Lest We Forget ~ 25th April, 2020.

Well, today is 25th April and ANZAC day for all who live in Aust and NZ. As 2020 is such a different year, so this is a different ANZAC day. 
On this day we Aussies and Kiwis remember all who’ve given lives and served in war for our countries.
(At 6am, in dawn quiet, I stood at the end of driveway as the last post was played loudly on radio I had with me, remembering them, with thanksgiving)

On Sunday 25th April 1915, our joint forces (Australia New Zealand Army Corps) landed on the shores of Gallipoli, Turkey. An inept choice for landing, as these troops faced steep cliffs and a strong attacking Turkish force. This dramatic, especially sad defeat has become a unifying symbol for our countries. Here we achieved nationhood in a bloodbath of fighting, the like of which has never been forgotten by Australia or New Zealand.

I would like to share this video ... a really wonderful Anzac Day message from our pastor of our church.
He shared it online for our Wednesday night bible study. 
I pray it will bless your heart as it did mine. 
(Link here also)

Background to ANZAC Day is shared, as well as a good biblical perspective for us today. 
The spiritual battle of life today which we must fight truly, as our Saviour did before us. 
He gave His all for us all.
This so uplifted my friend and I as we listened to it on Wednesday night, twas over the phone and she listened as I played it on YouTube.. 
So wonderful and uplifting! Blessed indeed!
I decided to make this poppy card in memory of all who gave for their country.

If you want the recipe pop over to my crafty blog here. 
I often think of some in our family who gave the ultimate sacrifice, and wonder how many knew the LORD of glory? 
I know from one family member, that the Bible has more meaning on the battle field than times of peace. 
Gods presence is meaningful in peace, when we know and love Him - but how much more if we might lose our life at any moment!
And too, I think upon this verse in John 15:13. 
"Greater love hath no man than this, than he lay down his life for his friend."

In WW1 Australia and New Zealand, two small emerging nations, lost 80,00 men and had over 200,00 casualties, a total of 280,000 lives taken or never to be the same again.
So many families decimated by it all.

That's why we say together:

"In the morning,

And at the going down of the sun,

We will remember them.

Lest we forget."

A special prayer today, for all who today serve in the armed forces in every nation, to come to a saving, keeping knowledge of our LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ. 
Also praying for all who are fighting a different war, the medical war against COVID-19, may the LORD bless all caring hands, save eternally their souls, and those for whom they care. 
And thank you LORD,  for the freedom we have in our nation, to love and worship bought at such a cost. 

Hymn here if not showing.

Thank YOU, Lord Jesus,  too for giving Your life,  so we might live by faith in You. Amen.
Prayer  hugs, 🙏🤗❤
Shaz in Oz.x 

PS . If you haven’t I'd love it you to join as a wonderful encourager of this blog ...  link HERE.  Thank YOU to those who have done so already. It really encourages me to keep on. 😊
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Resurrection Day - How Much God Loves Us!

Well, in some ways today, Resurrection Day, 2020 of Easter 2020 is definitely different from many others.

We’re all mostly at home  for a start (unless in essential work, and thanks if you are!). 

However the Reality, the Hope, the Joy of Resurrection Day is definitely NOT  diminished as a consequence of current events.

In fact the present  pandemic, COVID-19, means the Victory by Christ over death in an empty tomb is even more important, wonderful!

More powerful!

For if we are sick, or near, dear ones are, or perhaps some even die

- by faith in Christ we have this Resurrection Hope!

So just HOW much does God love you, me, the whole world?
This thought was triggered by this FaceBook post.

I thought it most apt for this celebration of the Resurrection Day.

So much LOVE!
... could we do as the Father God has done, I wonder?

Could we sacrifice our only son? 

For the good of others?

And yet, in part some have.  
Abraham was ready to sacrifice Isaac, his only son, at God's command, as he believed the Lord would raise him up (see story here). Many mother’s have sent their sons off to war, knowing they may never see them again this side of the grave.

But you see that is the key.

This side of the grave. 

Because of Christ’s Resurrection, we by faith may have the hope of eternal resurrection! 
By simple faith in Lord Jesus. 

This simple faith is of course the sticking point for our hope of eternity  - which I will deal with below..

Let’s for now walk with those grieving women that first day of the week after Jesus’ death. 
We may know this story but it’s always a joy to revisit it. I always learn something new!

Matthew 28:1-10
In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. 
Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

NEW! Wonderful, every time I read it!
Firstly the earthquake to roll the stone away! 
Another miracle - an earthquake to roll a huge stone. 
Jesus death had a 3 hour eclipse, all encompassing darkness when God, the Father, turned His back on His only Son. 
Jesus had all of our sin laid upon Him! He hung upon the cross in agony, all alone, bearing the sins of the world, cut off from His Father.  
My sin, the horrific wickedness of all mankind.. all was laid on our perfect, loving Saviour. 
Immeasurable love!

