Walking the earth as a human after leaving Heaven was a profound sacrifice for Jesus, motivated by His love for us, sinners. His purpose was singular: to offer Himself as a living sacrifice for our sins, for all of humanity. This act of love involved not only physical pain and death, but also encompassed an intimate understanding of the emotional and mental anguish experienced by all of His creation. Through His suffering, Jesus carried the weight of every form of physical and emotional pain, including heartache, depression, anxiety, and abandonment. His ultimate goal was to provide redemption, forgiveness, and eternal life to those who believe in Him, thereby granting them a path, the only path to spend eternity in Heaven. Jesus is the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but through Him. (John 14:6) This profound sacrifice illustrates His unconditional love and the depth of His commitment to freeing all of humanity from the clutches of sin and offering a way to eternal salvation.
Take some time to reflect with this free coloring page. Listen to some music, grab some colored pencils or markers and thank God for sacrificing His Son and for Jesus sacrificing His life and shedding His blood. Share your page on the Kedge Anchor page on Facebook or Instgram with #KedgeAnchorEaster24
Happy Friday!! We made it to the end of the week. It’s almost the weekend!!! First, I just want to say this blog post today is inspired by the Bible Cafe on Instagram hosted by Pastor Dave Therrien @therrien6034, New Hope Christian Church. He has been taking us through Proverbs 1 this week talking about wisdom. Whilst Pastor Dave has been talking about wisdom in verses 32 and 33 (I encourage you to listen to the past week, they are five short videos). Pastor Dave goes on to say we need to be intentional about doing what God says to “be at ease from the dread of evil.” It’s a promise if we are intentional about doing what God says? (which made me think, “am I setting out each day to intentionally do what God says?”, that’s a discussion for another day)
After reading verses 32 and 33, verse 28 caught my eye;
28 “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. 29 Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the Lord, 30 They would have none of my counsel And despised my every rebuke. 31 Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their own fancies. 32 For the turning away of the simple will slay them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them; 33 But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil.” (NKJV).
(seriously, listen today’s video and what Pastor Dave says the Bible says about complacency)
So this reminded me of last week’s post and the one before that about seeking God wholeheartedly, diligently. The Bible says we will find Him when we seek Him with all our heart (Jeremiah 29:13). But, verse 28 – “… They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. That just smacked me between the eyes. Proverbs 9:10 came to mind – “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” We need to have fear, a reverent fear of God, THAT is the beginning of wisdom. We must CHOOSE to fear God. My fear of God isn’t one that makes me run from Him. It’s not a fear if I mess up He’s gonna be mad me and punish me. He’ll correct me and get me back on track with love, grace and mercy. My fear is fear one that is in awe of Him. He is in control, He died for me, for us, God rose Jesus from the dead for me, for us, so that we could have eternity with Him. God is sovereign, there is no other like Him, He has NO equal! Choosing to fear the Lord, the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Proverbs 2:4-6
4 “If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; 5 Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, And find the knowledge of God. 6 For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;”
We can be diligent and intentional in our search but with out fear of the Lord, we ain’t gonna find Him. We ain’t gonna find wisdom and understanding without a reverent fear of the Lord. It comes down to choosing. Choosing to fear the Lord. Choosing to be intentional about seeking Him and doing what He says. There are only good things that come from choosing to fear the Lord. Diligent, intentional, wholeheartedly, seek, choose, we will gain wisdom and understanding.
Thank you to all who have followed me here and on YouTube the past week where I showed ways to wrap up the Five Languages of Love as actual tangible gifts.
Over the years growing up Valentine’s Day has had different meanings. As a kid, It was those cheap boxed die cut cards that every kid in school passed out to almost everyone. I would make cards for my mom and dad. I guess I have been making greeting cards for sometime now, lol, and my mom would always say “Roses are red violets are blue aren’t you glad God loves you.” When I moved away, even after I was married she’d cut out a read heart and write that little poem on it.
As I became an adult and being single I began to dread Valentine’s Day. I thought it was because I was unattached, no steady boyfriend at times that I would dread it. But even if I happened to have a boyfriend at the time, it was still looking back, uh, unfulfilling. I thought once I was married, it would be different, I would look forward to it. Well, I have been married 30 years this coming spring and I’ll admit it’s not as dreadful but there is always that pressure to get the perfect gift, the grand gesture, the wow factor. Even if you’re single there’s still pressure, right? The traditional, expected dozen roses that are waaaay over priced this time every year, the box of chocolates. Diamond sales go up, nothing wrong with getting engaged on Valentine’s Day. But can we be a little more imaginative, unexpected, more original?
