4th Sunday after Easter

Acts 11:1-18: Peter testifies of how the gentiles received salvation & the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Ps. 148: All creation praise the Lord.

Rev. 21:1-6:New Heaven and earth/God's dwelling is with the human race/ I make all things new

John 13:1-35:Jesus washes his disciples feet, & tells of his death, & gives the the great commandment.

On the night that Jesus was to be arrested, he tried to prepare his disciples for what was ahead, his death. So he washes their feet and instructs them to serve one another. He also tells them of how he will be betrayed, & put to death. Peter proclaimed that he would follow him even into death. Jesus told Peter of how he would deny him that very night. Then he tells them to love one another (John 13:1-35). 

After Jesus dies, rises from the dead and returns to heaven, Peter is instructed by God to go and speak to Gentles of Jesus salvation. Those he spoke to accepted Jesus and received the Holy Spirit.When the apostles questioned him on it he explained it all to them(Acts 11:1-18)

John the beloved saw how in the future that the new heaven and earth will come & how Jesus will sit on the throne and dwell with mankind in the new earth. Jesus tells John, " I make all things new"(Rev. 21:1-6). When this happens all of the earth will rejoice. but we should not wait until that day, we should do so even now (Ps. 148).

Challenge of the Week:

What will you do to let others know what Jesus did for them this week? 

How will you praise the Lord?

Accomplishment of the week:

So, how did you do? What did you do?

3rd Sunday after Easter

Acts 9:36-43: Peter restores Tabitha to life, and the widows praised God

Ps. 23: The Lord is my Shepherd

Rev. 7:9-17: Saints praise the Lamb who shepherded them in heaven.

John 10:22-30: "My sheep hear my voice"

In Psalms 23, David speaks of how the Lord is his shepherd. In John 10:22-30, Jesus speaks of how his sheep will listen to his voice. This shows us that Jesus is our shepherd and we are his sheep. But are we listening to his voice? We should. 

There was a godly woman in Joppa who did good deeds such as sew for coats for the widows of her town. Her name was Tabitha. Tabitha did this in love as she knew that the widows had no support, nor did their government took care of them, so they were very poor. Tabitha became sick and died. The widows were very sad, for who would help them now. She was being Jesus' hands to these women. Peter heard of her death and went and raised her from the dead. Then the widows rejoiced greatly thanking God for doing so (Acts 9:36-43)..

When all God's saints get to heaven, they will sing praises to Jesus who had been their Good Shepherd (Rev. 7:9-17).  

Challenge of the Week:

How will you help others as Tabitha or Peter did?

How will you praise your shepherd this week for being your Good Shepherd?

Accomplishment:

How did you accomplish your goals this week?

Easter mission letter from the author

My beloved ...said, 'Come away..for....the winter is past..the flowers appear...the time of singing of birds is come...." (Song of Solomon 2:10-13).

The Easter season is upon us, and now we are in the height of the Holy week. Wow, did it come early this year! I am not spiritually ready, for life has gotten so busy. How about you? 

God is calling us all to come away with Him for a little while to spend vaulable time with him recharging before we go back to our busy lives. This is the perfect time of year to do so as they world is waking up from their long Winter's nap into Spring. We also can spiritually warm back up, if we have grown cooler than normal. 

David and I are working on doing that. At this time, we are working things out in our home & ministry lives , so that we can take a year off of ministry, starting in June 2016 and running to June of 2017. We hope to take the time to get well, as we both have health issues we are dealing with, and recharge our batteries on all levels of ourselves. How about you? What steps are you taking to get away with God? It doesn't have to be a year. It could be a a week, day or even a few minutes each day. Just make a plan and get away with Jesus. Listen.... I can hear him calling..." Come away, My beloved..."

Blessed Easter!

 Toni Kratochvil

Steps of Faith~ 2ed Sunday after Easter

Acts 9:1-6(7-20): Saul become Paul. Paul is called to take the gospel to non-Jewish people.

