Posts Tagged ‘calvary’

Your silent night

Posted: December 20, 2018 in baby, children, Christmas, depression, Health, heaven, hope, life, music, prayer, religion, stress, words
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When you think of a silent night what you think of?

If you’re the parent of a young child, maybe a night where the baby sleeps through the night. If you’re always busy, a silent night is maybe a rare night in with no visitors, no events to attend, to tasks to do.

For some like the two examples I’ve mentioned a silent night may be just what they dream of. For others a silent night is not what you need as maybe you’re struggling to cope with life, you’re lonely, or you’re just feeling so low.

Here’s a reminder from Casting Crowns that a silent night can be just what we need, just as that first Silent Night when Jesus was born was just what the world needed, and needs reminded of.

Somewhere in your silent night

All is calm and all is bright
Everywhere but in your heart tonight
They’re singing carols of joy and peace
But you feel too far gone and too far out of reach

Somewhere in your silent night
Heaven hears the song your broken heart has cried
Hope is here, just lift your head
For love has come to find you
Somewhere in your silent night

From Heaven’s height to manger low
There is no distance the Prince of Peace won’t go
From manger low to Calvary’s hill
When your pain runs deep, His love runs deeper still
He has always loved you, child
And He always will

Somewhere in your silent night
Heaven hears the song your broken heart has cried
Hope is here, just lift your head
For love has come to find you
Somewhere in your silent night Lift your head, lift your heart
Emmanuel will meet you where you are
He knows your hurt, He knows your name
And you’re the very reason that He came

Somewhere in your silent night
Heaven hears the song your broken heart has cried
Hope is here, just lift your head
For love has come to find you
Somewhere in your silent night…

Love will find you
Love will find you
Love will find you

Payback

Posted: October 22, 2018 in belief, communication, cross, life, love, Relationships, religion, words
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When someone does something wonderful for you, do you pay them back?

Here’s the dictionary definition of the word ‘Payback’

  • Profit from an investment equal to the initial outlay.
  • An act of revenge or retaliation.

God did the most wonderful thing anyone could ever do for us when he gave his only Son for us at Calvary. For many this wonderful gift from God is means nothing, but for those of us that this means the world, we must payback God for his gift to us. We can do that by telling those who aren’t aware of God’s gift to us, about this wonderful gift, and just how much God loves us.

Without the cross

Posted: April 17, 2017 in belief, bible, death, Easter, life, love, music, quotes, religion, words
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Our world is in an awful state at present, but can you imagine what it would be like if Jesus had never been born or if he hadn’t died at Calvary?

John 11:25 (NLT)

Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.

Maybe I’ve read it somewhere, or someone has told me, but I seem to think I’ve heard that the resurrection of Jesus has been investigated and examined more times that many other events in history.

For years, people have investigated the facts of the resurrection. Now that tells me that people are either  desperate to prove conclusively to the unbelievers that Christ’s resurrection actually happened, or that they are keen to prove us believers that the resurrection was simply a huge hoax.

I don’t know which of these categories of people you fall into, but anything that gives us believers the opportunity to discuss the facts of that first Easter, and tell others why we believe in Christ’s resurrection, has to be positive doesn’t it, as if we don’t talk about the really meaning of Easter, how will the rest of the world know that Christ died at Calvary just so we could be forgiven.

Hank Hanegraaff said:

You see, without resurrection there is no hope. Indeed, without resurrection, there is no Christianity.

How true is that!

If Jesus hadn’t been born; if Jesus hadn’t been crucified; if Jesus hadn’t risen from the grave…just think what sort of state this world would be in now!

His time

Posted: April 14, 2017 in cross, death, Easter, life, music, religion, Salvation Army
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Have you ever wondered whether Jesus was ready to die on that first Easter morning?

I’m sure if we already knew the date and time of our death we would be devastated as that date drew near, we probably wouldn’t want to go yet. Jesus, even though He knew we was going to die at Calvary, carried on willingly, preparing for His death.

Jesus willingly went to the cross because he knew it was His time to change the world forever – It was His time to save the world!

What power

Posted: April 13, 2017 in cross, Easter, love, music, religion, words
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Have you ever considered the cross as something powerful?

The cross is powerful because of what it represents – the sins of the world; forgiveness of all our sins.

What greater power can the cross ever represent other than forgiveness for our sins.

Have you accepted that power into your life?

The Power of the Cross

Oh, to see the dawn
Of the darkest day,
Christ on the road to Calvary.
Tried by sinful men,
Torn and beaten, then
Nailed to a cross of wood.

This, the power of the cross,
Christ became sin for us
Took the blame, bore the wrath
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Oh, to see the pain
Written on Your face,
Bearing the awesome weight of sin.
Every bitter thought,
Every evil deed
Crowning Your bloodstained brow.

Now the daylight flees
Now the ground beneath
Quakes as its Maker bows His head.
Curtain torn in two,
Dead are raised to life,
“Finished!” the victory cry.

