(CLICK THE TITLE) Good morning and God bless all of you on this glorious day. The Lord has presented us with another chance. How will you use it? We don’t often hear about the women of the bible so I thought that I would present a little scripture about three of them with the same name. Let the scripture bless your day and life.
Father, I have been praying about so called Christians and their use of Jesus’ to justify bizarre actions. I now put them before you and pray that they truly hear Your Word and to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior in earnest. Jesus died for them as well as every other living soul and will accept those who come to Him in faith and repentance. I know that there will always be wars and rumors of wars, but that only the Prince of Peace can bring true peace. I pray for peace in the hearts of those who seek You and peace throughout the land. May Your will be done. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Let’s eat.
Three Mary’s of Scripture
Mary of Magdala
Mark 16:1-9
1. The next evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene and Salome and Mary the mother of James went out and purchased embalming spices.Early the following morning, just at sunrise, they carried them out to the tomb.
3. On the way they were discussing how they could ever roll aside the huge stone from the entrance.
4. But when they arrived they looked up and saw that the stone–a very heavy one–was already moved away and the entrance was open!
5. So they entered the tomb–and there on the right sat a young man clothed in white. The women were startled,
6. but the angel said, “Don’t be so surprised. Aren’t you looking for Jesus, the Nazarene who was crucified? He isn’t here! He has come back to life! Look, that’s where his body was lying.
7. Now go and give this message to his disciples including Peter:“`Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died!”’
8. The women fled from the tomb, trembling and bewildered, too frightened to talk.
9. It was early on Sunday morning when Jesus came back to life, and the first person who saw him was Mary Magdalene–the woman from whom he had cast out seven demons.
A Saved Sinner; Mary of Bethany
John 12:1-8
1. Six days before the Passover ceremonies began, Jesus arrived in Bethany where Lazarus was–the man he had brought back to life.
2. A banquet was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus sat at the table with him.
3. Then Mary took a jar of costly perfume made from essence of nard, and anointed Jesus’ feet with it and wiped them with her hair. And the house was filled with fragrance.
4. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples–the one who would betray him–said,
5. “That perfume was worth a fortune. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.”
6. Not that he cared for the poor, but he was in charge of the disciples’ funds and often dipped into them for his own use!
7. Jesus replied, “Let her alone. She did it in preparation for my burial.
8. You can always help the poor, but I won’t be with you very long.”
A Devout Disciple Mary of Jerusalem
Acts 12:1-17
1. About that time King Herod moved against some of the believers,
2. and killed the apostle James (John’s brother).
3. When Herod saw how much this pleased the Jewish leaders, he arrested Peter during the Passover celebration
4. and imprisoned him, placing him under the guard of sixteen soldiers. Herod’s intention was to deliver Peter to the Jews for execution after the Passover.
5. But earnest prayer was going up to God from the church for his safety all the time he was in prison.
6. The night before he was to be executed, he was asleep, double-chained between two soldiers with others standing guard before the prison gate,
7. when suddenly there was a light in the cell and an angel of the Lord stood beside Peter! The angel slapped him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists!
8. Then the angel told him, “Get dressed and put on your shoes.” And he did. “Now put on your coat and follow me!” the angel ordered.
9. So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a dream or vision, and didn’t believe it was really happening.
10. They passed the first and second cell blocks and came to the iron gate to the street, and this opened to them of its own accord! So they passed through and walked along together for a block, and then the angel left him.
11. Peter finally realized what had happened! “It’s really true!” he said to himself. “The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jews were hoping to do to me!”
12. After a little thought he went to the home of Mary, mother of John Mark, where many were gathered for a prayer meeting.
13. He knocked at the door in the gate, and a girl named Rhoda came to open it.
14. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that she ran back inside to tell everyone that Peter was standing outside in the street.
15. They didn’t believe her. “You’re out of your mind,” they said. When she insisted they decided, “It must be his angel. [They must have killed him. ]”
16. Meanwhile Peter continued knocking. When they finally went out and opened the door, their surprise knew no bounds.
17. He motioned for them to quiet down and told them what had happened and how the Lord had brought him out of jail. “Tell James and the others what happened,” he said–and left for safer quarters.
Quote of the Day
Gossip is a sin that comes very naturally to a lot of people, especially women. We love to talk about other people, but often we are cutting down those people and not lifting them up. Our Gossip can tear apart even the closest friends. Make an effort to bring up something good about a person every time that you hear a negative comment and try to refrain from making negative comments yourself.
Streams of Light
WITH HOPE AND FAITH
REV. ELDER G E STERRETT
FOUNDER
GCKRS HELPING HAND FOUNDATION – THE RELATIONSHIP FACTORY