A Word of Encouragement

Today’s Word of Encouragement has been adapted in part from Whitney T. Kuniholm’s companion book to the E100 Bible Reading Challenge.

After suffering betrayal, denial, torture and ridicule, followed by a gruesome death on a cross. Jesus went to extraordinary lengths to prove that He had risen from the dead.

He left a trail of evidence so that everyone would be able to understand what He had done.

The strange thing is that the apostles still didn’t get it. They were still looking for Jesus to restore the kingdom to Israel. To free them from the oppression of the Romans (refer to Acts 1:6). To put things back to some semblance of order that they would have expected.

It would appear that within days of Jesus appearing to the disciples in a room with the doors locked, they have gone back to their previous way of life though. John 21:1-25 recounts that a group of them had gone fishing by the Sea of Tiberias, according to John 21:14 “This was the third time the disciples had seen Jesus since His death and resurrection.” (The Voice)

“Sometimes it is hard to let go of our own ideas (and ideals) and let God begin to work. It can be confusing and even painful, but until we give up our own plans, we can’t experience God’s” plan for our lives.

Many people around New Zealand have been heading back to work and school etc. this week after being in lockdown for more than four weeks. They are heading back to familiar ground – although in many ways it will be very different.

For some of them they have had time to reevaluate things in their lives, maybe God has even revealed Himself to them.

The challenge that the church has now; is how we can help people not only get their lives back on track, but also help them to not forget the importance of Jesus’ death and resurrection – to understand what He has done and continues to do.

Jesus did not come to put things back to normal – He came to show what life could become. How we could live life to the full (refer to John 10:10b).

He wants to reestablish our relationship with God, and teach us how to follow His ways.

Maybe we also need to think about what life can become once this time is over. Can life be lived more simply? Can life be better when we connect with others in meaningful ways?

Are there better ways to be entertained? Have we been reminded that people are important and being nice to each other is to be valued? What are the lessons that we have learned; about less being more, about spending quality time with our children, valuing our family and taking time out every now and again in our bubble.

How can you do your part in being the church both now and into the future? How about asking people how they are going, how they coped and what they have learnt.

Possibly you could be a bit more specific and ask what aspects of faith did they pick up on over this time of isolation – the Easter Message, the meaning and cost of sacrifice, the correlation between ANZAC Day remembrance and the Ultimate Sacrifice.

May this be of encouragement to each of you, as you extend your bubbles.

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Word of Encouragement

Today many of us are no doubt feeling as if we have been stuck in isolation for far too long – we want to get out and about. We want to see more of the world than just the four walls that seem to encroach upon us, or even our local geographical area. We want to roam freely.

We want to see people in the flesh, not just through a computer screen. We want to share in physical connection, not just a virtual one. We want to experience eating out, drinking and conversing about nothing in particular, but simply just enjoying each others company over a meal as we take in the sights and sounds that we were not so long ago familiar with.

The problem being that it may yet be a while until that day comes – but we long for it in many ways none the less don’t we? We want to go back to some sort of semblance of what life was, before we were encouraged to go into isolation (or told to) for our own wellbeing.

It makes one wonder how the Jewish people felt as they left Egypt to head off to the promised land. It wasn’t long before they longed for life to go back to the way it was. They wanted to taste the food and drinks that they had been accustomed to, they wanted to go back to their livelihoods and their neighbourhoods. But God was drawing them out from where they were to draw them in to the promised land that He had set aside for them.

I wonder, is God drawing you out of what you were used to, so that He can draw you into something new and much better?

Is he challenging you to look at how you were living your lives, and encouraging you to find a better way of living out your life?

After all, we are told in John 10:10 that Jesus came “to give us everything in abundance, more than we expect – life in its fullness until we overflow!” (The Passion Translation)

I read the following on the Pure Glory blog entitled ‘Wandering In The Desert?‘ written by Hazel Straub – may it be a word of encouragement to you in these days as we go through our own Exodus experiences.

“Do you feel like you are wandering in the wilderness, with no destination in sight? When you are in the desert, distractions fall away and it is only you and the Lord. It may seem routine and boring, but the Lord is teaching you to depend upon his tender care.

Often, life gets busy and we get distracted with entertainment, work, social media, and relationships. Currently, we are in a season, where everything has quieted and disruption is the new normal. The things we depended upon have ceased, including employment, income, social activity, health, with prosperity, uncertain. Now, it is you and the Lord. He is calling to each one of us, to get to know him, in a more intimate way.” You can read the full blog post @ Crown of Glory International Ministries

Jesus came “in order that we might have life – life in all its fullness” John 10:10 (Good News Translation). To experience that though we need to draw closer to Him! So in these days of isolation, as we endure lock-down, may you choose to draw closer to Him and find the Life that He promises through His Word.

