beginning of the Easter season

Yesterday was the beginning of what many Christians celebrate as the season of Lent leading up to Easter. It is often called “Ash Wednesday” which has been signified in church services with a pastor places ashes in the form of a cross on someone’s forehead.

Many Christian traditions celebrate this in a humble way. Some spend a great deal of time fasting and praying. You might have heard people say that they are giving up something as their sacrifice or fast for lent. It might be a time of literally fasting from food, from social media has been mentioned recently, or simply a choice to spend more time with the Lord.

Easter is most definitely the greatest of Christian holidays. Why is that? Christmas is important but is mute without the truth of Jesus’ death that we honor at Easter. Any other spiritual service or event don’t compare to the beauty and depth of the Easter holiday.

I share this with you for several reasons, but the biggest is that we cannot leave behind the truth that Jesus did for us what we cannot do for ourselves. As in yesterday’s e-devotion where I shared that we must serve someone else, we see how Jesus gave His life for us.

We asked our church this past Sunday to choose 7 people to pray for over the next 7 weeks and then invite those people to church. Choose a way to push in to the reality of God’s goodness and His love for people.

No one has forgiven more. No one has a bigger stake in your success or mine. God planned us and created us. God desires us and loves each of us. How will I acknowledge that truth?

One way is to celebrate Easter. Over the next six weeks leading up to Easter make much of Jesus as He has done so much and continues to do much for us!

Colossians 1:20 NLT

and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.

Acts 4:33 NLT

The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all.

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you ...

wash feet, sharing hope

John 13:4-5,14 NLT So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him… 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. Jesus set the example we follow. He served. He valued and gave value to others. That is why we choose to serve. For 18 years our church has shared an outreach called back2school, and for 16 of those years we have chosen to give students brand new shoes and socks as well as washing their feet. It is one of the most important parts of this event. Washing feet is a humbling experience where both the give and the receiver learn how to share some moments that might change their lives. Jesus said we should do this. See the verse above. Follow His example, do what He did, and give far more than you will ever know....

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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