Prophecies of what Jesus would go through on the cross & when he rose from the dead. Also phophecioes of the rejoicing that would happen because he rose from the dead.

Rev. 5:11-14: John saw and heard angels, creatures, and the elders crying out praises to Jesus for being our sacrificial lamb. All creation sing praises to God in worship. 

John 21:1-19: Jesus appears to his disciples for the 3rd time since he rose from the dead. He is by the sea. They have not caught any fish all night. Jesus tells them how to catch fish, and they catch so many that they need help pulling it to shore. Jesus cooks them some fish and feeds them. Jesus asks Peter 3 times if he loved him. Each word of love had a deeper meaning. Jesus did this so that Peter could redeem himself from when he denied Jesus 3 times before he died. After Peter said yes all three time, Jesus tells him to feed and tend to his sheep. People are Jesus' sheep.  

In Psalms 30, we read of the prophecies of what Jesus would go through on the cross and that he would rise again. This Psalm also prophecies of the rejoicing that would happen because Jesus rose from the dead on Easter Sunday.

Jesus appears to his disciples for the 3rd time since he rose from the dead. He is by the sea. They have not caught any fish all night. Jesus tells them how to catch fish, and they catch so many that they need help pulling it to shore. Jesus cooks them some fish and feeds them. Jesus asks Peter 3 times if he loved him. Each word of love had a deeper meaning. Jesus did this so that Peter could redeem himself from when he denied Jesus 3 times before he died. After Peter said yes all three time, Jesus tells him to feed and tend to his sheep. People are Jesus' sheep (John 21:1-19).

After the Jews had been told of Jesus and his salvation, God called a man named Saul to go and tell the non-Jewish people. When god called Saul, he renamed him Paul (Acts 9:1-20).

John the beloved was put on an island which was a type of prison. while he was there he saw and heard what was to go on in the future. He wrote what he saw to the 7 churches in Asia. In Revelation 5, verses 11-14 , John tells of how he sees and heard angels, creatures, and the elders crying out in praise and worship in heaven and earth. Because he wrote it down, we can also know and praise and worship God.

Challenge of the Week: 

In this week's devotional, see see a chain of events that helped spread the good news Jesus' salvation. Let us be another link in that chain so that people in our time and place will also know of this good news. Don't break the chain. 

Accomplishment of the week:

Who did you tell & how did you do so? Did anyone accept Jesus because of it? If so, rejoice!

Steps of Faith~ Easter Sunday

Acts 10:34-43: Peter speaks of what Jesus did from the time John the Baptist pronounced that he was Christ clear through to his death, and resurrection. He also said that if we believe he did all of this we would receive forgiveness for our sins. 

Ps. 118:1-2, 14-24: We should rejoice and give praise the fact that God will be merciful enough to give us the corner stone of our faith. 

 

1 Cor. 15:19-26: Paul explains why we will not have to die spiritually because of Jesus conquering death after he had died on the cross. 

John 20:1-18: Jesus showing himself to Mary Magdala after she had heard that he had risen from the dead. 

 or Luke 24:1-12:The women being told by the angels that Jesus is a live. Then they went and told his followers who came to the tomb to check it out herself. 

On the morning that Jesus arose, the ladies who had stood and watched Jesus die, came with spices and ointment to anoint Jesus body. When they arrived at the tomb, they found that the tomb was open and that Jesus was no longer there. angels told the ladies that Jesus was alive and for them to go tell his followers(Luke 24:1-12). Mary Magdaia must have stayed behind, for she stood there in the garden crying when Jesus appeared to her and spoke with her (John 20:1-18). When the ladies had told his followers, Peter and John ran to check it out for themselves (Luke 24:11-12). This was the bargaining of the great news of Easter day. 

After Jesus went back to heaven, his followers preached of the good news of what Jesus has accomplished (Acts 10:34-43/1 Cor. 15:19-26). Because of what Jesus did for us we can sing praises of joy to God( Ps. 118:1-2,14-24).

Challenge of the day:

Let us remember the gift of salvation and releases from the grave we have because of what Jesus did for us in his death and Resurrection. Then let us sing songs of joyful praise to God for doing so!

