This is kinda neat.

Yesterday I wanted some oranges. So just on the way to work, I stopped at Publix. That right, I usually don't go there to often. The reason is I pretty much find everything I need at Walmart. Time was not on my side. 

I picked up these oranges and see Winter Haven on them. 

I see these places that smell so good as I drive by. It smells like orange pound cake. Well I guess maybe one of these is where this bag came from? 

That's right folks another Easter Monday at the Adventure Learning Centre, Bahamas

While I was there in the beginning of the month, they started out hanging these posters up. 

I have been very blessed to get these pictures from a old friend that has been there as a missionary for over 10 years. Her name is Claudia, but they call her Sam. I am sorry to say, not sure why they call her Sam. 

This is Felicia and Sam. I think she was over seeing the Easter Eggs Hunt during the Fun Day at the ALC. 

 

I am not sure who played the Easter Bunny this year. But it looks like the children had some fun with him or her? 

The neat thing about the ALC on Easter Monday, the kids come out for the Easter Egg Hunt, big time. 

I have not heard how many people came out on that day. but I do know the ones that did were blessed beyond. 

Okay folks this is what my main job is, setting up chairs for over flow.

We had more than 750 chairs set up here.

This is Meeting Room #1 100 chairs.

Meeting Room #2 70 chairs. 

Putting Green area. The reason they call this area the Putting Green is the carpet and how nice this is normally. We have the sofas and tables and some chairs just laid out nice. 

85 seats here.

Classroom #32001- #32002  270 chairs

Here is another 900 + seats. Folks the real neat part of my job it working here, is I get to work with some great guys and we have some fun too. On Easter afternoon we broke down each room and set them back up the way they are during the normal week day. 

This Easter was such a beautiful time and just seeing everyone coming out to praise our Lord it was all worth it. 

As pretty much everyone worked on Easter, the property was closed on Monday. Which if you have ever heard of Easter Monday. 

Now that is another story. At the Adventure Learning Centre, is Easter Monday Fun Day. I have not heard about how the day went yet. But I know I will by the end of the week. 

Today I know that ALC is resting.  

This was our Sonrise Service on the turf.

As our day started out. This place was rocking. I just love our praise and worship team here at Calvary. I am very blessed to be able to say I had about ten minutes to praise Him. Then the radio started going off. That right work is starting. 

My fellow workers found a large toad. So I put him or her in a pail and walked it over to the small canal along the north side of the property. Let it go free. 

Is this not what Easter is all about? As we look on and say wow we have freedom through Christ. 

This is why we celebrate this beautiful day. EASTER. 

I took this picture later on during the day. I thought this would be a great place to put this, the reason He Has RISEN. That is why we have salvation. 

This was one of the text I got yesterday morning. PRAISE HIM. 

All was going well, then the rain came down for about 5 minutes. 

Then the rush happen. All trying to find a little shelter. 

It went well and the day was dry afterwards. This property was rocking all day long. 

I Want To Believe

Posted on: March 27th, 2016 by Danny Saavedra
DOUBT →
← FAITH

“Stop doubting and believe.”—John 20:27 (NIV)

Have you ever heard the term reasonable doubt? It’s a legal term that means the prosecution must prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the person in question is guilty. Otherwise, if there is any reasonable doubt in the mind of a reasonable person, the accused cannot be convicted.

Today, we’re going to look at the interaction between Jesus and Thomas, whom we so lovingly refer to as “Doubting Thomas.” In John 20, we read that after His resurrection, Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene and then to His disciples. But Thomas was not with them when Jesus came.

When they told him about the resurrection, Thomas, an intelligent, logical, reasonable person, said, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe” (John 20:25 NIV). Was Thomas so wrong in saying this? Was his doubt so unreasonable? Jesus was killed and buried. The evidence was seemingly insurmountable in this case. From a logical standpoint, Thomas was completely justified in his stance.

There can be absolutely no doubt that Thomas wanted to believe his friends. He wanted Jesus back. He wanted to once again see His face, hear His voice, walk alongside Him, and be in His presence. But like the old expression “seeing is believing,” Thomas needed to see for himself.

A week later, when all of the disciples were together, Jesus appeared to them. And He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe” (John 20:27 NIV). Can you imagine what that was like for Thomas? In that moment, as he stood before the risen Messiah and said, “My Lord and my God,” Thomas’ doubt was exchanged for faith.

Jesus’ response to Thomas is also for us today! He said, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29 NIV).

