Weekend Words (Easter)

 From Beside the Still Waters...

Good Friday - Read: Hebrews 7

"For such a high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens." - Hebrews 7:26

This is a day to reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus.  It is the historic date of His crucifixion and death.  We do well to remember this event.  But why did Jesus need to die?  Genesis 3 gives the account of Adam and Eve's sin.  They disobeyed God's command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  The result of disobedience would be death.  Ezekiel 18:20 states something similar: "The soul that sinneth, it shall die."  Romans 6:23 says, "The wages of sin is death."

So as humans we have something we don't want (sinfulness), and we need something we don't have (righteousness).  How can we get rid of our sin and become righteous before God?  Hebrews 9:22 says that without shedding of blood there is no remission of sins.  Jesus shed His blood on the cross, and Revelation 1:5 says that He has "washed us from our sins in his own blood."

On the cross Jesus cried, "It is finished!"  In Greek this expression is the single word tetelestai - a verb in the present perfect tense.  This word was used to indicate various things, of which three are significant here: that a task has been completed, that a debt has been paid in full, and that a sacrificial lamb has been found.

What must we do to be redeemed, justified, and saved?  If we put our faith in Christ, we are justified by faith; that is, our faith is counted as righteousness.  Then we are reconciled to God, and the death penalty for our sin is canceled.  "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience" (Hebrews 10:22).

John Ropp - Dannebrog, NE

Easter and the Resurrection - Read: Romans 6 

"If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable." - 1 Corinthians 15:19

In an earthly kingdom, a king is ruler.  His law is upheld, enforced, obeyed.  When he dies, the next in succession takes his place.  As Christians we follow Christ our King.  His laws are upheld, honored, and obeyed.  One day our King was killed.  Who was His successor?  There was none.  He died, He was buried, and His tomb was sealed.  The evil forces rejoiced.  They thought God's plan for man's redemption was thwarted.  But wait, there is more to the story.

Praise God, Christ arose in triumph over the forces of evil!  That is the reason for rejoicing at Easter.  Christ is the perfect Lamb, slain as a sacrifice for our sins.  He had to suffer death so that He could defeat death by rising again.  By His resurrection power we can rise and walk in newness of life.  

So as the household of faith, let us draw near to God in assurance of eternal life, having our sins forgiven and being reconciled to God.  Our garments are no longer stained with sin, but washed white in the blood of the Lamb.  We know that Christ is sitting at God's right hand, interceding for us.

Being reconciled to God makes us love everybody.  "Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another" (1 John 4:11).  Words of instruction abound: walk circumspectly, redeem the time, speak to yourselves with songs, give thanks for all things, and submit to one another.  "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13).  "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God" (Colossians 3:1)

John Ropp - Dannebrog, NE

Weekend Words

 From Beside the Still Waters...

Jesus Said, "I Am the Door" - Read: John 10:1-10

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." - Acts 4:12

What comes to your mind when you think of a door?  We use many doors.  We have house doors, car doors, garage doors, barn doors, cellar doors, and many more.  Doors are of different sizes and styles.  But they are used for one basic purpose: to enter or exit an enclosure.  Doors are also used to limit access to an area.

In today's Bible reading Jesus said, "I am the door of the sheep."  How is that true?  To come into Jesus' sheepfold and become part of the family of God, we must come through Jesus.  He does not merely control the door; He is the door.  Jesus' words "I am the door" are much like His words "I am the way."  It is our choice whether we will come through Jesus into the sheepfold of God.

In Matthew 7:13-14 we read of two gates, which are similar to doors.  The gate leading to life is "strait," which means narrow and restrictive.  The same is true of Jesus the door because He will not let things come into the sheepfold that would harm the sheep.  Revelation 22:17 says that "whosoever will" may come, but each person must meet Jesus' requirements.  Right will always be right, and wrong will always be wrong.

Jesus is the door because only through Him can we come to God.  He alone paid the ransom to deliver us from sins and then rose from the grave to defeat sin and death forever.  He is our Mediator, the one through whom we have access to God.  "No man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).

Joseph Sharp - Adams, NY

From Beside the Still Waters...

