by Cindy Geyer
Living Word:
Jesus was teaching by the sea in a boat, and the whole multitude was on the land facing the sea. When that evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat.
A furious storm came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” 
He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the waves, "Peace!" "Be Still!"
Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.  Mark 4:38-39

Word In Motion:
Lets face it we all have a tendency to let stormy circumstances overwhelm us and frighten us. We start to focus on the winds and the waves of the storm. As we focus on the storm, it gets worse. It rages and blows all around us, it’s all we can think about, and the fear grows.
We are going to drown.

We process why are we even in this boat in a storm, what did we do wrong to be in this boat in a raging storm. As we process the reasons, we see that the sails are ripping, water is getting in the boat and the waves are overwhelming us.
We are going to drown!

We know God is in the boat with us, but the storm has become bigger than that knowledge. The doubt and fear rise within us as we feel the storm raging. All we can see is the storm.
We are going to drown!!

Jesus was in the stern of the boat…. Mark 4:38
He is in the boat.

God says in his word that He will never leave you nor forsake you, that He will go with you. “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will never leave you or nor forsake you.” Deut 31:6
He is in the boat!
 
We are never alone. His promise to be with us is one that stands the test of time.
He is IN the boat!!
 
The disciples cried out for help, and he got up and said. “Peace”, rebukes the storm, “Be Still!”.  Suddenly it stopped and a great calm surrounded them.
HE GOT UP! Calmed the storm inside and out. Peace! Be still!
 
Who is IN the boat?
The Lord God, Almighty, who will never leave you nor forsake you. Because of His great love for you, you will not drown. In Isaiah 30:18-19 it says that the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore, he will rise up to show you compassion. How gracious he will be when you cry for help; when He hears, He will answer you. He will RISE UP!
 
He is IN the boat with you... you are not alone in this storm. Do not fear.
He will RISE UP... as soon he hears your cry. Peace, be still.
You will get over to the other side!
 
Living Word:
But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, he who formed you:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the deep waters, I will be with you.
When you pass through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Isaiah 43:2

By Cindy Geyer
The Word In Motion:
You know that scene in the movie where you know that something bad is going to happen? You are watching the main character, our hero, driving down the road, heading to see his family. Then you see another car heading towards him, driving fast and with obvious intent to harm.

You keep watching as the director of the movie shows clips of our hero just driving down the road excited with the prospect of seeing his family; and clips of the other driver, the killer careening down the road fixated with his intent to kill. We go back and forth between clips. Each one bringing us closer and closer to that inevitable moment.

The suspense is building. Our hero sees the other driver, but he can’t change his course. Then, it happens. The moment when they collide. We watch in horror as our hero is killed. The killer has fulfilled his goal...our hero is dead.

Yet, just before the collision, the director revealed something. It was in that moment where everything goes into slow motion and at the point of impact the music stops, and for a second the filming pauses as we see a smile on our hero's face, the killer sees it and his expression turns from victory to confusion. Then the scene goes back to full speed, the collision resumes, and death.

We are shocked and angry. Sadness and anger come over us in waves as we see our hero is dead and the killer has escaped unharmed... Who is directing this movie? What has he done? What is he thinking? He has killed off the hero!

Then, we remember the smile. What was that about?

It causes us to wonder and reflect. To start imagining other outcomes. What if he isn’t  dead. What if this was the plan all along? What if…? But, he was buried, we watched the funeral. We start remembering other elements in the story, hoping something would happen that reveals our hero is not really dead? 

Why the smile?
==========
We have a true story, not a movie, a story that really happened like this. The main character, Jesus came to seek and save the lost. His whole desire was to spend time with his family, to reveal his love for us. The other driver, the Devil, excited by a plan to kill Jesus, with such an evil intent that it couldn’t be quenched.

The collision: Jesus is condemned, beaten, scorned, ridiculed, and wounded. Nailed to a cross, pierced in his side, suffocating, and then… death. The devil fulfilled his purpose...Jesus is dead.
 
Yet…right before death, in that moment when all stood still, the devil glimpsed something. A smile? For a brief second, he is confused…then the scene resumes, Jesus draws his last breath. “It is finished.”
 
Yet…why the smile?

What if he wasn’t really dead. What if this was the plan all along? What if…? But Jesus is dead. They buried him, and they mourned.

Kill Jesus? Who is directing this story anyways? The director is Jesus’ father, God Most High. He’s the author and finisher of this story. And this story is not done. There is still more to be revealed. This is only the beginning - not the end. It is setting the stage for the biggest reveal in all of history. An ending that will change the course of history for all time!

Remember the smile? It was a smile of secrecy. Jesus knew something the devil didn’t. Yes, Jesus is dead …but the devil didn’t win.

