God’s Canvas
April 2010 Love the Lord your God...
Key Verse:
For what will it profit a
man if he gains the whole
world, and loses his own
soul? Mark 8:36
“Weight”-less
Alright, the time of truth is
coming when those of you par-
ticipating in the “Biggest Loser/
Battle of the Sexes” are going
to weigh in. Be encouraged to
remember that you have been
successful and should be
proud of what you have ac-
complished. Keep doing what
you’re doing and help your
family choose a healthier life-
style. The warm weather is
coming and that means you
have the perfect opportunity to
go outside and let life be an
adventure. Use this time to
remind yourself that, arguably,
YOU are the biggest influence
in your home and are in the
unique position to set a climate
of love, laughter, and good
health. Also, don’t take the
hard work you’ve put into
meeting your goals for
granted. Remember what Paul
said in 1 Corinthians 15:10,
“But by the grace of God I am
what I am, and His grace to-
ward me was not in vain; but I
labored more abundantly than
they all, yet not I, but the grace
of God which was with me.”
Congratulations, Ladies!
You’ve done us all proud.
...With All Your Soul
Please take the time to read the Bible verses below.
Soul is a difficult word to define because
it is so often used interchangeably with
spirit. Soul is the word we use to de-
scribe the immaterial part of ourselves. In
Luke 12:27, the Hebrew word used for
soul is psyche, from the root word psy-
cho which means “to breathe”. It is the
breath of God that gives us life so that is
what we’ll refer to as soul—it is our life,
our innermost being.
Matthew Henry says that loving the Lord
with all your soul means you love Him
with an entire love, meaning, “He must
have our whole souls and must be
served with all that is within us. We must
love nothing besides Him, but what we
love for Him and in subordination to
Him.” In simpler terms, when you love
God with your life you love what He loves
and you hate what He hates.
When you live for loving God, you be-
come transformed (Romans 12:2).
Transformation happens by the renewing
of our minds, and there is no other way
to do that than to saturate our minds with
the things of God. To be transformed is
to have everything you experience in
your life related to your love for God.
What you feel is grounded in God, the
decisions you make are grounded in
God, what you choose to think about is
grounded in God, and what you want to
pursue is grounded in God. Realizing this
in your life can be done by reading the
Bible, listening to Christian radio, reading
inspirational books, and surrounding
yourself with people strong in the faith.
By choosing the things of God over the
things of the world, the Holy Spirit works
this transformation in you.
Contact God’s Canvas Newsletter by e-mailing GodsCanvasNLBC@gmail.com
Perhaps the biggest challenge is in
learning how to make choices that don’t
compromise godly convictions. Convic-
tions aren’t merely the things we do or
don’t feel ok about getting away with.
Convictions are an unshakable belief in
something that is bigger than you.
When God’s Word tells us to do or not
to do something there is no room for
debate. The convictions the Bible
teaches us to have are not open for in-
terpretation but are a blueprint for our
lives. The truth of the matter is that the
gradual compromise of these godly
standards is a sure way to stop loving
what God loves.
These are some of the ways the Bible
teaches us to love God with our lives:
honor your father and mother (Exodus
20:12), keep the Sabbath (Exodus
31:14), let no corrupt word come from
your mouth (Ephesians 4:29), do not get
drunk (Ephesians 5:18), put others be-
fore yourself (Matthew 22:39), encour-
age each other in godliness (Hebrews
3:13), give thanks to God in everything
(Colossians 3:17). These are the types
of things that characterize a life that is
loving God.
Challenge yourself today. The next time
you’re with your friends be extra con-
scious of the things you do and say and
weigh them against the Word of God.
How you live is your choice and
today you can CHOOSE to love
God with your life.
 April 2010
Love the Lord your God...
Emmaus— Luke 24:13-32
By Becky Hilton
We were walking down the same dusty road we’d traveled
so many times but this time was different. Perhaps it was
our burdened hearts that slowed us down. Or maybe it
was that we had hardly slept for three days. But that didn’t
matter. Nothing mattered right now. I looked at my friend
beside me as we talked about all that happened, trying to
make sense of it.
