Before that lady starts singing
Luke 24: 46 – 48
46 Jesus told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.
A week of last words.
“And now the end is near and so I face the final curtain, My friends I’ll state my case, of which I’m certain”. Well it may not be quite so dramatic as Francis Albert Sinatra’s “last” masterpiece, but this is the 155th and final one of these meditations. An end had to be declared at some point (I had originally meant to stop after Easter Sunday, but popular demand and all that) and as of tomorrow both Churches will be hosting worship once more, now is as good a time as any.
It has been a great pleasure to write these daily thoughts over these many weeks and months – OK, at times they have been a bit of a bind especially the couple of times I had completely forgotten till about 11pm! As I look back and see 155 of them it reminds me that I have scarcely scratched the surface of the Bible message, but I hope I have helped illuminate some of them for you.
Many people have been kind enough to mention how they have enjoyed them or one particular piece struck a chord with them personally. It is always good to get feedback especially when its positive. I know that these have been read far from Strathearn, as I have had messages from as far away as New Zealand and Canada, as well as many places in between.
We have come through a lot, and as we see we have not reached the end of the pandemic, although no one has quite used those words of Churchill’s after victory at El Alamein “It is not the end it is not even the beginning of the end, but it is perhaps the end of the beginning” that is the case.
The fight against Covid 19 has indeed got a long way to go, mistakes have been and will continue to be made, that is the nature of battles and wars. The Disciples as they said farewell to Jesus were as frightened, confused and far from certain as to what would happen next as we are now, but Jesus assured them and us “God has a plan and his plan will work out in accordance with his will”.
It may well take us a long time to figure out how God will bring good out of this current mess, but good he will bring out of it. Of that I’m certain.
Good night, God Bless, and Thanks for listening.
Prayer
Lord God our loving Father in Heaven, care for us, love us, and show us the way to go. We are confused and lost in the dark. Show us the light we may follow, and until then may we put our hand in yours so you may lead us by a way safer than a known road.
In your Mercy hear our prayer,
Amen
This is not a PS it is far too important for that but I owe a deep debt of gratitude to a lot of people but primarily in regards to these 155 to Gillian Rose who has posted them every day having checked over them to spot my mistakes and omissions, even when she was on holiday they were posted in far better condition than when I sent them to her.
Thank you Gillian give yourself a big pat on the back, then a very large coffee you deserve them!