"...and they will see me there."

Matthew 28 

 1 Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb.

 2 Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. 3 His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. 4 The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.

 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 is risen 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 that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what 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 give the disciples the angel’s message. 9 And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”

Can you imagine being Mary Magdalene or Mary? What an experience, to be the first people who Jesus spoke to after His resurrection! I think I would fall down at His feet too. My heart races as I imagine being there, in the presence of the risen LORD! And what an important message they carried. They went to tell the apostles where Jesus would meet them. It's probably a good thing that the angel and Jesus both told them where to meet because I tend to think in the middle of all of that I might not remember the meeting place, having witnessed Christ moving about as if nothing had happened to him and all...

Jesus said, "... Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there." They were discouraged, grieving people but Jesus was going to be able to show them this time that prophesy had been fulfilled (and hopefully they would finally get it). Everything that he had taught about had come to fruition and that meant that the apostles' mission was just beginning.

Brent spoke at church today about this part of Jesus' story. I'm glad he did. I found meaning in what he said. My walk-away-thought from his lesson today is that we are not done yet. There are a few things that are changing at PUMP, and change can be uncomfortable in many ways. But Brent reminded us today that our mission and our purpose remain the same. In fact, our work is just beginning. ~ I can think of several people who I hope found encouragement in that today as I did. 

Thanks, Brent! 

What a game!

I don't watch or understand most of the things that happen in a football game. I like to spend time with the people I know who like it so I ask questions about why things happen and about the rules, but left to my own devices I would not necessarily choose to watch football. Personally football ranks right under golf for the most boring sports to watch (sorry football fans). Maybe that's why it's so easy for me to nap on the couch while it's on. But the game that just ended between Chicago and Atlanta was pretty amazing. Chicago came back and made a touch down with 11 seconds left in the fourth quarter leaving the game at Chicago 20 / Atlanta 19. Just when you think the game is over, with 11 seconds Atlanta both made a long play that landed them halfway to the goal posts AND with 1 second left made a 48 yard kicking attempt and made it! 

That was pretty darn amazing whether you like football or not. 

Obedience School

I was invited to contribute to a new blog. Check it out.

Say It's So!

I heard on the radio yesterday that Jonny Depp just signed to do a fourth "Pirates". Please say it is true!!

Dwelling in the Word

This morning while reading the scripture PUMP is dwelling in Kevin came up to me and asked what was wrong. I was probably frowning, something that happens when I concentrate, though I was not in a frowny mood. I showed him that I was reading the Bible and he asked why I wasn't saying anything. So I read the scripture to him. 2 Corinthians 4. All of it. And he sat and listened intently. 

Afterwards he asked why God gives us death when He gives us life. I interpreted that to mean that he was asking about verse 10 that says, "We always carry around in our bodies the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies..." So I explained that it means that we always carry in our minds, or remember all the time, that Jesus died for us and that gives us the chance to have the life of Jesus in our mind all the time so that people know that we love him and he loves us. - Kevin understood better at that point. It was neat to watch him make that connection.

It is wonderful to see God working and moving in our family.

In Twitter Fashion

Writing in Twitter fashion. Busy is an understatement. 

Update:

-Made it through August without loosing my mind... mostly.

-Getting back into work outs. Mom suggested counting this as week 20 instead of week 1. Good advice not to ignore work already accomplished.

-Hubby and boys are great, minus the head-wound Kevin got from the corner of the tampon dispenser in the Library bathroom. OUCH buddy!!

-Week 20 Day 1: Water Aerobics w/a chick who has to read notes off of 3x5 cards to direct the class... Thinking about applying to teach the class myself. 

-Spent $100 on new shoes instead of $10.00 to go to the doc + countless $$ for unnecessary P.T. for plantar faceitis. - It's true.

-Celebrating 8 years married to my only love, Tomorrow!

-Excited to see what God has in store for family, friends and PUMP. God is good!

35 minutes to leave time for the evening. Gotta get going. - Love you all!!

From His Lips

When the soldier came to Jesus and begged Him to heal his servant He was amazed by the soldiers confidence in His words. "... You only need to command it, and my servant will be healed." And He healed the man's servant.

When the waves came up on the lake and the followers cried out to the Lord to save them, interrupted by their unfaithfulness, he spoke to the wind and "... it became completely calm." 

Let all that I am praise the Lord.

   O Lord my God, how great you are!

      You are robed with honor and majesty.

    2 You are dressed in a robe of light.

   You stretch out the starry curtain of the heavens;

    3 you lay out the rafters of your home in the rain clouds.

   You make the clouds your chariot;

      you ride upon the wings of the wind.

 4 The winds are your messengers;

      flames of fire are your servants.

May the glory of the Lord continue forever!
      The Lord takes pleasure in all he has made!
 32 The earth trembles at his glance;
      the mountains smoke at his touch.

 33 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live.
      I will praise my God to my last breath!

(parts of Psalm 104)

When Jesus prayed for His followers He called on the power of God's very name to keep them safe and asks, "Make them ready for your service through your truth; your teaching is truth." The words of God hold all power and authority.

The psalmist says that the authority of God is found in the sky, the clouds, the wind, the stars, fire and light. The soldier found the authority in the words of Jesus, literally that He could speak healing. The followers on the boat watched the authority of God when Jesus spoke to the wind and the water became calm. They saw the power of the words of Jesus.

How is Jesus revealing his authority to you?

Is His authority as real to you as it was to the soldier?

Don't give the bible class answer, that we have His authority in the Bible. While that is true, I don't believe that it is the only way God shows Himself to us. ~ One of the greatest mistakes we make is thinking that God is not active in our world because the Bible has a back cover.