Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Approaching Easter 2010 ~ Gethsamene



Adrian Snell "The passion"

Approaching Easter 2010 ~ The Betrayal

They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled.
"My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death," he said to them. "Stay here and keep watch."
Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him.
"Abba Father" he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."
Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Simon," he said to Peter, "are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.
Returning the third time, he said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"
Mark 14 32-42

In this reading we see some of the really human aspects of Jesus. He becomes deeply distressed and troubled. He wants his friends Peter, James and John with him and then wants to be alone. He leaves them and goes to be alone and hear we hear his human and yet godly prayer."Abba Father" meaning My daddy, "Everything is possible for you, Take this cup from me" To face death in the cruel and hideous manner is almost too much for him to bear. "Yet not what I will but what you will" He knows that it is the path God has chosen for his people.
He then returns to his friends and finds them sleeping. He wakes them and tells them to pray before leaving them again and going off to pray the same prayer. His disciples don't know what to say to Jesus. How often does this happen to us when we face a friends difficulty. We want to offer words of peace and assistance, but often they are not the words a friend wants to hear, so we say nothing.Jesus goes again to pray and on returning he finds his friends asleep and wakes them. Knowing that things are now on track for his death, That God has said NO to his request, he looks to where soldiers are approaching him with his friend Judas.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Crafts Juice Tuesday ~ Baby Bazzaar

Wonderful card for a new baby boy by Tip top

Created by Prem 2 Pram, these premie sized baby cardigans are a really special creation for those babies born early.

A lovely memory book for your baby girl created by Dottie Designs

What a pretty new baby girl card from Box Of Delights

Day 79 ~ One A Day Challenge ~ Flower fairy birthday card

As a child I treasured my copy of "Fairies of the flowers and trees" with it's printed plates of stunning art works. I received these cutouts freom a magazine and enjoyed making this birthday card.

Sky ~ 30/03/10

A grey day

Approaching Easter 2010 ~ The last supper

Approaching Easter 2010 ~ With Friends like these.

With Friends like these, who needs enemies?

Ever felt let down by your friends?

Jesus had friends and followers, then there were twelve appointed friends who were like his best friends. The ones he could trust and that he went places and did things with.

Today's post looks particularly at two of those friends Peter and Judas.

Judas. He was known among the disciples to be light fingered. He carried the money bag around and was known for dipping his hand in to it. Jesus knew his imperfections and yet still held him dear. "I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: 'He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.' Said Jesus at the last supper.
He was referring to Judas. he knew that Judas was going to betray him. Jesus was aware of how the next few days were going to pan out.
After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, "I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me.
"His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, "Ask him which one he means".
Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, "Lord, who is it?"
Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon.
As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.
"What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him, but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him.
Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor.
As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night. (John 13 18 - 30)

Jesus Friend problems didn't end there either. His friend Peter would also play out a role. That of disowning Jesus.
Peter said: "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death."Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me." (Luke 22 34.) Even though Jesus was in full knowledge of these facts, I'm sure the pain he felt at these Revelations must have been great

Monday, March 29, 2010

Approaching Easter 2010 ~ The Servant King



Graham kendrick Servant King. See this post for the explanation

Day 78 ~ One A Day Challenge ~ Christmas decoration prototype


Prototype for christmas bauble design

Day 77 ~ One A day challenge ~ Wrap around bangle

Cyan
blue


fire


Approaching Easter 2010 ~ Not to be served, but to serve


Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet :


It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father.


Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.


Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.


After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"


Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."


"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."


Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."


"Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"


Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.


When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.



Foot washing in biblical times was a service provided by a good host. On entering someones house custom would mean that you would be provided and the host or his servant would wash your feet.In this reading Peter seems horrified that Jesus would humble himself by washing their feet. Jesus explains that he is using the feet washing as a metaphor to show that we should all be servants to one another. The song above, The Servant King, is one of those songs that has stood the test of time. it is as loved today as it was when it was written. It speaks of Jesus coming to earth "not to be served, but to serve".I personally think the line "Hands that flung stars into space, to cruel nails surrender" is the most poignant. This Amazing powerful entity performed the most subservient act. The song then moves on to encourage us to serve one another.. "each others need to prefer, for it is Christ we are serving"What we do for others we are doing for Jesus!

sky 29/03/10


big fluffy white clouds

Approaching Easter 2010 ~ Hosanna ~ Jesus Christ Superstar



A modern interpretation of Jesus entry to Jerusalem.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Approaching Easter 2010 ~ Palm Sunday ~ Jesus enters Jerusalem

Mark chapter 11 V 1 - 10
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden.
Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you doing this?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.
'They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway.
As they untied it, some people standing there asked, "What are you doing, untying that colt?" They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go.
When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it.
Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields.
Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
"Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!"
"Hosanna in the highest!"

Imagine being in Jerusalem on that day. You have heard wonderful things about Jesus. He even raised Lazerus from Bethany from the dead and he'd been dead for four days. Everywhere people were talking about Jesus. he was directly decended from David that great king you'd heard about. Was this reallly the Messiah. Surely he must be. A mere man couldn't raise someone from the dead and turn water to wine like Jesus had. And he was coming here. You run down to the town. There are crowds jostling to see. You hear the cries of the crowds up ahead shouting "Hosanna" " Blessed be the one who comes in the name of the Lord" Quickly you pull down palm branches and spread them on the road. And then he comes towards you riding on the back of a young donkey and you look into his face. Yes .......this is your Messiah, your saviour.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Spring Forward

Tonight the clocks go forward one hour.
That's one hour less in bed!!

