A new year!

The French send each other New Year cards and avoid Christmas cards celebrating the nativity. You have the whole January month to send a New Year card to your beloved! However I gave our delightful neighbour a Christmas card and she returned the favour two days later. 

Last year, the Lord blessed us plentifully and I am so grateful for all our blessings. We have made new English and French friends. Belonging to a joyful chaplaincy where Christ is glorified warms my heart. Our English friends and our family came to visit us and we both went to England to visit them too.

It does not mean that at times, trouble doesn't knock at our door but when it does, we know that our Saviour is in charge and we give him our burdens whether spiritual or physical. Though I was very reluctant to move to France and I had to be persuaded, I am more serene about living here now, having talked to expat in the same situation as me and knowing that Jesus, our saviour is by my side.
At Christmas, both of us have been hit by different virus. I was given cortisone and Steven was given antibiotics to clear his chest infection. We are on the mend 😀

My friend, do you know Jesus, the saviour of your Soul? He is the only mediator between the Lord and you. He walked on this earth and died willingly on a cross so that if we believe who he is (God) we can have eternal life. What are you waiting for?

Be amazed!

The Lord's answer:
“Look at the nations and watch—
    and be utterly amazed.(L)
For I am going to do something in your days
    that you would not believe,
    even if you were told.(M)
Habakkuk



Habakkuk takes us to Jesus's second coming. Halleluia!

What is love Chuck?

Good night my friends, 

Sweet dreams

God bless you.

Why do you spend so much time on Facebook...?

Well, it could be for fear of missing out! Whenever I don't go on it, I hear my hubby or my daughters telling me something they found on it...sad I know but why not.
The only problem is you need to sort the weeds from the good crop!
Tonight here is a gem that my hubby shared on his profile!
So if you like the following message, would you share it? 

Jesus, Holy and Anointed One

Jesus, Jesus
Holy and anointed One, Jesus
Jesus, Jesus
Risen and exalted One, Jesus
Your name is like honey on my lips
Your Spirit like water to my soul
Your Word is a lamp unto my feet
Jesus, I love You, I love You

I love this song written by Brian Doerksen!
.

Have a blessed evening.

What friends, alcohol and smoking could not do!

Umit had no peace or joy. It seemed everywhere he looked, it was missing. If at a moment he found peace, it lasted only a breath; then his life went back to the same feeling of unrest. This restlessness overshadowed any source of joy. If the peace his young heart yearned for wasn't found in his religion, his friends or in the alcohol he consumed, where could he find it?
Seeking to Fill the VoidUmit had grown up in a very religious home. Every month, he visited the local religious institution in hopes of finding blessings and peace. As time wore on, however, Umit felt all his pursuits of peace were fruitless. He stopped worshiping his god and began filling the emptiness with friends, smoking and drinking. But the happiness and momentary fulfilment he felt would inevitably sweep past him, leaving the void more prominent than before. Slowly, Umit began to cling tighter to alcohol. His parents tried to guide him and counsel him away from his bad habits, but he wouldn't listen.

Aside from the time he spent with his friends, Umit enjoyed listening to the radio, which was the latest technology in his village. He liked listening to music. As he was skimming through radio stations one day, his fingers suddenly stopped turning the dial. The words of a radio speaker speaking his language quickened Umit's ears. A message of eternal hope and peace echoed in the air. Umit listened intently as the speaker hit on the very points he felt his life lacked. The program touched his heart, and from that moment, Umit's life would never again be the same.

Umit lifted up his voice in prayer with the radio speaker. Weary of his disobedient, miserable life, he longed for the hope that Jesus promised to give. After he prayed, peace immediately filled him. The drinking and smoking Umit once indulged in then became a thing of the past.
He wanted someone to tell him everything about Jesus and answer all his questions. But no one around him shared his faith, and he had no Bible to read. The only source he knew of was the radio program. Umit called the station, and on the other end of the line he heard the familiar voice of the radio broadcaster. Pagat, a Gospel for Asia-supported missionary, listened closely to Umit as he poured out his heart and told his story of pursuing peace
Read on this beautiful true story, click here!

