The Great Commission

Before I introduce the challenge for this week, we have some Design Team news - Kim is stepping down from the SALT team after having been involved for a considerable length of time. We're all sad to say goodbye to her, having been inspired by her reflections and thoughts on the challenges and having enjoyed the fellowship we've had on the team. Thank you Kim for you for everything you've done for the SALT blog, for your insights on the challenges, and for the friendship we've been able to have with you.

We hope you will join with us in wishing Kim every blessing.

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It’s not quite Ascension Day (40 days after Easter), however, since the Easter celebrations are now a few days ago, in today’s challenge I (Pauline) asked the team to reflect on Jesus’ final teaching to his disciples. The words of that teaching are found in Matthew 28:18-20,

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

When I was a child, I learned the following song, based on these verses;

God's spirit is in my heart
He has called me and set me apart
This is what I have to do
What I have to do
He sent me to give good news to the poor
Tell prisoners that they are prisoners no more
Tell blind people that they can see,
And set the downtrodden free
And go tell everyone
The news that the kingdom of God has come
Just as the Father sent me
So I'm sending out to be
My witnesses throughout the world
The whole of the world
Don't worry what You have to say
Don't worry because on that day
God's spirit will speak in your heart
Will speak in your heart

The Easter story is a powerful one, but it does not end with the resurrection of Jesus and the restoration of our relationship with God the Father. Jesus is calling us to allow him to work in and through us. The Great Commission is for us all and is made possible by Jesus’ completion of his great mission on earth.

Remember if you create something based on the challenge, leave us a comment and link to your blog or gallery. We love seeing what people create!

Pauline



Hazel


Lythan
Ruth

Jesus Suffering and Resurrection

I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies and whoever lives and believes in me will never die John 11:25

With the coming easter season we are reminded of what Jesus did for every single one of us. How he took away our sins and he died on the cross for us. Now if i did not know the rest of the story i would think WOW. I have to say i am in many ways not ready to die, i think very few people crave suffering or look forward to death. I hope when my time comes that i am brave and have faith knowing that it is only the beginning.His suffering and Death was only the beginning of the story as it will be for us.Christ gave us a victory that we did not deserve or earn .He has liberated us from fear. He gave us a glimpse of the wonder of eternity and joy with him. Happy Easter Everyone He is Risen..

The Servant King

We are now approaching Holy Week which begins with Hosannas on Palm Sunday and ends with Alleluias on Easter Sunday. And in between comes the awe and sorrow on Good Friday. Which layers on the meaning of Palm Sunday as we watch Jesus entering the city of Jerusalem in triumph but in a way that inverts expectations. He comes, not as a warrior, but himbly on a donkey. He comes, not to wage a battle against the Roman oppressors but against sin and death - the oppressors of the whole world. His victory does not come with the slaughter of others but his own death upon a cross. And he finds time to share food with his friends and humbly wash their feet. What a wonderful Saviour!

This challenge is to reflect creatively on what the Servant King means for you. If you feel led to join us this week on our challenge, please leave us a comment with a link back to your blog or online gallery. We'd love to share in your creation!

Pauline Hazel
Lythan


Ruth

Coveting

Now there's an old fashioned word that you don't tend to hear too often.

In our church's children's club, they have been learning about the Ten Commandments.  My husband Tom has been taking it in turns with our Pastor to do the little talk with the children.  Today he will be covering "Do not covet".  We had some discussion last night as to what that actually means.

I have to confess it is not a Commandment I think about that often, and find it difficult to apply to my own life.

Does it mean that you should not desire to possess anything that anyone else has? You shouldn't be greedy? You shouldn't want anything you don't actually need?

As Tom and I were chatting, he said he felt the essence of the Command was teaching us that we shouldn't desire to be somebody we're not.  That by desiring the possessions of others, it is not only their belongings we want, but who they are and the lifestyle they might possibly have.

As a crafter and someone who loves looking at other people's Blogs for inspiration I can often fall into this trap.  I sometimes think - if only I had that new product that person used, my cards would look just as beautiful as theirs, and then maybe I’ll have as many followers as them and be asked to be on design teams like them...and so on.  Can you see how the desire for a thing turns into wanting to BE someone else.

God requires us just to be us.  To be accountable just for ourselves.  To come to Him just as we are, with all our faults and gifts, imperfections and hopes.  To be made complete by Him, through the work of Jesus.  To the live the life we have been given, to do the tasks he has set and created for us to do, to love the people around us and to share the love of Jesus with everyone we meet.

So rather than get down and feel ever so guilty about all the times I have coveted, I am going to look to Jesus, to remind myself I have been made perfect by him.  That God has a plan for my life and it's my job to find it and follow it, and with God's help run the race set before me.