Jesus-Christ rebuked wind and waves!

My bible reading notes brought a new explanation to the passage in Matthew 8:23-27.

1- I just thought it was a normal storm, it wasn't because: 'the language used indicates that the lake was being stirred into a frenzy, threatening to overwhelm them totally' 

2 - I learnt a new cultural element, 'to the Jews, the sea represented primeval forces of chaos, the home of monsters, and it was only the saving power of God that could bring calm.'

3 - A new idea is offered, Jesus told his disciples off. 
How could they lose their faith in Him,  after all He has done (many healings and he'd just resurrected a widow's son in Nain)? 
Jesus could not have died in a storm in the middle of his messianic work. 

However it takes discipline to ban fear in my life and I don't think  that I have managed to get it right. 
I know that Jesus says 'Do not worry'... when I hear bad news or reports, I tend to worry first and then I'll give my worries to Jesus, on the foot of his cross. 

A prayer for this time of turmoil

Father God, You are Love. 

We know through your Word that you are in charge and we put our trust in  you. 

We thank you for Jesus, our Saviour who walked on the earth to let us know about your awesome plan of redemption for us, your creatures. 

Father, Jesus obeyed you and died an awful death on the cross for us even though He was sinless. 

Father, we repent of our sins and we declare that the body and blood of Jesus made a sacrifice that satisfied God once and for all. Thank you that our sins are forgiven and blotted out forever. Keep us on the right path, guided by the voice of the Holy Spirit.

Lord, help us in this time of turmoil! Save the lost sheep and the rebellious ones. We call on You, our King and we ask you to heal all those who are ill or wounded, and heal our Land and the nations. 

Give wisdom to all the leaders of the countries and open the eyes of their hearts that they may hear your voice and see your Glory.

 We ask You in the name of Jesus. 

Amen

Song of thanksgiving

Isaiah 12:3

Joyful Thanksgiving

…2"Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For the LORD GOD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation." 
3 Therefore you will joyously draw water
 From the springs of salvation
4 And in that day you will say,
 "Give thanks to the LORD, call on His name. 
Make known His deeds among the peoples; 
Make them remember that His name is exalted.

Resurrection Day!

12th April 2020

Resurrection day celebration!

Dear sisters and brothers, here is the video of the service for the Poitou-Charentes area.

Introduction

I pick up with the words of consideration I closed with on Friday and then add a new consideration:

In the beginning God created . . . (the first day (Sunday))

On the sixth day God created humans in his likeness and his image and saw it was good!

On the seventh day, the Sabbath, He rested.

On Good Friday, the sixth day of the week,  Jesus paid in full, once for all the price and penalty of sin. There was the potential for what happened on the next first day of the week!

On the seventh day, the Sabbath, He rested - in the grave!

On the first day of the week, a new era dawned re-creation  that which is leading to a new and, ultimately totally, redeemed creation. 

God's kingdom is breaking in. In heaven now, Jesus is on the throne reigning with all the authority, and power, of God. We seek that, on earth, as in heaven.

The victory was won. The battles may continue, but the victory is won. Neither Caesar then or any power or authority since, can remove Jesus from that throne and one day every knee will bow and confess 'Jesus is Lord' (Phil 2:11) He is the King and he reigns over all.

        1. Earth Shattering - vv 1- 2a

1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

2 There was a violent earthquake
This was a seismic moment in history and the events that followed on shook the world, in one way or another, from then on!

        2. Grave Bursting - v 2b

for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.

 God is breaking in, into the events of history, once again, and by the action of this angel moves this huge stone which the angel proceeds to sit on.

        3. Mind Blowing - vv 3-4

3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

These guys were tough but this was so terrifying that it mortified them and glues them temporarily to the spot.

        4. Hope Announcing - vv 5-7

5 The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

Do not be afraid - one of the most repeated phrases in the Bible when God is in 'action'. (69 times!) God's action is mind blowing and terrifying but, as usual, there is good news and it is hope that is announced: the expected has happened but not in the most unexpected way.

They believed in resurrection - this was a Jewish expectation but, not a bodily resurrection in the here and now - this was totally and utterly unexpected, beyond expectation and never anticipated!

Jesus, battered beyond recognition, crucified, pierced in the side - dead without doubt because Roman soldiers did a good job.
        Resurrected and to be seen again - hope beyond hope?

        5. Life Dawning  - vv 8-10

He's there

8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

Here, just after the dawn of a new day in a new week we see new life dawning in a way never anticipated. It is a new era. The final exodus from death to life and new creating has begun - a few years later Paul  writes in the great chapter on resurrection: 1 Corinthians 15:20

20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep

The harvest is beginning and will come - there is no doubt and nothing anyone says can alter that, meanwhile, we have to be ready and steadfast. Paul's last comment in that chapter gives us as good a conclusion as we could want:

Conclusion

1 Corinthians 15:58

58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.