For God had a secret plot in the story.

He had a plan that had been in the works since before time. He knew that at price had to be paid for sin. The penalty for sin is death and a pure sacrifice had to be made for it.

Jesus, who was without sin, had to die to pay the debt, once and for all, for our sin. Jesus willingly gave his life for us. He came to seek and save the lost, to spend time with his family, to reveal the depth of his and God’s love for us.

Jesus had to die. His death made the way for our forgiveness. This is real love that He gave his life for us. A sacrifice to take away our sin. God was making a way to bring us to himself through Jesus’ death, no longer counting our sins against us. He died for our sins, our choices, once and for all. A single sacrifice for all sin, good for all time. He paid the debt. 

Through His death, He forgave all our sins, having canceled the charge which stood against us and condemned us. He has taken it away and nailed it to the cross. His death rescued us from the kingdom of darkness, purchased our freedom, and forgave our sins.

He is our hero who chose to die. His death and burial were the plan. 

So why the smile?

The final outcome is why he smiled. The part of the plan the killer knew nothing about. Our Hero's victory! 

See the devil thought he had won. He killed our hero. He killed the threat to his authority. He killed Jesus, the son of God! He was so proud of what he did that he didn't even give that smile a second glance. He is in charge now. He is in control. He celebrated his victory.
 
BUT...He should have given that smile a second glance. 
Yes, Jesus died. Yes, He was buried, and they mourned. Yes, the sky grew dark and the earth trembled for the son of God was dead... 3 days of sorrow. 

3 days? Wait what? Why only 3 days. Our hero is dead. 

Wait for it! Part 2! You know it. This is the part that causes the hair on our arms to stand up straight, our hearts to pound in anticipation...

God raised Him from the dead. Jesus is alive! He has risen! He is back with all power, with all authority, all dominion over life and death. Our Hero. Our Savior!

He stormed the gates of hell. He revealed himself to the devil in all his glory and declared I AM ALIVE! Death is defeated! Your dominion is over. My kingdom and my authority reigns.

He is alive!! So SMILE!
---------------------------
The Living Word:
And having disarmed the powers and authorities of this world, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Colossians 2:13-15

Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. I Corinthians 15:55-57

Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit. I Peter 3:18

He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins. Colossians 1:13-14

SEE...
​For the wages of sin is death...Romans 6:23a

THE GIFT...
For God so loved the world that He sent His only Son. John 3:16
and His gift is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23b

HIS ONLY SON...
…with the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.(hence the smile) Hebrews 12:2

…when Christ came into the world, he said to God, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings. But you have given me a body to offer. Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time…Our Savior (hero) offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Hebrews 10:5-14
 
 FOR YOUR LIFE...
When you were dead in your sins and in your sinful nature of your flesh that had not yet been cut away, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave all your sins, having canceled the charge of your legal indebtedness, which stood against you and condemned you; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities of this world, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Colossians 2:13-15
 
UNCONDITIONAL LOVE...
We know what real love is because Christ laid down His life for us. I John: 3:16
 
For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. John 3:16

And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

OUR RESPONCE...
We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. He declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.  Romans 3: 23-24 & 26
 
He has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. BUT you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. Colossians 1:22-23

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15

LIVING WORD:
Believers, all you who believe in Christ as Savior and acknowledge Him as God’s Son, you are not in spiritual darkness nor held by its power. You are children of the light.

We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.

So then let us not sleep in spiritual indifference as the rest of the world does, but let us keep wide awake, alert, and cautious and let us be self-controlled, calm, and wise. For the night is nearly over; the day has drawn near.

Let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Be clearheaded, alert and self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate of protection, and wearing as a helmet the hope and confident assurance of our salvation.

·       Rejoice always!
·       Pray continually.
·       Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
·       Do not quench the Spirit.
·       Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all.
·       Hold on to what is good,
·       Reject every kind of evil.

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

I Thess 5: 8 Romans 13:12 paraphrased

by Cindy Geyer
Living Word:
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Peace!" "Be Still!"
Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Mark 4:39

Word In Motion:
When circumstances overwhelm and discourage us, we can tend to forget who our God is. We place those circumstances that hinder us, worry us and cause fear in a position of more authority than God has in our lives. We forget who is in the boat of life with us.

We need to remember, reflect and believe daily on who our God is so that when the storms come, we know who holds us in His hands, who help us navigate the storms and who has the power to calm the storms.

It’s not about what we face, it is about who we follow. God says in his word that He will never leave you nor forsake you, He will go before you, beside you and behind you.

He will get up! Peace, be still!

"I am your God who holds you by the hand.
​Do not fear for I am with you always."

