Jesus I trust in You!

Today is Divine Mercy Sunday.  We celebrate the truth that God's mercy is limitless and endures forever.

"Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”  And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
(John 20:21-23 NIV)

"Stop doubting and believe.”  Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”  (John 20:27-28 NIV)

ABC OF MERCY:
Ask for Mercy.
Be Merciful.
Completely trust Jesus for Mercy.

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I shall not die but live, and declare the works of the Lord.

To share your faith, all you need is Jesus.

"They couldn't take their eyes off them—Peter and John standing there so confident, so sure of themselves! Their fascination deepened when they realized these two were laymen with no training in Scripture or formal education. They recognized them as companions of Jesus."  (Acts 4:13 MSG)

"But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him?  We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.”  (Acts 4:19-20 NLT)

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All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy!

"Jesus said to them, Bring some of the fish which you have just caught."  (John 21:10 AMP)

"Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.  Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish."

"This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead."  (John 21:12-14 NIV)

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Let not your hearts be troubled.

"And Jesus said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?" 
(Luke 24:38 NKJV)

"Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.”
(Luke 24:39 NLT)

"Then He said to them, This is what I told you while I was still with you: everything which is written concerning Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled."  (Luke 24:44 AMP)

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Why are you scandalized by my suffering? Read the Scriptures.

There is a divine necessity that Jesus must suffer.  No cross, no crown is also a divine law.

"Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures.  Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?”
(Luke 24:25-26 NLT)

"They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
(Luke 24:32 NIV)

“It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.”   (Luke 24:34 NIV)

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The disciples recognized the Lord Jesus in the Breaking of the Bread.

"Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures.  Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?”
(Luke 24:25-26 NLT)

"They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
(Luke 24:32 NIV)

“It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.”   (Luke 24:34 NIV)

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Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.

Do you know for certain that Jesus is both God and Savior?  This truth can make you free.

"Therefore let the whole house of Israel recognize beyond all doubt and acknowledge assuredly that God has made Him both Lord and Christ (the Messiah)—this Jesus Whom you crucified."  (Acts 2:36 AMP)

"Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”   (Acts 2:37 NLT)

"And Peter answered them, Repent (change your views and purpose to accept the will of God in your inner selves instead of rejecting it) and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of and release from your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."    (Acts 2:38 AMP)

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God raised this Jesus; of this we are witnesses.

“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know."
(Acts 2:22 NKJV)

"This Jesus, when delivered up according to the definite and fixed purpose and settled plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and put out of the way [killing Him] by the hands of lawless and wicked men.  [But] God raised Him up, liberating Him from the pangs of death, seeing that it was not possible for Him to continue to be controlled or retained by it."
(Acts 2:23-24 AMP)

“God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this."  (Acts 2:32 NLT)

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The Prince of Life who died, reigns immortal.

"The Lord is truly risen, Alleluia.
To Him be glory and power for all the ages of eternity, Alleluia, Alleluia!"   (Luke 24: 34; Cf Revelation 1: 6 RM)

"God raised Jesus from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen.   He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen — by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead."
(Acts 10:40-41 NIV)

"And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead."   (Acts 10:42 NLT)

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My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways.

“Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink —  even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk — it’s all free!    Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food."
(Isaiah 55:1-2 NLT)

"Behold, God, my salvation! I will trust and not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength and song; yes, He has become my salvation.  Therefore with joy will you draw water from the wells of salvation."
(Isaiah 12:2-3 AMP)

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But the Lord was pleased to crush Him in infirmity.

"Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins!   

But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed."  (Isaiah 53:4-5 NLT)

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How shall I render a return to the LORD for all the good He has done for me?

The Eucharist is the New Covenant.

"For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread  and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.”

In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this to remember me as often as you drink it.”   (1 Corinthians 11:23-25 NLT)

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I have become an outcast to my brothers, a stranger to my mother's sons.

Jesus, Judas and Sin as Betrayal.

“I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.”   (Matthew 26:21 NLT)

"Then one of the Twelve — the one called Judas Iscariot — went to the chief priests  and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver."  (Matthew 26:14-15 NIV)

 “‘The Teacher says: My time has come, and I will eat the Passover meal with my disciples at your house.’”  (Matthew 26:18 NLT)

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I thought I had toiled in vain.

You have not labored in vain.

"Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the LORD called me; from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name.   He made my mouth like a sharpened sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver.   He said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor.”   (Isaiah 49:1-3 NIV)

"Then I said, I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and in empty futility; yet surely my right is with the Lord, and my recompense is with my God."
(Isaiah 49:4 AMP)

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Do not hide Your face from me in the day of my distress.

This is the Week of The Passion of The Christ.  The Psalms below are prayers for warfare.

"Contend, LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me."
(Psalm 35:1 NIV)
"Do not grant, O LORD, the desires of the wicked;
Do not further his wicked scheme,
Lest they be exalted."
(Psalm 140:8 NKJV)

"The LORD  will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”
(Exodus 14:14 NKJV)

"God, the Master, The Holy of Israel,     has this solemn counsel: "Your salvation requires you to turn back to me  and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves. Your strength will come from settling down in complete dependence on me— The very thing  you've been unwilling to do."  (Isaiah 30:15 MSG)

"When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall."   (Psalm 27:2 NLT)

"This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s."   (2 Chronicles 20:15 NLT)

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I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame.

"So they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it for him to ride on.
 As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him."
(Luke 19:  35 - 36 NLT)

“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
(Luke 19:38 NIV)

As we enter the Holy Week, peace and mercy to you.

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Joseph believed and obeyed God.

"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit."
(Matt 1:18 NKJV)

“Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit.   And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
(Matthew 1:20-21 NLT)

"Behold a faithful and prudent steward, whom the Lord set over his household."  (Cf Luke 12: 42 RM)

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The Lord heard my cries for help from Heaven.

"Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in distress.
Deliver me from the hands of my enemies and those who pursue me.
O Lord, let me never be put to shame, for I call on you."  (Psalm 31: 10, 16, 18 RM)

"But the LORD stands beside me like a great warrior. Before him my persecutors will stumble. They cannot defeat me. They will fail and be thoroughly humiliated. Their dishonor will never be forgotten."
(Jeremiah 20:11 NLT)

"I love you, LORD; you are my strength.   The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety."
(Psalm 18:1-2 NLT)

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God so loved us...

"God who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things?" (Romans 8:32 AMP)

"Christ is mediator of a New Covenant, so that by means of his death, those who are called may receive the promise of an eternal inheritance."  (Hebrews 9: 15 RM)

"If today you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts." (Psalm 95: 8 RM)

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Unbind him. Let him go free.

"Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings.
And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
(John 8:31 - 32 NLT)

How can the truth set us free?
Set us free from what?
From fears, worries, doubts, anger, etc.

The truth that Jesus Christ is God and Savior who promises to be with us always and everywhere;  the truth that He is able and willing to save us and provide fully for us in all circumstances is very powerful and can help us meet all types of challenges in our daily lives.

"Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."
(John 8:36 NKJV)

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