Now, you may be asking, “If Thomas, who had seen miracle after miracle and heard all the words of Jesus, needed to see to believe, how can I be expected to believe without seeing? How can people today be expected to believe in Jesus without first encountering Jesus as Thomas did?”

The answer is simple: encounter Him. Just because we don’t physically see Him and get to put our finger into the pierced holes in His hands and side doesn’t mean we can’t have an encounter with Him. Jesus is alive today and He can be clearly seen through His Word and felt deeply and tangibly through the Holy Spirit.

You see, faith is different from belief. Faith is not of this world, it doesn’t come from us, and we can’t produce it. Faith is a direct gift from God. It is divine persuasion. In the ancient world, faith (pistis) referred to a guarantee. In Scripture, faith is God’s warranty, certifying that what He says is true.

We receive faith from God as He calls us to Himself by the Holy Spirit. And as we encounter Jesus in God’s Word and feel that tug in our heart, we can be certain that God is knocking on the door of our heart. If we respond by inviting Jesus into our lives, we will encounter Jesus in a more personal, intimate, and powerful way than Thomas did!

So today as we celebrate Easter, whether you’ve never encountered Jesus or have been a Christian for 30 years, if you’re experiencing doubt, just ask God to give you faith. If you want to believe like Thomas did, call out to Jesus and He will come, because He is alive!

DIG: Read John 20:24–29 and Mark 9:14–27.

DISCOVER: When was the last time you experienced doubt in your life? What do you do in those moments? How have you dealt with your doubt? Do those doubts still linger in your mind?

DISPLAY: Today as we celebrate Easter, be reassured in knowing that faith is a gift from God and all you need to do to receive it is ask. If you are experiencing doubt, just like the man in Mark 9, ask the Lord to help your unbelief. Find a Christian you trust and respect and share your doubts with them. Ask them to pray for and with you.

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I JUST WANT TO WISH EVERYONE OUT THERE A HAPPY EASTER. I LOVE YOU ALL AND LOVE TO HEAR HOW THIS DEVOTION SPOKE TO YOU.

Paradise Gained.

“Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”—Luke 23:43 (ESV)

“Guilty!” It’s a term most commonly used in court to declare someone responsible for a crime. When someone receives this verdict, they may be sentenced to serve time in prison. And depending on the severity of their crime, they may even be sentenced to death. One place they’re not sent to, though, is paradise. Today, we’re going to read about the criminal who was sentenced to paradise by the ultimate Judge.

As Jesus hung on the cross for the entire world to see, He was surrounded by two criminals. Now, unlike Jesus, who was completely innocent, these two men were rightfully convicted and sentenced. The Greek word used here for criminal (kakourgōn) was generally used to denote a thief, someone who forcibly took from another. How fitting that Jesus, who came to give salvation and eternal life to all who would receive it, was crucified surrounded by men who took from others.

The interaction between Jesus and the criminals is quite the stark contrast. One of the criminals “hurled insults at Him.” The Greek word used for insult (blasphémeó) was a very strong term that essentially meant to speak evil, to profanely slander. He mocked and spewed pure bile at Jesus. The other thief was remorseful and repentant; he was broken, accepted his fate, and acknowledged his guilt. He rebukes the fist criminal, saying, “Don’t you fear God . . . since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong” (Luke 23:40-41 NIV).

You see, there are generally two responses to consequences and suffering: 1) We rail against God and others, placing the blame on anyone but ourselves or 2) We acknowledge our mistakes, our sinfulness, and cry out for mercy. The contrast between these two men shows us the condition of their hearts and the kind of heart we must always have as we approach Jesus.

The second man not only feared God, but he also took responsibility for his sins. He knew they were both getting what they deserved and he accepted his punishment. This is the truest test of humility before God, when we can look at ourselves honestly and clearly acknowledge that we’re sinners in need of saving, undeserving of salvation, and unworthy of God’s presence and favor.

And when we see ourselves in the proper light, we can begin to see Jesus in all His glory. This thief didn’t see the beaten, bruised, broken criminal everyone else was seeing . . . He saw the face of God as he looked into the eyes of our Savior who was hanging there for him—and us!

So what does he do? He simply says, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Luke 23:42 NIV). There is something deeply touching and completely arresting about this appeal. It was full of trust. The criminal didn’t ask for riches or to be seated at His right or left hand. He didn’t ask for an earthly rescue. Rather, this man was content to simply be remembered by the King. And with the tenderness and compassion only found in Jesus, our Lord said, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43 NIV). In this indescribably beautiful moment, Jesus exchanged this man’s guilt for a peace and hopeful expectation that cannot be explained.

