"Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared!" Luke 24:31
Have you ever had an Emmaus road experience? You moved through life taking inventory of all that had happened in you life. You couldn't make sense of it. You were numb. You wondered if you would ever hear from the Lord again. In your mind, He was gone.
Then suddenly...you recognized Him. You recognized Him in a worship song or pastor's message. You recognized Him in a quiet time and truth was translated to your heart. You recognized Him as you sat still before His throne. How did it feel?
I had an Emmaus road experience recently. When I was at very deep and dark place, not having truly and intimately seen or heard from in Him recent days, I recognized Him in my quiet time reading. I opened my eyes and then He was gone-at least the intense presence that had arrived moments prior. But I celebrated the moment.
As walked back down the stairs all I could utter was, "Thank you Lord." And like these two followers of Christ, I could not wait to tell someone. How about you? Do you an Emmaus road experience to tell.
15 Comments:
Yes, Wendy…when you have those moments you can’t wait to share! And, I would imagine this warms His heart, to hear His children sharing His intense presence! A situation that comes to my mind, also happened very recently. There was something that I had been praying for, for over a year. Daily. Sometimes there is something that you want so badly. Doesn’t it always seem closer to your heart when it involves your children? Anyway, as the time was coming nearer and as the “answer,” was going to be made “known,” my heart was more anxious with the anticipation of the outcome. As I was praying, I knew that this would be one of the last couple of days that I would be praying for this particular situation. As I ended my prayer and I continued walking, just pondering about it, His presence came over me. He whispered things to me that calmed me, that gave me peace, that reassured me that He was sovereign. I could hear Him saying that he knows the whole picture. We only know what we can see. But, God can see our tomorrows! And, then…as only God can do, he poured joy over me! Pure and blessed joy. Oh, I was in awe. I knew with all of my heart that either way I would be able to praise Him for the outcome. All things work together for good according to His good plan. No matter what the outcome is in any situation, we can still praise Him. After all, He is our Father who has our best interest in mind. He showed me that when we are in His presence & focused on Him, we get the benefit of the fruit. I can not tell you the joy that I was over-come with. Bubbling joy. I was keenly aware, that if I had been in ‘my self,’ I would have been walking anxiously, fretting, and nervously waiting for the outcome. God is so good!
Love each one of you! Thank you for blessing me this week with your comments! Hugs, Lori – AZ
PS HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR WENDY!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! WE LOVE YOU!!!!!
Patty, Nancy & Susan you have been in my thoughts and prayers this week.
Tight hugs! Lori - AZ
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR WENDY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!! (Did you hear me singing all the way across the border?)
Praying His presence will be your best present this year and always.
Love & hugs,
Joy
Yes, I feel like I've walked the Emmaus road this morning. My heart has burned within me. God spoke to me in so many ways. Emmaus. The place where Jesus meets us. A place of recognition. A place of personal encounter.
Too much to share here right now, but just want to conclude with John 20:31, "But these are written so that you may continue to believe." Jesus is saying don't just see an empty tomb. Don't stop at the abandoned grave clothes, continue on to believe in Me.
As Luke 24:45 says, "Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures." Thank You Father for opening my mind this morning. I've had eyes to look past the empty tomb.
Child of the burning heart,
Joy
PS. I hope to be back to share more later. This morning I have to get ready for Commencement at High School, where my son is receiving two awards! Another day of celebration in our home. God is so good.
Well happy birthday Wendy! I'm glad God made you and shared you with me.
I've had many Emmaus moments. They can be as simple as looking into another believer's eyes and seeing Christ there. Hearing words spoken at a sermon that just penetrate my heart as I know they were spoken from God Himself. Words and melody of a song. God meets me there many times. All reassuring times to help me continue to know that He is my One and Only Savior Who loves little ole' me.
I'm having a women's weekend starting tonite with my mom, sister, daughter, sister in law and 2 nieces. Look out Sioux Falls SD....here we come!!
Blessings to you all.
Morgen - MN
Happy Birthday Wendy! I hope that you will have a day filled with joy and surprises.(Good ones):)
Our church set up a 24/7 prayer room this past week. What an amazing time. To purposely spend time with God in prayer.It was an awesome privilege! From Oct 28 - Nov 4 there was someone signed up to pray every hour for a whole 7 days. I went Monday to Wednesday from 5-6pm after work.
During that time I could feel the presence of God almost physically. So I would say that was my Emmaus Road experience. For that one hour each day I let go of my problems and could hear God telling me about many others in a worse place than me, and that He wanted me to pray for them. People who don't know Jesus, and are drowning in their sin. People who lost a loved one in a horrible accident. As I prayed for them the fear and worrry that has been gripping me was lifted and I left that place so blessed and feeling peaceful. He gave me the strength to look up instead of down. To see Him instead of my circumstances.
Thank you for your prayers. Please continue to keep us in your prayers, as it has been a week of bad news on top of more bad news.
As we have been reading the accounts of Jesus' crucificion and resurrection - we know that nothing here on earth is permanent, and that our ultimate Sunday morning is on the way, when Jesus comes to take us hoome. So I will continue to walk looking up.
Love Patty
PS I am a terrible bible studier - I can never remember where to find a verse I want. Can anyone tell me where to find the verse that talks about thinking on the things that are true and pure. I have been trying all week to find it and it just isn't coming. Thanks
Hi Patty....the verse is Phil. 4:8.