TESTIMONY EXCERPTS
​
At the My Beloved Conference – we had the ladies walk through an arch way with curtains and go in and sup with the king. – One lady wrote: Entering the curtain, with humility and honor and stepping into my Father's living room. Wow! So intimate. Speaking words of adoration to him and dancing with him... He has taken over my heart, broken down strongholds in my life, healed me of cancer, given me a renewed affection for others…

I was able to come closer to God with a new understanding of who He is and who He wants to be to me! 

We had to put chains around our necks as props to reveal how sin weighs us down. We each had to physically remove the chains and through them into a metal bucket. Wow the sound! It was like a flood gate was opened and years of hurtful torment was washed away! I was finally set Free! 

I was able to release specific chains that bound me for most of my life.  It is the first time I truly felt free from the chains… This was truly a life altering event for me!  I not only felt free from those binding chains, but I also began to hear positive thoughts instead of negative self-talk. 

I found myself thoroughly enjoying the Word of God. 

At the conference ‘Come Away, My Beloved’.  It was the first time in my life that I received a Love Letter, and it was so moving that – I, who am not a crier especially in public was bawling like a newborn baby wanting to be fed. 

My brain was opened to the concept of a sovereign God. Honestly, I could not spell the word “sovereign” in my notes. After that retreat not only could I spell “sovereign” but I came to a new revelation of a sovereign God who is to “reign” in and over my life. A sovereign God who is perfect in all ways and His love for me is perfect.. all the time. 

Beyond experiencing God’s great love for me, I have been able to dig out old lies and hurts and examine them in the light of God’s word, examine them in the truth of who God says I am, and to break off the lies and hurts and stand as a victor and overcomer and triumphant daughter of the King of Kings. 

I was able to reclaim abundant hope. To embrace joy. And to trust God's dream for my life because He will hold me with His righteous right hand. 

by Cindy Geyer

Living Word:
Remember this, keep it in mind, and take it to heart. Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.
​Isaiah 46:8-9
 
Word in Motion: Do you hear the cry of His heart? 
There are times that life is simply hard and the struggle so overwhelming that we lose focus and we get lost in our emotions and worries. We start to fear and feel defeated. We seek resources and others to help but we still feel overwhelmed, lost and alone. 

YET, His still small voice is calling out, “Remember me."

"But Lord, I do remember." But do we? We can get so focused on the circumstances that we can forget His presence, His power, and His purpose in every moment of our lives.
 
His cry: Remember the former things I have done in your life. You are not alone. You will be able to make it through. I did it before and I will do it again. I will not change; my promise will stand forever.
 
The Lord is crying out for His beloved ones to come unto Him. To remember!

Remember this, keep it in mind, and take it to heart. Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. II make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’ Isaiah 46:8-10
 
Our awareness of Him needs to be our restored. (to see Him first) We need to change our focus. The things that distract us from our awareness of Him need to be removed from our main line of sight. It’s like looking through binoculars, what you zoom in on will seem closer and larger. We need to refocus and change our line of sight.
Do not conform to this world and its pattern but be transformed by the renewing of our minds, then we will know his perfect pleasing will for our lives. (Rom 12:1-2)
​
Remember Him and be changed. “I am God, My purpose will stand”
 
Do you hear the cry of His heart? What has He divinely done in your life that you need to remember at this time? What do you need to do to enhance your relationship with Him? He is a jealous God. He wants to be first in your heart, the one you adore. “I am God, and there is no other.”
 
“Listen to me, you whom I have upheld since your birth, and have carried since you were born. Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

“With whom will you compare me or count me equal? To whom will you liken me that we may be compared? Some pour out gold from their bags and weigh out silver on the scales; they hire a goldsmith to make it into a god, and they bow down and worship it. They lift it to their shoulders and carry it; they set it up in its place, and there it stands. From that spot it cannot move. Even though someone cries out to it, it cannot answer; it cannot save them from their troubles.
 
“Remember this, keep it in mind, and take it to heart. Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. Isaiah 46:3-9
 
Remember Him! He is your source of comfort. He is your provider. He is your defender. He is unchangeable. He is faithful!
I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness, and the gall.
I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me.
Yet, this I recall to mind and therefore I have hope:
Because of the Lord’s great love, I will not consumed, for his compassions will never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:19-22
It is inevitable that He will intervene on your behalf. He has done it before, and He will do it again. Remember – He is God and there is no other.

Respond to the cry of His heart. "I Remember!"

​This is what the Lord says - 
Fear not, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you; I will carry you through. I will protect you and provide for you, always.

I will rise to show you, My compassion. My understanding no one can fathom. I will lift you out of the mud of discouragement and free you from the prison of fear and worry.

I will never abandon you. I will never leave you! I will never forsake you!

