Sunday 20 April 2014

Thoughts around Easter

The past couple of weeks have been a struggle, but sometimes we can find treasure in our struggles. It certainly doesn't feel like it at the time, but in retrospect there are gems that God has taught us in the dark nights of depression.

Here are some thoughts and a couple of poems.












Thoughts from my notebook
 
 
 
Ok Lord a few questions ---

So when we pray for others and move forward and try to live for you, with you, through you – we often seem to fall under attack. Health issues, physical and mental arise. Our weak points, our ‘Achilles heels’ are breached.

So then Lord when this happens, when we get sick, overwhelmed with depression, when we fall on the battlefield and lie wounded and bleeding, does this mean we have failed you? Does this mean the enemy has effectively removed us as a threat?

Where is your victory in this? You are stronger, more powerful and have ultimate control. Have we/I failed you?

So Lord you know my struggles and failures, you know my weak spots, there are plenty of them! It is your power, authority and strength which will win out in the end. Forgive me for my weakness and failures.

Is it ok if I keep praying for stuff, for others, even if my faith is weak and I am not a particularly ‘righteous man (woman)’ can you still use me despite my weakness and failure.

 

*continued on next page*


Wow just reading in Matthew about you in Gethsemane and thinking about your crucifixion.

You were made to suffer, you were weak and actually put to death. You had to struggle with ‘the cup’ which you had to ‘drink’. Your heart and spirit were heavy. You didn’t look victorious as you were arrested, and deserted by your friends. Or as you were beaten and crucified. It looked more like a failure, it looked as if the enemy had won, and it wasn’t triumphant. Yet at your lowest point, your weakest moment, this was your greatest victory, your greatest service, your greatest strength.

So when we get knocked down and our faces are in the mud again, you can be – you are in fact – victorious still, when we submit and surrender our whole selves- weakness, failures and all to you, for your glory.
 
________________________________________________________________________
 
Where is your victory
Where is your victory Lord?
When the darkness closes in
How do I praise you?
When I am full of pain within
Why do I struggle so?
When I should rest in you
How can you love me still?
But yet I know it’s true.
For when the darkness lifts again
And when the pain subsides
I see that you are with me still
You were there to steer and guide,
Your rod and staff kept me on track
Though I stumbled and I fell
You never left my side oh Lord
And you say you never will.
 
_______________________________________________________________________
 
Easter
It was dark and all seemed lost
Afraid, your people hid
Where was that glorious future
They had thought would be their lot.
Those promises, those miracles,
That teaching that made sense,
It all had vanished in the wind
‘Where to now’, they said.
But wait! What news is this they bring?
Our Lord is raised! Not dead!
He is alive again they say –
Come see, come find, come look.
They hurried there with hope and dread
How can this be? They think
And find an empty tomb, not death
The Lord is risen indeed
He meets with them, he shows his wounds
At last they understand
He is the living Son of God
Our conquering risen Lord.