A CELEBRATION OF OUR SAVIOR'S RESURRECTION

Well, what is Easter all about??

 
What are your fondest memories growing up?  I was raised in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church...and my memories are very vivid because
they were based on much tradition and heritage. It was a very important holiday and one not to be ignored.

My mother cooked for days.  There was the traditional dinner of ham, kolbassi, a very special egg-rich bread called paska, an egg custard
 mold, butter molded into a little lamb (usually done by me), nut and poppy seed rolls (kolachi)  and many more treats.  This was welcomed after
 the lenten season we had just come through.  Going to midnight mass (the night before Easter)...encircling the church at midnight three times..and so on...

Alot of memories and alot of great food and family get togethers.

But.....what is Easter????   Is it Easter bunnies?

  or Easter egg hunts ? 

Is it going to church once a year??

or is just
GREAT FOOD?

Let me tell you what Easter means to me...NO..let me tell you what God says it is.

A long time ago God sent His only Son Jesus to be born and grow up in this world .  He left behind  all of the glory and heaven and most of all
His loving Father.  You see, God had a plan.  When He planned this whole thing creating the world and all,  He was looking for someone....
anyone...who would love and serve Him for all eternity. It started many years before with Adam and Eve.  God gave them a perfect environment with
anything they could have ever wanted.    All He asked of them was this   "And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the
garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest
thereof thou shalt surely die." Genesis 2:16 & 17  

That was it. No big deal...Right?  Well, we all know the end of the story...Now whether you say
it was Eve's fault or was it Adam's fault the bottom line is  THEY DISOBEYED GOD'S  COMMAND!!!  "For the wages of sin is death!
BUT...(wait...I'll come to that)!!

I DID say that God had a plan.  Well,  that plan was for Someone....not just  to be sent to take the place for those of us who had gone away from
God's perfect plan.  But a perfect Sacrifice!  The Sacrifice had to absolutely PERFECT  no flaws just like when the high priests sacrificed lambs
they had to be without spot or blemish..  

"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of  many."  Hebrews 9:28a  Who better than God's
perfect, sinless Son Jesus Christ the Annointed One.  

"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition
 from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot I Peter 1:18, 19.

And so it began...
"On a hill far away....stood an old rugged cross...the emblem of suffering and shame...." 

That one horrible, monumental day when the Holy,
Precious Son of the Almighty would humble Himself before lowly man and limit the use of some of His divine privileges!!!!
 For you......for me....

 
"Down the  Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem that day
The soldiers tried to clear the narrow street
But the crowd pressed in to see the Man condemned to die on Calvary
He was bleeding from a beating, there were stripes upon His back
and He wore a crown of thorns upon His head".

Right here and now go to this site to experience a bit of what this all entailed....very moving!!
Jesus did this for

YOU!

And as He hung there on that tree, humiliated before the people...the humanity that this Holy One put on....cried out...

 
"I THIRST"
"FATHER, FORGIVE THEM FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO"
"MY GOD...MY GOD.....WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME??"
And finally.....
"IT IS FINISHED"

God's perfect plan had been laid..

But wait.....it didn't end there???  If that was the end...then there is NO hope for you or me..

It was the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came very early to the grave..  She approached the tomb and there it was...
the stone was rolled away..   She ran and saw Peter and another disciple coming and she told them that the Lord had been taken.
Peter checked it out.  "And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying, and then cometh Simon Peter following him,
and went into the tomb, and seeth the linen clothes lie.  Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the tomb, and he saw,
and believed."   John 20:5,6,8

"And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I now that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for HE IS
 RISEN, as he said, Come, see the place where the Lord lay.  And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and behold,
he goeth before you into Galilee, there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy;
and did run to bring his disciples word." Matthew 28:5-8

Remember I  told you "For the wages of sin is death.....(but this is the BEST part)  But the gift of God is ETERNAL LIFE through Jesus Christ
our Lord." Romans 3:23

Well, that was His plan and you know what?  It hasn't changed.  Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though
 he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"
John 11:25,26.  The question is???

 DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?

First of all, you need to realize that you are a sinner. That means anything......any little thing at all that separates you from God is sin.  It doesn't
 have to be murder or stealing ."For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:10  And then you know what else?