All going down to see the Lord Jesus!

Tom Hall composed that song 'Jesus'  for Queen in 1973. 

"Jesus"

And then I saw Him in the crowd

A lot of people had gathered round Him

The beggers shouted and the lepers called Him

The old man said nothing

He just stared about Him

All going down to see the Lord Jesus

All going down to see the Lord Jesus

All going down

Then came a man before His feet he fell

Unclean said the leper and rang his bell

Felt the palm of a hand touch his head

Go now go now you're a new man instead

All going down to see the Lord Jesus

All going down to see the Lord Jesus

All going down

It all began with the three wise men

Followed a star took them to Bethelehem

And made it heard throughout the land

Born was the leader of man

All going down to see the Lord Jesus

All going down to see the Lord Jesus

All going down

It all began with the three wise men

Followed a star took them to Bethléem

And made it heard throughout the land

Born was the leader of man

All going down to see the Lord Jesus

All going down to see the Lord Jesus

All going down

lyrics

Jesus, you are the high way to heaven

Thanks Elaine for this lovely song of praise!
Tonight, my friends, i'd like to share with you the testimony of a former member of Hezbollah, Afshin who met Jesus..

The name of Jesus

Thanks to my friend Amrita who posted this quote today. 
How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
In a believer's ear!
It soothes his sorrows,
Heals his wounds,
and drives away his fear.
Have you experienced the peace of Jesus yet? Why don't you watch the Gospel of John, click here.
Blessings. N.

Mission dedication service

Monday's speaker was Revd Philip Swan, Director of World Mission in the Diocese of Lichfield.
I will just share the key points of his message!
We are so preoccupied with our little corner that we forget our brothers and sisters in Christ in the rest of the world.  

The Christ we share.










Be surprised to what God has installed for us! God is so much bigger than we can imagine. 
•The Son is…the firstborn over all creation…..

• He is before all things, and in him all things hold together……

•Through him to reconcile to himself all things…..

‘It takes a whole world to know the whole Christ’. Max Warren, former leader of the Church Mission Society.

We need each other’s vision to correct, enlarge and focus our own; only together are we complete in Christ.
Andrew Walls

One question:  what is the average age of a typical Anglican worldwide? 
Answer 31

Posted 28 November                               The Average Anglican  ...is black, female, under 30, has 3 children, lives  on 2 dollars a day, walks 3km for water, is related  to someone with HIV/AIDS, and is evangelical... As an Anglican in England I found this a  fascinating comment on the development  of Anglicanism. Has anyone any comments? Thank you, Audrey  We have dicocesan links throughout the world, first our link with Mecklenburg within the new context of the Northern Church of Germany, then other links further away, Matlosane, South Africa, West Malaysia, Kuching and Singapore in South East Asia and Qu’Appelle, Canada. These partnerships can help us to engage in fresh ways with: •Discipleship •Mission •Worship •Prayer •Justice

 

Mosul is empty;
Basrah is empty;
Baghdad is empty…

We are now facing the extinction of Christianity as a religion and as a culture from Mesopotamia.
The Chaldean Archbishop  of Erbil,
The Rt Revd Bashar Warda
10th February 2015

The Prayer of Thanksgiving

 Is the Father with us?
 He is.
 Is Christ among us?
 He is.
 Is the Spirit here?
 He is.
 This is our God.
 Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Jesus appears to his followers.

Today's gospel was Luke 24 v36 - 48. 

