55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:55 – 57)
40 Days of Discipline
April 4, 2021 at 2:26 am
Jesus Christ is risen indeed!!
April 4, 2021 at 4:16 am
Happy Easter!
Thank you so much for the 40 Days of Discipline Bible Study. Every year, Lent season , I look forward to being a part of this study. So good to study with all of my former church family in Westside community church of T&T. For 40 days, reading the comments of some friends I know made me reminisce the good times I had in Trinidad, it feels like I’m back in T&T again. By the way, thank you too for all the comments of even those I’ve never met in Trinidad but contributed a lot in this study. My heart was blessed.
This year’s study is kind of special because I feel this study had coincided with the situation I had and helped me answer some challenging questions I faced regarding relationships with the body of Christ in my long time church, as well as with my closest friends here in Japan. It took one pandemic incident at my church last February , for me to realize that I tend to give so much importance on people whom I thought were really my friends and honest to me , but it turned out, I’m not really considered friends by them from the way they treated me. It was hurtful. It’s so easy to be disappointed by man and sometimes the enemy (satan) used it to destroy anything that further God’s kingdom. Prayer, and being grounded with the Word of God, rebuking negative thoughts, repenting our sins, and fellowship with believers are sure way to help us bounce back and keep us focused on Jesus. I was reminded in my reflection during our study that Jesus is always prioritizing me, that you should not be upset, even if you feel like you were being treated like a crap by people you have trusted over the years. I’m comforted with the knowledge and assurance that my God does not disappoint me, and that He includes all His children in the church family, no discrimination, no favoritism. He loves everyone just the same. Listening to the prompting of the Holy Spirit is the way to recognize God’s grace and mercy fill our life especially when forgiving others, and even one self is a challenge. As C.S.Lewis pointed out “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God had forgiven the inexcusable in you.” As far as forgiving yourself is concerned, he wrote “ if God forgives us, we must forgive ourselves, otherwise, it is almost like setting up ourselves as a higher tribunal than him.”
All your comments and answers to questions in our study have given me insights and sound advice. Thank you and have a blessed Easter. Jesus is risen, He is alive! The very reason why we live and have eternal life!
Here are some scriptures I reflect upon on this Easter Sunday.
“ One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him on his temple.”
Psalms 27:4
“And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile , you’re still in your sins.”
1Corinthians 15:17
April 4, 2021 at 6:58 am
Beautiful song!
Happy Easter Everyone! 🙂
Thanks again Cedric. I look forward to next year’s 40 Days. 😉
April 4, 2021 at 7:54 am
Happy Easter! Thank you for the 40 days of discipline. Norman the reply I posted earlier was not for this page. It’s for the 40th day review. Sorry about that. You can just remove it. Thank you again!
See you next year!
April 4, 2021 at 10:10 am
Gone, the stone is rolled back! Gone, the tomb is empty! He arose triumphantly! And because He lives, we too shall live eternally! ALLELUIA!
April 4, 2021 at 10:43 am
What an amazing journey this year. Thanks for all you do!!
He is risen indeed Hallelujah!!!
April 4, 2021 at 7:25 pm
A Blessed Easter everyone. Thanks very much for the 40 days of disciplines. The questions encouraged deeper meditation on God’s Words and application to my life. Thanks again.