Jesus said, "I Am the Good Shepherd" - Read John 10:11-30

"He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young." - Isaiah 40:11

What picture comes to mind when you think of a shepherd?  I see a man on a hillside with a flock of sheep.  In the shepherd's hand is a staff that is longer than he is tall, and at the top of the staff is a large, rounded hook.  There is grass on the hillside, and below is a field with a creek in it.  Some parts of the creek are flowing swiftly, but there are portions that are deeper and flow gently and quietly.  The shepherd leads his sheep to the quiet water for a cool, refreshing drink.  When the sun is warm, he finds a tree that provides shade.

Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd" (John 10:11).  He will be our Shepherd if we will join His flock of sheep.  We must be willing to blend in with the flock and become part of it.  When we do that, we find peace and rest for our soul.

The Good Shepherd uses His staff to guide the sheep.  He uses the hook to rescue sheep that get caught in thorny bushes.  He also uses the staff to fight off enemies that would like to destroy the sheep.  He never uses the staff to beat the sheep, because He loves them.  When the path is narrow and dangerous, the Shepherd walks ahead to show His sheep the right way.  We can always trust the Good Shepherd.

Psalm 23:3 says, "He restoreth my soul."  You see, our soul has been damaged by sin.  The Good Shepherd is the healer of all injuries.   He leads us only in paths of righteousness.  Even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, He will walk alongside to guide and comfort us.

Joseph Sharp - Adams, NY

We do not need to fear the wolf when we are following the Good Shepherd!

Weekend Words

From Amish Peace...

Be Still

"Be still, and know that I am God!  I will be honored by every nation.  I will be honored throughout the world." - Psalm 46:10

There is nothing more wonderful than taking a walk along a quiet trail on a spring morning with the air still, one's mind still, and the world around still and at rest.  New buds cluster on previously dormant tree branches.  Spots of floral color can be seen within the light-green grass.  It's easy to feel God in such a place.

I've walked among Amish men, women, and children at a local auction and felt the same stillness - even in the midst of all the activities.  The air stirred slightly from their voices, but there was no loud uproar.  People moved, but not in anxious haste.  God was honored not only by their words but also by the contented way they interacted.

I don't feel the same way when I'm in a large city, walking down a high school corridor, or in the middle of a mall.  The blare of machinery or music fills the air.  Voices do too.  The hairstyles, clothes, and merchandise scream, "Notice me, notice me!"  The people's actions silently declare the same.  Each person wants to be noticed, to feel valued, to stand out.

As believers, we know we are special creations, unique and precious to God.  So why do we struggle with comparing our lives, our bodies, our children, our talents (or lack of talents) with others?  God didn't create the world to be exalted but to glorify Him.  The same goes for us.

Be still and know that He is God.  Be still.  Fight against the desire to create idols of man-made things.  Fight against your longing to be noticed and appreciated - to stand out in a crowd.

Isaiah 37:16 says, "O Lord of Heaven's Armies, God of Israel, you are enthroned between the mighty cherubim!  You alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth.  You alone created the heavens and the earth."  May not only our words but also our "stillness" in everyday situations make such a declaration.

Dear heavenly Father, when I feel the urge rising to make myself known, I pray I might make You known.  When I feel the desire to gain attention, may I remember to be still and give You the glory.

From In Green Pastures...

Should the uncertainty of all human affairs sadden our lives?  No; God does not want us to bring tomorrow's possible clouds to shadow our todays.  He does not want us to be unhappy while the sun shines because by-and-by it will be dark.  He wants us to live in today and enjoy its blessings and do its work well, though tomorrow may well bring calamity.  How can we?  Only by calm, quiet, trustful faith in God and obedience to him at every step.  Then no troublesome tomorrow can ever bring us harm.  those who do God's will each day God will hide under his wings when the storm breaks.

News from home...

We are officially in autumn here, but it is still hot.  We've been having days in the high 20sC/80sF, so I'm glad for a cloudy day to go for my walks...

And some beautiful sunsets too...

A couple of weeks ago I went with Marnie and Tom to Tasmania Zoo.  Another very hot day (even the animals were seeking out a shady spot)... 

Still working on the 'colorful blanket'.  Have 4 of the 5 strips done...

But because I was getting 'color overload', I've put it aside for a bit to work on my 'calmer' crocheted blanket...