As I read anew, I see the awe, fear, wonder then joy these dear women must have felt in greeting their risen Lord. 
Last time they had seen Him - He was more marred than any man, dead after a cruel, tortuous death upon a Roman cross. 

Now He was very much alive!
And Jesus words to the women are very much the words He would say to all of us here in 2020!
1. Be NOT afraid
2. Go tell.. (of Him)

The whole pivotal point for any of us, this Resurrection Day 2020 is:
 ARE we missing heaven by 15 inches (40cm)?

Or the distance from my head to my heart.

I may know in my head that Jesus died for my sins, for all my lies, deceit, anger, etc. However unless this is believed upon in my heart, unless it is personal and mine, I do not have the gift  of eternal life. 
I have not received it. It's as if Jesus died in vain for me, because I've not believed in Him.
*****
When I was 12 years old down at the beach where I now walk, I prayed with my sister's teacher. Admitting simply that I was a sinner, thanking Jesus for dying for my sin upon the cross, and then I asking  Him to save me from my sin and be my Saviour. 
I remember singing and singing afterwards walking along the beach ..   because I was so happy that the angels in heaven were rejoicing over one little lost sheep, who was now found!
(see Luke 15)
Joy unspeakable!
An excellent video is here with two amazing stories of lives Christ transformed!
(It's a short Billy Graham video, old & new footage, simply titled "the Cross") 

I'd like to share this hymn, which like many I have come to love!
What beautiful words!
In Christ Alone!

(link here too)
As we walk through each day, let us live in the light of the Resurrection morning.. 
That the joy may be there in spite of our circumstances. 
It matters not where our Lord takes us in our day, but whether our Risen Lord walks with us!

If we belong to Jesus, He said: "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee."
May this bless your heart, dear ones. These posts are often a real struggle to write, but I am always blessed by them. 
I pray you are also. 
"He must increase, 
I must decrease". 
John 3:30

Lord bless and keep you and all those whom you love safe on His care,  
prayer hugs, 
Shaz in Oz. X 🙏🤗

PS . If you haven’t I'd love it you to join as a wonderful encourager of this blog ...  link HERE.  Thank YOU to those who have done so already. It really encourages me to keep on. 😊
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In the Darkness a Light Shineth - Good Friday

Well, this year of 2020 will definitely go down in history, as different!
 A Passover where Jews do not share it with all their family.
 And Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday where we are all at home watching live-stream services. 
However the truth we celebrate is constant and unchanged for all of eternity!!
Heaven and earth will pass away, and yet what Christ wrought on the cross that day on the hill of Golgotha almost 2,000 years ago will NEVER change.
When Christ cried out “IT IS FINISHED” Salvation was bought for all mankind. 
As I thought upon that most dreadful day in history thus far...
when the Son of God, 
the LORD Jesus Christ, the King of Glory 
was rejected of His own people - as they cried "Crucify Him!"..
These verses came to mind.
One is a prophecy written 800 years by Isaiah before Christ’s coming.

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. Isaiah 9:2 

The other is perfected in Christ’s first coming as Saviour of all mankind.

And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. John 1:5

Today we may feel in as much darkness as they did back in 33AD approx. They were under strict Roman rule, we are under strict rule as a result of another dilemma, a pandemic.

However there is a greater pandemic, the curse of sin, which Christ cured that day upon the cross, when the True Light of the World defeated the powers of darkness. 
Satan thought he had a great victory when Christ was crucified instead of Barrabas (see passage in Luke here). 

However the victory Satan thought he had won was short lived... as he was to see a few days later.

We need a vaccine to defeat COVID-19, but Christ by His sacrifice provided a vaccine or more truly a way of escape from the eternal punishment of sin, with the gift of eternal life by faith in Him. 

That is far far better than any human vaccine - for it is perfect and eternal!

This verse says that the light shines in the darkness and the darkness comprends it not.

As it was in 1st century AD so it is in 2020. 

God is speaking loudly and clearly - but oh sadly, so many do not hear.
Do not comprehend...

At the crucifixion of Jesus there was darkness for three hours from noon (Jewish time = sixth hour) to 3pm (9th hour). 

A total eclipse it is recorded by historians then.

I wonder what their thoughts were at such a time?
I’m sure fear filled many a heart, and awe. 
Luke 23:33-49
And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. 
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. 
And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,
 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 
But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 
And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 
And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 
 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. 
And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 
And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. 
And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.
And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned. 
And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.

Yes, I am certain the same mixed feelings of grief, sorrow,  despair and fear fill many hearts today over current events, especially those who do not know the Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us pray for these dear folk that they might see the true light.
Let us be found faithful being that true light for Jesus. For He promised,  He will never leave us nor forsake us.

