All hail the Lamb Enthroned on high His praise shall be our battle cry His name is Jesus
These words from a hymn remind me of Easter. What is the popular food eaten on Easter Sunday by people who don’t even know what Easter means? Roast Lamb.
The people of Israel ate roast lamb on the night before their deliverance from slavery in Egypt. They were set free to worship their God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The angel of death passed over their homes. All the first born in Egypt died.
Many years later Jesus died a cruel death on the cross, the very day of the Festval when the Jews celebrated their deliverance from Egypt. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, although He was innocent of crime. He set us free from the power of Satan and took the keys of death and sin from him. By believing in Jesus we pass from death to life, freedom indeed.
I keep thinking of The Christmas song made famous by Shaking Stevens. The lyrics go,
Snow is falling all around us,
Children playing, having fun,
it’s the season, love and understanding
Merry Christmas everyone.
We’re going to have a party tonight.
Up until 2020 we in the west have celebrated Christmas with freedom, prosperity and indulging ourselves on good things to eat and drink.
Christmas time last year was not fun. There was no snow, little understanding and few parties. Due to Covid, families were separated and not allowed to meet. We had to stay home from school shops and work. Our lives have changed forever. Do we consider why Christmas is called Christmas?
We celebrate Jesus Christ being born. He came to tell us about God our Father’s love and care for us. Jesus lived on the earth for thirty three years. He died a cruel death on the cross to set us free from the sin of Adam and Eve and the power of the devil who wants to rob, steal and destroy us. Do we need Jesus at all?
We are approaching Christmas 2021. Society is trying to get back to normal inviting the public to spend and spend to make this Christmas fun and party season again.
But how can there be fun in many families who are suffering the lose of a loved one, or going through the ravages of Covid which has left many weak and discouraged. Fear, despair and disappointment has taken hold of many people.
I can say we do need Jesus. He will bring comfort to the despairing and heal the broken heart. Parties will not heal broken hearts.
Psalm 138 v 3 says As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength.
Learn more about Jesus this Christmas. By praying to him.
It was Easter Monday eleven years ago that I went to the local hospital’s Accident and Emergency. I wasn’t feeling well. On examination the doctor suspected cancer in my bowel. It was confirmed weeks later after tests and scans that I had a nine inch cancer tumour in my bowel. It was beginning to invade the walls of my bowel and spread locally.
The panel of cancer specialists suggested a course of treatment to reduce the tumour in preparation for an operation to remove the cancerous area. I started five weeks of chemotherapy and five weeks of the maximum dose of radiotherapy. When the treatment was completed I had no side effects from the treatment; no hair lose, no burning of my skin or internal organs where the radiotherapy was targeted. Six weeks later the doctor called me to arrange surgery to remove the cancerous tumour.
Many people were praying for me since I was diagnosed with cancer, my husband , family and friends. I believe I was healed after prayer. I felt like the woman who touched the hem of Jesus garment and was healed of an issue of blood. She felt better immediately.
I told the doctor I believed I was healed. My husband agreed. The doctor thought I was crazy. This had never happened before in his thirty years experience. A colonoscopy was arranged. The camera showed there was no tumour in my bowel. The lining of my bowel was as clear as a baby’s skin.
I remain healed and alive after eleven years. I have not taken any medication since. I believe the cancer will not come back. My husband and I have written a book, Staying Alive, detailing my healing. It is available to purchase on BOOKS.IE It is not within my own power or effort that I am alive. It is through the power of God that I am healed and alive.
This weekend we celebrate Easter. Everyone is glad to have holidays off school and work. But do we really know the meaning of Easter?
Nearly two thousand years ago Jesus was born. He was the Son of God yet he came on earth and was born to Mary. He grew up in his Jewish family and lived like any other child in the rough and tumble of family life.
At the age of thirty he started his ministry. People came to him to be healed of diseases and he healed them all. He cast out demons that were troubling many. He delivered the demoniac who was living among tombs, of two thousand demons.
