He is not here

It must have been a devastating time for Jesus disciples when He was crucified. Those 3 days and nights, hidden away for fear of the Jews. I wonder how they must have felt when Mary came rushing in with the news that Jesus wasn't in the tomb. He had risen.

As we remember the Lord's death, till He comes; remember too those 3 days and nights when the grief, the heartache, the agony, the fear that the disciples went through was perhaps overwhelming them. How blessed then are we, who knew from the outset that Jesus death was cause for rejoicing. He died for our transgressions and rose that we might live. Hallelujah.

Have a blessed Easter.

God Lives under the bed

I was so blessed last week to read 'God lives under the bed' at the following blog. http://meditationsandmemories.blogspot.com/ (just click on the link and scroll down the page a way to read it but it really is beautiful and you'll get to meet Kevin ...
After reading this I was able to go to work and share with a parent what I had read. His child had special needs, rather like Kevin. I gave a copy to him and to one of the teachers.
I read 'God lives under the bed' to our church last Sunday and told them that the Lord had shown me that no matter how old I am I still need to depend on Him as a child, to listen to Him as a child to trust Him as a child and to look to Him as a child.
The pastor photocopied what I'd read about Kevin and everyone had a copy.
I am sure the person who originally wrote 'God lives under the bed' will not mind that so many people are hearing about Kevin, and being blessed by his innocence and trust in God. I know I felt very humble to have read about him. I hope you take the time to click on the link and to read it.

Alpha and Omega

This is a video clip from youtube . It is the Gaither band singing Alpha and Omega and it is well worth watching. Wonderful words - just one of those moments when a song fills your heart and you just want to praise the Lord.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou7iI8_DyM8

The words of this song made me more aware of the many times when I can't see the way forward or I seem to be stuck in a certain spot that whilst I may only see the middle bit our awesome God sees the beginning and the end for he truly is the Alpha and Omega.

Have a blessed day.
Jean

Watching

The Lord challenged me several years after I'd become a Christian on this verse in Luke and to this day I am still WATCHING praise God ... This is what I wrote at the time.

Luke 12:37 - Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when He cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

I find these words in Luke such a challenge to me ...

WATCHING - it isn't just about watching - watching TV, watching the children, watching the grass grow ... ; it's everything connected with the watching - the questions associated with it.

Why am I watching?
What am I watching for?
Who am I watching for?

I can tell you who I'm watching for, the struggle I have is tied up with they WHY!
i
I could easily think, well what point is there in watching. I know I'm a sinner but I'm saved by God's grace, yes, but I look around and see people gong about their day to day business. I look at those who seem to get on in life by cheating, lying - they seem to have it made. A big house, flashy car, lots of nice clothes and holidays - sometimes twice a year to exotic places and I think WHY?

When I have to work all the hours God sends to make ends meet and there still doesn't seem to be enough left over so
WHY?

When I sometimes end up joining in with the laughter over a smutty joke
WHY?

when I try to start the day off right do I end up moaning and pulling people to bits
WHY?

when I get up and shout at the dog and get angry with my son for no reason
WHY?

When an occasional lie slips past my tongue or a hurtful word escapes my lips
WHY?

When I want someone to care about me and get fed up caring about others all the time
WHY?

when no matter how hard I try to say the right thing, the wrong thing always comes out
WHY? WHY? WHY do I bother 'watching' at all

WHY?
when part of me says Maranatha (Come Lord) does the other half say "Not yet Lord, I'm not ready" - and you know ... there's the WHY?

You see, I'm not ready, and I don't suppose I ever will be, but that's WHY Jesus loves me and that's WHY he continues to challenge me to 'WATCH':

Only in the WATCHING will I be aware that I'm waiting for Him to come to rapture the church - to catch us up to meet him in the air - and in the watching I'm also aware that if He returns and finds me doing something I shouldn't ... lying or laughing at the wrong sort of joke - if I'm in the middle of pulling someone to pieces or saying an unkind word - how would I feel ... to be face to face with the righteous judge, the one who died for me, and to know I wasn't watching ...

Watching my every word, even my feelings and thoughts - how would I feel.
I'd probably think 'leave me Lord, I'm not worthy' or even cry out 'Oh Lord forgive me, I really am sorry, please take me with you'.

The thing is, I'm not worthy - but HE IS and he will continue to shape me as I strive for perfection, as I try to be holy because He is holy, as I struggle against the flesh and struggle to be in the world yet not be of the world.

As I watch and listen to the Lord, I hear the words - NO COMPROMISE - it's then I know why I'm watching and who I'm watching for ...

The great and glorious appearing of my Lord and my Saviour and my God - Jesus Christ.

And what abot you - are you watching ... because the day is almost upon us - and we can cry as in Isaiah 21 "WATCHMEN, WHAT OF THE NIGHT"

The Room

We were all in the room for fear of the Jews
When Mary came rushing in with the news
"I've seen the Lord" she said, "He's spoken to me"
Amazed, we wondered, could it really be!

And while we marvelled and thought on this
Jesus was here, he stood right in our midst.
Was he a ghost, thoughts rushed through our head,
Here was Jesus, but how, He was dead.

And the doors, we'd locked and barred them too
But then Jesus said "Peace be unto you",
He showed us his hands and even his side,
Our hearts were so glad and some of us cried
As again He said "Peace be unto you,
As my Father has sent me, even so I send you".

And He breathed upon us and simply said
"Receive the Holy Spirit" - Jesus wasn't dead.
Our Lord had arisen, things wouldn't be the same
And you can have life through Jesus name,
By believing Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God
And in believing live your life according to his word.
c.Jean Dodds/1993

"Were You There"

I love writing poetry and when I first became a Christian I did write a lot of poems. I came across them again when I was going through some papers, I hope you don't mind me sharing them with you.

WERE YOU THERE

I was there when they crucified my Lord,

I was there and saw his crown of thorns.

I was there as they hammered in the nails,

I was there and saw his body racked with pain.

I was there when they crucified my Lord,
I was there and saw the sorrow in his eyes.
I was there when he called to His Father in heaven ,

I was there when He asked that we be forgiven.

I was there when they crucified my Lord,

I was there and saw them pierce His side.

I was there when he died for me - it's true,

I was there at calvary - WERE YOU?

c Jean Dodds/1987

Names of God

Jehovah Jireh - The Lord will provide
Jehovah Rohi - The Lord is my shepherd
Jehovah Tsidkenu - The Lord our righteousness
Jehovah Mekaddesh - The Lord who sanctifies
Jehovah Nissi - The Lord our banner
Jehovah Shammah - The Lord is present
Jehovah Sabaoth The Lord of armies
Jehovah Shalom the Lord our peace

What an awesome God we serve.