God Himself authored annual remembrances. He taught His people from the early pages of Scripture to set aside specific days to deliberately recall His mighty acts. He warned them passionately never to forget what He had done in their behalf and to fear the prospect so vividly that their memories would be sharpened ever again like the blade of a warrior’s sword. For most of us who have been raised in the church and know the hymns and songs of this season by heart, we make the choice to set our hearts and minds once again on the saving, death-defeating acts of Jesus Christ. We ask God to do through His Spirit what only He can do:
Our faithful Abba Father, cause the looming shadow of the Cross to fall afresh on us again. Let us remember with horror how dark our lives would be without the Christ. Roll the heavy stone of our slumbering familiarity away from the empty tomb and wake us up with a shout.
And He hears our prayer.
I awakened this morning to an empty house, my man away for the better part of the day and, early on, I felt the Spirit begin to answer the petition I’d made yesterday. Lord, help me to remember. Move me once again with the power of the Cross.
God reminded me of a portion in the 27th chapter of Acts when the Apostle Paul and 275 others were aboard a ship in a terrible storm that had raged for many days. We know that, of his cohorts, at least Luke was with him, the ink of his pen filled with brine. Read Acts 27:33-36 for yourself.
Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. “For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything. Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.” After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves.
Look at that last portion once more:
He took some bread and gave thanks to God…Then he broke it.
Read words from the page of the gospel written earlier by the very same man who penned the Book of Acts:
When the hour came, Jesus and His apostles reclined at the table. And He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” After taking the cup, He gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:14-19
Took bread. Gave thanks, Broke it.
Same words. Same order.
Back to Acts 27.
In the New International Commentary on the New Testament, F. F. Bruce writes…
There is a cluster of words and phrases here – “took bread,” “gave thanks,” “broke it” – which are familiar in a eucharistic setting. This supports the view of many commentators that the meal here described [in Acts 27] was a eucharistic meal. Probably it was so in a limited sense: all shared the food, but to the majority it was an ordinary meal, while for those who ate with eucharistic intention (Paul and his fellow-Christians) it was a valid eucharist: “the bread which we break, is it not our participation in the body of Christ?” (1 Corinthians 10:16)
To the majority it was an ordinary meal.
To the majority of people on Planet Earth today, this is an ordinary day. Malls will keep humming, Facebook will keep friending, Twitter will keep tweeting, planes will keep flying, tellers will keep telling, businesses will keep selling.
But for those of us who “eat” of this day with Eucharistic intention, and think deliberate thoughts toward a crucified Christ, ours is a valid feast of remembrance.
While others eat this day away like it’s any other day, we savor its bittersweet taste and call it sacred.
Maybe you have long been in a storm with no sun in sight. Right there in all the tossing, surrounded even by those who may ignore Him or mock Him, draw from the Body and the Blood. Let today, even in your pain, be sacred to you and any brokenness, your living sacrifice, and may the heavens open wide with the thundering power of the Cross and drench you with the rain of your long-awaited deliverance.
Do this in remembrance of Me.
Because of the Cross of Christ, Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.
The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 2 Timothy 4:18
This is a prayer I wrote this morning. For me, reading the prayers of others sometimes reminds me of something I, too, want to ask of my Father. We are all His children. We who are in Christ are each invited to “the Throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” I am in need. You are in need. If any of this speaks to the place you are right now, you are welcome to come right here with me and kneel as one who believes and we’ll bring these petitions to our faithful God together.
