Who would you spend the day with if you know it’s your last day on earth?

 How or What would you do? 

Matthew 26 recorded what JESUS answered, when He was asked where was HE going to celebrate the Passover; nobody but HIM knew that it would be His last. 

“¹⁷ On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?” ¹⁸ “As you go into the city,” he told them, “you will see a certain man. Tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My time has come, and I will eat the Passover meal with my disciples at your house.’” ¹⁹ So the disciples did as Jesus told them and prepared the Passover meal there.”

It doesn’t say HE wanted to spend his last day with His earthly parents and siblings; or in Joseph’s workshop carving a chair or a table that maybe “mom” needed it. It doesn’t say He wanted to go on partying or any other farewell activity. First we’ll see how Matthew recounts it, and then we’ll review what he really saying to us.

Matthew 26: 20-46

²⁰ When it was evening, Jesus sat down at the table with the Twelve. ²¹ While they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.” ²² Greatly distressed, each one asked in turn, “Am I the one, Lord?” ²³ He replied, “One of you who has just eaten from this bowl with me will betray me. ²⁴ For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!” ²⁵ Judas, the one who would betray him, also asked, “Rabbi, am I the one?” And Jesus told him, “You have said it.” ²⁶ As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body.”²⁷ And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, ²⁸ for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many. ²⁹ Mark my words—I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom.” ³⁰ Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.

³¹ On the way, Jesus told them, “Tonight all of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say, ‘God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ ³² But after I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.” ³³ Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you.” ³⁴ Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” ³⁵ “No!” Peter insisted. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the other disciples vowed the same.

³⁶ Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” ³⁷ He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. ³⁸ He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” ³⁹ He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” ⁴⁰ Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? ⁴¹ Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”

⁴² Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away^[f] unless I drink it, your will be done.” ⁴³ When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open. ⁴⁴ So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again. ⁴⁵ Then he came to the disciples and said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶ Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!” 

In other words…

·        JESUS was having a “quiet” evening

·        Having supper with His disciples

·        Teaching them about the future

o   That though GOD will allow HIM to suffer

o   Once He’s betrayed and no longer among them,

o   The sheep He has been feeding will go away

o    HE will raise and will meet all of them in Galilee

·        Detailing how even when they love Him, they will deny and even betray Him

·        Channeling their fears

·        Reassuring about what has been written and was about to happen

·        Creating awareness of disciplinary actions

·        Explaining details of what it was being celebrate

·        Creating memories

·        Giving new meaning to “old” traditions

·        Teaching about communion

·        Singing hymns

·        Demonstrating how weak the flesh is

o   And not even the disciples who walked with Him couldn’t stay awake for long

·        How anguished and stress is dealt with

o   He brought a prayer partner

o   HE remained in prayer despite His anguish  

·        Showing that prayer is the answer

o   And that even when we use a prayer partner their support isn’t guaranteed

o   We MUST stay focus in GOD.

·        It’s ok to repeat yourself in prayer

·        Reminding them to watch out, for HIS words will remain!

My friend, we MUST be recognized that our skin and bones suit is weak, though we might exercise it and take care of it, we CANNOT forget that our inner person must be strengthen too. Our spirit need to be fed, daily, with spiritual food; by praying we tell it all to God, and as we do we calmed down a bit. THEN, we must read His Word, so our spirit would settle down, bringing forth that hope and peace that we can’t get in any department store. The more we use this patter to lead our lives, the more we will be transformed as our mind gets renewed in The Lord.

Try it for yourself, and afterwards, share with us what God has done for you. Your personal testimony, speaks volumes, do not be afraid and share it!

Until next time, God bless you!

Looking forward to a GREAT tomorrow

“Then you shall say to the people, “Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat; or you have wept in the hearing of the Lord, saying, “Who will give us meat to eat? For it was well with us in Egypt.” Therefore THE LORD will give you meat, and you shall eat.”

Numbers 11:18

After the people of God, had traveled a few days they murmured against the Lord because of a lack of water.  We as God’s people, like them, sometimes do that! They were being encouraged to get up, to arrange whatever needed to be arranged for God had heard their cry!

What Was Their Cry?

These people were used to have other things to eat, different things. Verse 4, says they murmured because lack of water, because they were missing the fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and the garlic they used to have when they live in Egypt.

Don’t we do that sometimes?  We do!  It might not be exactly about food, but maybe about:

·        The places that we used to go out to eat,
·        The parties we used to have with our old friends and loved ones,
·        The things we used to have and we do not own anymore…  

Sometimes we go about life and we get disappointed, discouraged and sad, because things aren’t the same as yesterday:

·        Our body and mind do not work the same;
·        We can’t get going as fast as we used to,
·        We don’t have that spouse, sister, brother or friend to have those great and long conversations.
·        Our teeth maybe can handle the things that we used to love so much anymore,
·        And as we make the list longer, the more sad we feel. 

