Glenda is an experienced Family Worker with a demonstrated history of working in the religious institutions and industry. Skilled in Government, Emergency Management, Children’s Ministry, Environmental Awareness, and Management. Strong community and social services professional with a Bachelor’s Degree focused in Applied Science- Environmental Health from University of Western Sydney.
William Carey, the first English missionary in India, had a terrible experience.
He lost all the translation work he had done over 20 years in a fire. He found that following God can be costly, but the flame of the Holy Spirit was lit in many peoples lives – grace abounded.
He, like the disciples, discovered no situation can hinder the spread of the gospel.
Many voices can be heard in our world – What is true? What is false? What do we disregard?
Is it reasonable to believe something we did not get to experience?
The 2 people traveling to Emmaus may have the answer… on that road, the stranger with them, shared the scriptures which were enough to believe that what they had heard was true – Jesus
died and rose again – their hearts were set on fire!
Misunderstandings happen for a variety of reasons. The Pharisees misunderstood.
Jesus was misunderstood but He did not hold back from demonstrating his love for the world.
It was not the entry into Jerusalem; it was the cross that marked Jesus’ destination.
God’s kingdom would arrive through the sacrifice on a cross, not a conquering king.
What Mary did was challenging for both Martha and Judas.
For Mary, devotion was exemplary to service and at this particular time she was performing an act of welcoming no matter the cost.
There are times when we need to celebrate the quiet and beautiful, abundant and meditative, superfluous and the pretty as followers of Jesus.
Families can sometimes be damaging. Even in the time of Jesus’ ministry this happened.
Jesus’ ministry was to liberate people from the powers that oppressed them.
God always offers an open relationship of acceptance; of forgiveness; of belonging.
If we want the world to see God’s love it has to be through Christians (His people), when they overtly act in love to their neighbors, with God’s help. John Paul 2 reaction after he was shot, was still ringing powerfully in the mind of the aggressor 30 years later, because John Paul’s act of forgiveness, was a revelation of the love of God to that man. Hear that story today!
Mary goes to the tomb, the tomb is empty, a man appears, she hears her name, her heart explodes with joy!
She asks the smallest of mercies, but receives the greatest of gifts, an encounter with her friend, Messiah, Rabbi-nah!
She remembers the Good Shepherd. No other voice can define or limit who she is. She had to go and tell.
Troubled and full of doubts the disciples are hiding in a locked room.
Jesus appears and stands there. An example of “A life after life after death.”
Appearances of Jesus to his disciples shows the message of, ‘Faith and Hope and Doubt’ are in collision, which helps us to face our own confusion. The one who died stands “In the Midst” with a new offering.
The Cross was not the end.
The Tomb could not hold Jesus.
He gives up His spirit before death and then gives it up again when after the resurrection, He gathers with those who were lost and breathes on them. In Easter we celebrate “Christ is Risen”.
Through the story of Hagar – a foreigner and slave who flees with the child born of Abraham, we find the great truth of God. He is the one who sees and hears the cries of the afflicted but does not scorn, but acts with justice and steadfast love.
