Clarence Hall: "But it Won't Stay There"

The Lord went into a grave, but He didn't stay there! :D

"Easter says you can put truth in a grave, but it won't stay there."

~Clarence W. Hall

    What an interesting way to describe the Resurrection! Truth, put in a grave, but not able to be held there long.
    Jesus Christ is the Truth. In John 14:6, He even states it's one of His titles:"'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me'" (NKJ). And His claim is clearly supported by His actions and the affects of His actions. Never once has He spoken or suggested anything that isn't 100% true, and never once did He act hypocritically. His words hold all the answers to life's questions and dilemmas, and He's made ancient prophecies and mysteries clear and understandable. Even today, we can look at the world and then look at the Word, and things make a lot more sense.
    Indeed, Jesus Christ and the message of salvation He pronounced is truth for all time. And when His enemies arranged for Him to be crucified (unwittingly fulfilling prophecy) and His body was put in a tomb, He had died, but He didn't stay dead. On Easter Sunday, the tomb was empty; the grave couldn't hold Him. The Lord had risen from the dead, is still alive today, and His message lives on!
    So this analogy Clarence Hall has written is a really awesome way to think of one of the most important events in history. It's like a victory cry! Amen?
    Have a wonderful Good Friday!

Zechariah 9:9

 

"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey."

Zechariah 9:9 (NKJ)

    What a great prophecy verse! It's poetic, joyful, and it's such a wonderful description of the Lord's coming to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.
    It was the arrival of the King of Israel, the Prince of Peace, the One who was prophesied of as the deliverer of His people. Yet in this first coming, He arrived on a donkey--which isn't exactly a regal or powerful animal--and He didn't have kingly robes or a following of warriors. But what He did have that Palm Sunday, as this verse in Zechariah proclaims, was an air of pure humbleness, the ability to reign perfectly as King, and what He came to give to the whole world was life (and soul) saving salvation!
    Which certainly makes a powerful and joyous appearance; amen?
    Happy Palm Sunday!

Running Out of Time?

    Does anyone else sometimes feel really, really rushed? Not just in a particular activity, but in everything? Like there's always a clock ticking down, draining away time to accomplish things that you really, really, really want to get done? Like time will run out at any moment?
    I'm talking about the fear that the Rapture will come before a person has done all the things the Lord has called them to do; be it a project, or another kind of goal in life. I've been having this kind of worry recently, particularly when I consider how much time I spend procrastinating or investing precious time on less important things. The idea that all this wasted time will accumulate to the point where I no longer have enough time to finish the work before the Rapture tangles me--and surely a lot of others--up inside in knots of nervousness and guilt. And it's really a conflict in the mind too, since we know that fear and worry aren't of God.
    But when one really thinks about it, oversights aren't of the Lord either.
    And in that, there's hope! God doesn't notice anything too late; He's all-knowing and infinite. Before He created any of us, He knew us and our lives inside-out. He knew exactly how much time it would take us to complete a work, even accounting all the time we might spend procrastinating from that work. From the very beginning, He's known just how many hours it'll take for the jobs to be finished, so surely He must have things planned out so that even with occasional bouts of procrastination, the good, fruitful work will be completed in time.
    Not to say that it's okay to be lazy, having the mindset that we have all the time in the world; but the fact that God's gracious enough to grant us all the time we need in spite of our lapses in focus is a real comfort. It's motivating, calming, and it gives a real hope that it's never pointless to keep working on the work God has given us to do. It puts away the fear that time is going to run out and there's nothing we can do about it.
    What do you think? Do you ever worry about the clock striking twelve too soon? Does this idea about God's foreknowledge granting us enough time, wasted hours and all, sound right?

Psalm 59:17

 

"To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises; for God is my defense, the God of my mercy."

Psalm 59:17 (NKJ)

    It's cool how the psalmist refers to the Lord as his strength here--especially with a capital S. The Lord is a sure and reliable Protector, and He gives us enough strength to accomplish anything and everything that needs to be done. God's mercy itself is also something that He strengthens us with. Remembering how great His mercy is gives confidence and assurance that God cares, that He has great grace, and that He is (and always will be) with us. So the title of Strength definitely seems appropriate to give to the Lord, right? :)

Psalm 93:4

 

"The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, than the mighty waves of the sea."

