Matthew 28:2-7 NIV — There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 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 of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

Spend some time celebrating the risen Savior while listening to these songs. 

Christ the Lord is Risen Today by NCC Worship

Graves Into Gardens by Elevation Worship

Grave Clothes by TRIBL and Maverick City Music

Still Rolling Stones by Lauren Daigle

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭27‬:‭54‬ ‭NIV — When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”‬

Why is today called “Good Friday?” Today shows the greatest love you and I will ever know. Jesus’ death on the cross was the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. We have the joy knowing in three days the stone will roll away and the grave will let Him go. Thanks to Jesus washing our sins clean, we are blessed to walk in God’s favor as His children. 

Are you mourning the loss of Jesus? Do you feel the anticipation and excitement of Sunday? This day tends to be an emotional day for many. Do you have stones in your life that need to be rolled away? Don’t know where to start? We can start rolling stones by practicing gratitude. One way of practicing gratitude is keeping a daily gratitude journal and daily writing five things for which you are grateful. 

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for sending Your son to die on the cross for my sins. Thank You for rolling away the stone and emptying the grave. Help me to roll away the stones in my life so that I can remain close to You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

You can read about Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection in Matthew 27: 45-66; 28: 1-10 NIV @biblegateway

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

Why is today called “Maundy Thursday?” It means the washing of feet. It is also known as Holy Thursday. This day Jesus and His disciples shared the last supper, had communion, and Jesus washed the disciples’ feet before going out into the garden to pray. 

During the season of Lent, I started a rock garden. Each day I write a word on my rocks from my Lent devotion book, Pauses for Lent by Trevor Hudson. When I envision a garden, I think of vibrant flowers, delicious vegetables, and yummy fruits. I imagine the Garden of Gethsemane to be a dirt and rock terrain with some greenery. Each day as I write on my rocks, I am reminded that Jesus walked this earth before me. I desire to remain so close to Him that I feel the dust from His sandals as we walk this life together. How about you? What do you desire? 

Let’s pray. Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your son to walk this earth before me. I desire to feel the dust from Jesus’ sandals as I daily walk in relationship with Him. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

I encourage you to listen to “Back to the Garden” by Crowder.

You can read of The Lord’s Supper and The Garden of Gethsemane in Matthew 26: 17-46 NIV @biblegateway

God tells the sun when to rise in ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1‬:‭‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬ —  God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

Jesus tells the storm to be still in Mark‬ ‭4‬:‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

Through Moses Jesus tells the sea when to split in ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭14‬:‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided.‭‭

Will you allow God to use you like He did Moses? Seeking God’s will can be scary. Just like Moses, God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called. He is waiting for you to stand at His door and knock.  

Let’s pray. Dear Lord, thank You for giving me the example of Moses. I desire to do Your will. I stand confidently today and knock at Your door. Here I am Lord, use me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

‭‭John‬ ‭4‬:‭48‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — Unless you people see signs and wonders, Jesus told him, you will never believe.

God is in the wow business with all His signs and wonders. Jesus performed and continues to perform many miracles so that His children will see and believe. I think about the disciple Thomas, also known as Doubting Thomas. It took seeing nail scarred hands for him to truly believe in Jesus. Thomas was in close relationship with Jesus and still needed a wow sign and wonder to see. 

Are you walking around with blinders or are you walking around expecting to be wowed? We need to live expectantly and seek God for big things. We read in Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV — Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.‬‬

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for all Your miraculous signs and wonders. Forgive me when I am a doubting Thomas. Today I stand at Your door and knock expectantly. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

You can read how Jesus heals the official’s son in John 4:43-54 NIV @biblegateway.

This week we will be talking about the miraculous signs and wonders of God as we journey through Holy Week. 

We have been blessed with the gift of the Holy Spirit. We are challenged by the Apostle Paul to fan the flame of God so that others may experience this gift. Today I encourage you to meditate on the scripture verses listed below. We are all called to be disciples of Jesus. Think about all the miraculous signs and wonders you’ve experienced here on Earth. Have you shared Christ Jesus and the gift of the Holy Spirit with others? Take time to evaluate your role in The Great Commision. 

‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NIV — When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.‬‬

2 Timothy 1‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬ — For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

You can read the full passage, Encouragement to Be Faithfu in 2 Timothy 1: 3-18 NIV @biblegateway.

The Great Commission in ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭16‬-‭20‬ ‭NIV — Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go 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 I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”