Today, I’m not here to get you sad. Today I’m here to help you see that like the people in this verse we sometimes complain because we don’t realize that what is coming IS BETTER!

·        New heavens
·        New earth
·        New body
·        No more pain or hurts
·        No more crying
·        In the presence of the lord
·        Praising THE LORD, day and night!

That THE LORD in HIS mercy had made our loads lighter, because there’s a GREATER purpose for it!

My Bible notes talks how the murmuring demonstrated unfaithfulness and was an act of rebellion that demanded God’s judgment.  In other words, placing our eyes in what’s been left behind, not only discourages us but like with them The Lord is not pleased when we focus on those things. Because it doesn’t allow us to appreciated what HE who is really the ONE who knows it all, has prepared for us! And in spite of this The Lord remained merciful, and had longstanding patient with his people who continuously rebelled; AND with us.             

“… And Joshua said to the people, sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow THE LORD will do wonders among you!” Joshua 3:5 

AMEN?!     Let us pray… Lord I ask you to come to heart, to forgive me for displeasing YOU if I have murmur or complaint without a reason. I KNOW YOU loved and cared for me all these years, and will continue to do so, because as YOUR child, I KNOW YOU LOVE me! Help me to worship YOU daily until forever, and I pray this in JESUS name, AMEN!

God's Promises, and its Purpose - Exodus

“I AM THE LORD. I WILL FREE you from your oppression and WILL RESCUE you from your slavery in Egypt. I WILL REDEEM you with a powerful arm and great acts of judgment. ⁷ I WILL CLAIM you as my own people, and I WILL BE YOUR GOD. Then you will know that I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD who has freed you from your oppression in Egypt.”

Exodus 6:6

Ten Declarations & Facts:

·        7:17 – “I will show you that I am the Lord.” Look! I will strike THE WATER of the Nile with this staff in my hand, and the river will turn TO BLOOD.”

²⁰ So Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord commanded them. As Pharaoh and all of his officials watched, Aaron raised his staff and struck the water of the Nile. Suddenly, the whole river turned to blood!

      ·       8:2 “If you refuse to let them go, I will send a plague of FROGS across your entire land. ³ The Nile River will swarm with frogs.”

⁶ So Aaron raised his hand over the waters of Egypt, and frogs came up and covered the whole land!

      ·        8:16 “So the Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron, ‘Raise your staff and strike the ground. The dust will turn into swarms of GNATS throughout the land of Egypt.’”

¹⁷ So Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord had commanded them. When Aaron raised his hand and struck the ground with his staff, gnats infested the entire land, covering the Egyptians and their animals. All the dust in the land of Egypt turned into gnats.”

·        8:21 “If you refuse, then I will send swarms of FLIES on you, your officials, your people, and all the houses. The Egyptian homes will be filled with flies, and the ground will be covered with them.”

²⁴ And the Lord did just as he had said. A thick swarm of flies filled Pharaoh’s palace and the houses of his officials. The whole land of Egypt was thrown into chaos by the flies.

·        9:2 “If you continue to hold them and refuse to let them go, ³ the hand of the Lord will strike all your livestock—your horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, sheep, and goats—with a DEADLY PLAGUE.”

⁶ And the Lord did just as he had said. The next morning all the livestock of the Egyptians died, but the Israelites didn’t lose a single animal.

·        9:8 “Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Take handfuls of soot from a brick kiln, and have Moses toss it into the air while Pharaoh watches. ⁹ The ashes will spread like fine dust over the whole land of Egypt, causing festering BOILS to break out on people and animals throughout the land.”

¹⁰ So they took soot from a brick kiln and went and stood before Pharaoh. As Pharaoh watched, Moses threw the soot into the air, and boils broke out on people and animals alike. ¹¹ Even the magicians were unable to stand before Moses, because the boils had broken out on them and all the Egyptians.

·        9:18 “So tomorrow at this time I will send a HAILSTORM more devastating than any in all the history of Egypt.”

²³ So Moses lifted his staff toward the sky, and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and lightning flashed toward the earth. The Lord sent a tremendous hailstorm against all the land of Egypt. ²⁴ Never in all the history of Egypt had there been a storm like that, with such devastating hail and continuous lightning. ²⁵ It left all of Egypt in ruins.

