Scripture Reading:      Luke 24:36-40   While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, ‘Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones
as you see that I have.’ And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.

It happened soon after Easter that an elderly couple discovered to their dismay that their 15-pound lawn-ornament frog was missing.  Then, a few days later, they received a post-card from Atlanta that said, “Sick of sitting on your lawn.  Had to get away.  Love, the Frog.”  Though this aroused their curiosity, they thought, “What’s the world coming to?” and they never expected to see their beloved plaster pet again.

   Then, a month later, a letter arrived that said, “Hope things are good! I’m well.  Right now, I’m in New York.  Write you again soon.  Love, the Frog.”  From then on the couple got cheerful letters postmarked from places as far away as London, Venice and Athens.  Mr. Frog’s odyssey even took him to Japan and Indonesia, and from there the letters said, “The children and I are praying for peace.”  Over time, what had started as an irritation for the couple had become a source of anticipation and even comfort.

     Mr. Frog’s travel adventures finally ended on a December morning when a shiny limousine delivered him back to the house.  Attached to his upper body was a letter that said, “You don’t know us, but we’re the frognappers.  We’re sorry for this bad joke, but we took good care of him for you.  Best wishes and thanks for understanding.”

   Do you see any connection points between this amusing story of a world-traveling ornament frog and the Easter Season we are celebrating?

   One of them is that, in the Gospel story of resurrection, Jesus appears to all sorts of people in all sorts of places.  He appears as a gardener to Mary Magdalene at the Resurrection tomb, and he shows up as a stranger walking alongside two mourning disciples on the road to Emmaus.  In each location Jesus brings a message of a relationship that is unbroken, yet new.

   The Gospels portray how, with the Risen Christ, we can experience God’s grace and find confidence in ways we never thought possible before.  Here, there, and anywhere.  Let’s look and see for ourselves.  Christ is risen and He is here.  He’s in our homes and on the streets, and there’s nothing he won’t do to speak to us, guide us, and give us a taste of glory.

God’s blessings of strength and joy be yours,
Pastor Ana

Scripture Reading:    “My eye pours out tears to God.” Job 16:20

“O that my head were a spring of water and my eyes a fountain of tears, so that I might weep day and night.”  Jeremiah 9:1

“Every night I flood my bed with tears: I drench my couch with weeping.” Psalm 6:6

“And Jesus wept.” John 11:35

“May those who sow tears reap with shouts of joy.” Psalm 126:5

Now those are a lot or tears!  At one time or another all of us have wept.      It may have been from pain. It could have been when a loved one died.  Maybe someone surprised you with an unexpected honor or birthday party.  Maybe your sorrow or grief have been
too overwhelming.  Maybe guilt has overtaken you.

Sometimes tears just express a “rock bottom” reality.  That’s when our tears become the unutterable prayer,  “Help me Lord!”

That is when the words of Jesus, “Come unto me all you who labor and are weighed down, and I will give your rest” resonate in the deepest places or our heart and soul.

We always need to remember that Jesus loves us more than the one who loves us most.

“And God will wipe every tear from your eyes.  Death will be more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more.  Revelation 21:4

Scripture Reading:  John 10:10b   I have come that you may have life, and have it abundantly. 

Jesus implies that without him we are lifeless.  He proclaims that he came to bring life in abundance.  That is a strange thought.  Either we have life or we don’t.  What does he mean by “abundant life?” Evidently, life involves more than breath.  It is more than having flesh and blood, bones and marrow. Life involves having meaning and purpose.  The abundant life is comes after we discover our true meaning and purpose for living.  Jesus knows our purpose for living.  Go to him in prayer.  Only he can reveal it to you.

Pastor Tom

Scripture Reading:   Romans 5     You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

"Christ died for the ungodly." Never did the human ear hear a more astonishing and yet abiding truth. Angels desire to look into it, and if we were wise, we would ponder it night and day. Jesus, the Son of God, himself God over all, the glorious One, Creator of heaven and earth, out of love to me, stooped to become human and die. In this verse, the human race is described as a sick, whose disease is so far advanced that we are without strength: no power remains in our system to throw off this mortal malady. Jesus is the healer.  Jesus restore us to the image and likeness of God.  In
Jesus we are made whole.