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A Word of Encouragement

Yesterday we celebrated the fact that “Jesus is Risen!”

The women at the tomb were at first a little apprehensive and a tad frightened when they were greeted by an angel – but that soon changed as they left that scene filled with a joy that no doubt was overflowing. The Passion Translation says that “They rushed quickly to tell his disciples, and their hearts were deep in wonder and filled with great joy.”

Matthew 28:8

As I thought on those words, in preparation for my upcoming message, I was reminded of some words that I had in a little book tucked away on my bookshelf – ‘My Heart Sings’.

Many Christians around the world celebrated Easter from the comfort of their homes, instead of their normal places of worship due to the covid-19 pandemic that has ground countries to a halt. People are in isolation, experiencing life in there ‘bubbles’ and we have had to explore other ways of being and feeling connected as a Christian community in these interesting times.

However, I’m sure that for many – they not only sang aloud in the comfort of their surroundings, as they experienced church in a variety of ways, but their hearts sang as they recounted the journey that Christ took the cross and beyond.

I wonder if in these times, God is popping a few bubbles in the spiritual aspects of our lives, breaking through the busyness of our lives and reminding people that “He is Risen!” Reminding them of the importance of slowing down, taking a sabbath and drawing close to Him. ‘For Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and we all need to recognise that and accept it, so that we can be in a right relationship with the Father.’ (refer to John 14:6-7 TPT)

Therefore today’s word of encouragement comes from the pen of Flora Larsson, from her book ‘Just A Moment Lord’ entitled My Heart Sings:

TODAY MY HEART SINGS, LORD; Everything within me rejoices.

Joy bubbles up in my soul, overflows and cascades like a stream leaping all barriers; the joy of knowing You, the joy of union with You.

One with You, Creator of the world, and my Creator, one with You, Saviour of the world, and my Saviour. One with You, Spirit of the eternal God, and my God, one with You, almighty King of kings and my Lord and King.

Joy, joy at the heart of living, joy in doing, joy in being; sing for joy, my heart, for sheer joy, my soul.

The joy of loving You, the joy of following You, the joy of serving You; all the way ‘long it is glory.

Today my heart sing, Lord; everything within me rejoices, joy bubbles up in my soul, glory . . . glory!

May you find joy in the resurrection of Jesus today.

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Word of Encouragement

The following Words of Encouragement have come from the YouVersion blog entry for the 21st of March 2020 that keeps on appearing at the top of my home screen each day when I open up my Daily Bible Reading App.

It is entitled: Some Things Are Out Of Our Control – But Not Everything.

Sometimes it feels like news updates are coming every few minutes. When we give so much of our attention to events beyond our control, we can lose sight of the power that we do still have. We can choose how we respond to our circumstances. And perhaps even more important, even in the midst of those circumstances, we can choose how we treat others.

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Recently we reminded you about the time that Jesus’ disciples were afraid their boat might sink, but then He calmed the storm. Just like Jesus’ disciples, we’re all in the same boat with Jesus — but we’re also in it with each other. And we can choose to encourage one another, to support each other, to love each other, and to point each other back to Jesus.

“Love each other, just as I have loved you. If you love each other, everyone will know that you are my disciples.” John 13:34-35 (Contemporary English Version)

Here Are 4 Ways We Can Choose Love:

1. Encourage one another.

We live in such an incredible time! Even when we can’t be physically present with one another, we can still call, text, email, connect on social media, attend church online, and more.

“Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them.” Proverbs 3:27 (New Living Translation)

2. Support each other.

Some of the most meaningful things we can do are simple and practical. Check in with your neighbors and ask how they’re doing. Share whatever you have. Drop off a meal for someone who can’t get out. Pay for the person behind you in a drive-through. Send an email gift card to a friend.

“…our love should not be only words and talk. No, our love must be real. We must show our love by the things we do.” 1 John 3:18 (Easy-to-Read Version)

3. Love each other.

Jesus said that loving your neighbor was the second most important commandment. And in the parable of the Good Samaritan, He explained what He meant by that word, “neighbor.” Paul even suggested we turn loving each other into a competition!

“Try to outdo yourselves in respect and honor of one another.” Romans 12:10 (The Passion Translation)

4. Point each other to Jesus.

It’s Jesus who calms our storms. But it’s up to us to remind each other of God’s promises. And to pray for one another. You can do both these things — and more — in the same ways we mentioned in #1 (and of course in the Bible App).

Just remember: No matter what we may be going through, we’re all in it together. We all live on the same planet. We all breathe the same air. Jesus said we would have troubles in this life. But He gave us His Spirit. And he gave us each other.

And these two things are more than enough!

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