[Faith-talk] Fwd: Morning Thoughts for Tuesday, April 19, 2011

[Amy Ragain]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Stephen Smith <stevesmith1943 at me.com>
> Date: April 19, 2011 7:16:50 AM CDT
> To: Morning Thoughts 1 <stevesmith1943 at me.com>
> Subject: Morning Thoughts for Tuesday, April 19, 2011
> 
> Easter: Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; And whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
> (John 11:25-26, NIV)
> 
> - From Bible Promises for iPhone
> http://biblepromises.reigndesign.com/
> 
> Good morning precious family!!  The count-down is on.  Only a few days from now Jesus will be crucified.  How is He preparing?  He actually prepared all His life on earth!  Take the experience of Lazarus:
> 
> John 11:14-45 (NASB)
> [14] So Jesus then said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, [15] and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him.” [16] Therefore Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.”
> [17]  So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. [18] Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off; [19] and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother. [20] Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went to meet Him, but Mary stayed at the house. [21] Martha then said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. [22] “Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” [23] Jesus *said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” [24] Martha *said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” [25] Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, [26] and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” [27] She *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.”
> [28]  When she had said this, she went away and called Mary her sister, saying secretly, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” [29] And when she heard it, she *got up quickly and was coming to Him.
> [30]  Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha met Him. [31] Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and consoling her, when they saw that Mary got up quickly and went out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. [32] Therefore, when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” [33] When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled, [34] and said, “Where have you laid him?” They *said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” [35] Jesus wept. [36] So the Jews were saying, “See how He loved him!” [37] But some of them said, “Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man, have kept this man also from dying?”
> [38]  So Jesus, again being deeply moved within, *came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. [39] Jesus *said, “Remove the stone.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, *said to Him, “Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days.” [40] Jesus *said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” [41] So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. [42] “I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.” [43] When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.” [44] The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus *said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
> [45]  Therefore many of the Jews who came to Mary, and saw what He had done, believed in Him.
> 
> As Jesus raised Lazarus from physical death, so He has raised every believer from spiritual death - which lasts a whole lot longer than the physical.  We, who are alive in Christ, are the very manifestation of the power of Christ to raise us from eternal death, into the newness of life!!  Why?  So that many will see our transformation and accept Christ's call to come out of the tomb of our bondage to sin, which is death, and live with and for Him, for all eternity!!  When you think about it, this is a no-brainer!!  Therefore, you who believe and are alive in Christ, let your light of new life so shine that others will be drawn to you and say: "I want some of that."
> 
> Blessings to you for the opportunities that lie ahead!  "For days are lost lamenting o're lost days.  Are you in earnest?  Then seize this very minute!  Things you can do, or think you can, begin it!!  For boldness has genius, Christ and power in it!!"
> 
> <3Steve:-))