At EASTER we are remembering and celebrating the resurrection of Christ.

I think I almost studied the EASTER CARDS displayed at the Warehouse here in  Kaitaia. Not one of the cards touched remotely on the real meaning of EASTER.

Inside one of the cards was written: “Easter is such a lovely time of year, a special time for remembering people like the two of you! HAPPY EASTER”

On the front was a picture with two young ducks swimming on the water and above the picture was written “TO BOTH OF YOU.”

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Please read the post “WHY EASTER?” below this post and rejoice with me. I bought the six easter eggs also at the Warehouse. I just managed to get the last package!

WHY EASTER?

John 4:13,14

“Jesus answered, ‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.'”

Ecclesiastes 12:1

“Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say,…….”

Ecclesiastes 12:6

“Remember him –

before the silver cord (1) is severed,

or the golden bowl (2) is broken;

before the pitcher (3) is shattered at the spring,

or the wheel (4) broken at the well,….”

We born from above people – John 3:1-21 – are often wondering why the Lord is not blessing us and our work more. At least I myself want to see more blessing! What is the blockage? It certainly is not the Lord. So it must be us.

C.H. Spurgeon  is writing in one of his books (Morning and Evening-Daily Readings):

“WHEN A MAN IS SINCERELY HUMBLE,

AND NEVER VENTURES TO TOUCH SO MUCH AS A GRAIN OF PRAISE,

THERE IS SCARCELY ANY LIMIT  TO WHAT GOD WILL DO FOR HIM.”

Isaiah 66:2

“This is the one I esteem:

1. he who is humble

2. and contrite in spirit

3. and trembles at my Word.”

In John 21:16 the Lord is asking Peter, “Do you truly love me?” And here is Peter’s answer,”Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Now the Lord is giving Peter a job to do;  Peter is receiving some instructions. Here they are, “TAKE CARE OF MY SHEEP.”

“We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

Isaiah 53:6

At the present time the Lord is blessing me through the reading of sermons by the German pastor W. Busch.  I have mentioned this servant of the Lord several times already. He says also that the question “Do you truly love me?” is very difficult to answer. What is your answer? What is my answer?

I struggled to find an answer to that question some time ago. I asked myself, “Can I really answer from the bottom of my heart with Peter, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

In his sermon pastor Busch says that the question: “Do you truly love me?” is indeed very difficult to answer. That’s, when the Lord asked him urgently that question, he answered like this, “I realise now, that it means to be a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ is, to have a burning heart for the Saviour. But my heart is dead, cold and burned out and tired. What shall I do?”

What is the answer?

He answers the question with a true little story:

In the 18th century there lived in the German town of  Wuppertal a man called Peter Diederichs, a seller of leather. That man knew a lot about pastoral care.

One day a young man came to him and said,  “When Jesus asks me: Do you love me? I don’t really want to tell him that my heart is cold.” Peter Diederichs answered, ” Friend, turn the question around, ask the Saviour:  Do you love me?”

For a moment it was very quiet. But all of a sudden the face of the young man lit up with joy. He realised the  love of the Saviour for him.  And his heart became warm. The love in the Saviours heart ignited the love in his heart.

This has helped me a lot. I hope it helps you too!

end

Psalm 119:105

“YOUR WORD:

1. Is a lamp to my feet and

2. A light for my path.”