In Gethsemane, Christ said "Yes" to dying alone on Calvary. Now we can choose life together in community.
Deo Volente (whatever God wants),
Grateful
Showing posts with label Gethsemane. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gethsemane. Show all posts
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Monday, August 1, 2011
Deo Volente
Deo vo·len·te [dā-ō-vō-ˈlen-tē]
Definition of DEO VOLENTE: God being willing
Origin of DEO VOLENTE, Latin, First Known Use: 1763
Lord, as You prayed to The Father in Gethsemane, Not My will, but Thine be done, so I pray Deo Volente, whatever God wants, whatever God wills.
As these three words are inscribed on the Scottish Crest for those with the surname Willis, As God wills, so I desire.
Deo Volente, indeed!
Grateful
Definition of DEO VOLENTE: God being willing
Origin of DEO VOLENTE, Latin, First Known Use: 1763
Lord, as You prayed to The Father in Gethsemane, Not My will, but Thine be done, so I pray Deo Volente, whatever God wants, whatever God wills.
As these three words are inscribed on the Scottish Crest for those with the surname Willis, As God wills, so I desire.
Deo Volente, indeed!
Grateful
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
He Will Crush Your Head
(14) So the LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. (15) And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
-- Genesis 3:14-15 (NIV)
Holiness Unto the LORD!
Grateful
-- Genesis 3:14-15 (NIV)
Holiness Unto the LORD!
Grateful
Friday, March 26, 2010
obeDiEnce
Do you see the two, simple-but-profound, one-syllable words at the very heart of obeDiEnce? "i DiE!"
If I am to become the perfect will of God, that is, wholly obedient to His Holy Desires, my will must become one in crucifixion with the will of Jesus. I must personally echo His Gethsemane prayer of total surrender to the Father: Nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done.
Galatians 2:20 (NKJV) -- I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
1 Samuel 15:22 (NKJV) -- ...Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice...
Lord, I want to be wholly obedient to Your Holy Desires! Help me to know that obeying You is an overflowing joy, not an overwhelming job. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful
If I am to become the perfect will of God, that is, wholly obedient to His Holy Desires, my will must become one in crucifixion with the will of Jesus. I must personally echo His Gethsemane prayer of total surrender to the Father: Nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done.
Galatians 2:20 (NKJV) -- I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
1 Samuel 15:22 (NKJV) -- ...Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice...
Lord, I want to be wholly obedient to Your Holy Desires! Help me to know that obeying You is an overflowing joy, not an overwhelming job. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful
Monday, March 22, 2010
Looking Like The Gardener?
Rev. Bill Wilson planted this thought in my mind a few years ago:
Did you ever think that maybe the Resurrected Jesus came back in appearance on that first Easter Morning looking like "the Gardener" (to Mary Magdalene) so He could help us through the agony of our own Gethsemanes?
John 20:11-18 (NLT) -- (11) Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. (12) She saw two white-robed angels sitting at the head and foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. (13) "Why are you crying?" the angels asked her. "Because they have taken away my Lord," she replied, "and I don’t know where they have put Him." (14) She glanced over her shoulder and saw Someone standing behind her. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize Him. (15) "Why are you crying?" Jesus asked her. "Who are you looking for?" She thought He was the gardener. "Sir," she said, "if You have taken Him away, tell me where You have put him, and I will go and get Him." (16) "Mary!" Jesus said. She turned toward Him and exclaimed, "Teacher!" (17) "Don’t cling to Me," Jesus said, "for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find My brothers and tell them that I Am ascending to My Father and your Father, My God and your God." (18) Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, "I have seen the Lord!" Then she gave them His message.
IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful
Did you ever think that maybe the Resurrected Jesus came back in appearance on that first Easter Morning looking like "the Gardener" (to Mary Magdalene) so He could help us through the agony of our own Gethsemanes?
