Easter 2023 Devotion

A Gift So Great –
freely there for all who accept it

Over the past few months many in our wonderful country have suffered from the effects of natural disasters, the effects of crimes committed without thought for others, health needs, the rising cost of living, and so much more. 

The response in acts of generosity and self-sacrifice to assist the suffering through these difficult times has been so heart-warming. People have looked and seen, listened and heard and responded in love. One friend told of how they sent their mini-digger to the East Coast to help with the recovery. A small but loving sacrifice. Many others have responded with gifts and their presence. 

However even though there are many heart-warming acts of generosity and self- sacrifices in this world, none can compare with the one we celebrate at Easter. We marvel that God the creator of the universe, loves us so much that He sent His Only Son to die a cruel death of a condemned man on the cross. Not only condemned to die, but deserted by His friends and mourned only by His nearest and dearest. Yet painful as that lonely death and rejection was, it was almost an unimaginable act of reconciliation between God and His created people. 

Human nature has changed little since the time of Christ. The suffering, the cruelty, the rejection and the indifference of that original Good Friday is with us still and the need for forgiveness is as great as ever. 

The sense of new life, the knowledge of redemption, the chance of a fresh start, all of which are implicit in the resurrection, are as real and necessary for faltering mankind today as in the past. 

Christ’s life and death opens the door to a new dimension to our lives as revealed in His sacrifice and triumphant resurrection at Easter: 

Christ was truly God. But He did not try to remain equal with God. Instead He gave up everything and became a slave, when He became like one of us. Christ was humble. He obeyed God and even died on a cross. Then God gave Christ the highest place and honored His name above all others. So, at the name of Jesus everyone will bow down, those in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. And to the glory of God the Father everyone will openly agree,

“Jesus Christ is Lord!” Philippians 2:6-11

Lorraine Harvey

A New Year Devotion

HOPE – a confident expectation and assurance about the future

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

We always enjoy our Saturday mornings at the Britomart market here in Auckland. It is a time when we connect with people, enjoy conversations, buy our vegetables and other goodies, not forgetting to mention the delicious food that is available!

Recently at the market we noticed a number of stickers placed around inviting people to take a pen and respond to the following:

Celebrating the season gives us time to reflect. So here at Britomart we’re inviting everyone to take a moment to share their thoughts on the year that has passed and their hopes for the new one. Thanks for joining this communal project of reflection and renewal.

How do we express hope in our everyday living? Mostly it is a desire for something to happen, usually in a positive way. An anticipation, an aspiration, an expectation, a feeling that things will turn out for the best. In other words, a desire, a dream, or a wish, for something better. A looking forward to a positive outcome for things we plan.

BUT for those who love the Lord Jesus Christ, hope is a unique word! We know that our genuine biblical hope is not a concept but a person, Christ Jesus our wonderful Lord and Saviour! When we read God’s Word we are filled with a hope that gives us a confident expectation and assurance about the future. The overflow of that precious hope as we trust in God fills us with joy and peace and it is with this glorious sense of joy, peace and hope empowered by the Holy Spirit that we face the trials and hardships that are the inevitable by-products of life in this broken world. And we know also that no human effort, human religion or human righteousness can ever achieve those desires and dreams we hope for. Trust and have faith in the God of hope, reflect over the past year, refresh in the present, and rejoice in the future, that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit

“may our lives and outlook be radiant and alive.” J B Philipps paraphrase

Lorraine Harvey

What will you write?

CHRISTMAS DEVOTION

 

 

CAN YOU IMAGINE?

“That night in the fields near Bethlehem some shepherds were guarding their

sheep.” Luke 2:8-14

Can you imagine what the shepherds were talking about that night as they sat

around. Perhaps they were talking about the date and wondering what might

happen when 1BC came? Historians suggest it was around 6BC that night. Or

perhaps they were talking about the events that were having a profound impact on

the Jewish people. How everyone was despondent because once again, they had

been conquered, oppressed, and polluted. Hope was running low; faith was even

lower. All were convinced that the only thing that could save them and their faith

was the appearance of the Messiah.

Can you imagine when suddenly their conversation was interrupted? God chose

that very moment to break into their everyday lives. “All at once an angel came

down to them from the Lord, and the brightness of the Lord’s glory flashed around

them. The shepherds were frightened. But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid! I have

good news for you, which will make everyone happy. This very day in King David’s

hometown a Saviour was born for you. He is Christ the Lord. You will know who he

is, because you will find him dressed in baby clothes and lying on a bed of hay.”

Suddenly many other angels came down from heaven and joined in praising God.

They said: “Praise God in heaven! Peace on earth to everyone who pleases God.”

Can you imagine the change in conversation? With great excitement they

exclaimed, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see’. They hurried and saw!

Luke further tells us that the shepherds returned to their sheep, praising God and

saying wonderful things about him. Everything they had seen and heard was just as

the angel had said.

Can you imagine their conversation as they settled back into everyday life?

Can we join this wonderful conversation? Praising God and saying wonderful

things about Him. Yes, we have so much more to tell. Today we know so much

more; Jesus gave His life a living sacrifice to save us from our sins, Jesus is alive

today, Jesus is coming again!

 

As we celebrate and rejoice

may we thank and praise the Lord

and say wonderful things about Him.

 

Lorraine Harvey

A SERVANT HEART – PAPAMOA 30 SEPT – 2 OCT 2022

A SERVANT HEART- KYB JUBLIEE EVENT

Friday 30th September– Sunday 2nd October 2022
Papamoa Park Christian Holiday Camp

Speaker – Eva Chung

CWCI reserves the right to change Events information in case of unforeseen circumstances occurring.

 

 

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RAINCLIFF RETREAT 14-16 OCTOBER 2022

Raincliff ReTreat

Friday 14th – Sunday 16th October 2022
Raincliff Retreat, Opihi River, Timaru

‘An informal time of reflection…’

CWCI reserves the right to change Events information in case of unforeseen circumstances occurring.