The sun is slowly setting on Easter Sunday as I type. It has been a full day; celebrations with church family this morning, a wonderful roast dinner and quality time with family in the afternoon, with the added blessing of warm April sunshine. This classic song comes to mind, “Christ the Lord is risen today—Alleluia!!” What hope we have in the Lord Jesus! What grace we know! What love has been poured out on us!
As Easter Monday dawns, may we go on to know and rely on the deep, deep love of Jesus. Vast. Unmeasured. Boundless. Free.
Art
These photos are from a recent family trip to one of my favourite places—The Island of Lindisfarne, also known as Holy Island. A place rich in history, art, and architecture. Most famously, the Lindisfarne Gospels. We visited the Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin on the Island.






A Prayer
This beautiful prayer was part of a display in the same church, and is one I plan to use in my own prayer time.
The Litany of Reconciliation Coventry Cathedral
All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
The hatred which divides nation from nation, race from race, class from class,
Father forgive.
The covetous desires of people and nations to possess what is not their own,
Father, forgive.
The greed which exploits the work of human hands and lays waste the earth,
Father, forgive.
Our envy of the welfare and happiness of others,
Father, forgive.
Our indifference to the plight of the imprisoned, the homeless, the refugee,
Father, forgive.
The lust which dishonours the bodies of men, women and children,
Father, forgive.
The pride which leads us to trust in ourselves and not in God,
Father, forgive.
Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Podcasts
‘Examining Romans 8:9-11, Cameron and Anna describe the ways that the indwelling Holy Spirit helps a parent who is lonely, exhausted, and in need of wisdom. Relying on the power of the Spirit and nurturing our union with Christ gives us the strength we need to persevere in the hard times of raising kids.’
“The one who seeks solitude without fellowship perishes in the abyss of vanity, self-infatuation, and despair.” - Steve Macchia
‘How easy it is to become self-absorbed, self-focused, self-promoting, self-centered and self-gratifying. Too often, we get fixated on ourselves and totally miss others. And although we are made for community and designed to be in relationship with others, we often believe that if we don’t care for ourselves, no one else will. This episode explores the relationship between solitude and fellowship, inviting you to experience the fullness of kingdom community.’
‘Have you wondered what it really means to be “called” as a writer? If you’re confident that God has called you, then is it normal for the journey to feel difficult? Listen in on my conversation with international author Hadassah Treu as we talk about that topic and others.’
Matthew 28:8
So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.
‘Mary the mother of Jesus and Mary Magdalene came to the tomb after the crucifixion of their Savior, son, and friend. Their dear Jesus. After seeing the angel, they had both “fear and great joy.”
Have you ever had fear and great joy? Or grief, sickness, weakness, unidentified weirdness, and great joy?
It did me good to remember that, by faith, I can lean into joy, even in tough times. I hope you will be encouraged too.’
Articles
Ron Rolheiser on overcoming anger.
‘We wrestle with the devil when we struggle with the weaknesses of youth, but we wrestle with God when we struggle with the angers and resentments of aging. The latter is the struggle to move beyond the death of our dreams, beyond how we have been wounded and cheated and all the resentments that come with that, so as to feel instead inside of us the compassion of God. That is the final task of the spiritual life, the movement from resentment to gratitude, from cursing to blessing, from bitterness to graciousness. And it is a monumental task.’
Paul David Tripp on living in a mnemonic world.
‘With every new gallery, I was enthralled, but each time we walked into a new art space, he begged me to leave. He was surrounded by glory but saw none of it. He stood in the middle of wonders but was bored out of his mind. His eyes worked well, but his heart was stone blind. He saw everything, but he saw nothing.’
Otto Bam on the language of Gothic architecture.
‘All over northern Europe and the United Kingdom, Gothic architecture continues to draw fascination. And this not merely because Gothic architecture tends to be tall and grand. It is also not merely because it tends to be old. It is, I think, mostly because it is strange. It addresses us in a unique language rarely heard in our largely secular cities. And if we incline our ears to the language of Gothic architecture, we might begin to understand its proclamation.’