Psalm 93: 4 (NKJ)

    God is incredible; stronger than anyone could imagine, able to do anything. He can (and has, in fact, as Matthew 8:24-26, Mark 4:37-39, and Luke 8:23-24 state) easily calm a raging storm.
    "The noise of many waters" and "the mighty waves of the sea" can be likened to fear, and the things in life that prompt fear, can't it? Because  the sound of water crashing against things close to a person, sloshing around their feet, and churning into powerful currents tumbling at them is frightening, and it threatens to damage anything it touches.
    But God is more powerful than the things that can make us afraid, just as He's greater than the oceans He created. He's far mightier than fear, able to conquer it, and this same God who's stronger than fear is willing to deliver us from it.
    And this in itself can strengthen us in hope; the Lord's invincible strength. It's so marvelous, isn't it?

Psalm 147:11

 

 

"The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy."

Psalm 147:11 (NKJ)

    Hope is such a relieving thing. It's like the understanding that one can rest on something, and rely on it for total protection and support. Something good to hope in is like a shelter, a haven.
    And the Lord's mercy is the perfect hope. Unwavering and vast, there's a sure reliance that God cares about and for us in spite of any mistake we might make. It's a massive comfort to know that it doesn't have to be earned with good works.
    No wonder the Lord is called the Rock of ages; He's absolutely reliable in every way.

Psalm 119: 114

 

"You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word."

Psalm 119:114 (NKJ)

    I think it's cool how God is given analogies like this. Shield, hiding place, rock, tower, strength, salvation. The imagery strengthens one's understanding of God being like these things. As our hiding place, He gives us a place to go to be sheltered from the craziness of the world and just rest in Him. And as our shield, it's like He stands in front of us, putting a protective barrier between us and stones being thrown our way.
    Being our hiding place and shield, the Lord is our mighty, invincible Protector. What an awesome thing!

Micah 7:8

 

"Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; when I fall, I will arise: when I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to me."

Micah 7:8 (NKJ)

    Rising after a fall, light in the darkness. The very concepts of those two things are exhilarating! It's dramatic and encouraging to think about: a dire situation in which everything seems lost, but then: hope.
   God gives us all strength to get up again when we stumble, and when things seem to go wrong, He's always there with us. He's our living hope!
    Isn't it awesome how this verse illustrates that? :)

Proverbs 16:24

 

"Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones."

Proverbs 16:24 (NKJ)

    Words are powerful. They can do great things on a grand scale, worldwide and within individual people. Good words are amazingly sweet, some of the most wonderful things in the world.
    And the most beautiful words among words? They're God's words, hands down. The words of the Lord are literally perfect, they are kind, they are beautiful, and they are wise. God's Word, His good news, is a brilliant light that leads and comforts. Hearing them, we can be refreshed.
    Is there a particular Bible verse you find marvelously sweet? One you hold close to your heart and often call to mind?  :)

Luke 12:32

 

"'Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.'"

Luke 12:32 (NKJ)

Life Gets Bigger and Bigger . . .

The sky makes this large bird look so tiny!

    Today I went to see the college I've applied to, and man, is it big! It makes the very spacious and impressive high school I go to now look small. And the college is more complicated in all other aspects as well. Not complicated in a bad way, just . . . wow!
    The whole world seems to get more and more complex as one sees more of it. New things with their own factors open up, the directory map in the mind starts to expand, and the list of things to do tends to get longer. The world gets bigger, providing more opportunities and possibilities and paths to go down . . . and decisions suddenly get a lot more difficult!
    Thank goodness that the Lord is our God. That He loves us tremendously and wants to be in our lives. That His Word gives us instructions on how to live life in the most wonderful way. That He's given us His Holy Spirit to guide us in decision-making. That He's with us through every part of life. That He promises that even bad things that happen will be used for good.
    The world may be huge, but our God is even more massive. What a relief! :)

1 Peter 1:13

"Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;"

1 Peter 1:13 (NKJ)

    To "gird up your loins" is basically like rolling your sleeves up, preparing to do some hard work. I really like how this verse tells us to do this for our minds, to get in a mindset for getting some work done. Like focusing and thinking about useful things. It's also really cool how in the same verse, Peter additionally says that while having a work-ready mindset is vital, our salvation isn't dependent on works but on God's grace. Salvation is a gift; working is a blessing!
    Have a nice week! :)

Psalm 55: 22

 

"Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved."

