Resurrection

“Resurrection”

It’s a new television show…but it’s something more than that. Something deep within us longs for just a few more minutes with our loved ones who have passed away. We wish within our hearts that they could see what we’ve become or that they could see how much our children have grown. Life conceivably has a beginning and an end, but in this new television show on ABC, “Resurrection” is happening all over the small town of Arcadia. It is a mystery as to why this is happening, but those who are “coming back” seem to possess intimate knowledge and even DNA coo-berating their identities.

How we wish such a miracle could take place here on earth. Most of us would dream of a scenario where we could once again hold a loved one that we’ve lost and to spend more quality time with them. The ABC producers of “Resurrection” certainly hope that we become transfixed to this concept and keep coming back for more.

Can television shows truly sell us hope? Are YOU in need of hope today?

Jesus knew a lot about life. He lived and He died, but He was also resurrected on the third day. During His ministry He even resurrected one of His friends, Lazarus, who had been dead for four days. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) Jesus holds the keys to Eternal life for all of us and this should give us authentic hope in our lives today!

TRUTH – We all possess eternal souls. We have been created by God himself who formed us in His image, and a part of Him is within us, which is eternal. These earthly bodies will one day wear out because they are temporal. We will one day face death…BUT the expiration of this human existence is not the end of our eternal existence. Life will go on. The real question is what destination will we choose? You see if we want to experience eternity with God and with those who followed Him and have gone on before us, we have to choose Him in the here and now! John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

If we choose to follow and love the Creator of Heaven and Earth, we will experience a resurrection beyond what television or even movies can give us. Real resurrection will happen and we should find hope in the fact that death of the physical body is NOT the end.

Check it out – “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16) It won’t be some horror show, or television script, this will be for real. I don’t know about you, but I want to experience this resurrection and new life with Christ in Heaven as well!

I love supernatural shows, and “Resurrection” looks quite interesting to me. Perhaps it might get some of its viewers to consider how precious life is and also to consider how very real Eternity will be for all of us.

(My review is strictly my opinion and not the opinion of any television network or affiliation)

March 10, 2014 1

Psalm 121 “My Eyes”

Psalm 121 – On the hillside in Yellowstone national park, vacation 2013. “The Lord Watches Over You!” (Copyright – Scott E. Strissel 2014)

Psalm 121:1-8 (NIV)
¹I lift up my eyes to the hills– where does my help come from?
²My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.
³He will not let your foot slip– he who watches over you will not slumber;
⁴indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
⁵The LORD watches over you– the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
⁶the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
⁷The LORD will keep you from all harm– he will watch over your life;
⁸the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

March 7, 2014 0

The God who provides…

“Come all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money,, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost….Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.” Isaiah 55:1,2,6

God, through his prophet Isaiah offers nourishment and life to those who seek Him. The Hebrew people would understand this concept and remember how God had provided manna from heaven to their ancestors while wandering in the wilderness after leaving Egypt. They would also recall how God led them into the promised land and brought them victory at Jericho.

God provides all that we require to live this life here on earth as His servant. All that we have to do is seek Him daily and have faith in His unlimited provision. But His provision doesn’t just stop with His children, He longs so desperately to extend His grace and blessings upon the rest of the world as well. After all, Jesus came for the whosoever (John 3:16) and if anyone would seek Him they will find the storehouses of God are never ending.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33.

Are you thirsty today? Are you hungry for more in this life? Is there something lacking in your life and you can’t seem to find out what IT is? God still calls the righteous and the whosoever to come to Him. The very first two words of Isaiah 55:1 says; “Come ALL”. It doesn’t say “Come some of you”, or “Come you VIP’s”…it says “Come ALL”!

Allow God to replenish your storehouses today. Allow Him to renew you. If you’re seeking Him for the first time why don’t you pray this prayer with me:

PRAYER

How to Pray:
Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. In Your Name.
Amen.

For additional information on what you just prayed check out this link:

http://www.billygrahamlibrary.org/PGView.aspx?pid=13

March 6, 2014 1

Our Freedom…for a price!

Word Art by Scott E. Strissel
3/5/2014

March 5, 2014 0

Ash Wednesday (a poem…of sorts)

He wore the ash upon his head

my childish eyes, I thought him dead

a blackened cross, creased and stained

of sweat and dirt the mark remained.

I glanced again, i’m not sure why

partly out of foolish eyes

prying back these feeble thoughts

of how the dead could somehow walk

I gripped my father’s hand real tight

as the moon shone down on that night

stained glass, an aged building bright

with church goers streaming, it was a sight.

With reassurance my father said,

be not afraid, they are not dead

though on that night an organ wailed

and we walked a pilgrim’s trail.

A cross is smeared upon their head

much alive, though some are dead

a reminder to this heart so true

to love and serve God, now…will you?

March 5, 2014 0

The God who holds our hand

When our first son was just an infant he slept in a crib which was right next to our bed. Each night we had a routine that we had to go through in order to get him to sleep. Perhaps it was because we were first time parents or perhaps he was just a needy baby. But each night, after he was dress in pajamas and had his blanket he would stick his hand out from between the crib railings and demand he hold either my hand or his Mom’s. Try as we might we could not break this cycle with him. He needed to have physical contact with us in order to fall asleep. He needed to have this assurance that we were there watching over him and that he was save and sound.

Sometimes I think back on those moments and wonder humorously why we didn’t buy a fake hand for him to hold on to or why we didn’t just break him of that dependence all together. But as I consider those precious moments that we had with our first born I realize how important those moments of contact were for him as he was growing as an infant. He needed to feel our touch, to know we were there and to be reassured that we were not going anywhere.

God still does this for you and for me as well! We constantly question if He’s there. We sometimes cry out to Him just to check if He is listening. We hold out our hand, sometimes in a demanding nature and hope that God’s touch will reach us. We hope that He’s really there and willing to remain near us.

The truth is God desires so desperately to hold our hand and to remain right beside us. He loves us so much that He longs for us to trust Him and to reach out to Him through every season of this life. Are you willing to reach out your hand to Him today? He is here, right now and He is not going anywhere. Trust Him. Lean on Him. Allow His love to fill your life with His joy, grace and peace.

-Just a thought for the day.

March 5, 2014 0