We were priviledged to witness the sign & seal of God's gracious covenant upon our little niece on Sunday, at Living Waters URC.

"Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God,
the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy
for a thousand generations
with those who love Him and keep His commandments."
Deuteronomy 7:9

"For the promise is to you and to your children,
and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
Acts 2:39

Daniel & Josiah get along just great --
it was suddenly their idea to start hugging!

New Zealand

Check Bill & Rita's blog for many beautiful pictures of New Zealand,
where they are biking across the country with a team of friends.
(Just click on "Flickr Photos,"
at the top right-hand corner of their blog.)

He is Risen!

…as the first day of the week began to dawn, …there was a great earthquake for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sat on it...and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said."


He Lives

I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today;
I know that He is living, whatever men may say;
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,
And just the time I need Him He’s always near.

In all the world around me I see His loving care,
And tho’ my heart grows weary I never will despair;
I know that He is leading, thro’ all the stormy blast,
The day of His appearing will come at last.

Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian, lift up your voice and sing
Eternal halleluahs to Jesus Christ the King!
The Hope of all who seek Him, the help of all who find,
None other is so loving, so good and kind.

Chorus: He Lives, He Lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.
He lives, salvation to impart! You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart.

Hymn by A.H.Ackley, 1933

There are many historical proofs and witnesses* to the truth of Jesus’ Resurrection. However, all the proofs and facts in the world won’t prove it to those who don’t want to believe – only the change it makes in the heart and life, and the Holy Spirit within testifying of adoption into His family will be evidence enough.
May He work that faith, resurrection life and assurance in the hearts of all of our loved ones!
Christ is Risen!
*1 Corinthians 15:3-8

Good Friday

See, My Servant will prosper; He will be highly exalted....
My Servant grew up in the LORD'S presence like a tender green shoot, sprouting from a root in dry and sterile ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about His appearance, nothing to attract us to Him. He was despised and rejected - a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on Him and looked the other way when He went by.

He was despised, and we did not care.

Yet it was our weakness He carried; it was our sorrows that weighed Him down. And we thought His troubles were a punishment from God for His own sins! But He was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed!

Isaiah 52:13, 53:2-5 NLT (pronouns referring to Christ I capitalized for respect)

*

It was a blessing to be able to worship with God's people on Good Friday.
Pastor preached on Christ's words on the cross just before He gave up his life: "It is finished!"
He completed the work His Father sent Him to do! Perfectly! Out of love for His Father & His lost sheep!
This is the greatest moment of His Passion, of His life thus far.
And this should be our focus, not His physical suffering - great as it was.
It offends God when we try to re-enact His Son's suffering - as if we could even fathom it, let alone correctly portray it! (aside from the command not to make images of Him)
And Scripture is sufficient. God ordained preaching as the main means of grace.

However, I find that after hearing the wonderous story so often, it doesn't always move me as it should.
Thankfully, God also ordained singing and I think that is one of the best ways to involve our senses and emotions -singing it or listening to the gospels set to great, soul-stirring music - as in Handel's Messiah - "He was Despised, Rejected"..., or the great Passion Oratorios by J.S. Bach... These are beautiful, rich, Scripture-based, God-honouring musical recountings of the Gospel Passion story which stirs up our affections for Him. I'd recommend it! - don't forget to have tissues handy esp'ly if you're watching it... (Thanks R&S for lending your St.John Passion DVD - excellent!)

So glad it didn't end there! Sunday's coming!