Wasteland ~ Woestenij ~ Terre en friche

Jeremiah9:12-24

Jeremia 9:12-24

Jérémie 9:12-24

Why has the land been ruined and laid waste like a desert that no one can cross? Jeremiah asks a very relevant question. The consequences of sin and turning against God were deadly in his time, as Israel ignored God’s will, and they continue to be deadly today when we think we can make it on our own. What’s more, sin grasps not only our hearts and minds, but all of creation.

 The land is ruined, and the creation groans as in the pains of childbirth (Rom 8:22) and will continue to do so until Christ comes back to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross (Col 1:20). Imagine: this means that despite the despairing circumstances there is not one square meter on the face of earth where Christ would not lay the claim: this is mine! Until that wonderful day, however, let’s pray that “the wise not boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches”, but that we all set our hearts and minds to God’s frequency, and humble ourselves to remember Christ’s sacrifice for us.

Waarom is het land te gronde gegaan, doods geworden als de woestijn, waar niemand doorheen trekt? Een relevante vraag die Jeremia stelt. De gevolgen van zonde en zich tegen God keren waren dit keer fataal, nu Israël Gods wil had genegeerd. Dit blijft ook fataal voor ons vandaag, wanneer we denken dat we het alleen kunnen redden. Bovendien overheerst zonde niet alleen onze eigen harten en gedachten, maar de hele schepping.

 Het land is te gronde gegaan, en de hele schepping zucht alsof ze in barensnood is (Rom. 8:22) en zal dat blijven doen totdat Christus terugkomt om alle dingen weer met Zich te verzoenen, zowel op aarde als in de hemel (Kol. 1:20). Stel je voor: dit betekent dat er ondanks de wanhopige omstandigheden geen enkele vierkante meter op aarde is waarvan Christus niet ooit zal zeggen: dit is van mij! Maar laten wij tot aan die heerlijke dag dit gebed blijven bidden: “de wijze roeme niet op zijn wijsheid, en de sterke roeme niet op zijn kracht, de rijke roeme niet op zijn rijkdom”, maar dat we onze harten zullen instellen op Gods frequentie, dat we onszelf nederigen en Christus’ offer voor ons altijd voor ogen houden.

Arttu Mäkipää

Suffering

Hebrews 2:10-end

Hébreux 2:10-18

Lent is the season that invites us into the suffering of Jesus.  We remember everything Jesus endured in his mission to rescue us.  The writer of Hebrews tells us that Jesus was perfected through suffering.  We are also told that Jesus became like us and was tested so that he can now help us who are being tested.  We may stand before Jesus today who knows all about suffering.  We can share our pain with the God who knows suffering.

Brandon Witwer

Listen carefully! ~ Écoutez bien!

Hebrews2: 1-9

Hébreux 2:1-9

How good are you at listening? Really listening? So often there are background noises around us, and we have ‘half an ear’ on something else. No wonder that we often ‘drift away’ into our own little world! But the writer to the Hebrews warns us that we must listen properly, we must give our full attention to the message of the Gospel: if we ignore it, our eternal destiny is at stake. There were severe penalties for disobeying the Old Testament message  (the Law spoken by angels and given to Moses), but if we neglect Jesus’ message, we will miss out on all the wonderful things that God has promised – a place in His family, as His child, and eternal life with Him. So during this Lent let’s resolve to really listen to what God wants to say to us!

Est-ce que vous savez bien écouter? Vraiment? On est si souvent entouré de bruits de fond, et on n’écoute que d’une oreille. IL n’est pas étonnant donc que nous sommes souvent ‘emportés’ par nos pensées! Mais l’auteur de la Lettre aux Hébreux nous avertit qu’il faut bien écouter le message de l’Évangile, nous devons nous y attacher.  Si nous le négligeons, notre destin éternel est à risque. Si on désobéissait le message de l’Ancien Testament (la Loi annoncée par les anges et donnée à Moïse), il y avait une punition sévère, mais si nous ne faisons pas attention au message de Jésus, nous perdrons toutes les choses merveilleuses que Dieu nous a promises - une place dans sa famille, comme son enfant, et la vie éternelle avec lui. Donc, pendant cette période de Carême,  écoutons bien tout ce que Dieu veut nous apprendre.

Catherine Roberts

Follow His direction ~ Suivre la direction du Seigneur

Jeremiah 7:21 – end

Jérémie 7:21-34

In this passage, we are shown a people that God loved who did not trust Him enough to obey Him or follow His lead.  Instead, driven by their fear, anxiety, lack of trust in God and evil inclinations, they turned to their own devices and brought great sadness and turmoil to themselves.  Whatever tragedy, evil or sadness we experience, it is hardly ever due to a direct act from God, but it is often a result of man’s refusal to listen to God’s voice in his conscience, in God’s word or in the voice of others or even due to foolish acts that result from a lack of trust in the power of God to see him through times of difficulty and challenge. 