Jesus Appears to His Followers

36 While the two men were saying these things to the other followers, Jesus himself came and stood among them. He said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 This surprised the followers. They were afraid. They thought they were seeing a ghost. 38 But Jesus said, “Why are you troubled? Why do you doubt what you see? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It’s really me. Touch me. You can see that I have a living body; a ghost does not have a body like this.” 40 After Jesus told them this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 The followers were amazed and very, very happy to see that Jesus was alive. They still could not believe what they saw. He said to them, “Do you have any food here?” 42 They gave him a piece of cooked fish. 43 While the followers watched, he took the fish and ate it. 44 Jesus said to them, “Remember when I was with you before? I said that everything written about me must happen—everything written in the Law of Moses, the books of the prophets, and the Psalms.” 45 Then Jesus helped the followers understand these Scriptures about him.46 Jesus said to them, “It is written that the Messiah would be killed and rise from death on the third day. 47-48 You saw these things happen—you are witnesses. You must go and tell people that they must change and turn to God, which will bring them his forgiveness. You must start from Jerusalem and tell this message in my name to the people of all nations. 49 Remember that I will send you the one my Father promised. Stay in the city until you are given that power from heaven.”

The two men to whom Jesus appeared on the road to Emmaus have rejoined the ten. What are the evidence that Jesus-Christ resurrected as in a court of law? First there are witnesses, Jesus appeared to Mary-Magdalene, the disciples, the disciples and doubtful Thomas. 

Witnessess matter a lot in a court of law. Secondly the material evidence. Thirdly the forensic evidence.

The material evidence. It's Easter Sunday evening; picture Cleopas and his friend who have dashed back to talk to the disciples.  

Let's think for a moment what the disciples have been through. First the betrayal of Judas, Jesus arrested and flogged, then put on the cross and mocked! Then the report comes of an empty tomb! They are still dismayed! What a rollercoaster of emotion and feelings. They must have been exhausted. Jesus is appearing from nowhere, he starts questioning them very gently. It's me, here are the scars. He is different, he has a resurrection body, transformed. What staggers the disciples is that He is standing there. Really? He should not be walking round. There is the evidence of the cross, his wounds are still there. This is the evidence that he has been raised from the dead. He eats. Another evidence of the resurrection. 

The forensic evidence. We have the Turin Shroud even though there has been a controversy is still an evidence.

Jesus, the saviour of the world gives us a special message. Not only He has fulfilled what Moses, the prophets and the psalmists had said but if you repent and confess your sins, put things right with God, He will forgive you. Jesus says to them that they are witness, and this include you too. 

Have a blessed week in Jesus name.

SJA

The Gospel of John

Did you know that you can watch the whole Gospel of John on youtube!

Author: John 21:20-24 describes the author as "the disciple whom Jesus loved," and for both historical and internal reasons this is understood to be John the Apostle, one of the sons of Zebedee (Luke 5:10).

Date of Writing: Discovery of certain papyrus fragments dated around A.D. 135 require the book to have been written, copied, and circulated before then. And while some think it was written before Jerusalem was destroyed (A.D. 70), A.D. 85-90 is a more accepted time for its writing.

Purpose of Writing: John 20:31 cites the purpose as follows: "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name." Unlike the three synoptic Gospels, John's purpose is not to present a chronological narrative of the life of Christ, but to display His deity. 

The truth will set you free.

Psalm 116 Thanksgiving for recovery from illness

1 I love the Lord, because he has heard
my voice and my supplications.
2 Because he inclined his ear to me,
therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
3 The snares of death encompassed me;
the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;
I suffered distress and anguish.
4 Then I called on the name of the Lord:
“O Lord, I pray, save my life!”

5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;
our God is merciful.
6 The Lord protects the simple;
when I was brought low, he saved me.
7 Return, O my soul, to your rest,
for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

8 For you have delivered my soul from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling.
9 I walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.
10 I kept my faith, even when I said,
“I am greatly afflicted”;
11 I said in my consternation,
“Everyone is a liar.”

12 What shall I return to the Lord
for all his bounty to me?
13 I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the Lord,
14 I will pay my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people.
15 Precious in the sight of the Lord
is the death of his faithful ones.
16 O Lord, I am your servant;
I am your servant, the child of your serving girl.
You have loosed my bonds.
17 I will offer to you a thanksgiving sacrifice
and call on the name of the Lord.
18 I will pay my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people,
19 in the courts of the house of the Lord,
in your midst, O Jerusalem.
Praise the Lord!

Have a blessed day today! :)

The hands that flung stars into space!