You are precious to me. My child, I love you, and nothing, nothing can separate you from my love. Nothing you said, nothing you have done, nothing that has happened. There is nowhere you can go that will separate you from My love.

These things that weigh upon your heart and soul, I hear your cry and understand. I will be with you, help you and strengthen you through this place of despair.

 My promises are faithful and true, for I cannot lie, what I have spoken that I will do.

Child you are mine. I have redeemed you and call you by name, You are mine.
When you walk through the deep waters you will not drown, for I am with you.
When you pass through the fires, you will not burn nor be consumed, for I am with you,
When you walk through the den of lions you will not be eaten, for I am with you.
When you face the giant, you will not be harmed or killed, for I am with you.
Even when you walk through the valley of the shadow of death,  you can fear no evil, for I am with you. I will comfort you and protect you.
 
Cast you cares and fears upon me. I am strong enough! 

My child, I love you deeply and call you my own.
I will be with you; you are not alone.
I will answer; you have been heard.
You are mine, I will do what I said I will do.

Word In Motion:
Breathe!

Living Word:
Isaiah 43:1-2
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, your savior... 

Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or terrified of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you." 

Deuteronomy 31:8
The LORD Himself goes before you; He will be with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid or discouraged." 

Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 

Isaiah 41:10
​So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 

Living Word:
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth.
 Isaiah 53:7

​Word In Motion:
No mercy pleas escaped His lips, not one condemning cry
He suffered as deserving all in willingness to die
 
Not one defense He offered up as Calvary’s path He trod
No murmuring, no loud complaint, just yielding to His God
 
On the cross, His redeeming words, “Forgive them, they know not”
Then: "Father, why have you forsaken me", more grief than any ought
 
"I thirst": He cried, in agony. "It is finished", then, He said.
Gave up His spirit to His God…Death… then hung His head
 
But why no claims of innocence? No word to change His fate,
No syllable of self-defense to set the record straight
 
Because He took our guilt Himself. He bore it as His own
Though perfect in His righteousness, no sin had ever known
 
He willingly stood in my place and took what I was due
And if by faith you trust His work, His blood redeems you too.

Author unknown.

Living Word:
Put your hope in the Lord, because the Lord’s love never fails.
He sets his people completely free. Psalm 130:7

Word In Motion:
Remember!
Recall the truth of who I am. 
I am the Lord God Almighty, what I have spoken that I will do.
I am the everlasting God. I am faithful to all my promises. I do not lie nor forsake.
I am God! My word stands forever. I will accomplish all I have said I will do.

My love for you runs deep. It is greater than you can even define or imagine. Nothing can separate you from my love. You can’t do, say, or even think of anything that will separate you from my love. There is no where you can go from my love.  You are my child, and my never-ending love for you will always be.
​
​Do not look to the world for hope. The things of this world sway to and fro.  My hope is unwavering and anchored in my Son who gave His life for you. He is your strength and your source of help. He is the living proof that there is hope. I gave Him life so you can be free. My son, for your freedom. He is your source of strength, wisdom and hope.

Remember this, keep it in mind, take it to heart. 
Remember the former things, those of long ago.
    I am God, and there is no other.
    I am God, and there is none like me.
    I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come.
    I say, "My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please".  Isaiah 46:8-10

"What I have said that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do". Isaiah 46:11b

REMEMBER! Recall this to mind and have hope...
Great is His love for you and His mercies are new every morning.

"I will accomplish all that I have said."

​​by Cindy Geyer

​Dear God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Glorious Father,
May you give to our brothers and sisters the spirit of wisdom and revelation that gives them a deep and personal and intimate insight into the true knowledge of Your Son.

I ask that you open the eyes of their hearts, the very center and core of their being to be enlightened so that they will know and cherish the hope (the confident expectation) to which You have called them. I ask that they begin to understand what the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of Your power that IS in them.
​
I kneel before You and pray that out of Your glorious riches they will be strengthened with power through Your Spirit in their inner being, so that Christ, Your Son, may dwell in their hearts through faith. And I ask that they, being rooted and established in love, may have the power, to grasp how wide, how long, how high, and how deep the love of Christ is for them.

I pray they will fully experience His amazing, endless love for them and that they will know His love beyond measure. I ask that you fill them throughout their inner being, completely flooded with Your love.
 
 Now to You, O Lord, who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think according to Your great power that is at work within us, to You be the glory, forever and ever! Amen.
 
Ref: Eph 1:17-19 & Eph 3:14-20
​

By Cindy Geyer
The Word In Motion:
You know that scene in the movie where you know that something bad is going to happen? You are watching the main character, our hero, driving down the road, heading to see his family. Then you see another car heading towards him, driving fast and with obvious intent to harm.