·       10:12 “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Raise your hand over the land of Egypt to bring on the LOCUSTS. Let them cover the land and devour every plant that survived the hailstorm.”

¹³ So Moses raised his staff over Egypt, and the Lord caused an east wind to blow over the land all that day and through the night. When morning arrived, the east wind had brought the locusts.”

·        10:21 “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Lift your hand toward heaven, and the land of Egypt will be covered with a DARKNESS so thick you can feel it.” ²² So Moses lifted his hand to the sky, and a deep darkness covered the entire land of Egypt for three days.”

²³ During all that time the people could not see each other, and no one moved. BUT THERE WAS LIGHT AS USUAL WHERE THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL LIVED.”

·        11:4 “This is what the Lord says: At midnight tonight I will pass through the heart of Egypt. ⁵ All the FIRSTBORN SONS WILL DIE in every family in Egypt, from the oldest son of Pharaoh, who sits on his throne, to the oldest son of his lowliest servant girl who grinds the flour. Even the firstborn of all the livestock will die."

12:29 “And that night at midnight, the Lord struck down all the firstborn sons in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne, to the firstborn son of the prisoner in the dungeon. Even the firstborn of their livestock were killed.”

Confirmation of the Covenant

·        8:22 “But this time I will spare the region of Goshen, where my people live. No flies will be found there. Then you will KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD and that I am present even in the heart of your land. ²³ I WILL MAKE A CLEAR DISTINCTION BETWEEN MY PEOPLE AND YOUR PEOPLE. This miraculous sign will happen tomorrow.’”

·        9:4 “But the Lord will again make a distinction between the livestock of the Israelites and that of the Egyptians. NOT A SINGLE ONE OF ISRAEL’S ANIMALS WILL DIE!”

·        9:16 “we were created for God’s power to be manifested in us to HIS name bay be declared in all the earth.

·        9:26 “THE ONLY PLACE WITHOUT HAIL WAS THE REGION OF GOSHEN, WHERE THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL LIVED.”

·        11:7 “But among the Israelites it will be so peaceful that not even a dog will bark. Then you will know that THE LORD MAKES A DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE EGYPTIANS AND THE ISRAELITES.”

Confirmation of mercy’s Purpose

·       To Pharaoh:

o   9:15 “By now I could have lifted my hand and struck you and your people with a plague to wipe you off the face of the earth. ¹⁶ But I have spared you for a purpose—TO SHOW YOU MY POWER AND TO SPREAD MY FAME THROUGHOUT THE EARTH.

o   10:1b “I have made him (Pharaoh) and his officials stubborn SO I CAN DISPLAY MY MIRACULOUS SIGNS among them.”

 ·       To God’s people:

o   10:2 “I’ve also done it SO YOU CAN TELL YOUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN about how I made a mockery of the Egyptians and about the signs I displayed among them—and SO YOU WILL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD.”

Living as Children of Light - Ephesians 4:17-32

" ¹⁷ With the Lord’s authority I say this: LIVE NO LONGER AS THE GENTILES do, for they are:
·       Hopelessly confused.
·       ¹⁸ their minds are full of darkness;
·       They wander far from the life god gives because
·       They have closed their minds and
·       Hardened their hearts against him.
·       ¹⁹ they have no sense of shame.
·       They live for lustful pleasure and
·       Eagerly practice every kind of impurity.

²⁰ But THAT ISN’T WHAT YOU LEARNED ABOUT CHRIST.

²¹ Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the TRUTH that comes from HIM,

²² THROW OFF your OLD SINFUL NATURE and your former way of life, which is CORRUPTED by lust and deception.

²³ Instead, LET THE SPIRIT renew your thoughts and attitudes.

²⁴ PUT ON YOUR NEW NATURE, created to BE LIKE GOD—truly RIGHTEOUS and HOLY.

How?

1.               ²⁵ So stop telling lies.

2.               Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.

3.               ²⁶ And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.”

4.               Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷ for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

5.               ²⁸ If you are a thief, quit stealing.

6.               Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and

7.               Give generously to others in need.

8.               ²⁹ Don’t use foul or abusive language.

9.               Let everything you say be good and helpful,

10.            So, that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

11.            ³⁰ And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live.

12.            Remember, he has identified you as his own,^[e] guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

13.            ³¹ Get rid of all bitterness,

14.            Rage,

15.            Anger,

16.            Harsh words, and

17.            Slander,

18.            As well as all types of evil behavior.

19.             ³² Instead, be kind to each other,

20.             Tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Dared TO BELIVE!

1)     ¹ And the Lord visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had spoken. ² For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.”  Genesis 21

2)     ¹⁷ …Then the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, “What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. ¹⁸ Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation.” ¹⁹ Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water.” Genesis 21

3)     ¹¹ But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” So he said, “Here I am.” ¹² And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” ¹³ Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns.” Genesis 22

Do you have an “impossible” request in your life? These are three of the thousands of examples The Bible gives us about situation that normally we would call, impossible.

