#ThursdayThoughts on Finding Jesus Faith, Fact, Forgery Season 2

Good Morning and Welcome!

Mardi Gras is over and yesterday Lent began. It's a time of fasting, prayer, alms-giving and reflection. No matter your religion, it's always good to set aside time for such things and having a specific period to focus more acutely can create miracles in your life!

And that brings us to our Thursday Thoughts topic: CNN's Finding Jesus, Faith, Fact, Forgery Season 2 which Premieres Sunday, March 5th.

The title makes me laugh a little. My (deceased) husband used to chuckle when someone said they 'found' Jesus. "Jesus isn't the one who was lost," he'd say with a shake of his head.

But I always understood exactly what that person meant. I can't say I 'found' Jesus, but I CAN say I've rediscovered my love for Him. It's so easy to get complacent in our relationship with Christ, therefore, for me, Lent is the perfect time to nurture that bond.

I didn't see the first season of Finding Jesus, Faith, Fact, Forgery but I'm told it captivated audiences as well-known Pastors, theologians, and archaeologists, examined famous religious artifacts, and brought to life the places, pilgrimage sites, and people from the Bible and ancient world.

In season 2, one of the episodes focuses on Jesus’ disciple Thomas – or you may have heard of him as “doubting Thomas.”  But there is so much more to his life story.  His journey to overcome his doubts and fears, and to redeem himself by spreading the Gospel and message of love to a faraway place is an inspiration!  It’s also something we can all relate to - as each one of us at one point in our lives have had to struggle and overcome our own doubt and fears in order to fulfill a great challenge in our lives, or even during our faith journey.

I believe we've all experienced the 'Doubting Thomas' syndrome. I know I have!

I LOVE movies and documentaries about Jesus and this one looks like it'll be another great one.

Watch the Trailer.....



Hope you enjoyed today's post and that you'll join me each week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God Bless
PamT

PS:  Don't forget, Eggcerpt Exchange has begun so watch for great books and excerpts in the coming weeks.

Thursday Thoughts ~ What's the Point?

Sometimes I wonder.... "What's the point of all this?"..... Especially since Terry died 3+ years ago.

What's the point to life - or more specifically - What's the point to MY life?

What's the point to Terry's death? - I mean, if my life is just going around in circles with no real meaning or purpose - why did he have to die? I was perfectly content and blissfully happy being his wife. True there were circumstances I didn't like - like having to go out and work (I've always wanted to be a stay-at-home-wife/mother) ... Which leads to another question...

What's the point of having life-long, soul-deep dreams if they aren't fulfilled the way we desire?

What's the point in working so much for so little in return? - I mean what's the point of "doing what you love" if that doesn't pay the bills or put food on the table?

What's the point of my writing - am I REALLY touching lives for God?

What's the point to my faith if my circumstances don't seem to change? Oh they do change! But is that change for my good and God's glory?

What's the point of Jesus' "abundant life" if my experience reflects lack?

Like a merry-go-round, the questions circle in my brain. And then I look around and hear someone else's story and feel guilty for having such petty, selfish thoughts.

And yet, the questions start again..... What's the point of life when there's so much pain and suffering?

I'm sure Jesus feels the same.....

What's the point of MY Blood, My sacrifice? I died for them and they can't hardly stand each other!

What's the point of MY example? I showed them unconditional love, forgiveness and lack of judgment - they can't even get along with their immediate family much less the world...always gossiping, backbiting and judging! Snubbing each other with their puffed up pride and self righteousness attitudes.

What's the point of My teaching? I taught them the simplicity of faith - "Love God and love one another as I have loved you"....    "THIS... is the work I have for you, to Believe! (Believe on Me and the One who sent Me)" - yet they complicate it all with rules and regulations and works of the flesh, work that draws their heart and mind far, far from Me.

I imagine HE gets as disgusted with people as I/we sometimes do and I'm sure He asks His (our) Father - daily...What's the Point?

What's the point of this post?

I don't know! I told you Thursday Thoughts would sometimes be Random Ramblings LOL!

Seriously though, sometimes I feel I'm just a puppet on this stage called "life."

I mean, I read and study and listen and hopefully learn and then I try to do good and to be more like Jesus....loving, kind, generous, etc - So what am I missing? What's the key?

What's the point?

I'd love to hear your feedback!

No Wonder They Call HIM the Savior

Good Morning Friends!

Well as you can tell by the side bar, I've updated my blog and am implementing a new blogging schedule.

Today's "Tuesday's Treasure" is No Wonder they call HIM the Savior by Max Lucado.

The book is a study on the Cross and those present (and missing) at the cross on that fateful day when Christ was sacrificed and I can not begin to tell you how powerful it is in reflecting the love of our Lord and the Cross of Calvary. I've read it before and would encourage you to read it - especially during the Lenten season as it is such a beautiful testimony to the Grace of our Lord!

There are chapters that make you smile (yes smile), chapters that make you cry, chapters that make you reflect on your own faith and chapters that RIP your heart out. 

This man has a unique way of expressing the Grace of God through Jesus Christ and I feel EVERY believer (regardless of your denomination) will benefit from reading this book.

How did I benefit?  I have a deeper appreciation for Christ's sacrifice and knowing He did it for ME.  We all presume that we wouldn't desert Him in His darkest hour.  But, would we?  How many times do we desert or reject Him today?

Several years ago, as a new Christian, I was meditating on the Scripture "if you deny Me before men, I will deny you before My Father" (Matthew 10:32).  I prayed that I would never deny Christ.  As I mentioned, I was a new Christian and not very bold in my faith outside of church.  I was also new at listening to Christian radio.  (I was--and still am--a country music fan)  Anyway, I would always turn the radio off of the Christian station when I got out of the car because I knew no one else in my family liked the music.  Well, immediately after praying that I would not deny Jesus this occurred and God spoke very plainly to me:  "Why do you turn the station?  Isn't that a way of denying Me?  If they don't like the music, let them change the station."

Talk about an eye opener! 

Now, some of you may think that I'm exaggerating a bit, but I'm not.  

I believe we would all benefit by praying for God to reveal to us the seemingly "little" ways we reject Him in our daily life.  It will greatly aide us in becoming stronger, bolder Christians.  There are many things we say and do that we may not even realize are hurtful to Jesus.  And, anytime you hurt Him, you reject Him.

If you have read any of my articles, essays, and posts, you know I don't write to condemn but to inspire. We all fall from grace.  We all make mistakes.  We all reject Christ (yes, I still do, too).  But isn't that what Grace is all about?  If we never fell, we wouldn't need the healing power of God's mercy. 

I love Christ with all my heart and I pray daily that I not fail Him in any way.  When I do, I pray (and try to listen) when the Holy Spirit convicts me.  Sometimes its little things that matter but the Bible says: "It's the little foxes that spoil the vine."

May we ALL open our hearts and minds to Christ's teachings and not be so quick to defend our actions when we are convicted.  Yes, many others who claim to be Christians are just as bad (or worse) than we.  Yes, the world is hard to live in.  Yes, it's VERY hard to live what we believe.  Christ never said it would be easy.  He did say, however, that we would not be alone.

Be encouraged and blessed this day in Jesus' name!

PamT