Easter weekend may now be over, and we’re all back at work, or school, but Easter isn’t really over. In fact because of Easter, our lives have only just begun!
Because of Easter we have been forgiven of every sin.
Because of Easter we know God loves us.
Because of Easter we don’t need to fear anything.
Because of Easter we know Christ is alive!
Because of Easter we now show our love for God by living for Him.
Because of Easter we now have the responsibility to go and share the goof news that Christ is alive, to those who don’t know Him.
I love a number of Easter songs, but there is one which I definitely consider to be my favourite. As I haven’t shared it with you this Easter, I thought I’d share it with you today.
Yesterday in Swapping Places I spoke about how, in life, we can often be asked to swapped places with someone else. However the most significant swap was when Jesus took our place on the cross, just so we could be forgiven of our sins.
Today I want to remind us all that Jesus took our place, for us! The following lyrics remind us of this so well
Those were my nails That was my crown That pierced Your hands and Your brow Those were my thorns Those were my scorns Those were my tears that fell down And just as You said it would be You did it all for me After You counted the cost You took my shame, my blame On my cross
Remember the true reason we celebrate Easter – Jesus died for me and for you. He gave everything for us.
Today is known as Palm Sunday. It’s a day Christians around the world celebrate as we remember Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, one week before he was crucified.
Jesus rode into Jerusalem that day on a donkey – in those days a donkey was a symbol of peace. Crowds paved his way with palm branches – in those days this indicated that a king or dignitary was arriving in victory or triumph!
Mark 11:7-11 (The Living Bible)
So the colt was brought to Jesus, and the disciples threw their cloaks across its back for him to ride on. Then many in the crowd spread out their coats along the road before him, while others threw down leafy branches from the fields.
He was in the centre of the procession with crowds ahead and behind, and all of them shouting, “Hail to the King! Praise God for him who comes in the name of the Lord!” . . . “Praise God for the return of our father David’s kingdom. . . . ” “Hail to the King of the universe!”
And so he entered Jerusalem and went into the Temple.
Palm Sunday marks the start of a time a reflection and celebration, which we call Holy Week. It follows Christ’s journey from his entry into Jerusalem on a donkey, to his crucifixion on the cross. Holy week runs from Palm Sunday through to Easter Sunday.
As I said in yesterday’s blog post, Why?, I talked about how we all have times when we question God. We question Him when we feel we face problem and problem, or when we feel we can’t face any further difficulties in our life.
I know if you wanted to you could wave your hand Spare me this heartache and change your plan And I know when he said that you could take my pain away But even if you don’t I pray
But even when we’re struggling with difficult times in our life, I found putting them to one side, even just for a few minutes at a time, and offering help and support to others who are also struggling.
So when you feel you want relief from your troubles remember it does help you when you help others.
Help me want the healer more than the healing Help me want the savior more than the saving Help me want the giver more than the giving Oh help me want you Jesus more than anything
Healing rain! That sounds ridiculous doesn’t it, but it is true, there is such a thing as healing rain – It’s not physical rain, but a way of describing the pouring out of God’s love for each one of us, so that we are soaked in His love.
One of my favourite songs is Michael W Smith‘s Healing Rain. and it reminds us of God’s love raining down on us.
Healing rain is coming down It’s coming closer to the lost and found Tears of joy, and tears of shame Are washed forever in Jesus’ name
As I said in yesterday’s blog, life can sometimes make us feel like we’re getting soaked by difficult life events. That’s why I think I like this song because even when we’re hurting physically or emotionally, it reminds us that if we let God’s love pour over us He can heal all our wounds.
I must admit, after writing yesterday’s blog post in the middle of last week, I’ve struggled to get any inspiration for today’s or the rest of this week’s blog posts…that is until yesterday!
Yesterday morning at church, we were treated to a beautiful vocal solo by Olwyn Mathie which reminded us that even when it seems to constantly raining in our lives, God is with us, and will soon turn our rain to sunshine.
Last week was not only a week of very wet and rainy weather for us, but also one where I felt that the rain in my life was never going to end. So Olwyn’s solo was the reminder I needed, that even when life is tough, the sunshine is not far away when we trust God.
I pray that whatever difficulties you may be facing just now, you too will be reminded that God is always with us and so the sunshine is not far away when we trust Him.
