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But they were kept from recognizing him…. (devo reflection)

Luke 24:13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 

How many times has Jesus Himself walked with me in a difficult situation and I have failed to recognize Him (v16)? Jesus promises to be with me always, and He always keeps His promises, so every time I feel alone and abandoned in a situation or circumstance, I am kept from recognizing that Jesus Himself is walking with me.

Luke 24:14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 

But who is keeping me from recognizing Jesus and why? Jesus is the Lord of all the universe, so I can’t believe that anything or anyone (besides God, who is also a part of the Holy Trinity) could control Him. And I am absolutely certain that He does not want me to feel abandoned.

Luke 24:15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 

Lord, I have so many questions, and I don’t think questions are a bad thing. I think questions help me to draw closer to You as I understand You better. I do believe that You are with me always. I do believe that there are times when You walk along with me and I am kept from recognizing You. I do not believe that Your goal is to make me feel abandoned or alone. Somehow this, too, can draw me closer to You. Help me to trust and believe You always. Even when I don’t understand. Amen.

Luke 24:16 but they were kept from recognizing him.

Have a blessed day.

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The larger goal…. (devo reflection)

Colossians 3:23-24 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Today is the official end of my Spring Break. Tomorrow starts the final push to graduation. Teachers and students both are tired, and now we’ve had a taste of freedom, so these final weeks are hard. Ultimately, at this time of year, I have to remind myself that I do this job not to make it to summer vacation but because all those years ago, God called me to be a teacher.

Acts 20:24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

Finishing the race doesn’t mean finishing the school year, or my career, it is about the larger goal. And while, as a public school teacher, I can’t preach my faith, God shows me His presence with me in the classroom every single day in myriad ways. And so it is with you. He’s with you, guiding you, incorporating you into His ministry wherever He has you currently planted. Trust Him.

Ecclesiastes 7:8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

Lord, Thank you for time to rest and renew. Thank you for unexpected opportunities and beach sunrises and time with family. As we head into this last eight weeks of the school year, give us all the strength and the will to finish strong. And help all of us, no matter what we do in life, to remember the larger end game–eternity with You. Thank You for the hope of eternity. Amen.

Philippians 3:14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Have a blessed day.

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Honestly and authentically…. (devo reflection)

Matthew 28:16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 

Sometimes I feel like I can either worship or doubt, but the disciples here show that I can do both. And I think that the reason they can is directly tied to Jesus’s promise that “…surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” During the walk to the cross, the disciples doubted. They ran. They denied. And here Jesus is AFTER these events, telling them “…surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 

The disciples *know* they can worship even if they doubt because Jesus has already seen them at their worst, and He still went ahead of them to Galilee, He still loved, accepted, and incorporated them in His ministry. He can do that with me, too. I can worship even when I am afraid, confused, angry, hurt, even when Jesus seems so very far away. I can still worship Him. I can offer my doubts and fears and anger up to Him. I can praise Him through the storm.

Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 

Lord, This passage speaks to me about worshiping You honestly and authentically. You don’t want me to hide my doubts and fears. You want me to bring them to You so that You can allay them, so that I can worship You with my whole heart. Thank You, Jesus, and help me to always be honest with You. Amen.

Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Have a blessed day.

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Hope and assurance…. (devo reflection)

Matthew 28:11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 

The guards were afraid that they would get in trouble. The chief priests were afraid that people would actually believe that Jesus, whom they had tried to discredit for His entire ministry, had risen from the dead just as He said. Once again, money is involved in the plot. But God…

Matthew 28:12-13  When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’

In the tale of this coverup, Hebrews 11:1 comes to mind–”Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Part of faith is belief. Part of belief is the fact that Jesus’s death and resurrection isn’t an accepted fact to all. As a Christian, as a believer of Christ, I choose to believe that He is who He says He is, that He does what He says He does, that He keeps His promises. That’s faith.

Matthew 28:14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 

Lord, Faith, hope, and love are central tenets of our faith, but love–You–are at the core. Thank you for my faith, which is so strong, for hope, which is so powerful, but most of all, thank You for Your great love, which gave all so that I can have eternity with You. Thank You. Amen.

Matthew 28:15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

Have a blessed day.

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Suddenly Jesus met them…. (devo reflection)

Matthew 28:9  Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 

The angel has just told the women to go and tell the disciples that Jesus will meet them in Galilee. The women are afraid yet filled with joy. And suddenly, there is Jesus. He is not disguised. They are not kept from recognizing Him. They have no doubt about who He is. They clasp His feet and worship Him.

Matthew 28:10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

I just find it fascinating that the women see Him, know Him, worship Him immediately when the disciples all doubt at first, though Thomas is the one whose doubt is most pronounced and remembered. There is no doubt for these women who love Jesus so, who are afraid yet filled with joy.