You keep watching as the director of the movie shows clips of our hero just driving down the road excited with the prospect of seeing his family; and clips of the other driver, the killer careening down the road fixated with his intent to kill. We go back and forth between clips. Each one bringing us closer and closer to that inevitable moment.

The suspense is building. Our hero sees the other driver, but he can’t change his course. Then, it happens. The moment when they collide. We watch in horror as our hero is killed. The killer has fulfilled his goal...our hero is dead.

Yet, just before the collision, the director revealed something. It was in that moment where everything goes into slow motion and at the point of impact the music stops, and for a second the filming pauses as we see a smile on our hero's face, the killer sees it and his expression turns from victory to confusion. Then the scene goes back to full speed, the collision resumes, and then death.

We are shocked and angry. Sadness comes over us in waves as we see our hero is dead and the killer has escaped unharmed... Who is directing this movie? What has the director done? What is he thinking? He has killed off the hero. 

Then, we remember the smile. What was that about?

It causes us to wonder and reflect. To start imagining other outcomes. What if he isn’t  dead. What if this was the plan all along? What if…? But, he was buried, we watched the funeral. We start remembering other elements in the story, hoping something would happen that reveals our hero is not really dead? 

Why the smile?
==========
We have a true story, not a movie, a story that really happened like this. The main character, Jesus came to seek and save the lost. His whole desire was to spend time with his family, to reveal his love for us. The other driver, the Devil, excited by a plan to kill Jesus, with such an evil intent that it couldn’t be quenched.

The collision: Jesus is condemned, beaten, scorned, ridiculed, and wounded. Nailed to a cross, pierced in his side, suffocating, and then… death. The devil fulfilled his purpose...Jesus is dead.
 
Yet…right before death, in that moment when all stood still, the devil glimpsed something. A smile? For a brief second, he is confused…then the scene resumes, Jesus draws his last breath. “It is finished.”
 
Yet…why the smile?

What if he wasn’t really dead. What if this was the plan all along? What if…? But Jesus is dead. They buried him, and they mourned.

Kill Jesus? Who is directing this story anyways? The director is Jesus’ father, God Most High. He’s the author and finisher of this story. And the story is not done yet. There is still more to be revealed. This is only the beginning - not the end. It is setting the stage for the biggest reveal in all of history. An ending that will change the course of history for all time!

Remember the smile? It was a smile of secrecy. Jesus knew something the devil didn’t. Yes, Jesus is dead …but the devil didn’t win.

For God had a secret plot in the story.

He had a plan that had been in the works since before time. He knew that at price had to be paid for sin. The penalty for sin is death and a pure sacrifice had to be made for it.

Jesus, who was without sin, had to die to pay the debt, once and for all, for our sin. Jesus willingly gave his life for us. He came to seek and save the lost, to spend time with his family, to reveal the depth of his and God’s love for us.

Jesus had to die. His death made the way for our forgiveness. This is real love that He gave his life for us. A sacrifice to take away our sin. God was making a way to bring us to himself through Jesus’ death, no longer counting our sins against us. He died for our sins, our choices, once and for all. A single sacrifice for all sin, good for all time. He paid the debt. 

Through His death, He forgave all our sins, having canceled the charge which stood against us and condemned us. He has taken it away and nailed it to the cross. His death rescued us from the kingdom of darkness, purchased our freedom, and forgave our sins.

He is our hero who chose to die. His death and burial was the plan. 

So why the smile?

The final outcome is why he smiled. The part of the plan the killer knew nothing about. Our Hero's victory! 

See the devil thought he had won. He killed our hero. He killed the threat to his authority. He killed Jesus, the son of God! He was so proud of what he did that he didn't even give that smile a second glance. He is in charge now. He is in control. He celebrated his victory.
 
BUT...He should have given that smile a second glace. 
Yes, Jesus died. Yes, He was buried and they mourned. Yes, the sky grew dark and the earth trembled for the son of God was dead. 3 days of sorrow. 

3 days? Wait what? Why only 3 days. Our hero is dead. 

Wait for it! Part 2! You know it. This is the part that causes the hair on our arms to stand up straight, our hearts to pound in anticipation...

God raised Him from the dead. Jesus is alive! He has risen! He is back with all power, with all authority, all dominion over life and death. Our Hero. Our Savior!

He stormed the gates of hell. He revealed himself to the devil in all his glory and declared I AM ALIVE! Death is defeated! Your dominion is over. My kingdom and my authority reigns.

