Marsden Cross

Picture / Doug Plummer

The first Christian Service was held by Rev. Samuel Marsden not far from Kaitaia at the far end of the Purerua Peninsular on Christmas Day 1814.

Marsden Cross

Picture / Doug Plummer

GUMDIGGERS PARK

Gumdiggers Park

Gumdiggers Park

Gumdiggers Park

Gumdiggers Park

Gumdiggers Park

Gumdiggers Park

Gumdiggers Park

Gumdiggers Park

Gumdiggers Park

Gumdiggers Park

What makes me think that “Juniper Lane” in Pukenui north of Kaitaia is probably a street where you find holiday homes, where people go to find rest from their hard work?

Because I remember a holiday place in Huahin (seaside) in Thailand called “The Juniper Tree,” where missionaries go for a break to do just that, to find some rest, to relax.

In First Kings chapter 19 we read that Elijah flees to Horeb and in verse four it says,

“But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat under a Juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, it is enough: now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am not better than my fathers,” (KJV) (broom tree – NIV)

What is the meaning of Elijah’s words?

He is weary of life. He is despondent. It is easy for missionaries to become dejected.

They expected success, but there was no success. They worked hard and faithfully and the result was hate and unthankfulness.

“Juniper Lane”

1. Read the story of JEREMIAH. He said: “Cursed be the day I was born!” (Jeremiah 20:14)

2. Read the story of ISAIAH. He said, “But I said, ‘I have laboured to no purpose; ..” (Isaiah 49:4)

3. Read the story of Moses. He said, “I cannot carry all these people by myself; …” (Numbers 11:14)

Where is real help?

Do we get help from the medical profession? Do we get help from medical tonics?

Do we get help from a good rest at the seaside? (Huahin in Thailand)

We don’t despise all those things, but our real help comes from the Lord. Let us read Psalm 145:14:

“The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all those who are bowed down.”

“Stump”

“But as the terebinth and oak leave stumps when they are cut down, so the holy seed will be the stump in the land.” – Isaiah 6:13

Another beautiful flower

“Woe to the wicked!

Disaster is upon them!

They will be paid back for what their hands have done.” – Isaiah 3:11

THE CROSS

“The LORD says,

Isaiah 3:16,17

Intr.:

‘The women of Zion

1.  are haughty,

2.  walking along with outstretched necks,

3.  flirting with their eyes,

4.  tipping along with

a.  mincing steps, with

b.  ornaments jingling on their ankles.

End;

Therefore the LORD will bring …'”

I don’t know what kind of news you have heard today over the radio or read in the papers or seen on TV. Maybe you heard again about about earthquakes, accidents on the road, cyclones, floods, hijackings, train accidents, corrupt governments, and so on. One catastrophe has not finished before we are hearing of another one.

Not long ago I saw printed on a paper shopping bag, “Global Village”. And that’s what we are. Things are happening anywhere in the global village and we not only hear about them, but we can see them happening at the same time. Our modern news technology is fantastic.

Where is your Anchorage?

In times like these when one catastrophic thing is chasing another, we need something to hold on to. One of the best-known news reporters in our country has expressed our situation so vividly in his autobiography he wrote some time ago. I am quoting from page 295, “Sometimes I felt l floated like flotsam on the reeling sea with no one to keep me grounded.” I think that is actually true of the bulk of humanity.

“In times like these you need an anchor,” says the songwriter in an old English church hymn we used to sing long ago. Do you remember the hymn?

We do read about THE ANCHOR in the Bible, the word of God. It says in Hebrews 6:17-20, “God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. Jesus has already gone in there before us. He has become our eternal high priest in the order of Melchizedek.”

This is the great encouragement and anchor that believers in the Lord Jesus Christ have. He went before us into Heaven into the presence of God. We cannot see him, but he is our HOPE and the ANCHOR for our souls. In the storms of life He is keeping us safe and taking us to our eternal destination.

Do you have this hope today as then ANCHOR for your soul?