Jesus, the Lamb Sacrificed for Us

 Jesus is the pure and spotless lamb sacrificed for us. Our sins are covered by his blood, a full and perfect atonement. Jesus is also the only High Priest who could offer up the once-for-all-time perfect sacrifice. He has made the WAY for us, the only way, out of the jaws of death and damnation back to our Creator in whose arms we truly belong. 

There is much to reflect on at Easter as we trace Jesus’ last days — the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the last supper, Gethsemane, betrayal and desertion, torture and the mockery of a trial, agonising death by crucifixion, burial in someone else’s tomb, and finally the resurrection. My prayer is that God will guide you as you reflect on this and that you will hear His heart for you. God bless you this Easter. 

Throughout his life he resisted the persistent temptations of the evil one till now, and we have these wonderful word in Hebrews:

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in ever way, just as we are — yet was without sin.” Hebrews 4:15

Because Jesus was a person like us, he knows the temptations to which we are exposed. He will help us to resist them, and he paid the full price for all our failures. Fantastic!

A Year of Dramas

It's been several years since I wrote anything on this blog. I have been meandering my way through my life and times. This past 12 months have been a challenge in so many ways. Let me just review a little of what that has meant...
1) Australia has been experiencing a drought, a rather long one. Everything was so dry, so dead looking. The grass crunched beneath my feet as I walked. I didn't need to mow since nothing was growing. Gardening was mostly at a standstill except watering a little to keep the garden alive.
2) In September we had a snow storm, the first I'd experienced in the 9 years I'd been here. Such a beautiful sight even though it melted away fairly quickly and gave nourishment to the soil and plants.
3) Then came the bush fires!! What an awful time that was for NSW and Vic. The fires came very close from several sides over the summer months. The winds blew fiercely making things much worse. Each time it looked as if we would 'get it', the wind changed and we were safe again.
4) With the bushfires came the smoke. There was no escape and going outside was a challenge for breathing. I had to stay inside and deal with life from there though the smoke smell did permeate the house.
5) Then early this year the Corona Virus appeared on the scene. COVID-19 has disrupted life across the world in ways we could not have imagined this time last year. Australia has fared better than other countries (thus far). And living out in a rural area has been a blessing so that lockdown has not been as traumatic or stressful. We have had no postive cases in the region. The economy has taken a huge hit. And, there is no end in sight for the pandemic coming to an end.

So, what does the future hold? I don't know. What I do know is that through it all God has given me peace. My times and my life are in his hands. He is well aware of what is happening all over the world, AND he is still God.

My prayer is that God will bring good out of all these awful things that have been happening.

I am continually impressed to trust Jesus, and not look at the wild storms all about me.

May you be able to do the same.

God's Great Love and Mercy

We have such a merciful heavenly Father! It's hard to believe that he still loves us when we sin. It's hard to believe that he really cares when we go off on our own way. It's hard to take in that he loves us no matter what. It's hard to comprehend how he knows every single thing that is going on in the whole universe... that's everything to do with every star and planet, everything to do with every black hole and whatever else is out there, everything to do with absolutely everything on this earth--us humans and our thoughts and actions, the birds and animals, all of nature itself (remember he knows about every sparrow that falls to the ground). I cannot keep track of anything much, yet he sees it all, knows it all intimately, and loves all he has made. What a thought! He loves all he has made... even the caterpillar that snacks on my vegies! He takes delight in his creation... and I suspect is longing for us to be able to enter into the beauty of all he has created. I am so little, so small in my understanding and appreciation of God, and yet he is not daunted by my wayward ways. His love and patience with me covers the many years since I became a Christian, and even longer because he planted the seed in my heart and into my family line. Oh, that we would turn to Jesus and find the life he's intended for us.

Father Heart of God

Back in 2003 I was thinking about God as Father. I was particularly struck by what Jesus said of his own relationship with Father God all through the gospel of John. It seems like it would be good to come back to what I wrote all those years ago. May Father God bless and encourage you as you read and think about God as your own heavenly Father.
We need to experience God’s father heart towards us. What we know of a father’s heart is pretty pitiful. For some it’s as a tyrant who demands unquestioning obedience and who uses physical force or verbal abuse to achieve that obedience. For some it’s as a slave driver who requires “work” to pay one’s way. For some it’s like a school teacher requiring perfect scores. For others though there may be a physical presence, the father is emotionally absent. For many there is no father because of death, divorce, or other circumstance causing separation of the family.
Our experience of our own fathers’ hearts becomes our view of God’s father heart so that our sense his heart may be one or more of the following:

He’s a tyrant waiting for me to put one foot out of place
He’s violent and vengeful
He’s distant and disinterested
He’s unapproachable
He doesn’t listen
He only pays attention if I get all my ducks in a row
He doesn’t care about me or what I feel
He won’t help me, I have to figure it out myself
He doesn’t like me (because I’m ugly, stupid, slow, lazy, fat, careless, a girl, a boy, not like him, whatever)

Here are some scriptures to help you meditate on Father God. God is emotionally present, kind, loving, gentle, and understanding of our limitations. Our minds may know this but our hearts don’t.

