No WOW ~ just a reminder

'US' (above) is LIFEWAY WOMEN
but I've signed up so why don't you?
starts tomorrow

but
in case you did not know

[image credit: CrossCards]

I'd love to be off for a bike ride

instead

of

my normal

Walk On Weds.

listening for

His Whisper

... but for many reasons, I'm not ... no bike (since I've moved home-not a priority and what I had is either gone, rusted or junked; my knees don't work like they used to and the weather is not cooperating right now, kinda dreary and weary) ... occasionally I do use that indoor kind, called an exercise bike, just to keep my knees functioning somewhat better than they do

and

my balance

has been off since last year

which was the reason

I found out inadvertently that I have

hearing loss

so

I'm still adjusting to this.

For this reason

I am leaning in even more

to hear

HIS WHISPERS

much more needed than the loud sounds that invade

my space and place

I choose to fill my head

with

Gods' Words

... my 'ice pick' headaches on my left side of my head have subsided since I went on an audio break and restarted adjusting to my hearing aides and had an MRI ... the headaches are not officially an ice pick headache because of their location but that is the best description for the ones I had, I still have some dizzy stuff when I roll to my left, and due to some problem with my right ear, which is my worst one, of my Eustachian tube not functioning (known as dysfunctional Eustachian tube) - opening and feels like you do on an airplane but it does not pop and stay open, just momentarily, with all the 'tricks' - from gum chewing to nasal spray to holding breath ... this is when more than ever, one relies on the inner person hearing and God's whispers, His Spirit alive in me, is all the more important, as I isolate more and more (of course, which isn't good or recommended) - it is what it is BUT GOD - yes, He is here and hears, I rely on this and His Whispers (wherever they come from) ... 

HAPPY BIKE DAY!

or

HAPPY WEDS! 

WOW

guess I'll try some

Worship On Weds.

with

Kari Jobe's "The Garden"

and

some others and others

Such a joy to see the birds and buds coming out

{just not the insects, like wood or deer ticks}

This was late today, but then you know that it's just been written and is new

A BLESSED RESURRECTION SONDAY!

[images credit: KTIS]

KTIS is my long-time Christian radio station in MN. I love my KTIS!
"Easter: A Preview of what is to come"


My personal preference is no longer to use the word "easter" since I have learned the origin of that word is pagan and I prefer to refer to this wonderful celebration of Jesus Christ as my title reads: RESURRECTION SONday (Sunday) because it is all about the Son of God and Man, who was resurrected on this day by His Father. And I truly believe what all these images proclaim. I'm so thankful that I'm REDEEMED by Jesus Christ!

"... BY HIS WOUNDS, WE ARE HEALED ..." ~ 4

[image credit: Time of Grace]

which comes from 

ISAIAH 53

Today's portion of Isaiah 53 is verse 5

"...But He was hurt because of us;  He suffered so.     Our wrong doing wounded and  crushed Him. He endured the breaking that made us whole.     The injuries He suffered became our healing. (The Voice)

Time of Grace's devotional for today with this verse is 
"Crucified"
(just a snippet)

"...The prophet Isaiah, seven centuries before Christ, was allowed to look into the future to see the strange way in which salvation for the human race would be won. “He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:5). There is no longer any condemnation or punishment for those who believe in Christ. His precious body was pierced by dreadful nails; His precious wounds bring you healing."

{probably more fitting for tomorrow}
since today is actually
Maundy Thursday (as I shared yesterday at the end a great link)
where we generally focus on the
Last Supper
and the
preceding
"Crucified"
fits better with
Good Friday
tomorrow
because it's so hard for me to focus long
on the absolute horror and tragedy
but that it was necessary
and I'm so thankful
for Jesus' obedience and sacrifice!!!
(I could not even post parts from the devotional, I don't do well with graphic recollections)
{yes, I look away at those parts in "The Passion"}
<><><>
... there are so many momentous moments just for today ...
that I will stay away from; like betrayal, denial, suffering
yet I am connecting to "healing" for today
"...Loving One Another"
with the
"washing of feet" (John 13:1-17)
as Jesus did
at the 
Last Supper
because
for me personally
it is like the
cleansing of sin also
that
Jesus
completes on
Good Friday
with His own blood
<>
I remember Jesus today
I remember His body broken for me
to pay the penalty for something I could never pay
my sin - every one of them
I remember His blood spilled out
to wash and cleanse us
from iniquities
I remember this supper shared with those closest
as one day we hope to supe and share with
Our Lord Jesus Christ
I remember
those
present
I remember
those
who have gone before me
I remember the
eternal healing they have
I remember so many
significant people and the events
of this Holy Passion Week
I remember how
Jesus wept
and
I weep
without fail
every time I
remember
but I
remember
in obedience to
Jesus' own words
"Do this in remembrance of Me"
in  2016 I was moved by this
and believe Christians in America (USA)
should learn much from this
INDEED
"BY HIS WOUNDS, WE ARE HEALED"
CHANGED
FOREVER

WOW "... BY HIS WOUNDS, WE ARE HEALED ..." ~ 3

WOW

Worship On Weds.

