Praise & Shine
Wake up to your favorite Contemporary Christian Music and Hits with a positive message, every Sunday morning starting at 10 AM on Quicksie 98.3. If you want to share what God is doing in your life or want us to pray for you, visit https://wqxe.com/prayer
What does Easter mean to you? Is it just another Government holiday? A day off work? Or maybe a money grab for candy companies? To Christians, Easter is the most important time. More important than even Christmas! Yes, Christmas is important but it doesn’t save us from our sins.
Jesus’ birth only appears in two of the gospels, his ascension, in another two and Acts. But do you know what is mentioned in every single gospel? Not Jesus’ birth, not even Jesus’ teachings, but Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Easter is so important because our Christianity revolves around the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Without that resurrection, Christianity would be meaningless because our sins would not be forgiven by the sacrifice of Christ. If it wasn’t for Easter we would have to continue living like the Jews of the old testament, offering up animal sacrifices to the Lord for our sins.
Easter is just as important today as it was nearly 2000 years ago because it represents how Jesus saved us from our sins by dying and rising again after three days. Conquering death so that we may live for eternity with our Heavenly Father. For all of humanity, not just the Jews, but also the Gentiles that their sins may be redeemed if they believe in Him.
So let’s celebrate Easter like it’s the most important time of the year. Because it is. What it represents is life. It is the center of our faith.
Happy Easter
Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:47 — 4.1MB)
God has better plans for us than we could ever imagine. What is God’s will? What is our purpose?
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Romans 8:28-29: In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose, which is to be conformed to the likeness of his Son.
James 1:17: Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Rick Warren the author of “The Purpose Driven Life,” explains God’s five purposes for us.
We were planned for God’s pleasure
so your first purpose is to offer real worship.
We were formed for God’s family
so your second purpose is to enjoy real fellowship.
We were created to become like Christ,
so your third purpose is to learn real discipleship.
We were shaped for serving God
so your fourth purpose is to practice real ministry.
We were made for a mission
so your fifth purpose is to live out real evangelism.
“For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:16-17
We must glorify God in all things by living a Purpose Driven Live. We are all created in God’s image but we are also unique. God’s plans for each of us are different. None of us experience the same things in life. Our goal, however, is the same. Dream big, pray continually and seek to do God’s will.
Podcast: Download (Duration: 2:05 — 4.8MB)
How do we find joy in our lives?
It can be as simple as remembering the acronym joy is a beautiful reminder of where our priority should be. J stands for Jesus, O for others, and Y for yourself.
- Put Jesus first
Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6. - Next, others
In Matthew 22:37-38 Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'” - Finally, yourself
“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh [for your own desires], but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:13-14.
So if your looking for true joy in your life, remember Jesus first, then others and yourself last.
Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:39 — 1.5MB)
People often look for “proof” of God. In the words of Billy Graham, “Can you see God? You haven’t seen him? I’ve never seen the wind. I see the effects of the wind, but I’ve never seen the wind.” God is everywhere, all around us, in the green grass, and the blue sky. From the majesty of the galaxies all the way down to the cells that makes up our bodies. Christ’s blameless sacrifice on the cross paid the ultimate price for us. If you are still looking for proof check out Laminin, the cell adhesion molecule the binds all matter together. A reminder of God’s plan set forth at the beginning of creation. “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:17