Day 76 ~ one A Day Challenge ~ A neat a tidy veg patch

Not strictly crafting, however this is counting as my one a day today ~ a neat and tidy veg patch.

Last year The front garden was invaded by a team of spade weilding people and a veg patch was dug out. I planted salad, green beans, garlics, potatoes and we also have an assortment of fruit bushes. Since the end of last year, it's been resting and today was the day to rip all the bean poles down and stake the bushes and clear off the weeds.
I took this picture from the upstairs window and if you look carefully (at about 2 o clock) you can see stubby.

Paul Hudson, the local weather man has predicted snow for next week, so I'm aying off planting the seeds yet.
Today was the first day the daffodils in the village have become yellow.

Sky ~ 28/03/10


delicate blue

Earth Hour 2010 ~ show the world you care


Show the world you care about caring for the planet by turning your lights off tonight at 8.30pm.

For more information google "Earth hour 2010"

Friday, March 26, 2010

Garden Birds ~ Stubby the black bird.

Finally caught him with the camera. May I introduce our resident black bird male. His name is stubby as he has no tail.
He's been in our garden for two years now and having no tail doesn't stop him doing what birds do. He has a lady friend who has got a tail, but doesn't seem to mind that her beau hasn't.

He's been wooing her (to put it politely) on the rabbit hutch and they have a nest in the hedge.. Last year they had two broods of two chicks and this year I'm hoping for more.

SPRING FLOWERS

A celebration of Spring beauty.

Sky ~ 26/03/10


Big fluffy clouds

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Day 75 ~ One A Day Challenge ~ Cluster rings

Blue and green cluster rings.

Garden Birds ~ Sparrow

Why is it that when you get your camera set up to take photos of the multitude of birds twittering in your garden, they all disapear. So here is the one solitary sparrow currently in the garden.
In the next few days I hope to ctach some of the other birds including my black bird with no tail!

Sky ~ 25/03/10

Miserable grey sky

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Day 73 ~ One A Day Challenge ~ Blue Bracelet

Bali beads, pressed glass beads and Swarovki capri blue large crystal bracelet

Sky ~ 24/03/10


Misty, whispy clouds in a blue sky

Crafts Juice Tuesday ~ Watch the birdie!!

I went looking for a chicken and came back with two cute bluebird tags from the chicken queen Swirly Arts. Cute and creative!

This cute pink owl is very glamerous. She's been created by Tip Top. Wonder how long it took to curl her eye lashes?


I love the delicate but interesting details on this mobile. It's created from paper by Blackwoods Creations.

I saw these beautiful coasters and decided that they would be the inspiraton behid this weeks craft juice Tuesday.

They are created by Ruthie5573. and come as a set of four.

A very colourful owl made from Papier Mache by Flirty Myrtle. Isn't he jolly!

Monday, March 22, 2010

At Last - Eva Cassidy

beautiful

Day 72 ~ One A Day Challenge ~ red wrap about bracelet

Indian red colour inspiration for this long winding bangle



Sky ~ 22/03/10





another blue day

Stories of Forgiveness ~ Lent series ~ Simon Weston



Stationed aboard the troop ship "Sir Galahad", Simon Weston was a 20 year old soldier with four years military experience. On the 8th June 1982 whilst in the midst of the Falklands conflict with Argentina, the sir Gallahad was hit by direct fire from an Argentinian bomber. The Sir Galahad was carrying an assortment of bombs and weapons and the resulting fire and carnage led to the death of forty eight men and the injury of a further 97.

Simon Weston was one of the injured. He had received over 46% burns, his face and hands were very badly burnt. When he eventually arrived in the UK, his mother failed to recognise him. Simon recalls, "My first encounter with a really low point was when they wheeled me into the transit hospital at RAF Lyneham and I passed my mother in the corridor and she said to my gran, "Oh mam, look at that poor boy" and I cried out "Mam, it's me!" And as she recognised my voice her face turned to stone."

Simon underwent over 70 operations to reconstruct his hands and face. His progress was followed by a BBC film crew and I remember watching the television and seeing the amazing work that the doctors were able to do. Simon needed more than a physical cure though as he suffered post traumatic stress disorder, depression, began to drink heavily and became suicidal. His Fiance called off the engagement.

Simon believes that his mother held a special role in pulling him from the depths. She got him back in contact with his former regiment and they reused to molly coddle him and to "face up to the unavoidable and to be positive about everything including especially {his} future".
Clearly Simon could no longer function as a soldier, but his determination, strength of mind and personality meant that he was able to become a spokesman. He appeared on the radio and televison and then began to front charities including his own "Weston Spirit".
Many in Simons position might hold anger and hate directed at someone whose bomb had caused him so many trials both physical and mental and emotional. Simon see's the events as paths to new things. He met his wife Lucy through his work with Weston Spirit and they have three children. Simon and Lucy have a very positive outlook on life.

James (one of Simon's children) did once remark on what had happened to his father, though he doesn't remember. He was only four or five, Simon says: "He said, 'Dad, I'll get a bomb and throw it at the man who did that to you.' So I sat him down and explained that it wasn't personal, he was only doing his job - which is what I really feel."
Simon has met up with Carlos and the two are now good friends. "he was just doing his job".
Simon's amazingly positive outlook on life and on the forgiveness that he gave to Carlos are an inspiration to us all.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

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