITH HIS ARMS HELD OPEN WIDE
AND I FELL DOWN ON MY KNEES AND I JUST CLUNG TO HIM AND CRIED

HE RAISED ME TO MY FEET AND AS I LOOKED INTO HIS EYES
LOVE WAS SHINING OUT FROM THEM LIKE SUNLIGHT FROM THE SKIES
GUILT AND MY CONFUSION DISAPPEARED IN SWEET RELEASE
AND EVERY FEAR I'D EVERY HAD JUST MELTED INTO PEACE

HE'S ALIVE, HE'S ALIVE, HE'S ALIVE AND I'M FORGIVEN
HEAVEN'S GATES ARE OPENED WIDE

Resurrection

There is a wonderful object lesson available to remind us of the Easter story. They are called Resurrection eggs. There are 12 eggs and you open one at a time as you tell the Easter story. Inside each egg is an object that points you to one aspect of the story. I had to prepare this lesson for our Awana class last night and thought you would benefit from it as well. This is the Easter Story transcribed from the Bible (New Living Translation)



Matthew 21:1-9
1 As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead. 2 "Go into the village over there," he said, "and you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them here. 3 If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, 'The Lord needs them,' and he will immediately send them." 4 This was done to fulfill the prophecy, 5 "Tell the people of Israel, 'Look, your King is coming to you. He is humble, riding on a donkey ? even on a donkey's colt.'" 6 The two disciples did as Jesus said. 7 They brought the animals to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it. 8 Most of the crowd spread their coats on the road ahead of Jesus, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 He was in the center of the procession, and the crowds all around him were shouting, "Praise God for the Son of David! Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Praise God in highest heaven!"






Matthew 26:17-19, 26-28; Exodus 12:23
17 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do you want us to prepare the Passover supper?" 18 "As you go into the city," he told them, "you will see a certain man. Tell him, 'The Teacher says, My time has come, and I will eat the Passover meal with my disciples at your house.'" 19 So the disciples did as Jesus told them and prepared the Passover supper there.


26 As they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread and asked God's blessing on it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, "Take it and eat it, for this is my body." 27 And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, "Each of you drink from it, 28 for this is my blood, which seals the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out to forgive the sins of many.

For the Lord will pass through the land and strike down the Egyptians. But when he sees the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe, the Lord will pass over your home. He will not permit the Destroyer to enter and strike down your firstborn.




Mark 14:32-42
32 And they came to an olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said, "Sit here while I go and pray." 33 He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he began to be filled with horror and deep distress. 34 He told them, "My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and watch with me." 35 He went on a little farther and fell face down on the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting him might pass him by. 36 "Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will, not mine." 37 Then he returned and found the disciples asleep. "Simon!" he said to Peter. "Are you asleep? Couldn't you stay awake and watch with me even one hour? 38 Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you. For though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak." 39 Then Jesus left them again and prayed, repeating his pleadings. 40 Again he returned to them and found them sleeping, for they just couldn't keep their eyes open. And they didn't know what to say. 41 When he returned to them the third time, he said, "Still sleeping? Still resting? Enough! The time has come. I, the Son of Man, am betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Up, let's be going. See, my betrayer is here!"


Matthew 24:14-16, 46-50; 27:1-5

14 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests 15 and asked, "How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?" And they gave him thirty pieces of silver. 16 From that time on, Judas began looking for the right time and place to betray Jesus


46 Up, let's be going. See, my betrayer is here!"

47 And even as he said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a mob that was armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent out by the leading priests and other leaders of the people. 48 Judas had given them a prearranged signal: "You will know which one to arrest when I go over and give him the kiss of greeting." 49 So Judas came straight to Jesus. "Greetings, Teacher!" he exclaimed and gave him the kiss. 50 Jesus said, "My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for." Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him.


1 Very early in the morning, the leading priests and other leaders met again to discuss how to persuade the Roman government to sentence Jesus to death. 2 Then they bound him and took him to Pilate, the Roman governor. 3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and other leaders. 4 "I have sinned," he declared, "for I have betrayed an innocent man." "What do we care?" they retorted. "That's your problem." 5 Then Judas threw the money onto the floor of the Temple and went out and hanged himself.