Courtesy of Steven Abram

This morning, Steven and I had the pleasure to watch the eclipse, the moon moving in front of the sun and it was amazing. Could you see the smilie! My friend Lillie whatsapped me reminding me of the event! Something very special. 

You probably know Graham Kendrick's song, the Servant King. Graham describes Jesus' crucifixion in an astonishing contrast: the hands that flung stars into space to cruel nails surrendered. Other verses come to mind and corroborate this truth. John tells us the following about Jesus:

In the beginning the Word already was. The Word was in God’s presence and what God was, the Word was. He was with God at the beginning and through him all things came to be, without him no created thing came into being.”(John 1.1‑3)
Paul explains who Jesus to the Colossians  "He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation. For in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities - all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." (Col.1.15‑17)
The supremacy of Jesus
Hebrews explains that Christ is supreme over more than just roles and systems. Hebrews 1:3  says, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word.” Similarly, Colossians 2:9 says, “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.” 

Have a blessed week-end.

Jesus is the Son of God

I John 4:15-19
"Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this World.
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
We love Him, because He first loved us."

Bless the Lord oh my soul!

Good morning my dear friends and family, it is such a beautiful day today, I want to thank our heavenly father for all his 'good deeds' Psalm 103: 2. You probably know that song from Matt Redman, the lyrics are below. 

Chorus

Bless the Lord, O my soul

O my soul

Worship His holy name

Sing like never before

O my soul

I'll worship Your holy name

The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning

It's time to sing Your song again

Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me

Let me be singing when the evening comes

You're rich in love, and You're slow to anger

Your name is great, and Your heart is kind

For all Your goodness I will keep on singing

Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find

And on that day when my strength is failing

The end draws near and my time has come

Still my soul will sing Your praise unending

Ten thousand years and then forevermore

Sending LOVE to you all from messy church :)

A daffodil in the making

Let's share bread!

Daffodil done!

This messy church took place last thursday at 3:45  in Weston Village Hall. Bring your children and have lots of fun. 

Necklaces, bracelets or key rings! 

Holy Spirit, living Breath of God

My beautiful sister-in-law Pauline bought me a book called Holyfire from RT Kendall and I started reading last night. It's informative, clear and edifying. I also  discovered this  beautiful and powerful song by Stuart Townend. Here are the lyrics.

Holy Spirit, living Breath of God,
Breathe new life into my willing soul.
Bring the presence of the risen Lord
To renew my heart and make me whole.
Cause Your Word to come alive in me;
Give me faith for what I cannot see;
Give me passion for Your purity.
Holy Spirit, breathe new life in me.

Holy Spirit, come abide within;
May Your joy be seen in all I do—
Love enough to cover ev'ry sin
In each thought and deed and attitude,
Kindness to the greatest and the least,
Gentleness that sows the path of peace.
Turn my striving into works of grace.
Breath of God, show Christ in all I do.

Holy Spirit, from creation's birth,
Giving life to all that God has made,
Show your power once again on earth;
Cause Your church to hunger for Your ways.
Let the fragrance of our prayers arise.
Lead us on the road of sacrifice
That in unity the face of Christ
Will be clear for all the world to see.

Have a blessed evening!

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest

Jesus invites you to trust Him and He will refresh you. Are you going to accept his loving invitation?

Matthew 11:28-30English Standard Version (ESV)

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Urdu bible
28 اے محنت مشقت کر نے والو! اور وزنی بوجھ اٹھا نے والو تم سب میرے پاس آ جا ؤ۔ میں تمہیں آرام پہنچا ؤں گا۔ 29 میرے جوئے کے کندھے دیتے ہو ئے مجھ سے باتیں سیکھو۔ میں شریف اور خاکسارہوں۔ اور تم اپنی جانوں کے لئے تشفی پا ؤگے۔30 ہاں! جو کام میں تم سے قبول کر نے کے لئے کہتا ہوں آسان ہے۔ تمہیں اٹھا نے کے لئے جو بوجھ دے رہا ہوں وہ وزنی نہیں ہے۔”

Bechol libi - With all our heart

Have a blessed evening!