May we be quiet in our spirits, and call upon God when we are in trying and difficult situations, being willing to obey and follow His direction.  For only then can we receive divine wisdom and strength to follow a more wholesome path. 

Ralph Palim

Plan B

Genesis 17:1-7,15,16

Genèse 17:1-7, 15, 16

In this well-known passage, God reaffirms his promise to Abraham that he will have many descendents. God makes this amazing promise even though it seems impossible because Abraham’s wife Sarah is too old to have children. In the previous chapter, we read that Abraham and Sarah had doubted this promise and made their own plan B, in which Abraham instead had a son with Hagar, Sarah’s maidservant. Despite the fact that they had doubted God and tried to hurry things along through their own alternative plan, God still reaffirms his original amazing promise to Abraham in this chapter. Not only that, but Abraham and Sarah are listed in the New Testament in Hebrews 11, as examples of people of great faith.  This passage is a real encouragement to us when we’re finding it difficult to wait for something to happen and are getting impatient for God to act. We can take heart that we’re not the first to struggle with this issue, as this passage shows that even those with great faith, have struggled with it. And it seems from Abraham and Sarah’s example, that even if we get disheartened with waiting, try to take things into our own hands and come up with our own ‘plan B’s’, God is still faithful and will fulfil his promises to us, in his own time and in his own way.

Janice Weatherley Singh

A helpful thought ~ Une pensée utile

John6:27–40

Jean 6:27-40

Where the word of God steps out of the past it can become a personal and moving experience of everyday life.

Jesus’ answer to the question “When did you get here?” Is very surprising-“You overlooked The sign because you were only interested in loaves, money, something else.”

Do not work for things that spoil but work for eternal values.

What does God require? His answer puzzled them greatly. “Just believe in the One He sent”.

More questions and grumblings follow. What’s the point? Is he not the son of Joseph and Mary?

Does St Paul’s answer help?

Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

May the Son of Righteousness bless you. He came with healing in His wings.

Blessed Easter

Rie Arthern

Friday 22nd February

John 6.16–27

Jean 6:16-27

The disciples do not recognise Jesus and the help that he is bringing them as he approaches their boat.  After all, they are in rough waters, in the darkness, with nothing to prepare them for the sight of someone walking on the water. 

When we are in rough waters, finding things hard, we call out to God, to ask him to help us.  Do we sometimes miss the help that he is offering?  It can be easy to be so wrapped up in what is troubling us that we don’t see or hear the aid that he sends, such as the kind words or advice of a friend.  In taking time to reflect on such things, pushing our immediate concerns away for a while, we may find the help, or peace, that we have been asking for.

Les disciples ne reconnaissent ni Jésus ni l’aide qu’il leur apporte.  Il fait nuit, il y a de gros temps et ils ne sont pas prêts à voir quelqu’un qui marche sur les eaux.

On prie Dieu pour l’aide pendant les moments difficiles. Mais, parfois on est si accaparé par des problèmes qu’on n’entend ni voir le soutien qu’Il nous apporte – des conseils ou des mots gentils d’un ami, par exemple.  En prennant le temps pour réfléchir à ces choses, sans penser des soucis, on peut trouver l’aide dont on a besoin.

Rachel Warfield

Wounds ~ Les blessures

Jeremiah 6:9–21

Jérémie 6:9-21

They dress the wound of my people
    as though it were not serious.
‘Peace, peace,’ they say,
    when there is no peace.

Jeremiah 6:14

We Christians have a tendency to deny how painful our lives sometimes are,  believing that God 'must' make them better, and so failing to acknowledge the serious nature of our wounds. Equally, we are certain that Christ meant it when He wished peace to his followers, so we do not accept that some of us live without peace.  God gave His son because He knew our wounds were serious, Jesus died on the cross to create real and living peace for us: so let us ask ourselves today, what are our wounds? Do I acknowledge the serious nature of people’s wounds (including my own)? Do I believe and support Christians when their lives are without peace?

Ann Milton

Wake up! ~ Rélleivez- vous

 Psalm 17

Psaume 17

And I, in righteousness I will see your face;
When I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.

What do you see when you wake up?
It’s still dark these days.
Do you want to keep your eyes closed?
What are your first thoughts today?
Will you be satisfied when you awake?

What do you see?
Will you see his face?
Can you see his likeness?

Give us eyes to see Your likeness reflected all around us.

Give us the sense to perceive the reflections of Your glory in our lives.

Give us hearts to find Your likeness in each other;

In the other; in the sister and the brother.

Wake up and see.

Long was the night.