Both men wanted to be saved from death, but the way they sought salvation made all the difference in the world. In your life, always remember to approach Jesus with the same kind of humility as this dying thief. And when you do, you can be sure that He will always respond with grace, mercy, and love!

DIG: Read Luke 23:26–43.

DISCOVER: When was a time that the peace of God just completely swept over you in the midst of a difficult situation? How did you feel in that moment?

DISPLAY: As we prepare for Easter tomorrow, join us in praying for those who will attend church services around the world. Pray that those who don’t know Jesus can experience the same peace as the repentant thief on the cross, and that believers will be encouraged and strengthened as they remember and celebrate Christ’s victory over sin and death!

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As I read this and look at all the junk I have done in my life. It sure is a wonderful feeling to know I pass from this earth I will be face to face with my SAVOR.
That is what this is all about. When you pass from this earth, what do you think happens to you?
Well by asking Jesus with a humble heart and willingness to say Lord PLEASE FORGIVE ME.

This movie is even better than the Passion.

Please folks if you have not seen this movie yet? I went and saw it this last week and it worth it. You will laugh and cry and just makes you think and wonder.

Today is Good Friday and this is the day Our Lord let His body be put up on a cross and dead. 

The real exciting new is what happens on Sunday. 

A Bitter Weeping.

A Bitter Weeping

Posted on: March 24th, 2016 by Danny Saavedra

PAST MISTAKES →
← FORGIVENESS

“Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”—2 Peter 1:1 (NASB)

There’s so much to say about Jesus and Peter that it’s hard to know where to begin. One thing you’ll notice when reading through the gospels is Peter was a bit of a brash, act/speak before you think sort of fellow. From being told “get behind me, Satan” to also being told he would deny Jesus three times, it seems Peter had a hard time staying out of his own way.

You could argue that Peter was the ultimate fixer upper. The difference between Gospels Peter and Acts Peter is so stark. In the Book of Acts, Peter delivers such powerful and profound messages, so eloquent and convicting. He became a strong, wise leader for the early Church, deeply connected to the heart of Jesus—a man used by God tremendously.

So, what changed? How did he go from “get behind me, Satan” to “a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ”? If you were to try to pinpoint a specific, pivotal moment in Peter’s life, it would have to be his denial of Jesus and subsequent restoration.

You know the story. After the last supper, Jesus tells His disciples they will all desert Him. Peter hastily interjects, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will” (Matthew 26:33 NIV). It was a bold statement, which Jesus countered by telling Peter he wouldn’t just desert him, but he’d also deny Him three times that night.

You can almost imagine Peter thinking, “No way, that’ll never happen. I’ll never fall away like that.” But fall he did. And as he remembered the words of Jesus, he went away and “wept bitterly” (Luke 22:62 NIV). The Greek word for bitterly refers to a deep, heart wrenching, and miserable grief.

Upon His resurrection, Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him three times—hardly a coincidence—and then proceeds to tell him to feed and tend to His sheep. It’s here that Jesus restored Peter and reaffirmed his calling by showing Peter he was forgiven. This opened the door for Peter to move forward in redemption.

It’s not hard to imagine that Peter was likely haunted by the memory of that rooster crowing. In fact, this brash apostle probably didn’t sleep much until this moment when Jesus showed him that He wasn’t done with him. Here, we see an amazing exchange take place where Jesus takes Peter’s darkest failure and uses it to cement his great calling.

Martin Luther, the great reformer, once wrote: “It is a great comfort the Bible records many celebrated people falling into huge sins. Such errors are given to us so those who are troubled and desperate may find comfort, and those who are proud may be afraid.” And he continued, “No man has ever fallen so grievously that he could not have stood up again, and no one has such a sure footing that he cannot fall. If Peter fell, I too may fall. But if Peter stood up again, I also can!”

So often, we allow past failures, mistakes, and painful experiences to keep us from all God wants to do in and through us. We stay trapped in the past, stuck in our circumstances, unable to move—and more importantly, move on. But there’s no failing too far that it is beyond the reach of God’s grace, no mistake so grievous that it disqualifies us from His forgiveness. And if He can forgive us and use our failures to bring glory to His name, then we should be able to rest in that forgiveness, stop looking backwards, and fix our eyes forward towards Jesus.

The great lesson we can learn from Peter today is this: Getting knocked down in life is inevitable, but don’t get comfortable on the ground!

DIG: Read Luke 22:54–62,John 21:15–17, and Philippians 3:12–14.

DISCOVER: What in your past are you still experiencing guilt or shame over? It could be a major mistake or horrible event that took place. How is this still impacting your life today? Have you asked for God’s forgiveness and the forgiveness of anyone you may have hurt in the process?