Looking back

Posted: August 31, 2016 in Bellshill, bible, blogging, faith, family, life, love, quotes, Relationships, religion, Salvation Army, trust
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It’s my turn to provide the devotions at our band practice tonight, so I thought I’d share will you what I will be sharing with the band tonight…

 

I don’t know about you, but I always feel my turn to do the devotions seems to come round extra quick. So me being the organised person I am, I did my usual and checked back to see firstly when I last was responsible for the devotions and secondly what I spoke about. I was surprised to find that it is almost a year to the day since I last did the devotions!

I usually find when I’m preparing these kinds of things that my thoughts are all over the place with lots of things coming into my mind but nothing feeling quite right until the very last minute. This time however, having realised it was almost a year exactly since I last did the devotions for the practice, it really set off my train of thought around “looking back” and “memories”.past-and-future

Over this last year, and particular these last couple of weeks, I’ve found myself thinking about precious moments spent with family who are no longer with here or looking back at countless things which I’d long ago forgotten about but a photo or item has triggered a memory.

People often say we shouldn’t look back because it’s in the past and we can’t change it, but what about all those precious moments we’d never recall or recount to others if we simply put them to one side and never think about them?

Where would that leave our faith if we never looked back?

What about the cross and what it stands for? Surely as Christians we must never forget the cross, in other words we need to look back and remember the reason Christ died on the cross for us?

In looking back at the cross it should give us inspiration for the future, knowing that if we keep our focus on Him we have fulfilled his plans for us.

Why shouldn’t we look back, as if we don’t, how will we remind ourselves how much of a sacrifice God gave for us at Calvary?

Without the cross where would we be?

Without the cross would we have any future?

Lots of questions which I asked of myself, and this in turn made me think of various people in my family who are no longer with us, but who trusted God and remained faithful to Him right to the end. This in turn reminded me of song which really sums us their faith and my hope for the future:

O Jesus I have promised

To serve thee to the end

Be thou forever near me

My Master and my friend

I shall not fear the battle

If thou art by my side

Nor wander from the pathway

If thou wilt be my guide.

Each of us here have made promises to serve God all our lives. Tonight I challenge you to always remember the cross, Remember why we’re here in Bellshill serving God as part of this band, keep focused on the cross, and serving Him until the end?

Let me leave the words of 1 Peter 1:8-9 (NIV) with you:

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

 

He died alone

Posted: March 26, 2016 in cross, death, Easter, Health, life, music, religion, Salvation Army
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A slow and painful death.

All alone. Just Jesus and his heavenly Father.

Alone.

Jesus died at Calvary for you and for me, but despite sacrificing himself for us, he died alone. Don’t let Christ’s lonely death be for nothing, kneel before his cross this Easter and let Him into your heart.

 

Sacred Hill

Posted: March 25, 2016 in cross, Easter, love, music, religion, words
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Today is Good Friday, but does it really feel like a good Friday?

On that very first Good Friday, it could be said that it was the worst day ever because Jesus died on a cross. However it was because of Christ’s death that day that it also became the best day ever as Jesus died for us so that we could be forgiven of our sins, and be promised everlasting life.

Let’s not forget today, the reason this is Good Friday.

From that sacred hill

On Calvary’s tree the King of Glory languished,
Held not by nails but by undying love,
Sin’s debt to pay, the sting of death remove,
Boundless cleansing to provide,
Mercy’s gate open wide.

From that sacred hill
Hope is gleaming still;
Thy shame and grief he bore;
Go in peace, sin no more.

His purple robe is parted ‘mong the soldiers,
That scepter-reed discarded where it fell;
Yet, meekly borne, that crown of cruel thorn
Still attests his royal might,
Fears to quell, wrongs to right.

Darkness descends, the cross in mystery veiling,
Deep thunders roll and lightnings rend the skies
As Jesus dies, a willing sacrifice;
God’s own word by blood is sealed:
By his stripes we are healed.

His tender touch can heal the broken-hearted,
His word dispel the darkness of despair;
Come, bring thy sin, thy sorrow, pain and care,
And, believing, thou shalt prove
All the strength of his love

At the cross

Posted: March 23, 2016 in cross, Easter, life, love, music, religion
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At the cross I bow my knee
Where Your blood was shed for me
There’s no greater love than this
You have overcome the grave
Your glory fills the highest place
What can separate me now

Because of the cross, I am who and what I am today, a Christian. Just as the song above reminds us, there has never been a greater love shown for each of us, than when Jesus died at Calvary and then rose again.

You tore the veil
You made a way
When You said that it is done

Just a story? #2

Posted: March 22, 2016 in cross, Easter, music, religion
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Sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish between fiction and reality, especially now that there are so many reality shows on TV these days.

So this Easter, I want to ask you, what is Easter to you? Is it just a story or do you believe that Christ died on a cross at Calvary on that first Easter morning?

Easter is real for me. Calvary is real to real. Jesus is real to me.

 

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