[image credit: Time of Grace]

which comes from 

ISAIAH 53

Today's portion of Isaiah 53 is verse 3


[image credit: FaithLife]

The Message puts it this way:

"... He was looked down on and passed over, a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand. One look at Him and people turned away.     We looked down on Him, thought He was scum. But the fact is, it was our pains He carried— our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us. We thought He brought it on Himself, that God was punishing Him for His own failures. But it was our sins that did that to Him, that ripped and tore and crushed Him—our sins! He took the punishment, and that made us whole.     Through His bruises we get healed. We’re all like sheep who’ve wandered off and gotten lost.     We’ve all done our own thing, gone our own way. And God has piled all our sins, everything we’ve done wrong,on Him, on Him. (MSG)

Time of Grace's devotional for today with this verse is 
"Crowned"

"... King Jesus was given a crown to wear as well, but there was no velvet, platinum, or jewels. The “obeisance” he received from the Roman soldiers was mockery and jest. The “scepter” he was given was a reed, and his “crown” was a strip of thorns twisted into a circlet. As a gesture of total contempt, they beat it into his dear head, intensifying the humiliation and agony. The idea that he claimed to be the King of the Jews brought only resentment--they wanted no further claims on their accountability. Isaiah had said it would be like this: “He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain” (Isaiah 53:3). It is the paradox of the gospel that Jesus’ path to glory lay through humiliation, that his path to delight lay through pain, that his path to victory lay through suffering, and that the way in which he could crush Satan involved letting himself be crushed first. It is the paradox of the gospel that it is through the wounds of Christ that you and I are healed."

"By His Wounds"

As I take a Walk On Weds. and Worship On Weds., with this song, my thoughts reflect on another "garden" - the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46) at the foot of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem (an olive grove) being "In the Garden" ... 
can you picture this?
... yet this crown that is placed on Our Lord Jesus Christ on Holy Friday at His Crucifixion, is not a crown at all, however, the day is coming when we will see Him, seated on His Throne, in His Crown as He rightly deserves with all of our praise, honor, homage, gratitude and glory ... once again, "I can only imagine"  

"...The same crown of righteousness will be given to all believers who love the appearing of Christ Jesus."~Larry M. Jaynes

 I can hardly believe this -

yet still I wait for this glorious day!

BELIEVING

in our

RISEN LORD

",,,And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own,
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known. ..."

This is how I want to linger for this day

with

Jesus

walking and talking
praying
just
like He asked
His disciples that evening
 So I really should have saved this for Maundy Thursday
but I will tarry
reading and reflecting
on
"The Greatest Prayer"{fantastic article by John Piper}

"... BY HIS WOUNDS, WE ARE HEALED ..." ~ 2

[image credit: Time of Grace]

which comes from 

ISAIAH 53

Today's portion of Isaiah 53 is verse 10

"...Yet the Lord was willing To crush Him,causing Him to suffer; If He would give Himself as a guilt offering [an atonement for sin], He shall see His [spiritual] offspring, He shall prolong His days, And the will (good pleasure) of the Lord shall succeed and prosper in His hand." AMPLIFIED

Time of Grace's devotional for today with this verse is 
"Scourged"

" ... You can add God’s name to the list as well. What!? God caused Jesus’ suffering? Yes. Behind the lash of the scourge was the hand of God, who was pouring out the judgment, wrath, and punishment for the sins of the entire world upon the Son. Isaiah’s prophetic insights allow us to see what was really happening in Jerusalem on Good Friday: ... {insert today's Bible verse} ...

this is just a small portion of the brief devotional
the part that follows the above portion
describes the
"SCOURGING"
[image credit: Bible History]
even by the sound of the word, it sounds so awful
I really can't imagine such gruesome treatment!
especially on the Son of God
One who did nothing
and
certainly did not deserve it
{however, I have a hard time thinking that anyone does}
"It is hard to understand why God would crush His innocent Servant.  But it is in His suffering for sin that God deals decisively with sin  and its harmful effects."  taken from  The Voice version {added between verse 9 and 10}

"... BY HIS WOUNDS, WE ARE HEALED ..." ~ 1

I thought and planned, and then thought some more, reflecting on what I might post for this Holy Week ... because usually each Holy Week, I try to do a series on the themes throughout this week of PASSION, that is why I shared Wayne Stiles' Passion Week on Palm SONday {by the way Episode 2 is available today} ... yet my original plan was to share what I'm sharing today ... a reading plan from You Version (actually from Time of Grace) ... {and there are so many really wonderful ones to truly focus on Jesus} this one chosen before by me on this blog, but this year it fits with the One Word God has given me ... HEALING ...

[image credit: Time of Grace]

which comes from 

ISAIAH 53

" ...We all have wandered off, like  shepherdless sheep, scattered by our aimless striving and endless pursuits; The Eternal One laid on him, this silent sufferer, the sins of us all." The Voice

Today's portion of Isaiah 53 is verse 6

Time of Grace's devotional for today with this verse is "Condemned"
(just a snippet)

"... You know what’s really scary about the trials of Jesus? God took those unjust guilty verdicts and endorsed them! Seriously! He let those unworthy judges speak for him as they cried out, “He is worthy of death!” Isaiah revealed that God wasn’t just watching Jesus’ trial; He was joining in the condemnation: “The LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6)."