Honestly, I don’t need a calendar to tell me when to express or celebrate my love for anyone. So with that off the table, less pressure more room for originality and creativity. Singles, no matter how old you are, you don’t need a boyfriend or a girlfriend to celebrate Valentine’s Day. You have family, friends? Gather!!!! High schoolers go to proms in groups. Gather your family, invite them to dinner, do the same with your friends. Take photos and make memories.
Husband’s, wive’s can we be more imaginative? Can we think outside the chocolates and roses? Does it have to cost an arm and a leg to express your love? Does it have to be February 14th? Why not all year long? Download the coupon book, make twelve coupons for an adventure every month. Try a new recipe and cook dinner together once a month. Consider your loved one’s love language this Valentine’s Day. Get creative, be imaginative, create memories and experiences.
The greatest gift of love was given to us by God Himself and it wasn’t on February 14th. We celebrate His birth, death and resurrection. God expressed His love for us by giving us His Son. He sacrificed His only Son for us. Jesus gave His life, His blood and rose from the dead three days later for us so that we could live in eternity forever with Him. God’s gift of salvation cost Him everything so it could cost us nothing. It’s free, all we have to do is accept it. The greatest gesture of love, the greatest example of love, His sacrifice. What an expression of love!!
Relationships are important in our lives, both with other people and with God. We were not designed to live in isolation, but to rely on and support one another. Having a relationship with God, is the most important connection we can have. God has made a way for this relationship to be possible through the sacrifice of Jesus’s blood.
Creating a personalized calendar is a great way to commemorate moments and plan for future adventures. With the abundance of photos that we have on our phones or stored away, selecting just twelve may be a tough task. To make it easier, you can opt for themed collages, focusing on different aspects or events of your life.
In the case of a milestone anniversary, it would be fitting to include some wedding photos that hold special meaning. Alternatively, if you’re looking to spend more time with your kids, use photos of their growth and achievements over the years. To plan ahead, you could even include images that represent your monthly activities or goals.
If you’re aiming to prioritize spending time with friends, utilize candid photos of them having fun or doing silly things. The image provided above can be downloaded and used as the cover page for your calendar.
Personalizing a calendar can be fun when looking for photos to personalize it. Just type in calendars in the search to create your own. If you like you can use the image I provided for the cover or use one of your own.
To get started, visit Zazzle and upload your favorite images of your spouse, family, or friends. With this personalized calendar, you’ll not only have a wonderful memento but also a visual reminder to cherish and prioritize the important people in your life.
Perhaps you just want to be reminded to schedule some quality time. I have designed two images for clocks, one square and one round that you can purchase through my store on Zazzle, Square ClockRound Clock
Valentine’s Day or any other occasion, it is valuable to make a commitment to spend quality time with loved ones who have this love language. Extending this commitment to not only to spouses but also to family members, children, and friends. By prioritizing and dedicating time to spend together, we can build stronger bonds and deeper connections. Express your love and appreciation by investing time and attention in the relationships that matter most.
It always seems like Christmas flies by. The holiday’s prep, planning and shopping is enough to create anxiety. Add that to the anxieties you’re already facing and, well if you’re like me you could be a hot mess. If there is one thing I want to do this year is not carry them into the New Year. Tomorrow, the New Year has its own worries I don’t want to carry more.
Matthew 6:34 – “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” (NLT) So what do I do with today’s worries?”
1 Peter 5:7 – “casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”
This is what always has me stumped. It’s so easy to say this to someone who is struggling and facing anxiety. I know I have been guilty of this. And when someone reminds me of this verse, honestly, I am only half comforted. I always need more. I don’t consider myself a needy person per se, but I need to know why and how. That’s just how I am wired.
I worked as a Surgical Technologist for over a decade. And in my learning and training when I was being taught procedures and protocols I would always ask why, especially when it seemed like it didn’t make sense. And there was always rational behind it. If it made sense I was likely to remember why I was doing it.
So casting our cares, what does that look like? Other than praying, what else is there? For me it’s knowing why. So why? Because of Matthew 6:34, tomorrow has enough of it’s own troubles don’t go borrowing any by worrying about tomorrow. Why? Because of 1 Peter 5:7 “… because He cares for you.” God cares. He cares about the details. If He knows the number of hairs on my head, as it says in Luke 2:7, then He cares about the details and the worries in my life.
