When Jesus appeared to the heartbroken disciples in the Upper Room, he restored their joy! He can do the same for you.

Jesus’ startling presence turned the disciples from panicked to peaceful. He can do the same for you and I today.

Jesus startled the disciples on the day he appeared to them in the Upper Room. Sometimes we all need God to startle us and give us a wake up! Maybe today is that day for you.

Frances Havergal died with the name of Jesus on her lips. Hers was a great hope – not just for this life, but also for the life to come. We too have such hope!

When Frances Havergal’s music career began to take off, she realized that the applause meant more to her than God. How often we can fall into the same trap!

Frances Havergal went through some dark moments, but God comforted her through them and she was able to comfort others as a result. This is what all our suffering is about – passing on the same comfort God gives us with others.

When Frances Havergal had five minutes on her hands, she didn’t waste them away, but used them productively. This is a lost art in our day!

Frances Ridley Havergal was one of the great hymnwriters of her day. Some words from her biography inspire us this week – starting with her Father’s quiet rejoicing in God even in his illness.

The empty tomb of Jesus means that though each of us will die, those of us in Christ will conquer death and go on living in His presence.

Jesus’ victory over the grave gives us victory over condemnation. We can come out of the tomb of condemnation and be freed today.

God never promises to take away our troubles, but he does promise to help us endure them. This is what it means to be “more than conquerors”.

Paul reminds us that in Christ we are not just conquerors, but super-conquerors. The Christian life is not a gathering around dry bones, but a walk with a living Saviour!

Some Christians live in defeat, some in victory. We should ALL live in victory because of the empty tomb!

On this Good Friday we consider the way in which Jesus absorbed God’s anger so that guilty people may come to God without fear. His blood is what ‘propitiates’ God’s wrath.

Jesus’ spilled blood opened a way for people to be reconciled with God. When you need to be close to God, plead the blood!

Receiving the blood of Christ is the only way to cleanse your soul. As the hymn says, ‘what can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

Jesus shed his blood to pay the price for our freedom. The question is: have we walked out of our prisons?

Blood transfusions save many lives each year. But only one blood transfusion can save our souls! It happened at the cross where Jesus died.

Can we reclaim our childlike innocence? Through Jesus, we can!

Children are easily amazed. Sadly, we adults are hard to shock. Let us retain the childlike wonder at the things of God, with our eyes and hearts open to His glory all around us!