‘In the early days and months of our daughter’s life, no one offered much hope for Avonléa’s life—or for our marriage either, for that matter.
I learned this one day while roaming the hospital halls. The head NICU pediatrician pulled me aside and felt compelled to pass on these sobering statistics: “I thought you should know that 85 percent of couples who give birth to a severe special needs child like yours end in divorce.”
Oh . . . thanks. Our baby hadn’t completed her second brain surgery, and there we were, discussing the statistical probability of our divorce.’
John Cuddeback on making life seasonal again.
‘We can listen to our flesh. It has something to say. Yes, we are careful to discipline it, especially in Lent, lest its inclinations run amok and lead us astray. But Aslan is not a tame lion. Nor should we live in the cage in which our hyper-technologized, anti-natural, navel-gazing, comfort-seeking culture tends to trap us.
Something in us calls out for more. Something in our very flesh moves like the sap rising in the trees, or the pack horse stamping in the stall when the wild horses come through. We must be bold, unafraid. We can still break out and run with the brumbies.’
Music
Let Lou and Nathan Fellingham lead you in worship through song, live every Wednesday! It is so life giving, and a perfect reminder midweek to be still and know that He is God.
An Original Poem- The Gift
Did you catch that glimpse of hope?
It’s for you
A gift.
Hold it tight
Don’t let go
Observe it, absorb it
Draw a line in the sand
Roll the stone away
Let it seep through the cracks of your hardened heart.
I dare you to look hope in the eye
And not be the first to look away.
You can do this.
Measure it’s worth
It is a gift
Non returnable
No refund or exchange.
A gift to be held, known
Seen.
Articles Part 2
A J Swoboda on stop praying for clarity.
‘But just because Jesus is clear does not mean he is understood. Jesus was misunderstood during his time on earth. Even after the resurrection of Jesus, his disciples allegedly did not fully grasp what he was about. As Luke records, just before his ascension, the disciples ask, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Ac. 1:6) They are still, after years of time with Jesus, thinking he was the one who was to bring a violent uprising that would return Israel to her political glories. Even after the resurrection, the disciples have muddied thinking and misunderstandings. Even people who receive Easter morning with joy are prone to continually misunderstanding the work of Jesus.’
Anna Tran on disappearing.
‘I think I am disappearing.
From their minds and from their estimations of what a ‘leader’ looks like.
The smiles are a little less vibrant, the interactions a little less enthusiastic, the conversations a little less frequent.
I don’t ride in those circles any more, and those circles are automatic passes to be seen.
I was one of those people. One of those who couldn’t see those outside of the circle. My mind and attention caught up with the next task, the next vision, the next event. My eyes glazed over, and my heart detached from the real-life interactions that make people feel seen.
I was too busy.
And now God has repositioned me.’
Paul J Pastor and Mary Grace Mangano on satisfaction guaranteed?
‘A lot of our culture is designed to minimize risk. “Thirty days or your money back!” “Satisfaction guaranteed.” “Free returns”—and you don’t even have to package it yourself. There’s no risk at all. Either you love what you bought and keep it, or it goes back, as if it never happened and your money is returned to you.
The thing is, though, life isn’t like this. Love isn’t like this. Love involves risk. Most things worth attempting require some measure of bravery. Perhaps even some measure of foolishness and the possibility of loss.’
Music Part 2
The Last Word
‘Jesus’ trust in His Father was hard won, and costly. There was nothing easy about Jesus going to the cross. Nothing. Perhaps we need to go to Gethsemane and spend some time there. Before we hear the triumphant cry from the cross: ‘it is finished’, we must first hear His cries of anguish. Before we see Him in glory, we must first see Him in the garden. This is our God. This is His love for you.’ —Matt Searles ‘In Quietness and Trust’
He is risen indeed!!!
Grace and peace to you and yours this Eastertide,
Ishah Xx