Breakfast For Your Soul

Friday, April 2, 2010

 

 

 

Who has believed our message?
      To whom has the Lord revealed His powerful arm? My Servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground.  There was nothing beautiful or majestic about His appearance, nothing to attract us to Him.  He was despised and rejected— a Man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.  We turned our backs on Him and looked the other way.  He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses He carried; it was our sorrows that weighed Him down.  And we thought His troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for His own sins!  But He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.  He was beaten so we could be whole.  He was whipped so we could be healed.  All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.  We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on Him the sins of us all.  He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet He never said a word.  He was led like a Lamb to the slaughter.  And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, He did not open His mouth.  Unjustly condemned, He was led away.  No one cared that He died without descendants, that His life was cut short in midstream.  But He was struck down for the rebellion of My people.
    He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone.  But He was buried like a criminal; He was put in a rich man’s grave.  But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush Him and cause Him grief.  Yet when His life is made an offering for sin, He will have many descendants.
   He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in His Hands.  When He sees all that is accomplished by His anguish,
      He will be satisfied.  And because of His experience, My Righteous Servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for He will bear all their sins.  I will give Him the honors of a Victorious Soldier, because He exposed Himself to death.  He was counted among the rebels.  He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.

[Isaiah 53 New Living Translation]

 

So Beautiful!

 

Good Afternoon Beloved,

God is good and His mercy endures forever!  I hope this beautiful Good Friday finds you well and in good spirits.  What happened to my Savior on my behalf was ugly, but He is beautiful beyond all comprehension.  We will never fully understand the depth of His love, nor the agony of His Crucifixion.  “The Passion of the Christ”, by Mel Gibson was an excellent depiction.  I heard Jim Caviezel (the actor who portrayed Jesus), talk about his experiences while working on the film.  He was struck by lightning and left virtually unharmed, his shoulder was dislocated, he was left on the cross for hours…everybody forgot he was there as they broke for lunch… he was accidentally struck by the whip, (which left him with a permanent scar), he developed pneumonia and suffered hypothermia as sudden wind gusts rocked the cross he was on.  Talk about suffering for your art!  He believed so adamantly that it was a film that needed to be made, that to this day he has no regrets.  His prayer was for someone not to see him, but to see Jesus and be converted.  His prayer was answered… many people came to Christ as a result of this movie, including a Muslim actor who portrayed one of the soldiers. Countless lives have been changed, and Christians whose relationship with God had grown stale and stagnant were revitalized, and fell in love with Jesus all over again!  Powerful!  It reminded us that the price Jesus paid for us was staggering!  He died for us… can we live for Him? (umph..I heard you this morning Janelle..thank you for the reminder)  He rose again, so that we could rise with Him, so that we could be seated with Him in Heavenly places, and not us alone, but the invitations have gone out to all humanity!  “Whosoever will …” !

… and that Beloved is Good News!

Y Stress? … U Blessed!

Have A Fabulous Day and a Wonderful Weekend!

Regina

“The Blood”, Kirk Franklin, Donnie McClurkin, Crystal Lewis, Jaci Valasquez

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJHWjK8Ou8A

 

“He Decided To Die”, Rev. Donald Vails

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0UZkASPZfs

 

“There Is No Failure In God”, Rev. Donald Vails

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgWHfOuwZf8

 

“Oh The Blood”, Donald Vails Choraleers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgWHfOuwZf8

“Fall On Me”, Shekinah Glory

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xl_kqLlJKag

 

“All Hail The King”, Shekinah Glory

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwB-Q4F89RM

 

“I Worship You In The Spirit”, Shekinah Glory

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rr3BuQfNyuU

 

“We Worship You”, Deitrick Hadden

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNhggDBzQC4

 

“In The Presence Of Royalty”, Byron Cage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkCDtfed2fE

 

“Great Is Your Mercy”, Pastor Donnie McClurkin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODmHMKfD_iY

 

“Mercy Said No”, CeCe Winans

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_SjhKJgqGg

 

“Alabaster Box”, CeCe Winans

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uq8VP9osGrg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And they sang a new song with these words: “You (Jesus) are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it.  For You were slaughtered, and Your blood has ransomed people for GOD from every tribe and language and people and nation.

[Revelation 5:9]

 

“It is Finished”

 

 

PAID IN FULL!

 

 

Good Morning Beloved,

 

I wish I could describe to you how I am feeling this morning.  The closest I can come to it is as ‘a peaceful gratitude’.  I have a testimony.  God blessed me abundantly last night.  I saw the hand of God moving in a way, that had I not been paying attention, would have been lost on me.  I accidentally locked both set of keys in my car.  My family and I were in completely unfamiliar territory (I was doing a dry run to a place I need to be on Saturday).  People came from everywhere to help us break into my car.  A random couple on their way into a restaurant carrying clothes on hangers (at 9:30pm) — just when we needed another hanger.  A man and his wife who stayed and worked relentlessly, a young worker from the restaurant, and a gentleman I later found out to be a volunteer within the fire department.  He came to our rescue with a ‘slim jim’.  Actually, none of the tactics seemed to be working.  (I keep telling people my little Aerio has secrets).  Finally, the only thing that worked was what the man’s wife had suggested the previous hour… hook the keys and pull them out of the window… Viola!  I just marveled at how 5 groups of people, going in 5 different directions, late in the evening, bonded over one harried lady’s mistake.  They made my dilemma their concern, and for that I am eternally grateful and I let them know.  I don’t know them, but I know the God that knows them, and I pray that He do something extra special in their lives.