He is alive!!
So SMILE!
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The Living Word:
And having disarmed the powers and authorities of this world, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Colossians 2:13-15

Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. I Corinthians 15:55-57

Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit. I Peter 3:18

He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins. Colossians 1:13-14

SEE...
​For the wages of sin is death...Romans 6:23a

THE GIFT...
For God so loved the world that He sent His only Son. John 3:16
and His gift is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23b

HIS ONLY SON...
…with the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.(hence the smile) Hebrews 12:2

…when Christ came into the world, he said to God, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings. But you have given me a body to offer. Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time…Our Savior (hero) offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Hebrews 10:5-14
 
 FOR YOUR LIFE...
When you were dead in your sins and in your sinful nature of your flesh that had not yet been cut away, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave all your sins, having canceled the charge of your legal indebtedness, which stood against you and condemned you; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities of this world, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Colossians 2:13-15
 
UNCONDITIONAL LOVE...
We know what real love is because Christ laid down His life for us. I John: 3:16
 
For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. John 3:16

And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

OUR RESPONCE...
We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. He declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.  Romans 3: 23-24 & 26
 
He has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. BUT you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. Colossians 1:22-23

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15

by Don Geyer
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The Living Word:
One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.” The region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee.
Luke 8:22-26

The Word in Motion:
I was reading this passage this morning and I wondered, what would it have been like if the disciples truly believed in Jesus to the fullest extent? Perhaps the Scripture would read: One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. One of the disciples went to wake him but Peter said unto him, “Did not the Master say unto us, ‘Let us go over to the other side of the lake’? Therefore, do not wake him, but let us to the other side. We will be safe in the midst of this storm.” The storm raged on and the boat was filled with the sea, but they sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee.  Not Luke 8:22-26

In thinking this way, I am struck by two things.

First, Jesus expects us to have faith in him. With the disciples, it was at least a little excusable. This was all new. They were pioneers in the faith and lapses like this could be expected. We, however, have the benefit of history. We really have no excuse for weak or non-existent faith. The disciples, the early church, our forefathers, a “great cloud of witnesses” all paved the way for us to have the most extraordinary faith – but in reality we’re no better than the disciples that Jesus would ask us, “Where is your faith?”

The cool thing about this is that we can rewrite our story. Much like I have done with the disciple’s story. All it takes (or would have taken for the disciples) is to make a different decision. Look at the circumstances around us and evaluate our chances, or take Jesus at his word. It isn’t always that simple, but it is. Belief is just a decision. The sooner you make the right choice, the easier it will be to build faith, so that next time, the decision comes naturally.

As a simple exercise, try this. Look up all the times Jesus said to someone, “Where is your faith?” or the ever popular “Oh, ye of little faith!” rewrite the story. What would it have looked like with the decision of faith?  

Second, BECAUSE the disciples reacted the way they did WE have something very reassuring. If they didn’t wake him up he wouldn’t have rebuked the wind and the raging waters. We wouldn’t have this account that shows us that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him. A powerful assurance that Jesus has everything in control in our lives. And this is an important lesson we need to know. And of course, that’s the reason this story is here. It’s not to point out the failings of the disciples, but to display the power of Jesus (who, by the way, is the same yesterday, today, and forever).

This story is also a wonderful example of the way God takes our failures, fears, and doubts and turns them into something good (Romans 8:28). The disciple’s doubt was our gain. But don’t stop there, what about your past doubts? You may not always see it, but God is at work in those, too. Don’t be discouraged if you waivered in the past. God can (and maybe already has) use them for good. Maybe for you, maybe for someone else. Have faith.

In the meantime, rewrite your story.

by Cindy Geyer

Living Word:
Yet, this I recall to mind; therefore, I have hope…Lamentations 3:21

Word In Motion:
So much has happened in this last year, some of it good and some of it bad. Many have lost loved ones due to COVID-19, cancer, and other circumstances. In the support group for the disease I have, 6 people have died from COVID-19, just in the last 2 weeks. Many are struggling due to finances and lack of fellowship with family and friends. There are  people in physical pain and emotional pain. Loss, fear, loneliness, discouragement etc... so many prayer requests for help.

I have suffered through many of these circumstances. Death, grief, fear, physical pain and even loneliness. There have been times that I am so overwhelmed by the emotions and pain, that I cannot think straight and want to whine or even give up…

In Lamentations 3, King Solomon says how the bitterness and the gall have overwhelmed him and his soul is downcast within him. He says he well remembers them, meaning he dwells in them, or as my mom used to say, “wallows in them”. They have consumed him, and his soul sinks into despair.
I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness, and the gall.  I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet, this I recall to mind; therefore, I have hope…
Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.  Lamentations 3:19-23
 
Then something within Him pauses and grasps onto a truth…
YET (definition: nevertheless; in spite of the bitterness, even so, still, however,) in all the bitterness and discouragement, he pauses and chooses to recall something that gives hope, something that strengthens his soul…
 
God is faithful, and His love never fails. He responds with the knowledge that God IS his source of help, comfort, strength, and his portion. He recalls that God’s compassion for him fails not and through His mercies he is not consumed.  So, therefore he will hope in Him.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” Lamentations 3:22

I realize that I can tend to wallow in my despair and remember it well.  Fear, worry,  discouragement, sorrow can overwhelm me. My soul becomes downcast with in me. 

