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VOTD.05.09.16 Believing: Magdalene

Posted in Magdalene, Verse of the Day | May 9th, 2016 | by

But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” Matthew 26:32
“Don’t be alarmed,” (the angel) said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! …He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
Then Jesus said to (Magdalene), “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” Matthew 28:10

Last time we saw what did Jesus’ leadership team did with Magdalene’s startling announcement that she had seen the risen Lord Jesus: They immediately did … Nothing. But here’s the really strange thing: (more…)

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Album Review: I Will Praise You by Rebecca St. James

Posted in Product Reviews | May 6th, 2016 | by

So I’ve been a long-time fan of RSJ (my sister remembers loving her song “A Cradle Prayer” ‘way back before I was even born… but that’s another story).  But her most recent release, I Will Praise You, is my favorite of any of the album she has ever released.  She has been in the worship music field for quite some time, but I find I Will Praise You to be her most anointed and worshipful release ever.  Some of the songs have carried me through difficult seasons in my life, and I believe that there is an anointing for encouragement on this album.

Quick Stats

Pros: It is more vertical worship than many of Rebecca’s other albums.

 Cons: If you don’t like covers (songs written and sung by others), you probably won’t like this album.  Rebecca does quite a few covers.  Personally, I actually prefer her versions much of the time

 

A Little Bit About the Album: Released in 2011 (more…)

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VOTD.05.02.16 One Thing: Magdalene

Posted in Magdalene, Verse of the Day | May 2nd, 2016 | by

One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may…gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him Psalm 27:4

Last time we were asking the question: Has Jesus revealed Himself to you like He did to people in the Bible? Would you want Him to?

If you are like a lot of Christians, you feel a certain obligation to answer ‘yes’ when asked if you’d like Jesus to reveal Himself to you like He did to Magdalene and others. And if you stopped to think about it, it would be a pretty safe answer because you believe that circumstance is pretty unlikely.

If you are like many other Christians you can hardly wait to emphatically shout out, “YES! And make it NOW, please!!”

Of course there would be other Christians who might honestly say, “Ummm, thanks for the offer, but…I don’t think I’m ready for this.” And these people would be right, too. (more…)

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Album Review: “Healing Rain” by Michael W. Smith

Posted in Product Reviews | April 29th, 2016 | by

Healing Rain by Michael W. Smith is one of my favorite MWS albums.  I love the passion and worship that runs its way through the song.  Healing Rain is a beautiful expression of Michael’s heart that can help other Christians draw closer to God.

 

Quick Stats

 

Pros: It’s quite different from Michael W. Smith’s other albums with a slightly different sound

 

Cons: It’s not quite as ‘vertical worship’ as some of Michael W. Smith’s albums.

 

A Little About the Album: Healing Rain comes (more…)

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VOTD.04.26.16 Repentance: Magdalene

Posted in Magdalene, Verse of the Day | April 26th, 2016 | by

The Twelve were with [Jesus], and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had come out… These women served him out of their own means. Luke 8:1-3

Last time we saw that purity of heart has to do with walking in the enabling power God gives us. God supplies whatever He requires of us. Magdalene found that to be true. When we see her washing Jesus’ feet with her tears, Jesus saw them as tears of repentance (7:47).

You see, we repent when we see things from the Father’s perspective. That’s true repentance in a nutshell. Repentance enables us to embrace the truth and that truth changes us. Anything else isn’t repentance.

The truth is, Jesus is real, sinning harms us and those around us, and God has provided us with an escape (1 Cor 10:13). Magdalene saw Jesus from the Father’s perspective. That’s all it took. She behaved in accordance with that truth. (more…)

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VOTD.04.25.16 Pure in Heart: Magdalene

Posted in Magdalene, Verse of the Day | April 25th, 2016 | by

Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8

When Jesus told the woman caught in sin in John 8, “Go and stop sinning,” it was more than a clever way to end an awkward conversation. He meant it. God always supplies what He demands, particularly in the area of temptation (1 Cor 10:13).

