Christos Anesti!

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Romans 8:11

Through His power and wisdom, God created the world. His explosive power can mend relationships, bring the debtor's finances into order, and save the soul lost in sin. And He has the ability to heal all disease. But the greatest display of His power was shown when God rose Christ from the dead. The Holy Spirit breathed life in the dead body that knew no decay. Now Jesus lives again. He is risen! The stone has rolled away and the hardened hearts of those that embrace Christ's sacrifice are transformed into hearts that are soft and supple under the hand of the Savior.

This Easter Season, let us rejoice in the fact that God's power is available to us. If you are feeling weak and worn, spend time in the Master's presence. His power will raise you. He will strengthen you in His great love. Let us reach out and receive miracles from His hand. But let us not forget that the greatest gift of all is the salvation He wrought for us through His death, burial, and resurrection.

When I used to attend the Greek Orthodox Church, we had a wonderful tradition. During the Easter Season we would greet each other with the words “Christos Anesti!” (Christ is Risen!). The person would reply by saying, “Alithos Anesti!” (Truly He is Risen!). So I say to you, "Christos Anesti!"

A Nation in Need of Prayer

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

Our nation is backsliding. We have drifted from a love of God and a desire to do what is right. We have fallen from grace. Our nation, like much of the rest of the world, is sinking. We no longer call on the Lord Jesus. We no longer look to the Scriptures for guidance. There is apathy in the people's hearts, violence in the schools, and perversion in the media.

We have looked for the government to save us. Our hope should not be in a political structure, but in a relationship with Almighty God. Our government is only good when the values of the people are upright. This is why we must pray. We must pray for our nation – that we will return to the foot of the cross. We must repent of our backsliding. We must fall in love once again with the God, who created our land.

In the past, God has visited our nation. There have been great moves of the Spirit. Let us plead with God to bring down His fire once again. Let us repent on behalf of the people of our land. We have chosen unrighteousness over godly living. We have become distracted with so many things. Our hearts have not yearned for the living God.

Let our hearts burn with urgency, an urgency to pray. Let revival visit our streets once again...

Dear Lord,

We are a needy nation. We have turned our backs on You. Forgive us for our wandering. Cleanse us of our many sins and fill us afresh with Your Spirit. Come visit our land and bring order out of chaos and beauty from ashes. Lord revive us once again. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen.

Blessed

Blessed is the man or women who receives Your forgiveness
Freely You give to us Your great mercy
We are accepted just as we are

On the cross You forgave us
For all our ugly yesterdays
For our sins of the present
And for all we will still do
That grieves Your heart

You even wipe away the memory of it
You choose to forget
Your blood cleanses our every stain

Let us never take your forgiveness, for granted
You paid an awesome price

Like the woman caught in adultery
Let Your mercy motivate us to go and sin no more

Happy and blessed are we who have embraced
Your forgiveness

Looking to Our Reward

“Do not let your hearts be troubled, trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
John 14:1-3

One of the ways we overcome trials is to remember Christ's future promise to us. Paul described his suffering as light and momentary afflictions. But he underwent a great deal for the gospel's sake. He was put in prison frequently, five times he received 39 lashes, he was often exposed to death, he was beaten with rods three times, and he was shipwrecked and spent a night and a day in the open sea. These are just some of the things he suffered - for a complete list see
2 Corinthians11:23-29.

In Romans 8:18, Paul said, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” The context of this Scripture describes a longing that creation has for the renewal of all things. One day we will be in heaven. One day we will have glorified bodies. Our suffering will vanish. Today our trials are helping to mold us and make us more like Christ. They ready us for heaven. We are of course saved by grace, but difficulties are often used by our Master to form His likeness within us.

When Moses fled Egypt at forty years of age, he “chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.... because he was looking ahead to his reward.” (Hebrews 11:25-26). Moses chose to leave the luxuries of Egypt in order to obey the calling to live for God. There was suffering linked with this decision, but Moses looked to his reward. His eyes saw heaven.

We too must look upward when we face trials of many kinds. We can learn to rejoice by looking ahead to our reward. The next time our hearts are discouraged because of trouble, we can remember what Jesus said. He is preparing a place for us, and it is a glorious place at that. The book of Revelations describes heaven as a place where the streets are made of gold. It is a city that does not need artificial light, because the Lord fills it with His radiance. It will be a place that is incomparable with anything we have ever witnessed.

We will enjoy fellowship with every believer that ever lived. We will have the privilege of spending time with David and Daniel, Peter and Paul. But the greatest joy will be that we will forever be in the presence of the Lord. It is not wrong to long for heaven. Our desire for this place can be a motivator for us to do good and for us to endure suffering. Moses looked to his reward in his decision to flee from Egypt. We too can look to our reward. One day those of us that have accepted Christ's sacrifice will be there. We will embrace what creation has longed for and we will live in that place forever. A place where there will be no more pain and no more tears.

