Friday, April 2, 2010

Holy Week - V


Good Friday as a child went something like this: Morning Worship at church. Home for lunch/dinner - sent to our rooms from 12-3 (hours there was drakness on Calvary's hill) to read the story of the cross in all 4 gospels. Back to church for holy communion in the evening. I remember one year telling my "Holly Hobbie" dolls that it was a serious day and turning them down on their faces for the observance of Good Friday! :-) Anyway we knew it was important to remember what Jesus did for us at Calvary. Of course, it is important to remember that daily but the season affords some additional focus on the MAIN THING in our lives!

I remember one particular Holy Week when there was grief in my heart over the loss of a beloved friend, and while in a prayer service the words "At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light and the BURDEN of my heart rolled away..." Jesus reminded me that He was the "Burden bearer" and He would roll my burden of grief away.

I'd like to encourage you today - whatever is heavy on your heart, whatever your burden of care might be, bring it to the cross, bring it to Jesus and let Him roll your burden away.

Kneel at the cross, leave every care,
Kneel at the cross, Jesus will meet you there.
Joyfully,
Ruth Joy Capozzi
http://www.joy-bringer-ministries.org/

Holy Week - V


Good Friday as a child went something like this: Morning Worship at church. Home for lunch/dinner - sent to our rooms from 12-3 (hours there was drakness on Calvary's hill) to read the story of the cross in all 4 gospels. Back to church for holy communion in the evening. I remember one year telling my "Holly Hobbie" dolls that it was a serious day and turning them down on their faces for the observance of Good Friday! :-) Anyway we knew it was important to remember what Jesus did for us at Calvary. Of course, it is important to remember that daily but the season affords some additional focus on the MAIN THING in our lives!

I remember one particular Holy Week when there was grief in my heart over the loss of a beloved friend, and while in a prayer service the words "At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light and the BURDEN of my heart rolled away..." Jesus reminded me that He was the "Burden bearer" and He would roll my burden of grief away.

I'd like to encourage you today - whatever is heavy on your heart, whatever your burden of care might be, bring it to the cross, bring it to Jesus and let Him roll your burden away.

Kneel at the cross, leave every care,
Kneel at the cross, Jesus will meet you there.
Joyfully,
Ruth Joy Capozzi
http://www.joy-bringer-ministries.org/

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Holy Week - IV


"O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from Thee;
I lay in dust life's glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be."
~~~George Matheson

Just when we think all is lost, life is over .... from the death .... springs forth LIFE!

As believers, we have the privilige to give our lives with reckless abondon to our Lord and Savior and in the giving away of all that we hold dear - ABUNDANT LIFE is ours. It is an eternal principle. An old preacher once said, "if you hold on to a pin, it will stick you". The thought being that of absolute surrender. Jesus freely GAVE HIS ALL - that we might have ALL. Jesus said if we try to our save our own lives we will lose them. Only as we follow His example and give our all wholeheartedly do we find the LIFE we want and are seeking and are promised!  

Are we holding on to anything of our own life that needs to go? Let's kneel at the cross, and leave it there! Jesus will meet us there and we will rise in newness of LIFE - HIS ABUNDANT LIFE!

Joyfully,
Ruth Joy Capozzi

Holy Week - IV


"O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from Thee;
I lay in dust life's glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be."
~~~George Matheson

Just when we think all is lost, life is over .... from the death .... springs forth LIFE!

As believers, we have the privilige to give our lives with reckless abondon to our Lord and Savior and in the giving away of all that we hold dear - ABUNDANT LIFE is ours. It is an eternal principle. An old preacher once said, "if you hold on to a pin, it will stick you". The thought being that of absolute surrender. Jesus freely GAVE HIS ALL - that we might have ALL. Jesus said if we try to our save our own lives we will lose them. Only as we follow His example and give our all wholeheartedly do we find the LIFE we want and are seeking and are promised!  

Are we holding on to anything of our own life that needs to go? Let's kneel at the cross, and leave it there! Jesus will meet us there and we will rise in newness of LIFE - HIS ABUNDANT LIFE!

Joyfully,
Ruth Joy Capozzi

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Holy Week III



"O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to Thee;
I trace the rainbow thro' the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain
That morn shall tearless be."
~~~George Matheson

Joy / Pain - Strange words in the same sentence. Yet they go together. "Jesus...who for the JOY that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2

Joy is not a temporary emotion - but rather a confidence of knowing the outcome.

Holy Week is a time when we remember the "pain" our sin cost the Savior at Calvary - how He could endure that pain, not forgetting the JOY set before Him is not something we can easily comprehend.

The writer to the Hebrews goes on to say if it was possible for Christ to endure such suffering - surely we can endure whatever "suffering" in our lives for His dear sake.  We too have a goal - HEAVEN - we know the outcome! Sometimes we need to adjust our focus. Therefore, don't lose heart - lift up the hands that hang down - make straight paths for your feet - follow JESUS! The outcome is sheer JOY!

Joyfully,
Ruth Joy Capozzi
http://www.joy-bringer-ministries.org/

Holy Week III



"O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to Thee;
I trace the rainbow thro' the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain
That morn shall tearless be."
~~~George Matheson

Joy / Pain - Strange words in the same sentence. Yet they go together. "Jesus...who for the JOY that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2

Joy is not a temporary emotion - but rather a confidence of knowing the outcome.

