Easter Thoughts

Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.

But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.

Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments.

Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?

He is not here, but is risen!  Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee,

saying, 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.'"

And they remembered His words.

(Luke 24:1-8)

From Behold the Lilies...

"And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: and as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?" - Luke 24:4-5

Why did the women make that unnecessary, early-morning trek to the tomb?  Jesus had told them He would rise again.  Why did they not remember it sooner?  Was it because they were heartbroken and worrying about what would happen now that their beloved Lord was killed?  They could have saved themselves much grief had they not been so slow to believe.

God may view scenes from our lives with the same kind of thoughts we have as we think about the scene at the tomb.  Does he see that the women of today have not changed much from the women at the tomb?

Who of us have not had doubts about our salvation?  We doubt in spite of the promise, "He that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out" (John 6:37).  Who of us has not felt anxious when we saw a difficult circumstance ahead?  We are anxious in spite of His promise, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5).  Who of us has not worried about material needs?  We worry in spite of the promise, "Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things" (Matthew 6:32).

We have the same Lord as the women at the tomb had.  His promise to them was fulfilled, and He will fulfill His promises to us as well.

 

Christ hath risen! Hallelujah!

Blessed morn of life and light!

Lo, the grave is rent asunder,

Death is conquered through His might.

Christ is risen! Hallelujah!

Gladness fills the world to-day;

From the tomb that could not hold him, 

See, the stone is rolled away!

Prayer + Praise = Peace (devotional 3 of 4)

 From Be Still and Know ...

"Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God" (Philippians 4:6)

Sometimes our lives are so filled with anxiety and care, we feel we have little to be thankful for.  We forget the many everyday blessings that we take for granted.  Yet as we begin to count our blessings, thanking Him for what He has given us and done for us, our list grows rapidly.

Paul reminds us that THANKSGIVING is one of the ingredients for inner peace.  " ... in everything by prayer and supplication with THANKSGIVING ".  Thanksgiving comes from a heart filled with an awareness of the goodness of the Lord.  In Psalm 103:1 and 2 we read, "Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.  Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits."

How thankful we should be for the access we have into His presence; of the privilege of coming to Him with our needs.  How often we bring Him our requests but forget to thank Him for what He has given us.  In the story of the ten lepers whom Jesus cleansed, only one returned to thank Him.

When we pray, we must remember to thank God for past blessings.  "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord" (Psalm 92:1).

We are to thank Him in the midst of our difficulties and trials.  "In EVERYTHING give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thessalonians 5:18).  This is not easy.

As we pause to thank Him for answers to prayers in the past, our faith is increased as we pray for present need.  

A. B. Simpson said, "Worry and anxiety flee as we come to Him with thanksgiving for past blessings and requests for present needs.  As we commit them to Him, our hearts are filled with his peace."

Have you included thanksgiving in your prayer as you bring your requests to Him?  

Don't forget to thank Him for his answers" (Philippians 4:6, LB).

Further afield and at home ...

While Ben, Hayley and Hazel were holidaying here, they spent a few days at Stanley, and I drove down and joined them for the day.  I lived there for 2 years in 2010-2012.  It's my favorite place in all of Tassie.  I started this blog when I moved there, so if you want to see more pictures of the place, go to the start of my blog :)

we enjoyed a lovely walk on the beach

and more walking

looking for shells

 

wading in the water

and all too soon it was time to say goodbye :(

And on the home front

the apples are ripening

as are the blackberries

My knitted squares for the Fistula blanket are coming along slowly

And I'm reading book 3 (of 4) in the Canadian West series

 

This is Hannah Ruth.  She joined the family a few months ago...

I'm going to sew her a skirt...

And a baby project on the go ...

Hayley is having a boy!! :)

My Scripture copying is going well...

as is my Bible reading (one chapter a day from the New Testament). 

Palm Sunday today...

 

Prayer + Praise = Peace (devotional 2 of 4)

From Be Still and Know...

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs and don't forget to thank him for his answer" (Philippians 4:6, LB).

How easy it is to say to someone, "Don't worry."  But that does not give the person the comfort he needs, nor the solution to his problem.

God tells us not to worry about anything, but He doesn't stop there.  He has a formula by which we can exchange worry for peace, a supernatural peace that passes understanding.  The cure for worry is prayer - "PRAY about EVERYTHING."

The Amplified Bible reads "in EVERY circumstance and in EVERYTHING by prayer."  If we are not to worry about anything, we must pray about everything.  We must bring our requests to Him and leave them with Him.  We are not to pray about just some things, or most things, but EVERYTHING.

Often when problems arise we go to a dear friend for help.  Sometimes the friend can help; sometimes not.  But through prayer we have access into the presence of the One who can answer every need.  Nothing is impossible with Him.  In our helplessness we not only come to Him with our burdens but leave them with Him.  "In everything with PRAYER and SUPPLICATIONS let your requests be made known unto GOD."