Having a child on an “aged” body who is past due on its time to conceive naturally not only is an almost impossible thing, but also risky.  Sarah barely believe it, I’m sure she had her doubts, but when her belly started to get big, and the baby to move, I’m sure in amazement, she regretted the previous disbelief thoughts. The LORD proved Himself then and for us today to understand that when GOD is the ONE who makes it happens, BE NOT AFRAID, it will be a blessing!

Are you crying for a son or a daughter who’s in a desperate need?  God saw a mother calling to heaven for her precious jewel, a son, that was about to die, and HE intervene!  And just like HE told her then, place yourself in that mother’s shoes, cry on to God for him/her like she did, and be in expectation for THE LORD to answer you. Because just like happened to her, GOD will answer you! He encouraged her by telling her about that son’s future, “I will make him a great nation”, and as HE encouraged her with words, suddenly and out of the blue, the very thing that she needed appeared before her eyes.

From the last example, today, I’m not sure how willing you would be to give up your kids for anyone?   This Father was willing to give up EVERYTHING he ever wanted the most, his beloved son. Have you ever asked how would you acted if you would have been in Abraham’s shoes? When God told him: “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”[1]  If you look at the story it doesn’t say that Abraham talked back on defense of the son, it simply says that he started to gather things around to go. Sometimes my friend, who read this, we have to simply move to gather the ingredients needed and move on to do what God says to. Not a single question was asked, and this is a lesson to put into practice, and I mean this in my life.  I’m good questioning, and God is telling you and me, “JUST TRUST ME!” It doesn’t matter that is not looking good before your eyes, is a bit risky, or if simply looks it’s going to be a lonely journey.  GOD will make a way for you, and in trusting HIM HE will show us how deceiving our eyes are sometimes, how when thru fear we allow the enemy to stop the blessings of God from happening in our lives. Be strong, my friend, “TRUST IN THE LORD, LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN understanding, IN ALL your ways ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, and HE WILL DIRECT your path.”[2]  

Bring that “impossible” thing to GOD, and when THE LORD SAYS “leave it at the altar”, simple come and LEAVE IT AT THE ALTAR!  Maybe, just maybe, the needed answer waits for you, right there in the altar. The question is ARE YOU so desperate to get an answer that you’ll be willing to come to the altar?!

Remember these three examples where GOD VISITED these people who cried unto HIM, HE heard, and though in an “unconventional” way, THEY TRUSTED IN THE LORD, AND THE LORD HIMSELF PROVIDED!  When GOD calls, when HE visits, THINGS CHANGE! 

I dare you to ask God and to believe for HIM to meet that need though it might be hard for you to, YOU JUST TRUST IN GOD, remember not leaning on your own understanding, because GOD IS GREATER THAN THE BOX, and in our boxed minds, sometimes do not fit, HIS PLANS, because it’s way bigger that what we can think or comprehend.

Beware of “dream crushers” around you; these people, DO NOT BELIEVE that out of the box things can happen to those who pray and trust in THE LORD.   So be mindful of this when you’re sharing God’s plan for your situation. Because in their disbelief they talk, your ears hear what they talk, and believe it or not, that can and will affect your approach to life; and if you’re not careful, they will crush your dream, and hopes too. 

“The enemy came to rob, kill and destroy, but since GOD came to give us life and life in abundance”[3] we can’t give Satan a chance.  And unfortunately, sometimes he uses those closer to us to crush our dreams. A good thing I had to learn by practice, is to ask God, “do I need to share this with ____?”  Believe me there’s been times when HE said “NO”; I needed to bite my lips. But it gets better as we practice it.  

I pray you give yourself the task to dare and ask God for that miracle you need to happen; to TRUST IN THE LORD not leaning on your own understanding and knowing that GOD’S character HIS OMNIPRESENT, OMNIPOTENT AND OMNISCENT qualities, make HIM a GOD of the SUPERNATURAL. And when HE BELIEVE this, EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE!!!

I’ll be in expectation of that testimony that you will be sharing with us, as HE works that miracle just before your eyes! For the glory of God this is my prayer in JESUS name, AMEN!

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[1] Genesis 22:2

[2] Proverbs 3:5-6

[3] John 10:10