Spring is here what a relief The Winter time is past It means we can look forward To the lighter nights at last

There is New Life all around us Wherever we cast our eye The bulbs are out what beauty We behold as we walk by

Their colours are so many White, yellow pink and blue Purple, orange, red all shades Giving gardens life anew

The little lambs are bleating Oh what a lovely sound There are baby chicks enjoying The new freedom they have found

. . . [continue reading]]]> New Life 

Spring is here what a relief
The Winter time is past
It means we can look forward
To the lighter nights at last

There is New Life all around us
Wherever we cast our eye
The bulbs are out what beauty
We behold as we walk by

Their colours are so many
White, yellow pink and blue
Purple, orange, red all shades
Giving gardens life anew

The little lambs are bleating
Oh what a lovely sound
There are baby chicks enjoying
The new freedom they have found

This New Life is not limited
To nature, don’t you see
We too can have a New Life
If we come to Calvary

And lay our sins on Jesus
Who died for you and me
He suffered death upon the cross
A spotless lamb was He

We all can be his little lambs
And He our Shepherd, Friend
Who never will forsake us
On that we can depend

So let’s celebrate this Easter Day
The Lord is Risen indeed
He has paid the price for all our sin
Halleluiah we’ve been freed.

(c) Sue Towler 

Why exactly is the resurrection so important?  Jesus sacrificed himself and died for our sins.  He was buried, and . . . [continue reading]]]> All over the country today Christians are remembering the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Many would say that Easter Sunday is the most important day in the Christian calendar – although equally there are those who would say that they choose to remember Jesus’ death on a weekly basis when they take Communion.  Whatever your personal opinion there is no denying that the resurrection of Jesus is the crux of our faith, and that we should think about it regularly.

Why exactly is the resurrection so important?  Jesus sacrificed himself and died for our sins.  He was buried, and he was restored to life again.  Because of him, we can ask God for forgiveness for our sins, and Jesus acts as a covering for those sins to bring us closer to God.

The apostle Paul sums it up very neatly:

“If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.” (1 Corinthians 15:17)

Not only that but we have the promise of being resurrected ourselves when Jesus returns to the earth:

“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:22-23)

Resurrection for me means the hope of eternal life at Jesus’ second coming.  Those who have followed Jesus and God during their lifetimes will then be awoken to eternal life in the kingdom that will be set up on the earth.

Have you ever considered what eternal life means?  I know that someone at work said to me once that they wouldn’t want to live for ever.  But that’s because they are thinking of life in a frail, human body, and life full of human problems, emotional stresses, physical failings, and the problems of those around us.  I can quite understand why such an eternal life would not be appealing.

Life in God’s kingdom will not be like that though.  He has promised us a fantastic life in the kingdom:

“Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.” (Isaiah 35:5-6)

Everyone will be healthy and happy, with no human problems to plague them.  We will have the time and energy to give ourselves fully to God.

What will we be doing for all eternity?  We are not told all the details in the Bible.  The Book of Revelation teaches us about the Millennium age, where for 1,000 years we will be helping to rebuild the earth the way God wants it, but it’s quite vague about what happens for the rest of eternity!

All we know is that God will be “all in all.” He will be in everything, and everything will be for him.  We will serve him for ever and ever and we will love to do it!  So this says to me that our life now is about learning to love God, learning to serve God, and learning to love doing those things, so that when the kingdom comes it will be a great joy to do those things for evermore.

So if today you have taken bread and wine in remembrance of Jesus sacrifice, and thought about forgiveness of sins, and the hope of immortality through resurrection, let us also consider as we go about our daily lives how we can learn to serve and love God to the best of our ability, and strive to do everything we can to bring about His Glory on earth.

Wishing you all a very Happy and Blessed Easter.