After entering Jerusalem prior to the Passover celebration Jesus had to prepare for being betrayed by his disciples, handed over by Judas and arrested.  Then he was condemned by the Council of Religious Leaders, taken for trail before Pilate frist and Herod and then finally he was led away to be crucified.  Here's how Luke tells the story at this point.  It's found in Luke Chapter 23 verses 26 through 31.

 

26. As they led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.  27. A large number of peoople followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him.  28. Jesus turned and said to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.  29. For the time will come when you will say, 'Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!' 30. Then " ' they will say to the mountians, "Fall on us!" and to the hills, "Cover us!" '  31. For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it it dry?"

 

After this Jesus was placed on the Cross and dies. In the other three Gospels the story is told by Matthew, Mark and John.  Once again I'll continue with what Luke had to say.  This scripture comes from Luke Chapter 23 verses 44 through 49.

 

44. It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45. for the sun stopped shining.  And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.  46. Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into you hands I commit my spirit."  When he had said this, he breathed his last.  47. The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and saied, "Surely this was a righteous man."  48. When all the peoople who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away.  49. But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

 

Jesus had agonized about all of this and His being separated spiritually from God the Father because He had taken on the sins of all humanity. Jesus paid the price for our salvation.  If you haven't thanked Him for His sacrafice.  You should.

I was sitting here talking to God about life and thinking back over my life and all the wonderful things God has done for me.  I think it's extremely important for us to remember the goodness of God how he has always been there when we've needed Him and called on Him.  If we all were to tell the truth about how we live our lives we seem to only think about God when something has gone wrong or array in our lives.  We need keep God top of mind throughout our daily living.  I believe telling God that we are thankful and greatful is a daily necessity in our ongoing relationship with Him.  Each of us faces the dangers of this world on a daily basis and the only way for us to be safe and make it through is to trust and depend on God's grace and mercy in our lives.  We need His protection at all times.  One of the ways I find strength to keep on going and not be fearful of the unknown is my faith in God through His Son Jesus Christ.  Scriptures help me to do just as the Bible tells us King Daivd did, "David encouraged himself in the Lord."  I encourage myself in the Lord because I know and I believe that any and everything is possible with God.  I really like Psalm 91 and I want to share it with you.  I've read it during our Gospel Traxx program many times.  But, I've never written about it or shared it here on the website.  Read it, understand it and apply it to your life and I believe you will find in it what I've found...another reason to believe and to trust in God.  Please take the time to read te entire Psalm.  The following is just a portion of the Psalm that I want to point out to you that I think is very powerful.

 

Psalm 91

(Here's what it says in the first two verses.) 1. He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the almighty. 2. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.  (Now skip down to verse 9 - 16.  All this really encourages me in the Lord because He tells me He loves me.)  9. If you make the Most High your dwelling - even the LORD, who is my refuge - 10. then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12. they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13. You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.. 14. "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.  15. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.  16. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."

 

Here's what I get from this writing/scripture.  God is our protector.  The writer calls God our "shelter" and our "refuge" when we are fearful.  So, not matter how difficult things may get and how frightened we may become.  Our faith and trust in God will show our devotion and belief in His devine protection over our lives on a daily basis.  He will keep us safe from all harm.  To make all this happen, we must believe by "dwelling" and "resting" with God daily.  We dwell with Him when we are talking with Him through our prayers and we are resting with Him when we are not at labor or working.  Here's what I know for sure.  God can and I'll always believe that God will if we ask Him, believe Him and trust Him.

 

Blessings,

 

Walter

We're getting closer and closer to Palm Sunday and Resurrection/Easter Sunday, which is the most Holy time of year for we Christian believers. So, I thought I would take a little time and share some of things I'm reading as I reflect on this extremely special time of year for me.  Just thinking about what our Lord and Savior had to experience for our salvation is over whelming.  He gave his life for us so that we might be saved.  Just think, he gave his life so that all of sinful humanity could have everlasting life in Heaven with him.  Here's a quick look at one of the incidents leading up to Jesus paying the ultimate price for us.  The scripture is Matthew 26:1 - 5.

 

Religious Leaders Plot to Kill Jesus

1. When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, 2.. "As you know, the Passover is two days away - and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified." 3. Then th chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and they plotted to arrest Jesus in some sly way and kill him.. 5. "But jot during the Feast," they said.. "or there mey be a riot among the people."

