Jesus is Alpha and Omega by Kerri Bland - Wednesday - March 31st, 2010

Wednesday, March 31

Jesus Is Alpha and Omega

By Kerri Bland

Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. Even so. Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:7

Watching the sky was an integral part of life as I grew up on an Iowa farm. The sun rose in my east bedroom window and set around the maple tree west of our house. The clouds in the sky determined the family’s work for the day--cut hay, walk the bean fields, or stay indoors.

On a lazy summer day we would lie on a blanket with my mom and fantasize about the shapes and images formed by the clouds.

When our girls were little, we, too, gazed at the clouds. And we talked about Jesus and His return. These lessons were reinforced in Sunday school and at Bible Study Fellowship. One day as we ate lunch, Andrea pointed out the window and exclaimed, “Look! I think Jesus is coming for us on that cloud with a steering wheel!”

Oh, may we have the faith and excited expectancy of a child. Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega--the beginning and the end. He IS coming again.

---

Are you looking to the sky, reading the signs of the times and expecting His return? When will you speak of this with those you love?

Oh, Jesus, help me this day to lift my eyes to You, to look expectantly with the believers through the ages for Your return. You are my soon and coming King--the beginning and the end of all things. Holy is the Lord God Almighty, the Alpha and the Omega, who was and is and is to come. Amen.

Jesus Means All the World To Me by Bob Thompson as told to Pastor Ed Hedding - Tuesday - March 29th, 2010

Tuesday, March 30

Jesus Means All the World to Me

By Bob Thompson as told to Pastor Ed Hedding

Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You. I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my hands. Psalm 63:3,4

Jesus means all the world to me is a phrase I often say to people because God has been so good to me and my late wife. Twice a day, in the morning and in the evening, I thank the Lord for all his blessings. I thank him for our country, our church, and the staff and people where I live.

My wife suffered numerous miscarriages during our marriage. We decided to ask God for one child we could adopt. We were a working family, not a wealthy family, but God blessed us with four children we were able to add to our family.

I am thankful for my daughter who helped my wife and me move out of our house and into our retirement community. She took care of everything and made it easier for my wife and me to move. Praise the Lord.

I always give God all the glory and the credit for everything that happens in my life. That is why I say to people Jesus means all the world to me.

---

Stop a couple times throughout the day today to thank God for what He has done for you.

Jesus, You mean all the world to us who know You. Without You we would be nothing. Thank You for all the little things and the big things You do for us. May we give glory and thanks to You this day.

Jesus is Immanuel - God with us by Twila Belk on Monday, March 29th

Monday, March 29

Jesus Is Immanuel--God with Us

By Twila Belk

"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us." Matthew 1:23

I once noticed an offer in the newspaper for a free cross pendant. Not just any cross pendant, but one made with grains of sacred sand from Christ's tomb. According to the ad, the specially-made Holy Land Crosses were designed to allow the faithful to actually hold a spiritual gift containing grains of sacred sand in their hands and keep it with them wherever they go.

The woman who endorsed the product said, "It is a wonderfully comforting item to have with you every day. When I hold this special cross in my hand, I always feel closer to God no matter where I am." The article stated that the crosses are free for all. The only requirement was to enclose three first class stamps along with your name and address.

I know there are people who probably made a mad rush to the mailbox because of the offer they couldn't refuse, but I didn't give the cross pendant a second thought. The reason? Someone had already made me a better offer. An offer for an eternal relationship with God. And the good news is that it didn't cost me a penny--not even a stamp. God's Gift is Someone who stays with me wherever I am. This spiritual Gift lives within my heart and draws me close to God. This Gift is wonderfully comforting to have with me every day.

I'd rather have the Gift of Immanuel than a cross pendant. How about you?

---

Immanuel means God with us. How have you experienced His presence in your life? Have others noticed?

Jesus, my Immanuel, Your presence is a true gift to me. Knowing that You are always there for me brings great comfort.

