I've Always Been Rich: Road to Emmaus

I've Always Been Rich: Road to Emmaus: The story of two men on their way to Emmaus is always an interesting one. The men were followers of Jesus.  Now they had heard that their ...

Road to Emmaus

The story of two men on their way to Emmaus is always an interesting one. The men were followers of Jesus.  Now they had heard that their Jesus, who they believed was their long expected Messiah,   had been crucified but also was supposed to have risen from the grave. Several of the disciples had gone to the tomb to verify what the women said and found, yes, the tomb was empty.  They were discussing this whole scenario not knowing what  to believe.  That is when Jesus came up to them and walked along with  them but they didn't recognize Him.  They found it strange that this man who joined them did not seem to know about all the events that had transpired in Jerusalem the past few days.  The men then, in great detail, told all about the way the prophets had foretold his coming, his persecution, his  crucifixion  and even the empty tomb.  Jesus admonished them for not believing  the prophetic scripture.  Still, they did recognize Him.  When they neared the house they were to stay for the night they invited Jesus to stay with them.  Jesus accepted the invitation. It was  only when Jesus took the bread. blessed it and began to give it to  them did they recognize who this "stranger" was.  When they recognized Him he disappeared from their sight.  This story brings up some very interesting and strong points.  Notice that the two men did not recognize Jesus until he took the bread, blessed it and gave it to them to eat.  Jesus didn't wait to be served, he immediately took residence, so to speak, and served them,  He took charge.  He gave them the physical bread to nourish their bodies after the 7 mile walk from Jerusalem.  That is the way it is when we are told about Jesus, accept him into our heart and take our nourishment from him. Jesus does for us sinners what he did for those two men.  They invited him into their home when they still did not recognize him for who he was.  He accepted their invitation to stay.   But then Jesus took over and fed them.  He took control and did what he does so well.  He gave them nourishment.  When we accept Jesus to come into our heart he gives the Holy Spirit to empower us and He truly reveals who he is and immediately begins to nourish us with his spiritual food.  Remember, the two men supplied the bread but when Jesus blessed it and broke it he gave it to them.  You  and I have our talents and gifts but we have been using them in our way and for ourselves mainly. When Jesus comes in as our Lord and Savior he enables us  to use our gifts for others.  In other words, he blesses and enriches what we already have so it can be a blessing to others. However, that is not the end of the process.  Our growth spiritually comes as we feed on his Word, as we commune with him in prayer and as we serve him with our whole heart.  A formula I have found to be helpful in my spiritual life is this:  we are blessed, we are called, we are enabled and then we are blessed to be a blessing.  This was made so clear to me yesterday when I spoke about the book, "I've Always Been Rich".  I explained how I had been blessed with food, clothing, home, Christian parents and then a wonderfully spiritual husband throughout my life so I consider that as being rich. I was called into ministry and accepted the call. God enabled me by providing  the training I needed.  Then yesterday I had the privilege of sharing that journey with 80 women at a local church.  What a tremendous privilege of sharing God's  grace with those women and being drawn together in Christian love.  It just doesn't get more blessed than that.  Emmaus story found in Luke 24:13........Blessed..... in Genesis 12: 1-3.
Marilyn Rensink   Email mjrevmom6@aol.com   Books available as is speaking.

I've Always Been Rich: The Empty Tomb

I've Always Been Rich: The Empty Tomb: Several years ago we spent time in the Holy Lands and in Egypt.  As many people will tell you who have been there, the pyramids in Eg...