 The next step is so easy but we make it so hard.

You ask Jesus Christ to come into your heart.  Ask Him to be your Savior and the Lord of your life.   Ask Him to forgive you of those sins that
you commit and then ACCEPT what He has already done for you on Calvary.

See, it's that simple---toooo simple you say??  Hey, with God nothing is impossible. JUST TRUST HIM.  That's all He asks.

And then  have  a ---

Now the party begins.  He's come to give you an abundant life and a joy unspeakable and full of glory.  HALLELUJAH!!  
What a wonderful Savior!!!

 

He died for us all....everyone, everywhere, and all around the world.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that WHOSOEVER believeth in Him should NOT perish  but have everlasting
life." John 3:16
 
So let's celebrate.  Is there anything wrong with Easter bunnies, eggs, Easter baskets filled with candy?? It all depends where your heart
 is.   Or is it who is in your heart?

Rejoice...HAPPY EASTER!!!!  Hallelujah  What a Saviour!  In Ukrainian, we would greet each other on Easter morning by saying   "CHRIST IS
RISEN"  and the reply would be "HE IS RISEN INDEED"   Have a wonderful holiday celebration with your family.

Some very interesting sites to visit

EASTER: CHRIST IS RISEN  

 
 ANNIE'S EASTER PAGE

 

CHRIST IS RISEN!!  YES, HE IS RISEN INDEED!!

UKRAINIAN EGGS III/ MADE BY GEORGIA

Many more eggs from my past collections.

If you are interested in purchasing any of these, contact me.  I will try to remake it as close as possible.  These are one of kind, like snowflakes, but they can be done pretty close to original.

Enjoy!

Special egg made for someone.. 

 

  

  

Butterflies

 

  

  

 

  

  

  

  

 Back

 

Front

 
 

 Side (This was made into an ornament)

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Goose egg... front

 

Side view

 
 

Back view

 
 

  

  

  

 

  

  

That's it for now..   If you're interested, let me know. .

THE FAITHFUL ONES/ PASTOR'S STUDY

FROM THE PASTOR’S STUDY
Pastor Tom Sawhook
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Hamilton, Ohio

 

A Study in the Book Of The Revelation

“THE FAITHFUL ONES”
  (The Church at Philadelphia)

Rev. 3:7-13

Seven Features Centered Around The Theme

I.  CHIEF INSPECTOR:  THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
        Rev. 3:7
       Holy, true and without error.
       The Key of David- the evaluation will not be altered
       Rev. 22:16 "Root and offspring of David"
       Is. 22:22  "Key of the house of David"
       John 14:6  "No cometh unto the Father but by me.


II.  CHURCH:   CHURCH AT PHILADEPHIA
       Rev. 3:7  "church at Philadephia"
        Jesus had nothing bad to say about this church.
 
III.  THE CITY:  PHILADELPHIA
             "phileo"   Love         "Adelphos"     brother
          Facts pertaining to Philadelphia:
         Located 28 miles SE of Sardis
         Founded 140 BC
         King of Pergamum  Atalis Philadelphos founded it
         Earthquakes  happened there alot
         Rich in agriculture
         Greek Culture
         Hellenistic Greek language
         Many aftershocks and the people lived in terror
         Tiberius Ceasar helped to rebuild the city
         Emperor Worship ensued and a  statue was build to honor him
         His name changed to Neo Ceasarea/ Flavia
         The Greek God was Dionesis (the Lion God)

VI.   THE COMMENDATIONS:
       
    1.  Strong Testimony
                      Rev. 3:8  "little strength"   small in size

PRINCIPLE #1
        REGARDLESS OF YOUR LIMITATIONS, YOU CAN BE USED TO BRING HONOR TO CHRIST.
    *Physical limitations
    *Verbal limitations
    *Time limitations
    *Age limitations
    *Family limitations   (non Christian home)
    *Educational limitations
    *Numerical limitations (small church)
   
    2.  Scriptural Obedience
                     Rev. 3:8  "and kept my word"  
                     Job. 23:12

PRINCIPLE #2
         IF YOU WANT TO PLEASE CHRIST BE OBEDIENT TO HIS WORD
     John 14:15  "if you love me, keep my commandments"
                John 15:10  "if you keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love"
           
    The Word was important to Jesus.
        1)  He declared He came to fulfull the scriptures
                                    Matt. 5:7-18
                                2)  He declared Himself the theme of the scriptures
                                    Luke 24:27, 44
  The theme throughout the Bible is Salvation of man through Jesus Christ

    3.  Stand for Christ
                     Rev. 3:8  "and has not denied His name"

PRINCIPLE #3
          NEVER BE ASHAMED OF THE ONE WHO WASN'T ASHAMED TO DIE FOR YOU.

