This is what I want to tell them about service: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” ~ (John 15:13 ESV)

This is what I want them to hold fast to when faced with death: For those who are in Christ, his resurrection gives us hope. “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” ~ (Revelation 21:4 ESV)

Heavier things aside, we made some Anzac biscuits and that was the first time my sons heard about the Anzacs.

Ingredients

1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup plain flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup desiccated coconut
125g unsalted butter
2 tablespoons golden syrup
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon hot water

Method

Mix the dry ingredients together (except for the baking soda).

Melt the butter and golden syrup. Mix the baking soda with hot water and add this to the butter and golden syrup. Now combine this with the dry mixture.

Place tablespoons of the mixture onto a baking sheet lined with baking paper. Flatten the spoonfuls slightly and make sure they are spaced about 5 cms apart as the biscuits will expand as they bake.

Bake in the oven at approx 180C for about 10 minutes. Leave to cool before tucking in.

N & M: 3 years, 10 months
E: 1 year, 9 months

The post Anzac Biscuits by Pauline appeared first on Lessons Learnt Journal.

Each Easter the price paid at the cross seems to cut me deeper. As my relationships with my children deepens with time, I honestly can’t fathom one of my own children being crushed for anyone; let alone someone who has blantently declared themselves my enemy through their words, thoughts and deeds. As I contemplate the love of God shown through the cross, I am speechless.

For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

(2 Corinthians 5:14-15 ESV)

On this Good Friday, as I stand beneath the cross and look upon my Saviour, I am compelled to live my life to an audience of one.

The post An Audience of One by Pauline appeared first on Lessons Learnt Journal.

Waiting.

There was silence for four hundred years.

Waiting.

And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

(Luke 4:14-21 ESV)

Today, Jesus proclaims he is the fulfilment of all Scripture. In a dinky little town, in a small room, with very simple people, he proclaimed, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing”. Four hundred years of silence has been broken. Jesus is our riches. He is our freedom. He is our sight. He is our liberation. The waiting has finished. The silence is broken. Jesus has saved us for his eternal Kingdom. Jesus has brought us back into God’s presence.

The post Today by Pauline appeared first on Lessons Learnt Journal.

Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.
(From the Bible, the inspired, God-breathed word of God, Luke 1:1-4 ESV)

Christianity is about Christ. It is historical, about events that happened in real space and time. Because it’s historical, it is testable. Because it is historical, it is reliable. It isn’t blind faith. Not just a great story. It is based on evidence.

Do I really believe in heaven and hell when I’m at a funeral? Yes. Christianity is historical. It is testable. It is reliable.

Is Jesus is alive today? Is Jesus is coming back? Yes. Christianity is historical. It is testable. It is reliable. When we put our trust in Christ Jesus, we are on safe, solid ground.

The post Some History by Pauline appeared first on Lessons Learnt Journal.