Time to open your eyes now.

Time to open your self now.

Time to be satisfied.

It is time now.

Time to see Your face.

SILENCE~DU CALME

Psalm 46 

Psaume 46

“Be still and know that I am God” (v.10)

Our world has become increasingly noisy to the point that we can hardly find a quiet place for devotional time with God. Knowing God involves experiencing regular times of silent waiting before Him. But even if we were able to silence all external sound, the internal noises of worry, concern, strife, etc. would still reverberate in our minds with the result that we end up being agitated.

So how do we arrive at calming our hearts in practical terms?  God who commands us to be still perfectly understands our dilemma so He has provided a cure to quiet our troubled hearts.  It involves exchanging our cares and anxieties for His peace. (Philippians 4:6-7)

In the face of all life’s circumstances, what we need is the presence and power of God. Be still.   

              

Le verset 10 du Psaume 46 dit “calmez-vous et sachez que Je suis Dieu”

A part le bruit extérieur qui nous empêche de trouver un endroit tranquille pour communiquer avec notre Dieu, nous sommes confrontés aux bruits intérieurs causés par des soucis de tout genre.  Le Seigneur nous invite à échanger nos soucis avec Sa paix. (Philippiens 4 : 6 à 7).   En faisant cela nous aurons le cœur tranquille et pourrons donc communiquer avec Lui.  

Lucy Limunga Fonderson

We are blessed ~ Nous sommes bénis

Micah 6:1-8 (Part II)

Michée 6:1-8

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God.

As we progress through Lent it can be easy to think about what we are giving up... perhaps chocolate, or wine, or something else...  but we perhaps forget to think about what we have been given.... freedom, hope, eternal life..  God has given us this and much more through his love for us, his people.  He has shown us what is good, what gives our lives meaning and purpose, what liberates, transforms, reconciles and empowers each and every one of us.  This is not just a hierarchical relationship but a reciprocal one where our relationship with God is constantly being nurtured, developed and indeed tested as we continue to try and live with God in our hearts.  It goes further though - what God has given us is what we have to try and give to each other.  We are called to show the love of God, the justice of God and the mercy of God to each other in every moment of every day.  It is hard... other experiences, emotions and concerns get in the way...  but for all God has given us He is really asking very little in return - that we live in a way that is honouring to God and to his creation - of which we are all part and how blessed we are for it.

Heather Roy

What does the Lord require of me?~ Qu’est-ce que le Seigneur attend de moi?

 Sunday 17^th February Lent 1

Micah 6:1-8

“What does the Lord require of me?”   How can I serve him in my everyday life?  Is it great deeds that He values most?  Or a life in seclusion from the world?  Should we still devote ourselves to the prosaic things of our common work-day life?  Let us not forget that Peter made a mistake when he wanted to stay on the Transfiguration Mount. Let us not forget that the shepherds returned to their ordinary duties after visiting the Christ-child in Bethlehem.  The nearer we get to Christ the better should we do all our work.  Today’s scripture answers the question eloquently: “To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God”.  We should, however, never forget what God has done for us.  As we go back to our daily reality after having seen a glimpse of God’s face, let us remember that those around us need to hear of his beauty, too.

Michée 6:1-8 

"Qu’est-ce que le Seigneur attend de moi?"  Comment le servir dans ma vie de tous les jours ?  Est-ce qu’il cherche les grandes actions ? Voudrait-il que je me retire du monde ?  Quelle est la valeur des choses banales d’une journée de travail ordinaire ? N’oublions pas que Pierre se trompait quand il voulait rester sur la montagne après la Transfiguration.  N’oublions pas que les bergers retournaient vers leurs troupeaux après avoir visité l’enfant Jésus à Bethléem.  Lorsque nous nous rapprochons de plus en plus du Christ, nous devrions de mieux en mieux nous acquitter de nos tâches journalières.  La lecture d’aujourd’hui donne une réponse éloquente à cette question : " C’est que tu te conduises avec droiture, que tu aimes la miséricorde et que tu marches humblement avec ton Dieu".  Nous ne devrions, pourtant, jamais oublier ce que Dieu a fait pour nous.  En retournant vers la réalité de tous les jours après avoir entrevu le visage de Dieu, rappelons-nous que ceux autour de nous ont besoin d’entendre parler de sa beauté.

Lieve Cordeel

Assurance

Jeremiah4:1-18

Jérémie 4:1-18

Jeremiah is one of God's more reluctant messengers. From the very start he questions God's calling - "I don't know how to speak; I am only a child" (ch 1 v6). But age and experience don't matter to God, and in the face of powerful opposition that he comes up against, God makes him as strong as iron.