John 19:1-15
1 Then Pilate had Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip. 2 The soldiers made a crown of long, sharp thorns and put it on his head, and they put a royal purple robe on him. 3 "Hail! King of the Jews!" they mocked, and they hit him with their fists. 4 Pilate went outside again and said to the people, "I am going to bring him out to you now, but understand clearly that I find him not guilty." 5 Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said, "Here is the man!" 6 When they saw him, the leading priests and Temple guards began shouting, "Crucify! Crucify!""You crucify him," Pilate said. "I find him not guilty." 7 The Jewish leaders replied, "By our laws he ought to die because he called himself the Son of God." 8 When Pilate heard this, he was more frightened than ever. 9 He took Jesus back into the headquarters again and asked him, "Where are you from?" But Jesus gave no answer. 10 "You won't talk to me?" Pilate demanded. "Don't you realize that I have the power to release you or to crucify you?" 11 Then Jesus said, "You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above. So the one who brought me to you has the greater sin." 12 Then Pilate tried to release him, but the Jewish leaders told him, "If you release this man, you are not a friend of Caesar. Anyone who declares himself a king is a rebel against Caesar." 13 When they said this, Pilate brought Jesus out to them again. Then Pilate sat down on the judgment seat on the platform that is called the Stone Pavement (in Hebrew, Gabbatha). 14 It was now about noon of the day of preparation for the Passover. And Pilate said to the people, "Here is your king!" 15 "Away with him," they yelled. "Away with him ? crucify him!""What? Crucify your king?" Pilate asked."We have no king but Caesar," the leading priests shouted back.





Matthew 27:29-31
29 They made a crown of long, sharp thorns and put it on his head, and they placed a stick in his right hand as a scepter. Then they knelt before him in mockery, yelling, "Hail! King of the Jews!" 30 And they spit on him and grabbed the stick and beat him on the head with it. 31 When they were finally tired of mocking him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him away to be crucified.




John 19:16-22
16 Then Pilate gave Jesus to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus and led him away. 17 Carrying the cross by himself, Jesus went to the place called Skull Hill (in Hebrew, Golgotha). 18 There they crucified him. There were two others crucified with him, one on either side, with Jesus between them.
19 And Pilate posted a sign over him that read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews." 20 The place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and the sign was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek, so that many people could read it. 21 Then the leading priests said to Pilate, "Change it from 'The King of the Jews' to 'He said, I am King of the Jews.'" 22 Pilate replied, "What I have written, I have written. It stays exactly as it is."




John 19:23-25
23 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided his clothes among the four of them. They also took his robe, but it was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. 24 So they said, "Let's not tear it but throw dice to see who gets it." This fulfilled the Scripture that says, "They divided my clothes among themselves and threw dice for my robe." So that is what they did. 25 Standing near the cross were Jesus' mother, and his mother's sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene.





John 19:31-37
31 The Jewish leaders didn't want the victims hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath at that, because it was the Passover), so they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down. 32 So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus. 33 But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was dead already, so they didn't break his legs. 34 One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and blood and water flowed out. 35 This report is from an eyewitness giving an accurate account; it is presented so that you also can believe. 36 These things happened in fulfillment of the Scriptures that say, "Not one of his bones will be broken," 37 and "They will look on him whom they pierced."





Matthew 27:57-61
57 As evening approached, Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea who was one of Jesus' followers, 58 went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. And Pilate issued an order to release it to him. 59 Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a long linen cloth. 60 He placed it in his own new tomb, which had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance as he left. 61 Both Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting nearby watching.




Matthew 28:1-3
1 Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to see the tomb. 2 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, because an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and rolled aside the stone and sat on it. 3 His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow.


Egg #12 (empty as was the tomb)

Matthew 28:5-8
5 Then the angel spoke to the women. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He isn't here! He has been raised from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. 7 And now, go quickly and tell his disciples he has been raised from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember, I have told you." 8 The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to find the disciples to give them the angel's message.

CRASH!!!

I was sitting at my computer a few minutes ago and heard terrible screeching brakes and then the nerve shattering crash of two cars colliding. Two sets of people who didn't know they would so rudely meet today. I am praying they are not injured. I was thinking of the innocent car just toodling along life's highway when someone either chose not to obey the laws, was too distracted to drive carefully, or got so overwhelmed they drove out of control.

There are so many people like that today. We go about our days just trying to have a little peace when they pop up their heads and reek havoc with our lives. Some people are a disaster waiting to happen. They are on a collision course and seem so surprised when their lives unravel.

