Easter
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Focus on Jesus, And … Things Bloom!
Dear SUMites, Ann here. I hope you enjoyed our little experience of walking together through Easter. I have to say it was a great discipline for me to focus solely on Jesus that week. On the topic of 'focusing solely on Jesus', when I first started writing for this blog a few years ago I…
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Heavy Stones and Dry Bones – A Poem by Charumathi R. Rao
Heavy Stones and Dry Bones – A Poem by Charumathi R. Rao She walked down the dusty path, very early on that Sunday morn, A bag of spices in her hands, teary faced and heart forlorn. She’d seen him stripped and beaten blue, a crown of thorns upon His head, All He’d said had…
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The Slithering Snakes of Holy Week
We've now got to the middle of Holy Week. My friends, one thing we see in the Gospels is that those Pharisees were an absolute pain in the backside! No, not just a pain. It's serious. Their rejection of Jesus is really, really bad. Really bad. Jesus shares pearls of wisdom that final week. His…
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Monday of Holy Week
It’s Monday of Holy Week in Jerusalem. With just three days to go before the crucifixion, Jesus is walking around Jerusalem ministering to others. In love. Miraculous, amazing Jesus. I cannot imagine the turmoil within his soul as he dug deep to carry out those last ministry tasks, knowing what he would endure next. At…
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What Does Hosanna Mean – Passion Week Starts Now!
SUM Nation. Lynn Donovan here. Gang, it’s TRIUMPHANT ENTRY Sunday. Do you know on this day the people of Israel believed their Messiah arrived. AND INDEED HE DID. This story is very familiar to Christians world-wide, but there is so many nuances and unsaid statements that we completely miss. Here is one. The disciples and…
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Holy Week Here at SUM
Hi SUM family, Ann here. This time of year is ever so special. It’s a time when we lift our eyes collectively to the cross of Jesus. There’s such value in faith routines, and I know many of you have routines that you follow, year after year. For me, one treasured routine is to follow…
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Let the Fragrance of Worship Fill My House
Hi friends, Ann here! During this time of incubation in my home, I’ve been reflecting on what I’m to focus my energy on. I sense it’s this simple thing: Lock my eyes onto Jesus. As far as I can, I need to fix my eyes firmly on Him, and steadily hold that gaze. This week,…
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Supernatural Happenings
Photo supplied courtesy of imagery majestic and FreeDigitalPhotos.net Hi! Ian here. Lent began last Wednesday with Ash Wednesday. I’m observing this season once again as I enjoy being intentional about seeking more of God and Lent and Advent seem to help me do that. Yes, I ‘give up’ something (sugar and Instagram this year) as…
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Strange Easter? Chronicles of the Donovan Clan
Friends, I will tell you that my Easter was strange. I attended my church on Saturday evening and was overcome by the presentation and the holiness of Jesus and what He gave to me. And then on Sunday morning, I attended my old church with Mike. It was weird and different and good.
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Good Friday
John 12: 24-25 Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it…
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The Glorious Company
On this Monday morning following Easter, I feel as though I want to share a passage that is continually running in my soul right now. It’s the passage that Easter is leading me to comprehend. It is the message from the Holy Spirit to the church in this season. THIS is our inheritance and expectation…
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Will You Marry Me?
SUNDAY: GLORY!!!! Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to…
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FOR THIS He Died
Saturday: Dead. In the Grave. THIS is what He died for: You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. – John 15:16 He died to…
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THREE WORDS … And Everything Changes
FRIDAY of the Passion Week: On this day Jesus finds himself swept away to the courts of humankind. A mockery. Completely abandoned by every friend. Betrayed by a demoniac fueled man who regretted his terrible disloyalty of an innocent man. And sentenced: GUILTY by a false court of accusation. Spat upon. Ridiculed. Tortured. Every lash…
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The Marriage Supper of The Lamb
Sumite Family, It’s the strangest thing. This week leading to Easter, the Lord is showing me how the entirety of the Word of God is pointing to THIS marriage. So, for the next few days, may I share with you how I perceive our place as participants, walking in the middle of this proposal? Each…
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Marriage Redemption In Real Life This Easter
I received this from Sumite, Becky Walker. It is testimony for all of us. Blessing this week. Love, Lynn —– For anyone who does not know me or what God has been doing, I want to remind everyone of God's promise to me. I wrote the following in a post around Thanksgiving: Years ago, before…
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Centrality Of Easter
Easter, the death and resurrection of Christ, is an event that altered the fabric of humanity. Easter is the centrality of love. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. -John 13:35 As I consider the love in the heart of Christ that He willingly offered Himself to…
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Via Dolorosa, Walk With Jesus
Via Dolorosa, The Way of Suffering: “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the…
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He Has Risen…. Just As He Said
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.…
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The LIGHT
Can you imagine the pain in the disciple’s hearts? I can’t help but place myself in Peter’s shoes. Two days ago, I pledged to Christ that I would die for Him. And yesterday I betrayed, lied, and abandoned the author of my Life. I feel a pit in my stomach. Not only because of Peter…
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Friday Darkness
It's dark and all seems lost. BUT…. Today's Events: First trial, before Annas [nightime hours]; Annas is looking for an accusation, biding time till Sanhedrin is gathered at High Priestly villa Second [and primary] trial before Sanhedrin, Jesus is condemned, misused Third trial, immediately at dawn [meanwhile, Peter denies Jesus a third time;…