Recently, I came across this article from Desiring God by John Piper that helped me understand what casting my anxieties meant. By casting our anxieties we are humbling ourselves. Verse 5 of 1 Peter 5 says “ … you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Casting our cares is something we do to humble ourselves, not something we do after we cast our cares. I encourage you to read this article, John Piper does a much better job than I do.
Piper offers more insight with Luke 19:35, – “And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon.” The word “cast” means the same in 1 Peter. The way the garment was cast or tossed onto the donkey is the way we ought to cat our anxieties. Piper says to lay a specific anxiety on God, trust Him specifically, Job 42:2. Please click on the link above and read the article, there is so much more.
But here is something else that helps me. When I remember God’s sovereignty, Jeremiah 32-:17 – “O Sovereign LORD! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!” When I remember He is bigger than any problem or anxiety I may have and that He knows the outcomes, He is there in the future and with me in the present and nothing takes Him by surprise. I recall times in the past when God came through for me, for His people.
For me, I want to start 2024 with casting my cares and anxieties on Him. And He knows what I am already carrying and He is already in 2024! God saved us from the biggest anxiety we could have, the debt we can never pay back and that is the debt of sin.
A cord of three strands we are with Him, He has woven us in love. With His connection and His power, we have extra strength from above.
With His help, we are given an extra measure of grace, showered down on us for good, keeping us in place.
All things are held together by Him. I’m glad we’ve become one, yet three. May we stand and forever be faithful, And to God be all the glory!
The one may be overpowered to can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NIV)
Thank you Cindy for allowing me to publish your beautiful poem.
Cindy Evans is a published poet living in the greater Atlanta area with her husband Mark. When she’s not writing, you may find her at a Christian movie, attending a church activity or volunteering at the local faith-based hospice office.
Happy Monday! Hope these coloring pages have helped in memorizing scripture. As we embark on a new year my hope for this blog and these coloring pages is that not only will it help you to hide God’s word in your heart (Psalm 119:11) but it would bring a little curiosity to your memorizing. Is there a particular word that stands out to you in a verse? Research it. Look it up, read it in other versions, read a commentary on the verse. There are so many websites and resources to guide you deeper in God’s word. Jesus is the Light of this world and the Light of Life. He just wants you close to Him and reading scripture is just one way to do that.
Merry Christmas! I hope this blog post finds you and yours well. It’s been a wild ride the past few years but we know God is sovereign and will reign forevermore. Take time out to relax, unwind and reflect on the birth of Jesus as you color today’s free downloadable coloring page. Grab a cup of hot cocoa or tea put on some Christmas music as you reflect on how God orchestrated everything, down to last detail. God is in the details. He loves you!
“This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” – Like 2:12
The sign was a baby wrapped in cloths. King James Versions says “swaddling cloths.” By definition swaddling means wrapping. We have read that so many times it’s easy to overlook that. But these cloths have significant meaning. When the angels told the shepherds they would find Jesus in swaddling cloths they knew exactly what was being told to them. According to Levitical law the newborn lambs that were to be sacrificed for Passover, they were to be wrapped in strips of linen as soon as they were born so that they would remain blemish free and be protected from any bruising.
We know that Jesus later became crucified on the Jewish Passover as the “Lamb of God.” When Jesus was sacrificed as the Lamb of God, he was tied down and his body was wrapped in cloths at his burial. The Hebrew word for “wrapped” is “chattal, which means to wrap up or tie down. Interesting.
If you haven’t seen The Chosen Christmas Special – The Messengers, it’s a must see. There’s a touching scene between the Marys, Mary Magdalene and Jesus’ mother. I don’t want spoil it for those who haven’t seen it so you’ll just have to watch it. Hint, It has to do with cloths. You can see it on YouTube or through The Chosen app.
Happy Memorize Monday!!! It’s almost 2022!! Where has time gone. Today’s scripture is taken from Luke 1:46-55, known as Mary’s Song, commonly know as the “Magnificat,” literally song of praise. It’s also similar to the psalm of Hannah when she gave birth to Samuel. Mary prices God for His faithfulness to keep HIs promises. Ponder the faithfulness of God today as Mary pondered and “treasured these things in her heart.” – Luke 2:19. Praise God for His faithfulness to keep His promises today and all through the year!
The Kedge Anchor 
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