Holy Week is a time when we remember the "pain" our sin cost the Savior at Calvary - how He could endure that pain, not forgetting the JOY set before Him is not something we can easily comprehend.

The writer to the Hebrews goes on to say if it was possible for Christ to endure such suffering - surely we can endure whatever "suffering" in our lives for His dear sake.  We too have a goal - HEAVEN - we know the outcome! Sometimes we need to adjust our focus. Therefore, don't lose heart - lift up the hands that hang down - make straight paths for your feet - follow JESUS! The outcome is sheer JOY!

Joyfully,
Ruth Joy Capozzi
http://www.joy-bringer-ministries.org/

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Holy Week - II


"O Love that will not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in Thee,
I give Thee back the life I owe,
That in Thine ocean depths
Its flow may richer fuller be."
~~George Matheson


Extravagant love! What parent is willing to volunteer thier child for the good of others? Yet GOD who is rich in mercy, sent HIS only beloved Son to die in our place and pay the penalty for our sins! Extravagant love! It is personal!

Such love requires a response from our hearts. As a parent delights in the loving expressions of their child - so our heavenly Father delights in our expressions of love and adoration. Spend some time lovin' on Him today and let HIM love on you! "Kneel at the cross, Jesus will meet you there"!

Joyfully,
Ruth Joy
http://www.joy-bringer-ministries.org/

Holy Week - II


"O Love that will not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in Thee,
I give Thee back the life I owe,
That in Thine ocean depths
Its flow may richer fuller be."
~~George Matheson


Extravagant love! What parent is willing to volunteer thier child for the good of others? Yet GOD who is rich in mercy, sent HIS only beloved Son to die in our place and pay the penalty for our sins! Extravagant love! It is personal!

Such love requires a response from our hearts. As a parent delights in the loving expressions of their child - so our heavenly Father delights in our expressions of love and adoration. Spend some time lovin' on Him today and let HIM love on you! "Kneel at the cross, Jesus will meet you there"!

Joyfully,
Ruth Joy
http://www.joy-bringer-ministries.org/

Monday, March 29, 2010

Holy Week - I

I love Holy Week. Holy Week provides us another opportunity to do what Jesus asked us to at the last supper, "remember me"! That the Son of God, Creator of the Universe, should need to ask us to "remember Him" is astounding! Yet sadly, our lives often are so cluttered with "life" that we really do need to be reminded to "REMEMBER HIM" The sacrifice of Calvary: an extravagant outpouring of God's love for mankind!


Remember:
God is not willing that any perish, but that ALL come to repentance.
God has literally moved heaven and earth to demonstrate His love towards us through the sacrifice on Calvary of His only beloved Son.
The cross of Calvary is an available (24/7) open resource to all who BELIEVE.

Theses words from an old chorus are a good reminder too:
Kneel at the cross, leave every care,
Kneel at the cross, Jesus will meet you there.


When is the last time you humlby knelt at the cross?
Let's take some time this week to do just that - JESUS will meet you there!
Bring EVERY care/weight/sin - JESUS will meet you there!
Joyfully,
Ruth Joy
http://www.joy-bringer-ministries.org/

Holy Week - I

I love Holy Week. Holy Week provides us another opportunity to do what Jesus asked us to at the last supper, "remember me"! That the Son of God, Creator of the Universe, should need to ask us to "remember Him" is astounding! Yet sadly, our lives often are so cluttered with "life" that we really do need to be reminded to "REMEMBER HIM" The sacrifice of Calvary: an extravagant outpouring of God's love for mankind!


Remember:
God is not willing that any perish, but that ALL come to repentance.
God has literally moved heaven and earth to demonstrate His love towards us through the sacrifice on Calvary of His only beloved Son.
The cross of Calvary is an available (24/7) open resource to all who BELIEVE.

Theses words from an old chorus are a good reminder too:
Kneel at the cross, leave every care,
Kneel at the cross, Jesus will meet you there.


When is the last time you humlby knelt at the cross?
Let's take some time this week to do just that - JESUS will meet you there!
Bring EVERY care/weight/sin - JESUS will meet you there!
Joyfully,
Ruth Joy
http://www.joy-bringer-ministries.org/