We are not without a 
SHEPHERD
and  in fact
we are not without a
LAMB
the perfect sacrifice
the only
ONE
that
was blameless and could carry
the weight of our sin
each one
plus
as
Our Shepherd
He even carries us
when we're 
tired
weary
wounded
He picks us up
places us tenderly in His arms or
over His shoulders He carries us
until
WE ARE HEALED
and even while
WE ARE HEALING!
{I am - how about you?}
Lay it all down and receive His Healing
<><><>
Be sure not to miss Episode 2 of
[image credit: Wayne Stiles]

EPISODE 2 – Available NOW! HERE

In Episode 2, our journey through the Passion Week explores the events that occurred from Wednesday through Friday. In addition to seeing some archaeological finds related to Jesus, we'll experience the Upper Room, the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus' arrest, trials, crucifixion, and burial. Our challenge: How do we keep going when we have blown it with God?

SOS ~ "YOU ARE FREE" 3 (now also 4, 5, 6)

 UPDATE (4-23-17) now WEEK 6 (scroll to below) {right now this is here, but it will be moved back to 4-9-17}


... when I published this back on 4-9-17 and knew it was Holy Week, I should have also let you know that I would not be finishing this along with the current Faith Gateway Online Bible Study group, but at a later date - because I know that I need to, that I still am not FREE in any stretch of the imagination as I should be, but know the freedom I am so richly blessed with, comes only through Jesus Christ, and actually right where we are in this study, is right where the 'rubber meets the road' and I should be digging in deeper, pressing into this study even more, not just this week, but the next and probably the rest. 
However, as I've mentioned after Resurrection SONday, I had already planned and signed up for "REDEEMED..." by Angela Thomas-Pharr with LifeWay Women - it just seemed to be so timely, when I started 2017 with the 40 days of Prayer that was part of this, and what could be better than being "Redeemed" after celebrating Christ's Resurrection ... so, for this study, "You are Free", I will just be adding the links for each week to FaithGateway OBS and returning to finish the rest of the book, study guide and excellent, personal videos with Rebekah, at a later date, through Study Gateway. Weeks 4-6 are at the end. My apologies for dropping this midway! This is such a great study to not complete so I will!


Continuing with  Session 3
WEEK 3 April 9-15
"FREE TO BEGIN AGAIN" Chapter 7

READING Chapters 7 and 8 in the book Study Guide p. 51-56 after viewing video Group discussion p.57-59   Personal Study p. 61-70

and
"Free to Wait" Chapter 8

you can catch it all over at Faith Gateway
Online Bible Studies with Laurie McClure and Rebekah Lyons and her newest book (above)

Scripture of the Week “If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” - Psalms 139:9-10 Psalm 139:7-10, John 14:23, Genesis 12:1-9, Isaiah 40:10-11

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS to Reflect and Comment if you choose:
Q1. Tell us about a time when you had to begin again- either in a relationship or a job or another city, or something else. What do these verses say about God’s presence during such times? 
Q2. Where in your life is God asking you to begin again now?



Prayer for the Week (by Laurie McClure at FaithGateway OBS)

Jesus, You are the One who ordains new seasons for us. You appoint the new beginnings. And, You come with us and You even make Your home  with us when we choose to love You and live in obedience. We believe You. Help us in our unbelief. Help us to lean on You through struggles and through seasons of blessing. We love You, Jesus! Amen.

<><><>

Previous Schedule:

• Week One: Mar. 26-Apr. 1
• Week Two: Apr. 2-8
• Week Three: Apr. 9-15 "Free to Begin Again" (above)

Session 4

"Free to Rest"

• Week Four: Apr. 16-22

Session 5

"Free to Celebrate"

• Week Five: Apr. 23-29

SPOT ON

You Are Free Study Guide on pages 89-97
Read Chapters 11-12 optional in hard copy of "You are Free" book

Scriptures for this Week

“Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.” - Psalms 126:5

Other Scripture Readings: 

2 Timothy 1:7, Psalm 126:2-6, Ecclesiastes 3, 1 Corinthians 3:6-9

CURRENT

Session 6

"Free to Set Free"

• Week Six: Apr. 30-May 6

[image credit: Faith Gateway]

once again

Laurie McClure

has covered this so well

Scriptures this Week

• 1 Corinthians 13
• Galatians 5:1
• Proverbs 3:5-6
• John 8:36
• Matthew 20:29-34
• Revelation 12:11
• Isaiah 51:15-16

Prayer for the Week

Jesus, thank You for the freedom that You came to bring. Thank You that You woo us out of the damage we cause ourselves and the wreckage done to us. Thank You that You put friends in our path who love You and who have been through it before. Thank You that You put friends in our lives who need to hear what we’ve learned about You along the way and need to be loved on by us. What a privilege! We love You, Jesus! Amen.

• Recap Week: May 7-13

{some links may not work if it no longer is that week, but may during recap week}