We see in our verse for today, that the pure in heart are the ones who “see God”. Put another way, God reveals Himself to Christians who hearts are pure… and He is in the business of making our hearts pure. That is the Gospel in a nutshell.

Magdalene was the first one that Jesus revealed Himself to after His resurrection. I think it’s right to say that she had already been made pure in heart.

But this raises a more deep-seated question: Do we really even want to see God? The Israelites at Mt Sinai didn’t. They sent Moses to do their bidding, instead. Shepherd-boy turned king, David certainly did want to see God and even wrote about seeing Him (Ps 27:4). One glimpse of Jesus certainly turned the Apostle Paul’s life around. And the Apostle John…what more can be said? (more…)

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VOTD.04.19.16 Fanatic: Magdalene

Posted in Magdalene, Verse of the Day | April 19th, 2016 | by

But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been. John 20:11,12

A couple of angels. Maybe they were sent to comfort her? How do you comfort grief-stricken people? You point them to Jesus.

And when she turned around, she saw Jesus standing there, and He spoke to her. “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Supposing He was the gardener, Mary pleaded with Him to tell her what had happened to her Lord. “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” (vv.13-15)

Once again it was loud and clear: Magdalene just wanted to be where He was.
Then it happened. Jesus spoke to her: “Mary.” (v.16) (more…)

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VOTD.04.18.16 Intensity: Magdalene

Posted in Magdalene, Verse of the Day | April 18th, 2016 | by

So the disciples went away to their own homes, 11but Mary stood outside the tomb crying… Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Teacher.” Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her. John 20:10-18

Sometimes the best way to understand something is to compare it to something just like it only different. Like comparing the anointing of Jesus by Magdalene to the anointing of Jesus by Mary of Bethany. Other times we can learn more from contrasting behaviors. John, Peter, and Magdalene are all at the tomb of Jesus on Sunday morning. Jesus showed Himself to Magdalene, but not John and Peter. Doesn’t that seem a little peculiar? All three were there…

To be honest, it is a mystery to me. But the more I’ve thought about this the more convinced I am that today’s verses give us a significant clue into the mystery…not only a clue to why Jesus appeared to Magdalene first, but a clue to what it was about her worship that made it “in Spirit and Truth” kind of worship— (more…)

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Christian Children’s Albums We’d Actually Recommend

Posted in Lists, Product Reviews | April 15th, 2016 | by Wheels of Glory

Why is it that most children’s albums on the market today are lacking in quality, originality, and decent lyrics?  I mean, really, what parent with any musical taste wants to listen to kids who can’t hit the notes, lyrics that make you scratch your head, and run-of-the-mill plots and arrangements that remind us of the originality of Nancy Drew or the Hardee Boys?

 

Thankfully, there are some quality, original children’s music out there – you just have to look for it.  Here are some we’ve discovered over the years.  It’s by no means an exclusive list, just things we’ve found and enjoyed. (more…)

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VOTD.04.12.16 No Condemnation: Magdalene

Posted in Magdalene, Verse of the Day | April 12th, 2016 | by

There is NO CONDEMNATION now for those who live in union with Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit, which brings us life in union with Christ Jesus, has set me free Romans 8:1,2

But the time is coming and is already here, when BY THE POWER OF GOD’S SPIRIT people will worship the Father as he really is, offering him the true worship that he wants. God is Spirit, and only by the power of his Spirit can people worship him as he really is.” John 4:23,24

If this woman who stood accused before Jesus was truly Magdalene, as church tradition tells us, I wonder if she was delivered from 7 demons before or after being dragged into the temple to be used by the spiritual leaders in their ploy to trap Jesus. The Bible doesn’t tell us chronologically when the deliverance happened.

What if she’d already been delivered? How embarrassing. To be delivered, only to fall into sin again, and then face Jesus. Think about it. Wouldn’t it have served the religious leadership’s schemes all the better if they were bringing before Jesus a woman He had previously delivered? It sounds just like the accuser of our souls, doesn’t it? (more…)

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