DISPLAY: Today is the day to find freedom from the past! Pray today and ask the Lord to help you move on and bring closure to what is behind so you can begin to look forward to what God has for you ahead.

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My old truck has not been running to good.

So as any normal thing to do is. Change out the spark plus and wires. Okay did that on Tuesday and still not running that good. Okay what is going on? I stopped by a old friend that has a garage. I have talked with him about a couple of problems I have had. He is such a good guy, willing to help any one. So I stopped by and thinking, I guess I will have him check this out. Now mean while I have been on You Tube and seeing all the different things it could be. Coil did come up. So as just asking him, he said try the coil. No problem, I ran down to Auto Zone and bought one. Got back home and put it in. Runs a lot better, but still driving at 45 to 50 mph. It is like running out of gas. Just will not run good at that speed at all. Okay Mr Rahlyn, what do you think? He got his tester out and put it in the computer. Number 2 is not firing correctly. He asked me to take the #2 plug out. Which I did and you can see below what the problem is. 

Now it is one of my old spark plugs. I do remember dropping the spark plug, but I know I looked at it. Rahlyn said maybe when I put the plug in I hit the exhaust manifold. I guess what it? Look and see the gap is closed off. There is no space in between. There is no way this will spark at all. Now like I said I am using this old plug to show you what happen. 

It is running fantastically. No more problems at all. Runs like top. 

I am so blessed to have friends like Rahlyn. 

Up A Tree

Up A Tree
Posted on: March 23rd, 2016 by Danny Saavedra
GREED →
← GENEROSITY

“Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”—Luke 19:9–10 (NLT)

Parents love when their children learn new things. But if there’s one thing every parent dreads in the first few years of their child’s life, it’s the inevitable learning of the word, “MINE!” Kids need to be taught honesty, manners, and selflessness, but the concept of mine is second nature. At our core, we’re selfish, self-centered beings.

In today’s story, we meet a tax collector named Zaccheus. Now, even today, tax collectors usually aren’t at the top of our Christmas card list. But in Jesus’ day, tax collectors were among the most reviled groups of people because they were considered traitors.

They worked for the enemy, Rome, and took money from their own people—usually taking more than they needed to. Often, these taxes were unfair and unregulated. And Zaccheus wasn’t just any old tax collector. According to Luke 19, he was the chief tax collector, a man who had become rich off the misery and captivity of his own people.

But one day, Jesus came to Jericho and Zaccheus knew he needed to see Him. Certainly he’d heard the buzz surrounding this preacher, prophet, and miracle worker—the One who was rumored as possibly being the Messiah.

Feeling guilt, shame, and remorse for his actions as a tax collector, Zaccheus went to go see Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowds. So, what did he do? He climbed a tree. Now, you must understand how shocking and out of character this was, not just for Zaccheus—a man of wealth and power—but even more so for a Jewish man. You see, according to various biblical scholars and historians, it was considered undignified and even dishonorable for first-century Jewish men to do such an extravagant thing like this. They never ran or became overly excited. They needed to be in control at all times. But Zaccheus, fearing he’d miss his chance to see Jesus, “ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road” (Luke 19:4 NLT).

How did Jesus react to this? He invited Himself over to Zaccheus’ house! Can you imagine the utter shock of the crowd? Surely they knew who Zaccheus was and how he made his fortune. How could Jesus actually associate Himself so personally with this man? Because “people judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7 NLT). On the outside, everyone saw a selfish, greedy, traitorous pest, but Jesus saw a broken, repentant sinner seeking answers . . . seeking the face of God.

In just a brief encounter, seeing the compassion and grace of God through Jesus, Zaccheus decides to do something radical. Luke 19:8 (NLT) says, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” What a change of heart! It seems crazy and extreme, but that’s what happens when we see Jesus for who He truly is; when we hear His loving voice and respond. Our lives change, our priorities shift . . . our hearts long for the things God’s heart longs for.

Chief among the things God’s heart longs for is giving. God is a generous God—He’s the ultimate giver. He gives new blessings every day, and most importantly, He gave His Son to make a way for us to know Him personally. As we seek to be more like Him, we too get to experience the joy and blessing that comes from giving.

So, this Easter, be intentional about your giving. Seek to give back by helping someone in need. Maybe find someone you’ve wronged and, like Zaccheus, repay them with four times the generosity. You’ll be glad you did!

DIG: Read Luke 19:1–27 and Mark 10:17–27 and examine the differences in the two men and their interactions with Jesus.