We are different. We have the Lord, the peace that goes beyond understanding, the light of Christ. We are not perfect by anymeans not even for a moment. Sometimes we can even be reckless and out of control but we have a Maker who knows our name. Nothing is beyond Him. Our days are numbered and He knows each hair on our heads. Do you know how many hairs you have....wait you just lost two...Now do the math again.

The difference is when these rude intersections in life happen we can take a deep breath, know that God has allowed this and press on in faith. We can even react well and be an example to others of the love of Christ.

There is a very famous book called In His Steps. It asks the intriguing question of "What would Jesus do?" This became a popular saying a few years back but when you really mull the question over, or better yet apply it to all you do and say, it will change your life. It puts things into perspective.

My children were tussling in the back seat this morning. They were both being very selfish and whining about something they both wanted. They started grabbing and pulling and I stopped them cold with What would Jesus do? They both laughed because their behavior was so outlandish...to imagine Jesus behaving so...

Ask yourself that question often. What would Jesus do with a rude cashier, disloyal friend, disobedient child or even more yourself when you flub up. Of course Jesus never sinned so you can't ask yourself what would Jesus do if He sinned. But What would Jesus do in the face of Your sin. More often than not by idea is He would hug me, Look me straight in the eye and say, "I made you better than that. We can do anything together you and Me."

-Lisa

WHY?

Sometimes, answers are irrelevant- it's the question that counts. These cosmic questions are from the Internet.....

Why is abbreviation such a long word?

Why are there interstate highways in Hawaii?

Why is it that when you tranport something by car, it's called a shipment,

but when you transport something by ship, it's called cargo?

Why do we park on driveways and drive on parkways?

If you're driving in a vehicle at the speed of light, what happens when you turn on the headlights?

Why don't you ever hear about gruntled employees?

What is a "free" gift? Aren't all gifts free?

Why do they call it necking?

Why isn 't phoenetic spelled the way it sounds?

If you tied buttered toast to the back of a cat and dropped it from a height, what would happen?

Have you ever imagined a world with no hypothetical situations?

If he's arrested, does a mime need to be told he has the right to remain silent?

Why do they call it a "TV set" when you only get one?

What was the best thing before sliced bread?

If you throw a cat out a car window, does it become kitty litter?

If one synchronized swimmer drowns, do the rest have to drown, too?

If a cow laughed, would milk come out her nose?

What's another word for synonym?

What is the speed of dark?

Questions taken from Uncle John's Bathroom Reader

Graphics from allposters.com

My Prayer 2001

I recently found an old notebook with this January prayer written in it .

Praise You Lord. I pray You would quiet our hearts. Bathe us in Your love. Give us hearts for our children, campassion and kind words, order to our home, health to our bones. We need You Lord. I pray Your Spirit would rain upon this home and family. Write Your words on our hearts that we may live them. Amen.

A House Filled With Music

A House Filled with Music

by Luci Swindoll

Being part of a musical family was one of God's greatest gifts to our household, not to mention my own soul. As children, we used to gang around the piano before bedtime and sing together. Mother would play piano before bedtime and sing together. Mother would play piano and all of us (except Daddy, who played harmonica) harmonized to campfire songs, hymns we had memorized, or little ditties that were popular during the early forties. I well remember doing that for an hour or so, then as we were getting ready for bed, the phone would ring.

"Hi, this is Mrs Bloodworth next door. Please don't stop singing; you're lulling my kids to sleep."

My Mother would laugh and explain that her own kids needed to sleep, too, feeling proud of her musical brood. Life in the Swindoll household always included music...A home without music is poorer than the one without money.

*******************************************************

I did not grow up in a musical home but my parents did send me up through piano lessons. These lessons have been invaluable to me. I learned persistance and patience, mathmatics and developed awesome finger and forearm muscles. Now I teach piano and really, really enjoy passing on the love of music on to others. I am now creating a musical home for my family and hopefully continuing a heritage of music for future generations.-Lisa

The Invitation

The Invitation by Frances Ridley Havergal
"Come unto Me"-Matthew 11:28
What kind, sweet words for your pillow tonight! Jesus says them to you.

"How am I to know?" Well, they are for every one that is weary and heavy laden. Do not you know what it is to be weary and tired sometimes? Perhaps you know what it is to feel almost tired of trying to be good - weary with wishing you could be better. So, you see, it is to you that He says , "Come!"

And if you have not yet come, you are heavy laden too, even if you do not feel it; because the burden of sin is heavy enough to sink you down into hell, unless Jesus takes it from you. So it is to you that He says "Come!"

