Tuesday, March 15, 2016

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VICTORY HILL
Copyright 2014
HAPPY EASTER 2016!

Spring has sprung! The snow has melted, robins are on my lawn and the crocuses and daffodils are coming up. I love Spring!

Spring is early this year and we had a mild winter. It is glorious to see the woods come alive as warmer days gather. I look forward to blooming rhododendrons, lilacs, the spirea and trilliums. I look forward to campfires and friends over and walks through the woods. God gives us new things to look forward to in Heaven and seasons here on Earth to enjoy!

Today's poem, Victory Hill, is about Easter. What does Easter mean to you? Easter is about awesome love, amazing grace, eternal life, abundant joy and everlasting peace! It's about promises fulfilled, hope established and mercy realized. Like the old hymn written by Eugene M. Bartlett, there is "Victory in Jesus" because Christ willingly laid down His life for us.

And Easter is about freedom. No longer are we bound by sin. No longer are we weighted down by the devastating results of sin.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation
for those who are in Christ Jesus,
because through Christ Jesus
the law of the Spirit of life
set me free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:1-2

Jesus, in the likeness of sinful man, became a sin offering. The righteous requirements of the law are fully met as we live according to His Spirit and not the sinful nature. If sin is tripping you up, you've got to try to master it. Turn from sin. Don't embrace it. And then you can say you have chosen wisely.

With that wise choice comes eternal life...and a whole lot more. 

However, as it is written:
   "No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared
for those who love him"-
1 Corinthians 1:9 

God raised Jesus from the dead. He is the Living God and death is no obstacle. We're talking power here! We're talking victory!

I encourage you who are reading this to continue calling upon the name of The Almighty. He wants us to pray. A lot. I believe He is listening. So, keep praying.

Enjoy this Easter season. Consider taking a hike up a tall hill or mountain and scanning all you see. All has been made by the God of faith. All is in control by the God of hope. 
And all will come to pass by the God of Love.

Tuesday, March 1, 2016



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THE FRAGRANCE OF LOVE
Copyright 2016

The Fragrance of Love


But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:
While we were still sinners,
Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8

It's great news to know that God loves us! And it's amazing that Jesus, the Son of God, continued on to Calvary for us, even knowing that not everyone would choose to believe, and all because of His love for us! He willingly laid down His life for us, bearing the sins of the world.
 
The fragrance of prayer...Mary must have known something about prayer. She came to rely on Jesus, who had the wonderful words of life. When Jesus left this world after the resurrection and was no longer physically present for the people around him, they had to make a decision about His words like:

 "And surely I will be with you always,

 to the very end of the age." 

(Matthew 28:20b) 

People had to choose to continue to believe. Mary and others chose to believe in God's Word and prayer. We do the same today. Make prayer like breathing...essential to your existence and continuation.

And if the Spirit of him who raised
 Jesus from the dead is living in you,
he who raised Christ from the dead
will also give life to your mortal bodies
through his Spirit,
 who lives in you.
Romans 8:11

How does someone get the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead? Belief...Just good old belief. God looks at hearts. You and I see the way we see but God sees better. Jesus saw Mary's heart. When she poured the pure nard, He saw her doing a beautiful thing...from her heart. She had sinned much and she knew she was forgiven much. Mary did what she could. And it would be told, in memory of her. (Mark 14:9) Doesn't she inspire you to do what you can, with what you have, in the place you are? Does me!

And He makes intercession for us when we pray:

In the same way, the Spirit helps us
in our weakness. We do not know what
we ought to pray, but the Spirit himself
intercedes for us with groans
that words cannot express.
Romans 8:26 

Prepare your heart for the upcoming season of Easter with prayer.
Prayer is relying on God and choosing to follow the most excellent way...the way of love.