May we never forget the great cost our salvation on that day at Calvary. Our Saviour whose face was more marred than any man (Is.52:14).
Our sin.. He bore it for you and for me. 

Hallelujah! What a Saviour! (Link here also)
This is another hymn by Philip Bliss (short biography here).
Lord bless you all as we meditate upon this, AND rejoice in so great salvation!
Loving prayers, dear ones,
Shaz in Oz.x 🙏🤗

PS . If you haven’t I'd love it you to join as a wonderful encourager of this blog ...  link HERE.  Thank YOU to those who have done so already. It really encourages me to keep on. 😊
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Jesus Only - in All Times of Trouble

Jesus Only.

I was reading an article recently, as I read this thought echoed in my head. Years ago I saw an illuminated text like this.

“JESUS ONLY”

It is a bible verse, from Matthew 17:8: 

And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

Isn’t It what we long for? 
To see Jesus only! 

For Jesus only died and rose again! 
“No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” John 10:18
     

Jesus only saves . 

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12

Jesus only 
for keeping power at all times!
The LORD Jesus said: 
And I give to them eternal life; and they shall never perish,  neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. John 20:28 

Jesus only 

...is preparing a place for those who believe in Him.
John 14:1-6 (link here)

Jesus only is coming again 

.. I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

 John 14:3

Let's look at Matthew 17.

Matthew 17:1-2,5-8 
And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. 
And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.
And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

Wow! 

You cannot imagine really what an awe-inspiring sight Peter, James and John saw!? 
God revealing His diety, yet in part.
Brilliance such as rarely seen by human eyes, hearing the voice of the Father rarely heard by human ears, felt fully (if only understanding in part) the power of the Almighty! 
How quickly they were to forget the words: 
"Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

They still saw Jesus as their Deliverer from Roman rule,  not as the suffering Servant, Saviour and Redeemer,
as prophesied in Isaiah 53. 
*****
"They saw no man save Jesus only."

Isn’t this what we long for in our own lives? 

To see Jesus only!  

AND that others, when they see us, that they would see Jesus only!

Oh, that when we look out on the troubles of our day, that we would simply see, believe,  trust, hope in ...
JESUS ONLY! 
Let us so lift up Jesus ONLY in our lives.

This is so important, dear sisters.
We are here to be Lights, that others might see Jesus only in and through us, and desire to know Him also! 
 For Jesus said:
If I be lifted lifted up I shall draw all men unto Me.

I thought of this hymn below as I  meditated on this subject (including some background for those who maybe interested. Excerpt link here, background of "All hail the power of Jesus' Name ")
"As we examine "All Hail the Power of Jesus Name" the opening line is the perfect place to start, the power of Jesus Name. 
Acts 4:12 declares "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." 
 There is power in the name of Jesus to Save, this is in fact, the only way to be saved, to call upon the name of the Lord. 
The word name in Acts 4:12 is the Greek word onoma and it is used to denote the person himself. Albert Barnes describes it "As we would say, there is no one who can save but Jesus Christ."

The name of Jesus also has power to Secure. The Bible says in I Timothy 2:5 that Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man. The word "mediator" is the Greek word mesitēs (pronounced mes-ee'-tace) and it means a go between a reconciler, one who intervenes. It is through Jesus, not Mary that we have an advocate, a mediator."

Today's hymn (1779) was written by Edward Peronnet, a missionary to India, and a contemporary and fellow preacher at time of John Wesley. No tune for this hymn was written with words. It was left to a congregation to choose melody to fit the meter.

Link for hymn also here.

Trust that these precious scriptures will bless your heart as it has mine.
I also want to thank especially those who encourage me so much with your comments. You are deeply appreciated. 

Remember no matter how dark and stormy the sea is upon which we are cast, Jesus ONLY can still the storm and say:
 " PEACE,  be still"

Praying for you and all your dear ones, in these troubled times may we keep our focus ever upward - let us "keep looking up, its only mud underneath".
Prayer hugs, 🙏🤗
Shaz in Oz. X

CCOVID-19 update for Aust, as of today we have in Aust 28 deaths and 5,314 cases, seriously ill is still at 1% which is a blessing. In our local town we have 11 cases. In all things the Christian can claim Psalm 91 (Read here) as his insurance policy.. esp verses 2 & 3.

PS . If you haven’t I'd love it you to join as a wonderful encourager of this blog ...  link HERE.  Thank YOU to those who have done so already. It really encourages me to keep on. 😊
If you'd like these posts in your inbox, you can add your email to email link option on side bar. If you're on a mobile device on which there is no sidebar, then scroll down and select "View Web Version" at very bottom of post. This will bring up sidebar and "follow by email" link. Thank YOU

The Power of God's Mercy

Hi there 😊 Am very blessed to have been asked to write a guest post for a dear sister in Christ, Cheryl of Homespun Devotions.

