My Easter Preparation - Tuesday

Jesus came into Jerusalem in His triumphal entry on Sunday (even though we focused on it yesterday), and He was arrested on Thursday evening. So what did He do in between Sunday and Thursday?

A few things we know...

He stayed at night in the small town of Bethany. Bethany was about two miles from Jerusalem proper. Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead, and Mary and Martha lived in Bethany, so it is likely that He stayed with them. What must it have been like to be Jesus' host during this last week of His life? This was a week when Jesus' humanity and diety were uniquely displayed and contrasted. I wonder what wonders Mary and Martha saw and heard that week?

There is another thought provoking thing about Jesus staying with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Can you think of what it is? What was the most wonderful, amazing event in the lives of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus? Think about it. And what will be the climatic event of this Easter week for Jesus? Resurrection!

When Jesus resurrected Lazarus from the grave, He was giving us a glimpse of the real 'power of the resurrection' that would be ultimately displayed on what we now call Easter. There is no bibilcal account of this happening, but I wonder if there were not some side conversations between Jesus and Lazarus about what was about to happen. What might Jesus have said to Lazarus? What might Lazarus have said to Jesus? What kind of unusual camaraderie might they have had? One day we will stand next to Jesus in resurrected bodies. What will that camaraderie be like?

We also know that Jesus did some other things between Sunday and Thursday...

• He taught.
• He did at least one miracle.
• He celebrated the passover meal with His disciples.

Let's focus this morning on the miracle Jesus performed. Read these parallel passages of Scripture:

• Matthew 21:18-20
• Mark 11:13-21

Let me answer one question that everyone has when they read these passages. If it was not the season for figs, then why was Jesus upset that the fig tree had no figs? The answer lies in the leaves. A fig tree grows figs first and leaves second. If a fig tree has leaves, then it is advertising that it has figs.

So here was a fig tree, that has one purpose... to produce figs, that is saying by its leaves that it has figs, but is barren. Jesus curses the tree.

Jesus is in the business of doing some fruit inspection. And as Christians we are advertising that there are certain things that are true of our lives and lifestyles. What if Jesus did some fruit inspection of our lives? What if He were to look closely for the evidences that we are fullfulling our purpose? What kinds of fruits would He discover that we are bearing for Him in our lives?

Take a few minutes, and do a little fruit inspection yourself. Not of others, but of your own life. What ways can you see that you are bearing fruit for God's Kingdom and fulfilling your God-given purpose? What fruits would others be able to see? What fruits would the Lord commend in our lives, or what fruits would He say were lacking?

Imagine that you are the tree Jesus sees on the road to Jerusalem... how would you fare?

Pastor Noel

My Easter Preparation - Monday

I shared with my church yesterday (Sunday) that I would post a brief blog each morning this week detailing the Scripture reading and the thoughts of my morning quiet time as I committed myself to growing closer to God through this Easter week. I'll try to have these posted by 6:00 a.m. each morning so you can use these as guides for your own Easter week quiet times if you choose to. I hope this helps. I hope this honors the Lord.

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It was approximately 1,978 years ago that Jesus had his 'triumphal entry' into Jerusalem. This marked the beginning of the end. This marked the beginning of the last days before Christ would be crucified.

This day was prophesied in the O.T....

Zechariah 9:9 NKJ "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.

Read about the entry and the day in John 12:12-50, and then also in Luke 19:28-46.

After you read through these descriptions of what happened on this day, Monday, of Christ's last week before His crucifixion, then pray and ask the Lord to give you today a better understanding of the heart and mind of Jesus.

After you have read the Scripture once and prayed for a deeper understanding of the heart and mind of Jesus, then take a piece of paper, and read through the verses again slowly. This time, write down everything you learn about the heart, mind, and disposition of Jesus.

I will do this and put my list as a comment to this blog post so you can read it. But, you will get more out of this if you do yours before you read mine.

So once you complete your list and spend some time in prayer, then take a look at my list in the comment section of this blog.

Tomorrow we will begin to take a closer look into the meaning of the crucifixion.

Thanks,
Pastor Noel

Kenya Outreach

I still plan to do a comprehensive Kenya update on my blog soon. Right now I'm still trying to catch up on things after being gone for two weeks.

But here is an email I received this morning from pastor Fredrick (Masha) concerning our plans to reach out to the 'unreached people group' we have targeted. (I have removed the name of the group for obvious reasons. Most of the readers here know the people we're referring to.)

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Dear pastor Noel,

Many greetings in the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ!

It is my great hope that you are fine with Donna and your lovely children.

Glad to inform you that the Lord has been faithful to grant me favor to be accepted by the XXXXX community. Yesterday I had a very successful meeting with the XXXXX chief and other XXXXX leaders to discuss about the issue of the XXXXX children. Praise the Lord for there was a great response and even asked me how many children and when was this going to happen. My reply was as soon as possible and I would soon give them the number of children.
For now I have just insisted on aplication forms from the needy children to be done by a family member and to be recommended by the chief. I have also requested for the child's passport size photo so as to open a file of the child to be supported. I have also done that to the non-XXXXX needy children and I am now waiting your response about the issue.

