Easter 2011
A few days ago we were celebrating Easter. I wonder what Easter means to you. For the children (and I’m sure some even older children!) Easter eggs come to mind. Today, very little thought is given to it’s real meaning. How many people, I wonder, know why it is called ‘Good Friday’? To many Christians this is one of the most important days in the Christian calendar. The day when the Lord Jesus died a cruel death on the cross to make a way of salvation for each one of us.
You don’t need me to tell you that we all find it easier to do wrong than right. Since that day in the Garden of Eden when Adam sinned we are all born with that sin inside us. In the Old Testament sacrifices had to be made regularly to enable the people to have their sins forgiven. Jesus became a sacrifice for each one of us. I wonder, have you ever thought about the agony he went through just for you and me? When was the last time you said ‘Thank You’ to Him? We love to have people thank us for things we do for them. We bring up our children to always remember to say thank you. I can remember my mother telling me when I went to tea with friends “Don’t forget to say please and thank you!”
Pilate asked the crowd the question, “What shall I do with Jesus?” If you were asked that self same question today, what would your answer be?
January 2011
We are now well past the shortest day and are seeing the days drawing out. The prospect of warmer weather ahead is very welcome as we have had a very cold winter with records showing December 2010 was the coldest on record, and we saw more snow than we have had for quite some time, which made many people change their plans, and put a stop to some events that were due to take place. Despite the problems it caused, how pretty everything looked when the snow first came and how white it was -even whiter than claims by detergents!
A verse in the bible says “though your sins are like scarlet they shall be as white as snow”. How wonderful to know that If we trust the Lord and ask him to forgive us for the wrong that we do and think, we can be as white in the eyes of God as our lawns looked during the snow, and all because he loves us so much that he sent his Son into the world to die for us. The snow also can remind us that we are not always as in control as we would like to be . We cannot do anything to control the weather only God can control it. Another verse in the Bible says “man plans his course but the Lord determines his steps”.
How completely dependant on Him we are for our lives, and how amazing that the God who is in control, loves and cares for us so much that he came to die for us so that we could go to be with Him.
August 2010
By now the World Cup will be over for another 4 years. Before some breathe a sigh of relief, remember the football season is about to start for another year! As has happened so many times before our national team did not do very well. We did not do well in Wimbledon either, so not much sporting success for us. Many feel let down. Much hype came to nothing. A lot has already been said about what should have happened and how things should have been done. It seems if people do not reach our expectations we pull them to pieces. Even when they do come out on top, health fitness, looks, all play a part , and they do not usually stay there that long.
Our heroes in sport entertainment are not perfect We may look up to them for a time as people to aspire to, but we all make mistakes, and at some point we realise all people will fail as we are all humans. There is some good news though, as there is one exception to this. There is one who will never fail us – the Lord Jesus, - and that is because he is not like us. He is perfect for He did no wrong. He gave his life for us when he died on the cross. If we trust Him he has promised to be with us always, for he said “I will never leave you or forsake you”. Jesus NEVER fails.
February 2010
This month much money will be spent on cards, flowers, chocolates etc. for those we love. Some people will go to great lengths to show people how much they love them. There was one person who went to the most extreme length possible to show his love. That person was Jesus who died for us as he knew it was the only way that our sins could be forgiven and for us to be brought back into a relationship with him. By believing in Him and what he did we can have our relationship with God restored, and to go to be with him in heaven one day.
We are usually willing to give much of ourselves for those we love. God was willing to give his Son – whose birth we have just remembered at Christmas, and Jesus was willing to give his life for love of us.
John Chapter 3 verse 16 says “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”
When someone gives us a gift we usually say thank you. Have you said thank you to God yet?