A man came close and walked beside us. He must have
overheard us talking since he asked about our conversa-
tion. I was astonished that He didn’t seem to know. Every-
body near Jerusalem knew and they were all talking about
it. It was Jesus of Nazareth. The one I had hoped would
redeem Israel. The One who taught me about forgiveness
—about life! The One I was sure wasn’t another imposter.
I must have been wrong. He’s the One that’s dead.
I saw the whole thing. I was there when they took Him in
the dark and dragged Him before the high priest. I was
there when He was beaten, spit on and mocked. I was
there when they forced Him to carry the cross. He could
hardly make it to the hill, His flesh was ripped so badly. If I
hadn’t watched maybe now I’d have peace from the im-
ages in my mind.
It wouldn’t have mattered though. They’d been trying to
trap Him with His words for years. And when they finally
got their way He did nothing to stop them. He stood there
and watched. He let them get away with all of it without so
much as one word in His own defense. He just looked at
them. I think He even looked at me. His eyes were so
swollen you could hardly see them but I felt the force of
His gaze. He looked out at the crowd and they looked
back at Him. I looked too. I look at Jesus and was just as
silent as He was. I said nothing.
They made a complete spectacle of Him as He hung on
that wretched cross! They cursed Him and cursed them-
selves. And I watched. The people had forgotten how He
healed their families and mended their broken lives. They
had forgotten that just a week earlier they’d praised Him
as He entered Jerusalem. They’d forgotten themselves
and cried out for His blood. Oh, to be innocent of His
blood!
He hung on that cross for what seemed like days but it
was only hours before He died. Never have I felt the earth
shake and the heavens rumble as they did in that moment.
I thought I was witnessing a miracle. Maybe I wasn’t
wrong. Maybe He still could be the Chosen One. After His
body was taken down and placed in the tomb, the
God’s Canvas
entrance sealed, I tasted the bitterness of defeat. All my
hope was gone. Jesus was really dead.
My sadness turned to anger and confusion when Mary told
us that somebody took His body. The tomb was empty! It’s
a cruel joke, if a joke is what it is. Those of us who fol-
lowed Him had already suffered enough. Why bring us this
pain? It was too much to carry, too much to understand.
My friend and I couldn’t make sense of it.
The Man spoke again. His eyes were intense, excited. He
asked me if I’d ever read the Scriptures. At first I was of-
fended. I’m a Jew! I was born to know the Scriptures. As
the Man kept talking I forgot my anger and soon became
mesmerized by the passion in His voice. He want back to
the very beginning of time and shared the stories and
words I’d heard so many times…
Israel. A people chosen by God to be a blessing to the
world. They were called to be a holy people, set apart.
Israel was given an opportunity and a promise. An oppor-
tunity to live for God and be His vessel to the world and a
promise that they would be redeemed. But obeying the
Law was too much for them. They couldn’t keep it be-
cause of their sin. That is why they needed the Sacrificial
Lamb.
The Sacrificial Lamb is perfect and unblemished. It is
white and pure. This Lamb is required to shed its blood to
cover the sin debt of the people because life is in the
blood. This Lamb is as the lamb given to Abraham as he
obeyed God’s instructions to sacrifice his only son—it is a
Lamb provided by God. This Lamb gives his life so that
others may be forgiven and live.
The man talked of the Messiah. The Anointed One. He
was to be born of a virgin in Bethlehem, a child of the tribe
of Judah. He was to be humble and comely. He would
declare the Word of the Lord and bring healing to the peo-
ple. But the people wouldn’t understand. They wouldn’t
recognize Him. He would triumphantly enter Jerusalem on
a donkey with palm branches cast down before him and
then He would be rejected and beaten beyond recognition.
He would be cursed. For just as Jonah was in the belly of
the great fish for three days, so would the Messiah be in
the grave. But the Messiah would live!