 

Today is the day known as ‘Good Friday’.  There will be many services this evening on the Seven Last Words of Jesus from the cross.  I found this beautiful teaching this morning by Ben H. Swett, Bethany Christian Church written in 1974.

 

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

Soldiers have just driven nails through His hands and feet and hoisted Him up by those nails. He does not fear those who kill His body; He pities them and prays for them. If they knew how much this hurts, they could not do it to anyone. They are unwitting instruments of the Higher Purpose that brings Him here.

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46)

But physical torment takes its toll. He suddenly discovers that He cannot hear the still, small Voice; He has lost His two-way communication with God. His lifeline is not working, so He must face the the narrow gate of death alone.

He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” (John 19:26-27)

Not quite alone. He looks down. Which hurts worse: the pain of being crucified, or the pain of a mother watching her son be crucified, or the pain of a boy whose beloved Teacher hangs bleeding before his eyes? He understands their pain in the midst of His own, and tells them to care for each other.

“I thirst!” (John 19:28)

Time passes slowly. His spring of living water runs dry. He reaches the end of His strength. This is the moment the Tempter has been waiting for: through the voices of cynical men, Satan tries again, as he did in the wilderness: “If You are the Christ, prove it! Save Yourself and impress the people.”

“Truly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

But a dying thief says, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” What the cynical voices suggest is not the way to prove He is the Christ. His Kingdom is not of this world. He ignores them and reassures the thief.

“It is finished!” (John 19:30)

He has defeated the Tempter again. Despite the agony, He has rejected temptation and cared for those around Him. His temporary duty on earth is complete. He has shown the way God wants us to live. He has demonstrated the fact that faith and hope and love cannot be destroyed by anything men can say or do.

“Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit.” (Luke 23:46)

Like a trusting child, He turns to the Father and takes the next step. He has bound himself by love, to both God and the human race. Soon He will begin His long-term ministry by demonstrating the fact that human beings survive physical death. Then He will continue to draw to Himself, and thus to heaven, everyone He can … for as long as it takes … until whosoever will has come.

 

  …. and THAT Beloved is THE Good News!

 

U Blessed!

Have A Fabulous Day and a Wonderful Weekend!

Regina

 

 

“Calvary”, Richard Smallwood

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl7kCi2MUsg

 

“He Reigns”, Kevin LeVar

http://www.imeem.com/trm05/music/CQRB_YRl/kevin-levar-he-reigns/

 

“Our God Is An Awesome God”, Helen Baylor

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cw_wVyuyucs

 

“Just Wanna Say”, Israel & New Breed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaFYjMg69k4
Said You’d never leave me
Said You’d never leave me, leave me

Said You won’t forsake me
Said You won’t forsake me, ‘sake me

Even now I’m older
Never have I seen the righteous forsaken

Even what You told me
You would always hold me
Safe in the palm of Your hand

Even though I go through the valley of the shadow
I’m not forgotten

Never let a day go by
My, my
Gonna shout it from the mountain

Refrain:
I just wanna say
I’m not afraid
I know that You are with me
Always

Wooo…

Even now I’m older
Never have I seen the righteous forsaken

Even what You told me
You would always hold me
Safe in the palm of Your hand

Even though I go through the valley of the shadow
I’m not forgotten
Never let a day go (and I never let a day go by)
My, my
Gonna shout it from the mountain

Wooo….

Refrain:
I just wanna say
I’m not afraid
I know that You are with me (Said I know that You are with me)
Always (Always)

I give You praise
For everyday
I know You’ll never leave me
No way

(Said You’d never leave me)
Said You’d never leave me
Said You’d never leave me, leave me

(Said You won’t forsake me)
Said You won’t forsake me
Said You won’t forsake me, ‘sake me

(Never leave you lonely)
Never leave me lonely
Never leave me lonely, lonely

Oh…
I gotta, I gotta shout it from the mountain

Refrain:
I just wanna say
I’m not afraid
I know that You are with me (Said I know that You …)
Always (Said I just wanna say)

I give You praise (I give You praise)
For everyday
I know You’ll never leave me (Said I know You’ll never leave… I know You’ll never leave)
No way

(Said You’d never leave me)
Said You’d never leave me
Said You’d never leave me, leave me

(Said You won’t forsake me)
Said You won’t forsake me
Said You won’t forsake me, ‘sake me

(Never leave you lonely)
Never leave me lonely
Never leave me lonely, lonely

(Surely, I believe it)
Surely, oh, surely… yeah, surely

(Said You’d never leave)
Said You’d never leave me
Said You’d never leave me, leave me

(Said You won’t forsake)
Said You won’t forsake me
Said You won’t forsake me, forsake me

(Never leave me lonely)
Never leave me lonely
Never leave me lonely, leave me lonely

(Surely I believe it)
Surely, surely… oh, oh….

(Said You’d never leave)
Said You’d never leave me
Said You’d never leave me, leave me

(Said You won’t forsake me)
Said You won’t forsake

(Never leave me lonely)
Never leave me lonely
Never leave me lonely, leave me lonely

(Surely I believe)
Surely, (I believe) surely… (I believe)
Surely