Wednesday, April 15, 2009

4/15/09 verse

I just have to say thanks to God today that I had the money to pay my taxes even though I hate paying taxes. God graciously takes care of us year after year! Praise the Lord.

Now onto the verse for April 15th:

Ephesians 4:25 NIV
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Holy Week

It is Holy Week and I was wondering what you think about and what traditions you may have to celebrate this crucial time of remembrance?
I can't think of many easter traditions other than going to an early morning service on Easter to celebrate Jesus coming out in all his glorious countenance from the grave! We never did easter egg hunts or ham but we would often do a sader supper as a family.
That is my most potent Easter memory- celebrating a sader supper as a family. We made our own head coverings and matzo pillows, the whole 9 yards of tradition. Then we would go through the ceremony and talk all the while about why we were celebrating it. After we finished, we then got to talk about how Jesus came and fulfilled all the traditions and law requirements and that we get to live in freedom and grace now. Those are precious memories for our family.
This week I just finished reading a book about how Caiphas (the high priest that tried Jesus before the Sanhedrin) might have experienced life, especially that last holy week before Jesus was crucified. It got me thinking about the deep richness of our Jewish heritage of faith and the depth of symbolism and meaning that Jesus represents to us now. How it is a joy to learn and grown in the understanding of the scriptures and who God is! So I highly recommend you taking some time this week to dwell on our Saviour, holy week and what traditions you have to celebrate Him in your heart. And read a great book or watch a movie that brings this message home to you this week too!
Hebrews 1:3
"The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”

Friday, April 3, 2009

God's grace- teaching me gently

This week I had some hit you in the middle of your forehead, conviction moments from unexpected sources. You know how God sometimes uses ways and means you don't expect in order to reach you? Well, I had some of those.
In my exercise classes this week God used some of my students to speak truth and conviction to me without them knowing it. The first was something I said about a role model they were talking about that I don't particularly agree with. Instead of being winsome and loving in my words I said something harsher and they were amazed. "Esther never says anything harsh or mean towards anyone, surely I didn't hear her right" said one of them. OUCH!!!!! Can I say that God got my attention with that one. The fury of the tongue!
Then the second happened a few days later- God gave me a chance to try this again. We somehow got on the subject of politics and one of my students said something that I strongly disagreed with. But instead of jumping right in there, God caught my mind and I reined in the tongue and said something (hopefully) different and winsome to make all of us think. My student didn't feel poorly and everyone had a great rest of the class (I hope).
So the power of the tongue is another lesson God continues to help me learn. Little by little, step by step I pray I am becoming more like Him!!!!
Psalm 15
O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the LORD; who swears to his own hurt and does not change; who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent.He who does these things shall never be moved.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

April 1st verse

Phil 2:3-4
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.