Psalm 55: 22 (NKJ)

 

    Physical burdens are difficult, but emotional ones can be heavier and even more difficult to get rid of. Stress, worry, fear, sadness. They're not fun, and you can't just wish it away.

    But amazingly and wonderfully, the Lord says that He'll take them! He promises us rest in Matthew 11: 28, and since God is all-powerful and unchanging, security is assured.

    Prayer and just trusting in God are two ways to cast our cares upon Him, and they work wonderfully. Don't you agree that it gives peace?

    Hope you have a wonderful week! :)

Mark 16:6--He Is Risen!

 

"But he said to them, 'Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.'"

Mark 16: 6 (NKJ)

    The tomb is empty! He is risen!
    What does this mean? It means that Jesus Christ came back from the dead. And what does that mean? It means that Jesus is who He said He is--the Son of God--and that His sacrifice on the cross has atoned for all of our sins. It means that God's plan to redeem humanity has succeeded, and that we can now be forgiven and have a personal relationship with Him!
    How good it is to remember what the Lord has done! Not only did He die for us, but He rose again and came back. He's showed us His incredible love in both the day He went to the cross and the morning He went out of the tomb.
    He is risen! What a wonderful reason to rejoice!

Matthew 6:34

"'Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.'"

Matthew 6:34 (NKJ)

Grace

    Admittedly, there are times when I feel guilty as I pray--particularly when asking God for something. Bless me? After messing up intentionally and/or unintentionally numerous times? Inspire me to write? After I've been chasing waterfalls in my mind all day?  Help me do well on this test? After only using fifteen (okay, ten) minutes to study? No way do I deserve any blessings of that kind. What I probably really deserve is a bonk on the head. And I feel guilty for asking the Lord for so much.
    But when I read the Bible and hear about God giving grace freely, and being patient with believers who mess up big time, it all becomes clear again. Grace is undeserved kindness, and God wants to give it to us. He blesses us gladly in spite of our flaws because He loves us so much. And He will never stop loving us. It's such a relief to know we can fall into His caring arms . . .
    Do you have a favorite Bible verse or quote about grace? What is it?

Luke 2:11-12



"'For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: you will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.'"

Luke 2:11-12 (NKJ)

Because He Is

    In Matthew 14, by Jesus's command, the disciples went out in a boat to cross the sea they were by. For a while, things were hunky-dory. They were making progress, and things were good. But about halfway across the sea, they got into some trouble--that trouble being a massive storm that frightened even the tough, experienced fishermen.
    Can you imagine it? Being in a boat that was being rocked around like a leaf in a fountain, trying to splash as much water out as possible, half-sure that you were going to drown . . . when you suddenly see something out on the water. Something that impossibly looks just like a person.
    Of course, that figure was Christ--though the disciples thought that He was a ghost, which terrified them even more. What did Jesus say in response? In the NKJ version, His words were: "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid." The footnote, however, says that the phrase "it is I" can be translated as "I am."
    I AM is one of the names of God; one of the most amazing ones. He was in the past, He is presently, and He will always be forever. He'll always be the same strong, loving, able, awesome God who rescues us. Which means that He can help us through storms now just like He has in the past, like when He parted the Red Sea, and when He stilled the waters of this chapter in Matthew.
    Storms come and go, but the Lord has always been and will never leave us alone. Whatever serious issue we go through today, the Lord is able to handle it. That's a comfort, isn't it?

Isaiah 26:3



"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You."

Isaiah 26:3 (NKJ)

Crash And Burn

    Life is not a smooth road. It has bumps, it has sharp turns . . . and sometimes it flips the car upside-down. Completely upside-down, and everything's broken, and there's pain, and one is worried sick about everything.
    It's bound to happen at least once. It's very unpleasant when it does. Sometimes it seems to just be random, and other times it's because of a bad decision. Things are especially unpleasant when it's the latter.
    But God is here for us. When we crash in life, He's by our side. And He's promised us that whatever happens--even when we crash and burn--He has a plan that works for our good. Yes, things are broken around us. Yes, there's pain. But we can have faith that even in that, God is faithful. He will make things work out for our good.