A verse I hold close to my heart is Isaiah 40:28 - Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of universe. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 
Did you read that? God’s understanding no one can fathom. He understands our circumstances, our emotions, our hearts. An understanding no one can fathom. Wow!
​
The whole chapter of Isaiah 40 is the Lord telling us to recall who He is. Reminding us of His strength and compassion. His understanding that no one can fathom. His depth of love, compassion, and understanding for our situations that no one can measure or grasp. It is so deep, so high, so wide, and so long. An understanding that bridges the gap between despair and comfort.

Like Solomon, I must pause in the pain, in the sorrow, in the despair and cry out, Yet…
To recall who my God is and therefore have hope. So here it goes….

My God is full of compassion and understanding. Through His mercies I will not be consumed. He is faithful; therefore, I have hope.

I recall also that He is my mediator. He stands before the Father interceding on my behalf. How can I be consumed by this world when I have Jesus, the Son of God praying and interceding for me? There is no way God would not answer his prayers. Therefore, I have hope.

This I will remember and will not despair: When I grieve, He is understanding and compassionate. When I am afraid, He is there. When I fall, He is there to pick me up, When I struggle, he is interceding on my behalf.  When I am weak, He is strong. Though the earth gives way, and the world is uncertain…I will not fear! My God is my refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. He is my portion. Therefore I have hope”.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
Psalm 46;2

So, in this new year, 2021, when you are feeling discouraged, fearful, overwhelmed, or maybe just wallowing, pause and recall this to mind and therefore have hope:

He is the everlasting God, compassionate and full of understanding. His mercies are new every morning, you will not be consumed. His love never fails. He is your refuge and strength, your ever-present help in times of trouble.
​
Great is your faithfulness.
Therefore, I have hope.

by Don Geyer
The Living Word:
For this reason, I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.                              Ephesians 3:14-21
 
The Word in Motion:
I’ve said it before, all of the collective wisdom of all of the world’s priests, prophets, pastors, teachers, authors, song writers, Jews, and Christians – past, present, and future has only begun to understand the first letter of an alphabet belonging to language known only to God. And He’s been (and is still) teaching us as much as we can understand.

To begin to understand something about that language, I borrow from both nature and science fiction. The Nature portion is straight forward. Think of the universe. Scientists tell us there are billions and billions of stars out there. And there are planets, asteroids, comets, nebulae, and the like. They think there might be an end to it somewhere, but have not yet found it. Every time they send out a space exploration ship or launch a new telescope they make discoveries that amaze and excite us. (Did you know Jupiter's ocean moon Europa probably glows in the dark?) There’s no end to what they might find next.

The science fiction element gives us a multiplication element necessary to get an inkling of an idea of the unfathomability of our infinite God. It’s the idea of a multiverse. That’s where, well let’s let the internet tell us: “The multiverse is a hypothetical group of multiple universes. Together, these universes comprise everything that exists: the entirety of space, time, matter, energy, information, and the physical laws and constants that describe them. The different universes within the multiverse are called ‘parallel universes’, ‘other universes’, ‘alternate universes’, or ‘many worlds’.” This concept is necessary in our understanding of God because it helps us to see that there are aspects of God that we will never see (at least this side of eternity) let alone begin to understand.

I really want you to get this picture in your head. We serve an infinite God. Simply put that means, by definition, that we will never know all of God (not even on the other side of eternity). “Infinite” means “not finite” or without end. That means EVERY aspect of God is infinite. His love, his power, his joy, his peace, his patience, his anger, his (oh, just fill in the blank or I’ll run out of room!).  To think that we could ever claim to know him is laughable.

And THAT is the beauty of Paul’s prayer (quoted above). He understands something about the infinite nature of God. First, you’re going to need some strength to get you ready for Him. So for that he summons the power of the Holy Spirit who alone is able to communicate to the human heart. That power is then accessed by faith in Christ who lives in us. This is a root system, so to speak, like the Redwood trees. Redwoods have a relatively shallow root system, but they interact with each other to form a root network that helps them all stand. “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people” our own understanding is good, but we need all the Lord’s holy people to really understand God’s love.