    2 Tim. 1:8-12 "Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord"

      Are believers ashamed of the Lord?
    *Not at work
    *Not at school
    *Not at a sporting event
     *Out with friends
    *praying in public
    *while dating
    *not standing up for another believer
     
            I Tim. 1:15  "to save sinners"
            John 3:17  "that the world through Him might be saved."

V.  THE COMPENSATION

    Compensation centered around:
    1. Door of opportunity
                   Rev. 3:8  "open door and no man can shut it"
    Open door for service -
                 I Cor. 16:8, 9  "great door and effectual is opened unto me"
                 II Cor. 2:12  " a door was opened unto me of the Lord"
                 Col. 4:2, 3  "that God would open unto us a door of utterance."

PRINCIPLE #4
      BE CAREFUL NOT TO MISS THE "EVERYDAY" OPPORTUNITIES THAT CHRIST PROVIDES
          IN YOUR LIFE
    *Struggling believers
    *children
    *good friend
    *call to service
    *marriage

    2. Defeat the enemy
       Rev. 3:9  "I will make them to come and worship before thy feet and to know that I have
                   loved thee."

    Unbelieving Jews at this time were trouble makers, mocked believers, accused them of not
                 being patriotic to emperor worship.

    3.  Deliverance from 'the Tribulation
                    Rev. 3:10  "I will also keep thee  from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the
                       world."    (Daniel's 70th week, Jacob's trouble or the 7 year tribulation)

VI.   THE COMMAND:  Keep remaining faithful
           Rev. 3:11 "hold that fast which thou hast"
  
         Christ's imminen return---It could happen at any time.

PRINCIPLE #5
       KNOWING THAT ONE DAY CHRIST IS COMING SERVES AS A MOTIVATION TO LIVE RIGHT.

     I John 3:2, 3
     I John 2:28 "we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming."
     
PRINCIPLE #6
      REMEMBER TRUE BELIEVERS ARE NOT MARKED BY BEING 'DROPOUTS', BUT RATHER BE
      CONTINUING TO THE END.

     I John 2:19 "for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us."
     Col. 1:22, 23  "If you continue in the faith grounded and settled"
     John 8:31 "If you continue in my word"
     Acts 14:22  "exhorting them to continue in the faith"
      Crowns are reserved to believers (the redeemed)

VII.  THE CHALLENGE
            Centered around:
    1.  Looking forward to the Son's promise
        1) Being remembered forever
                                    Rev. 3:12 "will I make a pillar in the temple of my God."
        2) Reassured forever
                                    Rev. 3:2 "and he shall go no more out"
            Someone who loves us  and has a place for us forever
        3)  Related forever
            *Name of God
              Rev. 3:12 "the name of my god"
              Eph. 1:3, 4  "blesssed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
                                                according as he hath chosen us
            *Name of God's city
            Rev. 3:12  "and the name of the city of my God"
             Phil. 3:20 "for our citizenship  is in heaven"
            Rev. 21:2  "bride adorned for her husband"
            *New name of Christ
            Rev. 3:2  "my new name"
    This new name would be linked to the new city..my opinion is this:
                                      "The Lamb"
        Rev. 21:14 "apostles of the Lamb"
        Rev. 21:22 "for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb"
        Rev. 21:23 "and the Lamb is the light thereof"
        Rev. 21:27 "written in the Lamb's book of life"
   
         2.  Listening to the Spirit's exhortation
        Rev. 3:13  "he that hath an ear, let him hear what the spirit saith unto the churches"

Like Philadelphia, let's have a strong testimony and obedience  and remember that He's coming to take
 us back to live with Him for eternity.