Pastor Noel, I have come to realize that apart from this strategy being the best for reaching the XXXXX people group, it is also a great strategy for reaching the youth for Christ as you witnesed when we visted the school and from Greg and Lisa's report of those who received Christ at Majaoni primary school.

In Kenya and particulaly in the Coast province the youth are not targeted for christ and because of the hotel industry many are becoming prostitutes and drug abusers because of the tourist influence hence many are HIV/AIDS victims, therefore it is my great hope that if many children and youth are accommodated here at Chafisi with a good profesionally set program that will help us to implement and evaluate the children's and the youth's growing progress after they receive Christ then this would be a great accomplishment.

As I keep on regestering the needy children, I am also looking forward for your advice on this program, this is because we want to set ourselves ready for the work before it begins.

I have also given brother Michael, Greg and Lisa a copy of this email.

Hopping to read from you soon...

Your fellow minister in Kenya,
Pastor Masha

Photo's...

A photo showing how they build their houses...

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This is a photo of me baptizing a man in the Indian Ocean.

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Update Coming Soon

Everyone is back and we're trying to catch up on everything that happened while we were gone. I'll post a full update on the trip soon.

Noel

London

We made it back to London. We have been able to arrange for an earlier flight (UA929) to Chicago. Pray that we can get an earlier flight out of Chicago. We are all ready to get home and see our family and friends.

Pastor Noel

Nairobi

I've finally made it to a computer that works decent. We are in the Nairobi airport. We fly from here around midnight tonight, which is 4:00 pm for you.

We've had a great trip. Some incredible things have happened that can only be explained by God's power. We look forward to sharing with you this Sunday.

Pray for our safe return. We fly overnight to London, and then after an all day layover there we fly over night to Chicago, then with a layover and a time change, we should arrive in Columbus around 10:00 p.m. on Tuesday.

Noel

Headed Home!

It is about 6:30 and they are about to take off. They will have 2 long layovers 8 hours in Nairobi and 9 1/2 hours in London plus 2 long flights. Pray for every one involved in getting them home!

Keep Praying!

Donna

updating again

Today was another good day. They helped some local medical teams. They also talked with some orphans and their guardians on how the church can help them. More preparations were made for the baptism tomorrow as well.

Noel will be preaching again Sunday morning there. Pray for the service. He is hoping to preach on "What can God do with my Lunch?" Pray that people will be willing to give their all no matter how big or small it might be.

They will be leaving the area at 6 a.m. our time on Monday morning and arriving hopefully back in Columbus on Tuesday at 10 p.m. our time. Pray for good weather because they are contecting back thru Chicago and Jeff Salyer can tell you stories about being delayed there. Pray that they will be able to get some rest on the plane.


Keep Praying!

Donna

another quick update

Today Noel is doing his day long seminar with church people. He said it is hard to believe their time is almost over. They are looking foward to Sunday, because they are baptizing nearly 100 people in the ocean. Many of these were saved as a result of the team being there. He said that they witnessed to a famous person (he didn't know what they were famous for)there and they were saved. Noel has a very touching story that he told me, but I think I will let him tell you. Don't spill the beans DG.

God is working there. Are you ready?

Keep Praying!

Donna

a word from Kenya

This is info being relayed from Michael -

• Today was the photo safari - 3 hr bumpy ride there, 100 degrees, 3 hr bumby ride back. They saw many animals - elephants, zebras, lions, giraffes, etc.
• Tomorrow they help with an orphanage and how the church can minister to it.
• Friday - Noel is teaching an all day seminar for church people. The ladies will be ministering with other ladies.
• Saturday is a medical outreach.

This is all I know for now. The group is just seeing alot of decisions and everyone is working together great.

Keep Praying!!!

Donna

Survivor Kenya Part 2

They are doing well. All of the team has been able to lead many people to Christ. They have been very busy. Wednesday they are going to be able to take a day off and go on a safari for a little r/r. Mosquitos have not been bad, but there are ALOT of lizards which they say eat the mosquitos.

Keep Praying!

Donna

Survivor Kenya

Well, we made it in one piece... and we are all still friends...

It is Sunday afternoon here. Earlier all of the men preached in different churches. The service I preached in was three and one half hours long. Don't laugh, it wasn't my fault. I went to a home to do a baby dedication, which lasted two hours, and was able to lead the new father to Christ.

Pray for us. Things are busy. I'll try to get another update done soon.

Pastor Noel

They Made It!!

I received an email from Donna G. that the team has made it. She and Michael are able to text each other. They were eating lunch with Pastor Frederick at their "fabulous" beach house. Michael said it is very peaceful there.

Hopefully I will hear from Noel soon.

Donna

The Next Leg

The next leg of their journey has begun. They had a 9 hr lay over in London today, but they chose not leave the airport. About 2 p.m. our time they took off for Nairobi. They should be there around 10:30 p.m. tonight.

Pray for rest on the plane and no more turbulence. More later.

Donna