words to PONDER

After these things

Jesus manifested Himself 

again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias,

and He manifested Himself in this way.

John 21:1

We mourn the cross and celebrate the Resurrection.

But what happened next - right after LIFE conquered death?

Jesus appeared! He literallly stayed on earth and “hung out” with people for 40 days.

his time period is the exclamation mark on the life of Jesus on earth.

What does that have to do with life right now, today?

He appeared. He is still appearing.

Present tense.

We can all relate to the feeling in the room described in John 20 when Jesus appeared to His friends.

Set the scene: What was the feeling in that room? Unsure. Scared. These diciples had been hunted down by seen and unseen enemies. Something big had happened in their world. Lots of people had ideas and opinions about what had just happened and what would happen next. People didn’t agree. There was confusion and even despair. Some had hope, some didn’t and some had a mixture of both.

I think we can relate.

But in the middle of all the confusion and uncertainty - He manifested. He appeared.

He CHOSE to show up.

“And He manifested in this way” - John 21:1

What way?

At tables, on roads, through conversation, cooking, walking on beaches, in rooms of scared people… He appeared.

He shows up. In His resurrected body - putting that exclamation mark on His life on earth! Showing His current and future followers what He values… and where He will show up for us. Today.

Why look at these 40 days?

John literally gives us the reason WHY the stories were written about the adventures that came in the days of Jesus’ risen bodily appearances.

He discloses the WHY right in-between writing out the stories.

It is as if he stopped in mid-sentence to make sure that we, the future readers, would remember the purpose of knowing these personal accounts of this specific time in the life of Jesus.

Therefore many other signs

Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;

but these have been written

SO THAT

you may

BELIEVE 

that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God;

and that believing 

you may 

have LIFE

in His name.

John 20:30-31

“SO THAT”

The words that signal God’s purpose. His reason. His wish for us in the telling and the writing.

BELIEF & LIFE

So the conclusion can be drawn without any doubt -

Somewhere in these passages are words that will effect your BELIEF. Words that will bring you LIFE.

It is His desire for us to get to know the Jesus of those 40 days. The God who chose to show up cook some meals and have some good conversation.

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THEN & NOW - He appears & manifests in our midst.

It’s what He does. It’s part of His character.

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The month of MAY - MARINATE in the stories of the MANIFESTing Jesus!

I have put together some verses and tools that might help you spend your May pondering the Risen Jesus. Pick up on His personality, His actions, His countenance as you let these stories revolve through your mind. As you turn the words over - let them become prayers and converation between you and God and you and others.

Click the button below to get our May - PONDER [manifest] BUNDLE.

In it you will find tools to soak up these 40 days of manifesting.

In the PONDER [manifest} Bundle you will find:

• the verses where you can find His appearances in the Bible

• one page by order of the sequence of His appearences

• one page is the appearances sorted by book of the Bible

• two pages of verses/words to choose from that might be fun to ponder.

  I made it easy for you to keep coming back to the stories and have these be the backdrop in your mind for May.

  So stick these pages in your Bible and keep coming back to the stories.

Use these personally and/or with a few. They are free to download. Just download and print. And/or save on your phone, iPad or computer. (If you would like to use these in your church setting or non-profit please contact us at ponder.info@gmail.com. Our team can help you through that process.)

a [MANIFEST] prayer -

LORD give us eyes to SEE you - We know you appear!

Thank you that you chose to show up and hang out with those you love.

Thank you that you weren’t in a hurry - that you spent 40 days to communicate your love & purposes.

Thank you that you choose to show up NOW as You did then.

Thank you for your SPIRIT - left for us - your very essence right here.

LORD give us eyes to SEE, notice and engage your PRESENCE.

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don’t miss THURSDAY - foot washing, mandates & a table to REMEMBER!

Nicolas Bertin 1720-1730

THURSDAY of Holy Week.

Also known as:

-Maundy Thursday 

-Holy Thursday

-the Thursday of Mysteries!

“Maundy” comes from the Latin word mandatum meaning a mandate or command.

It all started with a good foot washing and a NEW mandate!

Here is the backdrop of the whole scene.

Jesus, 

knowing that the Father

had given all things into His hands,

and that He had come forth from God 

and was going back to God…

John 13:3

Jesus KNOWING.

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On this Thursday, Jesus knew the complete story. He knew where He had come from and where He was going. The beginning and the end.

And in the knowing, He chose to spend His last day as a free man in the company of those He was most intimate with - the disciples.

He chose to wash feet. He chose to listen to his friends argue about the washing and not washing, which parts should be washed or not… and even a discussion about who was “regarded to be the greatest”. Luke 22:24

In the midst of all that craziness, He gave them a new mandate.

A new commandment I give to you,

that you love one another, 

even as I have loved you,

that you also love one another.

 "By this all men will know 

that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:34-35

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So on that Thursday, Jesus chose to shelter in place with those closest to Him… even if they were arguing and even it they did drive Him crazy…

“Don’t you understand what I have been telling you?“ He said over and over again!

Still He chose them.