DISCOVER: When was the last time you gave to someone else? Why did you do it? How did it make you feel?

DISPLAY: Look for someone in need today. Maybe it’s a homeless person you see on your route home from work, a single mom you know, or a family in need, and find a way to bless them.

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A Liberator For The Captive, (This is day three of this devotional.)

A Liberator For The Captive
Posted on: March 22nd, 2016 by Danny Saavedra
REJECTION →
← ACCEPTANCE

“Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach.”—Luke 15:1 (NLT)‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Have you ever felt out of place somewhere? Maybe you showed up to a formal dinner party in jeans and a t-shirt. Maybe you’re the only vegan in a sea of meatatarians. Or maybe you’re the only person who isn’t wealthy in your circle of friends. Whatever the case may be, when you’re the outcast, it usually leaves you feeling rejected and excluded.

In Jesus’ day, this type of exclusionary behavior was rampant. A large segment of the Jewish population—tax collectors, prostitutes, slaves, lepers, the blind, the poor, the lame—were considered outcasts. All of these “unclean sinners” were on the outside looking in. And groups like the Pharisees, the religious leaders who were supposed to be the examples of what it means to be close to God, made these distinctions very clear for the people.

Now, God is a God of mercy and justice, the Defender of the weak, the Father to the fatherless, the Liberator for the captive, the Protector of widows. And yet, the religious leaders who spent their entire lives studying the Scriptures couldn’t have gotten this more wrong. They should have been the hands and feet of God—His representation, His ambassadors, exemplifying His mercy, taking up the cause for those who needed God the most.

They should have been the ones to show grace to the prostitutes like Jesus did with Rahab, to forgive the tax collectors as God forgave the Israelites time and time again, to free slaves as God did in Egypt. They should have taken up offerings for the widows, orphans, and the sick, but they didn’t do any of that. Instead, they alienated and ostracized these groups of people. Why? Because the religious leaders wanted to keep themselves separated, set apart, and clean.

But here comes Jesus, God in the flesh, and He’s eating with tax collectors, forgiving prostitutes and adulterers, healing lepers, and giving sight to the blind. He said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 NIV).

Jesus showed compassion, grace, empathy, and love at every turn. He wasn’t afraid of being called unclean. He wasn’t afraid to get His hands dirty because it meant making someone else’s heart clean. Our Good Shepherd came for and sought the lost sheep. He truly fulfilled the prophetic words of Isaiah 61 (NIV), which says, “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me . . . to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.”

Whereas the keepers of God’s Word drew very clear lines in the sand, Jesus opened the doors of heaven. He exchanged the rejection and hopelessness of the outcast for complete acceptance and unconditional love from God the Father.

As you read this, you may be thinking, “How could the Pharisees have done such a horrible thing?” Thoughts of poor, defenseless orphans and lepers may be swimming through your head as the need for justice wells up inside you. Your shock may even be turning into a righteous anger towards the religious leaders. But beware . . . because so often, in today’s world, we, the Church, have done the same thing with a variety of groups. We’ve drawn party lines and condemned certain segments of the population.

With Easter only a few days away, let’s remember that Jesus paid the price for everyone, and as His ambassadors, it’s our job to receive and love everyone as Christ does, regardless of who they are, what they’ve done, or where they come from. Let’s remember to put on love and allow the light of Christ to shine through us.

DIG: Read Luke 17:11–19, John 8:1–11, and Romans 6.

DISCOVER: When was a time you felt out of place? What was your experience when you felt accepted and welcomed? What were the differences in the situations? What caused there to be a difference?

DISPLAY: Find someone at your work, school, or neighborhood who always seems to be left out or excluded for whatever reason. Make it a point today to make them feel accepted. Invite them to coffee, bring them a treat with an encouraging note, and invite them to join you for church this Easter.

Who Wrote Precious Lord? It wasn't this Tommy, it was Thomas Andrew Dorsey!!!

Folks I just want to let you know about some thing we get on line in forward e mails are not always true. Just to show you what I mean, I got this from a friend of mine and thought this would be neat to share. Then I checked it out and found out this was written by a guy named Thomas Andrew Dorsey.

snopes.com/music/songs/precious.asp

Check out the You Tube below. 

                                               www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HNZNvlhlN4

You have to copy or cut and paste to make this happen. Sorry I can not figure it out to double click on.

This is Tommy Dorsey. He was a jazz band leader and player. 

How touching is this?  Trials like this one give re-birth to something as precious as “Precious Lord”!!!



I hope you read this.  It brought me to tears maybe because I love these old hymns.