 

After reading the above scripture you can see that the religious leaders, the Pharasees and the Sadducees were afraid of Jesus and they knew he had a strong following.  So, they didn't want to do anything during the Passover, this Holy time of year for the Jews, that would possibly make them look bad to the people and allow Jesus' popularity to win over even more supporters from the masses.  The ruling high priest during Jesus' ministry was guy named Caiaphas.  To show how things was stacked against Jeus.  During this period of time the Roman government has taken over appointing all political and religious leaders in the Jewish community and Caiaphas served in his position for eighteen years, which was longer than usual.  So, this suggest he knew how to cooperate with the Romans and keep the job.  I think more christians shoiuld really know the history behind many of the things that happened in the Bible so they can become more knowlegeable about the Word of God..  Anyway, Ciaphas was the first person to recommend Jesus be put to death.  If you like, you can read more about in John Chapter 11 verses 49 and 50.  Check it out.

 

Blessings,

 

Walter

As I continue my prayers of repentence and fasting and giving ames during this Holy time of Lent.  I can only think about the sacrifice Jesus make for all of humanity in his suffering, crucifiction, death and burial.  Praise God the father raised Him from the dead back to life.  Check it out y'all.  Because He lives...we live!  I want to share what happened when Jesus was about to be betrayed by Judas and He went to the garden and agonizes about what He is about to experience.

 

Luke 22:39-46

39. Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40. On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation."  41. He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed. 42. "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me, not my will, but yours be done."  43. An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.  44. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.  45. When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow.  46. "Why are you sleeping?" he asked them.  "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."

 

Notice that Jesus was have a difficult time with this task he was to perform.  Meaning, suffer for the sins of all mankind, be crucified and die on the cross, which ment he would be separated from God the Father.  Nobody wants to be without God.  God was still with him and sent an angel from heaven to STRENGTHEN him.  When that happened, Jesus prayed MORE EARNESTLY.  He prayed even harder.  Jesus was obedient until death.  The point is this.  He said yes to God his Father.  You and I have to learn from this lesson given to us by Jesus himself.  We have to learn to say yes to God even when we don't want to.  To be better Christians we all have to learn to surrender to God's will for our lives.  We'll get there if we don't give up and faint.  I believe the Bible when it says, "Anything is possible with God."  Thank you Jesus!

 

Blessings From Me & My Family,

 

Walter

God's Holy Spirit has inspired me to talk with you about Salvation and just how easy it is to obtain.  All you have to do is ask Jesus to forgive you and to come into your heart and save you.  Really!  The only thing that has to be added to that instruction is this:  If you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is the risen Lord.  The Bible says, "you will be saved."  Salvation is that close and all you have to do is take action.  For those of you reading this who don't believe what I'm saying.  Let me prove it to you.  Read the following out loud and you'll hear it for yourself out of your own mouth!

 

Romans 10:8-13

8. But what does it say? "The word is near you; "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9. That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  10. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.  11. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame. 12. For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile - the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13. for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

 

That proves my point.  But I'd like to go just a lttle bit further to help those who might say, "I'm lost. I haven't believed in God so how am I going to hear any of this stuff?"  Good question.  Read just a little more and you'll find out.

 

Romans 10:14-15

14. How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?  And how can they hear with out someone preaching to them?  15. And how can they preach unless they are sent?  As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good new."

 

Now read this and it will all make sense to you.  (Verse 17.) Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the world of Chirst.

 

Another trranslation of the Bible puts it this way:  "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing the WORD of God."

 

In todays world, with all of the different forms of technology availible, it's easier than ever to HEAR of the WORD of God. Just turn on your television, the radio or go to the internet like you are currently doing by viewing and reading what's here on my website.  One piece of advice.  Only watch, listen to or read materials from reputable Christian resource outlets.

 

Be Blessed In The Lord,

 

Walter

 

Worry, worry, worry!  Why worry?  It's not helping and it's not going to help no matter how much sleep you loose over whatever it is your are worried about.  Listen up Child of God.  I've got some good advice from you from Jesus and it's found in the book of Luke in Chapter 12 verses 22-34.  Oh, by the way, you need to know that this isn't just for you.  It's for me too!

 

Luke 12:22-34

22. Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. 23. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn, yet God feeds them.  And how much more valuable you are then birds! 25. Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 26. Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? 27. "Consider how the lillies grow.  They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  28. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29. And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it.  30. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and our Father knows that you need them. 31. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. 32. "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33. Sell your possessions and give to the poor.  Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.  34. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

 

I know, not to worry is easier said than done.  But, are you going to believe the lies of the enemy (Satan) or are you going to listen and be obedient to the WORDS of Jesus?  Hey, I know the answer and so do you.  Jesus, he's my king.

 

Respectfully,

 

Walter