Now if only I could focus on these scriptures for my life and circumstances also!
Saying a prayer for all!
Thank you for this Wendy, it has touched my soul deep within!
Love,
Kelly
Happy Birthday Wendy ~ sister, teacher, friend, mentor, beloved child of God!
Praying for you today God's blessing on your life always...and in All ways.
lovelovelove,
Liz
I came back to add my Emmaus road experience:
I've shared that I moved this summer. It was a huge move for me and it was completely faith led. Still, the move and the getting settled with all that entails took me out of my routine for a bit over a week - and though I was talking with God all day I wasn't having my morning Quiet Time with Him (and all of You!) and though aware of his presence I was longing for his deep touch - to feel him in me - to see him.
The first Sunday of August we celebrated communion...a new church, a bit different presentation than that with which I was familiar...as the elements were blessed and distributed I was deeply aware of the beauty of the sacrament and my connection to the church universal...and when it came my turn to receive, I felt the peace and presence of Jesus flow through me. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I returned to my pew, full of the love of God.
When you feel a love like that. you want to pass it on.
I pray I can, in all I do and say.
Thanks for the exercise this morning, Wendy! It is wonder-full to relive these moments!
Love & blessings to all,
Liz
AK
Can't post much now but will be back later.
Wanted to say a hearfelt
Love you and Happy Birthday to one of the classiest women I know.
You are so loved and appreciated my friend. May your special day be blessed!
Hugs and much love,
Diane
I'm back to share how God opened His Word to me this morning.
“Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” Luke 24:32
This morning I am a child of the burning heart. So many truths have been opened, I cannot share just one. I have walked my own Emmaus road. Emmaus. As I mentioned earlier here, the place where Jesus meets us. A place of recognition. A place of personal encounter.
As the two disciples walked the road they met a stranger with whom they shared all they knew about Jesus. How quick am I to share Jesus with those I come in contact with each day? Christ went from stranger to Savoir as they walked and talked and He could for those we meet as well, if only we would tell of all He has done for us.
“That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid…” (John 20:19) Locked doors don’t deter or detour Jesus. Christ holds the Master key. What doors do I have locked? God comes through locked doors.
On the other side of the door Christ addresses unbelieving Thomas’s doubts. Christ will address whatever question we have. The honest seeker who wants to believe and asks God to show Himself, God will respond.
“Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the sea of Galilee.” (John 21:1) The fact that Jesus shows up in our life has to make a difference.
Simon Peter goes fishing. It’s his distraction. An escape from the pain. What is my ‘fishing’ or my diversion when life brings the weight of failure? No matter where we sail off to, Jesus waits patiently for us. “At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach…” (John 21:4) He’ll be there when we return. Waiting.
“He called out, ‘Fellows, have you caught any fish?’
‘No,’ they replied.”
This is the first miracle at the shore. They caught nothing. Not even one small minnow. Empty nets. Vain attempts without Christ. Our best efforts are futile apart from God. We can do everything right and not see results. “Apart from God we can do nothing.”
When the disciples arrived on shore they found breakfast prepared - “fish cooking over a charcoal fire…” (John 21:9) The only other time a charcoal fire is mentioned in all of Scripture was when Peter was sitting at a charcoal fire and denied Christ. Imagine the memories the aroma of these flames burned in his heart. I’m sure we all have similar ‘fires’ that ignite and illuminate recollections, pleasant and pungent. Christ helps us gently bring to mind memories that need to heal from the ashes of our flames.
Three times Jesus now asks Peter, “…do you love me?” Three times. One for each denial. After each time Peter responds, Christ says, “Then feed my sheep” (John 21:15, 16, 17). Jesus is confirming that although Peter faced failure, he is still the right man for the job.
Concluding today’s reading was the great commission, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19 The great commission, bookend by Christ’s power (vs.18) and Christ’s presence (vs.20).
As Luke writes in Luke 24:45, “Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.” Father, thank You for opening my mind this morning.
“But these are written so that you may continue to believe.” John 20:31 Jesus is saying, don’t just see an empty tomb. Don’t stop at the abandoned grave clothes. Continue on to believe in Me.
This morning I’ve had eyes to look past the empty tomb, as I’ve had an Emmaus encounter.
Hope you're having a wonderfully, special day Wendy!!!! Celebrating with you,
Joy
Happy Birthday Wendy!!!
May you live to see and enjoy many more.
Be blessed!
Chanan, Bahamas.
Happy Birthday, Wendy!!! I hope you have a wonderful weekend!!!!
Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear sister Wendy, Happy Birthday to You! God Blessing to you on this day and everyday. Thank you for your leadership and teaching in our lives.
Love,
Brandee, TN
Our church started 40 hours of prayer today at 12:00 noon. We were asked to sign up for a 30 minute time slot. I had mine at 2 and then got in the car line to get Will. When I picked him up I asked him if he wanted to go over to the prayer room and pray for Daddy. So my little Will and I went over there and sat at the alter and prayed. He prayed for his classmates that are sick, and safe travels. Each morning they share prayer requests in school and one of the kids leads them in prayer. There is nothing like hearing your 5 year old pray. Not just a routine prayer, but really pray. We prayed for his dad and Grandpa and that God would continue to work in their hearts to know Jesus. Did I see Christ today? Yes, in a big way, in the voice and prayers of my five year old son!
Brandee
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