It's been a long, cold winter. That's a strange thing to be typing
from the panhandle of Florida, but we have lived here since 2000, and
never has their been such a consistantly cold winter.
I did a 5K on Saturday, and it was cold. 46, wind chill of 41, NNW
wind at 12-15mph. And I ran on the beach, half of the run into the
wind. My feet were clad in my vibrams but since I wanted to run on
packed sand, that meant cold wet sand - and occasionally running in
the surf. BRR!
I never thought I'd say this, because I HATE hot weather, but I am
READY FOR SUMMER! The picture I attached is from 0600 when it was 41
degrees. I was inside, looking longingly at the beach, the umbrellas
- and fantasizing about the time coming soon when the umbrellas will
be open to shade against the beating down of the sun, and the sand
will be hot, the waves warm. Everything is there in preparation for
summer - it is just waiting. Once summer arrives, the umbrellas will
be open, the windows will be lifted, sunglasses will be on! We may not
feel it now, but we know it's coming.
It reminded me of something else - life is hard. Right now, you all
are going through some mighty trials. As am I. It is hard not to get
discouraged.
That's when you have to pull out the Word and get reading. Just read
any of the Gospels - I recommend starting with John - and when you get
to the garden with Jesus, you see what He went through for us. He
knew there would be unimaginable suffering - but He willingly took it
on for us. For me. For you!!!
Why?
Because He knew what was coming next!
Sunday is coming!!
In the Jewish tradition, the first day of the week was Sunday -
Saturday was the day of rest. Read the discription of the day our
Saviour arose!
John 20
New King James Version (NKJV)
The Empty Tomb
20 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb
early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken
away from the tomb. 2 Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the
other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken
away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid
Him."
3 Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to
the tomb. 4 So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran
Peter and came to the tomb first. 5 And he, stooping down and looking
in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. 6 Then
Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw
the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the handkerchief that had been
around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together
in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb
first, went in also; and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they did
not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. 10 Then
the disciples went away again to their own homes.
Mary Magdalene Sees the Risen Lord
11 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she
stooped down and looked into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in
white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the
body of Jesus had lain. 13 Then they said to her, "Woman, why are you
weeping?"
She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not
know where they have laid Him."
14 Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus
standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to
her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?"
She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, "Sir, if You have
carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him
away."
16 Jesus said to her, "Mary!"
She turned and said to Him,[a] "Rabboni!" (which is to say, Teacher).
17 Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended
to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending
to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.'"
18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the
Lord,[b] and that He had spoken these things to her.
The hankerchief around His head was folded seperated. In Hebrew
tradition, this meant "I will return".
SUNDAY IS COMING!!
Here's the lyrics to the song "Sunday", by the group Tree63. Look it
up on YouTube if you have a chance:
Nothing's sacred, the days are cheap
Truth is thin on the ground
Still our prophets are crucified
Nobody believes we're stumbling
It's Friday but Sunday is coming
Someone's saying a prayer tonight
For hungry mouths to be filled
Someone kneels in the dark somewhere
Darkness is already crumbling
Yeah, its Friday but Sunday comes
Sunday, hallelujah
Its not so far, its not so far away
Sunday, hallelujah
Its not so far, its not so far away
Broken promises, weary hearts
But one promise remains
Crucified, He will come again
Its Friday but Sunday is coming
Yeah, its Friday but Sunday is coming
Sunday, hallelujah
It's not so far, it's not so far away
Sunday, hallelujah
It's not so far, it's not so far away
Darkness is already crumbling
Its Friday but Sunday is coming
Yeah, its Friday, Sunday is coming
Can you feel it? Here it comes
Sunday, hallelujah
It's not so far, it's not so far away
Sunday, hallelujah
It's not so far
Be encouraged, dear ones. Sunday's coming!!!
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