• Psalm 103:13, 14 says, “The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he understands how weak we are; he knows we are only dust.”
• Isaiah 9:6 “Mighty God, everlasting father …”
• Matthew 6:9 “Our Father in heaven may your name be honored …”
• *John 10:30 “The Father and I are one …” Look at Jesus to get a view of the father heart of God.
• Romans 8:15 “Father dear Father …”
• Hebrews 1:5 “Today I have become your Father …”
• Ephesians 4:6 “Only one God and Father …”

Something to think about...

We live in such a world today that it's hard to know whether today's truths are true at all because tomorrow it might have become a different truth. So much is relative to what people want to think is truth, and like the weather it changes all the time. This is confusing and confounding, and adds to our frustrations with life (whether we realise it or not).

However, Jesus spoke about truth; a truth that does not change on the whim of man or on how many believe it or on success or failures. The truth Jesus offers us is one that sets us free. It does not depend on what we think or believe but simply on who God is.

Jesus said:

"Then you will know the truth. And the truth will set you free." John 8:32

Truth is not determined by how many people believe it.

Related articles

• Inconvenient Truths And Value Judgments
• What is Truth?

No matter the mess, God works for good!

“We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him. He appointed them to be saved in keeping with his purpose.” Romans 8:28 NIV

When it seems like the world’s gone mad, don’t forget “God existed before anything else… and He holds all creation together.” (Colossians 1:17 NLT). When worry whispers, “God doesn’t know what you need!”, remember God promised to “meet all your needs”. (Philippians 4:19 NIV)

[from a friend]

God’s good in life’s experiences

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28 NIV

What we consider wasted experiences can become experiences in wisdom - when we decide to learn from them! God in His wisdom knows that we need the challenge of certain situations to mature and stretch us.

[from a friend]

Known by name!

"I know you by name and you have found favour with Me." Exodus 33:12 NIV

Don't be jealous or intimidated by anybody else no matter how talented they are. In God's eyes there are no other contenders; you're it! You're the only one who can fulfil your role on planet earth because He created it with you in mind.
[from a friend]

Eugene Nida dies

Dr Eugene Nida has died. You probably don't know who he is but read on. Nida had a tremendous impact on Bible Translation during the 20th century. As a Bible Translator myself his work impacted me in my training and throughout the years in which I was involved in translation and in training others.

Eugene Nida dies
August 25, 2011 By comms

By Dr Philip C. Stine

Eugene Nida, the giant of Bible translation in the twentieth century, died at home in Madrid on August 25. He was 96. Conveying the news, his widow Elena said, “My adored husband has passed away 10 minutes ago. Thank you for your prayers. He was a saint. The Lord is with him.”

For more than 50 years Eugene Nida was the leader of the translation program of the American Bible Society, and subsequently the intellectual leader of the global program of the United Bible Societies, as well as consultant to that organisation.

Dr Nida will be best remembered for the revolution he brought about in the field of Bible translation in the mid-twentieth century. The resulting impact on the growth and development of the Church continues to be felt as millions of people in hundreds of languages around the world have access to the Bible because of the approach he developed and promoted.

[read more]

Now he is with Jesus. How wonderful for him!

Related articles

• Spreading the Word in Hundreds of Tongues (online.wsj.com)
• Giant of Bible Translation Dies (wycliffeusa.wordpress.com)

What to do with trouble?

When trouble comes our way, what do we do? Depend on God and look to him to help us in the midst of the trouble? Blame him or someone else? Have a pity-party? I've just started another study on Job and am reminded yet again that the why's of our sufferings are known only to God... and only as we trust him for who he is can we hope to make sense of anything. I thought this little snippet from Paul is helpful. It comes from Reading for Today:

“…  But that happened so that we would not depend on ourselves but on God. He raises the dead to life.”   2 Corinthians 1:9 NIRV 

Anything that causes us to turn to God and lean harder on Him is an asset, not a liability. It's when we lose a job, a marriage, a loved one, our health or our peace of mind that we can turn to God and discover what He can do.

And, for inspirational daily messages, check out www.thewordfortoday.com.au

Related articles

• Can God Trust You? (ofgodthegospelandglamour.wordpress.com)
• The Benefits Of Struggle (pttyann2.wordpress.com)

Sun and salvation make a divine holiday...

Here's a story that brings back wonderful memories:
Sun and salvation make a divine holiday for fun-seeking souls.
When I was in my late teens and early twenties I was part of a team that did the same sort of thing -- we camped at Scotts Head, one of the beaches in northern NSW and had special programs for kids and parents. Back then we called them Beach Missions. There were loads of different activities for kids of all ages... lots of laughter, exhausting games, and time for significant conversation. Somewhere in all my stored stuff I have photos and slides of those days. One day I'll find them and post some of the memories of those days.
One vivid memory from one year is of a cyclone that hit right in the middle of the mission... wild winds, wild rain, and a wild time trying to keep the tents from blowing away. Nobody got much sleep, and no one was injured. Everything was wet through!