Inspirations & Photography

“For everyone has sinned, we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty of our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin.  People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood…” Romans 3:23-25 NLT

After I awoke this morning I felt the Lord compel me to pray for Casey Anthony, the young mother on trial for the death of her daughter.  As I went about my day all I could think about was the mercy of God and how we all need it.  There is not one human being alive today that is innocent, not one.  After Adam and Eve’s fall sin entered in and the only way any of us could be made right with God was for Jesus, the only sinless human being that ever lived to give his life for us all.

“God so loved the world (all inclusive, all sinners) that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life” John 3:16  Jesus blood was spilled out for all mankind, including liars, thieves and yes even those who commit murder.  You may be thinking right now, “then you’re saying it’s OK to commit sin?” My answer is the same as John in the book of 1John 2:1, “My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. BUT if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins–and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.” You see all sin needs  a sacrifice and Jesus Christ was the ultimate sacrifice, “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ” 2Corinthians 5:21

If it were not for the Love of God in sending us his Son to take our place on the cross we’d ALL be on trial! We would ALL be found guilty.  What’s amazing to me is the media and the world’s focus is on this young woman’s case and yet we ignore the fact that there are more than 752, 000 innocent unborn lives (less than 9 weeks old)  taken every year, think about that for a moment.

Let’s look at Hatred: The word of God says , “Whosoever hates his brother is a murderer: and you know that no murderer has eternal life living in him.” 1John 3:15 Wow! Yet another point to think about as well.

There was a woman who was caught in the act of adultery and the people brought her to Jesus and said that the law gives them the right to stone her to death and then they asked Jesus his opinion and this was his reply, “Let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!“  When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No Lord” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I, Go and sin no more.”

Update: Casey Anthony found not guilty today, July 5th  for murder and child abuse.

Thank God for his mercy on us all!

Just the other day I heard the Lord say to me these words: “A Father’s Love”.  I believe he was trying to get my attention to remind me of  “His” love for me.  Sometimes we can all go through life working and trying to figure things out for ourselves.  Full of questions that are sometimes accompanied by fear and anxiety.  I believe he was bringing me back to a place that I had experienced over 30 years ago.  Coming from a broken family, a mother who took her own life when I was just 14 years of age. The guilt I carried for years because I blamed myself.  Drowning the hurt and pain with alcohol, drugs and wrong relationships until one evening while no one was home I decided that I had had enough.  I was tired of the mess I had made of my life. I was ready for a change: I decided to give God a try.  I remember quite vividly that night, asking God to forgive me of all that I had done wrong and surrendered my life to his Son Jesus, believing and accepting what he had done for me when he gave his life for all mankind. As I prayed, I felt as if God had covered me with a blanket made out of his love.  I remember crying for what seemed to be hours, they were not tears of sorrow they were tears of joy.

Out with the Old and In with the New: I knew something had changed. Although I was the same person on the outside, the inside was very different.  I later found out after studying the scriptures what took place inside of me that night, Jesus described it as the New Birth: “There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”  “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, “You must be born again.” The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but cant’ tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.” Jesus went on to explain further what he meant regarding the things of heaven which then led to the famous scripture taught and preached all over the world, even at football games, you know the guy who holds up the sign that reads, “John 3:16″ “For God so LOVED the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” Jesus then said in verse 17, ” God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:1-17

The Father’s Love began to work from the inside-out.  His love began to help me to forgive myself and begin a new life.  A life free from sorrow, pain and guilt.  I began to see that he loved me no matter what I had done wrong. As I started to read the Bible I began to “see” this love in His Son Jesus and how he treated others.  His Love  healed the sick, raised the dead and freed others from the torment of demons.  His Love showed mercy on others and allowed him to forgive his own enemies while hanging on the cross.  His Love even showed mercy on his own followers, his disciples who had left him just before his crucifixion. The Father’s Love was powerful enough to raise Jesus from the dead.  Even today, the Fathers love is readily available 24/7 for anyone who desires it.

I felt his Love that night 30 years ago and many days since.  If you are longing for a Father whose love will always be there for you, one who promises to never abandon you, then all you have to do is believe.  Tell him you believe in his Son Jesus and that you believe that he went to the cross for you, paid for all your wrongs, and tell him that you believe that he raised Jesus from the dead. When you do this and mean it from your heart, you will experience your heavenly Father’s love. No one and nothing can ever compare to it.

For thousands of years the story of Jesus death and resurrection have been told in churches, meeting places and homes all over the world.  Jesus himself began to speak of his death even before they laid a hand on him. “Listen” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die and hand him over to the Romans. They will mock him, spit on him, flog him with a whip, and kill him, but after three days he will rise again” the gospel of Mark chapter 10, verses 33 & 34.

Celebrating Easter is more than the traditional  chocolate bunnies and colored Easter eggs, it’s remembering Jesus laying down his life for all mankind and God raising him from the dead. Why? Jesus Christ the Risen One was sent to us because of God’s amazing love.  Jesus endured the beatings for you and me. He allowed them to hang him on the cross to pay for our sins.

In the old testament Adam and Eve chose to not follow God’s instructions and when they disobeyed what the Father told them sin came into the earth.  Prophets in the old testament spoke of the coming Messiah who would take away the sin of the world.  “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” 2Corinthians 5:21  Because of the wonderful mercy and love of God, he sent his one and only Son to die for you and me, and when God raised Jesus Christ to life again, he made it possible for us to be put back in good standing with God our heavenly Father again.  All God asks of us is to believe. Believe that he sent Jesus to us, that he went to the cross for us, died and believe that God raised him from the dead.

Jesus Christ is alive and well today. He sits at God’s right hand in Heaven and because of the power of the resurrection, he lives in his people, his followers, Christians today. How? “The Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.” Romans 8:11

As you celebrate Easter this year remember God’s amazing love for you and all of mankind. Realize and accept the truth that we need our sins forgiven. Understand that with our own strength or works we cannot make that happen, forgiveness only comes through believing in Jesus Christ and that he died for us.  Open your heart to Jesus and follow Him. Once you make this decision, your life will have meaning.  “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. As the scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced…Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” Romans 10:8-13

Happy Easter!

Pastor Nina Tidwell
Ponce Church, Ponce Inlet, Florida

Everyone Welcome! We’re Surfside and we’re Casual!
Sundays 10AM
4670 S. Peninsula in Ponce Inlet