My Dearest Abba and my Savior and Redeemer, Jesus,
Cause me to be moved and mindful of this death and resurrection season – Of this, the most important annual celebration we commemorate as Your church. Cause me to be awake and aware in You, Lord. I am so grateful for the sacrifice of this One spotless Lamb of God. For just a moment, I try to imagine myself on that same road of suffering with that same cross on my flesh-torn back, pierced, hung, and exposed on that same tree and I shudder. My sins outweigh my frame, Lord. I am unable to bear them. Thank You, Jesus, for not only bearing the pain but for enduring the shame. You are the single reason I am not weighed down in the suffocating mire of shame every single day of my life. I earned it. I deserved it. I am so grateful, Abba Father, for Your willingness to will and to witness that soul-saving, Hell-defeating act rendered by Your one and only Son. I praise You, faithful, merciful God, and ask to be moved this weekend with meditation, reflection, fresh wonder and renewed victory.
Please pursue each member of my family and me for the full work and benefit of Your Cross and Your resurrection. Please do not yield to our resistance. Appear unmistakably in every place we run. Walk through every door we slam. No addiction need hold us, no affliction need bind us, no suffering need smother us, no defeat need hover over us, no foolish act need define us and death need not haunt us. In the quake of the Cross, hopelessness slipped through the trembling cracks of earth and fell with an everlasting sentence into the bottomless abyss. Graves broke open and the bonds of the guilty fell from their wrists with a breath-taking thud. Because of this day that we, Your church, commemorate, we are free.
We are grateful.
We are aware.
In the saving Name of Jesus Christ,
Amen.
Thank you, Sweet Beth for this post! It’s made me stop and think this afternoon, digging deep into my tho’ts. I don’t know what’s taken me where I am, but I’m grateful for your sharing and guiding us. Your prayer is beautiful and I wish you, Amanda, Melissa and your families a very blessed Easter Sunday.
Easter blessings to all our Siestas!
Joining this corporate prayer. Thank you for writing it out and sharing. Thinking of these lyrics today:
At the wonderful, tragic, mysterious tree
On that beautiful, scandalous night you and me
Were atoned by His blood and forever washed white
On that beautiful, scandalous night
Amen.
Sweet Beth, my mother brought me an oil painting today she had bought for me last year for my birthday! The timing was perfect. A shepherd with his flock. And it has quoted Psalm 23:1 … “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” The “I shall not want” stood out hugely to me. I shall not want. I shall not want. For the LORD is my shepherd. Because of Jesus … I shall not want. Glory!
I love you.
As has been said, Amen and Amen! BLESS YOU, Dear Sister, for considering your Siestas this day to minister to with your Spirit-filled meditation on this GREAT TRUTH.
And Bless ALL the Siestas who have posted such remarkable reflections of their own! Wow!
I will not add more words, but will indeed add my fervent agreement in the Spirit of our Christ to all that has been shared.
Agape to you all this precious day!
Beth R
Liberty Lake, WA
Isaiah 53:5
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
all day the hymn “how can you refuse Him now” sung recently by brooke fraser (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIgKcJDjWvk&feature=share) has been on my heart and lips. what a glorious thing He did, far beyond my capacity to understand. it just strikes me what a lonely thing it was for Him.. not only did all His earthly friends and followers forsake Him, but His very Father in heaven turned His back on Him as well. He is my greatest comfort in loneliness.. a gift He can give me because He faced and took on the ultimate loneliness any human being could ever suffer. thank you Beth for sharing your reflections and reminding us to stop and wonder and meditate on our glorious Christ.
Christ in us.. the hope of glory.
martha
May God hear our praises and
know our hearts.
Thank you Beth for reminding
us to take time to breathe
in this sacred day.
.Thanking God for His presence, His forgiveness, His love and joy. Thank you for sharing your heart with us, Beth. God righteousness and His goodness is overwhelming! He is awesome. How blessed we are to know Him! How wonderful to have “Sisters in Christ” to share our heart-felt thoughts!
The Road of Redemption was to fulfill as a promise, to set free or rescue. God has sent Jesus to set us free and rescue us from sin, from evil, and from being destroyed by Satan.
