Sunday, March 31, 2013
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Friday, March 29, 2013
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Maundy Thursday
Continuing with my efforts to bring faith to the family, I’ve made an effort to make some new traditions around Easter.
John 13:1-17
New International Version - UK (NIVUK)Jesus washes his disciples’ feet
It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel round his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped round him.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’
Jesus replied, ‘You do not realise now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’
‘No,’ said Peter, ‘you shall never wash my feet.’
Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.’
‘Then, Lord,’ Simon Peter replied, ‘not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!’
Jesus answered, ‘Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.’ For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. ‘Do you understand what I have done for you?’ he asked them. ‘You call me “Teacher” and “Lord”, and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Luke 22:14-20
New International Version - UK (NIVUK)When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, ‘I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfilment in the kingdom of God.’
After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, ‘Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.’
And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
Children’s collect, thanks to http://latequartet.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/maundy-thursday-collect-childrens-reboot.html
Jesus, today we think of the time
when you said goodbye to your friends.
You knew death would take you
from the world, for a little while.
You shared a meal and shared your love.
Help us when saying goodbye
leaves us feeling sad.
Help us share our feelings.
Amen.
Run with perseverance
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,
let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.
And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,
Finish line photos by http://www.supersportimages.com/
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.
Finish line photos by http://www.supersportimages.com/
Okay so not the greatest feat of endurance, but perhaps a good example of “common, garden-variety perseverance.”
Testimony shared at Westside Church, Christchurch on 27 January 2013: http://www.westsidechurch.org.nz/page/sermons
For the joy that was set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1-3(NIVUK))Monday, March 11, 2013
Voice
I’ve spent the last few weeks pondering on my writing “voice.”
When I started this blog I had the intention that it wouldn’t be about the surface stuff of my life, the bloggers’ small-talk about my day to day life. I wanted to be able to write about more meaningful, deeper things.
I’d only just got past my first post when the Canterbury Earthquake of September 2010 hit, and for the last two and a half years my “voice” has been defined by my journey through a rather unique seismic event and its aftermath. But I think the time has come for my writing to move on from that, before it starts becoming “same-old”.
The problem is I don’t have a definite direction to move into. I’ve drafted several posts that sort of grope around in the dark in different directions but none of them seem to actually be going anywhere. I find myself asking “So what?”
Somewhere in the depths of me is a voice that’s waiting to be found and heard. I’ve been spending my time in prayer more than writing, and as I turn my attention to the Creator I trust Him to help me discover the creativity He has placed within me.
And I’m hoping for some synergy at the Bloggers Connecting conference here in Christchurch next month to help inspire me too.
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