If you are unsure of your future after this life, if you do not know if you will go to heaven, please pray the prayer included below. It is a prayer that asks Jesus to save you from your sin and to include you in God's family. We are not Christians because we are born into a Christian home or because we go to church. We become Christians when we accept Christ's death and resurrection as the payment for our sin. When we do this, we become brand new on the inside.

Dear Father God,

I thank you for sending Jesus to die for me and to save me. Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God, and I believe you rose from the dead. I confess that I am a sinner in need of Your grace. Lord I ask you to save me. I choose to follow you all the days of my life. Thank you that when I die I will see you in heaven. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

If you have prayed a prayer like this for the first time or if you have renewed your commitment to Christ, tell someone. You may email me at toya_tom@yahoo.com. I would love to further help you in your newfound relationship with Jesus. Have a wonderful day!

Upside Down

These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. Acts 17:6

From the world's view the kingdom of God is an upside down kingdom. Normal rules do not apply. The world says you must be beautiful or handsome. God looks for the pure in heart. The world will congratulate you for high performance. God looks for our obedience. The world says believe in yourself. God says believe in me and put no confidence in the flesh. The world esteems the talented, but God esteems the poor in spirit.

Don't we sometimes misconstrue things. We must remember that our citizenship is in heaven and not on this earth. Sometimes the Holy Spirit has to discipline us, out of love, to show us where our true priorities belong. We are not to live for the kingdom of darkness; we are children of the light.

I remember when I was a kid. I sometimes would hang upside down while seated on my bed and look at my bedroom ceiling. My room became a whole new world. I wished I could walk around in that place the way I perceived it. When we pray and read God's word, we are learning to view things from God's perspective, and we can walk around freely with Christ as our leader.

So let's make it our ambition to do things God's way. When we miss it, He will be faithful to show us the way back along the path that leads to His throne. He will help us to unlearn the things we held true while we lived in that kingdom that from God's vantage point is upside down.

Dear Lord Jesus,

I love you Lord. Forgive me for mixing up my priorities with those of the world. Help me to see life with new eyes. Teach me to walk according to Your kingdom priorities. In Your name I pray, Amen.

© Copyright 2010 by Tom Toya. All rights reserved.

Suffering Transformed

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28

We live in an often hostile world. We all experience suffering and disappointment, but God is in the business of using our difficulties and setbacks for our ultimate good.

Joseph dreamed he would be a leader, but after sharing his dream with his brothers, they seized Joseph and sold him into slavery. He was chosen to serve an Egyptian leader named Potiphar. Everything that Joseph touched prospered, because the Lord was with him. After serving faithfully in Potiphar's house, Potiphar's wife – who was enthralled with Joseph - tried to entice him and desired to sleep with the Hebrew slave, but he refused. The woman then accused Joseph of making sexual advances toward her, and Joseph was sentenced to prison.

Joseph remained in prison for some time, but God's hand was upon him even in that dark place. Joseph was entrusted with the charge of the prisoners. The keeper of the prison committed them into his hands.

Thirteen years lapsed since his brothers betrayed him, then Joseph was given the opportunity of a lifetime. He was asked to interpret Pharaoh's dream. God gave Joseph the dream's meaning. He explained to Pharaoh that Egypt would experience seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. Joseph wisely determined that someone should be put in charge who would save grain during the years of abundance to be used during the time of scarcity. Pharaoh appointed Joseph as second in command of Egypt, and his God-given insight saved multitudes from starvation.

His brothers came to Egypt in search of food. Joseph met them and chose to forgive them. He viewed his suffering as part of God's overall plan. He said that you desired to do evil against me, but God meant it for good.

God transformed Joseph's suffering by His sovereign hand. And He works in our lives as well. When we place our pain and disappointments into the Father's hand, He eventually brings healing, victory, and promotion into our lives. As we stay faithful to God, He weaves His goodness into our lives and causes the days of darkness to be eclipsed by the sun.

We do experience pain in this life, but in the midst of our suffering, God is there. The Lord calls us to forgive our oppressors, and He eventually elevates us out of our hardships and causes us to shine for Him. His plan is to use us for His kingdom and for His glory. Let's choose faithfulness, let's embrace forgiveness, and let's offer all our emotional pain to Jesus. He loves us and He will transform our suffering into great glory. He will vindicate us and cause us to prevail.

Dear Sovereign Lord,

I worship You. I give to you my sorrows – the hurtful things I don't understand. I give you my pain and ask You to transform my suffering into victory. Lord, have your way in me. Help me to be faithful, and help me to forgive those that have harmed me. I entrust myself in Your care. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

© Copyright 2010 by Tom Toya. All rights reserved.

Oh Lamb of God

From the many wounds on Your back come healing
Your wrongful death begets life
Victory springs from death's dark valley

Your work on the cross wrought an abundant harvest
So Great a Salvation for all who believe
Unthinkable pain secured our place by Your side

Thank You Oh Lamb of God
You suffered in our place
The just for the unjust
The righteous for sinful man

Now those who trust You
Have been given Your robe of righteousness
Clothing weaved at the foot of the cross

By Your blood, we reign as kings in this life
Royalty bows before Your throne
Thank You Oh Lamb of God