Let nothing move you, nothing, no, nothing! Neither life nor labour is in vain - get on with it in hope with total security - do not be afraid!

Jesus the King is Risen
He is risen indeed - Hallelujah

The King is reigning over all!

How to become wise?

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 

4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 

6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 

7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 
8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
James 1:2-5

The author of this epistle identified himself as James. He assumed a position of authority in the church, the Lord's brother was a leader of the Jerusalem church and presided at the council of Jerusalem (Acts 15)
He was identified in Galatians 1:19 as the Lord's brother. The New Testament lists James as one of  the sons of Mary, Jesus' mother (Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3)
James 1:2 consider It is a call to understand suffering from the vantage point of confidence in God's sovereignty
pure joy Believers are not to have a morbid joy in their suffering but to experience joy in the midst of trials because of the positive results brought about by suffering.
brothers and sisters We are members in the family of God, the visible church
James 1:3 testing Trials are designed by God for a purpose. Perseverance produces  mature Christian character (Romans 5:3-4)

His word will be our salvation.

My dear friends, here is a beautiful worship song to the glory of our Lord Jesus-Christ and I hope it will bring  you comfort in the difficult time we are all facing. Nicky x

Lionel Richie The Commodores 

Father, help your children,
And don't let them fall by the side of the road. Teach them to love one another, And heaven might find a place in their hearts; Jesus is love. He won't let you down, And I know He's mine forever, Ah, in my heart.
We've got to walk on, walk on through temptation, 'Cause His Love and His wisdom will be our helping hand. And I know the truth and His word will be our salvation. Lift up our heart to be thankful and glad Jesus is love.
He won't let you down
And I know He's mine, He's mine, He's mine, He's mine, all mine
Forever, oh, in my heart
Help me, heart, heart
Ooh... ooh...

Who can bring you love (Jesus)
Who can bring you joy (Jesus)
Who can turn your life around (Jesus), oh

Ooh, yeah (Yeah, yeah)
Yeah (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Hey 

Who will pick you up (Jesus)
When you fall (Jesus)
Who'll stand beside you (Jesus)
Who will love us all 

Hey, hey, Jesus (Yeah, yeah)
Jesus (Yeah, yeah)
Oh, yeah (Yeah, yeah)

One thing I wanna say
Who can heal your body (Jesus)
Who can make you strong (Jesus)
Who can help you to hold out (Jesus)
A little while longer

Ooh, yeah (Yeah, yeah)
Yeah (Yeah, yeah)
Jesus loves you (Yeah, yeah)
Jesus wants you
If you call Him, He will answer
(Jesus) Call him in the mornin'
(Jesus) Call him in the evenin'
(Jesus) Call him in the midnight hour
Hey, hey (Yeah, yeah)
Yeah (Yeah, yeah)
Yeah, yeah (Yeah, yeah)
Yeah, y'all say it
(Jesus is love)

Who can bring you love (Jesus)
Who can bring you joy (Jesus)
Who can turn your life around (Jesus), oh

Ooh, yeah (Yeah, yeah)
Yeah (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Hey 

Who will pick you up (Jesus)
When you fall (Jesus)
Who'll stand beside you (Jesus)
Who will love us all 

Hey, hey, Jesus (Yeah, yeah)
Jesus (Yeah, yeah)
Oh, yeah (Yeah, yeah)

One thing I wanna say
Who can heal your body (Jesus)
Who can make you strong (Jesus)
Who can help you to hold out (Jesus)
A little while longer
Ooh, yeah (Yeah, yeah)
Yeah (Yeah, yeah)
Jesus loves you (Yeah, yeah)
Jesus wants you
If you call Him, He will answer
(Jesus) Call him in the mornin'
(Jesus) Call him in the evenin'
(Jesus) Call him in the midnight hour
Hey, hey (Yeah, yeah)
Yeah (Yeah, yeah)
Yeah, yeah (Yeah, yeah)
Yeah, y'all say it
(Jesus is love)

Lionel Richie, The Commodores 

Good Friday

Good Friday

10 April 2020

Hello everyone, 

These are the Bible readings Steven and I shared on Good Friday

 as part of the virtual worship in Poitou Charentes

John 3:14-17

Psalm 22:1-31

Isaiah 52:12-53

John 19:16-30

Hebrews 10:11-25

Romans 8:18-25

Sunday 12th April 10.30 - Easter DayCelebrating the Resurrection and victory of the King Jesus through: Prayers 

/ Bible readings

 / a talk /

 An Agape for Easter 

You may wonder what is an Agape!

Agape An Agape or Love Feast

 is a way of breaking bread together 

as the early church did,

 reflected in Acts, 

with people in all sorts of settings. 

You may like to join in at home with some bread and wine or juice.