My heart began to quicken as I listened to the familiar
words. It was as if I had heard them for the first time. I
looked at the sky above and pushed forward. It was get-
ting dark and I suddenly couldn't wait to get home. When
Continued on next page...
 April 2010
God’s Canvas
Love the Lord your God...

Emmaus—continued
we got there the Man prepared to leave us. We asked Him
to stay. Our eyes connected. My mind flashed back to
those few seconds just days before when I had locked
eyes with Jesus. I ask the Man to stay again—and again,
until He agreed.
We sat down to eat the evening meal. Our women put the
bread before us. The Man picked it up, blessed it, and
broke it. He passed the broken pieces to us. He looked at
me again and I remembered. I remembered the Passover
meal I’d shared a few days ago with Jesus. Just as this
Man did, Jesus took the bread, blessed it, and broke it. He
told us that is was His body that would be broken. Then
the Man took the cup. Again I remembered Jesus, raising
the cup of redemption, the red wine spilling over and stain-
ing the ground beneath Him. He said it was His blood that
was going to be spilled to cover the sins of many. He told
us to remember.
With eyes closed, I held the broken bread in my hands.
Images of Jesus’ beaten body raced before me. I saw Je-
sus holding the cup of redemption and I saw Him hanging
on the cross. I saw the blood pouring from His body until it
became lifeless. And I knew. The Messiah is the Sacrificial
Lamb. I opened my eyes to look at this Man. Jesus smiled
back at me and was gone.
If time had ever stood still, it did right then. I stared at the
empty seat across from me as the realization of what just
happened sunk in. Jesus is the Messiah and He is alive!
Scriptures referenced in Emmaus
John 18:13— Jesus arrested, brought to the high priest
Luke 22: 64—Jesus blindfolded, struck, told to prophesy
Matthew 27:28-33—Jesus beaten and mocked. Simon of
Cyrene was forced to carry Jesus’ cross to Golgotha.
John 11:57—Priests and Pharisees plot to seize Jesus
Isaiah 53:7—Messiah silent before accusers
Matthew 27:12—Jesus is silent before the high priest
Luke 23:35-38—Jesus mocked while on the cross
Luke 23:44-46—Jesus died in 9th hour, earth darkened
John 20:2—Mary Magdalene tells Peter of empty tomb
Genesis 12:1-3—God gives promise to Abraham
Exodus 12:1-5—The first Passover and the significance of
the Sacrificial Lamb
Leviticus 17:11—”The life of the flesh is in the blood”
Genesis 22:1-14—Abraham commanded to kill Isaac, God
provides a ram in the thicket
Isaiah 7:14—The Messiah will be born of a virgin
Micah 5:2—The Messiah will be born in Bethlehem
Isaiah 37:31—The Messiah is born to the tribe of Judah
Luke 3:23-28—Genealogy of Jesus through Mary
Isaiah 53:5-6—We are healed by the stripes of Jesus
Zechariah 9:9—Messiah rides into Jerusalem on a donkey
Isaiah 53:3—Messiah is despised and rejected by men
Deuteronomy 21:22-23—He who hangs on a tree is
cursed of God
Luke 11:30—The sign of Jonah given to the people
Mark 14:22-25—The first communion

Family Fun: Easter Story Cookies

(http://www.dltk-bible.com/recipes/easter_story_cookies.htm)
To be made the evening before Easter. Ingredients: 1 cup whole pecan, 1 tsp vinegar, 3 egg whites, pinch salt, 1 cup sugar, zipper baggie, wooden
spoon, tape, Bible.
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. (VERY IMPORTANT TO DO FIRST) Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon
to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.
Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1tsp vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink.
Read John 19:29-30.
Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His live to give us life. Read John 10:10-11
Sprinkle a little salt into each child’s hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’
followers and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.
Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read
Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16.
Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God’s eyes of those
whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.
Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus’ body
was laid. Read Matthew 27:57-60.
Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door, and turn the oven OFF> Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus’
tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66.
Go to bed. Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus’ followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read
John 16:20 –22
On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter,
Jesus’ followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matthew 28:1-9.