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Steps of Faith~ 1st Saunday after Easter

Acts 5:27-32: Apostles told not to testify of Jesus, but they do so anyway for they must obey God over man.

Ps. 150: Praise God in his Holy Sanctuary with many interments. Let everything that is alive praise the Lord.

Rev. 1:4-8: John greets the 7 churches in Asia in the name of Jesus who...

 is the ruler over kings

 love us

 set us free from sin

made us a kingdom

is coming back

John 20:19-31: Jesus appeared to his disciples and they rejoiced. Jesus told them,"As the Father has sent me, so I send you." He breathed on them and told them to receive the Holy Spirit.

       Thomas was not with them and did not believe that Jesus was a live. So when Jesus came back to them again, he made sure that Thomas believed. Jesus did many other things before he went back to heaven.

Jesus appears to his disciples after he had risen from the dead. Thomas was not there and doubted their report. So the next time Jesus came to them, he made sure that Thomas saw and and believed. Jesus told him, "Blessed are those who do not see but believe. Then Jesus tells them, "As the Father sent me, so I send you."

The apostles obeys Jesus and goes out and preaches about how Jesus had died for peoples' sins, and rose from the dead. They were arrested for doing so. When they were told again not to preach about Jesus they said, "We must obey god more than man." (Acts 5:27-32).

John the Beloved was sent to a type of jail on an island. While he was there, he wrote to the 7 churches of Asia. "Greetings in the name of Jesus, the ruler of the kings, who loved us and set us free from sin, and made a kingdom. Prepare for he is coming back for us."

Because of what Jesus did for us, we should praise him in the Holy Sanctuary with many interments.If we are alive, and we are, we should praise Him with all of creation.  

Challenge of the week:

This week, seek to spend time in God's world listening to nature singing praises to Him. Then join it in song.

Accomplishment of the week:

Did you take time to do the challenge? If so, how was it?

Steps of Faith~ Easter eve

Gen. 1:1-2:4a: God created the earth & man:God rested on the 7th day.

Ps. 136:1-9, 23-26; Praise God for he created the earth Z& His mercies endure forever. 

or Ps. 33: Praise God for he created the earth.

Gen. 7:1-5, 11-18: God saved Noah, his family & animals in the Ark.

        8:6-18: Noah waited until God told him that he could leave the ark. 

        9:8-13:God established a covenant with Noah, his sons, and the animals that were on the ark.

Ps. 46: God is our protector.

Gen. 22:1-18: God asked Abraham to sacrifice Issac. Perfect pic of God's replacement for our sins.

Ex. 14:10-31:God dried up the Red Sea so that the Israelites could cross over dry land and be saves. Then God moved the water back and drown the Egyptians. 

       15:20-21/ 15:1B-13, 17-18: Moses and the Israelites sang songs of praise to God for he saved them.

Is. 55:1-11:An invitation to God's grace

Is.12:2-6: Song of thanksgiving for the Lord is our savior.

Prov. 8:1-8, 19-21/9:4b-6:Wisdom speaking to us

        

Ps. 19:God's glory is in the heaven's & the law.

EZ. 36:24-28:God's promise to the Israelites.

Ps. 42:Longing for God's presence in the temple.

Ez. 37:1-14:God shows Ezekiel the vision of the valley of dry bones & How preaching to them brings them back to life.

Ps. 143: Prayer in distress.

Rom. 6:3-11:We die to our sins in Christ Jesus.

Ps. 114: The Lord wonders at the exodus.

Luke 24:1-12:Jesus is alive!

As you read all these verses, you realize that they take you from when God first made man, through the generations of how he took care of his people, and made promises to them to redeem them some day. then we finish up to Jesus raising from the death after dying for our sins. Because of what Jesus did we too are risen from our spiritual deadness, when we ask God to forgive us and accept Jesus Christ.These are all things to celebrate this Easter day! Let us sing praise to Him for being our savior!

Blessed Easter!!