For new folks, my name is Shaz in Oz, this is my Christian blog,crafty one here. As many know I live on east coast of Aust. in NSW, I asked the LORD Jesus to be my Saviour, down by the beach here at Beach Mission, over 50 years ago as a child (full testimony is Here). 

Here in Oz we are protected from things a bit, but we also have Covid-19. Not many compared to some countries with 8 deaths (as of 24th Mar). Government like others has restricted entry, public gatherings, state borders closed. More restrictions as the days pass, what I write now, will be out of date tomorrow.

As I’ve multiple chronic conditions, I’m isolating as much as possible. 

This below is what the Lord laid on my heart to share.

I pray it blesses you too!

*****

Recently I wrote these words to a friend: 

“Take care sis, praying much you’ll all be kept well. Not looking good for Italy. 

Praying for them and for many nations especially third world nations! 
Pleading that the LORD will prove all wrong on duration, and severity!

In His great mercy put a stop as he did in answer to David’s intercession, with the angel of death poised over Jerusalem, when David sinned by numbering the people.

God’s mercy is there for our asking - if we but ask. 

Mind you, we deserve so much worse than He gives us. 

Our sin is so very great. 

Fail so often, fall so far short.”

and as I wrote them I thought upon why we are here as believers! 

Why? 

To be LIGHT and to be INTERCESSORS!

Yes! we are not here for our own good pleasure 

but that of our LORD’s.

“... for thou hast created all things, 

and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Rev. 4:11b 

******

Let’s look at that story (whole passage look here), sharing key verses.

1 Chronicles 21:2,7-8,13-17,26-27 (also 2 Sam. 24)

"And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beer-sheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it.

And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote Israel.

And David said unto God, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing: but now, I beseech thee, do away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the Lord ; for very great are his mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man.

So the Lord sent pestilence upon Israel: and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men.

And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the Lord beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the Lord stood by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the Lord stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem.

Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.

And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, O Lord my God, be on me, and on my father's house; but not on thy people, that they should be plagued.

And David built there an altar unto the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the Lord ; and He answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering.

And the Lord commanded the angel; and he put up his sword again into the sheath thereof."

****

How great is God’s mercy?

The door of Forgiveness and Grace is opened by Confession and Turning from our sin. 

We read of the pleading by David for his poor sheep, he and elders were clothed in sackcloth! 

Repentance..

 David was sorry, truly pleading for mercy. 

As David said:

.. "let me fall now into the hand of the Lord ; for very great are his mercies.."

So God’s mercy was AND is mighty indeed.

When we pray we don’t know what a mighty power we are wielding!

( Sweet Hour of Prayer- hymn link Here also.)

Prayer is a weapon that Satan cowers before!!

Dear sisters, we are in such a time as this "pestilence", as David was, it's for a reason. 

God wants our attention!

Does He have it?

Now we can either:

*worry, fret, stress OR

* rest, trust, pray!!

(See Ps 37:1-8 here).

We need to pray much.. for near and dear ones, to plead for those we love further away. Our great Father God can reach through His power and Spirit, where we never can.

We can pray for  poor nations. I pray over "Maps app" on my phone. As I look close up at locations, where dear ones my heart is cheered.. 

God is here, AND He is there! 

He is omnipotent,  omnipresent, omniscient!

How often I limit God!

Pray please for poor nations... where if this virus hit the population would be decimated. 😥

Pray primarily for souls there to be saved, for God's pure Light of the Gospel to shine in these dark places, pray that as the Angel of death was stayed over Jerusalem, that the LORD in His great mercy would stay the hand of death upon these poor peoples!

Pray man's predictions in all this will be wrong, and it will be stopped, or weakened in its onslaught.

Pray for medical staff and supplies to be strengthened and extended in God's mercy. 

Pray for our nations, our states, our churches, our leaders to be guided of God, that Satan's power will be bound in Jesus' name.

That there would truly be an awakening of the Spirit of God as there has never been before..

.. a real revival!

Let us fulfill our purpose as servants of the Living God, to be Lights brightly burning, and Women of the Word and Prayer!

*****

And dear precious sisters, as you pray and plead over your burdens, I pray and agree with you. By faith we may met and agree together at "the Throne of Grace, where we find grace to help in time of need." Heb 4:12

"Prayer is power.

It brings about the Power of the Almighty ".

 "Fear looks back,

Worry looks around,

FAITH looks up!"

Prayer hugs, 🙏🤗

 Shaz in Oz.x 

PS . If you haven’t I'd love it you to join as a wonderful encourager of this blog ...  link HERE.  Thank YOU to those who have done so already. It really encourages me to keep on.
If you'd like these posts in your inbox, you can add your email to email link option on side bar. If you're on a mobile device on which there is no sidebar, then scroll down and select "View Web Version" at very bottom of post. This will bring up sidebar and "follow by email" link. Thank YOU