His relationship with God is characterized by outbursts, quarrels and reproaches. He tells God he wishes he were dead (20 v 14-18) and calls God unreliable (15 v 18) but in the end he obeys him and his message proves true. I guess we are fairly reluctant messengers too, often looking for the ready excuse to take the easy option. Lent is a good time to read Jeremiah as it's a gloomy message for a gloomy time and there is no easy option – just an assurance from God that he will make us strong enough to face the challenges ahead.  

Richard Steel

We know

John 4.27–42 , Jean 4:27-42

      

Jean 4:

They said to the woman, ''We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Saviour of the world''.

Lord God please heal our areas of faithlessness and cure our backsliding. Help us to know that he is indeed the Saviour of the world.

Et ils disaient à la femme : Ce n'est plus à cause de ce que tu as dit que nous croyons ; car nous l'avons entendu nous-mêmes, et nous savons qu'il est vraiment le Sauveur du monde.

Seigneur Dieu, pardonne-nous nos infidélités. Aide nous à saisir le fait qu'íl est vraiment le Sauveur du monde.

Ygierne Mitchell

Lenten meditation on the theme of Testing

Galatians2:11-end, 

Galetes 2 :11-21

For us Christians, the most demanding and telling test concerns the quality of our day-to-day, hour-to-hour relationship and walk with God.  That is what He asks of us even more than our service for him or witnessing to Him.  He wants us to be willing instruments in His hand, no matter where that may take us.  This means acquainting ourselves closely with the person and work of Jesus through prayer and regular study of the Scriptures, especially the New Testament, for as Jesus explained to the apostle Philip, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father”.  St. Paul knew precisely what such commitment meant when He said (Galatians 2:20) “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me”. So let us use this precious period of Lent to make that “not I, but Christ” the hallmark of our daily walk in faith.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Pour nous Chrétiens, l’épreuve le plus exigeant et révélateur concerne la qualité  de notre relation quotidienne  -  voire de toutes les heures  -  avec Dieu.  C’est ce qu’Il exige de nous, même plus que notre service pour Lui ou notre témoignage de Lui. Il demande que nous soyons des instruments de bonne volonté dans Sa main, sans égard aux conséquences quotidiennes pour nous. Ça veut dire que nous devons bien connaitre le Christ en personne et par Son travail au moyen de la prière et de l’étude régulière des Saintes Ecritures, surtout le Nouveau Testament ; car comme Jésus a expliqué à l’apôtre Philip « Lui qui m’a vu a vu aussi le Père ». Saint Paul a bien compris la signification d’un tel engagement quand il a dit (Gal. 2:20) « Je suis crucifié avec Christ, néanmoins je suis en vie; cependant ce n’est pas moi, mais Christ qui m’habite ». Alors utilisons cette période précieuse du Carême pour réaliser ce « pas moi, mais Christ » au cours de notre vie quotidienne du Foi !

Simon Robbins

Ash Wednesday

Matthew 6.1-6,16-21

Matthieu 6:1-6, 16-21

Jesus addresses three aspects of first century piety: giving to the needy, prayer and fasting. These were and are fundamental to Jewish religion. Quite likely they are the outer form of the faith summed up in the Shema: “Hear O Israel: the Lord your God is one Lord. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and with all your strength.” Prayer is the means by which you love with all your heart; fasting is to love with all one’s soul, and almsgiving is the way you show love with all your strength.

The purpose of Lent is to help us to focus afresh on God. To put God at the centre of our life. To be a slave to no-one but him. And in these few verses from Matthew’s gospel, Jesus teaches us something of what that means.

Lord, you have made me as I am.
You know all my strengths and weaknesses,
My fears and my uncertainties.
Deepen my commitment to you and strengthen my love for others. Without show, without fuss, but with integrity and sincerity, may I follow Jesus more closely this Lent. Amen. 

Robert Innes

Lent~ A time for testing

Say the word “test” immediately I think of the hours of preparation that I went through for my primary school spelling tests. I suppose to quote the Oxford Dictionary the tests did measure the quality, performance and reliability of my spelling before putting into practice in complete sentences.

“Jesus is tested in the wilderness” (NIV Luke 4 : 1-13heading).  His quality, performance and reliability passed the questioning of the devil. He was ready for use.

What testing do we have now? Whether I can survive six weeks without chocolate, coffee or wine? Tea, now we are getting serious, that is a staple. Can I for forty days, with a rest on Sundays do an extra act of service, prayer or worship?

Whatever I choose to give or take up this Lent as my self-imposed test I hope the sole purpose will be to spend forty-six days strengthening my relationship with God so that I might be better prepared for God’s service during the rest of the year.

How to use this book

Daily follow the worship, read the Bible passage and then the meditation. Pray, tell God how you felt about the reading and share the concerns of your life with him.

Maybe you will continue the habit after Lent and into Easter.