Matthew 28:11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 

Lord, Thank You for those times when Your presence in a situation is so very clear to me. Help me to look for You, see You, glorify You always, no matter my circumstances. Amen.

Matthew 28:12-13 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’

Have a blessed day. I love you.

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Minor characters…. (devo reflection)

Matthew 28:5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.

It’s easy to lose sight of the minor characters in the Easter story, but I am reminded with today’s scripture that Jesus has a role for all of us and that every role we serve in God’s eternal narrative is important.

Matthew 28:6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

The Centurion realized “Truly this man was the Son of God;” Joseph of Arimathea boldly asked for Jesus’s body and buried Him; Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, go to grieve and anoint the body with spices yet are used to remind the disciples that there is work to do. These people–who at a glance seem almost inconsequential–are crucial to the Easter story, the Christian story. And so are we.

Matthew 28:7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

Jesus, Let me be proud to play whatever part You have for me in Your eternal story. Let me shine Your light and encourage Your people. Let me hurry away, even if I am afraid, filled with joy. Let me boldly tell Your people of Your great love. Amen.

Matthew 28:8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

Have a blessed day.

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In the midst of my trials…. (devo reflection)

Psalm 90:14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

Watching the sun rise over the ocean, for me, is a holy experience. The stillness. The quiet anticipation. The gradual lightening of the sky. The incredible pallet of colors—oranges and yellows, the deep blue of the ocean and the pale blue of the sky. I am in awe of His beauty and majesty. Every. Single. Time.

Psalm 59:16 But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress.

I have found, though, that the most glorious sunrises are the ones where there are some clouds in the sky. Clouds allow the light to bounce and reflect. Beach sunrises are glorious. Beach sunrises with a few clouds are magnificent because the sun’s light has more to reflect off of. And so it is with us.

James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds….

Lord, I do not embrace trials joyfully, but just like Your light reflects more gloriously off the clouds in a beach sunrise, Your love shines more brightly when I see Your presence in the midst of my trials. Thank You. This is the day that You have made, Lord. No matter what it brings, help me to rejoice in it because of Your presence. Amen.

Psalm 118:24 This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Have a blessed day.

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While it was still dark…. (devo reflection)

John 20:1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.

Yesterday I read a devo from The Upper Room devotional. It referenced John 20:1, specifically the phrase “while it was still dark.” The writer talked about the fact that even in the darkness, God was already at work, already making a way.

Isaiah 43:19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

This idea—that God is at work, that He’s making a way even when I can’t yet perceive it—is why I love Isaiah 43:19 and hold tight to it especially in difficult times. For all my fear and worrying, I absolutely trust that God is making a way in my difficulties, even when I can’t yet perceive it.

Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Risen Savior, Author of all creation, thank You for the certainty that You are at work in my circumstances, that You are making a way where there is no way, even if I cannot yet perceive it. Help me to trust to You always, “even while it is still dark.” Amen.

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Have a blessed day.

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He has risen, just as he said…. (devo reflection)

Matthew 28:5-6 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

Some mornings are more chaotic than others. Some days are harder to navigate. Some weeks and months and seasons of life are really, really difficult. But on this Easter morning, Jesus reminds us that no matter how difficult our current circumstances, He is with us, alive, sovereign, loving, merciful. Thank You, Jesus.

Luke 24:9 & 11 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.

On this Easter morning, I urge you to give yourself grace upon grace, no matter your perceived failings. The story leading up to Christ’s resurrection is full of human doubting, missteps, failures, yet Jesus uses every single one of the disciples for His ultimate glory.

John 20: 25 So the other disciples told [Thomas], “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Lord, some mornings, some days, some seasons are just difficult. Thank You for the hope of this Easter season. Help us to spread Your hope, Your love, Your mercy to everyone we encounter. Thank You, Lord. Thank You. Amen.

Luke 24:36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

Happy Easter. He is risen indeed.

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Action in accordance with faith…. (devo reflection)

John 19: 38 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away.

Today, reading about the events of Good Friday, it is the actions of Joseph of Arimathea that speak to me. I didn’t realize he was a member of the council, the Sanhedrin, who disagreed with the decision and actions concerning Jesus. It didn’t sink in that he was afraid of the Jewish leaders. And while I’d heard of the expense of the tomb cut into the rock, I honestly hadn’t thought too much about it until now.

Luke 23:50-51 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God.

It seems to me, in this scripture, these actions, that Jesus is reminding us of the importance of action in accordance with faith. Joseph was waiting for the kingdom of heaven, the disciples had temporarily slipped into doubt and confusion, so Joseph stepped forward in faith.

Luke 23:52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body.

Lord, On this somber Saturday as we wait for the glorious news of Easter Sunday, thank You for the reminder of the importance of acting in faith. Thank You for the reminder that we all have a part to play, that our faithful actions work together for our good and Your glory. Thank You for the hope of Easter Sunday. Thank You. Amen.

Luke 23:53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid.

Have a blessed day.