April 18, 2003 V1N13
Hi everybody! Besides the fact Yahoo seems to have changed their formatting details, this issue looks like it's going to be bigger than usual. Ain't God good!
~The Savior's Words~
If you never felt pain,
Then how would you know that I'm a Healer?
If you never went through difficulty,
How would you know that I'm a Deliverer?
If you never had a trial,
How could you call yourself an overcomer?
If you never felt sadness,
How would you know that I'm a Comforter?
If you never made a mistake,
How would you know that I'm Forgiving?
If you knew all, How would you know that
I will answer your questions?
If you never were in trouble, How would you
know that I will come to your rescue?
If you never were broken, Then how would
you know that I can make you whole?
If you never had a problem,
How would you now that I can solve them?
If you never had a suffering, Then
how would you know what I went through?
If you never went through the fire,
Then how would you become pure?
If I gave you all things,
How would you appreciate them?
If I never corrected you, How would
you know that I love you?
~submitted by Deborah Epp~
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The Night Before Easter Came
'Twas the night before Easter, and all through the land
was sadness and crying o'er the death of one man.
The cross where He'd hung still stood, splintered and bare,
but His body was laid in a tomb with great care.
The people who loved Him most tossed in their beds,
while visions of Jesus Christ filled up their heads.
The sun had just shone on a high mountain cap
when some women arose from a restless night's nap.
There was no time for breakfast or small, idle chatter
for they had to take care of a most urgent matter.
Away to the tomb they went, quiet as mice
to anoint Jesus' body with ointment and spice.
The dawn's golden light, very peaceful and still,
gave a warmth that took away some of their chill.
But all of a sudden the whole earth did shake
causing the women to think, Was this a mistake?
Should we stop what we're doing and go get a man?
For they didn't know this was part of God's plan--
to bring back to life His own perfect Son,
and show through His death salvation is won.
Then Mary from Magdalen thought, Shame, shame, shame.
She calmed all her friends down, calling each one by name.
"Salome and Mary, we must keep on going.
No earthquake should stop us from our deep love showing."
So on to the tomb of the Lord Christ they flew
to accomplish the task they had set out to do.
Salome now said to her friends with a groan,
"Can even all three of us move the large stone
that covers the entrance to Jesus' dark tomb?"
The others said nothing, their hearts filled with gloom.
When they got to the cave where Christ's body was laid,
Mary, James' mother felt very afraid.
For the stone had already somehow rolled back,
and the entrance was open, frightening and black.
They entered the tomb and were looking around
when a startling thing made their hearts start to pound.
Standing in front of them, dressed all in white--
a handsome young man, a dazzling sight
He smiled and said,"There is nothing to fear.
You are looking for Jesus. Guess what. He's not here!
See the place where they laid Him, His body is gone,
and the world will forever be changed from now on.
Remember Christ said, ' I must be crucified,
for God's plan cannot be fulfilled 'till I've died.
But on the third day I will rise from the dead.
When it happens the world will have nothing to dread'
So tell His disciples, especially Peter
that Galilee is where their joy will be sweeter.
Jesus did promise to meet them all there;
when they see Him again, they'll have no despair."
The young man then vanished completely from sight,
and the women ran from the tomb with great might.
Then awe filled them all from their toes to their heads
when it sank in that Jesus was raised from the dead.
And they marveled how God did a wonderful thing
by taking away the graves terrible sting.
Mary the Magdalene gave a loud whistle.
"Christ lives!" she cried, and she ran as fast as a missile.
"I'll share the good news about His resurrection,
to make glad the people who felt His affection."
Her friends raced beside her, their sad hearts now bright
and gave God the glory for their Easter delight.
~submitted by Dakota Saukel
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Verse of the Week
1 Corinthians 15:3-4For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also recieved, thatChrist died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He wasburied and that He was raised on the third day according to theScriptures.I've found that so often when we tell about what Christ did for us, we leave him in the grave and forget to say "And rose again". This versetells us that not only did Christ die to take away our sins, but that Herose again, and is living. ~Christy Smith
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Prayer & Praise
Nothing in particular has come to my attention, but my praise today is, HE IS ALIVE! Something to remember.
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Word Study By AprilRose PilgrimHe was numbered with the transgressors and He bare the sins of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. Isaiah 53:12cnumbered with the transgressors;counted or claimed as a sinner or violater.Isaiah 53: 5,6 He was wounded for our transgressons, He was bruised for our iniquities,the chastisementof our peace was upon Him, and with His strioes are we healed. All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned each one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.Isaiah 53:3-12Mark 15:28And the soldiers led Him into the hall......,and they clothed Him with purple, and plaited a crown of thorns and put it about His head....and they smote Him.... and spit upon Him. And they bring Him unto the place Golgotha....and they crucufied Him.And very early in the morning on the first day of the week....they saw that the stone was rolled away....they saw a young man sitting on the right side. And he saith unto them....'' He is risen, He is not here, behold the place where they laid Him.''He is no longer dead, He is Risen.Jesus is The Way, The Truth and The Light, no man cometh to the Father but by Him John 14:6 ===================================================Selected Sayings1. What the sunshine is to the flower, the Lord Jesus Christ is to my soul. -Alfred Lord Tennyson2. The colored sunsets and the starry heavens, the beautiful mountains and the painted flowers, are not half so beautiful as a soul that is serving Jesus outof love, in the wear and tear of common life.3. We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. Winston Churchill4. God loves each of us as if there was only one of us. -Augustine SmileyA minister was forced to stop by a traffic cop to pull over for speeding.As the cop was about to write the ticket,the minister said to him, "Blessed are the merciful, for theyshall obtain mercy."The cop handed the minister the ticket and said, "Go thou and sin no more." -Submitted by Deborah Epp Well all of you have a blessed Easter!Website address is www.oocities.org/ready4anything_2003. And if you have anything to send e-mail me at: ready4anything_2003@yahoo.com. Staff: Editor in Chief: Jesus Christ Assistant Editors: Jamie Scharf & April Pilgrim Website Coodinator: Cheri Cross Contributors: Dakota Saukel April Pilgrim Christy Smith Deborah Epp