In the open sea a ship can be tossed to and fro with the strong waves. When man has fallen and he is sinking deeper, deeper into the sea, then someone comes along offers them a life jacket then pulls them out to rescue them__they are set free from drowning or death. Jesus pulls us out of the stronghold of life. We have to reach out and accept when He offers us life or we will drown, which eventuality leads to death. The Road that Jesus travelled rescued us.
The Road of Forgiveness is not an easy one. It involves giving up resentment against someone, to pardon, to not punish.
Jesus forgives us of our sins when we come to Him. He has paid the price for our sins when He died on the cross.
Without His forgiveness we would have guilty, shame, heartache, and we would have to pay for the things we do wrong.
How does it make you feel when you do something wrong, then someone says to you, “I forgive you” and “I don’t hold it against you”? What a relief and how nice it feels to not have to carry that burden around. Jesus steps in for us and stands up for us. He forgives us.
The Road of Salvation saves the soul from sin and death. Jesus gives us a chance to choose to come to Him and ask forgiveness of our sins. He wants to lead in our lives. He wants to be Lord and Savior. Jesus knew what He was doing when He went to the cross to pay the price for our sins. He knew that we would be able to have a personal relationship with Him.
There is no other Salvation, but through Jesus Christ. When we put other things in the place of Jesus we fail to let Him lead. We also fail to let Him take care of our sin problem. We have a tendency to do things our way, that is usually when we fall right on our faces. Jesus knows our hearts and how we are. Jesus is for us, He lifts us up, forgives us and meets our needs.
The Road that leads Home…our Heavenly Home where we belong. We long to be with Christ. We long to have a place where we belong and feel loved. We have a Heavenly home awaiting for us__where the streets of gold are.
How excited are you when you have been on vacation and you get back home after a long trip? Well, our Heavenly Home will be a place of rest, restoration, peace and joy. It will be more exciting than our earthly homes.
The Road of Via Dolorosa is the way of suffering. Jesus suffered on the cross for you and me. We suffer as Christians and the road can break us or make us a better person. All the suffering will not be counted as loss, but be brought to God for His glory. His road was the road of sacrifice that lead to the road that we now travel.
His suffering leads us to the Road of Redemption, Forgiveness, Salvation and finally Home.
Christ left us a road map. It is up to us to take the right road and follow Him. It is the Road of Love.
Master who calmed the sea
Who died and gave us life eternally
How great You are
How mighty and powerful is Your love
That lives through us even today
And calms the soul to rest
That leads and guides the way.
You have faced the dangers of life
And conquered death beyond the grave
You have healed the sick,
And given to the poor,
Given Yourself and life forever more.
The angels in Heaven shout Your very Name
Living glory that still remains
That wipes away sin and human pain,
You live forever, Master who calmed the sea,
Always there for you and me.
In Christ, Joyce Have a Blessed Easter!
Amen and amen! What a beautiful prayer. At church today, we sang “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded”…such a beautiful yet somber reminder of all He did for us…for me…thank you Siesta Mama for once again pointing us to the Cross. Have a blessed celebration of our Resurrected One this weekend! 🙂
Thank you for this dear Beth.
This is the prayer I’ve chanted throughout the day. Its called the chaplet of Divine Mercy
Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and the Blood, Soul and Divinity, of your dearly Beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion have mercy on us and on the whole world.
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and all the whole world. Amen.
Sister Lynn, I am not Catholic, however this chaplet has been a dear support to me during many a trying season. I have been comforted by the image of Christ’s sacred heart asking us to “Trust in Him” His Divine Mercy is our hope. Thank you dear Sister for serving our Lord and therefore serving each of us. Blessings
OK Beth, I’m sure you posted this fabulous message just for me as I return from caring for my elderly mother who is suffering with dementia. I have traveled up and down IH 35 three times this week missing my usual Easter week services at my church.
I know “washing my mother’s feet” is more important than a church services, however, her situation as well as unexpected personal challenges have allowed that “perfect storm”. I’m holding on for dear life and sanity.