This is my 'Deloraine blanket'.  I bought the yarn a year ago, not long before I moved from Deloraine to Latrobe, in colors that reminded me of Deloraine: white (snow on the mountains and clouds), blues (river and sky), green (trees and grass/plants), greys (skies and mountains), brown (rocks and mountains).  The colors changed with the seasons, but it is always the colors of nature that draw me.

Picked up this delightful little book at the op shop recently...

makes me want to go out and buy a red geranium :)

And another op shop find, this bowl and jug ($9)...

which goes so well with my second-hand, old-fashioned wash stand (bought many years ago)

Had a lovely visit from two of the Mennonite ladies (and two of the young children), who brought me the books I had ordered from the Rod and Staff book publishers catalogue...

these should keep me going for a while :)

I recently finished re-reading Vera - The King's Daughter (previously read 2020)...

and have started From Wealth to Faith

I also received the head covering squares I had ordered from Michaela's Etsy store...

wore the brown one for church last Sunday

And Freya was not a happy cat, having cut the underneath of her paw and needing a trip to the vet (I was not happy either when I saw the bill!!) and bandage, so it could heal.  She also needed to stay inside for a few days which she definitely DID NOT LIKE!

She is all better now (but still not speaking to me), and is out exploring again...

And remember back in January I mentioned about my 'Bible Word for the Month' I was doing this year?  My January word being 'peace' (I found 29 verses); my February word was 'joy' (I found 42 verses); and my March word is 'trust' (so far, I've found 34 verses).  I'm sure there are many more, and it's been fun looking them up (in various concordances - KJV, NKJV and NIV) and writing them out.

Here are some 'trust verses'...

Psalm 9:10 And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You. (NKJV)

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,  And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. (NKJV)

Nahum 1:7 The Lord is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him. (NKJV)

"Lord, in your kindness, give me Yourself, for You are all I need." 

- Julian of Norwich (1342 - 1416)

Simply trusting every day;

Trusting through a stormy way;

Even when my faith is small,

Trusting Jesus, that is all.

Have a blessed week, and keep on trusting ...

xx

Weekend Words

 From Amish Peace...

Jesus, the Way

Jesus told them, "I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one can come to the Father except through me." - John 14:6

The Amish have a slower way of life, but slow and steady isn't the way.  The Amish build their lives around good morals, including telling the truth, but truthfulness isn't the way.  The Amish celebrate life.  They have large families and commune with others.  But living this way isn't what saves their souls.  The life they enjoy is good but not good enough.  Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life."

Jesus is the Way.  The Truth of God, the Word of God, come in the flesh.  Following Him is the way to live.  Dedicating our lives to Him is the way to eternal life.  And to walk in the way, we must read the Word of God and listen to the still, small voice of His Spirit.

It is within Jesus that we will find the life we've longed for.  It might be slower paced, but it also might have seasons of outpouring of love and giving of our time and care.  In Jesus we find life larger than we expected, both here and in eternity.  A life filled with people to walk with, people to circle around us, and people to serve.  To gain that life, we need to turn to Jesus - not to human ideas and rules.

Sometimes we are so busy trying to find the right way - or we're discontented because we believe that someone else's lifestyle is a better way - that we miss out on finding Jesus, the Way.

"Listen to me, all peoples of the earth.  Listen to me, young and old, great and small.  If you want to be saved, you need to leave sin, follow Christ the Lord, and live according to his will.  Christ Jesus came to the earth to teach men the right way to go ... He said: 'I am the way the truth and the life, no-one comes to the father except through me.'"

Ausbund, 82

From Beside the Still Waters...

Stirring Covetousness - Read: 1 Timothy 6

"But godliness with contentment is great gain." - 1 Timothy 6:6

We were driving through the country when we passed a model home that looked very attractive.  There's probably nothing wrong with a house like that, but a thought came to mind.  Can we be guilty of tempting others to covet when we spend extravagantly to dress up our home?  I do believe we need to be careful about our lifestyle, lest we cast a stumbling block before others by stirring covetous desires in them.

I think of the story about a man who used a very old and decrepit tool in his work.  His friend admonished him, saying, "You are not that poor; you can afford something better than that."  The man replied, "Yes, I can, but I don't want to be a stumbling block to my neighbor who cannot afford anything better."  Do we consider that when we set out to improve our situation, or do we think, "I deserve it"?  Very easily we can be an offense to someone without thinking.