Who wrote the song "Precious Lord"?  I was very surprised to find out
who it was.

THE BIRTH OF THE HYMN "PRECIOUS LORD"

Back in

1932, I was a fairly new husband.  My wife, Nettie and I were living
in a little apartment on Chicago's south side.  One hot August
afternoon I had to go to St. Louis where I was to be the featured
soloist at a large revival meeting.   I didn't want to go; Nettie was
in the last month of pregnancy with our first child, but a lot of
people were expecting me in St. Louis.
I kissed Nettie goodbye, clattered downstairs to our Model A and, in a
fresh Lake Michigan breeze, chugged out of Chicago on Route 66.

However, outside the city, I discovered that in my anxiety at leaving,
I had forgotten my music case.  I wheeled around and headed back.

I found Nettie sleeping peacefully.  I hesitated by her bed; something
was strongly telling me to stay, but eager to get on my way, and not
wanting to disturb Nettie, I shrugged off the feeling and quietly
slipped out of the room with my music.

The next night, in the steaming St. Louis heat, the crowd called on me
to sing again and again.  When I finally sat down, a messenger boy ran
up with a Western Union telegram.
I ripped open the envelope....

Pasted on the yellow sheet were the words:

YOUR WIFE JUST DIED.

People were happily singing and clapping around me, but I could hardly
keep from crying out.  I rushed to a phone and called home.  All I
could hear on the other end was "Nettie is dead.  Nettie is dead.'"

When I got back, I learned that Nettie had given birth to a boy.  I
swung between grief and joy.  Yet that same night, the baby died.  I
buried Nettie and our little boy together, in the same casket. Then I
fell apart.  For days I closeted myself.  I felt that God had done me
an injustice.  I didn't want to serve Him anymore or write gospel
songs I  just wanted to go back to that jazz world I once knew so
well.  But then, as I hunched alone in that dark apartment those first
sad days, I thought back to the afternoon I went to St. Louis .

Something kept telling me to stay with Nettie.  Was that something
God?  Oh, if I had paid more attention to Him that day, I would have
stayed and been with Nettie when she died.

From that moment on I vowed to listen more closely to Him.  But still
I was lost in grief.    Everyone was kind to me, especially one
friend.

The following Saturday evening he took me up to Maloney's Poro College
, a neighborhood music school.
It was quiet; the late evening sun crept through the curtained windows.

I sat down at the piano, and my hands began to browse over the keys.
Something happened to me then.  I felt at peace.  I felt as though I
could reach out and touch God.  I found myself playing a melody.  Once
in my head they just seemed to fall into place:  'Precious Lord, take
my hand, lead me on, let me stand, I am tired, I am weak, I am worn,
through the storm, through the night, lead me on to the light, take my
hand, precious Lord, lead me home.'

The Lord gave me these words and melody, He also healed my spirit.  I
learned that when we are in our deepest grief, when we feel farthest
from God, this is when He is closest, and when we are most open to His
restoring power.

And so I go on living for God willingly and joyfully, until that day
comes when He will take me and gently lead me home.

- - -    - Tommy Dorsey

ALL THE REST OF THIS IS NOT TRUE!!!!!
For those too young to know who he is, Tommy Dorsey was a well-known
band leader in the 1930's and 40's.

Did you know that Tommy Dorsey wrote this song?  I surely didn't.
What a wonderful story of how God CAN heal the brokenhearted!
Beautiful, isn't it?

Worth the reading, wasn't it?  Think on the message for a while.

Thought you might like to share this, I just did .

So folks please do your research before sending things out to others. I know this world is flying by and we are just going on a ride.
SNOPES IS A GREAT RESOURCE. 

A Taste Of Living Water

SHAME →
← BOLDNESS

“Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony . . .”—John 4:39 (NIV)‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Research shows the most effective form of marketing is word of mouth. In fact, according to Nielsen research conducted in 2014, “92% of consumers believe recommendations from friends and family over all forms of advertising.” Today, we’ll read about an amazing example of this put into action.

During Jesus’ ministry, He had countless conversations with eternal implications. One of the most captivating was with a Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. In John 4:4 (NIV), it states, “Now he had to go through Samaria.” Technically, Jesus didn’t have to go through Samaria, but He took the direct route because He had a divine appointment waiting for Him.

It was around noon when Jesus decided to stop and rest. Shortly after, a Samaritan woman came by herself to draw water from the well (John 4:6-8). The fact that she was alone stood out because women usually drew water together in groups. They’d also come at a cooler time of the day than noon. This tells us that she deliberately chose a time when no one would be around. Why?