The Empty Tomb

Several years ago we spent time in the Holy Lands and in Egypt.  As many people will tell you who have been there, the pyramids in Egypt are  massive and a construction miracle for that age.  The size betrays their customary intent.  They were to be burial sites for the rich and famous, mostly the powerful leader of their County.  These people were buried with all sorts of material items they might need in the after life as well as other paraphernalia for the comfort of the deceased.  The body remained in that tomb unless someone decided to bury it some other place, than that place would be specified.  The body or its remains would always be buried.  This was and is true in any cemetery whether the deceased is a pauper, millionaire, famous, man, women, child, historical figure or any other definition of mankind you can think of.  The remains will decay but will always remain buried. 
Today is Easter.  Last week I wrote about Palm Sunday when Jesus rode into the city on a donkey amidst the praises of the people.  He was looked on and considered their Messiah who would reign as their King and free them from the bondage of Rome.  In just a weeks time  the religious leaders of the Holy City turned that triumphant entry into a crucifixion and hung Jesus on the cross.  Yes,  that crucifixion was to pay the penalty for our sins so  that we do not have to go through the condemnation for our sins, that was a hefty price for Him to pay but He did it in love for those who chose to accept Him as Lord and Savior.  Jesus conquered  sin for you and me. Joyfully, that was not the end of what He would do for us.  Just 2 days after his death on the cross  the tomb where He had been laid was found to be empty.  Yes, EMPTY.  The grave clothes were neatly left in the tomb but Jesus body was gone.  As he had promised His disciples he was going to rise from the grave to prove to us that he had also overcome death.  The disciples were skeptical as I might have been at that time as well.  But He did it FOR US.  As I alluded to above, no other race, religion, or people group who claim to have a messiah or god can claim to have an empty tomb. No other dignitary   can claim to have conquered death. No other human can claim to have paid the condemnation for the sins  of their followers.  Christianity is  the only faith that has a risen Lord.  The grave was empty when the women came to the tomb to further the traditional ceremony of tending to the body.  Yes dear people, we serve a risen Lord, one who lives in us and who loves us so much that he conquered sin and death for you and me.  We sang praises today in our worship services for the freedom we have because  he was willing to pay.  His Grace always exceeds our expectations.  We rejoice in His love and return our love in gratitude to Him.
Again, my book, "I've Always Been Rich" which has a subtitle of "Experiencing The Richness of God's Grace", continues to be offered in bookstores. 
Marilyn Rensink    Email   mjrevmom6@aol.com
 

I've Always Been Rich: Palm Sunday

I've Always Been Rich: Palm Sunday: In Luke 19 we read a detailed description of the events that took place on Palm Sunday, which was just a week before Jesus was crucified....

Palm Sunday

In Luke 19 we read a detailed description of the events that took place on Palm Sunday, which was just a week before Jesus was crucified.  Palm Sunday is a joyful event but less than a week after it came the event that displayed  the most despicable death know to mankind.  Then the miraculous event,  the resurrection of Jesus from the grave.  But today we concentrate on Palm Sunday. 

Jesus and his disciples  were making the trek to Jerusalem.  They were traveling on the road seen in the picture above.  Wilmer and I traveled that same road when we were in the Holy Lands some years ago.  We were mesmerized by the thought that we were on the same road that Jesus took knowing He was on His way to be crucified.  Before Jesus and the crowd approached this place called the Mount of Olives the disciples had acquired a colt for Jesus to ride on  but the disciples were on foot.  As the crowd continued to grow and excitement rose they became more convinced  that  Jesus was the one who they hailed as their long expected King.  There praises went like this, Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord,  Peace in heaven and glory in the highest".  The crowds were jubilant because they still expected Jesus  to be a king in their worldly domain and it was expected that He would free them from the bondage of the earthly king that was oppressing them.  But in the midst of the joyous and jubilant celebration of the people we read that Jesus wept.  As the whole procession moved down the Mount of Olives the city of Jerusalem was in view, even as it is in the picture above.  Jesus tears show us how little Jesus was affected by all the applause and acclamation of the people.  He knew their thoughts and He knew what was to happen shortly.  This gives us an interesting insight into the heart of Jesus.  He wept in the midst of his triumphs.  That gives us pause as we rejoice in the triumphs and frivolity  in this world.  Nothing wrong with laughter and praise but there are still signs of evil around us and that makes us  weep even as Jesus wept for the coming destruction of the city dear to his heart, Jerusalem.

 Also, He knew he was going to Jerusalem to be killed by the very people that were now  acclaiming his greatness.  An interesting insight is when some leaders of the crowd thought the people should not raise their voices in praise, Jesus told them that if they were quiet the stones would cry out in praise.  Sounds like a strange response but its literal fulfilling would come a little later in the week.  When Jesus was on the cross people reviled Him and even the disciples sunk into a profound silence.   However, that is the time when the earth did quake and rocks were rent apart.  The people of that day wanted to silence Jesus but the Christ cannot be silenced. 

