risingwiththeson

Leave the Door Open

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.” (Matthew 23:13 NIV) Jesus has had it with the teachers of the law and the Pharisees, and inContinueContinue reading “Leave the Door Open”

Strength in Waiting

But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31 CEV) There is strength in waiting. Not a passive waiting, but an expectant attitude of faith. As we learn to waitContinueContinue reading “Strength in Waiting”

If You Knew

Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” (John 4:10 NIV) Many people have presumptions about others that are not true of everyone. The Samaritan woman sure did. She told JesusContinueContinue reading “If You Knew”

Be a Victor, Not a Victim

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Romans 8:37 NIV) Victim mentality may get us pity, but it won’t give us power. After listing all of the terrible things that could possibly happen but can’t separate us from God’s love, such as trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger orContinueContinue reading “Be a Victor, Not a Victim”

Seeing is Believing

The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted. (Acts 20:12 NIV) There’s an interesting resurrection miracle recorded in Acts 20:7-12. After listening to the apostle Paul talk for hours – because he was leaving Troas the next day – a young man by the name of Eutychus falls from the thirdContinueContinue reading “Seeing is Believing”

Women Who Rise

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. (John 20:1 NIV) A careful reading of the resurrection account reveals why women, in particular Mary Magdalene, were the first to discover the empty tomb andContinueContinue reading “Women Who Rise”

You’ve Got a Friend in Jesus

Then all his disciples deserted him and ran away. (Mark 14:50 NIV) When Jesus needed His disciples during the most crucial time in His life and ministry, they all “deserted Him and ran away.” Not to mention that one denied Him after promising that he would never do that even if all of the othersContinueContinue reading “You’ve Got a Friend in Jesus”

Go and Tell Them

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead ofContinueContinue reading “Go and Tell Them”

Your Resurrection is Coming!

The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples mayContinueContinue reading “Your Resurrection is Coming!”

Saturday Was Silent

But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment. (Luke 23:56 NIV) Saturday was silent. Not much is recorded in Scripture about what happened after Jesus died on Friday, except that it was a traditional day of rest. In this instance, it was rest for those who were grieving the death of theirContinueContinue reading “Saturday Was Silent”