One Year Ago Today

April Fools’ Day 2022 started like any other day. I didn’t even think about pranks or practical jokes.

When I got out of the shower a massive headache emerged. Throbbing and pulsating.

I don’t get headaches so I thought, “This is weird.”

My next thought wandered through, “is this what a migraine feels like?” And “Do I have an aneurysm erupting?” “I am 66 years old and there is a history of strokes in my family.”

I said to Lisa, my wife, we need to get this checked. Off we went to the nearest Urgent Care. They almost immediately said, “Go to the ER!”

The Emergency Room Doctor ordered a CT Scan and confirmed I was experiencing a brain bleed. “What?!”

They then ordered transport to their Main campus since it was a trauma center.

As they put me in an ambulance I was thinking, “Is this a joke?”

Well… no. I spent the next five days in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) due to what the Physicians called a “Spontaneous Brain Bleed.”

I spent nine days over the first eleven days of April in the hospital.

I really didn’t feel it was that big a deal. The headaches caused by the blood draining was excruciating, but I felt fine otherwise.

Today, exactly one year later, it is as if it never happened. Like a bad April Fool prank.

Through all of it I knew God had me. I trusted Him that He knew what He was doing.

My perspective changed through this. I no longer take my life for granted. Every day is a gift. I thank God for what He is planning for me today.

Embrace your time on earth. Each day is not guaranteed. Each moment is a blessing.

The really cool thing is that God want us to be a part of His plans. He doesn’t need us. He want us.

Praise God.

Now, April Fool’s Day 2023, I am thinking, “Ok Lord. What are You up to today and how can I help?”

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Lord, I Need You

This post is designed as a devotional.

I surrendered my life to Christ on February 19, 1993. I showed up at a men’s retreat hung over and God freed me from alcohol that night. He did not free me from numerous other addictions. For reasons He knows better than I do. Most likely to insure I never forget that He loves me and wants me to always rely on Him.

Lord. Thank you for Your promise to give us rest. I am weary from trying to face my fears on my own.

Please help me face the demons in my life that I have been tolerating for as long as I can remember. Demons that I have allowed to derail Your plans for me. Teach me to leave them at the foot of your cross. And leave them there.

Thank you Lord for Your promise to preserve us in Matthew 11:28 telling us, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Thank you Jesus for Your invitation to learn from You and Your promise that Your yoke is easy and Your burden is light.

Thank you Jesus for inviting me to come to You. Not to religion. But to You so You can teach me Your ways. Amen

Scripture

Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:29

Reflection

All of us need rest, and Jesus promises to give it to us when we find our rest in Him. He will not scold us for being weak or scorn us for being foolish. He promises to gently and humbly refresh our weary souls. The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible

Breakdown

What Kind of Rest Does Jesus Give? Desiring God

Prayer/Meditation

Guided Prayer & Meditation. Matthew 11:28-30 The Meeting Place

GOING DEEP

Message

Matthew 11:28-30 (Part 3) Calvary Chapel Ontario

Worship

Come Unto Me Esther Mui

Lord I Need You Matt Maher

Come To Me (Live) Bethel Music

How Can We Serve Right Now?

In these trying days where we are locked in our homes due to “Stay At Home” orders, a lot of us are frustrated and dealing with depression because we cannot get outside.

Cabin Fever is real and it will drive you nuts if you let it get the best of you.

It is easy to look inward and focus on ourselves. We don’t always see that by staying home we are serving our families and communities well.

With Holy Week taking place this week we are reminded of the journey Jesus took the final week of His life.

Most of us are wondering what are we going to do for Easter. We can’t go to church. We can’t get together with family for a nice meal. We cannot even hold a neighbor Easter egg hunts.

So what do we do? Jesus reminds us on Holy Thursday how to serve one another with His washing off His Disciples feet. He does this to show us how to serve one another.

So it seems the best way to serve our families and our communities right now is to stay home.

After you wash your wife’s feet this Thursday, don’t forget to wash your hands.

Thanks for serving.

Scripture > John 13:14

“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.”

Illustrated version of John 13:12-18 > https://youtu.be/RRebqmlFumQ

Message > Wash One Another’s Feet, Jonathan Redfearn, Jedmond Parish Church, Newcastle

https://youtu.be/f9umA14qYBI

Key verse > John 13:15

“I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.”

Song > Make Me A Servant

Performed by the Maranatha Singers

https://youtu.be/RS8p-TJo1VY

What does the Bible say about foot washing?

https://www.gotquestions.org/foot-washing.html

John 13, John Heitzig, Calvary Albuquerque

https://youtu.be/V27fljCeBtM

The Humble Love of Christ, John MacArthur, Grace To You

https://youtu.be/_wopehI6tTk

Thank you Jesus for your sacrifice for each and every one of us.

Where was Jesus on Holy Saturday?

Sometimes I wonder when the Bible has gaps in time and isn’t very clear what really took place. Like Jesus’ childhood between His visit to the temple at age 12 (Luke 2:41-51) until His ministry started at age 30.

So what actually took place on Holy Saturday? (the day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday)

Was this a day of rest for Jesus where He lay in a tomb? Or was He in a fight with Satan in which He clearly defeated death?
Guards_at_the_tomb
The only biblical reference to what happened on the Saturday in between Jesus’ death and resurrection is found in Matthew 27:62-66. After sundown on Saturday—the end of the Sabbath—the chief priests and Pharisees went to Pontius Pilate and asked that a guard be placed at Jesus’ tomb to prevent His disciples from removing the body. They remembered Jesus saying that He would rise again in three days (John 2:19-21) and wanted to do everything they could to prevent that. We know from the succeeding accounts that the Roman guards were inadequate to prevent the resurrection and those who returned to the tomb Sunday morning found it empty. The Lord had risen.

What is your take?

Reference > http://www.BibleGateway.com (pick your translation of choice)