I knelt and joined you in your prayer. Oh, thank you!!! I will add 2 Tim. 4:18 to my Siesta memory verses ASAP.
I’m not sure how to adequately thank our Lord and you for ministering to all of us and sharing your innate gifts and spiritual journey. I met you decades ago at Hyde Park Baptist Church before you redirected your ministry. I would never have guessed the impact, blessings and encouragement you would bestow on my dear friends and me as the years have passed.
All I know to do in appreciation is to pray for you, your dear family members, your ministry and all those at LPM who bless us so profoundly. I pray God’s mighty Kingdom, his power and presence and his River of Grace to continue to cover you and your loved ones. Love and appreciation
Amen! Thank you for sharing and praying and confirming. What a special day the Lord has revealed today with fresh understanding. Such a touching post after the best Good Friday service.
Thank you again for all your service to us and to Him!
And thank you Lord for all those siestas that shared!
love
mk
Amen.
With tears streaming down my face, speechless.
Mama Beth,
I so enjoyed this weeks “Wednesday’s With Beth”, on “Life Today”. I pray that the I never grow tired of the cross and the resurection. I loved so much the cherubs guarding Jesus.. What a vision of Glory.. I DVRd the show and had the ladied in my small group watch with me. We all were quite moved.
HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN! Amazing love,How can it be, that thou my God should die for me.!
My sweet siesta sisters.. Happy Easter.
Peace,
Shannon
Tears here! Oh, that we remember and love him even more for what he did for us.
one day they led Him up calvary’s mountain
one day they nailed Him, to die on a tree
suffering anguish, despised and rejected
bearing my sins my Redeemer is He
hands that healed nations
stretched out on a tree
He took the nails for me…
living He loved me
dying He saved me
buried He carried my sins far away
rising He justified, freely, forever
one day He’s coming
OH GLORIOUS DAY
Amen!! Thank You Jesus!! I love you so much Lord!!
Watched the Passion of the Christ again today and cried!
So Thankful that God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have EVERLASTING LIFE!!!
Earlier this week we also celebrated the Passover. Thank You Jesus for your Body and Your Blood! Thank You for being our sacrificial Lamb!
In Jesus name I pray!! Amen!
(Thank You too Beth!)
Today was a “perfect” Good Friday… rainy, stormy, dark. Sunshine has always seemed inappropriate on the day Christ was crucified. Tonight I sang in the choir at our Good Friday service and as the service progressed, candles were extinguised one at a time until , at the end of the service, only one light was left as the heavy wooden cross was carried out…That light can never be extinguised. That light is the light of the world.
THE PEOPLE WALKING IN DARKNESS HAVE SEEN A GREAT LIGHT
Precious Beth, how many times have I heard you say the Old and New Testament always paralle each other. I read Acts 27:33-38 today, Paul speaks of the men being in constant suspense and having gone without food for 14 days, they broke bread together and were encouraged. I read the accounts of the first Passover in Exodus 12:1-16 where God instructed the people to take care of the lamb until the 14th day of the month and sacrifice it at twilight. Were the children of Isreal in “constant suspense” those 14 days as well, were they looking ahead to what God might do in their lives, to a future freedom from slavery? Thank you Father for your Lamb that was slain for me.
Amen, sister……He didn’t tell us to remember his birth (Christ mass), He told us to remember His DEATH….not even His resurrection…..”Do this, in remembrance of Me”. WHY can’t we see that WE are His people…..those annual remembrances are for US!! WE are those same covenant people! How can we renounce those very promises the God Who changes NOT gave as not belonging to us?! He is the same yesterday, today and FOREVER…..YAHWEH…..the great I AM!!! He became what He needed to become to save his people…..Yahweh-shua….Yahshua….YHWH is SALVATION!!! Halleluyah!
Have a Blessed Easter!!!!!
Oh my how you spoke my heart! I so needed this tonight.
Thank you so much for who you are to us all and to Him who made us!!