This event in scripture reminds me of when we, even as Christ's believers, tend to want to put our hope and security in an earthly power whether it be a pastor, political leader or other symbol of significance. That is exactly what the people in Jesus day were doing, they looked for an earthly king who could make their lives more productive, less restrictive and be free..  They expected a Messiah and had looked forward for many years to his coming so when Jesus came they expected all their hopes and dreams to be fulfilled in Him.  They totally missed the message of Jesus and why God sent Him into the world.  Jesus came for one purpose, to die on the cross in our stead to satisfy the wrath of God for the sins we commit.  Jesus gave himself voluntarily on our behalf so we can be declared righteous.  The penalty for our sins was paid for on the cross. Do you and I still think an earthly power is the answer to our problems?  Do we think that God needs a human entity to fulfill His hope for the world?  Do I, and you, sometimes think God probably needs a little help to make His Almighty plan come to fruition?  I make the point that all of us are to do our humanitarian things, our evangelizing efforts, our support for those who are on the battle lines in  leadership positions but we do them with the confidence that God does rule and He does direct us in what we are to do.  The Jewish people in Jesus day made an about face from Palm Sunday to Good Friday.  They had their eye on the wrong goal.  They wanted what was good for their everyday living and totally missed that Jesus wanted their heart.  Only  He can  fill the vacuum of our hearts and give us a life that is filled with the Holy Spirit who will direct us to do and say what brings honor and glory to God.

Still selling the book, I've Always Been Rich, which talks about experiencing the richness of God's   grace.  Books can be purchased Barnes and Noble and Amazon and Christian booksores. 

Marilyn Rensink      email  mjrevmo6@aol.com

I've Always Been Rich: Relationships

I've Always Been Rich: Relationships: One of my all time favorite pictures is this one taken in Mexico of 2 of our granddaughters and two children that lived in the same villag...

Relationships

One of my all time favorite pictures is this one taken in Mexico of 2 of our granddaughters and two children that lived in the same village in Mexico.  Our daughter and her husband are missionaries and some years back  they and their children lived in this village for some time.  Our granddaughters spoke English, of course, and knew a smattering of Spanish and a few words in the vernacular of the little village.  The 2 Mexican children knew there language but probably did not have a grasp of any other language.  However, that didn't keep those 4 from being friends.  They played together without a common language.  There facial expressions and motions made up for what they lacked in talking in the same language.  And sometimes our 2 granddaughters would try to communicate and they used words from several different languages in one sentence.  They tried desperately to communicate and had fun doing it. 
Wilmer and I have done a lot of traveling and some has been in countries who spoke a different language than we did.  It is not easy but usually some kind of communication happens.  I will admit it is a little tricky when trying to purchase goods and doing some bartering and not totally understanding what the selling price actually is.  Good they usually all understand basic American money.
It seems to me that we are forgetting the basics of relationships.  The children pictured above started from the premise that they were going to "communicate".  Probably because they had few options to play with others but nonetheless they started thinking from the point that they had more similarities than differences.  Yes they had different skin and different languages but "we are going to make this work."  I believe they had a mutual respect for one another and that made the whole difference.  This lack of understanding or respect is evident in society.  I talk to many people who are patients in the hospital where I work as a Chaplain, the stories I hear of families that are reeling from family issues or other relational issues that are devastating them are heart breaking.  Relationships are difficult.    I sometimes wish we could go back as little children and learn the simple way they have of relating to others.  But, as adults, we do have a solid basis of instruction to guide us and that is the Bible.  In Galatians 3: 26-28 we read   "You are all sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ".  I think that pretty well includes all of us.  The ground at the foot of the cross is level. As a female ordained pastor I sometimes feel something less than a cordial welcome  when approaching a  certain circle of people.  And that is perfectly okay with me.  We all have our differences and interpret scripture differently.  This is not a matter that causes any less respect for those who think differently. God  looks on each one of us as being equal!  Now if only we could get that idea to permeate our hearts so that we could live like that what a difference it would make in the world.  Our lives would reflect God's love and radiate it to all the world.  The difference would be so great that others would ask what our secret to happiness is. 
In my book "I've Always Been Rich" I did not portray a family that was perfect but I did try to make it clear that to be in a relationship with Christ does make our earthly walk much more joyful.  And it will assure us of  an eternal fellowship with our Lord.
Marilyn Rensink   email  mjrevmom6@aol.com   Find the book at any local bookstore.