Easter is over...what do we do now?

Now that another Easter has passed, what do we do?  We have celebrated during this exciting season which culminated on Resurrection Sunday.  Some of us have observed the Lenten season and have made personal sacrifices.  These sacrifices were made in hopes of ridding ourselves of the distractions that keep us from focusing on Christ.  We can now eat those sweets and we can now watch television.  Before we resume our daily routines especially those prior to this Lenten season, we must take a moment for reflection.

Were we able to have a closer walk with Christ? Will we go back to our previous routines full blast? And lastly, how will we change from this day forward?

Resurrection Sunday was a beautiful day for many.  This day was time for praise to our Holy Father.  We praised Him for the sacrifice He made for us on the cross.  We praised Him for giving us everlasting life.  During this season, many of us experienced God’s mercy and grace as we walked closer with Him.  Hopefully, we were able to walk closer with Him as we made our sacrifices during Lent.  Hopefully we were able to read more of His word and understand Him better.  What good is sacrificing just for the sake of sacrificing?  If we did not approach these sacrifices with a specific purpose, a purpose of growing in our Christian journey, then we may have just wasted our time.

Now that the Lenten season is over, will we go back to our same habits? Some gave up television during the season and SURVIVED!  What does this tell us?  Should we continue to make these sacrifices?  Was that thing really hindering our walk with Christ?  If you feel closer to Christ as a result of your Lenten sacrifice, then will you consider removing or limiting that aspect of your life?  Consider replacing a half hour of television with a daily devotional or with prayer.  If giving up sweets have made you feel healthier or may have allowed you to lose weight, then maybe consider cutting back.  Remember, you survived this period and can incorporate these sacrifices in your daily living.  In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20  Paul says: 19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.  God wants us to take care of ourselves and we honor Him when we do so.

From this day on, we should Honor our Lord and savior for His great sacrifice to us.  We should honor Him with our daily living.  We should honor Him with our continued commitment to Him and with our praise.  Jesus appeared to his disciples prior to ascending into heaven in Luke 24:50-53, 50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

So as we continue on after Easter, let us continue to focus on Christ.  Focus on Him so that we can lead a life that is pleasing in His sight.

HE LIVES!!

Matthew 28:1-10, 16-29 (NRSV)

 

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.' This is my message for you." So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!" And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."


Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

I serve a risen Savior, he's in the world today;
I know that he is living whatever men may say;
I see his hand of mercy; I hear his voice of cheer,
And just the time I need him, he's always near.

He lives, he lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me
Along life's narrow way.
He lives, he lives, salvation to impart!
You ask my how I know he lives?
He lives within my heart.

The Seven Last Words Of Jesus Christ

“Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.”
(Luke 23:34)


 “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
(Luke 23:43)


“Dear woman, here is your son.”
(John 19:26)




“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
(Mark 15:34)
 
“I am thirsty.”
(John 19:28)

“It is finished!”
(John 19:30)

“Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!”
(Luke 23:46)

Join us today as we reflect on these seven last words.  Church Service Begins at 12noon.

There will be a fish fry following the service.

Maundy Thursday

 

John 13:3-17

3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; 4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. 5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded . 6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter . 8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. 10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. 11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he , Ye are not all clean. 12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? 13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am . 14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. 16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. 17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

Join us today as we observe Maundy Thursday with Glyndon United Methodist Church at 7:00PM

The Church is located at  

4713 Butler Rd 

Glyndon , MD 21071

The Triumphal Entry

Matthew 21:1-11

1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away." 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5 "Say to the Daughter of Zion, 'See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.' " 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest!" 10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?" 11 The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee." 

Tomorrow, Palm Sunday we celebrate His triumphant entry into Jerusalem which begins Holy Week.

We will start at Main St. and Bond Ave. at 9:30am and we will process down Bond Ave to the sanctuary.  Come ready to sing praises, hear the word, and share the Good News of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Hosanna Hosanna 

Hosanna in the Highest!!

Bless The Lord, O my soul

 




 Many refer to the Bible as the instructional manual for life.  It gives us wisdom and much advice on how to carry on in our life.  This is also true of Psalm 103.  David gives us an example of how to praise God, why we should praise God, the benefits of praising Him and lastly he implores all creatures, even the Angels to give God praise.  This psalm is nothing but PRAISE.  Not one supplication or petition is seen in it.  This is time for God without us thinking of ourselves…True focus on HIM.

As David begins the Psalm “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name”, I think of highest praise.  This praise is not your everyday praise…it comes from deep within.  This is a praise that is personal and one that only God can appreciate as it should be just for Him.  David is master of praise.  In 2 Samuel 6:14 it reads:  “And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.”  Have you ever felt such intense emotion when you praise God?  Have you praised Him with all of your might and all of your being that you are unaware of what’s going on around you? 


Now its time to follow David’s lead!!! Time to give to God and to Him only.  Time to give him praise, praise that comes from deep within.  Praise from the heart.  Praise that He certainly deserves and is worthy of!!! This is the praise that our awesome God deserves and much more.  From all over the earth and in heaven, Praise be to God!!!