The fact is that many problems in today's world involves coveting in one way or another.  This can include wars driven by people who covet power or land.  In contrast, we should willingly accept what God allows to come into our lives.  We show a lack of faith in God when we are discontent and we covet the things of others.  "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5).

Fred Beachy - Crofton, KY

And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. - 1 Timothy 6:8

From In Green Pastures...

Greatness in God's Sight.

The greatest men are but fractions of men.  No one is endowed with all gifts.  Everyone has his own particular excellence or ability.  No two have precisely the same gifts, and no two are called to fill precisely the same place in life.  The lowliest and the humblest in endowments is just as important in his place as the most brilliantly gifted.  The great life in God's sight is not the conspicuous one, but the life that fills the place which it was made to fill, and does the work which it was made to do.  God asks not great things; he asks only simple faithfulness, the quiet doing of what he allots.

If you have 15 minutes, grab a tea or coffee and listen to this uplifting audio from sister Aman at dontperish.com.  She and her husband (brother Tupos) are van dwelling, street preachers in the USA.

(all the illustrations are from my books I ordered from the Mennonite church (Rod and Staff publishers) which were delivered yesterday.  I hope to get a 'home...' post up about that and other updates in the next week.)

Weekend Words

Sorry I didn't get a post up last weekend.  Lots of headaches/migraines to contend with but feeling better now.

Form Beside the Still Waters...

Facts or Feelings? Read: Romans 3:11-22, 1 John 1:5 - 2:5

"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." - 1 John 2:16

"How could anything that feels so good be wrong?  It certainly doesn't hurt anyone."  Ward is a professing Christian who frequently uses recreational drugs.  He excuses his sinful behavior by the absence of any guilty feelings.  Mark, another professing Christian, is living with an unmarried woman, yet he adamantly defends this relationship since both of them are so very happy.  After all, there's a Bible verse that says, "If our heart condemn us not, then we have confidence towards God" (1 John 3:21).

Our Creator designed us with a variety of emotions, but He never intended that our feelings overrule the facts taught in His Word.  All sin is associated with some form of pleasure, whether it be material, sensual, or emotional.  But the fact remains that "the soul that sinneth, it shall die" (Ezekiel 18:4).  God's Word, not our personal feelings or preferences, is the only reliable standard to distinguish right from wrong.

Strong feelings, however, can also result in discouragement for no valid reason.  An overly sensitive conscience, a tragedy, or a difficult circumstance may result in feelings of God's withdrawal or rejection.  these emotions can cause serious discouragement and even despondency.  But Jesus is a Lord of compassion and mercy, not a vindictive tyrant like the false gods of heathen peoples.  "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out" (John 6:37).

May we be fully convinced that the facts of God's word always outweigh personal feelings.  and may we allow the Lord to work through us to charitably admonish sinners and reassure saints with the same truth.

Pete Lewis - Halsey, OR

"Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy." - Psalm 16:11

From In Green Pastures...

Fault-Finding.

It is strange how oblivious we can be of our own faults and of the blemishes in our own character, and how clearly we can see the faults and blemishes of other people.  Finding so much wrong in others is not a flattering indication of what our hearts contain.  We ought to be very quiet and modest in criticizing others, for in most cases we are just telling the world what our own faults are.  Before we turn our microscopes on others to search out the unbeautiful things in them, we had better look in our own mirrors to see whether or not we are free ourselves from the blemishes we would reprove in our neighbor.  There is a wise bit of Scripture which bids us get clear of the beams in our own eyes, that we may see well to pick the motes out of the eyes of others.

In all thy Ways.

Do we make much of God in our lives?  Is God really much to us in conscious personal experience?  Do we not go on making plans and carrying them out without once consulting him?  We talk to him about our souls and about our spiritual affair; but we do not speak to him about our daily work, our trials, our perplexities, our week-day, work-day life.  We are to shut God out of no part of our lives.  We must have something besides human nature, even at its best, if we would be ready for all that lies before us.  We must get our little lives so attached to God's life that we can draw from his fulness in every time of need.