The Friday that was Good

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Good Friday everyone. This is the Friday that was Good. Blessed be the Name of the Lord! Thank you Jesus for Calvary! Thank you for the cross. And even though it’s a couple of days away, I am so thankful He didn’t stay in the tomb. It is empty!!

You can read my other posts on Holy Week here, here, here, here and here. Please come back tomorrow and Resurrection Morning (before or after church!) for our final conclusion. 

“And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last. Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” Mark 15:37, 38 NKJV.

The veil in the Temple separated the Holy Place from the Holiest of Holies. Only the High Priest could even enter the Holiest of Holies, no one else was allowed. Inside was the Ark of the Covenant, which held the Ten Commandments, Aaron’s rod that budded, and Manna. The High Priest could only go into the Holiest of Holies once a year to roll away the sins of the people for another 365 days. (Day of Atonement)

This Holiest of Holies represented the presence of God.

The Israelites could not approach God for themselves. They had to have others to plead for their sins.

But everything changed on the Friday that was Good.

It is a Holy Friday and with good reason! We cannot talk of the Cross without realizing there was a Holy God, a Good God, paying the price.

Look at all that was going on in the spirit world when Jesus was dying. 

When Jesus took His last and final breath, the earth shook violently, thunder rolled and a magnificent thing happened in the Temple. The massive curtain, which, according to Jewish historical descriptions, was approximately 30 feet wide, 60 feet high and three inches thick, was impossible for man to rip apart! It was said that it took 300 priests just to wash it. That’s big.

That veil separated man from God’s presence. So when God literally tore it into two pieces, from the top to the bottom, it was very significant.

“But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” Isaiah 59:2.

When Jesus died, things changed forever. We could now enter that Holy Place, God’s Presence, all by ourselves. Without fear!

“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh…” Hebrews 10:19-20.

Now the priests were no longer the only ones who could WORSHIP!

Worship was now for everyone.

Do you realize what that means?

We are able to worship the Savior personally, have a living relationship with the One who hung on the cross!

And…it gets better.

We  can, and should, worship God anywhere! 

  • In a church, yes, please worship Him there!
  • Out in the woods? Worship Him!
  • Walking down the road? Worship Him!
  • Driving in your car? Worship Him!
  • About to have a meal? Worship!
  • Breathing today? Worship, worship, worship!

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16.

Because of Calvary, because of “It is finished”, we have direct access to Jesus Christ.

Rejoice because the veil was torn and wherever WE are, HE is!

Friday is Good because without Friday there would be no Resurrection Sunday. Join me tomorrow as we anticipate the Risen Savior.

Kingdom2

So, where were you when…?

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I remember very well July 20, 1969. It was my eighth birthday and with my siblings, parents and grandparents, we ate cake and I opened presents. But before I could even take a look at the new Barbie I had just received, Mom was clearing things away so that we could rush into the living room and watch the first man walk on the moon. 

So, where were you when…?

We all have memories such as that when our lives are forever changed. 

Every time that date comes around, or is mentioned, we are immediately transported, Star Trek style, back to the place and moment where we were…

  • When John F. Kennedy was assassinated
  • When Elvis died
  • When the Challenger exploded . 
  • And 9/11/2001

So, where were you when…?

Our family had just moved to a new city just about three weeks before 9/11/01. The Sweetheart was still working, as an air traffic controller supervisor, three hours away. I had taken two of My Three Sons to school and the oldest was still at home preparing to leave for work. I always had the radio on in the mornings and we both heard it come over the airwaves that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. 

Yes, we had cell phones way back then and I immediately called my husband to see if he was still at the control center or had he already left. He was working the third shift at that time and was already on the highway heading out of town.

I was trying not to panic but when the next plane hit and then the Pentagon and finally Flight 93, no one knew what was coming next. But it seems we all realized our lives were never to be the same.

And that has proven true. We have been changed and we remember that day and all of those who perished. We have heard story after story of people who “should have been there” but circumstances delayed them or they called in sick or something kept them from being in the towers that day. 

We have also witnessed the first responders who literally gave their lives to help another live. They very likely knew when they started up those stairs they were never coming back down.