And lest you should think He says it to grown-up people only, He said, "Suffer the little children to come unto me." Are you a little child? Then it is to you that He says "Come!"

"If He were here, and if I could see Him, I should like to come." He is here, as really and truly you are. Suppose your mother and you were in a dark room together, and she said "Come to me!" you would not stop to say, "I would come if I could see you." You would say, "I am coming, mother!" and you would soon feel your way across the room, and be safe by her side. Not seeing her would not make any difference.

Jesus calls you now, this very night. He is here, in this very room. Now, will you not say, "I am coming Lord Jesus!" and ask Him to stretch out Hishand and help you to come, and draw you quite close to Himself?

Yes, to Himself, the blessed, beloved Lord Jesus, who loved you and gave himself for you, who has waited so patiently for you, who calls you because He wants you to come and be His own little lamb, and be taken up in His arms and blessed. Will you keep Him waiting any longer? Will you not "Come"?

Taken from Little Pillows graphics from allposters.com

The Hand of God

The Hand of God by Billy Graham graphics courtesy of Allposters.com

Once many years ago when I was going through a dark period I prayed and prayed but the heavens seemed to be brass. I felt as though God had disappeared and that I was alone with my trial and burden. It was a dark night for my soul.

I wrote my mother about the experience and will never forget her reply :"Son, there are many times when God withdraws to test your faith. He wants you to trust Him in the darkness. Now, Son, reach up by faith in the fog and you will find that His hand will be there." In tears I knelt by my bed and experienced an overwhelming sense of God's presence.

Yippee

If you are reading this then I finally got a post to go through!!!! I have done two very detailed posts only to discover they never went through-exhausting.

Well first an update on the family.



Mike-started taking Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at an academy that is 2 blocks away. He was very involved in it before but hasn't participated for about 5 years. He is so glad to be back. It was my Valentine's gift to him. We also went to two budgeting and financial management classes. Finally!!



Lisa- (Me) I am still down 20 pounds but have been thrown a few medical curve balls. I am trying to figure out how to incorporate my new parameters in a weight loss plan so I can continue to lose weight. I am still off of Regular Cola. My husband and I attended a Financial Stewardship class that lasted 6 hours. The lunch was provided and regular Coke was all that was there. I could have had water but really needed a bit of caffeine. My husband said ok and I did have some. It tasted so sweet and kind of yucky. I only drank 1/4 can and couldn't drink any more. Woo Hoo!!!

I also attended a wonderful Mother's conference with my cousin Michelle. We went to see Sally Clarkson. She is from Wholehearted ministries and she is awesome. I will share some of her words in future posts.



Lauren-Had a very difficult time 2 weeks ago. She broke out in hives all over her body. One on her waist was the size of a dinner platter. We had to take her to the ER twice in the same day as the medications were not effective for her. She had to have the emergency drugs the second time. She had a history of anaphylaxis so it was a very dangerous situation for her to be in. The good news is she had a bit of a miraculous recovery. She went off to Winter camp 4 days later and again this week end is in Mammoth with the church youth group.




Matthew- Matthew participated in the Pine Wood Derby through Cub Scouts last month. This month he was awarded 1st place. He got a really great trophy and is very thankful. He loves scouting and has a great leader.



Emily- Somehow got the neighbor's cat to fall in love with her. Now the cat won't stay away from our house. The neighbors gave up a few weeks ago and asked if we just wanted the cat. So now we have a new cat named Sophie. Unfortunately 3 members of our family are highly allergic to cats so Sophie is an outside cat during the day and stays in the garage at night. She seriously just lounges on our front porch all day and waits for us to get home. She is a gorgeous peach colored cat with light green eyes. She is really sweet and loves to be cuddled which Emily is more than happy to accomodate.

Emily also really took off in the reading department. She is really reading now and that is so exciting.

Oh! and as far as the house declutterization....I am still working in the Family Room. It was a huge undertaking and with 3 consecutive illnesses with each of the 3 kids I went a week or so with very little progress. It is really coming along though so stay tuned.

I will post some inspirational thought tomorrow. It is 1am and I have a headache so I really need to go to bed. I just wanted to get a post in. Sorry for all the technical problems.

Test

This is a test post. I have taken a great deal of time to post large posts twice and neither have shown up. I am now sending a test post. When this appears then I will try to recreate my magnificent posts.
Lisa