Let the Holy Spirit come over you now As the healing rain falls from the clouds There is nothing you can do to deserve it You don’t have to earn His love Let the rain fall from above
Merciful rain falls over the children Merciful rain falls over the children Merciful rain falls over the children of God Over the children of God Merciful rain falls
See the Holy Dove descending over you now Feel the Living Water cleansing your soul In the name of Jesus you have been forgiven You have been redeemed forever Fix your eyes on Heaven
Over the last few months I’ve done a number of posts called ‘Slogans’. Today it’s time for another one!
In my previous “Slogans” posts, I mentioned how we all see and hear many adverts on a daily basis via advertising hoardings or adverts on the radio, television magazines and newspapers.
Today again I want to give you some more slogans to see how many of the companies/organisations associated with them you can identify from their slogans?
Refreshes The Parts Other Beers Cannot Reach
A hazelnut in every bite
Has it changed your life yet?
We are one
You only get an ‘OO’ with…
How do you eat yours
Maybe She’s Born With It, Maybe It’s…
Snap! Crackle! Pop!
The power of cool
The drive of your life
So that’s the slogans, how many do you think you know?
So here’s the answers…
Heineken
Topic
Compaq
Calvin Klein CK one
Typhoo
Cadbury’s crème egg
Maybelline
Kellogs Rice Crispies
Davidoff Cool Water
Peugeot
There were a few tricky ones in there, so if you got them all, well done!
I’ll be doing a few more of these in the coming weeks/months, so keep watching the adverts and remembering the slogans!
I recently heard the song “Land of Confusion” by Genesis for the first time in a long while. The lyrics really struck me more this time than they had previously – maybe it’s because in the last few days I’ve been blogging about how we need to be the ones who help change this world for the better.
Anyway, I decided to look into the lyrics a little bit more, and found the following quotes from Phil Collins and Mike Rutherford:
Phil Collins called it, “A political song about the mess we have landed in.”
Mike Rutherford called this “a kind of ’80s protest song,” adding that, “It’s about how we live in a very nice world, and what a mess we’re making of it. How it should be all so easy and it’s all so difficult”.
Here’s some of the lyrics from this song:
This is the world we live in And these are the hands we’re given Use them and let’s start trying To make it a place worth living in.
Ooh superman where are you now When everything’s gone wrong somehow The men of steel, the men of power Are losing control by the hour.
This is the time This is the place So we look for the future But there’s not much love to go round Tell me why, this is a land of confusion.
Now can you see why the lyrics of this song seems to strike a chord with me? So just as I’ve said in the last few days that we need to be God to the world, so this song remind me again of the desperate state this world and the people in it are in. The world really does need God, so help tell the world about God, so that we see this world change from a land of confusion to one full of love and compassion for one another.
Here’s the original Genesis video for Land of Confusion – The video uses puppets created by Peter Fluck and Roger Law, who had a satirical TV series called Spitting Image. In the video, puppets of the Genesis musicians are featured, as well as some well-known political figures from that time.
I’ve done a few Word Associations with you over the last while, and today it’s time for another one – This time with a theme, Music!
So as usual I’m going to throw some words at you, and I want you to note down the first word that comes into your mind when you read each word.
So here goes…
Treble
Speaker
Headphones
Volume
Brass
Music
Stand
Conductor
Bass
Composer
So how did you get on with those words? Did you find it easy? Did your answerssurprise you or were they just as you expected?
Well here’s my responses to my questions:
Clef
Loud
Buds
Markings
Band
Emotion
Music
Baton
Clef
Beethoven
I still believe that when we respond with the first words that come into our minds, our answers tell us a lot about our emotional state, and what’s important to us at that particular point in time.
Bearing all this in mind, review your answers, does my theory hold true?
By the way, if you want me to explain any of my answers, just ask!
I’ve done a few Word Associations with you over the last while, and today it’s time for another one. So as usual I’m going to throw some words at you, and I want you to note down the first word that comes into your mind when you read each word.
So here goes…
Shampoo
Window
Frame
Orchid
Box
Bedroom
Surprise
House
Pastel
Biscuit
So how did you get on with those words? Did you find it easy? Did your answerssurprise you or were they just as you expected?
Well here’s my responses to my questions:
Conditioner
Blind
Murder
Pink
Full
Clear-out
Birthday
Sale
Chalk
Coffee
I still believe that when we respond with the first words that come into our minds, our answers tell us a lot about our emotional state, and what’s important to us at that particular point in time.
Bearing all this in mind, review your answers, does my theory hold true?
By the way, if you want me to explain any of my answers, just ask!
