ANZAC - Australia & New Zealand Army Corps

LEST WE FORGET: 

Anzac Day has always been a revered day in Australia and New Zealand. It's a day when we remember the sacrificial blood shed by our soldiers in World War I at the landing of Gallipoli and the many other theatres of war all over the world since then.

So many were our young men, some still in their late teens, some young married men with families and some battle hardened veterans. We also remember our brave doctors and nurses who were instrumental in saving many lives close to the battlefronts. All belonged to either the Australian Defence forces of Army, Navy, or Air Force. And so many were wounded both physically and mentally.

On April 25 ceremonies are held at previous battle arenas, besides  scores of dawn remembrance services held in capital cities all over Australia and New Zealand. Also, many smaller country towns remember their dead comrades-in-arms. And this year marked huge crowds turning out to honour the memories of their fathers, grandfathers, greatgrandfathers, uncles, brothers, sons and many of their womenfolk also. My own grandfather, father, and two uncles were in the Australian army and the air force.

Men willing to die for the cause of freedom and engage in the fight for right against evil inspires all of us. And as it has often been said, it's not to glorify war but to honour those who have given their lives in such a noble sacrifice. The Bible speaks of another who was willing to give his life in this way:

"Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love to us in this: While we were still sinners Christ died for us....For when we were God's enemies we were reconciled to Him though the death of His Son."  (Rom 5:7-10)

LEST WE FORGET

Who Loves You the Most?

This may be an easy question to answer to some, but a little more difficult for others! Sometimes that special person that we care about may not reciprocate the way we'd hope they would. And sometimes it's possible that even our parents may not love us unconditionally.

But there is a special Someone who loves us exactly as we are. He doesn't expect us to change our ways before we respond to His love. And that's amazing! He loves us for who we are. Of course I'm speaking about Jesus. I love the words of that old hymn... "Just as I am without one plea, but that Thy blood was shed for me. And that Thou bidst me come to Thee, oh Lamb of God I come, I come." And when we truly come in repentance, He offers absolute forgiveness for every sin we've ever committed. What a Saviour. This unconditional love should so change our heart that we are prepared to make Him Lord of our life.

We can say unequivocally that Jesus loves us more than anyone in the whole world.

                                                       
So why not follow Him all the days of our life? And as the single set of footsteps show, He carries us through all of life's difficulties. He never leaves us to struggle on alone. No way. He is always with us. Truly He is our shepherd and guide and  like King David said in joyful praise, .."My cup runs over."

The CROSS - NO GREATER LOVE

Thank you Lord for Your wonderful, precious Life and the loving way You dealt with people and most of all Your death on the cross for my sins.

I sketched this depiction of Your perfect sacrifice as the Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world. The colours mean different things.

* The cross is BLACK  equating to SIN and how appropriate that You were nailed there.

* Your BODY was FLESH for You were truly MAN.

* The RED clouds above depict the WRATH of God as You bore the sins of the world.

* The GOLD at the base shows that after death comes the RESURRECTION. And this is available to all who believe, for You have conquered death.

* The BLUE sky is the assurance that when we place our trust in You, You promise us a home in HEAVEN.

"Just at the right time when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  ( From the book of Romans Ch. 5:6-8 )