Happy Resurrection Day!!
I really appreciated your prayer and post today. My 16 week old son passed away almost 14 weeks ago. I’m having a really hard time focusing on the holiday this year. He was my only child, and I’m just kind of stuck thinking of how this Easter and Mother’s Day won’t be. I would greatly covet your prayers. Thanks
Praying for you, Jamie.
Patti
Sweet Jamie, I am so sorry. Just let yourself lean into Jesus and his loving arms. May the Holy Spirit come and minister to you. Love and prayers.
My heart aches for your loss. I will be lifting you in prayer today and Mothers day. So sorry for your loss!!
Amen and Amen.
Thank you sweet Jesus. Thank you, thank you and thank you. You saved me. You save me.
You are so worthy. Praise be to the lamb.
thank you . . .
Thank you so much for this post it hit the nail on the head. Have a Blessed Easter weekend with your family!
My dear sweet Beth, Thank you so much for allowing the Lord to use you by sharing your life, yourself and the words that the Lord gives you. That prayer came at just the right time to lift me up and turn my heart to the true meaning of Easter. HE IS RISEN and I AM SAVED! I love you, girl. Lynda
Amen!
Lord, bind me to Your side. I don’t want to ever walk away from
the most stunning work of the cross and get lost in lesser things. Beth – I, too, am thankful the Father willed and witnessed it. And that my Precious Redeemer endured it. There is nothing more unfathomable or beautiful in all of scripture to me. I love Him so much and want to love Him more. Thank you for posting this – I love you all.
Thank you for that beautiful prayer Beth. I am so grateful that I have gotten to know you this year through this Blog and especially through the Bible studies I have studied. Your love for our dear Lord is so contageous. We are just finishing Daniel and I have never felt such a zeal for the Word like I have since taking this Daniel study. It was tuff but I loved being pulled and stretched sometimes to the limit. I have just started writing some easy Bible studies for publication by our synod. I have vowed that I would try to find where God wanted to use my experiences and hope that they can be used to reach others as time is short. Our synod will take devotions, Bible studies etc for publication in different venues. I am working on writing some of these though I will never be on your level, Beth, I am hoping in some small way to advance His Kingdom here while there is still time. Thank you dear sister. I look forward
to seeing you in Mn next month. I love you so much because of Jesus it brings tears to my eyes. Have a most blessed Easter,Beth, both you and you family. He is risen! He is risen indeed Alleluia!
I’m with Katie! Tears down my cheeks. Thank you for these words that turn my eyes to Him and exclaim all He has done for me.
Much love, Dayna
Joyous Easter
Thank you Beth for sharing this prayer. I am grateful and I am free because He lives within my heart!! Amen
Amen! All of this, all of me, is only because of the cross of Christ.
May you all have a blessed Easter!
~Kristin
Amen. Thank you for posting this.
Quick question for you! We attended an event you all did in Boone, NC several years ago. You used a video that gave stats of other “religious” leaders, but ended with Jesus’ tomb EMPTY. Do you know how I can find that video? I would love to share with our church! Thank you for your ministry!
Wow. Thank you. Thank you so very much. I needed that. Just had a thunderstorm of goosebumps from God. Your writing is wonderful and your spirit annointed. I love you so.
Took my six year old daughter to see the presentation at church tonight and I think she is getting close to asking Jesus into her heart. I’m standing in the place of loving her, praying for her, supporting her while making sure the decision is all her own.
It is a challenging place to be. Answering questions I don’t really know the answer to (Mommy, did Jesus cry when He was on the cross?), and feeling I don’t know enough or am not eloquent enough to explain things to her. But realizing He has blessed me with the privlige of being her mother, of the tremendous honor of raising her, and will equip me and provide the words she needs to hear. I feel so unworthy. And I am. Humbled and dependent on Him. Oh how He loves us.
AMEN!
Thank you Beth for sharing this today.