Jesus is My Righteousness - Laney McDougal - Sunday - March 28th,2010

Sunday, March 28

Jesus Is My Righteousness

By Laney McDougal

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith-that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:8-11

What does it mean to be righteous? It means to be free from guilt and sin, to be morally right and just. This is something that none of us can attain to in our flesh. And without being righteous, we are limited in knowing the Righteous God. Thankfully, however, "for our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Cor. 5:21). Through Jesus Christ's perfect life and sacrificial death, we who believe in Him are viewed as righteous, as God looks upon us and sees us as He sees His Son, as righteous. This is wonderful news!

"He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed" (1 Pet. 2:24).

This makes me want to live for Jesus instead of for myself. I can never attain to righteousness on my own and must put my trust and faith in Jesus Christ; for apart from Him, no one can know God.

---

"Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You; there is no greater thing. You're my all; You're the best; You're my joy, my Righteousness; and I love You, Lord." Is that your song today?

Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens. You who have done great things, O God, who is like You? Psalm 71:19

Jesus is the Door by Kerri Bland - Saturday - March 27th, 2010

Saturday, March 27

Jesus Is the Door

By Kerri Bland

I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved… John 10:9

My grandmother was a woman of strength and tenacity. These traits were developed as she raised her family on the farm during the Great Depression. She worked hard. I was never able to kneed bread or do household chores as efficiently. Grandma sacrificed in many ways so that her children and grandchildren could live a life that was less difficult. She opened doors of opportunity for all of us.

On the day Grandma died of a heart attack, her final words were, “I can’t open the door.” She, who had always found a way to accomplish whatever was needed, could not physically open the hallway door.

The same is true for you and me in a spiritual sense. We cannot open the most important door of our lives—the door to a relationship with God the Father. No amount of human strength or willpower will usher us into the presence of God.

Jesus is the Door. Through His sacrifice on the cross, the gate is open for us to enter into eternal life. He is the only door. There is no other name by which we can be saved. I trust that Grandma depended on Jesus as her Savior, and I wonder if you have done so.

---

What decision have you made regarding the Door? Have you entered through Jesus and into eternal life? Or are you futilely working hard to earn the right to open the door yourself?

Jesus, You are the Door to eternal life. Thank you for opening the way for me. Help me today to see another who needs to be introduced to the Door.

Jesus is My Savior by a member of our church on Friday - March 26th, 2010

Friday, March 26

Jesus Is My Savior

By an anonymous church member

And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15

The name that describes who Jesus is to me is Savior. At a young age, on a rare visit to Sunday school, the Gospel was presented and I understood what it meant to have Jesus as my Savior. There was much discord in my family, and many years went by before I was able to attend church regularly.

Learning to know Jesus and telling others the Good News of how Jesus could be their Savior, too, became an important part of my life. Jesus wants us to learn about Him and His plan for salvation so we can share it with others.

Jesus died, was buried, and rose again so we could have our sins forgiven! There is one way to Heaven through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

---

Whom will you tell today?

Jesus, open my eyes to see those who still need You, and give me the opportunity to share with someone today why You are my Savior.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd - Anita Holst/ Kerri Bland - March 25th,2010

Thursday, March 25

Jesus Is the Good Shepherd

By Anita Holst as told to Kerri Bland

I am the good shepherd; and I know My own, and My own know Me.

John 10:14,15

I recently returned from a trip to Israel where I was privileged to walk in the land where Jesus walked. The above picture is of sheep grazing on a Judean hillside. I was drawn to the Israelite shepherds whose vocation depicts Jesus, the Good Shepherd. As Shepherd of His sheep:

• Jesus does not let His children go far astray. He protects and keeps us close to Himself.
• Just as the sheep are free to wander and must work to find grass to eat, we have jobs and good deeds to do in this world. However, there is comfort in knowing that He is leading and providing. We are never far from His watchful eye.

Whether I am traveling in Israel or working at home, I know that Jesus cares for me at all times and in many ways.

---

Where will your journey take you today?

Will you invite the Shepherd to walk with you?

Good Shepherd, You alone are good. I am grateful that You know me. I am comforted by the knowledge that Your watchful eye is on me and You will keep me close to Yourself. Thank You, my Shepherd, for leading me to the good work that You have for me to do today. Help me to do Your will.