He chose to remind them of what is most important - loving and being loved.

He chose a physical sign of that love, through the selfless act of throwing aside His garment and washing EACH ONE’S feet.

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What is your response to His love for you? Look at the picture above and see what character resonates with you? Talk to God about that. Where are you in the story today?

Take time for the intimacy of THURSDAY. Mull over the words of this day in the LONG conversation found in John 13-17. These words are like balm to the soul. They are spoken by Jesus, out-loud, to His followers around and near the table. They are for you.

Take time for the table of THURSDAY where He gave another physical sign of His sacrificial love. The wine, the bread… and the word “REMEMBER”

Jesus had a lot to say on THURSDAY! I am calling it the WORDiest day of Holy Week.

Words that included: 

• A departure & a return

• Peace being left

• A Comforter coming

• Heaven

• Unity

• Abiding

• Taking heart in times of trouble

Read through John 13-17. Let the conversation soothe & comfort. Marinate in the truths and listen for what He is speaking to YOU… personally.

He chooses You. He KNOWS the beginning and end.

And in the middle of our messy lives and hurting world, take comfort that He KNOWS the end of the story.

And in the middle of our not knowing, He gives us a new mandate - “LOVE! Love as I love you.”

Ponder the mysteries on this very wordy day of Holy Week!

Don’t miss the intimacy of Thursday!

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If you are looking for some words to ponder about the Cross this weekend. Check out this post below from last year.

crowds, palms & miracles [SEEN]

The triumphal Entry by GusTave Dore, 1876

It’s Palm Sunday weekend! We have much to celebrate and remember as we begin our journey through Holy Week. I pray this post from years past will encourage you to ENGAGE in the familiar story. Palms waving, coats spreading, crowds cheering… picture it! I encourage you to dig in and see where God takes you individually. Let these present circumstances make room for engaging Him… individually and with a few others - TOGETHER! I pray these living Words will guide your thoughts and prayers as we begin to focus on the HOPE, PEACE and LIFE that is ours because of the cross and because of an empty tomb! Just a reminder - there are many links within each post to help you dig into the words yourself. Hover and click to find definitions and other verses that use the same word. These posts are not to be simply read. But instead, a tool for you to use as you abide in the Words. From my house to yours - “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!” with love, Michelle

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As He was going, they were spreading their coats on the road.

As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives,

the whole crowd of the disciples began to

praise God joyfully with a [loud voice]

for all the [miracles] 

which they had [seen],

shouting: "BLESSED IS THE KING 

WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD;

Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"

Luke 19:36-38

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The followers of Jesus were getting loud! Waving palms & throwing their coats on the road! Paving the way for a King on a donkey! The picture may be familiar to us…

but let’s enter the scene. Enter into the crowd this week. Enter into the spirit and truth of what was happening on that road.

This scene that was 2,000 years ago is also the backdrop of today. We ARE on the road. And there is a KING coming!

So enter into the joyful, loud voices! Today...REMEMBER!

All the miracles that you have seen & experienced!

Write them down! Talk about them! Be mindful of what He has done!

Look back. He has performed miracles in your life… Recount them.

Look forward. Jesus is coming!! He will triumphantly enter again!
Most likely these are familiar words and images...Don't let familiarity keep you from the experience of these words!

Live joyfully this week with this picture of a coming King as your backdrop!

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PEN & PAPER

• Write the verses & phrases above down! These words give us specifics on the triumphal entry & re-entry of our King!

• As you write down these verses, take note of the details of the crowd. What are they doing? Saying? Picture it!

• Write down miracles! Make quick lists or long prayers. Just start turning your mind to what you have seen Him do!

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DIG & DISCUSS

• Look at this word miracles...It is all about power and ability.

• In this same passage in Luke 19 -Jesus says something as He is riding in on the donkey. Jesus - "I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!"

  Hmmm. A good question to discuss… “Have I become silent?”

• He is coming again - look for those verses… Mark 13:26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory!

• Hebrews 9:28 - 1 John 2:28

• Matthew 21:8-9 is another account of the same story. Read and find the word [HOSANNA] - it is a cry, a prayer! Dig in!

• TALK to someone or a few about this passage! It will come alive! You need to hear what they have to say!

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PONDER & PRAY

• Remember the powerful things He has done… it will change the way we pray for things now. He is able. We have seen it.

• Engage in simple questions that come from the passage - "What miracles have I seen?" - "Have I become silent?"

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LOOK & LISTEN

• Use music to engage. Listen to our playlist Ponder [the Cross] on Spotify or make your own.

• Listen to the song below. It has haunted my mind in the best way this season. It is short. A prelude. So listen to it twice! May it be your anthem this week!

• The King is Coming!

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P O N D E R news!

Our Round Top Retreat was canceled for this weekend. We are sad to not be together… But we look forward to the GIFT it will be when we gather again!

PONDER Round Top 2020!

Join us for our PONDER Round Top Retreat!

April 3-5
Spaces are filling up quickly…

Register today!

email Carolyn at ponder.register@gmail.com with any questions!