Jesus chose twelve disciples and taught them to do what he was doing. He gave them power to heal the sick and cast out demons. He even told his followers to do the same in Mark 16. Jesus gives us the same power today to heal others and cast out demons. The religious leaders and kings of the day did not like what Jesus was doing. He was a threat to them. They planned to execute Jesus by crucifiction.
We remember this week, Holy Week in many parts of the world, those sad days long ago when Jesus was betrayed, accused, scourged and crucified. Blood flowed down his head his hands and feet and side. The blood which flowed was shed for us to forgive our sins and to heal our diseases. They thought they got rid of their trouble maker. But no. Jesus rose from the grave. He appeared to his disciples and then went to heaven.
I believe in Jesus. I believe he shed his blood to heal me and forgive my sins. Isaiah 53 says He was bruised for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquity and by his stripes we are healed. I know the power of the Blood of Jesus that healed me in 2010. He continues to help me and keep me alive to testify to his power to heal. 2021 years on Jesus still heals.
Take time this week to seek the true meaning of the feast of Easter. Enquire, search and seek. I did so forty odd years ago. I know Jesus is true. I know his power in my life. Not only does God promise to forgive us and heal us, he promises to take us to heaven when we die if we continue to believe in him.
Jesus when he was on earth taught about hell. There is an after life where all men will be judged. Those who follow Jesus will go to heaven and others will go to hell which was prepared for the devil and his demons. Chose eternal life today. Believe in Jesus the Son of God.
Dare to believe in Jesus. Ask him for His help. He will surely answer.
I was looking back at photographs on my iPhone taken in the last six months. Some photos capture the beauty and colors of the sky and sea from where I live on Strangford Lough in Ireland. The beauty all around me revives my body and soul. I am being restored.
The heavens declare the Glory of God.
The skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech,
Night after night they reveal knowledge. Psalm 19 v 1
I am happy to enjoy the changes in the heavens all around, knowing the Creator holds me in his arms.
Tonight the time changes in Ireland. The clocks move forward one hour. It is Eastertime 2016. I am thankful to God to be alive, six years on from being diagnosed with fourth stage colon cancer.
This Easter weekend we celebrate a world changing event that happened about 2000 years ago. Jesus died a cruel death and was buried in the grave. But he didn’t stay there. He arose from the grave. He now lives at the Father’s right hand interceding for us.
By his death he conquered the power of sin and death, and power of the devil over mankind and made a way for us to go to heaven. He is the way, the truth and the life.
I know the power of his death on the cross. Isaiah 53 says “By his stripes we are healed.” I received my healing six years ago.
Are you weighed down by misfortune, misery and ill health? Look up. Ask the Creator of the universe for help. His son Jesus paid for your freedom from oppression and sickness by the shedding of his Blood. Have faith in God.
The words of the hymn called “The Old Rugged Cross.” are going through my mind this afternoon, Good Friday 2015. Today we remember Jesus death on the cross.
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff’ring and shame;
And I love that old cross where the Dearest and Best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.
Refrain:
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.
I was on that hill far away where one can see the outline of a skull. The hill was called Golgotha, in Jerusalem.
I remember today, Good Friday, Jesus death, when he was crucified and shed his blood. He died a horrible death. His face and body was covered in blood till he was not recognised.
Isaiah describes his death,
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief:
and we hid as it were our faces from him;
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities:
the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
I know Jesus was rejected for me to take away my rejection. I know he is acquainted with my sorrow, pain and grief. I know he took all my sickness on the cross. I gave it all to Jesus and I am free, healed and restored. I know Satan is defeated by Jesus and I do not have to listen to Satan’s lies. The power of God was released when Jesus died that day on the cross.
Believe and receive from Jesus today. Give him all your sorrows and pain. He will give you healing instead. He took my cancer and gave me restoration. I love him because of what he has done for me.
Healed of Cancer. Angela McCauley 