Easter Series - Part 3: The Empty Cross

... And He has surely done it!

Easter is very much a time of new life. New chicks, new lambs, beautiful spring flowers, isn't it such a joy?!
When Jesus died on the cross, for me, I can celebrate knowing that He didn't die forever, that He was the ultimate picture of new life. Jesus died, and rose again on the third day. He now reigns in heaven, to be our King forever more.

You may be skeptical about the resurrection of Jesus. Well can I urge you to look into the evidence, for if the resurrection is true, then that changes everything. It really is the most fantastic, wonderfully brilliant news, for our King lives, the promises were fulfilled in Him and we can live with Him!

So every time I look at the empty cross I am reminded of two things:
1 - that Jesus my King is no longer subject to death, that He lives: Christ is risen!
2 - of the new life that He has also given me, that my sins are forgiven, and I can spend eternity with Him.

Happy Happy Happy Easter everybody!

Easter Series - Part 2: The foretold cross

Are you someone who sticks by their word? Do you make false promises or are you careful to promise things? A friend recently got engaged, and I was thinking about how amazing a promise it is! The ring is the sign of that promise to be fulfilled. A day that is to come!

Yesterday I thought a bit about why Jesus had to die on a cross, and the beauty of it. Today I want to think a bit more about God's plan for the cross. 

Jesus was no last resort, God promised his people a rescue, He promised a King that would reign forever and would take away the sins of His people by dying on a cross. Sure enough, all through the old testament the big rescue plan was foretold by prophets who were messengers from God. One of my favorite parts of the old testament that points to the cross is in Isaiah 53. It writes:

'He had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions ; he was crushed for our iniquities, upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.'

Wow God! Isn't it amazing that hundreds of years before, the death of Jesus was promised?! The King of the earth, humbled himself to die on the cross - these verses show beautifully the majesty of Jesus being rejected by the world, and yet He loved us still. God is a promise keeper, He promised that Jesus would come, that Jesus would die, and that we would be healed from sin, and He did it! 

Stay tuned to hear more incredible promises God makes! (And if you would like to know more, don't hesitate to get in touch!)

Happy Easter!

Easter Series - Part 1: The kind cross

Easter is my favorite time of the year! If you know me well, then you will know that I love seeing all the daffodils and little lambs. But I also adore spending time marveling at the greatest rescue plan there ever was. 

God sent His son, King Jesus, to die on the cross (John 3:16). I am not a parent, but I can only imagine that watching your child suffer causes unimaginable pain. God gave his son. God gave his son to die the most brutal death there ever was. What kind of a father would do that?

A father who wants to know and love his children. This heartbreaking scene had to happen. For all had fallen short of God's glory (Roman's 3:23). For man to be in a right relationship with God there had to be sacrifice. The bitter nails were driven through the hands and feet of the innocent, whilst I, the guilty, was set free. My King took my pain, that I could look to my God, and call him my Father.  Forgiven. 

The greatest love story ever told - God's love, deeper than the depths of the sea, greater than any eye has seen, or any ear heard. And he asks all to come to the cross, to come to know the pain that he went through, to call you and I his children. 

Please do get in contact with me if you want to know more, and do read the rest of this Easter series over the next few days!

 

when storms arise.

There are so many wonderful things in this life. But there are also so many things that shake me, that upset me and that tempt me to turn from my Saviour. Sickness and suffering, death and darkness, sadness, guilt and pain are everywhere, all around me, and all around you.

The storms in life can feel so big, so consuming. But I must remember that the creator of the winds is stronger than the wind. For He knows, and He cares, and He provides.

Would you like to know Him? Please do get in contact with me.

the lost and found.

To the unfortunate individuals who have witnessed me lose something, I am very sorry. I am a bad loser, in every way. But what gets me most upset, is having lost a precious item. There is no worse feeling.

If you are anything like me, then at this point, all other things will fly out of your mind, and you can only think about what it is you have lost, nothing else matters. Life has to be put on pause while you retrace your steps, turning your house inside out, and making everyone around you aware that you are not a happy bunny.

The joy of finding that thing is wonderful. For approximately 1 minute, you dwell in the joy and peace of it being found, and momentarily forget about the chaos you have left in your wake, it was worth it.

The bible says that every time one sinner turns to Jesus, that same joy is experienced in heaven (Luke 15:10). That sinner is found, and can now rest in eternal glory with Christ as Lord. That means that I myself was once lost, but I can joyfully say that I now am found.

Amazing Grace.

Again, if anyone is confused about what I have said or would like to talk through what it means to be found in Jesus, then drop me a line!

Searching for contentment.

There is nothing on this earth that can fully satisfy both you and I. Tried and tested.

One of my favorite things is ordering some new clothes and waiting for them to arrive, I convince myself that when they do arrive, life will be sorted, and everything will be okay because I will love my new clothes and everyone else will love me in them. Maybe you are like me, or maybe you just think I am crazy, I don't blame you, but I can only imagine that you have something you feel similarly about.

Jesus's teachings's warn against this attitude (e.g. Luke 12:13), and he so carefully shows us that earthly things aren't lasting, that having nice clothes is not going to make my life safe on judgement day. (When I think of it like that it seems ridiculous).

If Jesus really did rise from the dead, then life has eternal significance. If life has eternal significance, then my priorities should change. Instead of serving myself (which, don't get me wrong, I sadly am still very good at), I long and aim to serve God, my creator. Suddenly what I thought were big problems, like how I look, or what I wear, are insignificant, as my life is now found in Christ, and that is where, and I can wholeheartedly and joyfully say this, I have found ultimate and true contentment, or rather, He found me.

If you are reading this blog, and you don't know Jesus, then please, can I encourage you to investigate the claims of the bible and Jesus's word. Please don't hesitate contact me, and I can take you to church or open up the bible with you, there would be no greater joy.

Friends from Heaven.

God is a relational God. He doesn't just ask us to have a relationship with Him, he calls us to love one another too. Every day, I thank God for all the wonderful people He has placed in my life, not merely because they provide endless joy, encouragement and fun, but because they point me back to Him, showing me His love, and remind me of His glorious character. 

I am a great big sinner. Like me, each of us falls short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). And it is the imperfections in my relationships on this earth and all the mistakes that I make, that spur me on to look to the greatest friendship of all - in Christ. 

Praise Him for all that He is, and all He has done.