In John 4:16–18, Jesus reveals that she was a woman of poor reputation, married five times and living with a man that wasn’t her husband. No wonder she avoided others. When they saw her, they probably saw nothing more than a scarlet letter. But not Jesus!

When Jesus first encounters this woman, He asks her for a drink of water. Knowing Jews didn’t associate with Samaritans, she asks, how He could ask her, a Samaritan, for a drink. But Jesus moves right past that and His response is simply amazing. He says, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water” (John 4:10 NIV).

It’s an interesting choice of words considering the context of the rest of John. In the miracle at Cana and conversation with Nicodemus, water plays a major role. In a land subject to drought, water was truly a cherished gift from God.

Here, Jesus comes with a greater gift; not physical water, but a spiritual wellspring to life that flows into eternity. Living water He calls it; a restoration of the soul through faith. At Jacob’s well, a place that symbolized the old covenant to both Samaritans and Jews, the new covenant is proclaimed.

Like Nicodemus, this woman was seeking what Jesus offered. She was amazed at His words. Jesus revealed her darkest secrets, but still offered her the gift. So she asked Him to give her this water she required and desired because she didn’t want to feel empty anymore. She didn’t fully understand it, but she was ready to accept it . . . she had faith in Jesus, she believed Him. She knew she was in the presence of the Messiah. This woman, who had wandered alone for some time, avoiding others, received Jesus. How amazing!

But that’s not even the best part! The real miracle was how, because of her testimony, many came to Jesus and believed. In her brief encounter with Jesus, she exchanged her shame for boldness. And she went into her town and shared her story, of how Jesus had changed her, and the people saw and believed. Now that’s word of mouth!

Just like this woman, there’s incredible power when you share your God-story with others; sharing what He’s done in your life. More than anything else, the evidence of a changed life speaks to the glory and grace of God’s power.

As Easter approaches, share your story! Tell people about the amazing grace of our Savior and allow His living water to spring forth out of you like a dam broken wide open.

DIG: Read John 4.

DISCOVER: Another major theme found in John is water. Why did John place such an emphasis on water? What does water represent to you and what does it mean for you as a believer today? What do you believe water represents to someone who doesn’t believe in Jesus?

DISPLAY: As with the woman at the well, your God-story has the power to make a major impact on the lives of the people around you. In some way, whether face-to-face, via a social media post or video, or in a letter, share your story with others.

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Not sure what you have planned out for this Easter. This is really something we all need to read and check out.

This is a devotion that we handed out at Calvary Chapel for this Easter Time. 

Please take five minutes of your time and read this. I believe you might be able to walk away and say WOW. 

Then each day afterwards I will put the next day on here. 

“But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.”—John 3:21 (NIV)‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

If you ask people around the world to recite a Bible verse, there’s no doubt the most common response would be John 3:16. It’s easily the most well known verse in the Bible . . . and with good reason. It’s the entirety of God’s work and plan in less than 30 words.

This famous verse comes to us from an encounter between Jesus and a Pharisee named Nicodemus. Now, this man was no ordinary Pharisee. He was a member of the Jewish ruling council, otherwise known as the Sanhedrin. Now, the first thing that sticks out about their interaction is that it took place at night. Why would Nicodemus approach Jesus secretly in the middle of the night? He was more than likely afraid of what associating with Jesus would do to his status among the Pharisees.

As you may know, Jesus and the Pharisees didn’t have the best relationship. The interactions found between them in the gospels usually involve Jesus calling the Pharisees out on their hypocrisy or the Pharisees trying to discredit Jesus. In one instance, Jesus actually calls them “whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean” (Matthew 23:27 NIV). So it’s no wonder this curious Pharisee, this ruler who must have been searching for more than what his religiosity had given him, would secretly seek Jesus, whose revolutionary teachings captivated the crowds and caused quite the stir amongst the Jewish people.

What golden nugget does Jesus offer this wondering and wandering Pharisee? He warns him, “No one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again” (John 3:3 NIV). If you’re anything like Nicodemus, a man of intelligence and logic, you’re probably saying, “What? How can someone be born again?” Doesn’t make much sense, right? And Jesus goes on to explain how just like we’re born physically, we must also be born spiritually. Before Jesus came, we were all spiritually dead because of our sins (Ephesians 2:1–5).

