Monday, March 24, 2008
Good Friday's Hike
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Jesus Loved me and Gave Himself for me - May each one be able to say that from your heart
Jesus suffered and died...
To Show His Own Love For Us (by John Piper)
The death of Christ is not only the demonstration of God’s love (John 3:16), it is also the supreme expression of Christ’s own love for all who receive it as their treasure.
The early witnesses...were captured by this fact: Christ “loved me and gave Himself for me”(1). They took the self-giving act of Christ’s sacrifice very personally. They said, “He loved me. He gave Himself for me.”
Surely this is the way we should understand the sufferings and death of Christ. They have to do with me. They are about Christ’s love for me personally. It is my sin that cuts me off from God, not sin in general. It is my hard–heartedness and spiritual numbness that demean the worth of Christ. I am lost and perishing. When it comes to salvation, I have forfeited all claim on justice. All I can do is plead for mercy.
Then I see Christ suffering and dying. For whom?
It says, “Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her”(2).
“Greater love has no one than this that someone lays down his life for his friends”(3).
“The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many”(4).
And I ask, Am I among the “many”?
Can I be one of His “friends”?
....
And I hear the answer:
“Everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name”(5).
“To all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God”(6).
“Whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life”(7).
[Will] I embrace the beauty and bounty of Christ as my treasure…and...say ”He loved me and gave Himself for me”?
...He paid the highest price possible to give me the greatest gift possible:...the gift He prayed for at the end of His life: “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, may be with Me where I am, to see My glory” (8).
In His suffering and death “we saw His glory...glory that the Father shares with His only Son, a glory full of grace and truth”(9)
....But the best is yet to come [in heaven]. He died to secure this for us. That is the love of Christ.
Excerpts from The Passion of Jesus Christ (now Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die), John Piper, 2004. (Crossway Books, IL) Ch.6, p.30-31.
www.desiringGod.org
References from the Holy Bible (English Standard Version).
1. Galatians 2:20
2. Ephesians 5:25
3. John 15:13
4. Matthew 20:20
5. Acts 10:43
6.John 1:12
7. John 3:16
8. John 17:24
9. John 1:14 (GOD’S WORD Translation)
If you can't say that for yourself, ask to God to show you your need for a Saviour and His amazing love for you. And we'd be thrilled to help if you contact us!
To Show His Own Love For Us (by John Piper)
The death of Christ is not only the demonstration of God’s love (John 3:16), it is also the supreme expression of Christ’s own love for all who receive it as their treasure.
The early witnesses...were captured by this fact: Christ “loved me and gave Himself for me”(1). They took the self-giving act of Christ’s sacrifice very personally. They said, “He loved me. He gave Himself for me.”
Surely this is the way we should understand the sufferings and death of Christ. They have to do with me. They are about Christ’s love for me personally. It is my sin that cuts me off from God, not sin in general. It is my hard–heartedness and spiritual numbness that demean the worth of Christ. I am lost and perishing. When it comes to salvation, I have forfeited all claim on justice. All I can do is plead for mercy.
Then I see Christ suffering and dying. For whom?
It says, “Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her”(2).
“Greater love has no one than this that someone lays down his life for his friends”(3).
“The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many”(4).
And I ask, Am I among the “many”?
Can I be one of His “friends”?
....
And I hear the answer:
“Everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name”(5).
“To all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God”(6).
“Whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life”(7).
[Will] I embrace the beauty and bounty of Christ as my treasure…and...say ”He loved me and gave Himself for me”?
...He paid the highest price possible to give me the greatest gift possible:...the gift He prayed for at the end of His life: “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, may be with Me where I am, to see My glory” (8).
In His suffering and death “we saw His glory...glory that the Father shares with His only Son, a glory full of grace and truth”(9)
....But the best is yet to come [in heaven]. He died to secure this for us. That is the love of Christ.
Excerpts from The Passion of Jesus Christ (now Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die), John Piper, 2004. (Crossway Books, IL) Ch.6, p.30-31.
www.desiringGod.org
References from the Holy Bible (English Standard Version).
1. Galatians 2:20
2. Ephesians 5:25
3. John 15:13
4. Matthew 20:20
5. Acts 10:43
6.John 1:12
7. John 3:16
8. John 17:24
9. John 1:14 (GOD’S WORD Translation)
If you can't say that for yourself, ask to God to show you your need for a Saviour and His amazing love for you. And we'd be thrilled to help if you contact us!
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Sledding on their backyard hill
Yes, that's Oma on the crazy carpet! Crazy eh?I even went down a bunch- it was crazy fun!
Visit to Betty & John's - finally Wed March 12
We had gorgeous weather and thoroughly enjoyed a tromp thru the woods ...
My precious sister who I don't get to see as often as my other precious sisses
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Fun In The Snow with Kenny
Kenny hanging on the fence... Somebody was a little hyper!
We found a strange-looking icicle on the maple tree. It was actually frozen sap, which was a very exciting discovery and made somebody a little more hyper =)
Ken the Ham...
Trying to talk like a chipmunk, and goofing off... He's actually pretty good at acting for photos =D
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Deepest snow we've had since living here
Our yard has disappeared (even the fire-hydrant had only the yellow arm sticking thru to show its whereabouts - not that any fireman could get anywhere near it anyways with only a little path in the center of the court plowed and the drifts shoulder high! This certainly was a record-breaking winter!
there's a green table under there too (on the left) - shows how high the non-previously blown out areas were
No chance of anyone breaking into our house
- or us getting out!
Even the front door was impassable on Wed. morning after the big snowfall - we had to wait for a neighbour to blow a path to the door to let us out (thank the Lord for nice neighbours who helped us more than once!)
- but no thot of trying to drive a car... even with snow tires!
Looking out my bedroom window - the snow ridge came right up and the tables and little wooden bench have all but disappeared!
A trip downtown was easily cancelled and I went to play in the mounds of fresh, sparkling, dazzling, soft snow - just like a kid again!
and got out the skiis again - easier than trying to wade thru hip-high snow!
The following week we had the girls over for a day of fun while the boys went with Opa, and Maurice & his boys to the Sportsman Show - or so they intended. They had a fun day anyways and got back earlier and with money still pockets :)
Maria glowing after a slide down the hill w. auntie
the path to the backyard
you can see where Dad snow-plowed to no avail
also below, tried to keep the back door clear...
there's a green table under there too (on the left) - shows how high the non-previously blown out areas wereNo chance of anyone breaking into our house
- or us getting out!
Even the front door was impassable on Wed. morning after the big snowfall - we had to wait for a neighbour to blow a path to the door to let us out (thank the Lord for nice neighbours who helped us more than once!)
- but no thot of trying to drive a car... even with snow tires!
Looking out my bedroom window - the snow ridge came right up and the tables and little wooden bench have all but disappeared!
A trip downtown was easily cancelled and I went to play in the mounds of fresh, sparkling, dazzling, soft snow - just like a kid again!
and got out the skiis again - easier than trying to wade thru hip-high snow!
The following week we had the girls over for a day of fun while the boys went with Opa, and Maurice & his boys to the Sportsman Show - or so they intended. They had a fun day anyways and got back earlier and with money still pockets :)
Maria glowing after a slide down the hill w. auntie