Easter time

I love Easter. It's always been my favourite time of the year because it's a time to reflect on God's relentless love. With an added bonus of a long weekend (well back home) and spending time with loved ones. 

I become amazed once again about what Jesus actually did on the cross. How the sins of man and the schemes of the Satan were defeated in what looked to human eyes like a dire situation. It's a moment when an innocent man suffered to the point where he was unrecognisable to reconcile us to God. It's a time to when darkness thought it had won as the King of kings was nailed to the cross. It's a moment filled with sadness as my Saviour is betrayed, tried and found to be innocent yet still crucified. It's a moment of heart-break as my Lord is whipped, given a crown of thorns, mocked, ridiculed and made to carry a heavy cross. It's a moment of sadness as he is nailed to that cross. And to make sure he was really dead, his accusers pierced his side so that water and blood poured out. 

It's a time where I thank Jesus for his humility, how being the very nature of God, he did not take this equality as something to be grasped (Philippians 2:6) and came to die for all people. It's a time to glorify Jesus because even in his own suffering he still thought of others, asking Father God to forgive his accusers. It's a time to praise God for devising a plan for the salvation of all mankind that that could not have been conceived by human thinking. The story does not end there! It culminates with a celebration! As we celebrate that Jesus is alive! Jesus is alive! The tomb is empty! Jesus is alive. Jesus rises, defeating Satan, sin and death. Jesus removes the sting of death as he gives eternal life to all who believe. 

I pray that as we get closer to Easter time, you can take time off the Easter eggs & bunnies, and remember the true meaning of this season. A King who left the riches of heaven, became poor, lived as a human but without sin. A King who died so that you and I may be reconciled to a loving God. A God who loves us so much that whilst we were still sinners he pursued us. Jesus realised that he was limited in his body so he ascended to heaven and left us with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit lives in all who believe. Rejoice Christian as you remember that the same power that conquered the grave lives in you!

We serve a mighty God! Have a blessed Easter! 

Images from Google images

Parable of the three trees

Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods.  They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, "Someday I hope to be a treasure chest.  I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems.  I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty." Then the second tree said, "Someday I will be a mighty ship.  I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world.  Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull."Finally the third tree said, "I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me."

After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees.   When one came to the first tree he said, "This looks like a strong tree,  I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter" and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest. At the second tree a woodsman said, "This looks like a strong  tree, I should be able to sell it to the shipyard."  The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship. When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsmen said, "I don't need anything special from my tree so I'll take this one", and he cut it down."

When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a  feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay.  This was not at all what he had prayed for.The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end. The third tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in the dark. The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams.Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree.

The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but  this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time.Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep.   While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe.  The men woke the sleeping man, and he stood and said  "Peace" and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it.When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.

The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you.  If you place your trust in Him, He will give you great gifts. Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined.

We don't always know what God's plans are for us.  We just know that His ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.

   

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