And now, the most important question comes to the forefront . . . “How can someone be born again? How can we become alive spiritually? John 3:16! Believe in the Son, the One sent by God because of His love for us. This must’ve been a complete shock for Nicodemus. You see, all his life, he’d been trained to believe that his entry into God’s kingdom depended on his behavior and right standing with God. But the truth is, this was an impossible task because mankind could never do enough to earn right standing before God. Our sin created an unbridgeable gap between God and us. But now, Jesus comes along and says all Nicodemus needs to do is believe in the Son—have faith! This is the truth of God’s Word, the truth of God’s plan of salvation.

In today’s verse, Jesus ends His conversation with Nicodemus saying, “But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light.” One of the running themes in the Gospel of John is the contrast between darkness and light (John 1:1–11, 9:4, 11:10, 13:30, 19:39, and 21:3). Here, in the dead of night, out of the darkness of his life and religiosity, we see Nicodemus come into the light of the world!

Today, every single one of us has the opportunity to come into the light, to leave the darkness of uncertainty behind. All we need to do is believe in the truth of God’s Word, which says, “But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead” (Ephesians 2:4–5 NLT).

DIG: Read John 1–3.

DISCOVER: Throughout his gospel, John references light and Jesus as the light of the world. What does light represent to you? How does this apply to your relationship with Jesus?

DISPLAY: Write down the names of three, or more, people in your life who you want to see the light of Jesus shine in their life and pray for them each day this week.

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Tags: Beautiful Exchange, Easter Devotional, Religion, Truth
Danny Saavedra
Danny Saavedra
Danny Saavedra has served on the staff of CCFL since 2012 as a writer/editor on the Communications Team. He has a Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling and Master of Divinity in Pastoral Ministry from Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. Danny and his wife Stephanie have two beautiful children— Jude and Zoe—and share a love of comic books, great food, and enjoy serving God together as a family.

Connect with Danny:
dannys@calvaryftl.org
Other posts by Danny Saavedra

Just a note, I would love to hear from you if you enjoyed this devotion. Folks I really love doing this blog. If you have anything you want to share. Please e mail at tombahamas7@gmail.com. Love to hear from you. 

We had a chance to get together with a old friend.

This is Felicia and Tim and one of  Pastor Bazel (spelling) children. We are at Solomon's Super Store parking lot. It is a Walmart want a be, in Nassau. 

This was a time to pray for Pastor Bazel, as he was flying out the next day to go to Haiti. as he is from there. He has started up a church and school over there. He is just flying back to check on things and settle some paperwork that is needed. 

I a sorry but I am not sure of everyone name here. 

It really was neat to take this time and just hang out a little while with his children and saying our good byes. 

Pastor has does so much good for the Haitian community here in the Bahamas. Tim and his family have been part of many thing he has done and still work along side with him at the All Saint's Camp. I have known Pastor for about 9 years or so. He is always willing to help where ever it is needed. 

He really has a wonderful heart to help where is needed/ 

I still am blown away about the prices in The Bahamas.

I have never heard of these? They are big and look closely. 

Doesn't it look like a lemon? I am sorry but I didn't buy one to see or taste. 

Now remember they grow these on the island of Eleuthera. Now I am not sue if these came from there or not. But $7.00 for a pineapple? 

Do you see the prices for ice cream? When I lived there, that was not part if my diet. I use to have yogurt. 

We are so blessed to live in the states and be able to buy these normal items for such low prices. 

These are some of my friends in the Bahamas.

This is Felicia, Bob (back) and then her hubby Tim. They are filling up water bottles from the R.O. unit that is at ALC. There was some troubles just before I came with it not working correctly. But as the team came together it is doing well. I thought that would be funny. Doing WELL?

Felicia and Sam. Sam has been here longer than me. She doesn't get paid as a Bahamian staff member. But she is always willing to help out and do the same job as they do. 

I have had a many chances to spend time with her and she is a woot. She has been trusting the Lord since she has been on staff. She always as a big smile and a great way of showing His love to the children here. 

These tow guys are missionaries too. Arron is has been helping out with the computers and any kind of electric tings. Pat is the one that pretty much took my spot as the maintenance guy. As you can see behind them. this is the R.O. unit that we get our water from. It really has been a blessing since this unit was put in. I think we got it around 9 years ago? By God's grace it is up and running again. 

I think her name is Diana. You don't see this in the states. Someone pumping your gas into your car? Maybe you do up north? I think in Michigan you are not aloud to pump gas into your car or truck?  

This is out outing on Thursday night. Tim and his family, Bob and Faye and Marsha. This was at the Montaqu Gardens Restaurant. It is up town right across from Fort Montaqu.'

It really was nice to spend a little time with everyone. 

I am very blessed to be able to call these folks my family too.