TF Naz

Amen!

I'm looking forward to the firt day of a brand new week and glad to see the last one gone! Praise the Lord we can start anew each day! :-)

"I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses" Love this song. I had not thought of the gardening aspect...Eve, the night before the cross, the days after the cross. Suppose we need to do a little gardening and pull out the weeds of life that strangle our productivity? Yes... I think so.

A brand new life. I try to instill that possibility in the men I talk to in the jail. Many do not see the possibility. This was written one Sunday afternoon while sitting outside the jail. Redemption is a powerful word. I am so happy that I have been redeamed by the blood of the Lamb.

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Jail (Redemption)
© 02-13-05 John Stevens

I sit outside the jail house, this Sunday afternoon.
I watch the parade of people, going in and out so soon.
The visits here, come and gone. Time swiftly passes on.
The sadness shows on each face for the one which they belong.

The mother walks with their child, quietly through the door
To see a father not coming home, for many days or more.
They sit and wait so patiently for their short time to be
For twenty minutes on the phone, their “daddy” they will see.

So close are they but yet so far, no touching through the pane.
Fingers spread, hearts are breaking, their future down the drain.
The question on the little lips, will daddy come home now?
Soon, we hope, my dear child, maybe next week, somehow.

The parents come to visit him, with thoughts of shattered dreams.
The hopes they had for many years, are gone, so it seems.
They put on a smile, push back fears, to keep alive some hope.
They wonder “why, what went wrong, how will we ever cope?”

The pain inflected, bad decisions, when drugs have taken hold.
Ruined lives of those around them, the broken promise told.
His family grieves the senselessness, of life’s potential lost.
Hope now seems a fleeting dream, the family pays the cost.

Then comes a chance from the judge, “six months” he did say.
“To turn your life around for those who care for you, today.
A broken promise turns months to years, so get it right this time.
Don’t let them down, keep hope alive, as from this hole you climb.”

A broken life, a shattered dream, seems lost in the eyes of man.
When darkness falls, and hope is gone, when all has hit the fan.
God can mend the broken life, He turns darkness into light.
Forgiveness comes to those who ask, through grace and mercy’s might.

For those who choose to dream a dream of a better life to see.
Those who choose to change their hearts, the chains fall off, they’re free.
They turn their back and walk away from the old life to sever.
Redemption is a choice away, where lives are changed forever.

All day, yesterday, I was wondering why it was raining so much and even snowing. Usually the sun is at least shining on EAster. Today as I reflect on the devotion here is the tought that crossed my head. Jesus by what Jesus did he cleanses us and makes us white as snow. Thus yesterday, the rain was washing away all the impurities and the snow made everything white as snow. Is that symbolism or what?

Also, just a question. Sat. I was watching the Easter story cartoon with the kids. I'm confused with the Mary's of the bible. In the cartoon they said that Mary Magdalene, was the sister to Martha and Lazarus and that she was the one who washed Jesus feet. So then is the this the same Mary Magdalene that was possessed and saw Jesus for the first time after his death? Or was the storyline mistaken?

Thanks.

I've never connected Mary Magdalene and Mary the sister of Martha. If there is as connection there I don't know about it.

I really enjoyed the easter services this year. Good Friday service was meaniful and meant a lot. I really expericed what really happened with the death of Christ. I loved the staff reading and scriptures.
I loved the Easter Musical Redemption The power of the cross. They did a wonderful job. Pastor Brad thanks for all your time and hard work. I loved every moment of it
Choir: You were professionals. I hope that you will do a musical on Easter again next year.

I really took to heart todays devotion. I never really thought about just who went to the tomb first. After all the torment she has experienced, it's no wonder she would have missed Him tremendously. She must have felt as if life wasn't worth it anymore. How much joy she, in particular, must have felt knowing that He was back. All the judgement and torment she must have experienced at the hands of people was replaced with the total acceptance of God's son. Jesus was probably the only person she could trust completely.