I am still dazzled by the Easter Decorations I saw today at the Warehouse. Just like Christmas. Takes me some time to digest all that! “Get ready for Easter Sunday 23rd March.” ” MAKE THE MOST OF EASTER.” “Full range of Easter products in store now.” And so on….!

Business people are surely making the most of every occasion and if there is no occasion they are making one up!

When coming back from the Warehouse today a lady was coming toward me. I saw a book under her arm which looked like a Bible to me and I asked her,” Is that a Bible?” She was surprised to be greeted like that by a complete stranger and I asked a second time.” Is that a Bible?” It was a big Bible and she was walking to a prayer meeting. We had a good talk and I said to her, “If you would not have carried the Bible like that, I would never have recognized you as a sister in the Lord. Praise the Lord.”

I believe that the Lord is preparing places for us. Especially when we are asking him to do so in prayer, he is leading and guiding us.

The Lord prepared the present place for us. The place is also owned by us. Our last place was also prepared by him. It was owned by the UMM. They bought it for us to live in.– And at the present time the Lord is preparing for us the final place. Built by the Lord himself. That place must be really beautiful. I am looking forward to occupying it.

We must have been ten minutes out of town yesterday on the way to the beach in our car when my wife said,” Down here this road are living two families. They are going to the Baptist Church in Kaitaia.” That made me really thankful again for our beautiful present place in the centre of the town near the banks, shops and the Post Office and the Church. I believe it is also difficult to get broad band connection in out of the way places.

Our previous place was also prepared by the Lord. I know, because I am not good at building things and fixing things. The place was rented out by the previous owner– before the Mission ever bought it for us to live in– and he used all the rent money to fix the place up and to improve the place– FOR US! Yes, we do have a lot of things to be thankful for.

Our present place is really beautiful compared to the previous place, but the Lord Jesus Christ is preparing at the present time a place for us which is really BEAUTIFUL! You cannot describe it! The Lord says so in John 14:2 ” I am going to prepare a place for you.” Please read John 14:1-4. I know, this portion of Scripture is usually read at funerals, but it is only for those who really believe what it says in the Word of God. I am looking forward to that place? Do you? Read also John 14:5-14.

The end

Kaitaia/Ahipara 90 Miles Beach

It must have been in Thailand in the heat with no access to the water when I saw a picture of a beach in one of the magazines and on the beach was somebody jogging. I thought I would like to be on the beach just now! — But I was not!

Now I am near the beach: Psalm 37:4

I am of course used to sending Christmas cards to my friends. But I have only noticed lately that business people want us to send Easter cards as well. Some of those cards can be quite expensive and have nothing to do with Easter. One says: “Hurray! It’s Easter”, with the picture of a laughing bunny rabbit on the front page. When you are opening the card it goes on like this:” Hope Easter day is fun each minute with lots of nice surprises in it! Have a Fun Easter!”– A play group with the motto “Come and grow with us” advertises in the Coffee News the ANNUAL EASTERDIG on Easter Saturday at Taipa Beach. Heaps of Easter eggs and so on and the big dig starts at 12.30 am.

Are we really having a Fun Easter? Or are we making fun of Easter?

Politicians are always talking about their plan for the future and of course they need a plan for the future. But listen to what the statesman Konrad Adenauer once said,” The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most important event in the history of mankind. If Jesus Christ would not have risen from the dead there would not be the slightest glimmer of HOPE for the human race.” I am sure you know who Konrad Adenauer was.

Yes, at Easter Time we are commemorating the death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ loved us so much that he came to this earth to die for us, to give his very life for us. What a love! Because of our sin we don’t deserve to live. The penalty for sin is death. Somebody must bear the penalty for death. We must bear it or a suitable substitute must bear it. The Lord Jesus Christ is the suitable substitute. The Lord Jesus Christ died for the sin of the whole world. I am glad that he also died for my sin. But he also died for your sin. Believe it, the death of the Lord Jesus Christ is sufficient for every sinner.

But that is not all. The Lord Jesus Christ rose again. The resurrection is mentioned more than hundert times in the New Testament. (104 times) Only Christians have a living Saviour. Yes, there are other religions. But the originators of those religions are dead! Somebody said the resurrection is the greatest power in the world outside the power of Prayer.

Some atheists want to make really sure that they will never rise. They say for example: “My body is to be cremated and my ashes taken by plane and scattered in the ocean.” But later in the resurrection when the trumpet sounds, the bodies of those atheists will come together and stand perfect in the presence of Christ!

PS: I received an email just now-6. 3. 08- reminding me that it is only 18 days to Easter!

wd

Hope Easter Day is fun each minute with lots of nice surprises in it!– HAVE A FUN EASTER!

I found that written on a card for Easter with a bunny (rabbit) on the frontpage.

Where are we going from here?

“The sleep service” can help. “Book your appointment today.” That’s what it says in the notice in the paper. Don’t count sheep any longer!

I am reminded of a German proverb . It says translated (In German it rhymes) : A quiet conscience is a soft pillar.

I rang this confidential free support service today and the answer was :”The number is not active or invalid.” On the mobile phone was written: “Number not in use.”

Good, that we don’t get answers like that when we pray!