Today, life is perplexing. It is stressful and even depressing at times if we dwell on all that is happening around us. So many uncertainties and unknowns, who do you believe? Who can you trust? Who is spinning lies and does anyone report the truth any longer? 

It is very easy to become disheartened and to constantly dwell on the negative; there is plenty of it! The enemy would like nothing better than for us to be distracted here in what is surely The Last Days that the Bible refers to. If we are squabbling over every little thing then we aren’t focused on the task that was given to us when we became a Christian:

Go and Tell.

There are millions of people in this world who do not know Jesus! They may be afraid, they may wonder if there is any hope left and they likely sit across from you at school or share a corner in an office or ride the bus every single day; your bus.

What if we were focused on The Message that Jesus saves instead of whether the person beside us was wearing a mask? We would be better off if we were spreading hope to the hopeless and healing to the broken. Being the hands and feet of Jesus would keep us so busy we wouldn’t have time to argue on social media.

There is hope, there is healing for the mind, body and spirit; His name is Jesus. He still speaks and uses people like you and me to accomplish His will; it IS His will that all would be saved! We don’t have to wonder if He wants us to reach out to that neighbor or co-worker or desperate family member. 

  • He does. 
  • You can. 

Someday soon I picture us around the throne, worshipping the One who saved us with the millions and millions of others who crossed over Jordan into Canaan. We will be marvelling at the beauty surrounding us, the new body we have (Hallelujah!) and the unbelievable thought that this paradise is FOREVER. 

And I see us standing there in awe as we turn to the one beside us and say, “So, where were you when the Lord came?”

May we never forget those that paid the ultimate sacrifice twenty years ago on September 11, 2001. Honor them today with a moment of silence and a prayer for the families they left behind.

Join the conversation and share where you were on that fateful day.

When God is Silent

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Surely there have been times in your life that you have asked the question of the ages:

Why is God silent?

Does He not hear me? My prayers are not being answered, maybe He doesn’t love me. Have I done something wrong?

  • I don’t feel Him.
  • I don’t hear Him.
  • I definitely don’t see Him.

I am surely all alone in this world!

when God is silent

Haven’t we all been there? Maybe we have even lived there for a time? It isn’t easy.

Can we say it can be just plain difficult?

I am not one of those that is fortunate enough to hear the Lord speak in an audible voice to me every morning and say, “Good morning Nannette, time to get up, Sweet Daughter of Mine! Here is what I have planned for you today…”

But He does speak to us, in a variety of ways, mostly through His Word and prayer. And the two of them together? Even better chance you will hear that still, small voice of the Lord.

But sometimes, there is silence; and He is teaching us to trust Him.

Do you remember Thomas? Poor Thomas is still getting picked on as The Doubter. He said he wouldn’t believe that Jesus was alive unless he could see the nail marks in his hands and put his hand in his side. But Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29 NIV.

Compare it to a marriage relationship. If your spouse is away on a trip, are you panicked that they don’t love you anymore?

  • You can’t feel them next to you.
  • You can’t see them.
  • You can’t talk to them if they are busy or in meetings.
  • You can’t hear them.

Does that mean that just because there is silence that their love means nothing any longer? Of course not.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Would it not be wonderful to think that the Lord is preparing us in the silence, to teach us to long for Him?

Of course, we want to be sure that there is not something keeping us from hearing from the Lord.

  • If there is sin, repent.
  • If there is anger, get rid of it.
  • If there is someone you need to forgive, go do it.

Clean up the heart. Draw nigh to Him and He will draw nigh to you. His Word promises that.

Can we trust God even when we don’t hear from Him? When we don’t feel Him every day? He promised to never leave us or forsake us, when there is silence we lean on His promises!

Can we keep on loving Him, serving Him, telling others about Him, just because we love Him, and not because He owes us anything in return?

C.S. Lewis said, “Though our feelings come and go, God’s love for us does not.”

He never changes, He is always the same. “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8. And in an ever-changing world that is full to the brim of uncertainty, we can encourage one another by reminding ourselves of His faithfulness and remembering prayers that He has answered in the past.

You can trust Him, even in the silence.