Thank you, Beth for this fresh word. This is the first time today that I have been alone and had time to reflect on my Christ. I am suddenly overwhelmed with a tender heart and tearful eyes as I think about the sacrifice. He loves me so.
AMEN!
mama beth-
i love that you wrote this. I love that you are so honest about what your heart really feels:)
Because I describe my heart through music I would say
” What do I know of Holy” By Addison Road; is mine right now.
I’m faced with knowing the Word, and living life the right way, but am I really truly experiencing what it is to really know Him deep within me? I feel I have seen too much of a counterfeit Christ through others perception over so many years, that its hard to see for the last few years if I truly KNOW Him…do I really believe it all?
Its so easy to fall into the trap of just being ” average” or like everyonelse. I remember God speaking to my heart as a child, ” You will be different.” and back then I really didn’t like hearing that, because I didn’t know what it meant until recently. I am different. I am different because God wants me to push away from the world morals and values and imitate the ones found in Christ alone. I’m not perfect at it, I mess up so much, but I love how when we can seem to very wrong to the rest of the world, how He lifts up our chin and says, ” You were right, but I wanted you to know beautiful humility.”
So that’s my thought right now, I just yearn to know more of what it means to be humble in His eyes, to know I dont have it all figured out, but know He died for me, and He also rose so we would KNOW it IS possible to be risen from the dead in every sin and circumstance.
love y’all;)
Happy Easter!
angie
Thank you Beth for every word here. It eloquently conveys how I’ve felt over the last 24 hours. This is the first year in my 17 years of following the Lord that I’ve attended a Good Friday service dedicated to focusing my mind on all the sacrifice that occured from Thursday to Saturday and leads to the Sunday celebration. The emotions filling my heart are more than I can put into words. You did it for me 🙂 That’s why I love you so!
Happy Easter Bethie!
Exalted, You are exalted
On high, You are exalted
Great are You Lord, Let all the nations say
Exalted, You are exalted.
Blessing and honor,
Glory and power unto You be praised.
Sing with the chorus resounding before us Holy is Your name
Your name
Yahweh Holy is Your name
Yahweh Holy is Your name
Yahweh Holy is Your name
Yahweh Holy is Your name
Blessing and honor
Glory and power unto You be praised
Sing with the chorus resounding before us
Holy is Your name
Your Name
Yahweh Holy is Your name
Yahweh Holy is Your name
Yahweh Holy is Your name
Yahweh Holy is Your name
LOVE this song!!!!
THANK YOU SO MUCH!! Jesus and His sacrifice and resurrection has been the theme around our house this week, as we talk to the children about what He had done for us. Bless you for sharing your heart and your prayer.
WOW. Thank you Jesus for your sacrifice. I simply cannot fathom what you did.
Wow Beth, you haven’t posted this much on here….ever! In the comments section anyway, it used to be that we never heard much on this side, only in regular posts. Since you have decided to venture down this way, just wanted to say that your study on Esther was awesome! Did that a couple years ago and it really minisered to me mightily!
FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS LADIES!!!
Thank you. ♥
Dearest Beth,
I can’t help but wonder how many women besides me desperately needed a special Word this weekend. I’m battling cancer (still) and unable to attend services. Thank you so much for leading us to Him in the special way that only you can do.
Eternally grateful,
Nikki
And we all said AMEN!
Amen and amen. I am overwhelmed with His love and great mercy.
Oh to know that my Reedemer lives….(Job 19:25) Oh to know and not just hope….
Thanks be to our Father God for His mighty saving grace found in His son Christ Jesus.
In His mighty love,
michelle in VT
You put into words so much of what I have been wanting to express and also so much more. Thank you Beth! You are such a real blessing in my life and in my walk with the Lord. Always, and I repeat, always, when I need encouragement your words are there for me to guide me to HIS Word and where I need to be. May you and yours have a blessed, beautiful Easter! Sending much love your way. 🙂