John 20:11-18 (NLT) -- (11) Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. (12) She saw two white-robed angels sitting at the head and foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. (13) "Why are you crying?" the angels asked her. "Because they have taken away my Lord," she replied, "and I don’t know where they have put Him." (14) She glanced over her shoulder and saw Someone standing behind her. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize Him. (15) "Why are you crying?" Jesus asked her. "Who are you looking for?" She thought He was the gardener. "Sir," she said, "if You have taken Him away, tell me where You have put him, and I will go and get Him." (16) "Mary!" Jesus said. She turned toward Him and exclaimed, "Teacher!" (17) "Don’t cling to Me," Jesus said, "for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find My brothers and tell them that I Am ascending to My Father and your Father, My God and your God." (18) Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, "I have seen the Lord!" Then she gave them His message.
IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Go to Calvary. Breathe Again.
For as long as I can remember, my Aunt Edith (my Dad’s only sister and only sibling) has been the organist at the church where I was raised – Free Grace Wesleyan Church. She’s not a flashy musician, but she is talented and dependable and her love for the Lord invites breathless souls to breathe again.
Aunt Edith was always content to let the pianist choose the selections for praise and worship. I only remember once when she requested we learn a new hymn. Well, it was written in 1921 by Jennie Hussey, so it wasn’t exactly “new”, but you know what I mean. It was “new” to us. As Aunt Edith passionately shared, it was obvious that this “new” hymn was a personal prayer from her very alive soul.
By the theme of the hymn, it must have been the season leading up to Easter when Aunt Edith brought it to our attention. The title is “Lead Me to Calvary”. To this day, whenever I think on the wonderful words of “Lead Me to Calvary”, it inspires and challenges me to consider each word carefully and prayerfully.
Here are the loving lyrics now. Let’s remember that before we can breathe again on Easter Resurrection Sunday, first the Lord must “Lead Us to Calvary!”
(1) King of my life, I crown Thee now,
Thine shall the glory be;
Lest I forget Thy thorn crowned brow,
Lead me to Calvary.
(Chorus)
Lest I forget Gethsemane, Lest I forget Thine agony;
Lest I forget Thy love for me, Lead me to Calvary.
(2) Show me the tomb where Thou wast laid,
Tenderly mourned and wept;
Angels in robes of light arrayed
Guarded Thee whilst Thou slept.
(3) Let me like Mary, through the gloom,
Come with a gift to Thee;
Show to me now the empty tomb,
Lead me to Calvary.
(4) May I be willing, Lord, to bear
Daily my cross for Thee;
Even Thy cup of grief to share,
Thou hast borne all for me.
Lord, I do not ever want to forget Your love for me. I want to go to Gethsemane and to Calvary, yes through Your agony, so my eternal soul can in gratitude breathe again – inhaling and exhaling for forever Your Resurrection Life. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful
Aunt Edith was always content to let the pianist choose the selections for praise and worship. I only remember once when she requested we learn a new hymn. Well, it was written in 1921 by Jennie Hussey, so it wasn’t exactly “new”, but you know what I mean. It was “new” to us. As Aunt Edith passionately shared, it was obvious that this “new” hymn was a personal prayer from her very alive soul.
By the theme of the hymn, it must have been the season leading up to Easter when Aunt Edith brought it to our attention. The title is “Lead Me to Calvary”. To this day, whenever I think on the wonderful words of “Lead Me to Calvary”, it inspires and challenges me to consider each word carefully and prayerfully.
Here are the loving lyrics now. Let’s remember that before we can breathe again on Easter Resurrection Sunday, first the Lord must “Lead Us to Calvary!”
(1) King of my life, I crown Thee now,
Thine shall the glory be;
Lest I forget Thy thorn crowned brow,
Lead me to Calvary.
(Chorus)
Lest I forget Gethsemane, Lest I forget Thine agony;
Lest I forget Thy love for me, Lead me to Calvary.