Now, this passage, as it is written is about God’s love. But we could just as easily be talking about any of God’s attributes here. Only God’s Spirit has the power and is able to adequately communicate to our frail human forms the enormity of any of God’s attributes. It’s kind of like teaching quantum physics to a flea – and it understanding! It’s quite a feat. Do you get it? You don’t have the capacity to fully understand God. Not even a little!

I know that sounds bad, if not a little condescending, but 0ur understanding of God MUST grow. No matter how much you think you know, it’s simply not enough. It doesn’t do him justice. But here’s the good news:
Paul is praying for three things...that you

1. may have power to grasp the love of Christ,
2. know this love
3. and be filled with God.

Isn’t this a fabulous prayer? We’ve already talked about our need to have strength through the power of the Spirit. The second thing Paul is praying for is just as mind-blowing. “To know this love that surpasses knowledge.” He admits in his prayer that this is something impossible. (It’s a good thing we have a God that specialized in the impossible.) But do you realize what this means!? IT’S NOT IMPOSSIBLE! Not in our tiny human brains, but in our spirit we can know this boundless love (again, or any other attribute that He wants to communicate to us). He is unknowable, but wants to be known. He makes himself known.

I join with Paul and pray this for you. Since he already put it in words that make us wonder, I’ll summarize: I pray that you may know ALL of Him.

Action Item: Get ready! He’s a lot to take in.
​
And a final note. The ending of Paul’s prayer opens this up to us specifically because we are part of the church in “all generations forever”. For God to do more than we ask or imagine is no stretch. But in keeping with his infinite character it is of necessity “immeasurable.” And if you don’t know me, I’ve got a pretty good imagination and it doesn’t even begin to test God.

And if you’ve ever wondered what “to him be glory in the church” means, it means you “get it.” That you would glorify God more than anything else. Because you would exercise that imagination and you would start asking in earnest for more of Him.

Active Motion
Ask in earnest for more of Him.
Write down what he reveals
Get ready! He’s a lot to take in

​​by Don Geyer
Living Word:
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1John 4:10
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
 
Word in Motion:
These are probably three of the most powerful verses I know, and yet somehow very few catch the depth of what is herein expressed. We’ve got two apostles giving us the lowdown on love. John, the beloved, one of Jesus’ best friends (as is evidenced by the fact that he was chosen anytime just a few of the disciples were called out) and Paul, the self-proclaimed chief of sinners and former antagonist of the early church. You might think that with such different characters there would be a variation in their observations. But did you notice how closely these verses read? The big takeaway is this: God loves us. Not just us Christians, or Believers, but Humanity!

There is something that we overlook in these verses that is misunderstood and misrepresented.  It’s a question as old as time, I think, that we start asking early in life, and few ever find a satisfactory answer. What is love? According to these verses (and others), love is not some ambiguous emotional state or some other nebulous thing out there. It is something very concrete and measurable. It is sacrifice. Pure and simple. If you want to know if you love someone, ask yourself what you’re willing to sacrifice for them. Will you give up your time for them? Your resources? Your life?

Think about it. These verses tell us how much God loves us, right? (It’s not a trick question, the answer is “yes”.) But there’s more. God has given us his time – he wants us to spend eternity with him, he is always with us (he will never leave us or forsake us). He has given us his resources - “Ask and it will be given to you” (Matthew 7:7, and so many more). And he has given us his life as is mentioned in our verses for today. Now, while the first two wouldn’t be sacrifices for God, they would be for us and therefore an appropriate way for us to demonstrate our love to someone else. Likewise, all these things would be a good way for us to show our love to God

So can you love someone without sacrifice? No, I think you can like them, but I do not think its love. Now, this is going to be bad news to some who say, “I love you because God says we’re supposed to love everybody, but I don’t like you.” I know I’ve said that before. I hate it when God has me write something and then in the middle of it, he challenges me on what I am writing. Now all those people to whom I’ve said I love you, while thinking in the back of my head, only because I have to, I’ll have to demonstrate it – or at least be willing to – through sacrifice. This is God’s way.

Here is today’s challenge:
Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1-2
And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. 2John 1:6
​
What is God asking you to sacrifice for the people (saved or not) He love​s? 


Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice [an act of love], holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Romans 12:1 -

Active Motion
Ask God what He is wanting you to sacrifice
Write down what He reveals
Surrender
Demonstrate that love to those He loves.

My Child,
You have journeyed up a steep and rugged path in recent months. The way ahead is hidden and uncertain. Focus your attention on me, your constant companion. Trust that I will equip you fully for whatever awaits you on your journey. I am with you watching over you. I will never leave you alone.  
 
Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders. Deut 33 :12
 
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deut 31:8
 
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go; for unto you I lift my soul. Psalms 143:8
 
… listen to his voice and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life.  Deut 30 :20
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23: 1-4
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