[Mama_Bear]

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[cyborg]

I lived in Arizona for two years and loved it. I lived in Flagstaff which was heaven to me. Wish I had money to live in Sedona as I loved all the peacenik,hippy new age shops there *lol*

[The Mayor]

April 13, 2005

The Darkest Day

Read:
Matthew 26:17-30

The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. -Psalm 118:22

Bible In One Year: Psalm 7-9

To celebrate Passover, Jewish worshipers sing Psalms 113-118, a section called the "Egyptian Hallel." The ceremony builds to a crescendo of appreciation for freedom and the beauty of life given by God. It ends with participants singing and praising God both to please Him and to express their own pleasure. One rabbi explains it as experiencing the "emotional joy of freedom."

Near the end of the Passover meal, the second half of these Hallel psalms are sung. According to the gospel of Matthew, Jesus and His disciples sang a hymn and "went out to the Mount of Olives" after celebrating their last Passover together (26:30). They may well have sung this psalm:

The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
This was the Lord's doing;
It is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:22-24).

Regardless of which hymn they sang, the confidence Jesus had in the goodness of His heavenly Father is astounding. He was able to praise His Father even though He knew He was about to experience His darkest day. -Julie Link

Even on the darkest days
My heart sings in joyful praise,
Not because God says I should
But because I know He's good. -Link

Praise has the power to lighten our heaviest burden.

FOR FURTHER STUDY
Why Did Christ Have To Die?

[GailA]

Good morning ALL. Wonderful visit to Arizona Mama_Bear.

[Texagirl4W]

Good morning Mama_Bear. Lovely post. Hope everyone has a great day.

[deadhead]

Thank You for the cyber tour of Arizona. I have had the pleasure of visiting this beautiful state. The Grand Canyon was absolutely beautiful, awesome :-)

[Billie]

Southwest colors and all! Morning, Lori - you've captured this great state beautifully as you always do with your Freepers' States Tours!

The Grand Canyon is simply awesome! We have visited there and there are no words to describe the amazing view.

Flying to Las Vegas a few times, we get a birds eye view of Hoover Dam, but the one time we drove to California, we stopped at the Dam as well as the Grand Canyon. Truly a beautiful sight!

[LadyX]

I always look forward to your Grand Tours of the States, Lori, and am never disappointed in your lovely and beautifully illustrated presentations.

Jinxy, I *almost* made it to Arizona in July 1966!
Driving from Fairbanks, Alaska to south Florida to visit family and then back up to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for the next military assignment, we went through Canada and down the Rockies, headed for the Grand Canyon.

The car had been developong problems, and we had to instead veer across the northeast corner of New Mexico (finally shed our coats after that), and hurried through 105 degree heat in Texas, and on --

Yes - how about a Grandchild Report?!