Easter

Re-opening

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Who knew that our lives would be so consumed with lock downs, virus discussions, job losses, missed dentist and hair appointments and now re-opening strategies. How life has changed in the last 6 weeks.

The thought that keeps going through my head is ‘will life return to what it was or is there a new normal now’. I have realised that I do not like working from home for extended periods of time. I miss my colleagues and the interactions. I miss wearing something other than trainers and yoga pants. I don’t like seeing friends and family only through a social media platform. I miss shopping, or getting a coffee. I miss all the options and possibilities I used to have. I particularly miss doing all the spontaneous things I was privileged to do before.., going away to explore new places, having an afternoon tea with my daughter, booking a night away on holiday.

We just passed Easter. A pretty uneventful period under the current circumstances, without all the things that make Easter special. The actual event which is remembered at Easter and the following weeks after the death and resurrection was also one of very rapid change. The followers of Jesus went from learning from Him, eating with Him to being without Him and having to redirect and transform their lives. The Holy Spirit was promised to them as a Comforter and Guide, but truth is.. their lives were never the same again. They had to put in practice now all they had learned in the previous years under Jesus guidance and instruction. The went from students to leaders, from observers to doers with the help of the Holy Spirit.

I get that we really can’t compare these situations, but maybe we can draw strength from it under our current restrictions and changes. We too have to learn to live differently and do things differently. We also have been given the Holy Spirit as Comforter in our lives. We can choose our reactions and responses to the new normal.

One of my favourite songs is ‘Holy Spirit rain down’

Holy Spirit rain down
Rain down
Oh Comforter and Friend
How we need Your touch againHoly Spirit rain down
Rain down
Let Your power fall
Let Your voice be heard
Come and change our hearts
As we stand on Your Word
Holy Spirit
Rain down

That’s my comfort too in this time of change. Life may re-open in some areas. Life may be different. But the Holy Spirit is as much a Comforter today as it was in the time of the disciples.

Let the re-opening adjustments begin!!

Sunday

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Good Friday has come and gone. Not sure why we call it good, when it was the most dramatic day in the history of mankind. We remember that our King died on the cross. But He stayed not dead, Sunday is coming!

I saw this poster on Facebook and I love it:

How true is that!

How did we know the world as we know it stopped existing about the beginning of March! We are all asked to stay away from each other. No church, no friends over for dinner, no normal things.

But a lot can happen indeed. We can find beauty in the little things. Gratefulness in our existence. Walks in nature. Reconnecting with our fellow house mates. Technology allowing us to worship together, remembering this important period in our human history. This period will pass.

Sunday is coming… no Sunday will ever be as beautiful as that day when He conquered dead and rose again!

How will you be celebrating this Sunday?

If you have a chance, listen to this beautiful concert from Jaime Jorge: https://youtu.be/rfm-RzFt2fA

Easter

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Am currently in the States and drive a rental car. A really nice new Hyundai something or other. It’s got this feature that takes a little getting used to… lane control! If you drive a little over the lines on the road, the car automatically corrects that. You have to indicate early or it won’t let you smoothly turn!

That got me wondering… especially since it’s the Easter weekend. How handy would it not be if our lives would get automatically corrected if we veer off course! Or would it be? Would it be just like the car I drive… a little scary?

Yesterday we remembered Jesus was condemned to death and was nailed to the cross. Tomorrow we celebrate we worship a living King who conquered death. The Easter message. This should set the course of our lives.. the message in the Bible our lane control and the fact He lives should be enough to want to know Him more.

Psalm 8 says this: 1 Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your nameA)” style=”font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; vertical-align: top”> in all the earth!

You have set your gloryB)” style=”font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; vertical-align: top”>
    in the heavens.

Apparently that was the inspiration for Swedish song writer Boberg who wrote the hymn ‘how great Thou art’. I inserted the second verse as that is so appropriate for Easter…

And when I think of God, His Son not sparing
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing
He bled and died to take away my sin
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art

I need lane control in my life, just like I need it when driving and my distractions push me over the lines. The message given to us in the Bible is my lane control and I remember the message of Easter this weekend extra to remind myself I serve a living King whose lane control I want in my life.

How about you?

Happy Easter! The Lord is risen, He is risen indeed!

Shrove Tuesday

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Tomorrow, Christians all over the world start the 40 day period of Lent. The period leading up to Easter. The time we remember the resurrection of Jesus after He died on the cross. Typically, churches pay a lot of attention to Christmas (when Jesus was born) and Easter (when He rose again after death) as these are the periods in the year that the Christian faith is openly accepted by the wider world.

But what is this 40 day period leading up to it? In our Adventist church, we pay little attention to this custom whereas other churches reflect on this period a lot more. 40 Days is also a significant number in the Bible. 40 years was Moses in the desert…40 days it rained with Noah and the Ark and 40 days Jesus was in the desert alone, praying and fasting before He was hung on the cross.

Some fast during this period of reflection leading up to Easter and others do a specific fast of a certain food or activity (no chocolate for example). A period of quiet remembrance is perhaps not such a silly thing!

Before the fast, families would celebrate and eat all the food that they would not be eating for the next 40 days. And that is where shrove Tuesday comes from. Usually pancakes are eaten as they get rid of eggs, milk and fat, things that are forsaken during a fast.

Even though today will not mark a period of fasting for me, it will start a period of contemplation. Just like my previous blog posts, this period leading up to the Cross and Resurrection reminds me of what He did for you and me. His love for us so immense, He gave up His life for us. His grace allows us to come home with Him in the not so distant future, and that is worth contemplating over as it requires a response from me!

Today I will also eat pancakes. Why break a good tradition! I love pancakes! The Dutch ones, not the fat American ones. So perhaps not as much diary and fat to get rid of… But still a mark of the beginning of Lent.

What will you be reflecting on these next 40 days? Are you giving anything up for it?

Easter

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It’s Easter, today was Good Friday… we associate Easter with new beginnings, Spring, Chocolates, family, holiday etc.

The most important remembrance should be that Jesus came, died and rose again. That’s allows us the promise a new beginning. Something to celebrate for sure…

On Sunday Christians all over will say to each other ‘He is risen’, ‘He is risen indeed’

New beginnings… are you ready for one?

Happy Easter!