If we are to pray about everything at all times, we must be sure to keep the line of communication open.  Nothing must be allowed in our lives to cause a short circuit.  Then when emergencies arise, requiring "SOS" prayers, we have instant contact with Him, finding HIM listening on the other end of the line.

We can develop the best plans to meet our needs, we can look to people for help, we can depend on our strongest resources, but they cannot be a substitute for prayer.  God alone knows what we really need and how to supply it.  He invites us to, "Call upon Me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not" (Jeremiah 33:3).

What is the cure for worry?  PRAYER. What are you worrying about today?  "Tell God every detail of your needs in thankful prayer" (Philippians 4:6, Phillips).

What a Friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer!

Prayer + Praise = Peace (devotional 1 of 4)

 From Be Still and Know...

"Be careful for nothing" - Philippians 4:6

If a poll were taken today, asking people what they desired more than anything else, many would reply, "Peace of heart and mind."  Thousands of people are under the doctor's care whose physical problems are the result of emotional conflict.  Although many doctors prescribe tranquilizers and sleeping pills, such medication does not give their patients peace.

Yet God's word promises freedom from worry.  There IS an inner peace for us today.  It begins with a personal relationship with Jesus Christ by faith.  "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace WITH God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1).

When we are at peace WITH God we can experience the peace OF God in our daily living.  However, the peace of God doesn't come automatically.  Philippians 4:6 and 7 gives a formula by which we can experience it as a reality in our lives day by day.

First, "Don't worry about anything" (Philippians 4:6, LB).  It has been said, "Worry is assuming responsibility God never intended us to have.  It is carrying tomorrow's load with today's strength."  When we worry, does it not indicate we think God is not big enough to handle our problems without our help?

He didn't say we are not to worry about most things, some things, or the easy things.  We are not to worry about ANYTHING - NOT ONE THING.  You may say, "It is just my nature to worry."  Does worry accomplish anything for you?  Since the Bible tells us we are not to worry, we are disobeying His Word when we do.

Today your life may be full of care.  You may feel you have every reason to worry.  Yet God's word says, "Be CAREFUL for nothing.  Don't worry about ANYTHING."  Jesus said, "So don't be anxious about tomorrow.  God will take care of your tomorrow too.  Live one day at a time" (Matthew 6:34, LB).

In 1 Peter 5:7 (Amplified) we discover WHAT we are to do with our cares.  "Casting the whole of your care - all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all - on Him; for He cares for you affectionately, and cares about you watchfully."

Prayer is the channel by which we cast our cares upon Him.

TURN CARE TO PRAYER!

Family, plus other news ...

 A visit from Ben, Hayley and Hazel has been keeping me busy (as well as being laid low with migraines for a time).  Today is raining after a long dry spell, so a good opportunity to get a blog post done....

One of the first stops was a late breakfast at Anvers Chocolate Factory Cafe...

We also went to visit the goats at the nearby school farm...

The baby goats are so cute...

and the people are a close second :)

We visited the chickens too, but because I forgot to take a photo of them this will have to suffice... 

little salt and pepper shakers from my friend Julie :)

Smile :))

Started a new knitting project that will likely take all year the rate I am going...

a blanket for a patient at the Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia

you can read about it HERE

The info about knitting a blanket is HERE...

I knit one for them 2 years ago, and thought it was time to make another one

I'm currently reading this Canadian West series by Janette Oke (bought second hand on eBay) ...

first read about 30 years ago, and halfway through book 2

A recent visit to the river....

my peaceful spot

And speaking of peace, I'm hoping to get a series of devotional post on soon on peace.

'Prayer + Praise = Peace'

Back soon!

xx

From Behold the Lilies (devotional)...

 

"One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple." - Psalm 27:4

Our deepest desire should be to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of our lives, to behold His beauty, and to be with Jesus face to face.  A relationship with Jesus is a precious gift, inspiring in us a willingness to give Him our talents, time, and lives.  And when we allow Jesus to have complete control, our lives become truly blessed.

Walking close to Jesus is a rich experience.  When we are close to Him, we have a great longing to spend time reading His Word and praying.  Prayer is our vital breath!  

Jesus knows and understands us.  Prayer is simply a continuation of our walk with Him.  When we can escape the noise and hurry of the day and meet with Jesus in a private and quiet place, it becomes even more meaningful.  It is wonderful to be able to bring our problems and temptations to Him and lay them before Him one by one.  We can then wait in silence with our hearts open before Him, focusing our minds on Him until He speaks to us.

How wonderful it is when He speaks!  Sometimes He brings Scripture to our minds that fit our problems.  Sometimes He gives us direction through the counsel of another person.  Sometimes just the sense of His presence with nothing to distract us is soothing and comforting to our tried and tempted hearts.