The day with dianne Louise

“He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.” Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬ We have a choice when someone says they will do something: believe them or not. Our ability to believe them depends on their trustworthiness, our experience with them and mindset. The disciples knew Jesus kept His word, however Jesus tended to talk in parables and it was difficult for them to comprehend. The next problem was the Jewish mindset was and still is: the Messiah will come as a warrior king. He will deliver them from their enemies. The scripture in Isaiah 53 talking about Him being sacrificed for them, they do not recognise or understand, without divine insight, much like anybody else. To a self-made man or woman these verses can be nonsense. It is not until the Holy Spirit captures you and reveals sin and a need for repentance do you have ears to hear. We westerners have the same choices today. Will we continue to roll with the Easter egg nonsense and be content, or...

“For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.” Romans‬ ‭6‬:‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬ Having a testimony about the work of the cross in our lives is imperative. Little things can be a testimony. I recently discovered that our Hindu landlord and his family love the singing that comes up through our roof into their flat. We are constantly singing church choruses, laughing and praying. The joy of the Lord resonates in our lives and we therefore take it into our outside world. Our neighbours across the narrow street we live in are higher up than us and are ever watchful. They are fascinated with our comings and goings. We have begun to go to the small store just down from us for milk and small provisions. The people there are fascinated by us. Who know what the Holy Spirit is doing in the lives around us. Just around the corner is a man who builds furniture. We had him extend our small step so we could reach the keyhole that...

“For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.” Romans‬ ‭6‬:‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬ Why is the ‘for’ there? It tells of something that came before, and more after: “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.” Romans‬ ‭6‬:‭4‬, ‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬ As we celebrate Easter how can we stay trapped in sin? How can we look at Jesus and what He suffered and say: “it is not enough”? His suffering was more than enough for all of us for all time. We must choose to believe and walk away fro the sin that so easily traps us and run the race set before us. By the power of the Holy Spirit He is more than e...

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬ There are times when we know we have need of mercy, and then there are times we are oblivious to our need, but still that sweet grace flows to us. For me when I receive grace and know my sin I am so grateful. Undeserving as I can be it still is there for me. I can sing with John Newton Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I have just spent time with a friend whose husband is battling an addiction. He will know the depth of our saviour’s amazing grace as he navigates rehab and has a team of people praying for him. What a day to die to self and come to the cross in repentance. What a day to receive amazing grace. Grace, amazing grace rescues us and liberates us from the clutches of hell. Praise You Jesus!

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭14‬-‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬ Today we remember the cross. Our Jesus was brutally beaten and a rough wooden cross was laid upon His back for Him to carry. He was nailed to that cross and mercilessly jolted into a hole in the ground and hung gasping for breath. He was then given all our sin which crushed Him, and as His Father turned away from Him He died alone. He asked our Father to forgive us for we do not know what we do. We crucified Him with our rejection of His purity and holiness. We, in our lives of sin nailed Him to the cross. How beauti...

“I am your Lord and Teacher. But I washed your feet. So you also should wash each other’s feet.” ‭‭John‬ ‭13‬:‭14‬ ‭ERV‬‬ Serving others does not come, with a willingness, easily. A servant heart has to be cultivated. Scripture tells us Jesus learned obedience through what He suffered. He was despised and rejected by the religious leaders and ultimately killed by them. Here, in the above scripture He is teaching His disciples to serve one another and not seek position and lordship. He is our example. Although He was God He did not seek equality with God but lowered Himself. The ability to serve comes from a heart that knows who it belongs to and what it’s purpose is. Jesus knew who He served and why He came. May we be humble enough to serve and not seek position. Amen!

“I am your Lord and Teacher. But I washed your feet. So you also should wash each other’s feet.” John‬ ‭13‬:‭14‬ ‭ERV‬‬ Jesus is about to be handed over to the rabble to be crucified, but He takes time to teach the disciples a valuable lesson. There has been a constant vying for attention and one-upmanship amongst the apostles. Even at this juncture they still wanted lordship. After the crucifixion the disciples would resonate with the humility Jesus displayed. His greatest gift to them was His life. Dying a sinner’s death was the greatest sacrifice. Do you find yourself struggling for position? Where does the struggle come from? James tells us that fights and squabbles come from us wanting what we do not have. He says that we do not have them because we do not ask and when we ask we ask with impure motives (James 4:1-17). As we approach Easter let us examine our motives? What drives us? Are our motives pure? Do we seek to serve or are we wanting to rule over others? Let us think on th...