(2) Show me the tomb where Thou wast laid,
Tenderly mourned and wept;
Angels in robes of light arrayed
Guarded Thee whilst Thou slept.
(3) Let me like Mary, through the gloom,
Come with a gift to Thee;
Show to me now the empty tomb,
Lead me to Calvary.
(4) May I be willing, Lord, to bear
Daily my cross for Thee;
Even Thy cup of grief to share,
Thou hast borne all for me.
Lord, I do not ever want to forget Your love for me. I want to go to Gethsemane and to Calvary, yes through Your agony, so my eternal soul can in gratitude breathe again – inhaling and exhaling for forever Your Resurrection Life. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Yes, Ascension Is Just Above Suffering!
On my multiple pilgrimages to the Holy Land, one particuarly geographical reality is very inspiring: The Place of Jesus' Ascension, The Mount of Olives, is located just above The Place of Jesus' Suffering, Gethsemane. This visual surely inspires hope.
Standing there, I hear my Granny's death-bed chant resounding in the depths of my soul. Yes, simply and profoundly because my Granny's death-bed chant was in reality a delightful cheer: If I suffer with Him, I shall reign with him. (My Granny's Paraphrase of 2 Timothy 2:12 KJV)
Be encouraged, friends of Jesus. Let us keep our heads up while our knees are down, because The Gate of Suffering always leads to The Mount of Celebration for those Who belong to Christ. Indeed, the bitterness of Gethsemane's Olive Grove is but the entry way to the blessedness of The Mount of Olives! Earthly suffering with Jesus ultimately gives way to Eternally reigning with Jesus.
Yes, if we endure suffering with Jesus today, we can expect celebration with Jesus tomorrow.
IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful
Standing there, I hear my Granny's death-bed chant resounding in the depths of my soul. Yes, simply and profoundly because my Granny's death-bed chant was in reality a delightful cheer: If I suffer with Him, I shall reign with him. (My Granny's Paraphrase of 2 Timothy 2:12 KJV)
Be encouraged, friends of Jesus. Let us keep our heads up while our knees are down, because The Gate of Suffering always leads to The Mount of Celebration for those Who belong to Christ. Indeed, the bitterness of Gethsemane's Olive Grove is but the entry way to the blessedness of The Mount of Olives! Earthly suffering with Jesus ultimately gives way to Eternally reigning with Jesus.
Yes, if we endure suffering with Jesus today, we can expect celebration with Jesus tomorrow.
IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful
Thursday, February 11, 2010
The Lord's Angel in Luke 22:43
Luke 22:43 (NLT) -- Then an angel from Heaven appeared and strengthened Him (Jesus).
I've been wondering lately if the same angel that appeared in Gethsemane to comfort and strengthen our Lord Jesus in His darkest hour, is still dispatched from Heaven to be with us in our darkest hours?
Psalm 91:11a (NKJV) -- For He shall give His angels charge over you...
IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful
I've been wondering lately if the same angel that appeared in Gethsemane to comfort and strengthen our Lord Jesus in His darkest hour, is still dispatched from Heaven to be with us in our darkest hours?
Psalm 91:11a (NKJV) -- For He shall give His angels charge over you...
IF MY PEOPLE... WILL? I WILL! God's Promise in 2 Chron. 7:14.
Grateful
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Witnessing the Glory and the Agony of Jesus
Today in my devotional reading I was reminded that the three, inner-circle disciples of Jesus --Peter, James, and John -- witnessed not only the glory of Christ during His Transfiguration, but they also witnessed His agony in Gethsemane.
Surely, because our Lord is present, whether we are surrounded by light or engulfed by darkness, we are blessed. As the Psalmist said in Psalm 23, Yeah though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for You are with me.
ALL JOY!
Grateful
Surely, because our Lord is present, whether we are surrounded by light or engulfed by darkness, we are blessed. As the Psalmist said in Psalm 23, Yeah though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for You are with me.
ALL JOY!
Grateful
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
